Buyer’s Choice Realty blog

Let’s step out of the realm of real estate for a moment, and focus on another issue…

Politics are politics. Mud slinging, name calling, attack ads, character questioning, etc. is all happening right now. This is typical in our country, and we’re all used to it by now. No matter what your view is or who you intend on voting for (the important thing is to vote!), we have serious issues facing us.

One of the biggest, aside from the pesky housing market and economy (no one cares about those anyway, right?) is energy. Specifically, our country’s energy policy, and what we can do about it.

I came across a smart fella who seems to have some decent answers. And get this - there are no politics involved! He’s an oil man (so naturally, a billionaire), but strangely enough, he’s attempting to get his own energy policy out there that does not focus on oil. T. Boone Pickens is his name, and if you are curious about what he intends to do, check out the Pickens Plan website.

Pickens basically wants to end our dependence on foreign oil, the same as any politician keeps saying over and over, but he actually has salient ideas on how to accomplish it, and soon. Don’t we all want to stop giving money to the Saudis, the Russians, and other folks that don’t necessarily have democratic ideals in mind?

What does the plan entail? Solutions for right now that will give us time to come up with new technology to make alternative energies feasible. What can be done right now? Fuel cars with natural gas, of which we have to import almost none. Set up turbines all around the midwest. Apparently we have the best wind in the world… and it can produce huge amounts of electricity. Job creation, money staying in the U.S., what could be better?

Give it a minute, check out the site. It’s a quick read with tons of facts. We have to move beyond oil. I joined, and so should you.

Ok, you just wrapped up demolition on your rehab. Or maybe you are designing and building your dream home. Time to think about saving money, and perhaps some energy costs. Let’s go double green!

The two best types of insulation to consider are cellulose and closed cell. Cellulose may be the greenest type to produce, as much of it is made from recycled newspaper and other reused materials. Cellulose is typically sprayed in, and tends to perform much better than the typical pink stuff (fiberglass) you usually see. Consult with your contractor or local insulation specialist for an estimate, or simply to verify how thick you need to spray in the cellulose if you decide to rent a sprayer and DIY. The R-factor is what they will be telling you, and modern building code dictates what R-factor or rating you need in particular areas. For instance, you need R-30 in your attic (typically 8″ deep).

Another option is to have a professional install closed cell insulation. You know those spray cans of foam that expand to fill gaps? This is the same stuff but on a larger scale. Since each cell is closed, it is harder for air to penetrate and cause drafts and energy loss. You will pay more for this, but in the long run your saved energy costs will pay for the extra initial outlay.

Another important factor involved with insulation is ventilation. If your home is well insulated but poorly ventilated you will incur problems as well. Ask your contractor or do your own research and you can double your level of greenity!

Painting a room is the easiest way to make it look updated or completely change its feel. Next time you are preparing to redo your living room, don’t reach for the traditional gallon of paint that you always use. Harsh and harmful chemicals are in that can, and once on your wall it takes up to three-and-a-half years for the paint to stop emitting toxins into the environment you call home. What’s in a normal gallon of paint? Chemicals I can’t pronounce. Research has shown these chemicals play a part in causing insomnia, depression, anxiety, and other ailments. Never mind when you first walk into a freshly painted room and get dizzy, feel lightheaded, and suffer from a headache.

How can you avoid this? Buying paints that have no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is the first place to start. While there is no current standardized governmental regulation, third party reviewers stamp the green seal of approval on healthier paints. They review all parts of the process of creating paint, so you can trust that it is healthy. While organic/green building centers are not readily available for most, ask at your local hardware/paint store if they have any paint that is low/no odor and does not contain VOCs. Your health will thank you.

The most important question: what’s the cost? So called ‘green’ paint typically costs $30-40 for a gallon. Regular paint averages $20-35 a gallon, so paint that is good for you and the environment is more expensive but not prohibitively so. Moving into a new home and plan on repainting every room? You can expect to spend a couple hundred dollars more, but think of all the benefits. One step at a time, and you can easily go green!

What do you do with all the junk mail you get? Or, for that matter, any mail? Shred anything with personal information on it and keep it along with all discarded paper, and drop it at one of the many bins all over Massachusetts to be recycled. Even better, change every bill you have to electronic statements. Most companies save at least a year of statements to view online, and you can just save the statements on your computer for easy access. Can’t beat it - less paper mail also helps those of us who tend to be ‘organizationally challenged’.

Recycling is easy to do, and is becoming mandatory in cities and towns around the commonwealth.

My second tip involves saving money. All those plastic bottles of water we buy and drink and toss out? Buy a durable water bottle, wash it fairly often, and use a faucet-mounted water filter or a pitcher to put in the fridge if you don’t enjoy drinking regular tap water. Replacement filters are cheap and each filter lasts several months depending how much you use, but most estimates state the price for the unit and filters amounts to about a nickel per gallon. How much did you pay for your last bottle of water at the gas station?