Happy New Year… 2009 will be here soon…

I am sitting at my desk typing on my computer. All client greeting cards have been processed the old fashion way via a first class stamp. Call me an old fogey; for me it’s fun to open a holiday card from a family member or a friend it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling that I just can’t get from an e-mail. I love it when glitter spills out of a card and if a handwritten note is included that is very special because it’s becoming a lost art.

Text and e-mail messages are all the rage these days

The Real Living HER Worthington office recently participated in a Salvation Army bell-ringing event. I was struck by the message at the top of the kettle. For those who don’t carry cash you are now able to make a charitable contribution via a text message.

Almost everything and anything can be given or purchased online

You can text a contribution to the Salvation Army. The Mid Ohio food bank has a dedicated button that allows you to make contributions online.  Almost everything and anything can be given or purchased online even live Christmas trees; yes a live Christmas tree can be shipped right to your front door. I am thinking that the next generation will do absolutely everything online. Years from now I guess everyone will have to tour a museum to see what a newspaper looks like because many newspaper companies are filing for bankruptcy due to so much information that can be found online.

It’s amazing what you can find online

While compiling my Christmas cards I was listening to Christmas carols on YouTube, thought that you would enjoy listening to the carol below. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Using green building concepts

On a warm beautiful November day a good friend of mine gave me a tour of her new custom built home. The farmhouse design offers a very open floor plan with a grand kitchen being the center of attention. As we toured the home she pointed out the following green concepts that were used when building her home. The walls were constructed using 2 x 6 lumber which she said adds to increase the insulation value. The insulation is made from recycled newspapers. The windows are low-e-glass which helps stop heat loss. The front and back porches offer shade which saves on cooling costs. I commented on the beautiful quartz countertops that were used in the kitchen and most of the bathrooms. The quartz came from a bone yard where discarded quartz slabs can be purchased at a very economical price which helps the environment by keeping construction waste out of landfills.

No fireplace in this home

Did you know that a masonry fireplace is very inefficient and drafty, a good source of sending your heating dollars straight up the flue. A fireplace robs your home of heat. When using a fireplace all the warm air is drawn up the chimney causing a heating system to work longer and harder to keep the entire home warm. This home is heated by a Geothermal furnace; this furnace uses minimal energy to operate and is very cost effective and uses no fossil fuels which is non-polluting.

Recycled ceramic tile floors and wood scraped oak floors

The owner made use of recycled ceramic tile floors throughout the home. Most recycled ceramic tiles are manufactured with materials such as broken window panes and clear bottle glass. The wood floors were laid using short pieces of Bellawood oak scraped planks that were leftover from other construction projects.

Beautiful custom cabinetry so many built-ins

An Amish craftsman constructed every piece of cabinetry throughout the home, beautiful custom kitchen and bathroom cabinets, window seats everywhere and a custom hutch in the dining room.

No cathedral ceilings or a two- story entry

With 2-story entries and cathedral ceilings there is too much volume to heat and is not energy efficient.

Energy star appliances

The new appliances in this home are rated to be energy efficient; they cost less to operate and use less energy which helps to conserve natural resources. No incandescent light bulbs in this home, compact florescent light bulbs are everywhere they last up to ten times longer and use 75 percent less energy

Low-flow faucets, showerheads and water saving toilets

Water conservation is very important, low-flow fixtures save water and money. In addition, low-flow faucets and showerheads save energy by reducing the amount of hot water that is used.

Green decorating for the holidays

Decorate a live potted evergreen tree that can be planted in your yard after the holidays. Fresh evergreen branches make beautiful displays along with providing a wonderful fragrance through-out the home, natural decorations of fresh colorful fruits create dramatic holiday displays. LED lights are very energy efficient which will help you save on your holiday electric bill. Even the Columbus Ohio Zoo Wildlight Holiday display is becoming green; half of the 2008 displays have been converted to LED lights.

In future posts I will be providing you with more green building concepts that are being used in Central Ohio.

The photo of the tree was taken at the 2008 Columbus Wildlights “Rhythms Around the Watering Hole” a new animated light show set to holiday music. The show is nine minutes, which can be enjoyed every half hour. To enjoy the show you must attend before it ends on January 3, 2009.