Going green is so much more than driving a hybrid gas-electric car and buying organic vegetables. It can be as easy as recycling a bottle or using less paper. With simple everyday changes, we can all make a positive impact on our health, the local environment and ultimately the fight against global warming.

As your neighborhood Mission District REALTOR®, I consider greening your home an investment in your family and the community. Did you know that by recycling just one glass bottle you are saving enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours. How easy is that?

We all need to take action to be more eco-responsible, and here are a few simple ways to green your home:

• Use energy efficient appliances that have the Energy Star logo, and get rid of that old fridge in the garage that is sucking up all your energy. It’ll save you money on your energy bill too.
• Use ceiling fans instead of air conditioners.
• Save water by installing an aerator on all household faucets to reduce your annual water consumption by 50%. Put in a low-flow toilet that uses significantly less water per flush.
• Use a broom instead of the garden hose to clean your driveway. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth toll save 4.5 gallons each time.
• Energy-efficient lighting means using Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) which use 66% less energy than a regular light bulb and last up to 10 times longer.
• Carry your own cloth bags when you go shopping to avoid using the paper and plastic bags from the store.
• Install bamboo floors rather than hardwood. Bamboo is environmentally friendly flooring material due to its high yield and the relatively fast rate at which it replenishes itself.
• Use healthier paint that does not contain solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released into the air when you are painting and can cause smog, ozone pollution and indoor air quality problems with negative health effects. There are several zero- or low-VOC paints on the market today.

See it is really quite easy to start greening today. In addition to advocating for a greener Mission District, my real estate partner Eric and I are board members for St. John’s Educational Thresholds Center (SJETC), which has been serving local youth and families for 35 years. For every property we sell in the Mission District, we are donating 5% of our sales commissions to Mission Possible, a community project of (SJETC).

As always, please feel free to share your feedback or comments about this column. Call me at 415.701.2605, or email at lthompson@paragon-re.com. Thanks for reading!

Lisa Thompson
Since 2002, Lisa Thompson has successfully guided clients throughout the Bay Area to make thoughtful, well-informed decisions about buying and selling real estate in today’s complex marketplace. Working with Paragon Real Estate Group, she offers unique expertise as the resident expert on renovation and relocation with an impressive network of professional resources. Trained in architecture, Thompson has more than 18 years of practical experience in design, business and marketing. She works from the Paragon office on Redwood Street and is available by calling 415.701.2605, or email at lthompson@paragon-re.com. For information on Paragon, visit www.paragon-re.com.

Page 1 of 1

Real Estate News