Green Tips

The Green Tips listed below are great ways to save energy for your business or home. For additional information, Gold Coast Builders Association's Green Building Council meets monthly discussing various Green Building Topics.

 

How Can I "Green My Business"?

By Kyle Abney

Abney + Abney Green Solutions

Turn off equipment when it's not being used. This can reduce the energy used by 25%; turning off the computers at the end of the day can save an additional 50%.

Encourage communications by email, and read email messages onscreen to determine whether it's necessary to print them. If it's not, don't!  

Produce double-sided documents whenever possible.

Reduce the margins on your documents. Reduce fax-related paper waste by using a fax-modem and by using a fax cover sheet only when necessary.  Fax-modems allow documents to be sent directly from a computer, without requiring a printed hard copy.

Find a supply of paper with maximum available recycled content.

Instigate an ongoing search for "greener" products and services in the local community.  The further your supplies or service providers have to travel, the more energy will be used to get them to you.

 Use non-disposable cups, plates, silverware, napkins and towels.

Install a water filter on your tap or use a bottle-less water cooler for refilling of drinking cups instead of using bottled water.

Make scratch pads out of discarded paper.

Choose suppliers who take back packaging for reuse.

Before deciding whether you need to purchase new office furniture, see if your existing office furniture can be refurbished.  It's less expensive than buying new and better for the environment.

 

How Can I "Green My Home"?

By Kyle Abney

Abney + Abney Green Solutions

Make the switch to compact florescent bulbs or LEDs.

Unplug it when it’s not in use (television, DVD player, cell phone charger, computer, etc.)

Install a programmable thermostat. Turn down the water heating setting, put it on a timer or add insulation around it.

Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load - this will save you water and electricity.

Wash your clothes with cold water.

Hang the wash out to dry rather than using the dryer.

Choose ENERGY STAR appliances.

Does your home need better insulation? Change your home's air filters monthly.

Sign up to a green energy supplier, who will supply electricity from renewable sources (e.g. wind and hydroelectric power).

Install low-flow showers heads and aerators on faucets.

Take shorter showers.  Use a 5 minute timer in the shower.

Displace water in your toilet by putting plastic bottles in the tank.  Fill them ¼ with sand/rocks and the rest with water.

Barely crack the tap when using water.

Minimize the use of a garbage disposal.

Harvest rainwater for use on plants in and around the house.

Adjust the sprinklers so they are watering the vegetation and not the sidewalks and/or driveway.

Sweep off the driveway/sidewalks instead of spraying them.

Download a Membership Application form.