Friendship Heights, DC

Ten Ways to Go Green and Save Green

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let's start now.

Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a happier, healthier life.

•1. Save energy to save money.

• Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.

• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.

• Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.

• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.

• Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time.

2 Save water to save money.

• Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.

• Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.

• Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.

• Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

3 Less gas = more money (and better health!).

• Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

• Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.

• Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

4. Eat smart.

• If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

• Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.

• Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.

• Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.

5 Skip the bottled water.

• Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

• Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

• Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

•6. Think before you buy.

Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.

• Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.

• When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.

• Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

7 Borrow instead of buying.

• Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

• Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

8 Buy smart.

• Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

• Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

9. Keep electronics out of the trash.

• Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.

• Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.

• Recycle your cell phone.

• Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

10 Make your own cleaning supplies.

• The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.

• Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

Lisa Abrams
The Abrams Group
Re/Max Realty Services
301-437-6742 Direct
240-766-0625 fax
TheAbramsGroup@Gmail.com

Your Metro Washington DC "green" Realtor!

Licensed in Maryland, Virginia, The District of Columbia and Florida

With foreclosure rate at a all time high,the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is promoting rules that would force lenders to make closing costs easier to understand and reveal payments to mortgage brokers.

The proposal is less strict than the one that failed in 2002, but still would require lenders to provide an accurate good faith estimate that doesn't change by more than 10 percent. The most controversial portion of the proposal would require any lender payments to mortgage brokers to be noted on the good faith estimate. While some people feel that this is a good thing,some people opposes the rule change including Marc Savitt,president-elect of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers who says that "HUD's goal was to simplify the mortgage process, and what they are doing is anything but simplifying the process. But I want to know what do you think? Please reply with your comments.

To receive your free list of "Houses for sale in Washington,DC,please dont hesitate to give me a call. I can be reached at 202-378-0283 (Direct) or 301-560-6700 x1154 (Office). I can also be reached online on my websites www.buyandsellnewhomes.com and www.freelistofhomesforsale.com. Thank you very much. Looking forward to working with you and helping you make your home purchase or sale a stress free and very happy one. Have a great day. Lanre Folayan- Real Estate Professional with Exit Premier Realty. "Buy and Sell a home in Washington DC"

Yes! Washington,D.C is one of the hottest real estate market for foreign investors. You know the saying,somebody's lost can also be someone's gain. With the alarming rate of foreclosures in our country continuing to rise and home prices still declining, foreign investors are using this opportunity to beef up their investment portfolio. According to a survey conducted by the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate,Washington,D.C is one of the hottest real estate market for foreign investors. research ranked D.C. second in the world amongst investors. D.C. was ranked fourth last year. The James A.Grasskamp Center for Real Estate at the University of Wisconsin surveyed two hundred members during the fourth quarter of 2007.

Washington,D.C tied with London for the number two spot. New York was the number one spot. The survey also reported that foreign investors feel more confident investing their money into rental properties and hotels. But last year they invested more in office properties and multi-family complexes. But why is Washington,D.C one of the hottest real estate market for foreign investors? The weak dollar. Also,foreign investors believe the U.S. offers the most stable and secure real estate investments despite recent credit market disruptions and a slowing economy. Washington,D.C is a very attractive city that has a lot to offer.

TOURISM: Washington is home to numerous national landmarks and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. The National Mall is a large, open park area in the center of the city featuring many monuments to American leaders; it also serves to connect the White House and the United States Capitol buildings. Located prominently in the center of the Mall is the Washington Monument. The world famous Smithsonian Institution,is located in the District. The Smithsonian today is a collection of free museums that includes the Anacostia Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Hirshhorn Museum, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Natural History, National Portrait Gallery, National Postal Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery and National Zoo. The Library of Congress and the National Archives,house thousands of documents covering every period in American history. Some of the more notable documents in the National Archives include the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.

PERFORMING ARTS: Washington,DC is a major national center for the arts,with many venues for the performing arts in the city. Theaters include Arena Stage,one of the first non-profit regional theatres in the nation is rich with history. The Shakespeare Theatre Company,The Studio Theatre and Wholly Mammoth and venues such as the National Theatre,make the city a major theater center. The John F.Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts the National Symphony Orchestra,the Washington National Opera,the Washington Ballet and a variety of other musical and stage performances. The Lincoln Theatre hosted the likes of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzerald on U Street ( Known as Washington's Black Broadway ) prior to 1968 riots. Notable local music clubs include Madam's Organ Blues Bar in Adams Morgan,The Black Cat,the 9:30 CLUB,the bohemian caverns jazz club,the twins jazz clubs,all in the U Street NW area.

MUSIC: D.C. has its own native music genre, called go-go, a post-funk, percussion-driven flavor of R&B that blends live sets with relentless dance rhythms, so-called because they "go and go and go". The most accomplished practitioner of go-go was D.C. band leader Chuck Brown, who brought go-go to the brink of national recognition with his 1979 LP Bustin' Loose.

SPORTS: Sports team include the Washington Wizards,Washington Redskins,Washington Capitals,D.C United,Washington Mystics and the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

ECONOMY: Washington, D.C. has a growing economy that is also diversifying with a decreasing percentage of federal government jobs over the current and next decade and an increasing percentage of professional and business service jobs over the same period. With five Fortune 1000 companies (two of which are also Fortune 500 companies), and a large support infrastructure of professional services, including law,public relations and architecture, Washington, D.C. is one of the Gamma World Cities. Washington, D.C. is one of the leading cities for global real estate investment along with London, New York City, and Paris.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Since Washington,DC is not part of any state it operates as a city,county and state combined. The city is run by Mayor Adrian Fenty and a district council. The council is comprised of 13 members: one elected from each of the eight wards and five members including the chairman,elected at large. DC residents pay federal taxes, such as income tax, as well as local taxes. The mayor and council adopt a budget, which Congress has the right to change. Much property in the District (an estimated 41 percent) is owned by the Federal government, foreign governments, or tax-exempt organizations and hence is exempt from local property taxes.

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: The University of the District of Columbia is the city's public university. Other schools include George Washington University,American University,Catholic University and Howard University. Furthermore, The Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), dedicated to the graduate study of international relations and international economics, is located near Dupont Circle, on Massachusetts Avenue's Embassy Row.

TRANSPORTATION: Interstate 495, also known as the Capital Beltway, creates an artificial boundary for the inner suburbs of Washington and is the root of the phrase "inside the Beltway". Almost completely circling Washington, D.C., it crosses a tiny portion of the District at its southernmost point which is at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. I-66 runs from the eastern edge of Georgetown, connects with the Beltway, and continues through northern Virginia to I-81. I-295 comes up from the south starting at the eastern edge of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Beltway and crosses the Anacostia River into downtown, linking up with I-395 (also called the Southwest-Southeast Freeway), a major commuter route extending from New York Avenue to the Beltway and Interstate 95 in Springfield, Virginia. The Inner Loop was a proposed network of freeways in the city center; however, only portions of it were ever built.

The Anacostia Freeway (DC-295) splits from I-295 on the south side of the Anacostia and links with the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, which eventually becomes Maryland State Highway 295, via a short section of Maryland State Highway 201. The Suitland Parkway connects the city with the southeastern suburbs in Prince George's County, Maryland. The Whitehurst Freeway, an elevated freeway over K Street in Georgetown, allows U.S. Highway 29 traffic to by pass congested Georgetown between the Key Bridge and K Street downtown. The E Street Expressway connects I-66 with the city's Foggy Bottom area and the areas immediately to the west of the White House. The Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway provides access to downtown from the northern and western ends of the city.

RESTAURANTS: Some of the restaurants Ben's Chilli Bowl,Five Guys,California Tortilla,Little Tavern,Morton's and Clyde's Restaurant.

FESTIVALS: Capital Bride,H Street Festivals,National Cherry Blossom,Shakespeare in Washington,National Book Festival and HF Stival.

PARKS: Lincoln Park,Pershing Park,Sonny Bono Memorial Park and Stanton Park.

ZOOS: Smithsonian National Zoological Park.

These are some of attractions that I feel attract not only foreign real estate investors but people. I love Washington,D.C. And I hope that everybody who wants to come here to visit or buy real estate fall in love with the city like I have. I would more than happy to assist you with your real estate needs.

Looking for a Washington DC Real Estate Professional that will help you buy and/or sell your next house or want a "Free Real Estate Market Report" in your area of choice? Check out my website Houses for sale in Washington DC. I can also be reached at my new Active Rain Outside Blog www.GetDCSold.com or Twitter http://twitter.com/DCHomesforsale. Please give me a call at 202-378-0283 (Direct) or 301-560-6700 x1154 (Office) at your earliest convenience. Thank you very much. Looking forward to helping you make your home purchase or sale a stress free and very happy one. Have a great day. "Buy home Washington DC Zip codes 20019,20020,20032,20011.

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