Molly LeBlanc

Extreme Makeover

Plant It

An estimated 33 percent of all household waste per day is from consumer packaging. Cosmetic containers are among the many packaging items we are tempted to toss. Recycling these becomes complicated because they are often made of #5 or #7 plastic, which is not commonly accepted in curbside programs. Although it may take a little extra effort, there is a green solution to this dilemma.

Water It

• An increasing number of beauty product companies are starting recycling programs. Origins stores accept all used make-up containers, regardless of brand. Other companies, such as M-A-C will even give you a free lipstick of your choice when you return six M-A-C primary packaging containers.
• Compact containers can be reused to hold small things such as safety pins or paper clips. Small containers are also useful for traveling: You can put in just enough gel or shampoo for the week rather than lugging around a whole bottle.
• Be a careful shopper. Do you really need that hot pink eye shadow? If it's a one-time-use situation, try borrowing from a friend. Remember that reducing consumption is just as important as recycling.

Grow It

• Do you have lipstick or eyeliner that just doesn't make it into your daily routine? Help out your local contracting companies and donate your outdated cosmetics for workers to use when marking wood and drywall.
• Try making your own beauty products and reusing old containers to hold them. Because recipes are often for a large amount, get a group together and share.
• Aveda accepts caps for recycling. Set up a cap recycling bin at your work or school and ship them off when you accumulate a good amount.

source:Earth911

HUD Announces $50 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Assist Local Communities Hit Hard by Foreclosure

RISMEDIA, September 11, 2009- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced HUD is launching a $50 million effort to help state and local governments address the inventory of foreclosed properties assisted under the Department's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). HUD is awarding $44.5 million to nine national organizations and another $5.5 million to help local communities purchase, rehabilitate and resell foreclosed properties in especially hard-hit neighborhoods.

Provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act), these grants will allow HUD to dispatch teams of experts to help improve the effectiveness of neighborhood stabilization programs, particularly in communities with few staff and technical expertise.

"I am proud to announce one more resource for neighborhoods and communities that have been hit hard by the national foreclosure crisis," said Donovan. "Thanks to the Recovery Act, we are able to dispatch experts into these communities to help them better manage their neighborhood stabilization programs so that small problems don't become big ones."

For more information, visit www.hud.gov.

Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-09-10/hud-announces-50-million-in-recovery-act-funds-to-assist-local-communities-hit-hard-by-foreclosure/#ixzz0RJKrp6MD

Going Green Made Easy

by Earth911

How can you go green at home? Here are 10 simple steps to green up your life and change the planet.

1. Buy Only What You Need

• Plain and simple-don't over purchase.
• However, when buying items that you use daily or in large quantities, consider buying in bulk. You will save money and packaging. Consider splitting bulk purchases with neighbors or friends to get that savings but not the full quantity of the purchase. Sometimes we can't always use 50 rolls of toilet paper! It's just a couple of steps away! Going green doesn't have to require a ton of money or time. Simple changes to your daily routine can make all the difference.

2. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!

• Earth911 offers recycling, reuse and proper disposal options for more than 250 different materials, everything from plastic bags to construction materials.
• Remodeling? Don't forget to look for recycling and reuse programs for your household items-windows, doors, tile, etc. New technology has enabled some companies to recycle old porcelain toilets and tubs into beautiful counter tops and tile.
• Don't forget the last step in the recycling loop-buy recycled! In order for recycling to be sustainable, we need to purchase recycled-content materials! Look for and purchase post-consumer recycled content packaging and products whenever possible.

3. Change a Light, Change the World

• When your incandescent light bulbs stop working, replace them with the new, energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) CFLs use 2/3 less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and last 10 times longer. Making this switch will save you money and energy.
• Some incandescent light bulbs may contain mercury, so remember to dispose of both properly at your local household hazardous waste facility.
• Take the U.S. EPA's ENERGY STAR pledge to save energy and help reduce the risks of global climate change by replacing at least one light in your home with an ENERGY STAR qualified one.

4. Bag It Up the Green Way

• Plastic bags are getting the "thumbs down" in several communities around the country because of litter problems. When going to the store, consider bagging your own groceries in cloth, reusable bags. Many stores sell reusable bags and charge to provide plastic grocery bags.
• When walking your dog and cleaning up after then, use a biodegradable bag rather than a plastic bag.
• If you decide to use plastic bags, remember to recycle them. Thousands of locations are available across the country.

5. Green Your Gadgets

Electronics become "outdated" so much more quickly than 10 or 20 years ago. To insure you are responsible with your gadgets, consider doing the following:

• Resist the urge to upgrade every time a "newer" or "cooler" gadget comes out. Reduce at the source-you save money and the time (and frustration) to learn how to operate and program the new gadget.
• Donate working electronics to charities or school programs resell or refurbish them.
• Completely broken? Recycle! Electronics are the new "hot" item being recycled across the country.
• Refill or recycle your inkjet or toner cartridges.
• Close the recycling loop and buy recycled, post-consumer content paper for your printer. Most local office supply stores, such as Staples, offer a growing selection of environmentally friendly papers.
• Keep in mind even computer game equipment and iPods now have reuse and recycling programs available. G4 TV offers a new campaign encouraging e-gadget reuse and recycling.

6. Make Every Drop Count

Even though 70 percent of the world is covered by water, we should conserve all that we can. Here are some quick tips to save that last drop:

• Turn off the water faucet when brushing your teeth.
• Use your dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full. Try to avoid small, partial loads.
• Compost food scraps instead of using your garbage disposal. You'll save gallons of water every time and have a great soil amendment for your garden.
• Clean your driveway or sidewalk with a broom instead of hosing it down with water. You'll save at least 80 gallons of water every time.
• Don't use running water to thaw food.

7. Turn Up the Savings

• A few degrees can make all the difference in your energy savings and your wallet. In the summer raise your thermostat two degrees. In the winter lower your thermostat two degrees. You probably won't notice the difference, at least until your utility bill arrives!
• Use a ceiling fan to cool off a room or house. It consumes as little energy as a 60-watt bulb, which is about 98 percent less energy than most central air conditioners.
• Install a programmable thermostat to better regulate the temperature in your house through the day and night. Remember to recycle your old, mercury containing thermostats.
• When replacing an appliance, be sure to look for one that is more energy efficient. Always look for the ENERGY STAR symbol and compare water and energy usage to ensure you get the best product and environmental savings to suit your needs.

8. Clear the Air

• Carpool, ride the bus, use public transportation or bike to work
• Telecommute. Employee productivity will increase.
• Trip chain! Save fuel and time by planning ahead and consolidating trips into one trip. Also, vow to only go to certain, far away stores less frequently.
• Keep your tires inflated to the appropriate air pressure level. This will extend the life of your tires and give you better gas mileage.
• Drive the speed limit.
• Service your car on a regular basis per the manufacturer guidelines.
• In the market for a new car? Consider one of the new hybrid or fuel efficient vehicles.

9. Save A Tree

• Save paper, time and postage, and pay your bills online.
• As the price of paper cards and postage increases, consider e-mailing e-cards.
• When printing documents, print on both sides of paper. You can cut your paper consumption almost in half.
• E-mail documents and information instead of printing and mailing them.
• Save documents on your computer or on a disk instead of in a print copy in your filing cabinet. You'll free up lots of space.

10. Home Sweet Home

• Clotheslines are making a comeback. Dry your clothes on the line instead of in the dryer. They will smell better, and you will save money.
• Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. They can be used over and over again and thrown in with your weekly load of towels.
• Make your own less toxic cleaning alternatives using baking soda, soap and vinegar.
• When repainting a room, be sure to look for paint that is low VOC (volatile organic compounds). Several manufacturers now offer VOC paints and they don't leave that paint fume smell.
• Open the doors and windows to let the fresh air in! Indoor air quality is often times worse than the air outside. Open doors and windows daily to circulate fresh air in and germs and smells out.

By Erica Christoffer, Contributing Editor, REALTOR® Magazine

Trey Rogers: The Yard Doctor

There is no better time than fall to get yards looking great, according to the "Yard Doctor" Trey Rogers, a professor of turfgrass management in the crop and soil sciences department at Michigan State University.

Here are 6 tips from Rogers to help you and your clients take advantage of the seasonal weather and vibrant colors to add dramatic curb appeal.

1. For home owners in the northern portion of the United States, fall is the single best time to fertilize a yard. During the first 10 days of September, lay a complete nitrogen and potassium combination fertilizer.

2. Fall is also the best time to reseed grass. If you have bare spots from the summer, put down a seed mix that matches the yard during the first 15 days of September. Yards with crabgrass will notice the patches turn purple with the first frost. It is important to thoroughly seed and water those areas.

"It's a good time because the ground is still warm, but the days are getting shorter so you don't have as much day length to rob the moisture out of the soil," Rogers says.

3. During the first 10 days of October, take care of those pesky weeds and dandelions. Spray a liquid broadleaf herbicide over the yard. Weeds germinate in the fall, so by treating the problem in October, there will be fewer dandelions in the spring.

4. Mow, mow, mow. If you really want a yard to look smashing, dedicate yourself to mowing twice a week with the blade set at 2 ½ to 3 inches through mid-October.

"They'll be surprised when they see how much that makes the grass grow," says Rogers. Don't forget to keep watering, too.

5. It's important to get those leaves off the ground as to not suffocate the lawn. But a better option would be to grind up the leaves and mulch them back into the yard. Most lawnmowers have blades designed for mulching. This provides natural nutrients and can be an organic weed controller - particularly maple leaves, which are a natural herbicide toward dandelions, Rogers says.

6. Play with the fall colors. Display potted mums. Think red. Dogwood bushes are cold-weather hardy and have red or yellow branches. Holly is another great way to decorate the outside of a home, where the bright red berries on the branches can standout.

John (Trey) Rogers, Ph.D., is regarded as one of the country's leading experts on growing and maintaining healthy lawns. He has been a professor of turfgrass science at Michigan State University for 22 years. He is also a consultant to Briggs & Stratton, a manufacturer of engines for outdoor power equipment, where he has become known as the Yard Doctor. Visit his Web site: http://www.yardsmarts.com

1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you'll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.

2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.

3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don't plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.

4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house.

5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you're a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?