Liberty Lake, WA

Oftentimes people doubt the effectiveness of green cleaning products. After all, it would seem Mother Nature would lose in a head-to-head competition with the chemicals industry. However, there are now bio-based solvents and strippers that are just as powerful as those produced by the chemicals industry, yet they don't contain hazardous materials that harm human health or the environment.

According to the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors, making them particularly susceptible to indoor pollutants such as hazardous chemicals used in traditional cleaning products. In fact, indoor air pollution can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. There are even cases of indoor air being 100 times more polluted than the air outside. This can lead to headaches, dry eyes, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.

Some cleaners have hydrochloric acid, which can lead to blindness if exposed to the eyes. Other cleaners have butoxyethanol, a toxic chemical that is absorbed by your skin and can cause damage to blood, liver, and kidneys. Green cleaning products have the potential to solve this problem, and the U.S. government provides its "Green Seal" certificate on approved green cleaning products. It covers a wide array of products, including glass cleaners, bathroom disinfectants, floor cleaners, degrease rs and even laundry bleach.

Does Anyone Have a "List" of what products they use as well as their effeceny? I would like to write up a guide to include in my seller and buyer materials packets as a resource.

The green mortgage market is currently dominated by the faster moving smaller mortgage lenders right now, such as Norwich and Peterborough, Co-operative Bank and the Ecology Building Society. UK seems to leading the pack on this, so hopefully some more US ones will come on board. Throughout the next 12-24 months though, some experts believe that a few bigger players will want to play their hand and join the market too. I am still researching the avenues available in . Stay tuned :0

A Green Mortgage, otherwise known as Energy Efficiency Mortgages, has increased in recent years. This is to the increased public awareness of energy consumption as well as the financial advantages associated with owning an energy efficient home. Although not common...They DO exsist!

:)

While traditional mortgages are based on a person's debt to income ratio only, a green mortgage applies the money saved each month in energy cost as income. This allows home buyers to sometimes qualify for a larger loan. This also presents an opportunity for those wishing to remortgage, since energy saving home improvements can be applied once an existing home is certified by a home energy rater.

Purchasing an energy efficient home can also increases the resale value by as much as 5%. A $200,000 home that is certified as meeting efficiency requirements, on average, will realize an increase of $11,000 over a comparable home that is not certified. Another added benifit to Spokane home owners is that they can take advantage of the Energy Policy Act which gives has a decent tax benefit!!!

Sustainability considerations are becoming increasingly important in today's world as

growing populations demand more of the planet's limited supply of natural resources and create

more waste by-products, placing significant strains on the earth's atmosphere and ecosystems.

Sustainability has several definitions but is often described as meeting today's needs without

sacrificing future generations' ability to meet their needs. Sustainability not only encompasses

environmental concerns, but, rather, considers the "triple bottom line" - environment, economy

and society.

As development in the Spokane continues, sustainability should be a top priority.

A focus on sustainability in Spokane should have local, regional and global benefits.

Globally, a sustainability focus can help reduce the depletion of limited natural resources and

contribute to a reduction in those nasty greenhouse gas emissions :) Gas in anyform is bad

(haha) Regionally, sustainability can alleviate

strains on Washington's water supplies and improve air quality. Locally, sustainability efforts can reduce urban

heat island impacts and contribute to sustained economic benefits through lower

building operating costs and productivity increases.

Any Thoughts?

Structural Engineer is a person engaged in the professional practice of consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning or design of structures (buildings, bridges, or other structures) to safely resist vertical and horizontal loads which include gravity, earth pressure, wind and seismic forces. The structural engineer is licensed through examination by the state to use the title "Structural Engineer".

We don't have many of these in Spokane, but I have found a few on Google. Anyone have a few good recommendations?

BTW: This Photo made me laugh!

:)