Visit these Green home links recommended by Jennifer

Being environmentally aware is very important to me. I've held the NAR Green Designation since 2008 and became an Earth Advantage Broker in 2010 through the EA Institute in Portland, OR. It is my dream to someday build a Green home but in the meantime I love the thought that I can do my part to help the envirenment in little, easy, guilt-free baby steps. It's really as easy as turning off the lights when you're not in the room or taking an opportunity to walk rather than drive.

We are fortunate in King County to have a multitude of resoucres for Green living. One of the most effective, budget conscious things a home owner can do is have their home Energy Audited. PSE and the City of Seattle offer several free or no cost programs for homeowners wanting to improve the efficiancy of their home. Below are several resources that I recommend looking into if you want to make your life a little more GREEN! 

Do It Yourself Home Energy Audit Guide  

King County resources

www.kingcounty.gov/beinggreen - king county's collected resources for living green

www.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste - learn how and where to dispose of nearly 100 categories of items locally

home

www.takeitbacknetwork.org - covers recycling of flourescent bulbs

www.greentools.us - hands on training, classes, and grants for green buildings in King Co.

www.greenerchoices.org - Compares and shows the most energy efficient appliances

www.googdguide.org - Gov't research and data rates the health factor on food and everyday products

www.greenhomeguide.org - U.S. Green Building Council's official website - GREAT!

www.energystar.gov - find appliances and systems that qualify and tax rebate info

www.methodhome.com - green cleaning

home energy audit contractors / retrofitting / air quality/ green building  -

Home Performance Inc. - Dave Vollan  Shoreline, WA - 206.227-4259

Vesta Home Retrofitting - Alison Kartignger     Seattle, WA   - 206.919.6770

Atmospere Inc. - Scott Finley - Seattle, WA   206.526.2700 

reading

What's In This Stuff? by Patricia Thomas - Goes room by room in the home and tells you what unsuspecting items are actually toxic and what the alternative is

food

www.recyclefood.com - learn how to compost and recycle food waste in your yard waste cart

www.pugetsoundfresh.org - 1,500 farmers nationally and 36 local farms

www.dinegreen.com - points prospective diners towards ecofriendly establishments

cleaning and beauty

www.medicinereturn.com - safely dispose of unused medication so it doesn't end up in our drinking

www.SafeCosmetics.org - chemical free, biodegradable beauty and cleaning products

www.greenzer.com - online green and organic retailers

www.ewg.org - determine the safety of personal care products

other

 www.envirostars.com - features evironmentally responsible businesses in the community

www.sustainablebusiness.com - aids investors looking to invest in "green" stocks and follows the performance of the companies