Leave the footprints for walking.

Do you know what your carbon footprint is? or what a carbon footprint is at all? If you don't, no need to fret. A carbon footprint is just the amount of carbon ( CO2) that a person creates. So, the more you fly, drive and so on, the larger your carbon footprint may be.
Now instead of simply cutting back on life's luxuries, there is a new way to combat your footprint. And it can be as simple as replacing every 4th Sunday drive with a family outing to plant trees. Just one more way to give back without losing life's luxuries.

Turn off the Lights!

It may seem a little obvious, but turn off the lights when you're not going to stay in the room. Lights can account for up to 15% of the electricty consumption of the house...and in the summer, keeping the lights off can help keep your house cooler, especially if you are still using incandescent light bulbs...So, now go tell your mom she was right...Turn off the lights in your room!

To Use or Not to Use A/C in the Car...That is the Question

I read something this morning, which surprised me, but made a lot of sense...Rolling down the windows in your car instead of turning on the A/C seems like a good idea and well-intentioned from an eco-friendly aspect...However, rolling down the windows reduces the fuel efficiency of your car up to 20%...So it was suggested to roll up the windows, turn on the A/C and enjoy...Feel comfortable about feeling comfortable! I like this idea!

Recycling for Our Schools

If you've ever driven by a school in the Coeur d'Alene School District #271, you've probably noticed the green recycling bins in the parking lots...That's not just for decoration or community convenience, it's actually an opportunity to raise money for our schools...So next time you think about tossing a pop can, your newspaper or cardboard in the trash, consider setting it aside and taking it to your neighborhood school...It's a great way to support the schools while doing something good for the environment...and it feels good too!

That New-House Smell...mm mm good...NOT!

Have you ever walked into a new home and thought yourself, boy I love that new-house smell? I know I have, but guess what...That smell is from the VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds found in many new products...It's the bad stuff...Yuck! So if you build new or renovate your existing home, remember to ask for products with low VOCs...you and your family will appreicate breathing the healthier air...

Water Saving Tips and Rebates

Watching the news you may start to feel that anyone can get a rebate or bonus these days. Why not allow yourself that same opportunity? Locally, you may be eligible to receive rebates on the: Hose Bib Timer, Moisture Sensor and Rain Sensor. All of these should be available at your favorite DIY store.
You will be able to save money without a rebate by simply using less water. This can be relatively easy if you know the right tactics to use. First, make sure all of the water you are using is hitting the target, watering the street is the same as wasting money. Watering at night, or anytime when the temperature is relatively cool will save you money due to lower water evaporation. And lastly watering deeper will allow you to reduce the frequency that your lawn or plants need to be watered.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you set your sprinklers and watch for the savings.

Adding Resale Value and Lowering Your Utility Bill

A couple of weeks ago the city of Coeur d'Alene raised the water rates, and while it was only a couple cents per thousand gallons, this increase can add up to a significant hit to your checkbook sooner than you may think. Luckily our friends at Idealbite.com have listed how a few simple home improvements can add savings to your utility bill.

Change out your dishwasher for one that was built after 1994 and you'll save more than $30 a year in utility costs. If the faucets in your house are not low-flow versions, they may pour out more than two gallons a minute. Consider attaching a faucet aerator, you'll reduce your water consumption and save up to $80 per year on utility bills. If your shower head blasts more than three gallons per minute, switch it out for a low-flow one. Many local communities are offering free low-flow shower heads at the city water department. You'll also save energy on your water heater, in total you'll save about $80 a year off your utility bills.

While you are at it, you may want to replace your pre-1993 toilet with a more modern one. Compared to an old-school 3.5 gallon-per-flush toilet, an EPA WaterSense-labeled toilet will use 1.3 gallons or less, saving $90 annually.

All in all, you can expect to save about $280 a year on your utility bill. While these changes may sound expensive, with a $280 savings it will only be a few short years before the savings on your utility bill have paid off the cost of your more energy efficient home improvements. When making these purchases another benefit to keep in mind is resale value of your home, the kitchen and bathroom offer the best value when remodeling, returning a smart 80% on investment. By adding these new appliances to your home not only will you be saving money on your utilities and helping the environment by using less resources, you will also be increasing the resale value of your home.

Staying Cool and Saving Money

With the 10 day forecast staying at or below the mid 80's it is a great opportunity to turn off the air conditioning and save some money. I was tooling around idealbite.com and found a new twist, well spin technically, on an old trick. Almost everyone has heard that using a ceiling fan during the summer can keep you cool. If you have discarded this advice long ago, you may want to revisit ceiling fans from a new direction. A ceiling fan will keep your room cooler, and save up to 40% on your cooling bill if it is rotating counter-clockwise. A counter-clockwise rotating fan will create a breeze on a hot day. Whereas a fan that rotates clockwise will force cool air up and bring warm air down, useful in the colder months.
Keep checking back for more ways to conserve energy and resources around your home and other green stories in the news.

Welcome

Here at Courtyard Construction we have realized that "going green" is more than just a fad and should not be used as a gimic. As we all know, it can be difficult to decern between when something is actually better for the enviorment or when the wool may be pulled over our eyes.
As a Certified Green Professional when we use the term "green" you can be assured that it carries its weight. Building or remodeling green with Courtyard Construction concerns all aspects of the building process: safety, maintenance costs and efficiency, both in materials used and energy to operate.
We invite you to look around our blog and link to our website, thatgreenbuilder.com. Also look for us on Twitter. And please check back often for updates on making your home more green!