CONSUMER AWARENESS
The desires to reduce carbon emissions, dependency on foreign oil, and spiraling energy costs have all lead to more consumer awareness regarding energy conservation, energy efficiency and the concept of sustainability for our future. Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Buildings are wasteful. The U. S. Department of Energy claims that buildings account for 40% of total energy use, 71% of electricity consumption, 38% of CO2 emissions, 36% of greenhouse gas emissions, 30% of raw material consumption, 30% of waste output, and 12% of potable water consumption. ENERGY PERFORMANCE RATING SYSTEMS
LEED Rating System - a rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council - LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
HERS Rating System - a home energy rating system of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ENERGY STAR - a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy which identifies energy efficient products and practices.
WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY ON YOUR HOME
66 Ways to Save Energy - tips from LIPA for lowering your home's energy consumption and reducing your bills
What You Can Do to Reduce Energy Consumption - tools from NationalGrid for analyzing you home's energy consumption and ways to become more energy efficient
LOCAL ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE LINKS
Lake Agawam Conservation Association - this group of lakeside residents, concerned citizens and local officials is dedicated to restore the health of Lake Agawam through educational awareness. Lake Agawam is a 60-acre fresh water lake located centrally within our village.
Grown on Long Island - a link for information on Long Island grown produce and horticultural products
Local Organic Farmstands - a link to the LocalHarvest website with links to local sustainably grown food sources
Farmers' Markets - a link to the Farmers' Market Federation of New York website and a list of farmers' markets in our county, some within a short drive.
Farmers' Markets - a link to the Long Island Fresh wesite and a list of farmers markets in our county, some within a short drive
Long Island Farm Bureau - among other things, this site has a great video from American Heartland about three farm families on Long Island
New York Farm Bureau - for State farm legislation
Suffolk County Water Authority - for information about our local public water supply
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE LINKS
Most Fuel Efficient 2009 Model Cars & SUVS - a link to the Daily Green website
Traveling Light -a link to the OneBag website with information to travel stress-free and help benefit our planet at the same time
GreenDimes - eliminates up to 90% of junk mail in 90 days
Green Seal - promotes environmentally responsibile products and services
BEF Carbon Footprint Calculator - calculates how much carbon certain activities create and encourages the use of carbon offsets
COMMITTMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
Joan & Paul are committed to working with consumers and investors interested in properties with green and sustainable features. They are proud to be the first Southampton members of the Green Resource Council and are amongst the first 500 Realtors in our country to earn NAR's sustainable property designation, the only green designation recognized by NAR for real estate professionals that have demonstrated knowledge and awareness of energy efficiency, and the significance of LEED, HERS and ENERGY STAR and regulatory issues as they relate to sustainability.
