Solutions for Remodeling

Financing the Remodeling of Senior Housing

2009-07-03T17:35:50Z

Seniors face aging issues with their houses and condos. They must make decisions about what needs to be remodeled, and how to pay for it -- and for seniors that is usually more complicated than for people with full time jobs. Reverse mortgages have become available as one tool. But local and state programs also make loans available through affordable housing programs to help seniors remodel for energy efficiency, weatherization and major repairs such as roofing, plumbing and window replacement.

According to the AARP, the lowest cost reverse mortgages are public loans.

The least expensive reverse mortgages are the ones offered by state or local governments. But these "public sector" loans generally can be used for only a specific purpose, like home repairs. Many are only available to persons with low to moderate incomes. But the low cost can make these loans very attractive.

Energy Efficiency and Weatherization

Remodeling projects or home maintenance projects of significant sizes, such as major plumbing upgrades, or energy efficient window replacement or a new roof, can warrant using equity in your home. These major home renovations can improve the quality of life for a senior at the same time they reduce monthly energy bills and improve the value of the home.

Deferred Payment Loans (DPLs)

Many local and some state government agencies offer "deferred payment loans" (DPLs) for repairing or improving your home. This type of reverse mortgage gives you a one-time, lump sum advance. No repayment is required for as long as you live in your home.

Property Tax Deferral (PTD)

Some state and local government agencies offer "property tax deferral" (PTD) loans. This type of public sector reverse mortgage generally provides annual loan advances that can be used only to pay your property taxes. No repayment is required for as long as you live in your home.

According to a 2007 AARP study, some type of PTD program is available in parts or all of the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

AARP does not endorse any reverse mortgage lender or product -- so do your homework and ask a trusted financal advisor for help in analyzing your situation and the reverse mortgages available to you.

Read more at AARP about Low-Cost Public Loans

Building EQ Certification Program by ASHRAE

2009-07-02T01:44:33Z

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is working toward a building energy labeling program -- the Buliding EQ label.

For years, ASHRAE has sought ways to help move the nation's building stock toward net-zero-energy use.

The new Building Energy Quotient program seeks the answers to that question with metrics for measuring both the energy the building is designed to use and the energy actually being consumed. The ASHRAE program is being designed to close the gaps between intention and operation.

ASHRAE
http://buildingeq.com/

Infill Development Set-Aside Issues for Developers and Communities

2009-07-01T20:09:59Z

Infill development is a new strategy intended to reduce municipal costs as well as environmental damage caused by rampant, uncontrolled urban sprawl into rural and wilderness areas. In California, it is especially important because of our reputation for fires, floods and droughts! The escalating population is being felt keenly in Southern California in particular -- but also across the state as the global population escalates out of control, and as rural populations decrease and urban populations increase.

The following issues from an Infill Development strategy meeting illustrate the issues that are being researched, weighted and parsed ... and are the issues many cities around the country will be facing in the coming months or years.

A bi-partisan effort in California worked over 18 months to develop housing infill issues on the ballot among a host of infrastructure measures that include these key concepts:

that site eligibility be determined according to density thresholds appropriate to urban/suburban/rural jurisdictions;
that developers be allowed to apply for the funding (in addition to local government entities);
that a list of delineated housing-related infrastructure uses beyond water, sewer, and utilities be incorporated into the legislation (including brownfield clean-up, demolition, public transit linkages attributable to new housing);
that a minimum affordability threshold of 15% be established (as there had been no affordability provision in the ballot language);
that funding be allocated proportionally across the diverse regions of the state, that ownership and rental housing be eligible for funding,
that there be a distinction between 'infill areas' and 'infill projects';
that there be a series of ranking criteria created to guide the application selection process (including density, affordability, proximity to transit, and local support/leverage)

Funding is always at the heart of community issues, and infill development is no different. Infill Development Set-Aside funds are being debated and distributed among public, nonprofit and private builders.

Applicant Eligibility
With respect to the possibility of private housing developers applying for this set-aside funding,
some participants worried that the infrastructure grants could be 'give-aways' to housing projects that may well be feasible without this subsidy. There was agreement that the funding should be awarded to those projects for whom the unusual infrastructure needs represent the primary impediment to development.

Parking Issues

As public transportation and transit corridor development is being encouraged by cities, there was considerable discussion for when costs associated with parking infrastructure should be included as an eligible use. Whereas one convenient rule of thumb that only replacement public parking be eligible, some developers expressed their concern that often times the amount of housing they are permitted to develop on a site is directly related to how much parking they can provide. Providing on-site parking presents substantial cost implications for which these developers see this infill set-aside funding as being appropriate.

Affordability

There is discussion about how best to encourage affordability beyond the minimum 15% threshold. For some non-profit developers, the mixed-income focus of the funding seems to deviate from the message of the PROP 1C campaign to assist low- and very-low income households; others supported the mixed-income approach saying that without this kind of public leverage market-rate developers are not tackling difficult sites that are otherwise located conveniently to jobs and transit.

One concept mentioned in meetings with legislators was to perhaps consider an 'affordability cap' whereby point for affordability under the ranking criteria would not accrue beyond, say, 40% of a project's total units. The thinking behind this was that developers interested in mixed-income housing scenarios may do tax-exempt bond deals electing to set aside 20% of the units at 50% AMI or 40% of the units up to 60% AMI. The 'cap' would not be intended to discourage 100% affordable infill projects from applying for the funding but such projects would not have a competitive advantage beyond a 40% set aside for tax credit affordability.

Prevailing Wage Requirements

While there was little doubt that the use of these infill set-aside funds would trigger prevailing wage requirements, of particular interest is that guidelines make clear that the funding is limited to the housing-related infrastructure component itself. As in the period following the implementation of the 2003 prevailing wage requirements, participants agreed that a challenge to the applicability of prevailing wage for an entire project will likely be forthcoming.

HUD Grants to Research Detection of Lead, Mold, and Safety Hazards

2009-07-01T20:04:13Z

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that $4 million is available to improve methods to detect and control lead-based paint, mold and other housing-related safety hazards that harm children. These grants will be awarded competitively to multiple Academic and non-profit institutions, State, Tribal or local governments that advance the recognition and control of residential health and safety hazards or improve our understanding of the link between housing and health.

"Anything HUD can do to continue to improve the methods for protecting our children from dangerous home hazards is crucial to American families, their children and their future," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Investing in healthy homes is not only good for health reasons, but good for the environment and the economy as well."

These grants will further the implementation of HUD's Healthy Homes Strategic Plan, and the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes, both recently released, which encourage government agencies, other research organizations, and scientists to develop and support a portfolio of rigorous healthy homes research. In addition, both documents recommend that agencies and sectors work together to provide guidance and technical assistance to support safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly housing options.

HUD will award approximately six to ten grants ranging from $250,000 to $800,000 each. Applications may be downloaded from the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control's Website. The application provides instructions, including submitting proposals by Federal Express (FedEx), United Parcel Services (UPS) and overnight Express Mail delivery services. The deadline for receiving grants is 5:00 PM eastern time, August 18, 2009.

HUD Housing Choice Vouchers for Disabled Families and Transitions out of Institutions

2009-07-01T19:58:02Z

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will offer rental assistance to 4,000 non-elderly families with disabilities, including 1,000 vouchers specifically targeted to those transitioning out of nursing homes and other care facilities. Through its funding notice, HUD is seeking comment from public housing authorities and others to ensure this critically needed assistance is distributed and administered in the most effective manner possible.

Today's announcement coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. & E.W. which affirmed the rights of individuals with disabilities to live independently. To commemorate this landmark decision, President Obama declared 2009 the Year of Community Living.

"We also recognize how important it is for HUD and HHS to coordinate our resources to enable community-living for those individuals that live with disabilities."

HUD's Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) will make $30 million in voucher assistance available to support approximately 4,000 Housing Choice Vouchers for non-elderly disabled families.

HUD is making a 1,000 of those vouchers available specifically for individuals transitioning out of nursing homes and other institutions.

These vouchers directly support a $1.75 billion initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help persons who reside in health care settings move to community-based living. While HHS' Money Follows the Person (MFP) program offers health care, case management and other services to qualified families, it does not include funding for housing. HUD's funding initiative is designed to fill that gap.

The remaining 3,000 Housing Choice Vouchers are available to assist any non-elderly disabled family. The Department is encouraging local housing authorities to give strong consideration to using some or all of these vouchers to provide housing for those non-elderly persons that are living in the community, but are at-risk for institutionalization.

More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

Green Job Training Catalog of Courses, Teleconferences & Materials

2009-06-17T14:56:20Z

California Green Solutions is building a robust catalog of professional training courses and certification programs offered by private companies and colleges. You will find this robust catalog covers business law, construction, human resources...as well as engineering and green building...and more.

Visit the Green and Sustainable Job Training Catalog at: CaliforniaGreenSolutions.com

Working with a green consultant -- at home!

2009-06-16T16:13:24Z

Jason Pelletier, Low Impact Living, recently participated in a New York Times piece (published in the Home section today) on green home consultants.

"After a few hours of in-home work and many more of analysis, reporting, product research and follow-up with my clients, it was somewhat ironic that the lead image for the story was a picture of me peering into the tank of a toilet!", Jason explained.

One could argue a toilet is a fitting representation of our times, after all. The economy remains in the tank, we continue to do relatively little as a society to combat climate change, and the residential green sector continues to dragged down by the horrible housing market (unless you happen to be in one of the few sectors directly benefiting from stimulus funding).

However, we still see a very bright future for the overall green remodeling/retrofit market.

The lowest hanging fruit on the path to a lower-carbon economy lie in our homes, from weatherization to low-flow water fixtures to efficient appliances and lighting.

The environmental savings can be significant, and many projects will start contributing to your bank account in less than a year. Although each of our individual actions might be a drop in the bucket (as noted by some of the skeptical folks interviewed in the Times article), our collective actions will amount to significant change and send a message to both companies and our elected officials that the old way won't work anymore.

The first step is getting started, of course, and a good green consultant can help by explaining both the environmental and economic benefits of particular green projects.

Tackle green projects in these four groups, and we guarantee that you'll soon be on a logical and profitable path to a lower impact:

Make the easy fixes that have high environmental and economic benefits first. Many first steps can be done for $0 - $100, and can cut major chunks out of your energy, water and carbon footprints.

Swap out key house systems, starting with the biggest hogs and/or systems that have multiple impacts. Once you've cut your baseline down based on #1, turn to these bigger projects.

Install sustainable systems where possible for remaining water/energy needs. By now, you've probably cut your energy, water and sewer bills by 30-50%. But there's a huge added benefit to this tiering of projects: you've also reduced the cost of major sustainble system upgrades.

Offset the rest. In most existing homes, it's nearly impossible to competely cut your outside energy use and associated carbon footprint. Buy offsets for this remaining piece.

Learn more about living greener at Low Impact Living, one of the premier sources for information for home improvements that are greener and high performance.

Energy Efficiency of Buildings and Appliances Key to Reducing GHG

2009-06-01T17:59:05Z

The McKinsey Research Report

Starting in 2007, the McKinsey research team worked with leading experts to develop a detailed fact base estimating costs and potentials of different options to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions in the US over a 25 year period. The team analyzed more than 250 options encompassing efficiency gains, shifts to lower-carbon energy sources and expanded carbon sinks.

Central Conclusion

The US could reduce GHG emissions in 2030 by 3 - 4.5 gigatons of CO2e using tested approaches and high-potential emerging technologies. The cost would be less tan $50 per ton, with the average net cost to the economy being far lower if the nation can capture sizable gains from energy efficiency. Achievement of these reductions would require strong, coordinated, economy-wide action that begins in the near future.

One complicating factor is reaching goals is that a gradual decrease in the absorption of carbon by US forests and agricultural lands will reduce achievements, and require greater GHG reductions.

Abatement Opportunities

The largest option -- coal-fired power plants -- offers less than 11 percent of total abatement potential. The largest sector (power generation) only accounts for approximately 1/3 of the total potential.
Almost 40% of abatement could be achieved with options that would generate positive economic returns over their lifecycle.
Abatement potentials, costs and mix vary by geographic region.

Five Sectors offer Clusters of Abatement Potential

1. Improve energy efficiency in buildings and appliances (710-870 megatons)
This cluster of options includes: Lighting rtrofits, Improved heating, ventialation, air conditioning systems, Building envelopes, and building control systems; Higher performance for consumer and office electronics and appliances...and other options.

2. Imcrease fuel efficiency in vehicles and reduce carbon intensity of transportation fuels (340-660 megatons)
Most of the benefit would come from fuel economy packages such as light weighting, aerodynamics, turbocharging, drive-train efficiency, reduction in rolling resistance, and increased use of diesel for light-duty vehicles. Plug-in hybrid vehicels offer longer-term potential if vehicle cost/performance improves and the nation moves to a lower-carbon electricity supply.

3. Industrial Sector pursues various options cross energy-intensive operations (620-770 megatons)
A multitude of fragmented opportunities exist within specific industries: Equipment upgrades, process changes -- and across setors: Motor efficiency, combined heat and power applications.

4. Expand and enhance carbon sinks (440-590 megatons)
Increasing forest stocks and improving soil mnagement practices are relatively low-cost options.

5. Reduce carbon intensity of electric power production (800-1370 megatons)
Shift toward renewable energy sources primarily wind and solar, additional nuclear capacity, mproved efficiency of power plants and eventual use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies on coal-fired electricity generation.

"The theme of greater energy productivity pervades these clusters."

Improving energy efficiency in buildings and appliances and industrial sectors, for example, could offset some 85% of the projected incremental demand for electricity in 2030, largely negating the need for the incremental coal-fired power plants assumed in the government reference case.

Improved vehicle efficiency could roughly offset the added mobility-related emissions of a growing population, while providing net economic gains.

SOURCE: Download the full report at Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 11.21.07

Use Recycled Content for Beautiful Outdoor Benches

2009-05-26T16:49:47Z

"Over the past couple years I've been developing a public seating program with the City of Manhattan Beach, as a result of winning an artists' competition initiated by their Cultural Arts Committee. Their objective was to find designs for a series of beach/strand furnishings that are to be site-specific, recyclable, and suited for long-term use," explains the designer, Stacy Dukes of Santa Ana, CA.

During the design process Dukes discovered a recently introduced ceramic-based composite (85% recycled industrial ceramic waste) that is fully recyclable. After testing, this material proved to be highly resistant to any damage from scratching, staining, oxidation, etc. Being cold-formed it eliminates production of greenhouse gasses, while UV has little or no effect and graffiti can be easily removed as it is non-absorbent.

The first benches that have been installed in alcoves along the boardwalk. Upon evaluation Dukes' team found that, unlike concrete or wood, the material dissipates heat and that the benches are virtually maintenance free. In terms of both design and material, we expect unsurpassed longevity.

Stacy Dukes Design, SDD, is a highly creative, full service design and production company specializing in architectural graphics and signage systems, visual communication and product development.

What makes Stacy Dukes Design unique is not only the capability to handle a project from start to finish -- from planning, concept and design development to in-house production and coordination with outside services -- but also the commitment to "break the barriers" in design and materials. With all aspects of a project under one umbrella, the complete process is expedited and the quality maintained at no extra cost.

Stacy Dukes Design
3201 W Warner Ave
Santa Ana CA 92704
Tel: 714 241 9144
www.StacyDukesDesign.com

HUD's Mark-to-Market (M2M) Green Initiative for Affordable Multifamily Housing

2009-05-24T17:31:54Z

In July of 2007 HUD introduced its Green Initiative, a nationwide pilot initiative to encourage owners and purchasers of affordable, multifamily properties to rehabilitate and operate their properties using sustainable Green Building principles.

Green Building and Healthy Housing Concepts

These principles comprise sustainability, energy efficiency, recycling, and indoor air quality, and incorporate the "Healthy Housing" approach pioneered by HUD.

The Green Initiative will focus on properties within HUD's Section 8 portfolio, specifically properties in the Mark to Market (M2M) Program administered by the Office of Affordable Housing Preservation (OAHP).

What is Green Building?

The real estate industry, including the housing industry (and more particularly the affordable housing industry), is undergoing a fundamental shift toward Green Building principles.

Green Building is designed to result in a property that reduces its impact on the environment, costs less to operate, and improves the residents' quality of life.

Green building considerations start with site selection and include building placement and design, materials and techniques used in construction, and all the systems, appliances, and fixtures within the building. Wikipedia provides a good working definition for the OAHP Green Initiative:

Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal - the complete building life cycle.

To date, the focus of green initiatives has been on new construction rather than on rehab, particularly moderate rehab that is associated with M2M properties.

There are fewer opportunities to Go Green in rehab, but the opportunities are significant, particularly when viewed in the context of the M2M standard 20-year schedule of property repairs and replacements.

Green Rehab Benefits

Green rehab practices should result in lower utility costs that benefit HUD as well as residents and lower environmental impact. When rehab is performed in a manner that meets both Green and Healthy Housing principles, residents will benefit from

lower utility costs
improved indoor air quality
lower risk of pest infestations
lower levels of allergens
reduced risk of mold-related illness

Why apply Green principles in the M2M Program?

The M2M Program offers a unique platform for establishing a Green Initiative in the HUD affordable housing portfolio because it can be implemented within existing statutes, regulations, and authorities.

M2M provides opportunities to implement Green Building principles in a representative sample of M2M restructurings involving properties that are already undergoing rehabilitation.

As HUD's primary housing preservation tool since its creation in 1997, OAHP has restructured more than 1,600 projects nationwide through the M2M program. These projects are privately owned, HUD-subsidized (through Section 8), multifamily properties, with approx 100 units each, on average.

In addition to rehabilitating properties, M2M also resizes and restructures property debt to account for market rent levels, to pay for rehabilitation and 20 years' of estimated repairs and replacements, and to establish a financially viable project for the long term.

M2M provides an opportunity to test the impact of Green and Healthy Housing principles in the existing HUD-subsidized multifamily inventory by providing modest incentives to owners and purchasers to perform needed rehab and maintenance using Green alternatives, and to collect ongoing data to validate impacts on utility consumption and indoor air quality.

In developing the Green Initiative, OAHP has consulted with several industry experts, and their participation has been invaluable in the development of this outline. By launching the Green Initiative through M2M, HUD has the opportunity to continue to work with industry leaders to shape both the future of HUD's efforts and of the Greening of affordable housing in this country.

MORE INFO: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/omhar/paes/greenini.cfm

Grants for energy efficiency in the HUD-assisted, project-based, multifamily stock.

2009-05-24T17:25:07Z

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), HUD was granted authority to provide $250 million in grants and loans and other assistance to increase energy efficiency in the HUD-assisted, project-based, multifamily stock.

HUD will begin accepting application for the Green Retrofit Program (GRP) beginning June 15, 2009. The amount of a green retrofit grant or loan can be up to $15,000 a unit and is expected to average less than $10,000 a unit across all funded projects. Though the requirements and details differ by eligible housing program, in general, the funds are to be used to reduce ongoing utility consumption, benefit resident health, or to benefit the wider environment. The projects are expected to be completed within 12 months and in no event should work extend more than 24 months.

The program is being administered by HUD's Office of Affordable Housing Preservation (OAHP), which also operates the Mark-to-Market Green Initiative. Though the GRP is a distinct program, it shares some elements of the existing program, including some of the Mark-to-Market terminology. In some instances, OAHP may make Green Retrofit funds contingent on the owner's agreement to a Mark-to-Market debt restructuring.

Full details, including a list of eligible programs and activities, can be found in Housing Notice 09-02, released May 13, 2009, and is available at http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page?_pageid=153,7940934&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

HUD and DOE to Coordinate Federal Weatherization Assistance

2009-05-24T17:19:52Z

On May 6, the secretaries of HUD and the Department of Energy (DOE) signed an MOU to facilitate use of DOE Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funding in public housing and privately owned, federally assisted housing properties.

HUD-Qualified Housing
Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)

these properties, which are designated as "HUD-Qualified Housing," as well as those funded with the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) have sufficient income verification and rent controls to essentially prequalify them for the income and rent restrictions of the DOE's WAP program.

The WAP program requires that the households assisted have incomes no greater than two times the federal poverty level. In addition, when the funds are used in multifamily buildings, there must be sufficient controls to assure that WAP funded improvements are not used by owners to unduly raise rents and burden the low income people the program is intended to benefit.

Specifically, the MOU states that DOE will accept HUD's and the LIHTC program's beneficiary income eligibility determination and ongoing verification for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

To facilitate this, HUD will give DOE a list of "HUD-Qualified Housing" and LIHTC projects, and within 60 days HUD and DOE will provide joint guidance to states for evaluating income eligibility in order to implement the MOU. The agencies will also organize joint forums to educate stakeholders.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) provided $16 billion to DOE and HUD to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes. The Weatherization Assistance Program, which has been funded in recent years at roughly $250 million, received an additional $5 billion in ARRA. Similarly, HUD received $4.5 billion in new funding to renovate and upgrade public housing and $250 million to retrofit the privately owned, federally assisted housing.

The MOU is at www.hud.gov/recovery/doemoucombined.pdf

The Community Regeneration Act - Watch For It...in 2009

2009-05-24T17:13:02Z

The Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act of 2009 (CRSI) has been designed to create a new program within the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) targeted toward cities and metropolitan areas experiencing large-scale property vacancy, abandonment and population losses.

The act's supporters say it will provide assistance to communities to start or expand land banks that establish public control over vacant and abandoned property so that property can be redeveloped or otherwise used in ways to "benefit the public."

A summary of the CRSI act, prepared by its authors, says, "The Community Regeneration Act would encourage innovation, experimentation, and environmentally sustainable practices through collaborative efforts to reuse land bank properties in ways that will provide long-term benefits to the public, whether it is through the creation of green infrastructure, economic development, or other strategies. Implementation of such strategies would create new and sustainable employment opportunities for residents. The Community Regeneration Act would also strongly encourage multi-jurisdictional or regional approaches to addressing the problem of vacant and abandoned property."

Brad Guy, a deconstruction consultant and former president of the Building Materials Reuse Association, was asked to provide input for the language of the bill as it relates to deconstruction and the re-use and recycling of materials.

Allowable Uses for Funds

Funding is for it to go toward the "establishment of recovered building materials reuse and recycling infrastructure, facilities, and technical support."

CRSI as currently proposed, is for the "establishment of local government purchasing requirements for deconstruction to make use of existing building materials stock in new and rehabilitation construction."

In areas where land banking has created a portfolio of vacant properties, the CRSI also would allow both the "deconstruction and demolition of vacant and abandoned properties" and the "demolition and removal of public infrastructure" to be be funded through the act.

Green Plumbing Saves Water for Greener Remodeling

2009-04-30T21:45:23Z

Mary Jean Anderson is a mother, a grandmother ... and the owner and president of Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air in San Diego, California. Her company, which now incorporates Walter Anderson Plumbing, Anderson One Hour Heating & Air, Air Best, and a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise, has been in business for 30 years. Now, Anderson has become a licensed GreenPlumber.

Her status as a family matriarch, she says, is part of the reason. "As a mother and grandmother, I believe I need to be proactive to ensure my family and their families will have resources necessary to sustain a healthy lifestyle," Anderson says. She also points out that for her woman-owned plumbing company, "adding "green" makes perfect sense. It adds a level of ethics and integrity while positioning us within the community as experts with values and principles essential to improving our community through a sustainable future."

Life in arid San Diego also drives Anderson toward environmental responsibility. "Living in Southern California, we must conserve water and all other natural energy resources. The GreenPlumber education program has given our team a greater understanding of the absolute necessity of protecting our depleted natural resources," Anderson says. "We now know what to do to make this happen and each of us takes this responsibility seriously. We're anxious to help our customers understand our responsibilities, and theirs. Together we can accomplish the goal of a healthy, affordable, sustainable California."

Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air is focusing its green work on household water audits, residential retrofits, new technology and education.

The GreenPlumbers® training and accreditation program is open to all recognized plumbers and contractors. The program is partnered with the EPA's WaterSense program, the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the California Center for Sustainable Energy, the California Urban Water Conservation Council, and many more industry leaders in its mission of bringing environmental training to plumbers.

For more information, visit www.greenplumbersusa.com.

Picture Time...! Recycling Saves Landfills, Saves Methane, Saves the Planet!

2009-04-22T20:20:47Z

Construction debris (C&D) is one of the largest contributors to landfills. And landfills are the largest contributor to methane gas emissions to the atmosphere -- which is the greatest contributor to climate change. So...when you are remodeling, think about reducing your waste, and sending the rest of it out for recycling...not feeding the landfill system. And don't forget to request "RECYCLED CONTENT" in your new installations. Let's put demand in the right place!

Recycling is nothing new, but few among us have seen what happens to our plastic, paper, metal, and glass once it departs from our blue, curbside bins.

The photographer Mathieu Young takes us on an enlightening tour of the Waste Management Materials Recovery Facility in Pico Rivera, California.

This recycling operation in Southern California is a single facility that sorts nearly 6,000 tons of material per month, and it's quite a load to take in.

The Waste Management Pico Rivera MRF is a privately owned and operated 39,000 square foot recycling facility that sorts 5,800 tons of material per month.