The Appraisal Institute issued the form as an optional addendum to Fannie Mae Form 1004, the appraisal industry’s most widely used form for mortgage lending purposes. Used by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration, Form 1004 is completed by appraisers to uphold safe and sound lending. Currently, the contributory value of a home’s green features is rarely part of the equation.

The Appraisal Institute’s addendum allows appraisers to identify and describe a home’s green features, from solar panels to energy-saving appliances. Form 1004 devotes limited attention to energy efficient features, so green data usually doesn’t appear in the appraisal report, or it is included in a lengthy narrative that often is ignored.

No matter where you live, though, the seasonal change in temperature serves as an excellent reminder to reset the blades on your home’s ceiling fans.

Ceiling fans don’t warm or cool air, specifically. Instead, they circulate air which can have the effect of making a room feel warmer in the winter months, and cooler in the summer months.

When it’s cold outside, ceiling fans push warm air down from the ceiling, balancing the heat within a room. This can make a room feel 4-6 degrees warmer. Then, during warmer months, ceiling fans push a room’s cold air back into circulation, which creates a windchill effect, of sorts.

This, too, can change a room’s temperate 4-6 degrees.

The secret to a ceiling fan is in the rotation direction of its blades. 

• When fan blades rotate clockwise, the fan makes a room feel warmed
• When fan blades rotate counter-clockwise, the fan make a room feel cooler.

This Weather Channel video explains how it works.

If your San Diego home is without ceiling fans, consider installing one (or more). Ceiling fans are economical and “green”, using the equivalent energy of a 100-watt light bulb, while lowering your home’s energy costs.

Plus, they’re relatively simple to install. 

Tutorial videos are available online for the do-it-yourselfers, or just call a qualified electrician for assistance.

Installing a ceiling fan is a 1-hour project.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating can account for 25% of a home’s energy use. This is a substantial percentage, representing thousands of dollars per year in energy costs.

The good news is there are multiple ways to increase your San Diego home’s energy-efficiency with respect to heated water.

The Department of Energy provides a list. 

1. Reduce hot water usage : Fix leaks, install low-flow fixtures, and use high-efficiency clothes washers and dishwashers.
2. Lower the hot water temperature : 120ºF is ideal. Each 10ºF drop in temperature saves up to 5% and slows corrosion.
3. Insulate your water heater : A simple blanket wrap costs $25 and will save you up to 9% in costs
4. Insulate your water pipes : Water will be delivered 4ºF hotter which means lower energy use.
5. Install a timer : If your heater is electric, turn it off during non-peak hours such as overnight
6. Use greywater heat recovery systems : 90% of water’s energy is typically lost down the drain.

Some of the above items are costly to implement, and others are inexpensive. Most can be handled without hiring a plumber, especially those items at the top of the list.

As a San Diego homeowner, take control. Apply these energy-saving, water-heating strategies and you’ll not only save money each month, but you’ll lengthen the useful life of your San Diego home’s appliances and plumbing.

If you’re in need a San Diego plumber referral, please ask.

Click Here for Video Tips on Watering

Summer’s near triple-digit heat is threatening to fry the trees and shrubs you’ve spent all year tending.

You can’t turn off the sun. But you can turn on a spigot and save your plants by watering wisely and well.

“It’s decision-making time,” says Scott Aker of the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., where temperatures this summer have reached 105 degrees.

Your first decision? Let your lawn go.

“Turf grasses are programmed to go dormant in heat as a protective measure,” Aker says. “As soon as we get rain and the weather cools, they’ll get green.”

Also, give your vegetable garden its last rites. Tomatoes and peppers don’t form in heat above 95 degrees, so watering them now will keep the foliage alive, but you won’t see any fruit until September or October – if you’re lucky.

Jim Sutton of Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania has nursed shrubs and trees through several heat waves this summer. He offers four vital tips on how to help your landscaping beat the heat:

1. Recognize stress

Many stressed plants look thirsty. Green foliage turns grey and droops; blossoms and leaves fall to the ground in a desperate attempt to save the shrub. A deep watering often brings a plant back, or at least saves it so it’ll bud next year.

But if leaves are crispy, or the plant continues to look parched in the evening, then it’s reached a permanent wilting point: The point of no return. However, its death need not be in vain. Add your hapless plant to the compost pile to someday nourish its luckier neighbors.

2. Triage. Stat!

In triple-digit heat and drought, save what you can in this descending order:

• Newly planted shrubs and trees, vulnerable and pricey landscaping
• Perennials: Cut blossoms and stalks, which gives plants a rest and raises chances of returning next year.
• Established trees and shrubs, at least two years old, which have deep roots.
• Container plants: Move them onto a porch or under a shade tree.
• Vegetable gardens
• Lawns

3. Watering 101

Here’s a watering rule of thumb: Water deep, not often. Water should reach 8 to 12 inches down, creating a well of water for plants and trees to draw upon in high heat. To determine if you’ve reached your mark, press a large screwdriver into the soil: If it meets resistance, keep watering.

Hand-watering with a garden hose and aerator is best. Count to 10 as you water the base of plants. Move and repeat. If you have lots of property to water, then use a sprinkler, but adjust it so it doesn’t waste overspray on driveways and walkways.

Tree gators (plastic donuts or sacs that slowly release water onto tree bases) and drip hoses are good helpmates, too.

Water in the early morning: Not 7 a.m. when you usually roll out of bed, but when the sun rises at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. However, don’t get fixated on watering in the morning. If water restrictions require only evening watering, soak ‘em good and don’t fret about fungus forming on leaves that stay damp throughout the night: A little powdery mildew won’t kill your shrubs, but dehydration will.

4. Mulch is your friend

If you didn’t mulch in spring, do it now. Mulch will keep moisture in the ground and suppress weeds, which compete with landscaping for water. If you haven’t mulched, water thoroughly, then add mulch to a depth of 3 to 4 inches.

by Lisa Kaplan Gordon,
HouseLogic Blogger

Can saving the planet be as simple as what kind of laundry detergent you use? Maybe not. But MXenergy, an independent energy provider, says those choices do matter and wants consumers to think about the environmental impact of their daily decisions.

“What you realize as you move to a more sustainable lifestyle is how so much of ‘green living’ is just about simple choices,” says Marjorie Kass, MXenergy managing director. “Do you use plastic bags at the grocery store? Do you use cloth napkins instead of paper? All these small choices add up to a better planet for us all.”

Consider the packaging: When shopping consider not only the price but also the packaging. Choose laundry detergent in boxes rather than plastic bottles. Choose milk in paper cartons instead of glass. Buy bar soap for washing dishes and bathing rather than liquid. These simple changes can dramatically reduce your plastic consumption in just one shopping trip.

Think about the little things: Choose matches over lighters. Say no to straws. Choose a wood cutting board instead of plastic.

Clean green: Not only will baking soda and vinegar help your home sparkle, you eliminate toxic chemicals and multiple plastic cleaning containers as well.

Buy in bulk: When given the choice, buy in bulk for items you consume regularly. You will not only save money but eliminate unnecessary packaging waste. Choose to buy dry good items from bulk bins when possible and bring your own reusable bags.

Eliminate paper: Take advantage of online banking and e-statements. This saves paper, money, and helps reduce your carbon footprint by eliminating the energy needed to deliver the statements to your door.

Reuse: Bring your own cup to the coffee shop. Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Before making a purchase or discarding an item, look for ways to reuse those things you already have in your home.

Put lamps in the corners: Did you know you can switch to a lower wattage bulb in a lamp or lower its dimmer switch and not lose a noticeable amount of light? It’s all about placement. When a lamp is placed in a corner, the light reflects off the adjoining walls, which makes the room lighter and brighter.

Switch to a laptop: If you’re reading this article on a laptop, you’re using 1/3 less energy than if you’re reading this on a desktop.

Choose an LCD TV: If you’re among those considering a flat-screen upgrade from your conventional, CRT TV, choose an LCD screen for the biggest energy save.

Give your water heater a blanket: Just like you pile on extra layers in the winter, your hot water heater can use some extra insulation too. A fiberglass insulation blanket is a simple addition that can cut heat loss and save 4% to 9% on the average water-heating bill.

Turn off the burner before you’re done cooking: When you turn off an electric burner, it doesn’t cool off immediately. Use that to your advantage by turning it off early and using the residual heat to finish up your dish.

Add motion sensors: You might be diligent about shutting off unnecessary lights, but your kids? Not so much. Adding motion sensors to playrooms and bedrooms cost only $15 to $50 per light, and ensures you don’t pay for energy that you’re not using.

Spin laundry faster: The faster your washing machine can spin excess water out of your laundry, the less you’ll need to use your dryer. Many newer washers spin clothes so effectively, they cut drying time and energy consumption in half – which results in an equal drop in your dryer’s energy bill.

Use an ice tray: Stop using your automatic icemaker. It increases your fridge’s energy consumption by 14% to 20%. Ice trays, on the other hand, don’t increase your energy costs one iota.

Use the dishwasher: If you think doing your dishes by hand is greener than powering up the dishwasher, you’re wrong. Dishwashers use about 1/3 as much hot water and relieve that much strain from your energy-taxing water heater. Added bonus: you don’t have to wash any dishes.

My preferred San Diego home inspector at Inspection Perfection will be one of those 350 exhibitors at EarthFair 2011 showcasing Energy Retrofits, Energy Efficiency, Rebates & drought tolerant landscaping and shading. Drop on by his booth on the West End side and enter drawing for a free energy audit. Visit eHome exhibit area showcases products and technologies that can make your San Diego home more environmentally sustainable.

The annual EarthFair in Balboa Park is the largest free annual environmental fair in the world. Each year, the EarthFair draws around 60,000 visitors.

From meat juices to milk spills, kitchen countertops can be messy places. But you don’t need to reach for caustic cleaners to get your kitchen countertops sparkling clean. You can make your own green cleaners using items in your pantry for a fraction of the price.

Household vinegar contains acetic acid, a powerful antimicrobial that kills salmonella and E. coli bacteria. Readily available and cheap to boot, vinegar solutions in the proper proportions are a safe and effective alternative to harsh commercial cleaners.

To make your own non-toxic kitchen countertop cleaner, combine equal parts vinegar and tap water. To boost its cleaning power, warm it in a glass bowl in the microwave. A 64-ounce bottle of food-grade vinegar costs about $4, so a 32-ounce batch of homemade kitchen countertop cleaner will only set you back a buck.

In contrast, a 32-ounce bottle of commercial green cleaner like Seventh Generation costs about $5, while the same size conventional cleaner costs about $4.50.

Avoid these products:

Some commercial anti-microbial wipes and sprays contain sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or ammonium chlorides, chemicals the EPA lists as hazardous to our (and our pets’) health. When mixed with other cleaning products, some of those chemicals can even release toxic gases.

Alyson McNutt English has written about the joy of green cleaning for publications like Pregnancy, Conceive, and BobVila.com. She buys her baking soda and vinegar in bulk and uses them liberally for everything from disinfecting laundry to soaking up her kids’ food stains.

Blossom Grove in Carlsbad CA currently has one quick move in home for sale at a over a $20,000 discount! This 5 Br, 3Ba Foothills Carlsbad homes for sale boasts 2800+sf of living space, a great room, dining room, and a 2 Car Garage with dedicated Bonus Storage Area. Kitchen Features granite counters with coordinated tile back splash, stainless steel appliances, brown sugar beech cabinets, and a gourmet island. The master bedroom in this new homes for sale in Carlsbad features travertine slab countertops, his & her vanities, soaking tub & dual walk-in closets. This Foothills Carlsbad home for sale also features a full size rear yard and a fully landscaped front yard. Priced in the mid $500′s, this new homes for sale in Carlsbad is priced to sell fast and is below what resale homes are selling for in the area.

Rockrose in Carlsbad CA currently has 3 quick move in homes available for sale. These eco friendly homes in Carlsbad are built by Brookfield Homes and are located with-in the Foothills Masterplan in Carlsbad. Two of the 3036sf 2-story models are available as well as one of the 2116sf single story models. These new homes for sale in Carlsbad features granite kitchen countertops, stainless steel appliances and sink, laundry sink, a security system, and a tankless water heater with recirculating hot water pump. Prices for these 3 Foothills Carlsbad home models start at $594,900.

These “green” Carlsbad townhomes are designed to enhance your quality of life while lowering your everyday living expenses. PV solar is a standard feature as well as granite on all countertops, travertine and carpet flooring, Whirlpool stainless steel appliances, 2nd floor laundry room, neutral color paint scheme, and a security system with 2 keypads. These Carlsbad townhomes also boast large master suites and generous junior suites.

Villas De La Costa Carlsbad has an HOA fee of about $187 per month and does not have Mello Roos. The Villas De La Costa HOA fee includes common area maintenance, exterior landscaping maintenance, exterior building maintenance and trash pickup. These La Costa Carlsbbad townhomes are currently priced from 509K.