Lots of people think about ways to save the environment in a physical manner such as changing light bulbs from incandescent to florescent and recycling, but many drop the ball when it comes to cleaning their Minneapolis condo. Keeping your condo clean in a way that is healthy to you, your family, and the environment just takes a little extra thought and soon becomes second nature.
Danger, Danger
Get rid of any products under your sink, in your bathroom, or your cleaning closet that have danger cautions. If they are bad for you, they are probably bad for the environment too, and why have such hazardous materials in your Minneapolis condo?
Labels that have cautions such as poison, hazard, and danger on them are not only bad to have around small children, the toxins leak into the air when you use them causing health problems for your family. They also leech into the environment when you use them and are hazardous for the environment.
Re-usable and Natural
Buy mop heads and sponges made from natural materials that are bio-degradable and replenishable. Check for recycled materials labels on paper towels, toilet paper, and other disposable objects so that you know those products are making the best use of production materials.
Conserve
Use as little water as possible when doing dishes by turning off the faucet while you are washing and only using running water when you are ready to rinse. Don’t just think about conservation when cleaning your condo. Turn off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth as well for extra savings. Remove your shoes or put a rug by the entry doors of your condo to help cut down the need to wash floors.
Bring in the Green
Bring nature into your Minneapolis condo in the form of hanging and potted plants. Plants clean the air around you and take in harmful carbon dioxide in the air.
Want top buy a clean, green condo? Let me help. Contact me today at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.
Yes, it’s time for the Holidays again, which means it’s time to decorate your Minneapolis loft. If you’re big on recycling, use eco-friendly products and try to keep your carbon footprint on a low scale, you may be trying to figure out how you can make your Holidays a blast without stepping away from your ideals.
Here are a few tips to help you get your Minneapolis loft decorated in eco-friendly style!
Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday:
1.Instead of buying wrapping paper, buy decorative wooden boxes, tin boxes, cloth bags or other eco-friendly packaging to hold your presents. You can get any of these with Holiday themes, most won’t get thrown away for years and, when they finally do fall apart, they’re biodegradable.
2.If you do use wrapping paper, save the paper and reuse it next year: recycling at its best!
3.Buy a real tree instead of a fake one and find an organization to plant one in its place. Once Christmas is over, you can have the Christmas tree recycledinto wood chips, mulch and other wood products.
4.Try buying your gifts from an eco-friendly store. Online or offline, these businesses offer gifts made from recycled, reused or all natural materials.
5.Create fantastic holiday decorations with reusable materials from around the condo. There are tons of decoration ideas around the Net, so you’ll be able to find some ideas that use things you already have lying around.
6.Send an e-card instead of a regular Holiday card, or buy Holiday cards made from recycled materials.
7.If you want lights, use LEDs (low-energy lights). Not only do they use less power, but also if one light goes out, the rest stay lit.
With a little bit of thought and ingenuity, your Minneapolis loft can be as bright and cheerful as you’ve always wanted without worrying about the impact on the environment. Have a Happy (and eco-friendly) Holiday!
If you’re looking for a condo or loft in the urban Minneapolis area to hang your eco-friendly wreaths in, I can help. Call me at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com for more information.
If you have some Minneapolis real estate to sell or you just want to raise the property value, keeping hip to the market trends is paramount. Kitchens are one of the biggest selling points of any residential property. Energy efficient and cost effective are the catchwords of the day, and recycled is the way to go. Here are a few of the newest eco-friendly kitchen products that can find you buyers and up your property value.
1.EverHot – Made by Water, Inc, the EverHot is an excellent addition to trendy kitchens. No more boiling water, which makes it energy efficient and timesaving, EverHot is an under counter instant hot water heater. It uses less electricity than a 40-watt bulb, but produces up to 60 cups of steaming water an hour.
2.Whirlpool GS5VHAXWA – A refrigerator of amazing proportions, the Whirlpool is considered the most energy efficient of its type. All sleek metal and beautiful lines, this Whirlpool model does everything other fridges do (including providing purified water and making ice) on less than 550 kilowatts a year. Besides being energy efficient, it has the benefit of Whirlpools long history of excellent customer care.
3.Bosch Dishwashers – Energy Star rated and highly rated by Consumer Reports on a regular basis, Bosch dishwashers are the cleaning appliances to have in your Minneapolis condo. Critics rave about how quiet they are, and the company is the only manufacturer that uses EcoSense technology. Push a button and the dishwasher is preprogrammed for optimum time, energy and water efficiency. You can’t get better than that.
When you’re planning to sell or renovate your Minneapolis loft or condo, catch up with the trends, first. Remember – green is the way to go!
If you’re trying to get your real estate ready to sell, I can help. Call me at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com for more information.
Are you looking for something to do around your Minneapolis loft this weekend that will also help the environment? Why not do a quick green renovation at loft. Incorporating green products and practices in your loft save our natural resources and are better for your health. Here are a few simple projects you can work on this weekend.
1. Floors. You can easily replace the floor in a room during a weekend. Bamboo and cork floors are excellent environmentally-friendly choices because they are renewable sources. They come in a variety of colors and styles so you can find something that will match your current décor.
2. Paint. Painting a room is a quick and easy way to change its look. However, traditional paint is loaded with toxic fumes that can aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma. When you paint your next room, choose a paint that contains less or no amounts of dangerous chemicals. Your room will look just as good, and your lungs will be happier.
3. Windows. If you still have older, single pane windows in your Minneapolis loft, it’s time to replace them with double pane energy efficient windows. These newer windows will lower your energy consumption by keeping your loft warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Additionally, you may be eligible for a Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency of up to $1500 if you purchase Energy Star windows in 2009 or 2010.
4. Insulation. A well insulated condo saves you money and cuts back on the amount of energy you use. Make sure you have adequate insulation in your attic. Check your doors and windows for cracks and leaks that allow air to escape. Seal them with caulk or weather stripping. The Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency applies to Energy Star insulation as well.
Are you looking for a green Minneapolis loft? I specialize in green lofts and condos and would be happy to help you find the one that fits your budget and needs. Call me today at 612-877-1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.
From household cleaning supplies to clothing, everything is going green. The same goes for the real estate market. Many potential loft buyers want eco-friendly Minneapolis real estate. Before you simply buy a loft that’s touted as green, consider these few tips for finding a truly green loft.
1. Work with an expert
It may be difficult for you to figure out what criteria designate a green loft. That’s why it’s important to seek out a green real estate professional whose main focus is to help you sort through fact from fiction in the green housing industry.
2. Buy in an eco-friendly neighborhood
Purchasing green Minneapolis real estate doesn’t necessarily mean the location will be environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, buyers may not factor in this detail. If your neighborhood is in the heart of the city, you may be exposed to more car emissions. Also, access to green amenities like bike and walking trails, may be limited. Look for rooftop green spaces and gardens that you can use in the city.
3. Add your own green touches
Sometimes the loft you find could be perfect with just a few small changes. If you want to make a loft green, you have a variety of options. You could add natural flooring, install energy star appliances to help with energy costs and use non-toxic paint.
Before buying green Minneapolis real estate, or any Minneapolis condo for that matter, take your time and do your research. Many people are jumping on the popularity of going green, so it’s smart to remain skeptical until you know and understand all the facts.
Looking for an eco-friendly loft or condo? I’m a green real estate professional and would love to help. Give me a call today at 612-877-1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com. You can search for these lofts and condos at this site!
If you’re like many people today, you not only want to live comfortably you want to live responsibly. That means having a Minneapolis condo that is as eco-friendly as possible.
If you don’t buy a condo that’s already eco-friendly, you’ll have to do your own improvements. Why not look for Minneapolis condos that had eco-friendly features originally built in or recently installed. Here are a few things you can look for to see if your prospective new condo is “green” no matter what color it’s painted.
• Double-paned windows are one very important eco-friendly feature. They keep the cold out in the winter and hold heat in, and vice versa in the summer months.
• Eco-friendly appliances already in the kitchen and utility rooms mean you won’t have to go running out to buy brand new ones. Look for Energy Star symbols and ratings on all major appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, washer/dryers, heating and cooling systems.
• Low water flow fixtures keep your costs down while saving the planet’s water supply.
• Even something as simple as awnings over the windows adds a great energy saving resource to a Minneapolis condo. Retractable awnings are even better because they will keep the heat out in the summer, and in the winter, you can put them up to let the sunlight help heat your condo.
• Color counts: The color of your condo’s exterior should be light to reflect heat, rather than a dark color that will attract and hold heat.
• An on-demand hot water system saves energy because it only heats water when it’s needed.
Looking for an eco-friendly Minneapolis condo or loft? I can help. Call me today at 612.817.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.
If you’re like many people today, you not only want to live comfortably you want to live responsibly. That means having a Minneapolis condo that is as eco-friendly as possible. 
