NOVA Green Living

eXp Realty Launches in Northern Virginia

2012-01-05T09:19:00.001-05:00

Loudoun County Real Estate expert, David Harbour has announced that he will be heading up the expansion and growth of eXp Realty in the state of Virginia. eXp Realty is the Nation's First Cloud-Based Real Estate Brokerage. For more information on the group go to www.novagreenrealestate.com or call 571.306.2102.

eXp Realty Launches in Northern Virginia

2011-10-09T05:22:00.001-04:00

Ashburn, VA –David Harbour has announced that he will be heading up the expansion and growth of eXp Realty in the state of Virginia, beginning on June 21, 2011. David is one of Northern Virginia’s top real estate agents and a founder of NOVA Green Real Estate Group, one of NOVA’s most innovative real estate teams. www.novagreenrealestate.com

Red Camera and 4K HD Video specialists Prototype Advertising

2011-01-15T05:26:00.001-05:00

Prototype Advertising Inc. is the premier media company in the nation that utilizes such sophisticated video equipment as RED camera, HD video, 4K video, giving its clients the highest quality in the business.

At Prototype Advertising, we're no one-trick Ninja (or pony either). Our in-house efforts have run the gamut from multiple video creations to retail window art to movie soundtracks.

We are the artists formerly known as athletic footwear marketers, NYC fashionists, rock banders, TV personalities and professional sports promoters who now call Prototype home. We currently moonlight as coffee addicts, political debaters, front-lawn baseball players, spare time musicians and spare parts mechanics.

For you - the client - all this translates to creative malleability, as our artistic eye is always changing to fit the shape of your product. That means dollar signs for you and a creative outlet for us. Just don't ask us to give up the caffeine.

Green Savings

2010-08-16T07:31:00.000-04:00

Green Living = Green Savings
Living a more environmentally friendly life is as easy changing a few of your everyday habits. Plus, once you see how much green you're saving, you'll want to step it up even more.

Green Savings
Green Saving online promotions and savings. Get coupons, coupon codes and special offers at Greensavings.org.

Green Savings calculator
Whether it’s the green in the environment or your wallet, reducing paper consumption by using eBills and online bill pay can help save it.

Hotels, Spas Enjoy Big Savings from Green Projects
By implementing energy- and water-saving initiatives, hotels and spas are illustrating how businesses across all industries can reduce their operational costs while cutting their environmental footprint.

Planet Green: Green Money Savings
Check out some ways to go green in a tough economic times.

Interview with Option 1 Title & Escrow - The Green Settlement Process

2010-04-20T21:48:00.002-04:00

Come See US at Booth #69 at Earth Day at Loudoun....

2010-04-17T22:07:00.000-04:00

NOVA Real Estate TV - REPAX and Andrea Gagne - "Eco-friendly Moving Approach" Episode #1

2010-04-01T05:26:00.001-04:00

David Harbour and The NOVA Green Team just became an Official Sponsor of Earth Day at Loudoun 2010

2010-03-18T22:48:00.006-04:00

The mission of EarthDay@Loudoun is to promote and celebrate environmental stewardship among county residents and businesses. This is accomplished through entertainment, exhibits, workshops and activities that engage and inspire the entire community, especially the next generation of environmental stewards. The event also creates an opportunity for local environmental organization(s) to connect with Loudouners.

Moss Building and Design and Owner Peter Hampel

2010-03-03T12:02:00.003-05:00

Moss Building & Design is a family-owned business that has established a reputation for excellence in remodeling additions, kitchens, bathrooms and basements throughout Northern Virginia. Our customers see us as a trusted partner, and we're very proud of our exceptional 80% repeat and referral rates.

Green Realtor in Northern VA, EcoBroker, Loudoun County Realtor

2009-12-29T22:09:00.001-05:00

http://www.novagreenteam.com Green Real Estate Agents, Northern VA EcoBroker Specialist. David Harbour with the NOVA Green Team, Northern VA. premier green real estate team.

What is a Green Realtor? Green Real Estate Expert David Harbour - Certified EcoBroker with RE/MAX Premier

2009-12-17T12:14:00.002-05:00

Cyber Monday

2009-11-30T05:25:00.000-05:00

CyberMonday.com

Shop often for deals of the week and specials from over 650 retailers at the official Cyber Monday site.

Eco Cyber Monday

The term "Cyber Monday" refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday and marks the beginning of the online holiday shopping season when retailers offer bargains through online purchasing portals. The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports Cyber Monday spikes online sales.

Cooking Up A Green Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T08:45:00.000-05:00

Save Energy in the Kitchen: 10 Cooking Tips

These 10 tips are worth their weight in gold, especially with energy bills being what they are! And they are so brilliantly simple that you’ll find them easy to incorporate without feeling put-upon or strained in any way.

Energy Saving Cooking Tips

With Thanksgiving preparation, and whirlwind of cooking plans underway, you may be wondering how to reduce energy use in the kitchen. Here are a few green living tips for saving energy while preparing your Thanksgiving dinner….or any dinner!

11 Common Sense Low Energy Cooking Tips

We're all getting more aware of our energy consumption when it comes to cars (hybrids and electric cars are getting more popular) and to lighting (compact fluorescents took over in only a few years), but most of us are still in the dark when it comes to energy-efficient cooking. Here's a few common sense tips to get your started on the road to low energy cooking.

Green Cooking Tips How To Store Your Food

Between single-serving containers and non-recyclable plastics, there are few places that serve as better examples of wasteful behavior than supermarkets. If you know what you're looking for and how to repurpose items, you can become an aware shopper and make the best choices for you and the planet.

Green Friday

2009-11-21T13:48:00.001-05:00

Top 10 Ways to Go Green on Black Friday

Black Friday is not officially a holiday, but don’t tell that to the millions of crazed bargain shoppers out there who get up before the crack of dawn to shop ‘til they drop! For many people it’s a family tradition to get up early the day after Thanksgiving and head straight for the best deals in town. For others it’s an excuse to shop and work off the extra pounds that they gained from eating turkey, sweet potatoes and stuffing.

Make Black Friday a Little Greener

Obviously, shopping on Black Friday is not the eco-friendliest way to spend a day. But, let's say you wake up the morning after Thanksgiving, pumped up on adrenaline and ready to shop 'til you drop. How can you make your Black Friday shopping spree a little greener?

Make Black Friday Green in 2009

In this state, and in this economy, buying from locally owned independent businesses this Christmas is more important than ever. At CRIBA, we would like to challenge everyone to keep as much money in the local economy this year as possible.

Green Homes

2009-11-18T07:17:00.000-05:00

Commercial innovations lead way for green homes

Green building practices are not only paying off more quickly as costs decline with demand, but home buyers also are seeking out greener developments over ones without green features ... if they aren't too pricey.

Permalink to GreenBuild Blog 3- How LEED Certified Homes Impact Homeowners

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to help identify and implement practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

US builds one million Energy Star green homes

Houston, Dallas and Las Vegas are the top three cities with the most qualified green homes, followed by Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Tucson, San Antonio, Sacramento, San Diego, Columbus, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Austin, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, Orlando and Oklahoma City.

Green Energy Savings

2009-11-16T08:53:00.000-05:00

U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

L.E.D. LIGHTING: AN INVESTMENT IN ENERGY SAVINGS.

Still white-light LED lighting has moved forward dramatically since 1999. The first white light LEDs were barely white, a very light blue would be a better description. Now there’s a warm white, still not the incandescent glow consumers are comfortable with but close enough. And, white light LEDs are found in all kinds of products from Christmas tree lights, to flashlights to the latest: back lighting for flat computer displays. (I’m looking forward to one of those when (and if) prices drop.

What are some tips for saving money and energy when it comes to lighting?

Apartment energy savings can be huge when it comes to lighting. According to ENERGY STAR, if every home in the United States replaced an incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR rated compact florescent bulb, enough energy would be conserved to light three million homes.

“Green Tap”- NEC develops energy-saving power strip

The device can be used for all kinds of electric appliances. The sensor monitors various data such as the luminosity, temperature, humidity or human heat around it. If you’re out of the room in which you placed your TV, for example, the sensor makes the power strip send an infrared signal to the remote control, which then makes the TV go into standby mode or turn it off completely. If you return, the TV will be turned on again.

Green Dining

2009-11-14T07:33:00.000-05:00

Green Holiday Shopping

2009-11-11T06:28:00.000-05:00

How to Keep Your Holiday Shopping Eco Friendly

Americans like to shop green. In the 90s, this meant buying Ben & Jerry’s. (Okay it may have meant more, but such as the perspective of a girl who spent graduate school in Vermont.) Now with cars to cleaners to organic meatballs, Madison Avenue is pushing the environment on everyone. And hey, we’re not complaining.

Holiday Shopping Tips: Green Gift Guide

The holidays can be hard on all things green: from your money to the environment. This year, give both a break by trimming down your approach to holidays. Embrace gifts that are low in cost, don’t require excessive shipping, and help preserve both the environment and your cash.

Green Tax Credits

2009-11-09T08:14:00.000-05:00

Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

More time for homebuyers tax credits

President Obama recently signed the bill into law. The tax credit was set to expire at the end of the month, but will now run through April.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

‘Green’ tax credits you may not know about

One of those opportunities is a generous tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements. Whether it's new doors and windows, insulation, a roof, or even a solar water heater, you can earn a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of the improvements.

Clean up with green tax credits

Another, larger credit program, also administered by the Department of Energy, lets homeowners deduct up to 30% of the cost of fuel cells, solar cells or solar water heaters, wind energy and geothermal energy generators. These credits have no cap and are in place until 2016. Also, all but the fuel-cell credit can be used for non-primary residences

Green Home Improvement

2009-11-06T07:11:00.000-05:00

11 Nifty Green Home Improvement Projects

From the shade trees I plant around my home to the recycled water I use for growing vegetables in my back yard, I try to use only earth-friendly resources for my home. My husband is on board with this effort as well. He drives a Prius and walks to the corner store instead of hopping in his car. Plus, our diet consists partly of vegetables grown from our organic vegetable garden, and we compost.

Make your Home Green!

Waste is all too prevalent, and in this day and age it is becoming a huge problem. More than 4 pounds of trash is produced every day by just one person alone, and although its estimated that 75 percent of all the trash sent to the landfills can be recycled, only about 30 percent of that trash actually is. Fortunately there are plenty of simple ways to help contribute to solving the problem, and contribute to your savings by reducing, reusing, and recycling in and around the home.

Moderately Priced Green Home Improvements

Going green is a popular concept lately. The outcome of our planet’s existence depends on its people thinking green whenever possible. You can create green home improvements that are important because you can easily see the outcome of your efforts. You have many options when it comes to making your house green. Let’s take a look at some home improvements that are inexpensive and cost effective.

Travel Green

2009-11-04T06:53:00.000-05:00

The holidays are approaching fast, and that means one thing: travel.

Here are some tips and resources to help you stay green on the road.

Green Travel Plan: A Roadmap to Green Travel

If you want to create a green travel plan, we’ve created this roadmap guiding you through some of our favorite posts so far. Plus we explain why they’re an important part of your green travel plan.

The Green Directory – Travel Responsibly

Exploring the corners of the earth and embracing other cultures can enrich lives and inspire healthy change, but being aware of and taking steps to reduce the environmental impact of our journeys are equally important. With our Green Directory we hope to connect travelers to options that will help to diminish the footprint their trips leave on the planet by featuring environmentally-friendly hotels and destinations, as well as offering our customers tips on responsible travel, eco-travel based reviews from fellow travelers, and the opportunity to negate your trip's footprint through carbon offsets.

Eco-Friendly Travel Tips

Travelers who are passionate about preserving and protecting the environment are checking into Virginia Green.

Daylight Saving?

2009-11-02T06:45:00.000-05:00

Daylight Saving Wastes Energy, Study Says

Indiana's change of heart gave University of California-Santa Barbara economics professor Matthew Kotchen and Ph.D. student Laura Grant a unique way to see how the time shift affects energy use. Using more than seven million monthly meter readings from Duke Energy Corp., covering nearly all the households in southern Indiana for three years, they were able to compare energy consumption before and after counties began observing daylight-saving time. Readings from counties that had already adopted daylight-saving time provided a control group that helped them to adjust for changes in weather from one year to the next.

Report Reveals Daylight Saving “Saves” Energy

The “heuristic” method compared the average changes in the pattern of electricity consumption between 2006 and 2007 during the periods of extended daylight saving time in March and November. The statistical method examined daily and hourly electricity consumption for a sample of electric utilities across the country.

Happy “Hallowgreen”

2009-10-30T06:39:00.000-04:00

Green Halloween: A healthy, green & fun community movement

This Halloween, think treasures, instead of candy. Kids love little trinkets like spinning tops, stickers and collectable cards. Most children especially love gifts from nature like polished rocks, crystals and seashells. Think keepsakes, tokens and stocking-stuffer type gifts but don’t forget to think healthy and green. Although non-food items are generally healthier than food items, try to avoid non-recycled plastic toys.

Readers, Send Us Your Green Halloween Photos!

Did you pass out organic candies or fair trade treats? Design a fresh-from-the-farm jack-o-lantern? Throw an eco-fabulous Halloween party? Enjoy the bloodcurdling benefits of a DIY costume? Prove it! We want to see photos from your green Halloween for our next readers slideshow--if you're the last minute type, check out Planet Green's How to Go Green: Halloween . Click through for details and see the potential for your photo in this week's Readers' International Day of Climate Action Photos.

The Green Halloween Movement

A few years ago, while taking her then six- and two-year-olds out trick or treating, Colwell-Lipson was impressed and inspired by the houses that provided treats like bubbles and stickers as an alternative to candy. She thought it would be great if there was a way -- like a sign -- for parents to know which houses had healthy treats, so they could steer their children accordingly.

Green Home Business

2009-10-28T06:53:00.000-04:00

Home Based Green Businesses Are Raking In The Green

All of us have been exposed to the green movement in one form or another, you can’t turn on the TV or radio, can’t open a newspaper or magazine without getting blasted with information about how we need to protect the environment. I have personally seen the phrase “ Green is the new Black” used at least five hundred times over the past year and although I’m an environmentalist, I could certainly survive without having to hear that little quip once more.

Green Home Business Profitable Start-Ups

Fortunately, savvy entrepreneurs are using their ingenuity along with new technologies and renewable energy sources to recycle, reduce, and reuse waste materials to start profitable ventures. Here are fifteen green home business ideas for you to consider that are potentially-profitable and earth-friendly.

Green Budgets

2009-10-26T06:41:00.000-04:00

55 Green Budget Tips to Show Nature You Love Her

I don’t care if you grew up in the city, and your only interaction with nature was through the birds on the phone lines, or the ants in your kitchen. Nature has been there for you your entire life, and now it’s time for you to open yourself up to nature’s message.

Permanent Link- 30 Green Ways to Stretch Your Family’s Budget

Money doesn’t seem to go as far as it did even a few years ago, and raising a family while being green can be expensive if we believe all of the hype about buying more green stuff.

Back to basics: Green budget living tips

The economy. Energy. Burgeoning carbon footprints vs shrinking portfolios. Not an appetizing picture. Still, we gotta eat. To alleviate some of the stress surrounding these complex and confusing issues, let’s look to the past for simple, green solutions. During the Great Depression, consumers had to differentiate between needs and wants, and you may have witnessed the legacy of that frugal time in the spending habits of your grandparents and their friends. It’s time we all started buying like that generation.

Green Living Made Easy - The Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

2009-10-21T07:29:00.000-04:00

Green Tech

2009-10-19T07:24:00.000-04:00

A round-up of recent Green Tech stories from CNet:

Where the clean-tech jogs are
General unemployment may be on the rise, but the clean-tech sector should be a bright spot for job seekers, according to a report released Thursday by Clean Edge research.

Solar-charging backpacks set for hike to market
G24 Innovations has shipped its first flexible solar panels, which are destined for the outside of backpacks and other bags, the company said Wednesday.

Who will pay for the electric 'gas' stations?
With electric vehicles, you could probably do away with stopping at fueling stations entirely, as the majority of your fueling, or battery charging, will be done overnight while plugged in at home or during the day while parked at the office. But because it is conceivable that not every trip will be within the battery range of your vehicle, the mere presence of public charging stations for electric vehicles could help alleviate "range anxiety," or the concern that with an electric vehicle, you will be stranded when your battery dies.

Solar village begins to bloom on National Mall
WASHINGTON--After nearly two years of preparation, teams of architecture and engineering students will soon open the doors on a cluster of 20 solar-powered homes on the National Mall.

Green Redecorating

2009-10-16T07:35:00.000-04:00

Green redecorating / remodel on a budget PART1
There is a time in the life of a house when remodeling, or at least redecorating is absolutely necessary: walls thirsty for paint, tired rooms begging to be rejuvenated. In our difficult economic times few people have the resources for such home improvements. However, it is not impossible to redecorate or remodel on a budget while still upholding green standards.

Green redecorating / remodel on a budget PART2
The initial stages of a remodel can be daunting for homeowners, decreasing energy consumption is one of the primary goals of green remodeling. This can be achieved in a myriad small ways begun quite simply by fostering environmentally sound habits: turning off appliances and lights, decreasing use of heating or air-conditioning, etc.

Green...And Spooky!

2009-10-14T07:29:00.000-04:00

Green Costume Ideas for Halloween
Looking for a way to spread the message of environmentalism with a sense of humor? Why not consider a green-themed Halloween costume for this year's round of parties and trick-or-treating?

How to Have a Green Halloween
Back in the day, Halloween was different. It was a low-budget holiday. We spent more time and effort on Halloween than we did money and energy. Decorations and costumes were not bought. They were fabricated out of old sheets and cardboard boxes. Treats were often homemade and eaten on the spot. Trick-or-treating was done on foot with protective parents in tow. Kids carried old pillowcases as candy bags. Back then, Halloween was green and we didn't even know it. Unfortunate changes over time have made a green Halloween harder to achieve, but it can be done. With these suggestions and ideas, you can do your part to help the environment while you have a good, old-fashioned Halloween holiday.

Green Halloween costumes
Need some costumes ideas for Halloween? Store shelves are lined with costumes, but why spend your hard earned dollars on a pre-fab costume that your children will wear once and throw away when you can make your own costumes from old clothes and other items you already have around the house? As promised in my Green Halloween primer, here are some great ideas for simple, eco-friendly Halloween costumes for you and/or your kids. Got a few great ideas of your own? Post them here!

Green Halloween Party Ideas – Recycling Theme
If you have decided on hosting a party for Halloween, why not plan it around a green theme? And what could be greener than “recycling”? Here are some easy, cheap and fun ideas you can use for your Halloween entertainment.

Green Shopping

2009-10-12T07:23:00.000-04:00

eBay Launches Green Shopping Campaign
eBay's Green Team has launched a six-week "re+purpose" campaign designed to get people to make more sustainable shopping choices and increase awareness about green products.

Tax-free holiday lets shoppers go green for less green
In Virginia, the state also is offering what is being called a first-come, first-serve rebate program aimed at encouraging residential and commercial customers to buy energy-saving products. The Virginia Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program will use $15 million in federal stimulus funds to give back 20 percent of qualifying purchases, or up to $2,000 for homeowners and up to $4,000 for commercial buyers, the AP report said.

Reportlinker Adds Green E-Commerce: Gaining Momentum Report
The Green E-Commerce report traces the many ways the Internet is spurringeco-consumerism and how brand marketers are responding.

How parents can save money and live green
In today's economy, every penny counts. It can be difficult to live green and give the best to your family on a budget. Here are a few simple ideas to save money while living green.

Green Careers: Green Design

2009-10-09T07:51:00.000-04:00

Green On A Budget

2009-10-07T17:39:00.002-04:00

Josh Dorfman's Tips for Going Green on a Budget
Going green doesn't have to cost a lot of green! Use these simple tips to make a positive impact on the environment while keeping your wallet intact. It's easy, even for the laziest of environmentalists.

Demand more efficient lighting
How much energy could be saved by more efficient lighting? If you're among the millions of Americans who switched to CFLs, you've seen the difference in your electricity bill.

How to 'go green' on a budget
The consumer who grabs the half-gallon of organic milk instead of regular milk knows something about the cost of "going green." It's high.

Going Green on the Cheap
For those of us with more limited means, there are small things we can do every day to trim our energy use. Many are low-cost or free, and some will even save you money. After all, you shouldn't have to be rich to help save the planet. Check out these 15 ways you can live an environmentally friendly lifestyle on a budget.

Five Simple Steps to Going Green on a Budget
1. Rethink your trash: Make a conscious effort to reduce your garbage and increase your recyclables. “Everything should not be destined for the trash can,” says Caraccioli. “Help reduce the mountains of material headed for the landfill by donating toys, clothes, old computers, cell phones and extra food to charities.” The remaining “trash” can then be sorted and recycled where applicable. “I recently discovered that Hewlett Packard recycles old printer ink cartridges,” she offers. “When you purchase new cartridges, the company includes mailing labels to send back the empty cartridges at no cost to the consumer.”

Carbon Capture And Storage

2009-10-05T07:30:00.000-04:00

Carbon Capture and Sequestration 101
Several recent congressional hearings on the deployment of carbon capture and storage technology require a look at why CCS is necessary and how best to implement it.

Carbon capture and storage: Absolute necessity or crazy scheme?
That said, there is urgency to the task, according Gardiner Hill, head of environmental technology at oil giant BP, which is participating in the CCS project in Algeria. "For every five years of inaction, it requires an extra gigaton of reductions," he said. And that urgency—plus U.S. and global political realities—are pushing even environmentalists to back CCS for coal.

DOE awards $21.6 million for 12 carbon-capture projects
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Obama administration on Friday awarded $21.6 million to a dozen companies seeking to capture carbon dioxide emissions from cement plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, paper mills and other industrial sources.

Staying Warm And Green

2009-10-03T10:48:00.002-04:00

Now that October is here, you can feel that cool crispness in the air. Cooler temperatures are heading our way as winter approaches. Here are some tips and some information about how to stay warm while staying green.

Weatherizing homes: The next big green industry?
It's not the sort of thing that excites your typical Silicon Valley venture capitalist, but companies that weatherize homes could be the sleeper green-business success stories this year.

Take Advantage of the Government's Weatherization Assistance Program
A well-insulated house won't just save you money, it will also benefits the environment. The less energy expended to heat your home, the less pollution emitted. Everyone wins.

Winter Green Weatherization Tips
Definitions of winter weather differ throughout our country. I cannot help but be jealous of my San Franciscan friends’ 70 degree weather forecast as I bundle up to face my Chicago 10 degree (and falling!) weather. The chill of my first Chicago winter has driven my poor San Franciscan self to uncover as many alternative heating solutions as possible.

Green Networking

2009-09-30T08:36:00.000-04:00

Eco-friendly relationships blossom at green-networking events
Groups have sprung up around the country to provide a way for environmentally minded entrepreneurs to meet and drum up business.

Green Networking Made Easy
Want to talk to like-minded people who are interested in sustainability? Sounds good to me. But is networking anything really more than an excuse to have a few drinks at a new bar?

The art of green networking: 15 tips from a reluctant schmoozer
I've always hated the term "networking" as it connotes forced conversations and social climbing. But make it your own authentic process, and it will be your new best friend. These are my top 15 pieces of advice when it comes to building your network and landing a job you'll love.

Smart Green Infrastructure: How To Grow Sustainable Cities

2009-09-28T19:33:00.000-04:00

David Harbour On HGTV

2009-09-25T16:38:00.001-04:00

Check out David Harbour of the NOVA Green Team on one of his HGTV's "Get It Sold" or MommyCast appearances

David's upcoming HGTV "Get It Sold Appearances:

HGTV Schedule

Episode #309 Outdated Asking Price (September 25, 2009 11:00 PM e/p)

Episode #108 Boxing Up the Bachelor Pad (October 01, 2009 5:30 PM e/p)

Episode #309 Simple Fixes in Several Rooms Make This Home More Marketable (October 17, 2009 5:30 PM e/p)

Episode #605 Nine Months to Sell (November 01, 2009 11:30 AM e/p)

Click Here to see David's Mommy Cast Appearance

Global Climate Week

2009-09-23T06:10:00.000-04:00

Notes of Urgency at ‘Climate Week’ Kick-Off
“Remember, we cannot press the undo button if the climate gets out of hand,” said Connie Hedegaard, Denmark’s climate and energy minister, who urged immediate action.

Climate Week Begins, as U.N. Negotiations Near
Starting today, advocates will be staging dozens of events throughout New York City in an attempt to influence the world's government and business leaders, who are converging on Manhattan for a round of United Nations global warming.

Climate Week Opening Ceremony
Hugh Jackman, he of climate change destroying adamantium claws, just kicked off the climate week in New York in an event at the New York Public library with Ban Ki Moon, Tony Blair, and UN Foundation President Tim Wirth, among many others.

Z-Weed

2009-09-21T07:39:00.000-04:00

Green News

2009-09-18T07:21:00.000-04:00

Board Advances Green Initiatives: Energy Plan Takes Shape; Business Challenge Issued
County leaders and staff continue to take steps towards making Loudoun one of the top green counties nationwide, with two concurrent initiatives that hope to achieve that goal.

Telework day in Virginia draws thousands
Virginia teleworkers saved $113,000 in commuting costs and avoided driving 140,000 miles by participating in Telework Day on Aug. 3.

Loudoun Businesses Learn Profitability Strategies from Green Initiatives
In fact, eliminating disposal cups that the administrative staff used at the National Conference Center – which boasts 265,000 square feet of meeting space, 250 meeting rooms and 917 guest rooms – saved about $4,500 a year, Fletcher said. Similarly, he saved about $75,000 by eliminating Styrofoam and $10,000 for switching to CSI waste removal.

Pritchard hosts green housing
"Our idea for the outcome of Green is that the group of students involved do not have to be convinced as to why this program is important," Penven said. "Our goal is to enhance their understanding of issues and hopefully provide them with resources and information that they can take and use in other activities that they are involved with."

Energy Savings

2009-09-16T07:45:00.000-04:00

Your Home
Homeowners and renters know saving energy means saving money without sacrificing comfort. There are many things you can do to save energy in your current home, or when designing and building a new energy-efficient house. Whether you choose no/low cost improvements or invest in long-term energy saving strategies, the following sites can help you choose what is best for your energy picture.

Energy Efficiency Plan
Dominion Virginia Power asked the Virginia State Corporation Commission on July 28, 2009 to approve a broad offering of programs that will enable customers to reduce their energy usage and save an estimated $1.2 billion over 15 years.

Appliances - Wiring, Repair & Energy-Saving Tips
Find out how to wire major appliances and what supplies you will need. Energy saving appliance guides will help you save precious money.

Solar Roads?

2009-09-14T19:36:00.003-04:00

Solar Roadways Could Solve The US Energy Crisis
The benefits to their solar powered roadway go beyond the conventional. In addition to generating electricity, the solar road ways, which are crafted of solar cells and glass, contain LEDs that could provide drivers with information similar today’s overhead highway signs as well as melt snow and ice using built-in heating elements.

Solar Roadways Receives DOT Contract
A visionary project, called Solar Roadways, announced that it has been awarded a $100,000 Department of Transportation contract to build a prototype road "paved" with solar panels.

Solar Roadways Site

MRIS Trends in Housing Report: Mid-Year 2009 Highlights

2009-09-11T09:22:00.003-04:00

2nd Annual Cascades Green Expo

2009-09-10T08:13:00.000-04:00

NOVA Green Team will be an exhibitor, providing energy efficiency and eco-friendly home recommendations for buyers/sellers.

2nd Annual Cascades Green Expo

Tips for greening your home, your lifestyle, and our community.

Sunday, September 13, 2 – 5 p.m. Stone House Community Center

NEW THIS YEAR:
WE’RE COLLECTING E-WASTE AND WE’RE SHREDDING DOCUMENTS!
E-waste: All electronics accepted; NO appliances. Shredding: NO bound documents or paper clips.
Thanks Rentacrate/ShredX and JK Moving & Storage for providing these FREE services!

ALSO new this year:
Hybrid car test drives! Leesburg Toyota and Leesburg Honda are bringing a 2010 Prius and possibly an Insight and will offer no-obligation test drives to licensed drivers.

Visit www.cascadesva.com for more information.

The Expo is free & open to the public. The NOVA Green Team hopes you’ll drop in!

Green Tech News

2009-09-09T08:35:00.000-04:00

A round-up of recent Green Tech stories from CNet's Green Tech Blog:

IBM plunges into the 'smart grid for water'
Even as billions of dollars are being spent around the world to modernize the electricity grid, the systems to delivery fresh water are also in desperate need of a 21st century upgrade.

New school year brings 'Green IT' college degree
Because of financial and environmental concerns, more data center operators are taking steps to cut energy use, such as consolidating server workloads and upgrading cooling systems. Companies such as IBM, HP, and IT consulting companies have practices in designing facilities to be more efficient.

Home appliances to get Cash for Clunkers-like rebate
Now that you've dumped your gas-guzzling pick-up, maybe it's time to move that old fridge from the garage.

USB solar panels charge cell phones on the go
If you plan on walking through the desert with a cell phone anytime soon, you might want to check in with Sanyo before you leave.

Green Careers

2009-09-07T13:27:00.002-04:00

10 Great Green Opportunities
Everything’s coming up green. Across every industry, new job possibilities are emerging for those with the skills to bridge the divide between the old, fossil-fuel-based economy and the new, energy-efficient one. Corporations once demonized for their role in creating pollution and exploiting workers are being held accountable; they are partnering with nonprofits and hiring corporate social responsibility managers.

Investors Will Bring The Green Jobs
The alternative energy industry — the green business — is about to ramp up its hiring, with the next year likely to show an increase in demand, according to U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

Project GreenSearch Is On! The Search for the Next Face of Green
Project Green Search is a campaign aimed at inspiring people to start thinking about how to align their careers with their environmental ethics. A model search and competition is a natural and exciting expression of the Project Green. Search mission, given the influential role beauty and fashion play in society.

Going Green For Labor Day

2009-09-05T15:49:00.002-04:00

To Green Your Labor Day, Skip... Everything
Forget the parties. You've got a day off and if you're feeling some green spirit this Labor Day, there can be no better way to honor it than by... well, taking the day off. Try not working. By not running around and shopping the latest sales or for supplies for a holiday party, you tred a little more lightly on the earth.

10 Tips to Green Your Labor Day Weekend: Green & Organic Savings Friday
And with worries about the economy weighing on so many people’s minds, it’s good to know that going green can actually save money. “Green” items such as recycled and biodegradable items have dropped in price due to rising demand.

Five Ways to Green Your Labor Day Weekend
The last vacation weekend of summer is finally here, and if you don’t have plans to get out and enjoy it, it’s time to make some. It’s also time to ensure that you’re doing everything you can to make your Labor Day weekend as green as possible, and there are ways to get eco-friendly with your holiday activities, whether you’re flying across the country to get away or barbecuing in the backyard at home.

What You're Doing Labor Day Weekend
Stuck in town on Labor Day Weekend? It's OK, you didn't really want to figure out how to get to National Airport without the Metro, anyway, did you? Check out what's going on in town:

Alternative Energy Videos

2009-09-03T19:39:00.002-04:00

Green Sales

2009-08-31T09:06:00.001-04:00

How to Boost Your Home's Value Before a Sale by Going Green
Green Real Estate Education is green "training the chain" of professionals in real estate transactions to bring information to home buyers and sellers on achieving basic economical energy savings, as well as financing these types of renovations. Energy-efficient homes, and especially green-certified properties, are some of the most sought-after residences and are gaining strength daily. The entire building industry is changing towards sustainable and green techniques; it's about time we embrace the new green revolution.

Six Green Strategies for Selling Your Home
Let’s face it. This is not an easy time to sell a house. Improving your home’s energy efficiency is always a good idea, but when you’re getting ready to sell, a few simple, green fix-ups could help put a sold sign on your lawn.

7 Eco-Friendly Tips To Sell Your Home
If you’re going through the same thing or are thinking about selling sometime soon, then you might be interested in some eco-friendly tips to sell your home.

For more information on green selling - and buying - contact the Eco-Broker Certified experts of the NOVA Green Team!

Green Shopping

2009-08-29T16:30:00.001-04:00

Part One

Part Two

Green Flooring

2009-08-27T18:12:00.003-04:00

How to Choose Green Flooring
Two of the most common flooring materials -- carpet and vinyl -- pose risks to the health of the environment and your home.

Bamboo flooring: Looking good for the environment
Bamboo flooring has come a long way in a short time. Once only available in lighter natural shades and hard to come by, it is now a hot new choice for flooring in new homes and remodels.

A House for the Future, Now
Camela and Wes Speer’s new house in Lorton will be environmentally friendly, energy efficient and unlike anything else around. It will also be one of the most carbon-neutral homes in Virginia.

Going Green At Work

2009-08-25T18:56:00.002-04:00

How to Go Green: At Work
A greener workplace can mean a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive place to work, and good news for the bottom line. Whether you’re the boss or the employee, whether your office is green already or still waiting to see the light, some practical steps can lay the groundwork for a healthy, low-impact workspace.

5 Simple Ways to Green Your Office
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average employed American works 9.3 hours per day —that’s more time than dedicated to any other activity. Not surprisingly, offices account for nearly a fifth of all commercial energy consumption. The good news? Greening your workplace can be both simple and cost effective. Try these steps today!

10 Ways to Go Green at Work
Greener homes are in the spotlight these days, but what about the other places where many of us spend huge chunks of our time--our offices? Some simple changes of habit can save energy and resources at work, and these small steps can be multiplied by persuading the powers-that-be at your workplace to adopt environmentally friendly (and often cost-effective) policies.

Back To School...The Green Way!

2009-08-21T18:05:00.002-04:00

8 Ways to Green Back to School
Don’t be fooled: Even if Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” has been playing nonstop lately, the beginning of another school year is quickly approaching.

How to Go Green: Back to School
So, how do you combine school's three R's -- that's readin', writin' and 'rithmetic -- with the planet's three R's of reduce, reuse, and recycle? Here's how to follow up your green summer, full of green barbeques and fun, with a green school year.

Back to School Green Shopping Guide
Today's new green school supplies are high on style and usability, as well as increasingly affordable.

Green Tax Credits

2009-08-10T17:44:00.001-04:00

2009 Top Green Tax Credits and Deductions
A tax credit is a one-for-one dollar reduction in your total tax bill. Think of it as the government literally giving you a credit for a particular amount of money off of your tax bill. A tax deduction on the other hand reduces your taxable income. Once you have all of your deductions taken off of your total income, this amount is then the amount of money you will be taxed against. The difference is a large one in that a tax credit is much more beneficial than a deduction, but both are useful in reducing your tax bill.

Green Energy Home and Auto Tax Credits in the 2009 Economic Stimulus Package
As a soon to be home owner, I was surprised at the amount of "green" tax credits available in President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package (aka 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). The $1500 energy efficiency credit has been well publicized, but there are a lot more goodies in there that you could save you a lot of money when it comes to tax returns next year, and reduce your carbon footprint to boot.

GIY: Green It Yourself

2009-08-07T15:39:00.002-04:00

How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit
Non-toxic cleaning can give you a deep feeling of gratification in knowing that your family’s health is protected, and that your home is a place for your bodies to rest and recuperate rather than promote harm.

Green Homes & Green Solutions For Your House
These articles feature energy saving tips about existing appliances and home systems, explanatory information about Energy Star ratings and unique approaches to gardening and landscaping. Get started by selecting a topic below.

Planet Green - Do It Yourself
Multiple articles on green DIY projects.

Do It Yourself Green Roof
A green roof is a roof that is covered with vegetation. Very popular in Europe, they are an excellent and economic way to reduce energy costs, insulate during the winter, and cool during the summer. Aside from receiving special tax benefits, green roofs can save the home-owner a ton of money throughout their lifetimes, sometimes up to 50% of what they would otherwise spend on energy and insulation.

Local Green News And Events

2009-08-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

Upcoming Events - Piedmont Environmental Council

Keep Loudoun Beautiful To Host Canoe Cleanup Project, Volunteers Needed
In an enduring effort to preserve Loudoun County's environment, Keep Loudoun Beautiful is hosting its annual canoe cleanup project Saturday, Aug. 8. The outing is focused on the Potomac River and the litter that has collected in its waters. In past years, volunteers have filled garbage bags with tires, bikes and other sorts of random trash.

New Loudoun Homeless Shelter Receives Green Building Award
From more than 2,500 nominated projects, the new Loudoun County Homeless Shelter has been selected as a Green Building of America Award-winning project and will be featured in the magazine Real Estate and Construction Review - Green Success Stories Edition.

State, Local Governments Will Help Save Planet...
Like many states, Virginia confronts its share of challenges with energy and climate. Under current business-as-usual emissions projections, Virginia's greenhouse gas emissions are projected to rise about 1 percent per year by 2025. Moreover, Virginia imports approximately 20 percent of its energy, and as the state's population grows - over the next 10 years, 500,000 people are expected to move into Northern Virginia alone - Virginia will be severely challenged to stabilize, much less curb, greenhouse gas emissions.

Groundbreaking held for emergency operations center
He added the facility would also be certified as a green building with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver status.

Alternative Energy

2009-08-03T17:45:00.003-04:00

Scavenging Energy from Evaporation
According to NewScientist: “The researchers added metal plates to the walls of the central stem and connected them to a circuit. The charged plates and the water within the stem create a sandwich of two conducting layers separated by an insulating layer – in effect, a capacitor.”

Future Uses of Solar Energy
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy arm, there will be more breakthroughs in new materials, cell designs, and novel approaches to product development in photovoltaic research and development. Future uses of solar energy could include our mode of transportation and even clothing, which will be equipped to produce clean, safe electric power.

Ambitious green targets boost renewable energy
Fund managers say this increased commitment, together with a similar focus from the US, plus stronger moves towards clean energy from China, is welcome news for an industry that has been slow to take off – and has suffered more than others in the recent downturn.

Green Products

2009-08-01T07:52:00.000-04:00

Prepara sprouts dirt-free garden
Thankfully, there is hope for busy and forgetful people like me. The Prepara Power Plant doesn't require any soil, planting, or high maintenance. Herbs, small vegetables, fruits, and salad greens grow quickly, as the container provides the seeds with the right amount of nutrients and water.

"Green" Back to School Supplies
As July comes to a close it's time for stores to roll out "back to school" sales. This year when you're filling your cart with supplies take some time to look around at some of the greener products out there.

Supermarket small steps: new eco-friendly household products
Steep prices for natural, organic household products are fortunately becoming a thing of the past with the entry of new products on supermarket and drugstore shelves. While it’s important to support the smaller companies who have been taking environmental initiatives since well before consumers demanded it, sometimes we just have to listen to our wallets and shop the big box retailers who are staying competitive with shoppers’ green expectations.

Green Real Estate News

2009-07-29T07:38:00.000-04:00

Priorities are key to success in real estate and mortgage industry survival
So now you are asking, what is the answer to fueling growth in real estate again? How can we get buyers to buy? How can we bring escalating value concepts instead of declining value back into a real estate transaction? It begins with a true sense of what our country was built on, a genuine care and concern for our environment and the survival of our children and citizens by designing a sustainable lifestyle. Innovation, new industries, an entrepreneurial spirit that can grow and be nurished. Tax incentives to grow your businesses.

Feds get green on mortgage financing
HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan wants FHA to offer additional incentives. One of the possibilities: Give applicants credit on their qualifying incomes for a home loan in exchange for documentable savings in annual energy expenditures.

Real Estate 101: How can I go 'green' from the first day of home ownership?
Hire a green broker. When shopping for a home, hire an EcoBroker.

As a reminder, the NOVA Green Team's members are EcoBroker Certified!

Passively Green

2009-07-27T08:31:00.003-04:00

This green home will heat itself
"The Passive House approach is very techie, which I think is its Achilles Heel--it appeals to geeks but not the layman, the lay builder," Hare said standing in the half-finished home last month. "We can prove we can do this without hiring consultants and using software to do the energy modeling. We'll just use precedent and established rules of thumb."

Passive House
By achieving the Passivhaus standards, qualified buildings are able to dispense with conventional heating systems. While this is an underlying objective of the Passivhaus standard, some type of heating will still be required and most Passivhaus buildings do include a system to provide supplemental space heating. This is normally distributed through the low-volume heat recovery ventilation system that is required to maintain air quality, rather than by a conventional hydronic or high-volume forced-air heating system, as described in the space heating section below.

Passive Solar House Designs - Pictures
A collection of images of Passive Houses.

Green Jobs

2009-07-23T19:16:00.002-04:00

greenjobs
Bringing recruiters and job seekers together in the renewable engery industries

What is a green job? And how do I get one?
Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) defines green jobs as, “those that will support Maryland's growing green economy.” That isn’t especially helpful. You have to push a bit further to learn that green jobs are found in organizations focused on energy efficiency and conservation, alternative and renewable energy production, waste management administration, and environmental stewardship and service.

White House Projects Gains in Health, 'Green' Jobs
President Obama's economic team released an upbeat employment forecast yesterday that predicted robust jobs growth in the health-care and clean-energy sectors, and a recovery in manufacturing positions over the next decade.

Growing Up Green

2009-07-20T19:16:00.003-04:00

Welcome to BornFree - The Safe & Smart Feeding System

NewBornMom
NewBornMom is a 100% eco-friendly baby boutique where you'll find a collection of modern and organic nursery essentials, as well as some eco-hip gifts for the new mom and dad. All our products are safe for the environment and your baby, so you can enjoy some guilt-free shopping. Whether you're looking for a gift, or stocking up for your own green baby - we're sure you'll find it here!

Go Green Baby Co.
...growing up naturally

Welcome to Green Baby Products!
Welcome to The Green Baby's Baby Products! Based in the beautiful, geen state of Oregon, we are the source for earth friendly products for baby and for mom! Most of our clothing, diapers, inserts, pads, bibs, hats, socks, blankets, and wipes are made from certified organic materials. Organics will be identified with the word "organic" so you know exactly what you are buying. That means no harsh chemicals on your little ones skin and that whatever it is you buy, was made in a green, earthfriendly fashion. We care about you, your baby and the world we leave for our grandchildren. If you want something but cannot find it on our site please email us and we will check with our wholesalers right away to see if it is available.

Green Moving Tips

2009-07-18T16:35:00.002-04:00

Is there a move in your future? If so, check out some of the tips below to make your move green!

Green Moving Tips
When you hear the term “green moving,” it might conjure up images of packing your things in large bamboo leaves and hiring a team of non-CO2-emitting Sherpas to carry them across town.

Quick Tips for Green Moving
Any TreeHugger who tackles the task of moving knows there are few other activities that force you to come face to face with all of your stuff. It can be an inopportune time to consider it all, too, since you're busy with packing and organizing, deciding what goes and what stays, and it can be easy to just start pitching it instead of recycling, donating, composting or otherwise relieving yourself of stuff without sending it to the landfill.

Get Your Moving Day Green On
These days being “green” is in. You’re already part of the solution each time you take reusable canvas bags to the market, refill your water bottle with tap water and conserve energy. So why not take it one step further and be “green” while moving! It’s easier than you think and when it’s all said and done you may have actually saved money. But more importantly you’ll feel good about yourself!

Green News And Links

2009-07-16T19:45:00.002-04:00

Wal-Mart to label products with eco ratings
The retail giant plans to announce on Thursday that it will ask its suppliers to provide environmental information on all products carried in its stores. Wal-Mart Stores will use that information to label each item with an eco rating, designed to measure its environmental friendliness.

ExxonMobil goes green -- and slimy
If creating biofuel algae sounds right up your alley, Synthetic Genomics is totally hiring. They're looking for a genomics director and a senior photosynthesis scientist, which sounds like you might be making ExxonMobil's algae.

Make the Green Leap
"If it says 'earth-safe,' 'cruelty-free,' or 'natural,' you should be skeptical until you read the ingredients," says Diane MacEachern, author of Big Green Purse. "These terms aren't verified, so any company can use them." Look for products that have a label that proves the claim is certified by a third-party organization: Common ones include Energy Star for appliances, the Leaping Bunny for cosmetics and personal-care products, and USDA/Organic for foods. If the product isn't certified, check its ingredients. Products that contain ingredients with recognizable names (instead of hard-to-pronounce chemical compounds) are probably better for the earth than their counterparts, suggests MacEachern.

Britain gives gives green light to four new "eco-towns"
The four sites chosen, all in southern or eastern England, are: Whitehill-Borden in Hampshire, China Clay Community at St Austell in Cornwall, Rackheath in Norfolk and North West Bicester in Oxfordshire.

Elevation Burger - $5 Organic Burger - $5 Million Dollar View
Elevation Burger has received recognition in prestigious publications such as Washingtonian magazine and The Washington Post as “best shake” and “best burger” nominees. Founder Hans Hess received the “Green Business Visionary” award in 2008 from the Washington Business Journal, and the 2009 Green Business Award from Washingtonian Magazine in May of 2009. Elevation Burger was also recently featured in a Wall Street Journal article about Twitter.

Control4 Secures $17.3 Million to Fund Smart Grid Product Initiatives, Drive New Market Development
Control4, a leader in affordable, IP-based home control and entertainment systems, today announced it has secured an additional $17.3 million in equity financing. Best Buy Capital, Mercato Partners and University Venture Fund join current investors Foundation Capital, Frazier Technology Ventures, Thomas Weisel Venture Partners and vSpring Capital, to accelerate Control4’s development in energy management systems and home energy displays for the company’s emerging Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) product initiatives. A portion of the financing will be used to extend Control4’s sales channels.

Finding Green Products

2009-07-13T17:59:00.000-04:00

The Smart Grid

2009-07-11T15:35:00.002-04:00

FAQ: What the smart grid means to you
The smart grid follows the footsteps of the Internet and the interstate highway system--they are giant investments in infrastructure. It's not so much a single thing as it is a goal to give the electricity system a digital makeover to make it more efficient and reliable.

Utilities stay the course on smart grid
Large public and private electric utilities are continuing with long-term capital investment programs including smart grid development, despite economic setbacks, a June study by Baltimore, Md.-based Newton-Evans Research Company reports, reflecting a conservative but upbeat attitude toward infrastructure development.

'Smart' meters help electrical grids get connected
In the past, the only way Detroit's largest utility company knew of a power failure was if a customer called -- a method that's long proved a hassle for DTE and homeowners alike. But the new devices -- smart meters -- will change all that as they soon make their way into millions of homes across Michigan.

Green Construction

2009-07-08T20:09:00.001-04:00

Green Cityscapes

2009-07-06T19:43:00.003-04:00

Iconic skyscrapers find new luster in green tech
Buildings that define city skylines across the country, some national icons, are catching up to the sleek, new structures designed with efficiency in mind, as property owners and managers become convinced that a greener building now makes financial sense.

Uber-Eco-Towers: The Top Ten Green Skyscrapers
Green skyscrapers offer so much for the average EcoGeek to drool over. Each one can contain hundreds of innovations that make the world a cleaner place, they build up, rather than out, and many of them are frikkin gorgeous.

5 Amazing Green Cities
In the 1990s, industrialized countries around the world joined together to make progress against global warming and climate change. Together they drafted and approved the Kyoto Protocol. The agreement aims to reduce the effects of climate change through the reduction of six recognized greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.

Red, White, And Blue...And Green!

2009-07-04T05:39:00.000-04:00

Green solutions for 4th of July tabletops
Looking for last minute, easy and eco-friendly solutions for your 4th of July decor and tabletops? Check out these ideas from Lynn and Corey at Celebrate Green!

New eco-friendly “green” fireworks may brighten our future Fourth of July celebrations
Some of these new environmentally friendlier fireworks have already been put into use at concerts and events, but unfortunately, none have been used at large outdoor events as of yet. The reason for this is probably that these new fireworks are more expensive than the traditional ones and harder to find.

Green Your 4th of July Celebration
My favorite traditions for the 4th of July involve eating outdoors. Picnics, BBQs, coolers at the beach, nothing says summer holiday like the smell of sunscreen mixed with the salty goodness of a crispy hot dog.

NOVA Green Living and the NOVA Green Team wish everyone a fun, safe, happy - and green - 4th of July!

Building Green

2009-07-01T08:20:00.000-04:00

Building Green is pioneering and entertaining television with an eco-friendly twist, on a mission is to inspire viewers to discover just how easy, cost-effective and healthy it can be to go green, and to dispel myths about environmentally-conscious lifestyles. Host Kevin Contreras leads an interactive exploration of green building techniques and alternatives, from the eye-popping extreme to the green mainstream, all while demonstrating that healthy choices donÕt mean sacrificing style or comfort.

See more complete episodes here.

Green Social Networking

2009-06-29T17:09:00.002-04:00

Social networks that support a green lifestyle
Going "green" is quickly becoming an important part of our lives, and Web entrepreneurs have taken notice. A variety of green social networks have cropped up that help us live more sustainably. From reducing your carbon footprint to raising money for environmental causes, these social networks will back up your efforts.

TreeHugger Picks: Green Social Networking
Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook have exploded in popularity and changed the way that people everywhere use the internet to stay in touch and meet new people -- heck, even TreeHugger has a MySpace page. This idea hasn't been lost on other TreeHuggers and greenies, as a handful of sites have popped up that use the power of social networking on the 'net for good.

It's Easy Being Green: Social Networking: A New Frontier in Climate Change Research
Are you plugged in to the Internet? Are you an amateur hiker? Photographer? Gardener? Birdwatcher? Frog aficionado? Nature lover? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," then with the click of a button you can also make a serious contribution to the study of climate change.

Hey there! EQTV is using Twitter.

NOVA Green Team Facebook Page
Become a fan and be part of the NOVA Green Living social network!

Green Shopping

2009-06-27T08:20:00.000-04:00

Green Giveaways

2009-06-26T08:32:00.003-04:00

Ecobunga!
Your guide to green giveaways & deals

The Green Parent
...your kid friendly guide to earth friendly living!

Four green give-aways! Eco-friendly dish soap, a $50 gift certificate, and 2 bikes!
The Dirty Work, is hosting 2 green give-aways this month. The first is for three boxes of Method Smarty Dish, a phosphate and bleach-free dishwasher detergent tab. To enter, go here and tell her your favorite thing to eat and leave youre e-mail address.

Go Green
As more and more people become aware of the importance of protecting our environment, eco-friendly and recycled products are in ever greater demand. Likewise, companies' marketing tools and techniques are adapting to ths widespread development in environmental consciousness and planning their strategies accordingly.

How Green Are Your Giveaways?
The promotional-products industry provides endless opportunities to get on the Green bandwagon. From recycled-plastic pens to organic-cotton apparel, the list of eco-friendly options is long and getting longer. Most promotional-product companies offer some Green choices, while other companies such as Ecobranders and Econscious devote themselves entirely to keeping it Green.

Investing In Green

2009-06-20T08:41:00.000-04:00

Quick Green Investing Tips for 2009
According to the LA Times, it looks like everyone's favorite overused word of 2008 might be your in to an underused investment sector.

Report: The State of Green Investing 2009
In 2008, many green mutual funds, ETFs and individual stocks sunk 50-80%, while the Dow shed about 40%. But green investors can also expect their portfolios to rise higher than the overall market as it recovers.

Green Mutual Funds Could Beat Market
The poor relative performance of the past year is no reason to give up on the strategy. Most of the stocks in the green space are those of industrial or technology companies. While those sectors lose more value than most industries during slowdowns, they can lead economic expansions. In some ways, it's reassuring that the shares have acted predictably in the past year.

Green Innovation

2009-06-18T16:47:00.002-04:00

Green Innovation and Product Safety
Ultimately, the key for designing greener products is the same as it is for designing safer products: It begins with innovation.

Flip burgers with Mother Nature: Going green at the grill
One such innovation is the FlameDisk – a charcoal alternative made from solid ethanol, a renewable biofuel. Food grilled on the FlameDisk tastes as if it were grilled over charcoal, but this eco-friendly grill fuel emits 99 percent less carbon monoxide and 91 percent fewer VOCs (volatile organic compounds) than grilling with charcoal. Plus, the byproducts created when ethanol is burned include only water and a modest amount of carbon dioxide. Unlike lighter fluid and propane gas, the FlameDisk is not derived from nonrenewable petroleum.

Greener by Design: Big Ideas from Small Companies
Whether turning a damaged Patagonia wetsuit into beer cozies or discarded bicycle tubes into wallets, Ecologic Designs is following a path charted by Terracycle to take trash and turn it into treasure.

Local Green News

2009-06-15T17:08:00.002-04:00

Piedmont Environmental Council, Loudoun County
PEC stands with citizens to build excellent communities, relieve taxes and traffic, and protect open space in Loudoun County. We work to maintain a balance between the towns, the suburbs and the country so residents can enjoy them all.

First Solar Project Complete, Loudoun Valley Students Look For Support To Expand Green Effort On Campus
"We wanted to demonstrate that solar power is a real viable alternative energy source, and to inspire the school system that we could actually think about converting energy grids to produce power, save money, and use [the savings] on educational programs," Roos said.

Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour
Shop local and buy Loudoun artwork!

For this community, green living is a way of life
The homes are all constructed with an eye toward sustainability. An abundance of windows capture the maximum amount of natural light, and geothermal heating systems are common in most basements. It's environmentalism as practicality.

Green-collar employment
“The idea is to use a lot less natural resources and still achieve the goal of having a good piece of shelter overhead,” said Grigsby, who consults local homeowners and building professionals on how to create sustainable construction.

Green Done Right

2009-06-13T08:44:00.000-04:00

Green Done Right - videos presented by Scott Naturals:

Green In The News

2009-06-11T19:58:00.002-04:00

Hybrid trucks strut on Capitol Hill
We often fret over our own gas mileage and that of our neighbors' cars, but how often do we stop to think about the commercial trucking industry's impact on the environment?

In with Green Packaging, Out with Convenience, Consumers Say
Green food packaging has landed in the headlines in recent weeks. Marks & Spencer said in its latest corporate social responsibility report that it reduced food packaging 18 percent and uses salad containers made from recycled PET bottles.

Green vs. Green: Homeowners Worry About Costs of Eco-Makeovers
Homeowners also cited concerns about potential inconvenience (22%) and lack of time (17%); these result echoes previous polls which found consumers consider "green" practices, at both the personal and national levels, as economic tradeoffs that costs them more. On the other hand, 18% said they were prevented from going green by lack of knowledge, indicating there's still an audience for information on eco-friendly practices.

Why 'smart' homes are 'green' with envy: green homebuilding set to expand by $38 billion by 2010
Talk to experts with a birds-eye view on the market and you quickly become aware of a budding new trend: Green. “Green” is the new “Smart” in real estate, with a high-end market and awe-inspiring amenities and gadgetry once attributed to “Smart.” “Green” is that hippie classmate you once thought you knew – but didn’t. It’s taking on surprising new growth and according to industry experts this is only the beginning.

Clorox is leading the green charge
That means that people are finding and buying Green Works dishwashing soap, all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner and others, which are all made with natural surfactants and other natural ingredients. And it no doubt helps that this line has been affordably priced and carried by many of your usual retail haunts, like Wal-Mart.

Where Should the Feds Draw the Line on Green Marketing Claims?
Depending on how new rules are structured, the changes could also provide a boost for startups that fall on the greener end of the spectrum in these sectors, as well as those working on tools for informing consumers or monitoring and measuring the environmental impact of companies’ operations.

Green Real Estate

2009-06-08T18:51:00.002-04:00

Extreme Real Estate: Green Houses
It wasn’t so long ago building a “green” house using sustainable materials and high efficiency utilities was just a trendy idea touted by environmentalists and shelter magazines but rarely taken seriously by the average homeowner. However, it just isn’t so cheap to heat and cool a house anymore and with water shortages becoming more commonplace it may not be long before H2O becomes a commodity worth more than oil and gold. Going green doesn’t sound like such a far-fetched notion anymore, does it?

Creative Green Construction Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
We spent $200,000 to build a turnkey, solar powered, off-grid home, which included $37,000 for the land. This was far less than what most people in the area paid for a conventional home. And the only utility bill was filling up the propane tank once a year.

"You have to find a good agent that can help you hunt those things out."
In Northern Virginia, you don't need to look any further than the EcoBroker certified agents of the NOVA Green Team to help you with your green real estate needs.

Green Living Tips And Information

2009-06-05T18:34:00.002-04:00

5 Great, Green Indoor Climate Control Tips
Here are 5 easy-to-employ, eco-friendly strategies to help you keep the temperature at a comfortable level while you cut air conditioning (AC) costs and pride yourself on protecting the planet…

4 FUN Ways to Grill Greener This Summer
Did you know that there are a few easy steps you can take to not only green your grilling habits, but also make you the star grill master (or mistress) of your block?

Green/Simple Living
The Green Living section explores everything from organic and fair-trade foods, water conservation and composting to energy-saving strategies and ways to help create a greener, more sustainable planet.

Living Green 365
The Living Green 365 Team and our partners are excited to pass on timely, simple, and fun ideas to lead healthier and more sustainable lives, 365 days a year.

The Top 10 green living myths
Lots of these have been argued before — Is local food always greener? Are paper bags better than plastic? — and there’s not always one “right” answer to them. But let’s look at the list and then get your opinion.

Green Living Toolkit
Get the tips and tools you need to help to bring a little green into your life.

Green Renovations

2009-06-03T18:46:00.002-04:00

MY REALLY GREEN RENOVATION

Being Green-and-Frugal During Our Renovation
One of our goals when we embraced frugality two years ago was to save up for this renovation. Now that we’ve attained those finanical goals, we are continuing to be pennywise with other areas of the renovation. In addition, whenever possible, we are trying to make the greenest choices. Here are some of the ways that we’re acting both green and frugal during the renovation process:

Have a green renovation story of your own that you'd like to share? Drop us a line at info@novagreenteam.com, and maybe your green renovation story will be featured here at NOVA Green Living!

A Green Future

2009-06-01T09:03:00.000-04:00

The Future is Green
Thoughts on the coming of a society that is in balance with nature and the magnitude of the problems in the way; facing the reality that the present world's population has moved beyond the earth's carrying capacity, the looming peak in world oil production, green alternatives, and the least painful paths to a sustainable society.

Architecture 2030
Architecture 2030, a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization, was established in response to the global-warming crisis by architect Edward Mazria in 2002. 2030’s mission is to rapidly transform the US and global Building Sector from the major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to a central part of the solution to the global-warming crisis. Our goal is straightforward: to achieve a dramatic reduction in the global-warming-causing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the Building Sector by changing the way buildings and developments are planned, designed and constructed.

15 (More) Future Wonders of Green Technology: From Spinning Towers to Seawater Greenhouses
As the world increasingly focuses on sustainable initiatives, green architecture is a booming industry. Everything from single-family residences to giant 1.2-million-square-foot complexes complete with giant skyscrapers is getting the green treatment, and the innovation that iss going into these plans is more complex than ever.

Green Your Future
Mapping a Green career path

Bowing In The Wind?

2009-05-29T15:39:00.003-04:00

How Does a Wind Turbine Work?
Wind turbines operate on a simple principle. The energy in the wind turns two or three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity.

Small wind turbines blow out big sales
Sales of turbines big enough to serve a single home or office building grew rapidly last year and are poised for even faster growth this year, according to a report from the American Wind Energy Association

Home Wind Turbines Are A Worthless, Dangerous, Wasteful Vanity
This writer just looked at the wattage on a newly purchased Revlon brand hairdryer: Rating was 1985W. That's roughly equivalent to twenty, 100-W incandescant bulbs...surely more than a whole residence-worth of what's actually lit at any one time... or to over one hundred forty (14W-rated, 60W incandescant equivalent) compact flourescent bulbs.

More States Offer Rebates for Home Wind Turbines
Altogether, says Mr. Stimmel, some kind of financial incentive for residential small wind is available in about 17 states, though in some cases the incentives are offered through utilities rather than directly by the state itself.

Green Cleaning

2009-05-27T15:15:00.006-04:00

Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets
The Purex® Complete 3-in-1™ Laundry Sheets Refill has 43% less packaging than the products it replaces. If every American bought just one Purex® Complete 3-in-1™ Laundry Sheet Refill instead of even one bottle of liquid detergent², we could prevent the equivalent of 91 million detergent bottles (27 million lbs), originally destined for landfills, from being produced - keeping over 8 football fields worth of packaging out landfills.

Survey Shows "Green Washing" is Everywhere
"We are enthusiastic that consumers are becoming more environmentally savvy," said Linda Brown, executive vice president of Scientific Certification Systems of Emeryville. "We need to be building environmental literacy and training consumers and decision-makers how to make environmental choices."

Cleaning Green
Avoid products with labels that carry unsubstantiated or vague claims such as "ecologically friendly" or "nontoxic," according to the Green Guide Institute, now part of National Geographic. The term "biodegradable" also is meaningless. (The Guide compares cleaners at www.thegreenguide.com. Click on "Buying Guides.")

Green Tests And Quizzes

2009-05-25T16:12:00.002-04:00

Have some fun - and maybe learn something - with these Green Tests and Quizzes:

Test Your Green IQ

Test Your Energy IQ

How Green Are You?

Personal Footprint

Big Green Switch Recycling Quiz

Sixteen Revealing Green Travel Quizzes

Recycling Resources

2009-05-23T09:12:00.000-04:00

Recycling Made Easy & How To Get Started
Our landfills are accumulating waste at a rate of 2 to 5 lbs of trash per person per day. Over our lifetime, the total would be staggering. But we can help to reduce this waste by reusing and recycling certain items. It's a very small, virtually no-cost way of doing our part and helping our environment.

Virginia DEQ - Recycling Home
In Virginia recyclable materials from the municipal solid waste streams include: paper (newspapers, corrugated cardboard, Kraft paper, high-grade office paper, mixed paperf), metal (ferrous scrap, non-ferrous scrap, aluminum, tin cans), plastics, glass, yard waste (composted or mulched), waste wood, textiles, waste tires, used oil-oil filters-antifreeze, auto bodies (Abandoned Vehicle Program), construction waste, demolition waste, debris waste, batteries, ash and non-industrial sludges (composted).

Virginia Recycling Association
The Virginia Recycling Association is a non-stock, non-profit Virginia corporation composed of individuals and organizations of diverse interests. The membership is committed to the common goal of promoting recycling as an integral part of resource conservation and solid waste management.

Virginia Recycling Centers Directory

NOVA Green Team On YouTube

2009-05-21T21:11:00.001-04:00

Be sure to check out the NOVA Green Team YouTube channel and add it to your bookmarks!

Going Solar

2009-05-18T20:38:00.002-04:00

Solar Tubes
Solar tubes are tubes that run from the ceiling of a room to the roof, where they collect light that is reflected down the tube and then diffused into the attached room. Solar tubes work like skylights but are less expensive, require less roof/ceiling space, and can be easily installed in almost all buildings. They can even work in the basement or the first floor of a two-story house if there is a closet, a chase, or any place to feed through the solar tube up to the roof.

Solar Energy Technologies Program
The Solar Energy Technologies Program focuses on developing cost-effective solar energy technologies that have the greatest potential to benefit the nation and the world. Solar technologies diversify the energy supply, reduce the country's dependence on imported fuels, improve air quality, and offset greenhouse gas emissions. A growing solar industry also stimulates our economy by creating jobs in solar manufacturing and installation.

Solar Water Heating Pays For Itself Five Times Over
An analysis of the engineering and economics for a solar water-heating system shows it to have a payback period of just two years, according to researchers in India. They report, in the International Journal of Global Energy Issues, on the success of the 1000-liter system operating at a university hostel.

Green Benefits

2009-05-15T19:33:00.002-04:00

Benefits of Going Green
Building the Green Communities way offers a wide array of benefits for building developers, investors, residents and the environment, leading to healthier homes and communities, lower energy and water costs, and a protected environment.

The Benefits of Going Green
Green design not only reduces a facility’s impact on the environment, but also benefits a business in financial — and nonfinancial — ways.

5 Benefits of Going Green
Everywhere you look in the news and media today you see stories about global warming and our effects on the earth. While it seems to make sense that we should all be a little kinder to Mother Earth, what exactly are some of the benefits of going green?

Green Tax Credits Available in 2009
Here is a brief run-down of the credits available in 2009

Green Tech News From CNet

2009-05-13T10:53:00.003-04:00

A round-up of some recent Green Tech articles on CNet:

Transparent plastic solar cells fitted into windows
"It is energy-efficient and transparent with superior vertical performance and a subtle red, blue or green aesthetic. With these features, BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaics) will no longer need to be confined to spandrel or overhead applications," Arch CEO Leon Silverstein said in a statement.

Green news harvest: IM for air conditioners
Talk about convergence of energy, communications and IT: EnerNoc is using an instant-messaging protocol to update the energy consumption status of building equipment.

Possible smog solution: Air-powered motorcycle
Sure, it only goes 11 mph now, but as a proof-of-concept vehicle it's pretty cool. I could imagine a smaller vehicle (bike? moped?) with the same gear that could go much faster as a final product, if it gets that far.

Q&A: What really goes into that carbon footprint?
Without widespread standards, companies are struggling with how to properly calculate and disclose their carbon footprint to the public. And many don't have the financial resources to address environmental resource concerns.

Investing In Green

2009-05-11T13:05:00.002-04:00

Green Real estate Investing
There’s the popular slogan in modern marketing campaigns: “Green is the new black.” But is “environmentally friendly” really something a real estate investor needs to consider? Green (money) and black (net profit) together can be a winning team for real estate investment. Here are a few reasons why going green can help your investment property portfolio.

The Cost Efficacy of Building Green
The economic crisis continues, but that shouldn't preclude investing in sustainability which can lead to both short and long-term financial benefits, said speakers at the RealShare Green Buildings virtual conference, held Wednesday.

How to Go Green: Investing
During the past few years, the business world has awakened to the concept that "green," meaning environmentally conscious, and "green," meaning financially lucrative, are not mutually exclusive.

Sustainable Materials For Your Home And For You

2009-05-09T11:33:00.003-04:00

Smart and Sustainable
When it comes to redesigning or updating a kitchen or bathroom, recycled has finally arrived. There are as many options as there are wants and needs; price points for unlimited and limited budgets; and energy-efficient fixtures and appliances to make us all feel like good stewards of the environment.

Carpet & Sustainability… A LEED AP’s Perspective
Smartstrand Sorona PTT fiber is here.

Green Your Wardrobe: Sustainable Materials
There's nothing more in style right now than flaunting that you’re good to the earth. Freshening up your wardrobe for spring? This week’s green fashion tips will help you keep up with what’s hip.

An Energy Efficient MORTGAGE?

2009-05-07T18:38:00.005-04:00

What is an Energy Efficient Mortgage?
An Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) is a mortgage that credits a home’s energy efficiency in the mortgage itself. EEMs give borrowers the opportunity to finance cost-effective, energy-saving measures as part of a single mortgage and stretch debt-to-income qualifying ratios on loans thereby allowing borrowers to qualify for a larger loan amount and a better, more energy-efficient home.

How to Get an Engergy Efficient Mortgage
If you decide you want an energy efficient mortgage, the first step is to find a lender who offers them.

OlympiaWest Mortgage Group
OlympiaWest offers Energy Efficient Mortgages in addition to convential mortgage services in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia area.

Watch EEM: Energy Efficient Mortgage in Educational View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Home Energy Audits

2009-05-04T19:27:00.003-04:00

Home Energy Audits
A home energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time.

Your Home's Energy Use
The first step to taking a whole-house energy efficiency approach is to find out which parts of your house use the most energy. A home energy audit will pinpoint those areas and suggest the most effective measures for cutting your energy costs.

DIY Home Energy Audit
Energy costs continue to rise, placing ever-greater pressure on households. And the energy you use to heat and cool your home is a large part of your carbon footprint.

Making A Green Difference Begins At Home
Take an Ardently Green approach
We’re Ardently Green. We can evaluate your home as a whole system - from top to bottom, inside and out.
Then we’ll provide an Ardently GreenPrint of your home, an easy-to-understand report that reveals how well your home functions and how you can make it work better, feel more comfortable, and lower your energy bill by as much as 30%.

Reminder: Free Going Green Seminar

2009-05-01T19:35:00.006-04:00

When: Saturday May 2, 2009 (9:30am—11:00am)
Location: Lansdowne Town Center (Offices above “Froots”)
19301 Winmeade Drive (Suite220)
Lansdowne VA. 20176

What does it mean to go green? Interested in learning “eco-friendly” tips and ideas? Do you qualify for “green” tax credits? Come to this first of its kind FREE seminar and learn about:

• First time home buyer secrets, strategies and tax credits
• Federal tax credits for energy efficiency
• Government FHA energy efficient mortgages
• How to make your home more energy efficient
• The top 5 health hazards in your home
• What to look for in your next home

This seminar is brought to you by NOVA Green Team, Loudoun County’s Eco-Friendly Real Estate Experts, West Star Mortgage and Ardently Green Energy Auditors.
The seminar will be conducted by David Harbour, Founder of NOVA Green Team, (RE/MAX Premier Realtors) who draws on more than a decade of success serving Northern Virginia clients in fast and slow markets. He has been inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame and often appears as a real estate expert on HGTV’s national show, “Get It Sold,” sharing tactics for sellers in a softening market. He is also a Certified EcoBroker®.

Seminar Registration Link

Pictures From Earth Day @ Loudoun

2009-04-29T09:31:00.000-04:00

Animals took center stage at the First Annual Earth Day @ Loudoun 2009 Family Festival, with displays of birds and reptiles, and a petting zoo.
Visitors and exhibitors enjoyed a perfect - if a bit hot - day, with music, food, information, and fun for the whole family.
Thanks to everyone who helped to make the day such a success!

Earth Day @ Loudoun

2009-04-27T18:05:00.003-04:00

Loudoun's First Annual Earth Day
Clydes Willow Creek Farm in the Broadlands provided the perfect backdrop to Sunday’s Loudoun’s Earth Day celebration, complete with the National Aquarium Show sponsored by the National Aquarium in Washington, DC, a live reptile show from the Leesburg Animal Park Petting Zoo, and a live raptor display and show put on by The Raptor Conservancy of Virginia.

NOVA Green Team was one of the official sponsors of the event. It was a beautiful day with a great turnout. Check back soon for pictures from the celebration!

Going “Green” Home Buyers Seminar

2009-04-24T07:44:00.000-04:00

Thinking of buying a home? Interested in learning “eco-friendly” home buying ideas? Do you qualify for “green” tax credits? Come to this first of its kind FREE seminar and learn about:

· First time home buyer secrets, strategies and tax credits
· Federal tax credits for energy efficiency
· Government FHA energy efficient mortgages
· How to make your home more energy efficient
· The top 5 health hazards in your home
· What to look for in your next home

This seminar is brought to you by NOVA Green Team, Loudoun County’s Eco-Friendly Real Estate Experts, West Star Mortgage and Ardently Green Energy Auditors.

The seminar will be conducted by David Harbour, Founder of NOVA Green Team, (RE/MAX Premier Realtors) who draws on more than a decade of success serving Northern Virginia clients in fast and slow markets. He has been inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame and often appears as a real estate expert on HGTV’s national show, “Get It Sold,” sharing tactics for sellers in a softening market. He is also a Certified EcoBroker®.

When: Saturday May 2, 2009 (9:30am—11:00am)
Location: Lansdowne Town Center (Offices above “Froots”)
19301 Winmeade Drive (Suite220)
Lansdowne VA. 20176

Going Green: The Big Game
A former Washington Redskins player (NFL 1988-90), Harbour applies strategies learned on the turf to achieve fast, powerful results. “One of the main lessons is – move faster than the next guy,” he says. Whether you hot buttons are energy efficiency, health hazards or saving the planet, this seminar has something for everyone.

“Green is more than a movement; it’s becoming a lifestyle" says Harbour. "This seminar can help home buyers take small steps towards understanding this movement, keeping perspective on the big game and accomplishing their goals in all of life: financial, environmental, and philanthropic.”

To learn more about what does it mean to go green, check out Northern Virginia’s premier Green Blog - www.novagreenliving.com . This is a weekly blog that contains helpful eco-friendly and often local links, videos and pertinent family information that will help families take the necessary small steps to living a greener lifestyle.

Come by Saturday morning and get FREE Starbucks Coffee and Bagels while listening to this informative Going Green Buyers Seminar.

To Register or More Details Call:
1-888-852-5405 and Press Ext- #5000
or visit www.novagreenliving.com

Green Giving

2009-04-23T17:36:00.002-04:00

Green Giving: Associates Embrace Earth Day
From San Antonio, Texas - where Kristin Moran and her team will bike or walk door-to-door distributing reusable tote bags filled with green tips - to northern Virginia where David Harbour and team will host a green homebuyers seminar - RE/MAX Associates across the country are doing their part to celebrate Earth Day.
The first Earth Day was held April 22, 1970, to bring environmental issues to the political forefront - and it worked. The inaugural event led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and, subsequently, many environmental laws. Today, hundreds of millions of people worldwide participate in Earth Day.
"As real estate agents, environmental sustainability is pivotal in our business," says Harbour, a Sales Associate with RE/MAX Premier in Dulles, Va. "Agents who aren't looking at the green movement and incorporating it in their businesses in some way are missing the boat. There's a growing demand from homeowners for professionals with green expertise."

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T08:07:00.001-04:00

Happy Earth Day to one and all!
And remember that the NOVA Green Team is an official sponsor of http://www.earthdayatloudoun.org/index.html this Sunday, April 26, from 11 AM to 3 PM at:

Willow Creek Farm by Clyde's
42920 Broadlands Boulevard
Broadlands, VA 20148

Hope to see you there!