FlGreenLiving

Ever wonder just how much water you use per day?  Well, statistics show that the average person in Miami-Dade County uses 155 gallons daily.  And, if your on the beach the number is much worse–240 gallons per person per day!  Who knew!  The reality is that much of this water is wasted maintaining lush green lawns, doing small loads of laundry and long showers.  If you still own a six gallon per flush toilet that number can add up pretty quickly!

Back in 2006, the County began several Water-Efficiency Programs to aid the community in reducing these numbers.  The programs are designed to improve the efficient use of water by retrofitting older fixtures and encouraging residents to be water efficient.  

All of the programs can be applied for by visiting www.miamidade.gov/conservation

• High Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program

Any residential property type that pays its own individual water bill can receive a $100 rebate when purchasing a qualified high-efficiency toilet and completing the online form.

*Toilets must have been installed prior to January 1, 1996 and the home located in Miami-Dade County. *Maximum of two toilets eligible for rebate.

• High Efficiency Toilet & Full Retrofit Program

Free upgrade to 1.6 GPF (gallons per flush) toilets and complete bathroom retrofit.

*Available for senior citizens who qualify for the additional homestead exemption on their property taxes and those who meet the federal criteria for low-income households.

• Showerhead Exchange and Retrofit Kit

Free to all residents.  Participants must bring old showerheads to one of four locations in order to exchange for the high-efficiency model.  These models use 1.5 GPM (gallons per minute) and include a built-in massage, on/off valve and a swivel head for comfort.  With the exchange you will also receive a water conservation kit that includes bathroom and kitchen aerators, leak-detection dye tablets and a host of other accessories.  

**Participation in this program will help residents save aprox. 50% on their home water usage.**

• Multi-Family High Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate

Older washers use a whopping 40-45 gallons of water per load; whereas, the newer models reduce that by more than 50%– to 15-25 gallons per load, and energy is reduced by 70%!  This program provides rebates (up to $300)  for multi-familiy residences that share a common laundry area.  To participate, check online for a list of qualifying models and an application form.

…..but HURRY in because the $200 rebate will be reduced to $150 beginning October 1st, 2008!  Again, a list of qualifying models is online along with the application form.

In Pembroke Pines last week, Waste Management celebrated a new beginning in recycling, with the inauguration of a Materials Recovery Facility. M.R.F (pronounced “murf”) is one of the largest in the country and processes in excess of 250,000 tons of material per year!

I had the chance to visit the WM Reuter Facility to see M.R.F in action. Sure, it was garbage, but this huge machine is cutting edge! What makes it so cool is the science and technology behind it. With magnets, optical eyes and even eddy currents, M.R.F is capable of automatically sorting up to five times more material than the traditional method! Even better, the facility has an education center for people interested in learning more about the process. [See M.R.F in Action]

Recycling has never been easier because M.R.F’s “single-stream” method no longer requires the separation of the various materials. One bin is all you need! However, getting these new bins out to everyone will take some time. WM is hoping to service all residential areas that already have recycling in place, by September.

The rules have changed a bit, too! Now you can place plastic bottles marked #1-7, magazines, junk mail, and even cereal boxes into the bin.

With the growing concern of global warming and the depletion of humanity’s necessary resources, green homes, offices and businesses are sprouting up everywhere!  Many have coined it the new black and some are even calling Miami the Emerald City (I think we have a ways to go for that one).

The FLGreenLiving blog aims to be the best source in everything green in the South Florida area.  My hope is to provide homeowners, investors and first time homebuyers with the tools necessary to understand this market.  Fact is, green is becoming the norm and everyone wants to know how they can do their part to help the environment or put more cash back into their pocket!

Although the green sector has hit commercial buildings first, there are many residential areas that have done retrofits and upgrades.  I intend to highlight both of these in addition to condo buildings and foreclosures that have great potential of becoming green.  From LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) to sustainable materials and solar, FlGreenLiving will cover it all!