GOING GREEN IN OKC T
by Robert Dean
he concept of “going green” is certainly not a new one, but it is defi nitely gaining in intensity. More and more people are looking at ways they can do their own green makeover—both large and small scale. While not everyone may have the funds to go all out, Oklahoma City residents have plenty of resources, and inspiration, to make healthy, sus- tainable choices in their homes and beyond.
According to Sarah Bytyqi, a GREEN Realtor and member of the Green Resource Council, making green improvements to an existing home is very simple. She recom- mends starting with an energy audit. “This will give you specifi c solutions to increasing your home’s energy effi - ciency.” Bytyqi also suggests installing a programmable thermostat, installing a water heater blanket and changing light bulbs from incandescent to CFL light bulbs as inexpensive changes that can make a big difference. The U.S. Department of Energy also recommends a home energy au- dit as one of the fi rst steps in making a home more effi cient. It’s a concept on which Trey Parsons has built his business. As an owner of Enersolve, Parsons provides comprehensive en- ergy services and effi ciency consulting to help clients make informed deci- sions regarding their energy consump- tion. “We want to see all homes and businesses in Oklahoma lowering
Trey Parsons of Enersolve.
their energy costs while reducing their environmental impact.”
He explains that a home energy
audit evaluates and inspects the home to determine where and how energy is being lost and what cost-effective im- provements can be made to increase comfort, lower energy bills, and get the quickest return on investment. “Our audits include a whole-house evaluation with a detailed but easy to understand energy survey explaining our suggested improvements priori- tized by benefi t and cost.” He says changes can be as simple as air and duct sealing. “With a little
elbow grease and some caulk, you can realize a 30-40 percent decrease in heating and cooling costs.” Of course, Parsons says plenty of other improvements can be made, such as installing upgraded insulation, upgrad- ing windows or mechanical systems, replacing old, but the key is to slowly chip away at the list. For those interested in purchasing a new green home, Bytyqi suggests working with a GREEN Realtor—one that has competed specialized train- ing in green building and sustainable business practices from the National Association of Realtors. She says homebuyers should ask
specifi c questions about air and duct sealing, HVAC systems and insulation to ensure they are buying an effi cient home. “You should also consider indoor air quality, water conservation and sustainable construction tech- niques, as well as location.” At Manchester Green Homes, green homes are their specialty. Ac- cording to president, Jim Fincher, although green can mean different things to different people, the two most important components of a green home are energy effi ciency and
natural awakenings
April 2011
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