Sellers should be receiving a copy of the form when they list their property so that the form can then be provided to the buyer.  The form can be waived if agreed upon by both the buyer and the seller.

The Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD), in collaboration with Western Nevada Supply, is now offering a toilet exchange program. With the Water-efficient Toilet Exchange Program, TDPUD District customers can exchange their old, higher-use toilets for low-flush toilets for free!

Here’s how it works:
* Remove your old toilet and take it to Western Nevada Supply:
o Located at 10990 Industrial Way, Unit A in Truckee
o Days/Hours:  Monday thru Friday, 6:00 am to 5:00 pm.
* They will dispose of the old toilet(s) and give you free 1.6 gallon per flush toilets in exchange.
* Rules & Limitations:
o You must be a TDPUD water customer and your home or business must have been built prior to 1992 in order to qualify.
o Western Nevada Supply will verify that your old toilet used greater than 1.6 gallons per flush.
o There are two low-flush toilet options available for direct exchange, or you may apply a $100 per toilet credit towards the purchase of an “upgrade”.
o You must present a copy of your current TDPUD water bill at the time of the exchange.

NOTE: There is a combined limit of three toilets per household or business for any one or all of the toilet programs.

For more information about the TDPUD, call 530-587-3896 or visit www.tdpud.org.

NEED HELP EXCHANGING YOUR TOILETS?  We can help!

Call us at Dickson Realty (530-587-7444) and we can put you in touch with a contractor that will assist you with the removal, exchange, and installation of the new toilets.

Join Reno Green Drinks at one of Reno’s favorite spots – Amendment 21, as we usher in our own era of great “green” networking and information.

They’ll be featuring a few twists of fun with the inclusion of promotions by Reno’s favorite green store – EcoReno!

Don’t miss this fun Reno Green Drinks event!

Date: Thursday, May 27, 2010
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: 425 South Virginia Street

For more information about Reno Green Drinks or this event, go to RenoGreenDrinks.

Reno Green Drinks is a FREE networking group that creates awareness about eco-conscious businesses and concerns in Reno and the surrounding area.

Reno Green Drinks is a great way to meet like-minded people to chat, debate, socialize and connect with others who are passionate about environmental and sustainability issues. They’ve created this social networking party wth our mission to bring together the green leaders and thinkers in our community to make sustainability attainable for all.

On the second day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the third day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the fourth day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Four aromatherapy mood menders,
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the fifth day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Five vegan cookies,
Four aromatherapy mood menders,
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the sixth day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Six frugal and green gift ideas,
Five vegan cookies,
Four aromatherapy mood menders,
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the seventh day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Seven beauty ingredients to avoid,
Six frugal and green gift ideas,
Five vegan cookies,
Four aromatherapy mood menders,
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the eighth day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Eight Seven homemade ornaments,
Seven beauty ingredients to avoid,
Six frugal and green gift ideas,
Five vegan cookies,
Four aromatherapy mood menders,
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the ninth day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Nine ways to go organic on a budget,
Eight homemade ornaments,
Seven beauty ingredients to avoid,
Six frugal and green gift ideas,
Five vegan cookies,
Four aromatherapy mood menders,
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the 10th day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Ten tips for a natural lifestyle,
Nine ways to go organic on a budget,
Eight homemade ornaments,
Seven beauty ingredients to avoid,
Six frugal and green gift ideas,
Five vegan cookies,
Four aromatherapy mood menders,
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the 11th day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Eleven natural holiday cards,
Ten tips for a natural lifestyle,
Nine ways to go organic on a budget,
Eight homemade ornaments,
Seven beauty ingredients to avoid,
Six frugal and green gift ideas,
Five vegan cookies,
Four aromatherapy mood menders,
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

On the 12th day of green Christmas (or non-denominational winter holiday of your choosing),
my true love e-mailed to me
Twelve ideas for stretching a tank of gas,
Eleven natural holiday cards,
Ten tips for a natural lifestyle,
Nine ways to go organic on a budget,
Eight homemade ornaments,
Seven beauty ingredients to avoid,
Six frugal and green gift ideas,
Five vegan cookies,
Four aromatherapy mood menders,
Three strings of LED lights,
Two reusable shopping bags,
And an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

By Jana Ballinger

While LED string lights use much less electricity, reduce pollution from power plants and last longer, they stay cooler. And though they cost more than traditional strings of lights up front, the electricity savings easily make up the cost difference within a season or two. Green Home claims claim that LED lights are about 60 times as energy efficient as their conventional counterparts.

Environmental Defense also maintains a good site, complete with a link of retail outlets that vend LED holiday lights.

As of 11/3, Washoe County is only a couple hundred pledges behind Volusia County, Florida in a national competition to conserve energy. Please help us win the competition by signing the pledge and getting your friends and neighbors to sign up by November 30th. Our goal is to capture the $5,000 first place prize to make energy conservation improvements.
We have less than thirty days to go and only 350 more pledges to win! If you haven’t taken the conservation pledge please visit www.greencounties.org/changetheworld.
Also, send this message to your friends, special interest groups, and families. Other than the prize of $5,000, we will receive national recognition and the satisfaction of beating Florida!

Thank you all for your support!

In a slower real estate market, homebuilders are especially sensitive to incentives that catch potential buyers’ interest. Buyers have been showing up at new home open houses where the homes feature solar power. Part of the response is curiosity; part of it is a growing desire to decrease energy costs in their new homes.

Retrofitting a home with solar power equipment is costly, of course, even though it holds out the eventual promise of paying for itself (often in roughly 20 years) and providing the homeowner with the pleasure of selling electricity back to the local utilities.  In many cases, the cost of purchasing of solar power equipment is reduced by local, state and federal energy-saving programs.

The possibility of buying a new home that is fully equipped for solar power, though, lessens the sense that the buyer is paying a premium for the equipment. Some builders are using the equipment as much as they use incentives like free landscaping—and buyers are responding with great interest.

The colourful (and biodegradeable) trashbags come in numerous colours, such as pink with white polka dots, blue with silver polka dots, glow in the dark, etc.  In an effort to draw attention to people and their trashy habit, the artist asked residents and businesses to sponsor their block by buying the trashbags for $10 each ($20 if you opted for the limited edition pink with gold polka dot bags) and decorate their block with piles of colourful garbage bags.

Over in Tokyo, Rabbit-kun aims to inspire a more responsible attitude toward waste by providing a cute and stylish way for people to carry their trash home after a day outdoors. Whether it’s a picnic in the park, a hike in the mountains, or a day at the beach — or any place without public trash cans — Rabbit-kun is charming enough that you might actually enjoy carting your garbage all the way home.

Another bag, which features a life-sized illustration (by Lily Franky) of trash-loving Oscar the Grouch, was designed in collaboration with Sesame Street as part of an environmental awareness campaign for children. For now, these bags are being distributed free of charge at select outdoor events, as well as to volunteer cleanup groups and schools.

To buy your own “any color you like” bags, go to the artists site at http://anycoloryoulike.biz/arp/.

Here are some more sources for bags, not pink, but biodegrable!

http://www.ecoproducts.com/Home/home_bio…

http://www.kokogm.com/Green_Market/Biode…

http://www.biodegradablestore.com/pp/bag…

http://www.greenhome.com/products/housek…

http://www.groworganic.com/item_GP310_Bi…

http://www.fiorijanitorial.com/c-44-bags…

1. Use reusable shopping bags. I know they have a few varieties at Trader Joes, including an insulated one. Keep them in my car and remember to carry them with me into the grocery stores.

2. Cut back on the driving – walk or bike more, consolidate trips and errands so that you can drive less, and investigate telecommuting and public transportation opportunities – even carpooling or taking public transportation one day a week can make a difference. I carpooled this last summer for a while from Carson to Reno, it saved a lot on gas (and that was when it was over $4) and I made some new friends!

3. Drive smarter to help reduce the amount of fuel that you use when you do drive. Proper maintenance on your car can make driving safe, use less fuel, and make your car last longer. So I guess that means cleaning my trunk which is full to the brim with boxes of books.

4. Replace old appliances with more energy efficient ones, including Energy Star certified appliances. OK, this one is not necessarily budget friendly, but it’s on the to-do list!

5. Buy locally grown and organic produce – look for local farmer’s markets and stands, organic sections in your grocery store, locally grown produce signs and labels, and natural food and coop stores in your area. You’ll eat healthier plus you’ll benefit your local economy with food choices from local growers.

6. Recycle – learn about local recycling programs. You can find local recycling centers in the United States at  Earth911.com. Most neighborhoods in the Reno/Carson/Tahoe area offer recycling with your Waste Management.

7. Donate unused and reusable items to your local thrift shops or other places that can use them. Give others the chance to use those clothes that no longer fit you, those toys your children no longer play with, those strollers and cribs that you no longer need, those books that you’ve read and won’t look at again, and many other items around your house that you may have stored away and won’t use again. Yikes, I guess I have to attack my garage.

8. Get informed about, and use recycled paper products for your home and for your office. Dickson has committed to using only recycled paper products in all of its offices.

9. Use green and non-toxic cleaners for your house, your clothes, and your car.

10. Learn about and participate in community conservation and cleanup projects. Check out your city sites: Reno, Sparks, Carson City, South Lake, North Lake, Truckee.

11. Adopt a park or outdoor place to keep clean.

12. Start a garden, even if its just growing your own herbs for your apartment, and learn how to compost. Find out if you city has a community garden.

13. Insulate your home hot water heater - save money and energy.

14. Fix leaky water fixtures and investigate low flow toilets and showerheads.

15. Replace water system filters your home as recommended. The water pressure in your home will be stronger, and the water you drink will be safer.

16. Replace light bulbs with more energy efficient and longer lasting bulbs such as compact fluorescent light bulbs or LED light bulbs. And learn how to properly dispose of them.

17. Stop receiving junk mail using a free service like Catalog Choice, and paid services such as Green Dimes or 41pounds.org.

18. Use less water. You can do things like take shorter showers, turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, and watch how much water you use when washing dishes, but you might want to measure your water footprint first. And read this CNN article on Measuring your Water Footprint to learn why this is so important.

19. Conduct a home energy audit

20. Calculate your Carbon footprint. 

21. Unplug or use power strips that can be turned off for appliances and electronic devices such as computers, chargers, printers, televisions, cable set top boxes, microwave ovens, and coffee makers, to avoid energy vampires.

22. Learn about local, regional, national, and global environmental issues, and participate through donations, advocacy, volunteer efforts, and employment.

Any others that you would suggest?