St. George Utah Real Estate Made Easy

Going "Green" in St. George Utah is Easier Than You Might Think

How much impact does a green home have on the environment, you ask? The government reports that Energy Star qualified homes built in 2009 are the equivalent of:

• Eliminating emissions from 51,645 vehicles
• Savings 312,399,672 lbs of coals
• Planting 85,372 acres of trees, and
• Saving in the environment 612,678,574 pounds of CO2.

Many homebuyers shy away from green construction and green upgrades because of the upfront cost. But while some estimates have put the construction cost difference at 17 percent, recent estimates from The World Business Council for Sustainable Development put the cost of green construction only 5 percent higher than traditional.

Green building means using recycled, renewable, and native building materials. It also means tapping into the energy sources that nature has to offer, including solar and wind.

Here are a few ideas of simple "going green" ideas to get you thinking.

Energy Star Appliances: Appliances are an easy way to make a home more friendly to the environment. One of the fastest ways to explore your options is to visit energystar.gov. At this government site you can find out more information on tax credits and rebates. As an example of Energy Star appliances and their efficiency, qualified washers use 30 percent less energy and over 50 percent less water.

Toxin-free Paint: Also known as "zero-voc, low-voc, and natural" paint, this is a good option for families that have asthma sufferers. According to the EPA, "Paints, stains, and varnishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application."

Renewable Flooring: Looking for a beautiful way to incorporate wood flooring into your home? Consider bamboo flooring. How is bamboo a green option? It grows and renews itself quickly, unlikes most woods, making it an ideal and cost effective option for green flooring.

Passive Solar: In effect this option can cost you nothing, if you choose the right designed home. The goal is to design to take advantage of the sun's positioning throughout the year. o that its windows, roof, doors, flooring, etc to take advantage of the sun's position through the year.

Low Flow Toilets: Looking to keep utility costs down in your new home? Low flush toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush versus 3.5 in traditional toilets. That's a lot of water saved. Worried about the efficiency of low flow? There have been major strides made in recent years in improving these toilets. Be sure to talk to your plumber about your options.

Hopefully, these tips will help you decide to join the "green" movement in St. George UT.

The official 2010 Census will be in the mail this week to every St. George, Utah household and every other household in the country.  This is a government ritual that is repeated every 10 years to help define the United States population.

Most of the nation's 120 million residents will be getting their census forms in the mail by mid-March.  Residents who do not return the questionnaire through the mail will receive a visit from a Census worker.  Therefore, St. George is challenging all its residents to exceed their participation level in this year's Census from their participation level in the 2000 census.

Many people don't realize how vitally important the census is.  It is so important that every single person be counted so that Washington County can receive its fair share of federal funding.  The federal government distributes over $400 billion each year to tribal, state and local governments based on census data.  The data collected will also help determine where child care and senior centers will be located, where new roads will be put, where hospitals will be built and where schools will be added.

The US Constitution has mandated the census; therefore, citizen participation is required by law.  So, if you are unable to complete the census and return it by mail, a census worker will be by to collect the much needed information.

St. George officials are careful to protect their residents, so census workers will be carrying official government badges with their names clearly marked.  They are also required to show a separate photo I.D. upon request.  The census workers will only be asking 10 questions off the form, which can also be found on the bureau's website.  Census questions will never ask for your social security number or other private information such as financial or credit information.  Questions asked will include your name, age, race, residence, phone number, etc.

So, since it's that time once again, let's be sure to all participate, get our census forms back in on time and get that participation level up.

As the year comes to an end, many of us look forward to a new year with new hopes.  Some of us will even be looking to retire and will be looking for that perfect retirement community.  Therefore, I'd like to introduce you to Sun River St. George.

If you're looking for a premier master-planned active adult community, you can find everything you need in southern Utah's Sun River St. George.  It's the first of its kind in the area.  It's a unique community that shares many of the amenities that are provided by similar communities, but without the over-crowded neighborhoods and stressful settings. 

Sun River St. George has been built in an unspoiled, natural location that provides a quiet, splendidly planned community for retired adults 55 and over.

With many outdoor activities being such big attractions, you can find golf, swimming, biking, horseshoes, lawn bowling, walking trails and many more activities every day of the year.  Some residents have even described the community as a cruise ship parked on land.

Residents can always find something to do and new people to meet every day of the year.  Indoor activities such as arts and crafts, pilates, pickle-ball and more can be found to help fill your free time. The community center is actually a magnetic place getting residents together for fun and laughter. 

The Sun River St. George Golf Club golf course is a 6,700-yard course surrounded by beautifully planned home sites with natural terrain worked into the design for added enhancement.  The community center is complete with an indoor/outdoor pool and spa, a library, card rooms, computer rooms and a beautiful ballroom.

When you're looking for that one-of-a-kind retirement community, come visit St. George, Utah's Sun River St. George.  You'll be immensely impressed with what you find.