Judith Sutton ABR CRS IDS PMN ASP IAHSP SRES GREEN
Judy@JudithSutton.com 908 803-0472
EXPECT MORE
SUSTAINABLE DESIGNING…
How to think about your next move...
Invited Guest Contributor: Noz Nozowa
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CONSIDER YOUR CONSUMPTION FIRST, BUY LATER!
The greenest step a home enthusiast can take is the first one—to be mindful of the steps to come and realize your choices can and will make a difference. For example, if you buy something—whether it’s a bed headboard or a sectional sofa for your living room—knowing you’ll only have it for a few years and toss it; then it doesn’t really matter how eco-friendly its materials are if it still ends up in the land-fill.
THIS GOES FOR HOMES, TOO!
If you care about the environment but find yourself drawn to a house that was remodeled five years ago, and you hate the renovation and plan to redo it, that’s a sign that you need to rethink.
Renovations use up natural resources. Buy a house you won’t change as much. Or find a fixer-upper and save it from the bulldozer. This may mean living in the midst of your renovation and a mess for a while, with some rooms redone, some unfinished, and some empty. But the environment will thank you!
It’s a huge ask, I know, but a commitment to sustainability often requires accepting a certain level of inconvenience.
INVEST LOCALLY
Embrace the number of local businesses you plan to work with. Look around and see what might be available. Perhaps you live in an area with great woodworkers or upholsterers in your town. I know in Bernardsville there are lovely drapery shops and re-upholster craftsmen available. In Basking Ridge you may find excellent Interior Designers that subscribe to GREEN LIVING. And besides being more sustainable, supporting local artisans helps your overall community, and makes each item feel more special. You can’t find a better reason than that!
SPEND MORE CARE MORE ENJOY LONGER!
While construction and renovation are, in essence, consumptive, when done right they needn’t be wasteful. High-quality goods tend to last longer, and caring for them will only extend their lifetime.
The same can be said for life’s creature comforts—objects and spaces designed purely for beauty or pleasure. If that creature's comfort brings you joy, if it keeps you happy and settled in one place, instead of roaming to the next home, the next renovation, then the purchase—no matter the price, or the materials, for that matter—was likely well worth it.
PLAY THE WAITING GAME GLADLY!
If you have to purchase items from a distance, try to resist the urge to get them here faster.
I prefer to buy items in actual stores, rather than online, where the “express shipping” button is so enticing
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The faster something comes to you, the more likely it is that every part of the process—from production to the extra packaging needed to ship it, to the pollution created by air transport—has a harsher impact than buying something locally and with a slower delivery rate.
After all, Life is about Thinking Green!
Energy-Efficient Expertise for the Future of Green Real Estate
As a member of the GREEN RESOURCE COUNCIL through the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. I have the privilege of having earned my designation to help clients decide on the best practices. Call me. I can help.
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