GVR’s “One Can a Payday” Makes a Difference

Green Valley, AZ – Green Valley Recreation (GVR), a non-profit organization serving Green Valley’s adult retirement community – has successfully collected food for the Green Valley-Sahuarita Community Food Bank.

Thanks to the attendees of the (GVR) Christmas party last December, as much as 213 pounds of food were collected. Food Bank donation stations can be found at GVR centers. Food collection boxes have been on display all year round. In the past, these boxes were available only during the holidays.

Recently, GVR proposed a program known as “One Can a Payday” among its employees. Around 200 items could be collected each month and donated to the Food Bank if each employee gives just one non-perishable item every payday.

Spearheading the program is GVR’s Human Resources Director Nancy Mackel. “It’s very easy to pick up one extra item while you are doing your grocery shopping,” says Mackel. She also said that GVR employees were generous enough to donate 75 pounds of food on the first day of the program. Food boxes are always ready to be filled in GVR centers.

Indeed, the sense of community in Green Valley is alive. Residents of Green Valley are always ready to help out others who are in need. This is one of the reasons why many people continue to invest in new homes in Green Valley. If you are also interested in Green Valley real estate, contact Dorn Homes – the most reliable among Green Valley home builders. Dorn-built new homes in Green Valley are stylish, comfortable, convenient, and energy efficient. One community definitely worth checking out is Dorn Homes’s new joint venture with Fairfield Homes, Solterra.

 

Source: gvnews.com

Dorn’s Green Homes in Arizona

 

Green home building in a place like Arizona is advantageous for both the homeowners and the environment. The abundance of sun and nature in Arizona has inspired green home builders like Dorn Homes to create stylish, comfortable, convenient and energy efficient homes that would make any homeowner happy.

Contrary to misconceptions, Arizona is not just dust and dirt. Its scenery is both breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Panoramic desert landscapes, clear rivers and majestic mountains abound, offering residents unique experiences, adventures, and stunning sights.

In order to help preserve the stunning environment, green home building is implemented by the best custom home builder in Arizona—Dorn Homes. Dorn’s new Arizona homes are 53-70% more energy efficient than a typical pre-existing home.

Dorn Homes is proud to say that as a great luxury home builder, it scores between 48 to 61 on the Home Energy Rating System or HERS. HERS is a scoring system by the Residential Energy Services Network to measure a home’s energy efficiency and determine if it meets Energy Star guidelines. The lower the HERS index, the more energy efficient the home is. An older pre-existing home averages with a HERS score of 130.

Dorn’s green homes are energy efficient because of these features:

• Natural insulation – A Dorn home has a sealed envelope that reduces heating and cooling costs. This insulation extends up to the roof deck, allowing the ductwork to be inside the heated and cooled space.

• Solar hot water system – This includes an 80 gallon hot water heater, with a closed loop system and a 95% efficient electric backup to ensure a consistent stream of fresh hot water. Water conserving toilets, faucets, and shower heads are included. PEX plumbing waterlines that reduce the amount of heat loss from water in the piping are also used.

• Fresh air intake and full home ventilation system – This creates an environment with healthy fresh air, less dust, fewer odors, and remarkably comfortable and consistent temperatures.

• Special oversized windows – These are incorporated not just for a better view of the scenic surroundings of Arizona, but also to allow light to come in minus the ultraviolet rays. High performance windows help reduce energy loss by 30-50% by helping keep the home cooler during summer and warmer during winter. They also reduce noise transfer.

• SEER AC units and programmable thermostats – These reduce energy by adjusting the temperature according to a series of programmed settings that take effect at different times of the day.

• Highly efficient appliances – Compact fluorescent light bulbs and Energy Star dishwasher are included to create truly green homes from Dorn Homes.

Home Energy-Efficiency Checklist

Now that green home building becomes more of a necessity rather than a growing trend, it helps a lot if home owners have a home energy-efficiency checklist at hand.

Dorn Homes is a reputable green home builder of South Arizona homes. They develop communities for the active-adult market and build custom energy-efficient homes.

Check out this simple list of home-energy must-do’s to know if your home is indeed, energy-efficient.

1. Look for drafts in the areas that are most susceptible, like windows and doors that lead to the outside. A burning incense stick is a great draft locater. The smoke will toss and turn under the slightest breeze, making it ideal for hard-to-find drafts. Plus, if you choose a pleasant scent, it will fill your home with comforting aromas.

If the caulk around your windows is beginning to show signs of wear, then it’s time to clean them up and apply a fresh bead. Use a putty knife or razor blade to clean the old caulk away and then simply re-caulk the windows.

If your windows are in bad shape and you don’t have the finances to have them replaced before the cold air sets in, inexpensive plastic window covers will greatly help your situation.

For doors, check the status of the weatherstripping. Is it cracked or torn in places? Maybe it’s just worn down from constant opening and closing. Either way, most hardware stores have a huge selection of inexpensive weatherstripping that can help keep the cold out and the warm in. Many styles are easy to install – just peel-and-stick! Make sure that the door closes snuggly and use the incense stick to re-check.

2. Check for drafts around electrical outlets and switch plates. With a few dozen outlets and switches scattered throughout your home, there can be some significant heat loss if the walls aren’t insulated properly. Picking up some waterproof gaskets used for outside outlets and installing them behind the covers can reduce air flow.

3. If you have a home with attic access, you will want to make sure that the hatch is insulated. Since heat rises, it will quickly exit through an un-insulated attic hatch.

4. Check for drafts around baseboards. In most cases, there’s a small gap between the bottom of the drywall and the floor. A bead of caulk along the baseboards can really help prevent heat loss, and as a bonus, filling in the gaps can make the baseboards look nicer.

5. Check fireplace dampers and dryer exhaust louvers (on the outside of your house) to make sure they function properly. Many people are surprised at how much heat can escape their house by not having a louvered dryer vent. When the dryer is not on, the louvers remain closed and help to keep the warm air inside the home.

6. Another place to check for air leaks is around your window or wall air conditioner. If it’s possible, your best bet is to remove the window unit for the winter. If that’s not possible, seal the leaks with caulk.

7. On the outside of your home, inspect all of the water faucets and any outlets or pipesyou have entering your house. Caulk any holes or gaps you may find. While you’re outside, check the siding and exterior of the windows. Again, apply caulk where needed.

Dorn Homes is a certified green builder of homes in South Arizona including: Homes in Tucson, Homes in Tubac, Homes in Green Valley, Homes in Oro Valley, and Homes in Prescott.

Visit Dorn Homes today.

Source: doityourself.com