Welcome to the Town of Sahuarita, Arizona

Have you heard the new phrase “Green is the new black?”

Everyone is looking for new ways to save money and be Green.  There are a number of things residents can do to make their homes more efficient and green.

• A small investment in a programmable thermostat can save homeowners up to $180 annually in energy costs. Heating and cooling uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in the home. Approximately 43% of utility bills cover heating and cooling.
• Replace ordinary light bulbs with Compact fluorescent (CFL)  bulbs. If every household replaced just one light bulb with a CFL bulb, America could save enough energy to light nearly three million homes. Almost 96 percent of power needed to operate an incandescent light bulb goes to produce heat instead of light (which explains why those bulbs are so hot to the touch). CFL  bulbs generate far less heat; enabling them to produce almost four times more light per unit of energy (the replacement for a standard 60-watt bulb typically uses about 18 watts).  Remember, these bulbs use mercury and need to be recycled properly, not disposed of like ordinary bulbs in the landfill.
• Try new lighting control technologies like motion-sensitive or timed off switch lighting. Using these new options can reduce lighting use by 50-75% and save the lighting portion of energy bills that account for 11% of overall household energy consumption.

• Choosing energy-efficient products can save families approximately $400 a year while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Chose ENERGY STAR® certified products when you buy or replace household appliances.
• Explore the option of solar heating. Photovoltaic solar systems, solar water heating and solar pool heating can save you money over time and is a source of natural energy.
• Plant shade trees or shrubs on the west or south sides of your home.  Proper shading of exposed windows and doors can dramatically reduce the heat and UV rays that penetrate your home.
• Look for a low-flow shower nozzle, which mixes air with the water flow. They are easy to install and relatively inexpensive. This can reduce the amount of water needed by half.
• Improve the efficiency of your water heater: adjust the temperature to 120⁰, if your dishwasher has an integrated water heater.
• Save $30 to $40 per year in water heating costs by washing and rinsing clothes in cold water. You can also save more than 3,400 gallons of water per year, according to Energy Star, by washing full loads instead of partial loads.

For more ideas on saving energy:
U.S. Department of Energy
www.eere.energy.gov/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov

International Code Council foundation
http://www.buildingsafetymonth.org/pdf/10_GreenandSustainableBuilding.pdf

U.S. Green Building Council's Green Home Guide
http://greenhomeguide.com/

For further information or to inquire about permits please contact the Town of Sahuarita Planning and Building Safety Department at 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way, Sahuarita, Arizona, 85629, or 520-822-8866.