Monmouth County homeowner Tom Morahan discusses how GreenWorks made his home the envy of the neighborhood.

We’re proud to announce that GreenWorks was recently awarded the distinction of Certified RainXchange™ Professional (CRP) by Aquascape, Inc. The CRP is a rainwater harvesting professional certification program created in June, 2009.

Rainwater recycling is a natural extension of the eco-friendly services we offer. It’s a great way to have a positive impact on the environment and save money at the same time.

GreenWorks is working exclusively with Aquascape, Inc., North America’s leading water gardening industry innovator and the inventor of the low-maintenance, naturally balanced ecosystem pond.

Certified RainXchange™ Professionals such as GreenWorks are the most qualified and informed RainXchange™ rainwater harvesting system installers in the water gardening industry. We are required to attend continual training and education seminars and maintain a proven record of outstanding work and dedicated customer service.

Ready for your complimentary rainwater harvesting consultation? Give Victor and the GreenWorks team a call (732-223-2073) to get the most out of the rainwater falling on your property!

This pretty much says it all…

Monmouth County residents are facing sever water restrictions, near-drought conditions plague much of our state and many people’s lawns and gardens are an ugly shade of beige due to the lack of recent rain in the Garden State. Using water wisely is an absolute must, especially when facing the type of conditions we’re seeing now.

In fact, water quantity issues and challenges will be a growing challenge for New Jersey residents and folks around the country in the coming years. Our current levels and patterns of water usage are simply not sustainable. We use drinking water for our lawns, drink bottled water from plastic bottles and let rain water run off our lawns and into the sewer.

Highest consumption patterns are highest in summer; Here are a few things homeowners can do to use water more wisely, reduce their water bills and ensure lush landscaping regardless of rainfall levels.

Evaluate Water Usage, Needs and Goals – How do you and your family use water on a daily basis? How much water do you use in an average week? Do you use water to wash cars with? Do you drink tap water? These and other questions must be considered in order to best understand how you use water, how you could use water and what makes the most sense for your family and your home.

Increase Water Efficiency – Consider using low-flow shower-heads and toilets. These are two of the largest water wasters in most homes. Low-flow equipment is affordable and can be installed by many DIYers. Evaluating your water usage and increasing basic water efficiency in your home are good first steps to using water wisely.

Install a Rain Barrel – Rain barrels are usually the most cost-effective way to start saving water at your home. They can be used to for irrigating plants and shrubs close to the home. Rain barrels are prone to low water pressure so if you want to deliver rain water to parts of your landsaping further away from the barrel, an accessory pump can be added to improve water pressure. Newer rain barrels come in various colors and styles, some that can be aesthetically pleasing and combine well with your lawn and landscaping.

Use Greywater – Greywater systems are experiencing a surge in interest and increased installations across the country. Greywater recycling filters and re-use shower, laundry and dishwater water for irrigation and other non-potable uses. They require a larger up-front investment but will pay big dividends for many years to come. The best time to install a greywater recycling system is before the home is built.

Evaluate Drinking Water Usage – Evaluating how a home uses drinking water for consumption and other applications is crucial to saving and better using water. Many homeowners use drinking water to water their lawns simply because they don’t think that there are other options. Additionally, many families are buying plastic bottles of drinking water,most of which comes from the same municipal sources as the water in their home. Buying and drinking water in plastic bottles is extremely expensive and comes with huge environmental impacts. Whole-house treatment systems, water filtration systems, potential health effects – how you feel; glass bottles – does not taint or leech, Testing/screening could be important. Treatment measures and technology are continuously evolving. Depends on what your level of comfort is, what you and your family want.

Become a Rainwater Recycler – You already recycle plastic, glass & paper, why not rainwater! Storm-water sheet flow is already touted by many as being the primary source of non-point source pollutants. So why not capture that rainwater that falls on your house and put it to good use by re-using it for irrigation, topping off your pool or as part of a water garden. There are many types of larger-scale water storage devices that are affordable, easy to install and do a wealth of good for the environment and your property.

Save Money, The Environment and Our Children – Our pocketbooks and wallets feel the impact of our water usage decisions first where using less water means lower water bills. But long-range planning and thinking about how you’ll use water in the months and years ahead can be educational, enlightening and help preserve our environment. In many cases, it can also mean a more comfortable home and a happier, healthier family. But ultimately, it’s our children who will benefit from good water stewardship now. That’s the best reason to help conserve our most precious natural resource.

Greening your home can be tough, especially if it was built years, decades or even centuries ago. Older homes weren’t built with environmental sustainability in mind even if they will stand the test of time. Greening a home that wasn’t built green can be challenging but it’s an achievable goal that doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Here are 5 fabulous ways you can do to green your home right away.

1. Energy – The biggest impact a house has on the environment is usually its energy consumption. Most folks like to be able to see and stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer in their homes. That’s certainly understandable but how can those seemingly routine decisions about energy, heating and cooling impact the environment? There are many energy choices to make when heating, cooling and powering your home. The first best practice is conservation. That will help the planet and your wallet.

2. Cleaning/Painting/Repairing – Many people spend most of their weekends fixing up their homes. Improvements, additions, painting and repairing are all on the typical homeowners’ to-do list. But, how can these things help your home go green? Whether it’s materials or finishes, green choices abound. In order to cut through the confusion, look for products made as close to home as possible and consider non-toxic options. They will, generally speaking, cost you a little bit more, but it’s an investment with a great return.

3. Rainwater/Irrigation/Landscaping – Lots of rain falls on properties in the northeastern United States. But, instead of that rainwater being a drainage challenge to homeowners, what if you could turn all that rain into a resource you use that saves you money? Using rainwater for landscaping and irrigation is a smart move that will lessen your bills and your water consumption. Also, how water moves around and off your property will have a big impact on drainage issues and erosion.

4. Buying/Recycling/Composting – Many of us have been recycling for years. Those efforts have made a big difference in the waste-stream and have led to unprecedented levels of recycling. But, we should be mindful of recyciling twin sisters, reducing and reusing. Before we even have to recycle something, perhaps we should consider if it’s something we need to purchase at all. Assuming that is, is it possible to purchase a green version that has been manufactured from recycled materials. If not, is the material sustainable using renewable materials and non-toxic finishes and stains?

5. Water - Using water wisely means focusing on what comes out of your fixtures and what comes out of the sky. Conserving water is a smart move that will save money and have a positive impact on the environment. Reusing rain water is taking an extra step that will save money, protect precious natural resources and ensure your gardens and flower beds have plenty of life-giving water. Rain barrels and various ways to capture, collect and re-use rainwater are widely available at home improvement stores and on the Web.

Greening our homes is an ongoing process that involves not just how the house is powered, but what we bring into the house, how we dispose of it and how we manage the environmental resources around the house. All those factors will play a role in the greening of your home. For more tips, or if you have questions about any of the ideas mentioned above, then don’t hesitate to contact GreenWorks. We’d be happy to answer your questions, and don’t worry, we’ve heard them all before!

Are you ready for spring in your backyard? Ready or not, here it is! Homeowners are suddenly spending a lot more time in their backyards. As they head out and deal with the issues from a long, snowy winter they want cover and color and they want it fast.

We really only have about two weeks of growing season left in the our region of the northeast. You need to use the clock to your advantage because you need a solution now. Look to mature plants that require as little growth time as possible. Choosing flowers and plants such as Proven Winners means you’ll get to enjoy the benefits of the foliage without having to invest the energy and time – both of which are in short supply!

To get a head start for next time, while you’re working on the flowers and plants, turn to your lawn. It could be healthier and if it was, then it would look a lot better. Take just a few minutes and fertilize the lawn, overseed it and aerate/patch any bare areas. The results from just a few minutes of work are well worth the time you invest.

If you’re interested in going green in your backyard, the beginning of the season (right now!) is a great time to investigate organic lawncare options. There are many fertilizers and nutrients available that do the job well but aren’t harmful to other plants or animals and don’t pollute our local waterways. Runoff from residential developments and yard chemicals are major contributors to the degraded condition of the Barnegat Bay. Yes, the green lawn care products will cost you a little more today but like any good investment, they will pay dividends for many years to come.

If all this still sounds like more than you want to do, we understand. It may be to time to give us a call!

Check out this video of a Burlington County, New Jersey couple who hired GreenWorks to update, enhance and improve their backyard. It’s fascinating how backyard improvements lead to quality of life improvements!

As April meets warm spring weather, our thoughts turn to Earth Day. This annual celebration of all things green is our favorite holiday (obviously!) and it serves as a great annual reminder of what’s important. Many have heard the slogan “Make Earth Day Every Day.” Well, that’s easier said than done. Most folks just don’t know where to start and are unsure of which actions will have the greatest impact and make the biggest difference to them and to the environment.

1. Driving – For most people, their car represents the biggest impact they have on the environment. From air-polluting emissions to Middle Eastern oil, our cars represent an environmental challenge, and along with it, an opportunity. To lesson you car’s impact on the world, drive less and drive efficiently. Consolidate trips so you’re not starting and stopping the car repeatedly, if possible. Keep you car tuned up and your tires properly inflated. Your gas mileage will improve, using less gas and saving you money – it’s a win-win-win!

2. Lighting – Replace all light incandescent light bulbs in your house with compact fluorescent (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) lights. The prices of such green lighting has dropped dramatically. Such upgrades will not only help green your home – they’ll also add some green to your bank account because they use less energy and last longer.

3. Eating – Eat foods grown locally. Not only will it help your local economy and keep money in town, it reduces the amount of trucks on the road needed to deliver food across the country. Try to eat as much food as you can that’s grown locally – starting in your own backyard! A backyard garden is a great way to save money, help the environment and eat healthier all at the same time.

4. Shopping – Don’t drive to the mall next time you need something. Ride a bike downtown and shop locally. You’ll improve air quality, the local economy and your own health. Talk about benefits!

5. Heating and Cooling – The heating and cooling system in your home is likely your second biggest impact on the environment after your car. There are many option available to homeowners, but first do the basics: weatherstripping to keep your heating and cooling in the house. Insulation serves the same purpose, and both put money back in your pocket.

6. Building – Green building is all the rage, but you don’t need to buy a new house to have a green home. From the outdoor landscaping to the back yard, green choices are available to suit nearly every homeowner’s vision. Going inside, everything from green “Energy Star” appliances to green furniture and paints are available to lessen the impact your home has on the world around it.

7. Printing – Printing documents is becoming increasingly unnecessary with the advent of electronic filing. Consider the environment before printing document and if you do need to print, then purchase recharged and reused cartridges. The environmental impacts on water quality alone would be enormous if we just kept more cartridges out of landfills.

8. Investing – Your retirement funds and other savings could be invested in polluting industries and unsustainable businesses, and you may not even know it. Review the holdings in your mutual funds and retirement accounts. There are a wealth of socially responsible, green investing opportunities all just a Google search away. Invest your green in green and watch both grow!

9. Cleaning – The cleaning products in the closet or under the kitchen sink likely contain the most toxic substances in your home. Changing to clean products will not only keep your home clean, they will keep your home and your family healthier.

10. Living – Living green is something you can choose to do every day. From your meals to your home to your car to your activities, your choices and even your thoughts. When taking action, choose the green path, the sustainable path. You will be richly rewarded for your green deeds!

GreenWorks was hired by Jesel to consult and offer guidance on an industrial property transfer. In New Jersey, such a transfer triggers the Industrial Site Recovery Act, which is administered by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. GreenWorks conducted extensive research and analysis of area groundwater flow and historical land use to help clear the way for a smooth deal and transfer of property.

Understanding how NJDEP works, who to talk to and what to ask for was critical in timely issuance of the No Further Action letter which paved the way for the multi-million property sale, a sale that hung in the balance and was nearly scuttled before GreenWorks was brought to the table.

Watch Dave Grob discuss what it was like to work with GreenWorks and how the solutions they provided helped Jesel close a multi-million dollar industrial real estate deal.

We’ve worked with Barlo and Associates on several projects. Here, Paul Barlo discusses his experience hiring GreenWorks Environmental.