Tax Credits & Rebates for Going Green

If you have ever thought about going green here are some monetary incentives to help you do so!

Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credits

30% tax credit on solar energy systems, geothermal heat pumps, and small wind turbines. Project must be completed by 12/31/2016

http://www.energystar.gov/ and search under Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

Cash For Appliances

DOE rebates run from $50 to $500 and might cover dishwashers, freezers, furnaces, boilers, refrigerators, heat pumps, washers, water heaters.  States have until February 2012 to use.  At this writing, rebates were still available in states, but just recently ended in  North Carolina.

http://www.energysavers.gov/

Home Star

Under proposed legislation rebates would cover costs of various energy efficient products including insulation, sealing ducts, roofing.  Consumers would get rebates from professionals who would them apply for reimbursement.

More information here: http://www.efficiencyfirst.org/about/

Zen Organization

You might have stared the New Year off excited to get organized, but maybe are struggling now.  Make it a daily habit to devote time to organizing and/or purging.  When you feel stuck, remind yourself of what you are saving (money, time), creating (a peaceful or inspiring environment) and remember what being disorganization has cost you (increased stress & anxiety) in the past.

What one item or area could you organize today that would make a difference in your life?

Always Losing Your To Do List?

Thanks to Realtor Amy Shair who alerted me about this gadget.  For those of technologically challenged or without a smart phone, this might be a helpful option.

The Mamemo Desktop Memo Pad can take notes in either Japanese or English. It can store up to 99 notes at a time that can be easily accessed.  You can also set an alarm with your notes. Now you’ll never forget to feed the dog or take dinner out of the oven.

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mamemo-desktop-memo-pad

For more about Amy’s services:

http://www.amyshair.com/

Should it Stay or Should it Go?

If you have started the de-cluttering process here are some helpful suggestions to help you decide if you should keep something:

You have twice as many as you need. Take inventory of excess and donate what you don’t use.

It represents who you used to be.  All those suits from your corporate life you ditched a decade ago?  Why not donate them to a charity like Dress for Success where it will make a huge difference to someone?

Gifts You Don’t Love. It is just an object, and not the person!  I know this isn’t popular in the South, but I am a big fan of re-gifting.  What didn’t bring you joy might do so to someone else.  It’s better for the planet and easier on your wallet!

Your Gut says Over it. So many times we don’t listen to our intuition!  Honor it and trust that you will get the items that you need when you need them!

You might consider keeping it if:

It represents who you are. Live in the present moment not in the past or future “(it will fit when I lose five pounds.”)

Great sentiment. Instead of having tons of memorabilia, pick the pieces that most resonate/represent the moment/brings you joy.

You’d purchase it again. Is it something unique that you truly love?  Keep.

You will honor it. Instead of throwing it in a box or having it in the back of the closet, will you honor what is important to you and find a home for it?

What do you want to honor and what can you let go of? Don’t forget to give, recycle, repair, repurpose what you can!

Organizing Your Gift Giving

I know the holidays just ended, but now is the perfect time to create a Gift Shelf!  Decrease stress with no more last minute shopping and spreading time and money throughout the year.   Get your calendar/PDA and enter all birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

Leftover Holiday Wrapping Paper?

Of course, you can always use the paper next year, but if you are looking for some ways to be creative and help get organized here are some suggestions:

shred and use as packaging material;

wrap around recycled tin cans to store pens, pencils and scissors;

make a bookmark;

create decorative box labels and color code by subject;

use in a frame and hang it for a graphic touch;

protect your books;

construct napkin rings by cutting strips and wrapping around flatware for your next dinner party;

compose a card;

save it by ironing on low and rolling it back on the tube to reuse next year!

What other creative ideas do you have?  Remember to try and make being green fun.  Don’t think of it as a chore, but rather a way to be creativity and stretch your imagination while doing good for the planet.

Zen Organizing

A lot of clients tell me they hate organizing; they would rather have a root canal. Even if you have a professional organizer come in you are still going to need to maintain that system and continue to declutter.  If you have started organizing and are hitting that wall, perhaps these suggestions will give you some encouragement. I have modified this from Elisha Goldstein’s The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook.

Imagine you are doing this chore for the first time.  In your mind, you are recycling or getting rid of trash; look for the treasures instead.

Use your five sense and focus on one at a time.  Appreciate the texture of the clothes you are donating.

Consider it a neutral workout.  Incorporating mindfulness-based techniques into every day life can make you calmer and your brain more adaptive.

Don’t think of organization as punishment!  You are cultivating kindness towards yourself.

Eco-Friendly Mind Organization

Organizing Your Mind

I take a holistic approach with organizing and suggest people start with their mind. This means living in the present and not spending time in fear and anxiety. I consider this an important step in getting inside and outside organized. These questions by Geneen Roth are written on a whiteboard in my office and when making a decision I reflect on these questions.

1. Does it lead me toward a fuller life or confine me?
2. Does it bring me closer to my heart or take me further away?
3. Does it open me or close me?
4. Does it allow me to trust myself further or does it make me frightened of myself?
5. Does it enlarge my life or does it make my life smaller?

What are your priorities for the year?

What do you need to say no to or change?

Start the New Year Out Organized!

I found this great organizing software product About One that let’s you go green and get organized!

AboutOne.com is an online family management system that helps busy families manage precious memories and household information. It was designed by moms for moms (and dads too!) to make managing information fast and fun. Most people are too busy to think about what information they should save for the future. But when a life event occurs, like having a baby, moving, changing jobs, going to a new doctor, you need access to information from your past. Sometimes you can remember the needed details, but more often you are frustrated about spending time and money trying to find information.

They have bank level security; it’s easy to use, and makes organizing paper & important documents a snap! It is very affordable and you can do a free trial demo.  You can create newsletters, store client lists and keep track of all those home improvements.  They have sections for health records as well as education information.  Talk about being ready to roll when your kid applies to college!

You can start the New Year off using the software and add history at any point that you would like.  As someone who has a box full of health records, this is a fantastic option!

Check out more here. Use HEALINGORG to save 10%!

http://www.aboutone.com/