Buying a home is a rewarding experience, often afforded as a result of years of hard work. With this form of luxury, though, comes some additional responsibilities. Due to the widespread use of asbestos throughout the 20th century, it is essential for those involved in real estate to take the proper measures in inspecting and removing the mineral. Asbestos exposure has resulted in the development of severe lung cancers such as mesothelioma. Although medical technology continues to improve, mesothelioma claims thousands of victims every year in the United States alone. Mesothelioma can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years to develop, making it extremely difficult for physicians to accurately diagnose this disease. The amount of asbestos-related incidents in the country has resulted in law firms advocating for and protecting the rights of victims. The United States government and asbestos manufacturers have been heavily criticized for concealing and not doing enough to inform the public of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure. The removal of asbestos must be undertaken by a professional abatement contractor who is trained in handling dangerous materials. In addition, most people are unaware of the fact that eco-friendly products can cut energy costs. Cellulose and cotton fiber are both green options that should be considered. Cotton fiber is made from recycled batted material and treated to be fireproof. The United Nations Environmental Program states that usage of recycled materials such as green insulation methods and lighting can reduce energy use by 20 to 25 percent! These alternatives allow for a healthy lifestyle, free and clear of damaging substances.

Did you know the average house produces over 5,000 lbs. of trash each year?

You can reduce your household's impact on landfills by recycling glass, aluminum, paper and plastic. Call your local waste management department for details.

We are lucky that here in Vermont, most of our towns are able to pick up or take in recycling for free! For locals, check out www.cswd.net for more information.

Does your house have a "vampire problem"?

Items like your coffeemaker, computer and television, often referred to as "vampire devices", still use energy even when they're turned off. Simply unplugging them cane save an average household about $100 per year.

Sometimes also called "ghost appliances". For more energy saving tips, visit www.greenmountainpower.com.

Do you know how to save 10,000 gallons of water this year?

If every person shaved 2 minutes off their shower time, each would save 10 gallons of water. With an average of 3 people per household and one shower each per day, that's over 10,000 gallons of water!

Again, living in Vermont, we are somewhat lucky that water is plentiful here. However, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to save water whenever we can! Water is a limited natural resource. For more information on how to save water, visit www.savewateramerica.com.