Go Green - Not Broke

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published July 2, 2009 in The Jambalaya News

In some cases, going green is synonymous with going broke.

Hybrid cars and organic produce are expensive, but there are ways to conserve precious energy that will also keep you from emptying your wallet.

A recently completed housing development in Lake Charles is providing a new way to find out just how much energy – and money – people can save by going green.

The developer will have the opportunity to study and compare electric bills of a house with average fixtures to figures from an identical house with energy-efficient upgrades, according to CJ Tech’s Charles Abshire, the electrical contractor.


CJ Tech and Teche Electric Supply teamed up with Reeves Development for the project.

“There are about 200 houses out there. Only the last 23 that we’ve done have been green, and we’re going from there and doing 100 percent green from now on,” Abshire said.

The rent for these homes is between $600 and $800 a month, according to Jason Garcille of Reeves Development. Most of the renters are families with low to medium incomes. Some tenants can use Section 8 vouchers to meet rent requirements for the houses, which range from 2-4 bedrooms, Garcille said.

The families also save money in the long run. One 14-Watt Energy Star light bulb – that twirly fluorescent one – can replace a 60-Watt incandescent bulb and last approximately five years. Energy efficient electrical fixtures can cut electricity bills by as much as 30 percent, Abshire said.

Green thumbs

The completed houses are a result of the insightful planning of developer Bob Davis, according to Debbie Luquette of Teche Electric. For Luquette, Abshire, Jason Garcille and Aaron Brown of Reeves Development, going green was a new experience. “This is the third development I’ve done for this company, and they decided they wanted to go green this time,” Luquette said. Luquette worked with Teche Electric to select hundreds of light fixtures for the development.

“It was really exciting to finally get into that green thing. I don’t think anybody around here is really doing it,” Luquette said. Brown, the project manager, had never participated in such a project.

“There was quite a bit of research,” Brown said. “We had a good amount of meetings beforehand just to make sure that this was a viable option for us, that it was going to be cost effective.”

Federal tax credits for Energy Star homes are available at 30 percent of the cost, (up to $1,500) for windows, doors, insulation, roofs, water heaters and other appliances, according to energystar.gov.

From the outside, the subdivision looks ordinary. A just-finished clubhouse awaits neighborhood parties. Children play on the freshly laid sod covering each lawn, and trees – which were left unharmed during the construction process – peek out from behind each house.

These sleek new homes come equipped with Green Energy Star appliances, including a washer, dryer and refrigerator. Energy efficient or “low E” glass protects air from escaping through the windows, and the walls are filled with R19 insulation instead of the R13 minimum to keep air inside the house. The fixtures in each house feature fluorescent bulbs and quiet fans, Luquette said. The houses use split system heat air conditioning and low flow water fixtures. Even the low VOC paint on the walls is eco-friendly, according to Brown and Garcille. Moreover, the outdoor landscaping is irrigation tolerant and drought resistant. The stained concrete floors are scored to resemble tile and finished with a low VOC sealant for a glossy surface. This ensures low environmental impact.

“There’s no carpet that ends up in a landfill,” Garcille said.

The houses with two stories must use carpet made from recycled material, Brown said.

Interested tenants can contact the leasing office at Lake Fairway Drive. But for those who aren’t ready to make the full switch, there are a few simple steps you can take.

Going green

In terms of saving the environment, there’s no time like the present.

“It’s something good to get into now because it’s not something that is going away. This is going to be the way of the future; this is the building of the future. It’s just good to get a leg up and a head start on it,” Brown said.

Luquette said everyone should take at least a few steps toward energy efficiency.

Replacing regular fans with low E fans and incandescents with fluorescents can save money and lower the overall temperature of a home.

In hot, humid Louisiana, Luquette said, that makes a real difference.

“It just pays for itself. I’ve personally changed everything in my house, and I notice the difference,” Luquette said.

In 2012, Congress will begin phasing out incandescent lighting as part of a law approved in 2007, according to US News.com.
“People are scared of it. They’re used to incandescent bulbs; that’s what they grew up with. Times are changing. You’ve got to go with the flow,” Luquette said.

And, if you don’t like the look of those twirly brights, Luquette pointed out that a frosted floodlight that hides the swirl can be used in track and recessed fixtures.

Charles Abshire of CJ Tech said more attractive fixtures are becoming available.

“You’re spending a thousand more dollars in fixtures, but if you’re going to save yourself an average of $50 a month over the long term, you’re going to make your money back,” Abshire said.

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