One-third of New Hampshire is classified as “abnormally dry” by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the time of this writing, with drought declarations possible before the end of summer. Water use increases sharply during these types of conditions, largely the result of discretionary water use, such as lawn irrigation. In fact, it is not unusual for demand to our water systems to more than double during the summer.
At least 65 New Hampshire water systems are known to have implemented some type of outdoor water use restriction. Thus far, the restrictions have not been the result of water shortages in the environment. Rather, they have been needed to address sharp increases in discretionary consumption that water systems are not engineered to accommodate. However, additional restrictions and implementation of water conservation measures become imperative as drought declarations and supply shortages begin to occur.
Water conservation, although effective at addressing short term challenges, is not simply a drought mitigation tool. Incorporating conservation measures into long-term planning may assist with maintaining adequate supplies in the face of population growth, aging infrastructure, and climate change. The following are behavioral changes to consider, which can be instituted immediately to assist with drought, as well as engineering changes that can be implemented over extended periods to ensure efficient use of the resource.
Water Use: Short Term/Long Term
Landscape Irrigation: Come to terms with landscape irrigation. Is it a priority to spray potable water on the ground to maintain a green lawn? A brown lawn is not a dying lawn, but grass that has gone dormant to survive the dry conditions. If a green lawn is a must, irrigate as efficiently as possible by basing watering needs on soil moisture at the root zone as opposed to automatic timers. A properly designed landscape in New Hampshire will require little to no irrigation to supplement precipitation. Reduce the size of lawns, ensure adequate topsoil, choose drought tolerant grass mixes and locally appropriate plantings to have an attractive, self-sustaining landscape. If irrigation is planned, hire an irrigation professional certified by WaterSense to design, install, and audit the irrigation system.
Fixture Water Use: Install inexpensive thread on faucet aerators to reduce faucet flows. Utilize displacement devices in toilet tanks. Limit time in the shower to less than five minutes. Turn off the faucet when it’s not being used, such as while brushing teeth and shaving. Replace older fixtures with new models that carry the WaterSense label. WaterSense fixtures use 20% less water with no sacrifice in performance. For example, switching to a WaterSense toilet will save the average home 11,000 gallons a year and $64 in utility bills.
Appliance Water Use: Run clothes washing machines and dish washers only when they are full. New horizontal axis washing machines use 20 gallons per load compared to an average of 43 for conventional washing machines. New dishwashers use less than 7 gallons per load compared to 14 for their older counterparts.
Get Creative: Fill a bowl to wash vegetables as opposed to washing them under the tap, and use the wash water for other purposes like watering indoor plants. Install rain barrels to capture roof runoff from downspouts and use the water for vegetable gardens. Two rain barrels installed in tandem can hold 100 gallons of water. A small rain event of a quarter of an inch is about 75 gallons on the average roof top – enough water to sustain your backyard vegetable garden through a dry-spell
Although dry-spells and drought provide a good opportunity to reflect on our water use and identify opportunities for efficiency, it’s important to incorporate water conservation into our every-day lives. Whether on a private well or public supply; implementing the measures above will save you water and money, help the environment, and assist with maintaining adequate supplies for future growth and economic development.
DES has a series of guidance documents that assist homeowners with reducing water use both inside and outside of the home. Please visit: http://m1e.net/c?82384231-GAyj1XpzdborQ%405613956-e1mSRm5gghMLw for a complete list of water efficiency fact sheets. Please visit WaterSense at www.epa.gov/watersense/ to learn more about water efficient fixtures or local irrigation professionals certified through the program.
GREENWorks-Ideas for a Cleaner Environment, August, 2010
A publication of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services,
29 Hazen Drive Concord, NH (603) 271-3710
If you are planning to sell soon and think that renovations will increase the value of your home, then some research might be in order. Not all remodeling projects deliver the same bang for the buck when it comes to resale. Studies suggest that most renovation projects do increase the price of a house, however, the increase is typically less than the cost of the project. Generally a homeowner will experience a return of 75% to 80% on the dollar at resale. Some of the more cost effective improvements are major kitchen upgrades, bathroom remodeling, and anything that adds square footage. Keep in mind that the cost recouped can be affected by the quality of finish and even the type of neighborhood and local conditions.
Probably the biggest advantage that remodeling has is the fact that it increases the appeal of your home to buyers. A gleaming state of the art kitchen with granite countertops and bathrooms with tile and glass can sell a house more quickly than a home with an outdated kitchen and harvest gold appliances. You can count on me for helpful tips whether you are buying or selling real estate. Give me a call!
Donna ForestThe Sunapee School District
If you are considering a move to the Sunapee region of New Hampshire, you may be interested in the local school system, not only as a parent, but also from the perspective that the quality of the schools can have a direct impact on the values of the homes. The Town of Sunapee has its own school district which consists of But you can also pay bills, deposit checks, and manage your free-credits-report.com from just about anywhere. the Sunapee Middle-High School and the Sunapee Central Elementary School. The school district enjoys an excellent reputation in the area. Each school has its own goals and mission statements:
Sunapee Middle-High School is committed to preparing and encouraging all students to be positive, caring and contributing members of society by maintaining high academic, social and civic expectations within a secure environment
SMHS students will:
- Problem solve effectively
- Think critically
- Read effectively
- Write effectively
- Speak well
- Demonstrate their knowledge and skills
They will:
- Be responsible partners in their own education.
- Be honest, caring members of society.
- Be good citizens who demonstrate tolerance, courtesy, and respect for the rights of others.
The Mission of the Sunapee Central Elementary school is:
To empower students to become lifelong learners and contributing members of society by providing intellectual, social and physical experiences.
Visit the school district’s web site for a broad range of additional information:
Here are some helpful tips and suggestions for things to look for when choosing a neighborhood in the New London/Sunapee area, or any area for that matter, which will suit your needs: 1/Visit the area at different times of day. That will help determine things such as traffic patterns, activity levels, noise levels, and the influence of any of the other nearby by areas. 2/Practice your commute to work. It might turn out that one neighborhood’s location might actually add to the cost of the house, depending on the length of the commute, or possibly, increase the frustration level of the ride to work, simply because of the difficulty of the commute. 3/Talk with the locals. There is no better source of information than the people who already live there. They will be able give you a true sense of the neighborhood. 4/Searching out the details. For information on crime rates, accident incidences, and the like, the local police department can be very helpful. Also, the internet can be a good resource as well. 5/If you’re looking for a home in a larger city or metropolitan area, www.nabewise.com might be fun to explore. You can set up a search which addresses some of the more “quality of life” characteristics which you might be looking for (such as trendy, dining, shopping, museums, etc.) Enjoy your search and don’t forget your greatest resource is your REALTOR®! Source: Inman News columnist, Mary Umberger, a freelance writer from Chicago, 8/18/10
- Overpricing. Your home will stay on the market longer and buyers will be less inclined to make offers.
- Using emotional values to price the property vs. factual market conditions.
- Not preparing the home for sale before it goes on the market.
- Listening to the opinions of friends and relatives vs. the professional advice of your realtor.
- Not giving the first offer serious consideration. Most often, it seems that this turns out to be the best one.
For more selling information, visit my website and click on “Resource Links” and/or “Free Reports”!
Antique brick home in a pretty country setting offers mountain views, spacious rooms, wide pine floors and hand-hewn beams. Close to skiing and Lake Sunapee. Huge attached barn/garage. For more photos and details, visit www.2226BrookRd.com
Located in Merrimack and Sullivan counties, with shoreline in the towns of Sunapee, New London and Newbury, Lake Sunapee…
- Is the 5th largest lake located entirely within the State of New Hampshire
- Is approximately 8 miles long
- Is 142’ deep at its deepest and 1,093’ above sea level
- Has eight islands
- Has approximately 70 miles of shoreline
- And driving distance of about 25 miles around
- Has 3 lighthouses which are on the National Register
- Has 6 boat ramps, 7 sandy beaches, and exceptionally clear and pure water.
Historically, the Lake, after the B & M Railroad brought a stop to Newbury, was a destination for summer guests from the Boston area, and elsewhere. Numbers of steamboats ferried the visitors from landing to landing, delivering them to various large resorts or cottages on the Lake. The biggest steamer to ever sail on Lake Sunapee was the 101’ Armenia White which was launched in 1887 and was capable of carrying 650 passengers.
As recently reported in the New Hampshire Union Leader (Monday, July 19, 2010) by Doug Ireland with The Eagle-Tribune, a recent state report shows rental costs rising, despite the overall economic climate. The report was issued by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and concluded, that despite the fact that home prices are still adjusting downward, rents are still increasing.
Over the past year the median price for a typical 2-bedroom apartment, which includes utilities, rose about 2% to $1,056 ($1,205 in Rockingham County). This trend of rising rent prices is making it hard for some residents to pay their rent. The median income in Rockingham County is already lower than what is estimated to be needed to keep up with the rent payments. It is the same case statewide. There are approximately 31,315 rental units in the state.
At the same time, there are more and more rental units coming on the market as sellers, particularly of upper end properties over $350,000, give up trying to sell and decide to rent instead. There are also more potential renters moving into the market from foreclosure loss of home as well.
For those who can get qualified to buy a home, this is still the best time in years to do so, especially considering the current rates and inventory.
You'll love the large greenhouse attached to the lower level of this 2 bedroom home in Goshen, NH. Quiet, country location, yet only minutes to Mt. Sunapee for skiing and Lake Sunapee for swimming and boating. This ranch style home was designed by a solar expert to maximize solar heat gain in the winter. Walk to the town beach on Rand Pond. A great spot for year-round or vacation living. For more photos and details, visit www.1221BrookRd.com
Invite the neighbors and enjoy the park-like setting from this 3 bedroom, 3 bath, charming country cape. Beautifully updated kitchen and baths. Visit www.59ShindaganRd.com for more details and photos.
