Newspaper Page Text
Page 8B - The Lee County Ledger, Thursday, July 5, 2001
Can You Save Money
And Save the Planet?
(ARA) - If higher energy bills
have drained your pocketbook,
there may be a way to befriend
your utility budget and be
friendly to the earth at the same
time. Properly placed, climate-
appropriate landscaping can
help the environment and lower
your energy costs. According to
the U.S. Department of Energy,
the correct placement of only
three trees will save an average
household between $100 and
$250 in heating and cooling
costs annually.
Consider Climate
The landscaping you choose
and the time of year you plant
should depend on the climate
where you live. A home in a
hot, arid climate will have
different energy concerns than a
home in a cool climate. Con
sider these strategies based on
the four climate regions of the
United States:
Cool - In a windy, cool
climate, landscaping can reduce
winter heating bills by one-
third.* Protect your home from
winter winds by planting dense
windbreaks of evergreen trees
and shrubs. Avoid planting
windbreaks in front of south
facing windows that absorb the
warmth of the winter sun.
Temperate - Use trees, fences
and walls to funnel summer
breezes toward the home and
deflect winter winds.
Hot. arid — Homes in hot, dry
climates need shade to cool
roofs, walls and windows. If
your home is air-conditioned,
use trees to block hot winds.
Hot, humid — Homes in hot,
humid climates also benefit
from shade. Place trees so they
won't block cool summer
breezes. To prevent mold,
mildew and stagnant water,
avoid planting dense vegetation
too close to your home.
Choose the Right Plants
Consider climate, as well as
your landscaping objectives
when choosing plants. Some
plants grow better in certain
climates and won't thrive in
others. If you live in a hot, arid
climate and plant shrubs or trees
to channel wind, it defeats the
purpose of energy efficiency to
plant trees that need lots of
water. You may save on air
conditioning, but you'll pay
more for water. Many cities also
have watering restrictions, so
choose trees, shrubs and grasses
that are water-thrifty.
If you're planting a windbreak,
choose dense trees and shrubs
such as evergreens. If you're
trying to shade your home,
choose deciduous trees with
high, spreading leaves and
branches.
Practice Responsible Watering
Even moisture-thrifty land
scaping will need watering. A
properly programmed under
ground sprinkler system may
help you conserve water and
lower your utility bills. You can
set your system to turn on
during the early morning hours
when the least amount of water
will evaporate. To avoid
wasting water, don't set your
sprinkler to water on a regular
schedule, such as every other
day. Instead, water your
landscaping according to its
needs and the weather. You may
have to water certain zones one
day and skip other zones. Make
sure your system has a sensor
device that will shut off
See Money,
Page 7B
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Lee County
Board of Commissioners
Invitation to Bid Sale and Removal of
Houses on County-Owned Property
June 19, 2001
The Lee County Board of Commissioners was awarded approxi
mately $7,000,000 in federal funds to purchase 66 houses that
were damaged by the 1998 flood. So far, Lee County has pur
chased 39 (59%) of these houses and most of them have been
rebuilt and are in reasonably good condition. The county is in the
process of purchasing the remaining houses when the property
owners are ready to sell them. Federal rules require the county to
demolish or remove the houses after they are purchased and
return the properly back to natural open green space. In addi
tion, the county must own the real property in perpetuity and no
other structure can ever be built on the property.
The Lee County Board of Commissioners is accepting sealed
written bids for the sale of 7 of these houses (not the real prop
erty). The successful highest bidder must then move the houses
off the property and relocate the houses elsewhere and outside
the 100 year flood plain.
Scope of work, general conditions, bid form, and information
about each house are available at the Lee County Clerk's Office,
104 Leslie Highway, Leesburg, Georgia 31 763 Monday through
Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by calling (229) 759-6000 or by
visiting the county's web site, www.lee.ga.us then clicking on the
Bids/RFP button.
If you choose to submit a written bid on one or more of the
houses, your sealed bid must be marked, "Sealed Bid - House
Sale" and delivered to the Lee County Clerk's Office at 104 Leslie
Highway. P.O. Box 889, Leesburg, Georgia 31763 no later than
2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2001. All bids will be opened during
a public bid opening on Thursday, July 19, 2001 at 2:05 p.m. in the
County Clerk's Office. You are invited to attend this bid opening.
No bids shall be withdrawn for a period of 60 days after the bid
opening.
Each bidder must include in their sealed bid, a bid bond, or an
irrevocable letter of credit, or a cashier's check in the amount of
$1,000 per house payable to the Lee County Board of Commis
sioners from a company or bank authorized to do business in the
state of Georgia.
The successful bidder will have 90 days from the notice to pro
ceed to complete this project.
The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to accept or reject
any or all bids received and/or disregard informalities or irregulari
ties in the bids received. If additional information is needed re
garding this project, contact Ms. Christi Dockery of the Lee
County staff at (229) 759-6000. 6/21,6/28,7/5,7/12
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