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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 WOODSTONE APARTMENTS 320 Main Street, Leesburg, GA 759-8258 Call Sharon - Office Now Open Monday thru Thursday 8-12 MOVE-IN NOW! VERY AFFORDABLE! Located in the city limits of Leesburg, minutes from dowtown Albany. Enjoy this professionally landscaped community and grilling out at our pavilion $280 .... 1 BEDROOM $330 .... 2 BEDROOM $360 .... 3 BEDROOM Rent Includes: ’Water, Sewer, Garbage Laundry Facility • Community Room Energy Efficient • Central Heat & Air Dishwasher • Disposal • Stove Refrigerator • Carpeting • W/D Hookups EQUAL HOUSING .. OPPORTUNITY tjEJ TDD # 1-800-255-0056 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 Rubos