Finding ways to be energy efficient can be tough. Owning a home and trying to make it energy efficient with a limited budget can be even tougher. When funds are tight and costs are high, sometimes it seems like the savings for going green don’t outweigh the costs it takes to get there. That’s where OCHEEP comes in, offering a new way to help Orange County homeowners save money on electric bills and have fun while doing it. OCHEEP stands for the Orange County Homeowner Energy Efficiency Program. It’s an educational program that offers a rebate incentive to participants. The program... Read more

For the past 41 years family-owned Rinaldi’s Air Conditioning Service has provided Central Florida with exceptional HVAC service and installation, becoming one of the largest, highest-rated companies in the industry. Eighteen months ago, after noting an increased consumer interest in obtaining a more energy efficient home, Rinaldi’s set out to again establish themselves as a leader in an entirely new industry. Fast forward to today and, thanks in large part to their newly formed Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions Team (REST), they have again succeeded. The Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions... Read more

A new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation is set to establish numeric limits on the volumes of phosphorus and nitrogen nutrients that would be allowed in lakes, rivers, springs, canals and springs throughout Florida. Why does that matter to you? Most phosphorus and nitrogen pollution comes from storm water runoff, municipal wastewater treatment, crop fertilization and livestock manure. The new EPA regulations would set a numeric limit to the amount allowed to be in Florida waterways. According to Congressman Adam Putnam and opponents of the regulation, the average Floridian could be... Read more

Estimates say that by 2013 we no longer will be able to pump out of Orange County’s main source of drinking water, the Floridian Aquifer. Utility corporations and county governments have been planning for viable, long-term alternatives for years; but the key, they say, rests in hands of the end-users and their individual conservation efforts. Thanks in part to the economic downturn, the rapid growth experienced in Orange County has slowed, and with it, the demand for water. “A few years ago utilities were very concerned about rapid growth and demand, but now that is not nearly as critical... Read more

The LYNX SuperStop at UCF serves as the transit system's only connection to East Orlando. LYNX may put in stops throughout East Orlando when Innovation Way is complete. Urban sprawl is a concept most residents of East Orlando are familiar with, mostly because they’ve experienced it. If you’ve had to drive to your grocery store, travel from your home in East Orlando to Downtown Orlando for work, or depend on your car in any way whatsoever to get from point A to point B, then you’ve encountered urban sprawl. Unfortunately, East Orlando is somewhat known for urban sprawl - the... Read more