Welcome Home Green

Shades of Green

When I transitioned into real estate from my organic cake business, my vision was to incorporate my personal values and ideas into working with my clients who were home buyers and sellers. The more informed I became, the more deeply committed I felt to learning new and better ways to help people in their desire for a healthier living environment.

I began to notice that not only was green the new word, but that there was a wide variance in the interpretation of what exactly a green home means. In fact, there seemed to be many shades of the same hue, not all of them as green as some people would expect.

In my desire to learn the true meaning of having and living in a green home, I unfortunately became aware of many examples of green washing  - that is, misleading information about the environmental practices and benefits of some products and services. What I started to realize as well was that I had my own stereotypes and thoughts on what was green.

It seemed that if you slapped some bamboo floors down, stuck a few solar panels on your roof, then viola! – suddenly you were green! People were looking for feel good answers, and some companies were jumping on the green bandwagon in an uninformed and not very ethical manner in their haste.

Having gone through two certification programs on green homes, attended classes, workshops, and done my own extensive research, there a few conclusions I feel are important to share:

When remodeling, try to preserve as much as you can and work with the materials that are already in the home. I am in contract on my own home – a house originally built in the 1920’s with some of the original redwood floors (albeit not in the best condition). It would not make environmental sense in this case to tear out the flooring and bring in new “eco-friendly” flooring.

Where it does make sense to update is with energy efficient appliances, windows, and insulation which have a tremendous impact on the amount of carbon being released into our environment. Other significant ways are good old fashioned maintenance and upkeep of a home.

Of course there are times when we do want to remodel, and with a little research it is possible to find beautiful and durable products that reduce our footprint on the earth. From low and no VOC (volatile organic compounds that off-gas fumes which we breathe) paints, to products made with reclaimed materials and high post consumer recycled content, the choices nowadays are abundant. And not only are they healthier for the environment, but ultimately a better choice for our physical well being as well. In addition, we can choose vendors who share the same level of commitment from the start of a job, to the finish. There is a wealth of information on the internet and in new publications to guide us towards better choices in the materials we live in close proximity to. Now more than ever we are given the opportunity to use products that are aesthetically pleasing, and better for the environment, and to pass that legacy on to the next generation.

New Green Year

New Green Year    

If home is where the heart is, then it is only natural that we nurture and take care of the earth starting with where we hang our hats. Having settled into the New Year, this is the opportunity to begin anew and learn gentler ways to treat our planet, as well as experience the added benefit of a higher comfort level in our homes.

With winter’s chill, and still reeling from the full brunt of the storms we all just experienced here in the Bay Area, here is a list of ways to save energy in our homes and benefit the environment at the same time:

·         Caulk and weather-strip all leaky windows, baseboards and doors and make sure all attic vents and ducts are properly sealed. Sealing your ducts can save up to $140 annually on energy bills and help you consistently heat every room.

·         If you have older windows, make sure you have window coverings to keep in heat. If you’re looking for replacement windows, choose ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR rating, the government’s symbol for energy efficiency.

·         Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat can save you $100 a year when programmed and used properly.

·         Caulk and weather proof all exterior openings for plumbing, and electrical service and look for other openings that need to be sealed.

·         Get your heating and cooling systems checked once a year. A licensed professional will make sure that each is operating efficiently and safely. Checkups can identify problems early.

·         Check your attic and all accessible exterior walls in your basement or unfinished rooms to make sure they are well insulated.

·         Replace traditional light bulbs and fixtures with compact fluorescents. They use two-thirds less energy and can last up to ten times longer than incandescents. They are especially good in high use areas like the kitchen or hard to reach fixtures.

·         Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products and appliances for your home. They use less energy, help prevent air pollution and reduce energy costs in your home.

Call it an Earth Wish- list if you will. Some of these we all know, but what better way to start the year than with good intentions close to home in mind? Your pocket book and your planet will thank you!

Welcome Home Welcomes Green Vendors

One of the most gratifying aspects of helping people find and sell green or greener homes is being part of the link that bridges the gap between environmentally savvy clients, and the wonderful network of like-minded local vendors that I've found. One of my jobs as a Certified Ecobroker is to develop a relationship with vendors who I know have the highest level of integrity and full commitment not only to their clients, but to preserving our earth as well. They recognize the full circle benefit of running their businesses with both interests always in mind.

Tomek Rondio is the founder of MortgageGreen, Inc. in Larkspur, not far from my office. Here is a bit of information about his business and how it can benefit you:

Consumers Offset Ecological Footprints with Green Mortgages from MortgageGreen

LARKSPUR, Calif./EWORLDWIRE/Oct 24, 2007 --- A growing segment of environmentally conscious home owners are becoming educated about the choices they have in greening their real estate, from adopting green business practices in construction to choosing MortgageGreen's Green Mortgage. A recent survey carried out by Harris Interactive of over 2,000 U.S. adults shows that two-thirds of respondents said they are conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases, and they either have intentions to or are making greener purchase choices; MortgageGreen Founder Tomek Rondio expects his company's offerings will help eco-responsible home buyers reach their green purchase needs. To reduce their impact on the environment and on the use of natural resources, consumers are opting for MortgageGreen's Low-Impact Green Mortgage - it makes use of all available, cost-effective methodologies to reduce the impact housing has on the environment which by experts assessments equates to 65% of total U.S. electricity, 30 percent of U.S. greenhouse gases emissions and produces 136 million tons of construction and demolition waste.

To help consumers evaluate lenders' mortgage options, Rondio offers a Top Seven list of actions mortgage companies must take on their dime - to reduce consumers' ecological footprint and to mitigate home carbon emissions:

. Free rating or assessment of how green a home is and how greening can be improved
. Provide additional incentives or loan discounts for green home improvement
. Purchase carbon-offsets on homeowners' behalf
. Plant trees - lots of them
. Contribute part of the business profits to environmental or real estate reform
. Help consumers monitor their global ecological footprint
. Commit to being a sustainable, carbon-neutral business

Rondio says when MortgageGreen opened its doors seven years ago, most people didn't think twice about green, figuring the reference had something to do with saving money, not the environment. Today, clients are actively seeking out his company and its products to expand their potential for positive, global impact.

According to Rondio, "The universal thinking of the finance industry is all about minimizing risk and maximizing profits; all else is seen as a distraction. With indications that green properties are a better credit risk and a good hedge against rising energy costs, Wall Street is catching on, that the green-backs it seeks can be obtained through financing green properties. Several national lenders have responded by offering up to $1,000 in closing cost rebates and other incentives."

The most forward-thinking green real estate finance companies are delivering loans with only upside and no downside to the borrower - and that starts with pricing.

"To effectively couple the sale with environmental benefit, clients need to understand that MortgageGreen outperforms most other lenders' pricing, at no additional burden to the borrower - financial or otherwise," added Rondio. "It is possible to provide these benefits easily with minimal impact to the lenders' bottom-line, to greatly enhance sustainability and provide a huge windfall in customer loyalty."

"Greening up is about more than just saving energy - MortgageGreen feels it has an obligation to the public to educate - to boost awareness and provide solutions for minimizing our impact on the environment," stated Rondio. "Pressures on energy, human health, water supply, sustainability of resources and waste accumulation are all related to the inefficiencies in housing. Environmental impact of housing can be corrected by providing proper, cost-competitive, green financing and mitigating environmental impact through the clever use of a portion of the profits."

To speak with Tomek Rondio about MortgageGreen and its green initiatives, call 415-461-8080 or visit http://www.mortgagegreen.com.

 

From Master Sweets to Master Suites!

The biggest question I get so far when I tell people that I've migrated from making organic wedding and specialty cakes to...real estate...is why? And why now? And after twenty years in the food business, the last seven running Hannah's Edible Art, and an appearance on the Food Network to cap it off, I smile and tell them I've turned to my second enduring love of homes. "Home" has a lot of connotations and meaning. To me, the home represents warmth, a base, security - a healthy place to hang our proverbial hats. Except that what we are finding as we become more educated in matters of personal and environmental health, is that the way our homes are being built for the most part are not safe-havens for ourselves, our families, nor our global future.

That being said, I am not about doom and gloom, and neither is this site! I am proud to be a Realtor with Pacific Union Real Estate in the San Francisco Bay Area whose professionalism is held in the  highest regard in the business, and a Certified EcoBroker commited to finding healthier, more comfortable, more energy-efficient homes for my clients. And having moved into the green housing market by way of personal conviction and my core set of values, I have a knowledge of the green market so that I can postion and highlight your house on the selling side as well. I have carefully and thoughfully built a network of like-minded vendors who I feel have raised the bar with their ethics in bringing quality green services and products to their clients and customers.

The commitment to greening the real estate world is one I take on with pride and excitement, and one which I hope you'll feel compelled to explore along with me.