Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog

Farm stewards across the USA and CSA Farms here in the Greater Asheville area contributed so much to our holiday season. All across the nation farmer's markets offered sustainable, useful gifts such as honey, molasses, jams, jellies, pickles, salad dressings, and herb vinegars and oils directly from the person who made them.

Did your family, friends and wonderful real estate clients enjoy the small tokens of affection found for them as much as mine did? 

 I found "non-edible"  gifts such as soaps, salves, lotions, pottery, baskets, quilts, pot holders, bee's wax candles, brooms, and more local wood and fiber crafts.

The excellent thing about this is that the offerings are not just for the holiday season. Would you expect less from a CSA, a community supported agriculture enterprise(community farm with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production?) CSA and farms selling healthy products have something for you no matter what time of year it is.

FIND a CSA Across the USA: for those of you NOT living in Asheville, visiting or relocating, here is a link to http://www.localharvest.org/csa/  Locally Grown is GOOD, no matter where You Live =)

Asheville Links:
Slow Food Asheville's  monthly newsletter http://www.slowfoodasheville.org/ which may be of interest to you

Firefly Farm (Burnsville,NC) 
Cane Creek Asparagus & Company (Fairview,NC)
Green Toe Ground Farm (Burnsville,NC
Jake's Farm (Candler,NC
Homegrown Heritage (Candler,NC)  
Gaining Ground Farm (Asheville,NC)   
Flying Cloud Farm (Fairview,NC) 
Mountain Harvest Organics (Hot Springs,NC)  

UPDATE: January, 2009...Cane Creek CSA is now accepting subscriptions. 

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CSAs Acriss the USA! Locally Grown is GOOD! Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place  Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'  

__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*) 

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Over the past few years, have you noticed a change in perception about the way people choose where and how they live and what they need?

Is this a trend?

JT (see photo) has been keeping an eye out . He has noticed a change. And it does appear to be a trend!  

But just to be sure, I am looking for the "proof in the pudding" so -to-speak; I'm looking at statisticsunearthed from our Mountain MLS System here in Asheville.

 Although putting numbers on my intuitionas a REALTOR® feels a little "dangerous"- (I don't want to lose my intuitive edge) - this  search for statistics could be important for everyone our clients and for brokerage business planning.

What intuition and observation tell me:

1) I am aware of a bubbling apprehension in  the Appalachians when it comes to
  mountaintop removal .
2) I have witnessed some pretty noisy community meetings about such topics.
3) Then there have been the lively neighborhood charettes .
4) Time and again, I have seen community members insist on sustainable innovation.

You could say that sustainabilityis the by-word here in Asheville. So it is not surprising that my intuition, based on in-your-face observations, tells me that there is a significant public interest and shift(at least in the Asheville area) toward environmentally-sensitive residential properties.

Could there be more evidence than this, for example, (see photo) a new urban, green-built community being evaluated by members of the local community.

It's walkable. It's green. It's energy efficient and it invites neighborliness.

 It is a new green-built urban community in Asheville.

** And  intuition is  born out in client demand. 

 As Green Byers' Brokers, with eco-savvy  clients, if they are not buying NEW green-built homes, our clients are demanding  green retrofits.

Here is a photo I took recently. This is an environmentally-sensitive new home. It is situated to take advantage of the sun. (Note solar panels)

This home is in West Asheville. You can walk to the bakeryfrom your front door. And, although you cannot see it, there is an organic garden  to the left of this photo.

Energy efficiency is important to all our clients whether they are looking for income-producing rentals (green investor-buyers ) or for personal residences. 

All follow the trend toward being particularly serious about Energy Star Rated homes.  Take a peek at this array! I took this photo earlier this week at a site evaluation on a Gold Certified Healthy Built Home just outside of Asheville.  

We can tell our clients about NC Healthy Built Homes  but, for the purposes of future planning,  you may be interested in a just a couple of the most obvious  features of sustainable, healthy-built  homes, and some numbers on the trend.

Features:

Energy-.Energy Star appliances, florescent bulbs, high efficiency water heaters,
fifty (50) year shingles, low flow faucets and showerheads ,sealed crawl spaces, cellulose and icynene insulation, solar preheat for hot water, and oh so comfy radiant floor heat...

Low Toxicity-.Low VOC paints, Bamboo, hardwood or a natural linoleum floor that is made with 100% natural ingredients.

 Benefits: In the long run; sustainability- lasting value, lower environmental impact, and right now today; lower utility bills for heating and cooling, improved indoor air quality, and happier faces on family and neighbors.

STATS:   OK! Are you ready to check out the stats? The numbers? The proof in the pudding?

In 2006~ Asheville Area NC HealthyBuilt and/or Energy Star Rated: 39

Three years later in 2009 - There are currently 230 certified HealthyBuilt Homes and 687 "in progress"in the Greater Asheville Area in Western North Carolina. 687!!! Talk about a trend!

Resources GREEN HOMES

This information could well change how we look at  where we stand and the direction in which  will be moving  in 2009 and beyond.,and maybe it will make a few people feel better knowing that this direction is not "simply intuitive"... but is  based on a hard, objective look at the stats.

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Curious about sustainable Green real estate possibilities ? Simply pedal on over to  Convivial Blogger Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG  and  

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............

Statistics: Where is the "Proof in the Pudding"?.The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

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There's a lot of attention being given these days to building "green" homes, and to renovating existing homes to be more green.  This is a Very Good Thing, in my opinion, for many reasons, not the least of which is, these homes cost less to run.

But how many think about something very basic, the thing that makes any home "greener than thou", when it comes right down to it? 

What is it?  Do you think you know?  Ponder it for a moment, then read on.

The answer is TIME.

Not the time it takes to build the house.  Not the time it takes to pay for the house.

No, the time the house is built to last.  If a house is built to last for 10 years, then must be replaced, it has a certain environmental cost made up not only of the materials used to build it, but the materials used to build the replacement home, as well.  If the house is built to last for 50 years, the environmental cost is much less, over time.  If the house is built to last for generations (as some houses in Europe have), the environmental cost is dramatically less, even taking into consideration repairs and renovations that are made over those generations.Houses that are designed with additions in mind, if they should become necessary in future, houses that are designed to be living things, to "grow" with the families that inhabit them over time, houses that are built to work well in the environment in which they find themselves, are the greenest of the green.

As a culture, we have a tendency to disdain the old and insist on the new.  That's not the environmentally friendly way to think, however.  If a house is sound, if it was built to last forever, the last thing that needs to be done, if you want to be truly "green", is to tear it down and build a new house in its place. 

Without that very basic approach, we're hampered in building green homes, and in treading gently on the earth.  And yet I never hear this mentioned in all of the talk of "green building", of how the quality of the house and its ability to last over time is, with how it's oriented on the lot, the very foundation of building green. 

Wonder why that is? 

‘On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008." This bill extended tax credits for energy efficient home improvements (windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters). Tax credits for these residential products, which had expired at the end of 2007, will now be available for improvements made during 2009. However, improvements made during 2008 are not eligible for a tax credit.'

‘The bill also extended tax credits for solar energy systems and fuel cells to 2016. New tax credits were established for small wind energy systems and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Tax credits for builders of new energy efficient homes and tax deductions for owners and designers of energy efficient commercial buildings were also extended.' From the energystar.gov website.

Okay, so what can you do for the year 2008? And how do you plan for 2009.

Well, for 2008, you can check your State's tax incentive programs at the Department of Energy's website to see if your state offers any tax incentive for home or business improvements. (http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/alternatives/tax_incentives.cfm)

They have a link to a database which lists each individual State's incentives. If the link on that page doesn't work for you, (as it didn't for me) you can get there by clicking on this one: http://www.dsireusa.org/

Also, check the manufacturer's website for a rebate offer. I'm afraid there is not much more you can do than this.

For 2009, however, you can prepare now. Go to the Energy Star website and print out their chart for Federal Tax credits for Consumers, Home Builders and for Commercial Buildings. This will help you in determining which products to buy for the best value.

Lots of great information here. For example, did you know that there is a tax credit for builders of Manufactured Homes if they are built to increase energy efficiency of the heating and cooling system by 30%? Or that there is a tax credit available for purchasing a Biomass Stove (stove which burns biomass fuel to heat a home or heat water)?

Obviously, this isn't a complete offering for what might be out there, but it's a place to start.

I wish you all smart planning for a renewable New Year!

Frances Sanderson, Franklin, NH  REALTOR®, Certified EcoBroker^®

I feel that educating our youth on energy savings and protecting the environment is part of my service as a Certified EcoBroker^®, and I'd like to share some of my favorites. They range in age appropriateness and levels of difficulty. Hopefully, your children will find them as stimulating as their Nintendo^®, Playstation^® and WII^® games.

Please feel free to add your favorites to the list. (Be sure to scroll through the comments as the list keepas growing.)

http://www.touchstoneenergykids.com/ Touchstone Energy Kid Zone

http://www.eere.energy.gov/kids/ US Department of Energy

http://www.eere.energy.gov/education/lessonplans/ US Department of Energy

http://sciencespot.net/Pages/kidzone.html The Science Spot Kid Zone

http://www.iknowthat.com/com/Search?Search=Environment Learning Skills for Life

http://www.agclassroom.org/kids/ Agriculture in the Classroom

http://content.fsa.usda.gov/FSAKIDS/ Farm Service Agency

www.eia.doe.gov/kids/ Energy Information Administration

http://www.energyhog.org/childrens.htm Alliance to Save Energy

These links are presented as a service only. I do not endorse or warranty this information.

NEW ON ENERGYSTAR.GOV WEBSITE...ENERGY STAR KIDS 

www.energystar.gov/kids

Fran Sanderson, Franklin, NH, REALTOR^®, Certified EcoBroker^®

Just in the past year and a half we have gone from the majority of people not ever hearing about Green Building/Green Homes- To the majority of people wanting to go Green in their homes in one way or another.  What I find fascinating about this movement is that it is truly a Consumer Driven market right now. 

I mean, who would NOT want a more Energy Efficient, Healthier home right?

Now, I can't speak for all areas of the Nation, but in Houston, this has created some what of a...Frustration.  There are more people looking for a 'Green' New Construction Home (key word New Construction) than there really are homes on the ground.  We can find Energy Efficient, not a problem.  But when we start adding in the Low/No VOC Paints, Caulks, Products- Recycled Content- Renewable Energy and so forth...it is few and far between sometimes.

Then if someone really wants to build, we take in to consideration the cost of New Construction for a TRUE 'Green' built home, LEED for example, this is right now in Houston- quite high compared to what most people are looking for when you take the size of home desired, features that they want IN the home...we are looking at about $200 per square foot NOT counting the cost of land vs. $80-$120 for resales or just Energy Efficient or minimally Green.  That is a pretty big leap.

Not taking in to consideration the cost, part of this is a numbers game.  How many buyers are there vs. New Construction Inventory homes right now?  Probably quite a few more buyers. 

But what if we change that scenario to How many buyers are there vs. Homes on the Market right now?  Now we are talking! 

On my other blog I have just finished a series called the 'Hypothetical Remodel' where myself and some of the Green Building Experts around town decided to put something together on how exactly Homebuyers can Purchase and existing Home with the Floorplan, Location and other features desired, use a Conventional 30 Year Fixed Renovation Loan to 'Green' up the house.

Remember how the cost difference was between $80 and $120 per sq ft?  That is a lot of room in many cases to be able to Renovate about any home out there to YOUR desire.  It would have the Cosmetic features such as tile, countertops, etc that you want in a home with everything else to fit the Buyers needs.

Here is a basic breakdown of how it works:

• Make sure that you qualify for a Conventional Loan for a desired purchase amount
• Find the home you want..with a great imagination of course of what the home COULD look like
• Once we get the contract written, call out some contractors and designers!
• An Energy Audit is Essential here also to get it more Energy Efficient
• Get the bids for the work, the home will be appraised for AFTER Renovation Value
• Once you close on the home, the work should be complete in no more than 60 Days

Personally, I forsee a lot of interest in these kind of loans over the next couple of years.  I think we will start seeing more and more banks offering them.  For now, I have only found ONE in the entire State of Texas.  Why? Because this is still a 5% down Conventional Mortgage and you do not have to pay Home Improvement Loan like Interest Rates..5.5% as of last Friday!

This is all just another way to Go Green when buying a home.  If you would like to read the Entire Series on how we went about doing this, Master Bathroom Designs and ALL- You can find it in the link below.  I put all 7 parts of the Series in one PDF E-Book for Convenience. Just click below:

How To Buy a Home and Renovate it GREEN

Also, keep your eyes out for some exciting information about what is coming in 2009 through TurningHoustonGreen!  An 8 Part Series of Webinars starting at the end of January with myself and Houston's very own Michael Strong with Brothers Strong going in to detail about how to Green up the Existing Home!

If you are thinking about Buying a home to Green Up, or just thinking about 'Greening UP' the home you already own, you may want to tune in!

It was during the last days of Autumn in the mountains around Asheville .The canvas of orange, purple, red and gold splendor was giving way that  morning to frostings of white

see photo JT took on an outing last week)

 ...Soon it would be time to gather by warming hearth-fires. The telling of stories of the lands and people we love will commence. December would  find characters coming to life as tales of the indigenous peoples and first settlers are told.  

And as the winter progressed, there would be, as there always was,  talk of recent history, current events , local lore and news of the neighborhood.

All this, of course, the stories told must be set in an authentic backdrop ..stories of a "favored" kind this green buyers' broker who loves this area is most likely to unearth ...

And so as the snow falls on our wee cabin in the mountains, here is the RECENT HISTORY of MADISON COUNTY, NC for your  real estate investment decision-making notes and for those wonderful snow-bound days we so appreciate. . .

 (photo...how do you like our wee cabin in the snow?)

Madison County, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains  of Western North Carolina, is a rural county. It is only about half an hour or so from Asheville, but with approximately 3,500 small family farms, agriculture is the largest industry in the County. In fact, agriculture accounts for half of the gross income in the County.  Here in Madison County, where streams and pastures and "coves" abound, you may look out your window as you drive the scenic (excellently maintained) country roads and notice tobacco crops. That's because Madison County is the largest burley tobacco  producing county in North Carolina. In fact, there are approximately 2,350 farms with burley tobacco quotas. (interesting side note: history of tobaccoin the USA) ...A decade ago, burley tobacco accounted for $10 to $12 million for agriculture income annually. But the demand for tobacco has been on the decline.

Not to be trounced, local farmers have become creative. Crops are changing, and farmers are diversifying.  ORGANIC FARMING   is big in the Greater Asheville area. Farmers have been cultivating the most amazing ORGANIC crops. Vegetable, organic and nursery crops have increased dramatically since 1998.  And farmers' tailgate markets thrive... (ask me for links to stories I've written about our local Tailgate Markets!)

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 Curious about green building, remodeling and eco-communities ?
Simply pedal on over to the convivial blogger Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG  and SUBSCRIBE 

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............

Research of A Favorite Kind: Neighborhood, Small Family Farms and Organic Madison County NC .The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

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On another forum I was led to an article about Tiny Texas Houses, which led me to the website of Discovery Architectural Antiques in Gonzales, Texas.  This company sells salvaged architectural items for restoration. 

They've come up with a new project that I think is just awesome!  The Tiny Texas Houses Project takes those salvaged architectural items that they have in inventory and builds 95% recycled (wiring, plumbing, etc., being new) tiny, portable houses from them.  Each one will, of course, of necessity, be somewhat unique. 

I'd love to have one of these on our place as a guest cottage/office/man cave!  It would be great for a horse facility, too, as a tack room/lounge for boarders/students.

It's summer here in Central Texas, grass is growing (well, it's struggling due to the lack of rain for the past month or so, but there's still forage for the critters), animals are eating, we're not having to feed any hay. 

But that's now.  Living in the country, we need to look ahead to winter way before it's here.  A few days ago, taking advantage of the dry weather (every vice has its virtues, and vice versa), lots of people in the area, including us, were having their hay cut and baled. 

When we first moved out here, and for several years thereafter, we weed-killed and fertilized, and we had our hay put up in square bales.  I will never forget that first year, when the three of us (husband Phil, daughter Jess, and I) were putting the hay in the barn, 500 bales, 3 days, 108 degree weather.  

About 3 years ago, with it being just the two of us at home now, we decided to try round bales.  We had them baled smaller than usual, to make them easier to handle.  We got 20 bales that first year, and with the tractor, they were put up in an hour and a half instead of the 3 days we usually had to schedule. 

We gave the field a rest for a couple of years, due to first drought, then flood.  Last year we decided to try something different.  Instead of weedkiller and chemical fertilizers, we decided to try a more natural approach, using liquid compost extract applied by Sustainable Growth, Texas.  It's applied in the same way, the cost is very close to the same if not a little bit less, and we noticed almost immediately that the grass was growing in thicker. 

When we baled last week, we got 28 round bales off of the same field that had produced 20 in past.   That's enough of an improvement to make the argument for continuing with the liquid compost, which is better for the soil, the plants, and the animals (including us).  

Our planning for the coming winter, then, started last fall, when we chose the treatment for the field.  Now, we have more than enough hay to see our critters through the winter (and, for that matter, this August, which is another time when we like to give the grass as much of a rest as possible).  It's just another good feeling of life lived in the country.