Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog

A Real-Daisy of a Real Estate Closing Gift - Asheville-Style
Asheville Real Estate Journal- Indoor Air Quality 

Gerber Daisies make perfect closing gifts for our Asheville real estate clients- and not just because they are pretty. These beauties also devour toxins and support healthy indoor air quality (IAQ). And that’s Asheville Style!  

Plants long have been known as nature’s purifiers. They can help to maintain the oxygen supply not only outside on this blue planet, but inside homes. NASA scientists, interested in long trips in small spaces,  discovered that indoor plants can drastically reduce toxic chemical levels because photosynthesizing plants and their roots and associated microorganisms act to break down contaminants which are then taken up as nutrients.

These worthy plants, Boston Ferns, Chrysanthemums, Dracaena and English Ivy plants-all are quietly effective at removing toxic substances formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from indoor air to improve IAQ.

 Some plants even can counteract the contaminant, Benzene –the colorless and highly flammable liquid with a sweet smell, a known carcinogen. Benzene silently can contaminate indoor air quality (IAQ)- Found in  fumes from tobacco smoke, plastics, paints, gasoline, inks, detergents and synthetic fibers, it can cause nervousness, dizziness, headaches and anemia, and can irritate eyes and skin. Again, kit is a known carcinogen. 

The following powerful plants can absorb benzene and break it down as the improve IAQ:

English Ivy
Chrysanthemum
Devil’s Ivy (Epiprenum)
Dracaena Marginata, the ornamental corn plant   
and , of course, Gerber Daisies-  the perfect closing gift for eco-friendly clients and REALTORS®. 

NOTE: Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) also can improve IAQ- but-- can be toxic to cats!!!

 ___________________________________________________________________

  __~o
 -\_<,                                        
(*)/'(*)   Asheville NC Real Estate  GREEN Real Estate  - Asheville-Style © 2011

.___________________________________________________________________ 

Teams from over 200 buildings across the USA are pushing to improve energy efficiency and determine who can reduce their energy use the most. "Through energy efficiency improvements, competitors are working to save energy, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and protect the health of Americans..." so the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star program has launched the 2011 National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings.

 The competition includes 26 different types of commercial buildings. Nearly five million commercial buildings in the United States are responsible for approximately 20 percent of both the nation's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion annually. So this competition encourages teams to get creative with energy sponge buildings such as retail stores, schools, hotels, and museums, some of which are more than 100 years old. And we we can update their use of energy and improve quality of life, air, and economy.

"Competitors will be able to exchange ideas and strategies through various social media applications, including a live Twitter feed and a Facebook forum. Information about all competitors, including photos and facts about each, will be featured on the competition website in addition to tips and links to consumer-friendly information about saving energy where Americans work, play, and learn."

Good news for all involved.

________________________________________________________________________xo_______________

- Going Green, Asheville Style - 5 Cost and Earth Saving Tips  YOU Can Use in Your Home Today

~from Asheville's Greenolina-- The Real Estate Journal~ Asheville NC- Mountain Homes and Land- For Sale- ECO Asheville Style

Things aren't the same as they were way back when. Certainly people bought homes. But they weren't  energy efficient. What if your home today has this challenge?

Even if your home today lacks eco-friendly pizzaz,  you can take  a few simple steps right away to  make your home  more comfortable-while saving you $$$!.

Here are five (5) of Earth-friendly  remedies that have the added benefit of cost savings for savvy homeowners.

ECO-Friendly Cost (and Earth) Saving Tips   #1-5


Tip 1:  Take the Do-It-Yourself  Home-Energy Audit : Did you know that most homes can save 25% to 50% or more energy? A home energy audit can help point the way to savings by investigating the general condition of heating and air conditioning systems,  looking at  insulation, and the degree of outside air infiltration, the operation and condition of lighting, and reviewing the efficiency of water heating systems and appliances. You may choose to ask  professional auditors to come on over to do the audit. They might bring some handy instruments with them like blower doors  to measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope... and/or infrared cameras  to reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation. But sometimes it takes a while before the auditor can get to your home, So in the meantime, you can start right away with a do-it-yourself home energy audit found right here: . http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11160 

Tip 2.  Get Your 101 ECO-Friendly  Plan Together with this   instant access to free tools and resources. You can start saving on monthly electricity bill right away.  http://www.kilowattours.org/energy-bill-savings.php  The average family can save $600+ a year on electricity by taking a few simple steps. In my home town of Asheville, North Carolina, the Average Home energy bill is $1594 while the bill for an energy-efficient home is $1003 with a potential  Savings of $591.   What are the figures in your area? 

Tip 3.   Find Leaks. Use a spray mist bottle for this one. Get the gang together for the indoor mist test. Spray your arms and hands. They will become the  fast and ready tools to tell you where air leaks may be found in your living spaces.  Hint: look around electrical outlets ,switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather stripping around doors ,fireplace dampers, attic hatches, wall- or window-mounted air conditioners, dog doors , pipes and wires, electrical outlets, foundation seals, and mail slots. There are a lot of places to look. That's why I suggested getting the gang together.

Tip 4. Find More Leaks. Teamwork pays off on this one, too. You may want to wait for a nice sunny day then venture outside to inspect all the places where two different building materials meet...like the  exterior corners, the places where siding and chimneys meet and the places where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet. You don't have to be a professional to notice where you need to  caulk holes or penetrations for faucets, pipes, electric outlets, and wiring. Look for cracks and holes in the mortar, foundation, and siding, and seal them up neatly.

Tip 5. Change Your Lights, Sparky. Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill. So it's always a good idea to check out the wattage on your light bulbs in your house. 100-watt bulbs use more energy than 75 watt bulbs do and you may not need all that wattage. I like the idea of replacing incandescent light bulbs with efficient  compact fluorescent lamps for areas where lights are on for hours at a time. Don't worry, the new fluorescents don't moan and flicker like the old ones did. ... give it a try. Start with your five most frequently used lights. Annual Savings: $60 (for upgrading your five most frequently used lights) 662 pounds of coal.

Resources:

Find the best ways to save energy in YOUR home with this calculator!
 http://hes.lbl.gov/

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf
/content/ClimateScienceFAQ.html

The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/pns/faq.html

The United Nations Environment Programme/World Meteorological Organization:
http://www.gcrio.org/ipcc/qa/cover.html

___________________________________________________________________

 __~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)   ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011.  GREEN-FRIENDLY HOMES:: Did you know that 81% of homebuyers would prefer to buy an eco-friendly home rather than a standard home, even in a down economy? On the Road HOME, CONTACT ME about Residential Market Reports plus LAND Gems News,  plus Asheville real estate market stats plus  my picks for top creative retirement and green-friendly neighborhoods in the Asheville NC Area.I hold: NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant. 

Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos  on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011. ________________________________________________________________________

Luxury Fenestration Ideals: Integration = Form + Function   

AIA Asheville offers regular presentations for members and for the general public. The January 2011 presentation details information, benefits and critical elements of fenestration in the luxury market. This presentation may be of value/interest to my clients who are buying Land on which to build unique, green-friendly homes as well as those homeowners who are thinking of renovation, architects and builders.

You may be pleased to note that, from the "Form" perspective,  eco-friendly features and benefits are included in the presentation: Thermal performance, glazing options and environmental durability information,comfort and ventilation. Design is covered. And from the "Function" perspective:

• Base materials
• Cladding
• Glass
• Hardware
• Other evaluation criteria
  
  
  ___________________________  xo __________________________________________________

New Standards for Home Efficiency Retrofits? In an article for Environmental Network News,  David  Gabel reveals that  the EPA is seeking to establish new standards for home improvements that would increase energy efficiency. The  EPA is asking for comments from the public., and has released a draft protocol (see link below) for that purpose. Real estate professionals may choose to weigh in on the best practice tools that would protect indoor air quality during a home energy retrofit.

The goal of this action by the EPA is to devise a set of standards that would ultimately ensure health standards of building occupants during and after such a renovation.The draft protocol called the " Healthy Indoor Environmental Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades" iow available for public comment may increase public awareness of the benefits of energy savings and green-friendly improvements in homes.

 "One of the key elements of EPA's protocol, " write Gabel "  is guidance for conducting home assessments prior to the work starting... many older buildings have asbestos insulation in the walls and on the pipes," he continues, " it is often these older houses that demand the greatest amount of retrofitting. "

For real estate professionals on the lookout for sustainable innovation, this could be interesting news.  Here is a link to the draft proposal that  available for public comment. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/homes/retrofits.html

____________________________________________________________________________________________

QEP (Qualified Energy Property) Tax Credit for Homeowners - The word is that the Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit  expires at the end of next month- December 30, 2010. So if you are thinking about replacing  certain windows, doors, a metal and/or asphalt roof, adding skylights, insulation or HVAC items,  make haste. There is a 30% of cost (up to $1,500) tax credit still available. Just be sure that upgraded home improvements do qualify as not all Energy Star® products meet the criteria such as:

Electric heat pump water heater with EF (efficiency factor) of 2.0 or greater.

Electric air-source heat pumps with HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor) of 9.O or greater.

Closed loop products with EER (energy efficient rating)  of 16.2 and COP (coefficient of performance) of 3.3 or greater.

Open loop products with EER of 14.1  and COP of 3.3 or greater.

DX (direct expansion) products + with EER of 15 and COP of 3.5 or greater.

Central air conditioner that receives the highest efficiency tier established by the Consortium of Energy Efficiency as of Jan.1, 2006.

Natural gas, propane or oil water heater with EF of .80 or greater.

Natural gas, propane, or oil furnace, or hot water boiler with AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) of 95 percent or greater.

 Advanced main air circulating fan used in natural gas, propane, or oil furnaces that uses no more than 2 percent of the total annual energy use of the furnace.

Asheville Real Estate Journal. - Universal Design Elements  for All Ages and Sizes  -Families of all ages and sizes can delight in homes where a serious nod has been given to universal design elements.

Ages and sizes matter, especially if you are a Baby Boomer who desires to stay in your home.

In Part 1 and Part 2* (see below)  of this series, we took a look  at a number of such features. Here the list of universal design elements to consider if you are any age or size.

I'm smiling as I think about the "universal" part of "universal design elements"... and am reminded of this Healthy® Built Home (see photo)just completed at the Villages at Crest Mountain,  in Asheville's LEED®  Registered Neighborhood.

it is a perfect example, as is the one shown in the previous post and video in this series, of the happy use of universal design elements.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN ELEMENTS can be a comfort to those who live within such homes...Let me expand on that with a few more elements to consider:

Electrical, Lighting, Safety and Security- Light switches by each entrance to halls and rooms, light switches, thermostats and other environmental controls placed in accessible locations no higher than 48 inches from floor. clear access space of 30 inches by 48 inches in front of switches and controls, rocker or touch light switches, high-tech security/intercom system that can be monitored, with the heating, air conditioning and lighting, from any TV in the house, pre-programmed thermostats, wired for computers

Flooring - Smooth, non-glare, slip-resistant surfaces, interior and exterior  (we like bamboo and recycled hardwoods)

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning -HVAC  designed so filters are easily accessible , energy efficient units, windows that can be opened for cross ventilation, fresh air

Energy Efficient Features- In-line framing with 2 by 6 studs spaced 24-inch on center, air-barrier installation and sealing of duct work with mastic, eeduced-size air conditioning units with gas furnaces, mechanical fresh air ventilation, installation of air returns in all bedrooms and use of carbon monoxide detectors, installation of energy efficient windows with Low-E glass

Reduced Maintenance/Convenience Features - Easy to clean surfaces. a central vacuum, built-in recycling system, and an intercom system 

Exterior- Low-maintenance exterior (fibercement, brick)- native, low-maintenance shrubs and plants, deck, patio or balcony surfaces are no more than ½ inch below interior floor level if made of wood

Whether you are buying or selling property, I am a seasoned REALTOR® who successfully can complete real estate transactions in the beautiful Asheville North Carolina area.  Our areas of specialization:  1) Aging in Place in WNC HealthyBuilt® / Accessible/ Universal Design  Quality Mountain Homes and 2) LAND!

* Part I :  80% of Baby Boomers Desire THIS!     and 
* Part II: Needs of families of All Sizes and Ages



__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)   _______________________  " We are on the roll  for  sustainable  innovation."  Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos  on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-Asheville NC Real Estate - Asheville Real Estate- Wheels & Universal Design Elements Part 3-  © 2010. ___________________________________________________________________ ___________

Sellers, if you want to make your home stand out from all of the rest take a look at the photo here.It is a study in possibility. There are numerous FREE, inexpensive, cost effective and eco-friendly improvements that could be made to this home to meet the demand of today's Buyers. What would you do right away?

Would you trim? Would you remove clutter? Would you call in a Feng Shui expert? Would you paint? What kind of paint would you select? 

 Imagine a landscape, spruced up and enriched with fruit-bearing trees and/or native/edible plantings. Imagine what a sun tunnel or two might do to create light within, save energy via daylighting. If you can imagine these improvements, you will attract the interest of today's eco-friendly Buyers.

Sellers if you want to tap into a market where sales are brisker than average, check out Part 1 of this series about GREENING UP your home. Then please come back to the link list below for excellent resources you can use to attract interested Buyers.

RESOURCES

Home Energy Audit 
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_audits

TAX CREDITS 
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index|
http://www.dsireusa.org/

EPA's Energy Star for Homes/Home Improvement
 http://www.energystar.gov/

Green Design and Building -Certification Programs -

Earth Advantage®
http://www.earthadvantage.com/

EarthCraft® House
 http://www.earthcrafthouse.com/

GreenPoint® Rated
http://www.builditgreen.org/about/

NC HealthyBuilt® Homes
 http://www.healthybuilthomes.org/

LEED ®for Homes
 http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147

NAR GREEN®
 http://www.greenresourcecouncil.org/

DOE Energy Information Administration
 http://www.eia.doe.gov/

Passive Solar Gain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_solar
US DOE Daylighting
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/lighting_daylighting/index.cfm/mytopic=12290
Solar Tubes
http://www.solatube.com/

Inventory to Improve Indoor Air Quality in the Home
 http://keec.ky.gov/homeownerinventory/indoorairquality0609.pdf
US EPA  Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
 http://www.epa.gov/iaq/
Non-toxic Cleaning
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/five-basics-for-nontoxic-cleaning.html
Plants for IAQ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_air-filtering_plants  (NOTE: Peace Lily is poisonous to pets)

NO VOC PAINT
http://www.earthpaint.net/

Home Performance with Energy Star
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_hpwes

Non Toxic Flooring
http://www.ecobydesign.com/

Social Network Marketing.
Real Estate Professional's blog (s)

listedgreen.com
where each listing is vetted by the service for authentic green credentials.
http://www.listedgreen.com/

_____________________________________________________________________________________________  

Asheville NC Real Estate:  MOUNTAIN HOMES< >LAND and LOT EXPERTS- Going Green/ Eco-Friendly Properties.  Tools for Sellers and Buyers. Mountain Homes, Land Legacies, LOTS and Land For Sale by Owners.
__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............" We are on the roll  for  sustainable  innovation."  © 2010. Asheville NC Real Estate     Unauthorized reproduction of any information on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Rain chains according to Wikipedia are "alternatives to a downspout...[whose] purpose is largely decorative...." And certainly, they are.

They offer melodic interpretations
of water heading to the ground.
Sometimes, there is a the potential for a
three dimensional moment.   

However, here in the Asheville NC area, the hub of sustainable innovation, rain chains offer more than attractive decorative features.

Rain chains can be  a simple addition to a chosen rainwater harvesting (RWH) system.
(see photo)

Here in the mountains,
where permaculture and organic gardening
are part and parcel of neighborhoods,
many of our clients are exctied about RWH.

Rain water harvesting (RWH)  
requires less treatment than greywater recycling,
if being used for non-potable demand
such as watering your garden.

* * *

On a Sunday, during the February thaw, we came across this rain chain creating a point of interest. Here you can see how this simple rain chain, still having a good bit of ice aboard, breaks the fall of the water, guiding it downward to a storage basin. There is, too, the enchanting melody.

If you were inclined, you could even connect this to a rain barrel for storage.

Asheville NC Real Estate:  LAND and LOT EXPERTS- Going Green/ Eco-Friendly Properties.  Tools for Sellers and Buyers. Mountain Homes, Land Legacies, LOTS and Land For Sale by Owners.

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............" We are on the roll  for  sustainable  innovation."  © 2010. Asheville NC Real Estate     Unauthorized reproduction of any information on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.

You can design your own kitchen, bathroom, patio...and, at the same time,  stamp your signature into concrete. How exciting is that??  If you have been following this series, you will know that our eco-friendly colleagues here in Asheville, the Hub of Green, sure are. Solid and durable, it also is versatile and adaptable to both indoor and outdoor use. As one person put it, " Concrete is the soup du jour of current home trends.

Sellers are finding that including the "new concrete" is an economical and eco-savvy way in which they can  update their home prior to putting it on the market.

Green builders (see photo) around town are using concrete in many different ways.

Neighbors doing renovation projects, as well, favor this material.

Buyers are so impressed with kitchen remodeling ideas that include counter tops with integral sinks and backsplashes, or a unique fireplace surround, or patio designs and walkways with that special creative allure . . ..

 Artisans are thrilled with the possibilities.

Today's hottest trend adds color, fine-finishes that dazzle, and a chance to express your personal creative stamp. 

Other posts in this series include topics such as : concrete flooring and home trends in concrete.HOW would YOU include concrete in your design plans and put YOUR stamp on it?

Heads-Up:  The US Green Building Council recently picked concrete as their #1 Choice  for Kitchen Counter Tops. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............Asheville NC Real Estate:     LAND in  Asheville.  Going Green  and Eco-Friendly Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation."  © Concrete (Series) - Put Your Stamp On It, 2010. Asheville NC Real Estate     Unauthorized reproduction of any information on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.

________________________________________________________________________________________________