Green Focus - The real estate blog for changes that just make sense.

Salt Lake City To Be home To A Shipping Container Condo Project!

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:39:47 -0500

If you read my blog regularly you know that I love shipping container buildings and that I will one day build a home out of them. I am very happy to report that Salt Lake City will be home to an amazing shipping container condo development! You can read more about it in the Salt Lake Tribune Article Here. This is exciting and wonderful news for Salt Lake City and a wonderful opportunity to show everyone that these buildings can and do work. Another great feature of this project is that over 50% of the building will come from recycled materials.

You can learn more about the actual project here and see floor plans here.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune and City Center Lofts

Grandma was right! Everything old IS new again!

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:00:13 -0500

My wonderful grandma used to annoy me to no end when she would say "oh, we used to do that. That's not new." But you know, Grandma was right! Almost always I might say! Take a look at the car in the Cosmopolitan Magazine ad below. Published in 1913.

Now, the truly wonderful things is that you can own this car again, soon. Brand new and straight out of the factory.

From the companies websiteand press release: "In a joint announcement, US electric car pioneer ZAP (OTC BB: ZAAP) and China Youngman Automotive Group announced today they are reviving the 100-year-old electric car brand Detroit Electric for their automotive joint venture. Detroit Electric officials look forward to bringing new vehicle technologies to market by 2009, and beyond that the possibility of bringing new manufacturing and green collar jobs to California."

They go on to say, "Detroit Electric was an early 20th Century electric car, perhaps the most popular in history. The Anderson Electric Car Company started building the cars under the Detroit Electric brand over 100 years ago. Anderson of Detroit, Michigan is the longest running electric car company in history, operating between 1907 and 1939. In its heyday, Detroit Electric was an American icon and the cars were very popular with customers like Thomas Edison, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, Henry Ford's Wife Clara, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Detroit Electric plans to build a special edition electric vehicle based on the original Detroit Electric as a tribute for the new name of the joint venture. "

"Detroit Electric plans to introduce its first electric cars and buses in 2009. The ZAP Alias, which is under development for the joint venture, will be one of several vehicles being planned to carry the Detroit Electric brand. ZAP is planning a presentation on Detroit Electric for North American auto dealers at NADA 2008, the world's largest auto show for dealers. "

So, there you go. Everything old is new again and yes, Grandma was ALWAYS right!

Source: Inhabitat and detroit electric

Looking for a Solar Alternative? Soon, you may just be able to paint it on!

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:03:14 -0500

Everyday the field of Solar Energy is coming up a with a miraculous new way to generate power and this new way is pretty dang exciting in my book! According to this Swansea university press releasea researcher by the name of Dr. Dave Worsley is developing a way to paint solar cells onto flexible steel surfaces used in building cladding. This could be a very cheap way of generating solar power from the entire surface of a building without ever having to add actual solar panels. Great for areas with tough HOA's.

Would you live in a home made out of relish trays and frame corners? Recycling at it's best.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 09:46:50 -0500

Another cool would you live in feature. So how about it? Would you live in a home made out of pictures frames, wine corks and relish trays? This truly brings some truth to the old saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

You can learn more about Dan Phillips and the homes he is building at his blog here and at his website here.

The video below is awesome. Enjoy!

Everything Old IS New Again! Ideas on Solar Energy from the October 1934 Issue of Popular Science.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:28:50 -0500

It is funny how there are no new ideas. Just good old ideas that were left by the wayside.

In October of 1934 Popular Science published this article on Solar Energy and the future that it would hold for us. Why does it seem today that we are just getting to the level of information that they had in 1934? Coal and Oil were cheap and easy for so long we forgot the better way.

While you may sound like you heard it earlier today, this was written in 1934

"SUNSHINE, our greatest source of potential power, is now largely wasted. It is highly probable, however, that a few years hence science will find a way to harness the mighty energy of the sun's radiation. Solar engines and solar heating apparatus will then make it economically practicable for us to use at least a small portion of our now-wasted sunshine to run our factories, light our streets, cook our food, and warm our houses. In the United States we use, each year, something like a half billion tons of coal, a half billion barrels of oil, and fifty billion horsepower hours of water power for heat, light, and power."

Source: blog.modernmechanix.com

Read this post and many others at my new outside blog at www.ecozebra.com. Remember to also subscribe to the RSS feed.

Plant More Trees - Spring Planting Season is Here.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:38:44 -0500

While Fall is the best time to plant trees, Spring comes in close as another good time. Just don't plant in the middle of the summer.

So if you are thinking of planting a tree this Spring, check out arborday.org for the 9 things you should know about planting trees or click on each link below to be directed to the area you want to learn more about.

9 Things You Should Know About Trees

#1 - Don't Top Trees!
#2 - 1/3 and 1/4 Rules of Pruning
#3 - How to Make a Pruning Cut
#4 - The Value of Mulch
#5 - Where Roots Really Grow
#6 - Girdling Kills Trees
#7 - How to Plant a Containerized Tree
#8 - How to Plant a Bare-root Tree
#9 - Your Street Trees May Be City Trees

Watch the video below for just one more good reason to plant a tree this year. Think of the squirrels.

Treehugger on how to green your home buying.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:26:02 -0500

I came upon this postover at Treehugger.com today and it is absolutely worth a read by anyone shopping for a home and by agents who are working with clients in today's developing green marketplace. Believe it or not, but it is happening and people are buying green, looking for green and need educated individuals to guide them through the greenwashed world. This post at Treehugger can be your and their first steps to this green education, if you need it.

#1 of the top ten tips in the post:

"Get good help

Not long ago, if you'd have told your Realtor that you were looking for a green house, they'd have handed you a gallon or two of emerald-hued paint. Nowadays, with increased eco-awareness and energy prices going through the roof, it's not just us TreeHuggers that are worried about things like indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

When screening potential Realtors, ask them how much they know about home energy performance and other environmental issues that matter to you. Alternately, services like EcoBroker, Modern Green Living, and other green residential tipscan help you seek out a green real estate pro. Learn more about what to look for in a green Realtor in our post on Verdant Vocations: A Real Estate Agent?"

A house putting active solar to use. Photo credit: Getty Images

Source:Treehugger

Perhaps your next light and your next solar panel will roll off the presses like your newspaper

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:24:44 -0500

The speed at which technology is changing everyday is amazing to me and what is coming about as a result of this change is even more amazing!

Can you imagine that your next light fixture will be printed on a sheet of plastic? Get ready for it. This article from CNETexplains GE's latest developments with flexible OLED lighting.

When you finish with that article jump over to this article to learn how your next coke bottle may be flashing because the of the solar panels in it's bottle or how your clothes may be generating the electricity you need to charge your phone or how your windshield could power your radio and charge your battery or how.....................

Source: cnet

The Story of Stuff - Have you heard it yet?

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:31:41 -0600

I posted on The Story of Stuff several months ago and after reading this quote on treehugger.com I felt compelled to go back and watch the story of stuff again and then I felt compelled to urge all of my readers to once again watch it if you haven't and watch it again if you have. I realize that the video is 20 minutes and 40 seconds long, but it isn't a waste of your time. I promise. You can see it here.

Take down that ivy and let GROW fill the space with power from the sun and the wind!

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:28:02 -0600

I came across thison the web yesterday and I have fallen in love with it as a gardener, environmentalist and lover of the modern ascetic! So I emailed them and asked if I could blog about it and they said yes! Read on to learn more and please visit their website.

The product is GROW and has been developed by SMIT (Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology).

GROW offers a new approach to solar and wind power that used small solar panels designed as leaves to both flutter in the wind to generate power and to garner power from the sun with solar panels placed on each leaf. It is amazing and beautiful. I see a ton of possibilities for the south wall of my detached alley garage.

Left Photo: GROW.1 on display at the Museum of Modern Art. Currently in the concept stage.

"GROW.1 is designed to utilize emerging technology of the photovoltaic and piezo industry. Based around a modular brick system, .1 is composed of a small number of different parts. Each brick has 5 solar leaves which have a very flexible piezo generator at their stem. The manufacturing of these bricks could happen in a roll to roll printing process where PV, conductive ink, and piezo generators can be layered quickly and efficiently. The rolls can then be stamped and formed to create leaves and connection points. Each brick is designed so that at the end of their life cycle the valuable components, i.e. photovoltaic and piezo, can be stamped out and up cycled while the reusable material, i.e plastic, can be up recycled back into the production stream."

Right Photo: GROW.2 will be available soon and is a working model.

"GROW.2 is built on top of a stainless steel mesh system designed and manufactured by Carl Stahl Decorcable in Germany. Their system is designed to enable plants (such as ivy and other crawlers) to grow up the sides of buildings without causing damage to the buildings themselves, a typical problem of many vertical gardens.

Our leaves are made of 100% recyclable polyethylene, and are available in a variety of colors and opacities. The solar cells are thin film flexible photovoltaic modules encapsulated in Tefzel, and are manufactured by PowerFilm Solar. GROW.2 is a flexible system that can adapt to most building types, sizes, orientations and latitudes. We have the ability to provide varying degrees of opacity to modulate heat gain, light transmission and view. Because of our modular design, future iterations of GROW.2 will be able to include more efficient and less expensive PV modules once those products are both available and cost effective. This modularity also makes GROW.2 easy to support and update: if one leaf should fail, we can replace it very easily."

Source: SMIT

Turn those trans fats into oil for you car! Green Motor Oil coming at the end of the month!

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:35:31 -0600

Green Earth Technologies has announced the arrival of their Green Motor Oil on store shelves this month!

This motor oil has been developed by using nano technology to transform those trans fats, now illegal in many places, from fryers to your cars engine. So that 200 pounds of waste tallow from every cow is now going to keep your engine running smooth.

On top of the obvious benefits here their used oil products can ultimately be turned into soil! The bottles are recyclable as well! This is one of those products that really excites me.

"A new petroleum-free, bio-based, 2-cycle engine oil from Green Earth Technologies [Pink Sheets:GETG] has equaled or surpassed the standards for similar petroleum-based oils as set forth by the American Petroleum Institute (API) TC compliance test for all 2-cycle engines other than outboard. Free samples of G-OIL(TM) 2-Cycle Green Engine Oil are now available for the first 1,000 visitors to www.getg.com. The 2.6 oz sample can be used for a 50:1 gasoline to oil mix ratio for no smoke operation of 2-cycle engines used in weed whackers, lawn mowers, tillers, trimmers, chain saws, dirt bikes and more. (Photo: Business Wire)"

Check out more about their complete line of automotive and household products at the website for Green Earth Technologies! www.getg.com

Source: Green Earth Technologies

A taste of why we need clean energy in Utah.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:05:11 -0600

I stumbled upon this blog today when doing a search for photos of the dreaded inversion here in Salt Lake City and think it is very worthwhile to post a link on my blog.

If you want to understand my passion for environmental change take a look at this blog. You will see exactly what we are breathing here for most of the winter.

Have you ever seen a wind turbine fail?

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:49:20 -0600

All I can so to the video below is wow! Turbines have a governor to keep them revolving at a slow pace during high winds. This one obviously failed. I can only imagine the damage something like this could cause in a large scale wind farm. By the way I am not posting this to in anyway devalue wind power. I feel it is a very important part of our sustainable future. It is just an interesting video.

Now this is promising! The world's largest (today) solar plant is coming to Arizona in 2011.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:45:35 -0600

If, and only if, congress renews the clean energy tax credit this year, they will be building the worlds largest solar plant in the Arizona desert. Thanks to a partnership between Arizona Public Service and Abengoa Solar the state of Arizona will be able to provide solar powererd electricty to about 70,000 homes.

In a quote from the Abogena Solar site: "The solar plant has been named Solana, meaning "a sunny place" in Spanish. The Solana Generating Station will have a total capacity of 280 megawatts, enough to power 70,000 homes while avoiding over 400,000 tons of greenhouse gases that would otherwise contribute to global warming and climate change. The plant will employ a proprietary Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) trough technology developed by Abengoa Solar, and will cover a surface of around 1,900 acres. The construction of the Solana Generating Station will create about 1,500 construction jobs and employ 85 skilled full-time workers once completed. "

They go on to say: "Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar, said, "This project not only shows leadership in Arizona and the southwest, but for America. This project will help usher in a new era of large clean and efficient solar power plants. Our commitment to solar energy is global and we will work with utilities, regulators and companies worldwide to make plants like this happen by leveraging the technologies we have been developing over two decades. We continue to advance these technologies in our research and development centers in Europe and the United States."

If you want to see this and projects like it happening in our future please let your voice be heard by letting your Congressmen know that you want the tax credit extended! I for one still believe that the wasteland salt flat deserts of utah would also be an excellent location for a solar plant on this or a larger scale.

via: inhabitat, treehugger,

I have seen the future and the possibilities are endless with renewable power!

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:01:47 -0600

I came upon this video today over at treehugger. Scientists are now working to make Germany fully reliant on Renewable energy sources. Generating enough power through the use of wind, water and biogas to keep all of Germany electrified. I do hope that we see these things in our country someday and built for the entire country, not just for certain cities or states.

Via: Treehugger and YouTube

The air car is coming!!!

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 08:54:25 -0600

Now this is exciting news! According to this Cnet article the 106 MPG air car will be arriving in the US in late 2009 or early 2010.

From the article: "According to its initial, estimated, specifications the Air Car will go 848 miles on an 8 gallon tank of gas. The size of the compressed air tank isn't included in the specifications. Further, the car has a top speed of 96 mph, with its power plant putting out 75 horsepower. When traveling at low speeds, the car has zero emissions, while in high speed mode it has some emissions because of its use of gasoline. "

I would love to have one of these and the more I learn I would be happy to use this for more than tooling around town. The idea of going from SLC to Vegas and Back on one tank is very appealing!

Directly from the Air Car website on price: "We estimate the cost of purchasing a six-seater, 75hp Air Car will be approximately $17,800, proving that buying "green" doesn't have to cost more. Not only is the price amazingly affordable, but it will cost you up to five times less in fuel consumption than an equivalent gasoline powered car. The Air Car is a totally new breed of cars entirely conceived to achieve low prices:" At that price it is only $600 more than my Scion Xb.

via: Cnet and Zero Pollution Motors

Would you live in dirt? How would you run the comps on that??? Rammed earth homes.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:42:15 -0600

It has been a long time since I posted a would you live story! This one is great. As the world move more and more to alternative and sustainable means of construction things that were laughed at as hippie ideas just 30-40 years ago are proving to be beautiful and doable alternatives.

Enter the rammed earth building.

Linda Kiisk, associate director of facilities planning at the University of Wyoming describes it this way: "Rammed earth basically works like the formwork of pouring a concrete wall. But instead of concrete, you are using soil from the site. The material is tamped down. This can be done with sledge hammers by hand or with a pneumatic device. Then you pull the forms off, and you have a stable wall.

Left Photo:Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre by Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects.

Follow this link to read the full article over at New West Magazine.

This is definately a form of construction I could see myself living in. It is beautiful, well insulated and has a lot of potential. I had a very good friend who lived in a 100 year old adobe home that looked good as new. Naysayers I know will talk of Radon, well don't build it air tight and make sure you ventialte it. I think your problem won't be any bigger than living in a modern well sealed home.

Photo: Red Hill Residence

Story via New West and TreeHugger

Tankless Water Heaters - Does it Take Longer To Get Hot Water?

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:14:50 -0600

Over on the LA Times Blog called Pardon Our Dust, they have posted an entry on how long it takes to get hot water to your faucet with a tankless heater vs. a conventional heater.

The basis of the story is that tankless owners, myself included, are always asked (told) that we are waiting longer for our hot water. The author of this blog goes on to prove that the the difference is indeed negligible. It is nice to see this sentiment in writing after he did some informal testing and I can say from my own experience that he is right. The difference in negligible.

In my home we do notice that the faucets furthest from the heater do take longer to get a hot flow, but it isn't that much longer than it was prior to the tankless system. Another problem is that our plumbing is over 60 years old and because of mineral build up we have low pressure trough the hot water pipes anyway. I think we would have almost no problem if we had new pipes.

So check out the story here. It's a good quick read.

I was on TV thanks to AR! Going Green: Cash-Saving Tips That Help Environment

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:39:46 -0600

As I posted last week I was contacted by ABC 4 our local affiliate here in Salt Lake City about doing a news story. They came upon my Active Rain Blog through a Google search and called me based on what they saw. Soon after they were at my house filming the story! So I have anxiously been waiting for the air date so I could share the video!

So without further ado, here it is! Enjoy!

Click the photo of the Compact Fluorescent Bulb to see the clip.

They say you need thick insulation. Do you? Listen and see.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:06:47 -0600

Here in Utah there is a local podcast production that does casts that debunk a lot of what the "experts" say. Sure the "experts" that are debunking it may be a litle biased, but I think you can learn great things as well.

Last week a local builder and friend of mine, Danny Small with Integrated Energy Systems, did a podcast on insulation and he debunks the myth of thickness being better. It is about 30 minutes long, but it is absolutely worth a listen. So CLICK HERE and listen. You won't be disapointed and you won't feel that you wasted 30 minutes of life for listening to it.

If you would like to contact Danny Small you can reach him at dsmall @ build-ies.com

New Listing-Enjoy Life from High Above The City and Only 10 Minutes From Downtown!

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:56:03 -0600

Andrew Stone | Windermere Real Estate | andrew.stone@windermere.com | 801.201.8681

875 Donner Way, Salt Lake City, UT

Incredible 8th floor views of the entire Salt Lake Valley!

2 Bdrm Condo

offered at $249,900

Year Built	1962
Sq Footage	1,300
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	1 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$423 per month

DESCRIPTION

What did you see when you looked out your window this morning? A brick wall? Now you could own a view at the top of the city with this Canyon Crest Condominium.

Located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon this 8th floor condominium has unobstructed views of the entire Salt Lake Valley and offers a beautiful opportunity to enjoy these views while still being less than 10 minutes from downtown and everything else that the city offers. Head east up the canyon and you're just minutes away from all the skiing that Park City Offers.

If you like to entertain, you will impress your friends with the floor to ceiling; wall to wall living room windows that open to views of the valley below. After they watch the sunset, you may have trouble getting them to leave while the city lights glimmer below.

This condominium has been updated in all the right spots with slate tile floors, gorgeous wood floors, new carpet and paint. Amenities include a secured entrance, seasonal pool, covered garage, fitness center and even a car wash.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Living room	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Balcony, Deck, or Patio
Swimming pool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

Guest parking

Laundry on-site

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Car Wash on-site

Secured entrance with video

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Andrew Stone

Windermere Real Estate

andrew.stone@windermere.com

801.201.8681

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Feb 14, 2008, 3:40pm PST

Tidal and Wave Power: Amazing new technologies for our future.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:06:37 -0600

I have covered a lot of alternative sources of energy with Wind Power and Solar Energy, but nothing is more captivating to me than what has been coming along for several years now as a potential power source for millions of people everywhere. Completely clean energy that creates no greehouse emissions in it's production. Energy that is created through the power of waves at the surface of the ocean and currents in the mouths of rivers and bays.

The NBC clip below says it all.

This will be come even more important as potential for electricty generation from our nations dams becomes more and more scarce as is published in this recent study.

What are you going to do with your tax credit? How can you help the recession get better?

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:27:45 -0600

According to the latest reports we are in a recession, we are going to be in a recession or we are now exiting the recession. Who knows?!? I certainly don't. What I do know is that recessions seem to be a mindset. They always have been. At least in my 39 years. The government tells you are poor and you believe it and stop spending. Then the government waits a few years and then tells you that you have all this money (and if you don't they will make it easy for you to get some) so start spending it again. Then the recession is over. (please don't flame me with I don't know what I am talking about comments, I do know that it isn't quite that easy)

Well, whether we are in a recession or not, the government is going to give us all some money with the express instructions to go out and spend it fast to save the economy. WOO HOO!!!! So if you plan on spending it, how do you plan on spending it?

Today over at Inhabitat they posted a quick blurb on a couple of posts over at planet green and I think they are worth a look by all of us. The first is called get recession ready and they give you five easy ways to make some quick changes in your life that will save you money and reduce your impact on the environment.

The Second is about How to spend your tax credit wisely. This one is even more important than the first in my book. You again get five easy ways to spend your tax credit money in a way that will provide the greatest positive impact on your local community. Don't feed that CEO at the top of the Big Box Store empire and feed your neighbor who runs the local corner hardware shop.

This is one of those duh, why didn't I think of that moments.

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:11:05 -0600

Forget generating electricity in ways we typically think of it. You know, solar, wind, etc. Think about revolving doors all over the world. Spinning away and doing nothing. Now think about attaching a generator to them and then you have the latest way to generate electricity.

The technology that is growing around us is truly amazing.

Beautiful Prefab Shipping Container home

Andrew Stone - EcoBroker® (Windermere Real Estate) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:57:52 -0600

To see this post and many others like it, visit my other blog at www.ecozebra.com

I have posted a lot on shipping container homes and this week I found yet another beautiful example of this architecure that has been built. I really do hope to have a home made from shipping containers some day!

So I don't get sent a take down notice i am sending you to the link at inhabitat. Go ahead click!

I promise you will be glad that you did. To see the Architects site, follow this link as This home is amazing.

Yes, the home in the picture below was made from shipping containers.