On November 9th, Vice Preident Biden announced the new Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score Program.

The program lets homeowners compare the energy consumption of their homes to other homes in the region.  Information on the energy performance of the home is collected and the score of 1 to 10, 10 being excellent, is applied..

The homeowner would receive tips for energy improvements, cost savings estimates, and a Home Energy Score label.

Shannon Baker-Branstetter, policy counsel for Consumers Union, said, “This program has great potential to provide consumers simple, standardized information about the energy consumption of our homes and how we can make cost-effective improvements. Our hope is that consumers can save some money while they use less energy. This could really help take same of the guesswork out of making energy-efficient upgrades to our homes." Home Energy Score is currently a pilot program in ten areas across the U.S. More information about the program is available at www.homeenergyscore.gov.

Caledon Natural area is a gift for everyone who visit but especially for those who live close by. This Saturday November 6 it will be even better than usual as the Caledon Friends and the King George Animal League are sponsoring the Caledon Wine and Art Festival! 

Hour are from 10 to 4pm and the cost is a reasonable $10 if you are tasting wine. If you are visiting sans vino the admission is free! Check it out and support these two groups! Only about 25 minutes from Fredericksburg, it is a lovely drive down Rte 218 or Take Route 3 to Route 206.

Wineries represented:

Wineries included Oak Crest (King George), Cooper Vineyards (Louisa), Roger's Ford Farm (Summerduck), James River Cellars (Glen Allen), Vault Fields (Kinsale) and Mattaponi (Spotsylvania).

See you there!

In my continuing efforts to put the E in my homE, I have decided that now is the time to update the kitchen in an eco-friendly way so... next up: New Countertops by ICESTONE!

This Cradle to Cradle product counts for LEED certification so is a SUPERSTAR in the world of environmentally friendly countertop materials. I am so excited to see it in my home! But first - a word from the manufacturer! Here is their very cute video on the manufacturing process for ICESTONE!

Just a quick reminder that the Energy Star program of the Federal government is still offering its Energy Star Tax Credits in 2010!  Many home improvement items are included.

As many people now know, the Energy Star label helps to highlight energy consumption or energy savings of particular item. It is applied to all sorts of appliances and energy efficient products. So if you are thinking of replacing

• Heat Pump
• Windows or Doors
• Appliances
• Water Heaters

then check out the energy star list to see if your item qualifies. Save money be installing a more efficient unit, AND save at tax time!

Just another thought... start with a HOME ENERGY AUDIT!  Either a do-it-yourselfer or a professional auditor can help determine the area where you will benefit the most from home improvements! 

LOOK FOR THE LOGO--->

I know there has been a lot of negative real estate news this week, but dont lose one important piece of information in the mix - mortgage rates hit record lows this week! 

Here is the quote  "Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in decades for the ninth time in 10 weeks as concerns grow that the economy is weakening.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate for a 30-year fixed loan was 4.36 percent this week, down from 4.42 percent last week. That's the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking rates in 1971.

The average rate on 15-year fixed loan dropped to 3.86 percent from 3.90 percent the previous week. That's the lowest on records starting in 1991."

Look for a mortgage?  Contact your lender, or JD Scott at Monarch Morgage!

Well its seems that Going to the Dog House isn't as bad as it used to be! According to RISMEDIA and Move Inc, many people now select their homes with Man's Best Friend in mind! Do you do the same? I for one have been known to select my vehicle and my cars to suite the needs of my furry friends... Crazy? or just love?

Real Estate Goes To The Dogs

Here's one quote "homeowners are rewarding their dogs with custom-built doghouses, deluxe dog runs, custom "doggy-doors", pet-friendly landscaping, private patios with personal fire hydrants, and other features that add value to their master's property." FUN!

I had a chance to go off the beaten path in Stafford County VA this past weekend.  The Friends of the Rappahannock organized a hike in the Crow's Nest area of Virginia. If you are unfamiliar with this project, it is a gorgeous peninsula in Stafford County VA. This ~3,000 acre parcel was purchased by the State of Virginia and the County of Stafford to preserve it forever. 

This area off the beaten path in Stafford County VA is not open to the public at this time. To see this special place requires an special tour. Ours was provided by Paul Clark of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. He provided fabulous information about the plants and animal life and spoke to us, as we hiked, about the current problems the site is facing, such as invasive plants and run-off/grading issues.

If you want to experience this special area, check the DCR website or the Save Crows Nest site. The following day may be your chance:

Field day on Crow's Nest, November 7th The Department of Conservation and Recreation will hold a field day on Crow's Nest on Saturday, November 7, from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, with hiking trips leaving at 9:30 am and 1 pm. Reserve a spot by calling (804) 786-7951. DCR now also has a web page on Crow's Nest. We hope to see you on November 7th.

I love the logo for the group called Save Crow's Nest.  Very Cool the way they created the "S"

What a great time of year to install a rain barrel!   In this intense heat and periods of drought, is there a better way to be sure you always have water for your plants? I can't think of one...

Here is the rain barrel installed on our house. Though it is really easy to build your own rain barrel, we opted to support the great organization known as Friends of the Rappahannock and purchase ours from their collection.  My husband needed about 2 hours to install a rain barrel on our downspout.  Most of the time was required due to leveling of the soil prior to putting down the blocks for the stand. We chose to raise it so that we could fit our 2 gallon water bucket under the tap.

So how does this work for our house? In a recent period of about 3 weeks with NO RAIN, and I mean NO RAIN, we were just using the last of our water in the barrel when Mother Nature provided us a brief down pour. In that 30 minutes of rain, we were able to collect enough water to refill our barrel to its max capacity!  How cool is that!?? 

If you like plants and are concerned about water rationing or water conservation, be sure to install a rain barrel!  It really works!

Looking for homes in Fredericksburg, Stafford or the surrounding areas that have environmentally friendly upgrades? I can help!  Give me a call or check my website for more information!

150 years ago, more than 10,000 slaves sought to find freedom in Fredericksburg VA. Now, to document that effort and provide us with an opportunity to experience it, the Fredericksburg-Stafford-Spotsylvania Sesquicentennial Committee has launched the Trail to Freedom in Fredericksburg and Stafford County VA.

As noted on the website, trailtofreedom.com,

Presently, the Trail to Freedom encompasses sites in the City of Fredericksburg and Stafford County, Virginia. This region is located midway between Washington, D.C, and Richmond, Va. However, there are slaves known to have traveled from Caroline and King George Counties, and points farther away, traveling to this region on their journey to freedom. Many of the slaves that passed through here took steamships from Aquia Landing in Stafford County, arriving in Alexandria, Va. or Washington, D.C. It is envisioned that as research unfolds new evidence and the trail grows, trail markers will be placed in these connected communities as well.

Check out the website for trail maps, driving directions, historical interpretation and more.

Just a quick note so you have some of the July 4th weekend events in Stafford VA and Fredericksburg VA!

Dont see what you are looking for? The Rappahannock Regional Library has a great list of fireworks on their website!  Check it out here!

Enjoy Everyone!

SATURDAY, July 3rd

9:00am - Future Stafford Civil War Park tour. Meet @ Brooke VRE Station. 540-658-6324

10:00am-4:00pm - Street Festival @ Downtown Fredericksburg. 5-mile race, parade, entertainment, crafts, food, antique cars, children's activities, dunking booth.

10:00am-5:00pm - Fabulous 4th @ Ferry Farm  540-370-0732

11:00am-9:30pm - Stars & Stripes Weekend @ Potomac Pt Winery. 540-446-2266

11:30am - River Raft Race @ Falmouth Waterfront Park. 571-527-6517

6:00pm - Musical: "The Complete History of America (Abridged!)" @ Riverside Dinner Theater. 540-370-4300

7:00pm - Star-Spangled Concert @ Colonial Forge High School. 804-363-3132

SUNDAY, July 4th 11:00am-6:00pm - Stars & Stripes Weekend @ Potomac Point Winery. Live music 1pm-5pm. 540-446-2266

1:00pm - Musical: "The Complete History of America (Abridged!)" @ Riverside Dinner Theater. 540-370-4300

6:00-9:30pm FIREWORKS 6:00pm - Gates open @ Pratt Park (CARPOOL)

7:30pm - Music by Salvation Army Youth Corps 8:00pm - UMW Orchestra 9:00pm (or dusk) - Fireworks @ Pratt Park