Here in Central Ohio we've been getting into that wonderful wintery January weather...when cars slide around, it's too cold to move, the world is covered in ice-and-snow lasagna, and you promise to yourself that you'll never complain about showing homes in 99 degree heat again. You try to remember that the sun wasn't a figment of your imagination...
One of the little perks of winter is the frozen lockbox. In today's morning meeting we discussed this fun little obstacle, when one agent recounted a recent story. She told us how she finally got into one of her listings which she wanted to prep ahead of time for an impending showing.
Invoking the name of MacGyver, she explained that she thought of slipping a wool glove over the box for a bit while she scraped off the walk and gave things a few minutes to thaw. It worked -- and everyone lived happily ever after.
Now, not that I would want anyone to try selling us more gadgets and widgets for our businesses...but that could lead to an interesting product idea: Lockbox Sox!
(Oh sure, there are other names we could use, but that one rhymes.)
A post to a local Freecycle group brought my attention to this creative little idea. Most homes with kids tend to have a stock of crayons...so what happens when they wear down into tiny pieces or get broken? Of course, most will probably toss them out.
How about recycling those little bits into fun-shaped multicolored crayons? Many people use muffin tins, candy or jello molds, or individual mini cake tins to melt down crayon pieces at low heat. A Martha Stewart webpage seems to be a resource that many refer to.
If you just want to dispose of crayon bits, try the "National Crayon Recycling Program" at Crazy Crayons. You ship them over and they'll do the rest. Finished crayons can be ordered from them at the website. (They need pictures of their finished work!)
You can also find many sources for colorful recycled crayons from crafters across the web. This may not save the world...but it's one way to squeeze a little bit more fun out of something that would have ended up in the trash!
One small thing we can all do to reduce our energy costs is to check our homes for air leakage and places where heated or cooled air is not getting where it's supposed to go.
Here's a great tip for sealing air leaks from an agent who has become more aware of potential energy waste in his own home's heating and cooling system.
Do this now before things cool down around Central Ohio, and save!
Would you spend $14 to save yourself Hundreds of $ over the course of a year. Here's how...
After recently completing the EcoBroker Designation I became increasingly interested in tightening my home's envelope. So I decided to crawl under my house to check out the HVAC ductwork to see just how well it was installed.
Before I go any further- let me give you a little background on my house... I live a basic 3,000 Sq ft transitional built in 1999. It's like every other neighborhood that has sprang up over the past decade. One would think a $200k house(in 1999) would be built pretty well.
What I found in my crawl space made me furious. Ive been under the house several times- but I never really paid much attention to the ductwork connections. One of my ducts was barely attached- the duct was just fitted to the boot with nothing holding it. Before I went under I turned the air on so I could feel leaks. Each of my ducts were ill fitted to the boots and EVERY ONE had leaks. I could literally feel cold air escaping from each duct and junction box.
The fix was simple- I picked up some Nashua Aluminum tape from Home Depot for $14. And all I had to do was wrap the flexible duct one time with the tape- then add a second piece around each attaching the duct to the subfloor...making sure that I sealed the duct completely to the subfloor. It may take a little more tape for different boots but the point is to seal the duct completely. After the tape job was complete- I no longer felt cold air.
I've never checked behind my HVAC contractor when they do installs on renovations. But you can bet I'll be better prepared to check this going forward. I recommend you check your own ductwork... there are literally hundreds of $ of cold air escaping those ducts. For $14 and 30 minutes- you can stop the leaks.
Isn't it interesting that old ways of harnessing energy from our planet are coming back into style after years out of the spotlight? Some of the older - and cleaner - forms of converting kinetic energy to electrical energy are getting another look.
Most who are interested in Green concepts know about the renewed interest in wind energy using sleek, futuristic-looking windmills that are very different in style from the old ones we remember from Don Quixote movies and depictions of the Netherlands.
Another old standby, hydroelectric power, is also getting some attention - in this case for its potential to create jobs. The news source Business First of Columbus reports that there are plans to expand the use of hydroelectric plants along the Ohio River.
The Columbus-based power company American Municipal Power-Ohio has ordered turbines for power plants along the river from a York, Pennsylvania manufacturer, and there may be another factory added in the state of Ohio.
So, this interest in cleaner and Greener power can be a source of new jobs as well as cheaper power, and there is a broader plan by AMP-Ohio to expand the portion of its power that comes from renewable sources - in fact, the plan is that there will be FREE power in 35 years from the hydroelectric sources when their debt service has been retired.
We agents drive a lot! Even if you're not a real estate agent, you may drive a good deal too. Do you know how old your tires are? Tires that are older than six years may pose a safety risk.
I just got a little tip here from my auto insurance company...they recommend that tires be replaced after six years - even if they look ok. Tires are more prone to failure the older they are. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that if you live in a very hot area, such as parts of the American Southwest, or Florida, tires may age more quickly due to the heat.
Note that tires age whether they are being driven on or not! It's just the way tire materials are - they simply deteriorate over time.
Tires are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to have coded manufacturing dates on them - these codes can be found on the outer OR inner sidewall (you'd have to remove the tire to see it in that case..).
A code ending in 4 numbers (Example: 2306) gives the week and year a tire was made, in this case the 23rd week of 2006. A code ending in 3 digits goes back to the 1990s when they started the date system, so "038" would mean the 3rd week of 1998.
Hoping this was a useful safety tip - I thank Liberty Mutual for their informative message!
This is only one of the many possibilities for Building Green here in Central Ohio. This neighborhood is in Licking Heights Schools - there are several more communities to choose from where you may build one of about 40 different plans.
The model home at Creekstone is the builder's newest and includes the Green features standard in all their homes.
Interested in something even better than Energy Star?
Want to cancel out some down payment with a Work Equity program that's been in place for years?
The classic 2-story "Arlington" is only one of many plans to Build Green!
*Listing is an available lot.* We have others as well.
MODEL IS OPEN Sun - Mon - Wed - Thurs - Sat. - please e-mail me and I'll send you the specifics.
Creekstone boasts Sovereign's NEWEST model home with the Green features you're looking for. Visit us first, pick out your favorite home style, and choose one of several available communities around Central Ohio.
Build GREEN and be ahead of the curve - save energy NOW, enjoy better indoor air and greater comfort in your lifestyle - and have a GREEN home to resell in the future!
If you haven't heard about the Green trend yet...you will!
see additional photos below
PROPERTY FEATURES
Central A/C
Central heat
Fireplace
Walk-in closet
Living room
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove/Oven
Basement
Laundry area - inside
Yard
OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES
Built to SAVE YOU ENERGY - ask me how!
SEVERAL indoor air improvement features - visit the model for details!
Choice of 4th bedroom or loft
Choose den or dining room
2nd Floor laundry
Optional wrap front porch
Work with a professional designer to pick your finishes
39 more floor plans to choose from!
Don't wait...build GREEN and benefit NOW !
Cancel a HUGE chunk of down payment with WORK EQUITY
There's no doubt that you'll be hearing more and more about Green from now on...Green Living, Green Building, Going Green. "Green" is a blanket term incorporating several practices that are aimed at making our environment healthier - from a more responsible, sustainable use of our natural resources and a reduction of waste, to a less toxic atmosphere both outdoors and in.
"Green" can directly impact our health as we reduce the pollution we come into contact with. One method of doing this is improving the air inside those boxes we call homes. Did you know that indoor air can be 4-5 times more polluted than the air outside?
Current air-improving Green Building practices may include:
Using low-VOC materials, such as paints and carpeting, that don't offgas great amounts of volatile organic compounds into the air.
Installing direct-vent fireplaces and furnaces which are designed to give off heat without affecting indoor air quality.
Installing timered fans to remove excess moisture - discouraging mold growth and effortlessly saving on energy.
Installing an exhaust fan in the garage to remove automobile and other fumes and discourage them from entering the home.
Making use of a radon reduction system that encourages this radioactive gas to bypass the inside of your home.
Here in Columbus Ohio, all of these items - and lots more - are standard in every home built by Sovereign Homes. ALL their homes are built Green! Yes, we here in Central Ohio are on the cutting edge.
Contact me to set up a tour through Sovereign's NEWEST house model. It has the Green features you (and maybe your home's future buyer) are looking for. Then pick out the style and location that's right for you!
If you think energy costs will be going down, then maybe this message isn't for you.
If you want healthier indoor air, energy savings, and a home built with caring for the planet in mind, I'd like to talk to you!
Whether you "believe in" global warming or not, there are good arguments to be made in support of building a less toxic environment, reducing waste, and reducing the production of things like plastic that never break down completely.
With the increasing interest in moving away from wasteful, toxic side effects of business practices that are still rooted in the 19th Century model of the Industrial Revolution, our new "green collar" job sector is going to grow. Emerging growth sectors which provide new-tech jobs is a happy feature of our relatively fast-moving response to new information about the big picture beyond our own personal back yard. It's a given that old-tech thinkers who have personally profited from practices that are becoming outdated are going to grouse about potential changes and a slowing of their old-tech gravy train, even if the new changes promise benefits on a bigger-picture scale. We've heard plenty of moaning in that direction already. However, all the complaining and cynicism in the world isn't going to stop progress. Old technologies routinely become obsolete...the manual washing machine, the car phone, the 8-track tape player. It's a fact of life, and now we're not looking for just a better mousetrap, we're looking at the wider effects on the planet of building it.
The point is - new ways of doing business are a source of job creation, and no matter what you think of "green," that is the direction many of the new jobs are going to be coming from. Some existing jobs will also get a boost as those skills are called for in the service of new purposes.
This Green Collar Blog makes note of a recent report on Ohio's potential in green-collar jobs by Robert Pollin and Jeanette Wicks-Lim of the Department of Economics and Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst; it was commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
A page of the report specific to Ohio can be found here.
I count it as good news to hear that Ohio is positioned to benefit from this new economic direction.
When you hear about "Green" homes...are you thinking about something built out of straw?
Do you think you're signing up to become a hippie if you build Green? Will your deed restrictions require a home-grown garden of organic veggies? Will there be somebody timing all your showers to make sure you save water?
What about the way these houses look...will they be some kind of weird-looking yurt?
.... And WHAT WILL THE NEIGHBORS THINK??!
...Relax.
Green homes don't have to look any different from a "regular" home. (It is true that in some areas, homes can be built with straw-bale construction, but that's not what I'm talking about here.)
There are all different degrees of Green and many Green features function behind the scenes without anyone ever noticing...except maybe in lower energy bills and better air quality at home.
Living in today's Green home can offer you a lot of peace of mind - you know you're not breathing harmful paint fumes, radon's being directed out of the home where needed, you're even avoiding carbon monoxide being put into the air by your gas appliances in the first place. And there's LOTS more.
There are MANY advantages to building Green, and I'll be discussing further details in future blog posts to explain WHY and HOW a home is being considered Green. (And YES...some homes are Greener than others!)
If you believe energy costs are going back down...then I completely understand why you would have no interest in a Green home. If you would like to learn more about one of the latest trends in building that can benefit you both now and in the future - get in touch with me today!
PS...you may also be surprised at how AFFORDABLE Green can be. Ask me how!
At the Reserve at McNaughten, our sales team is offering semi-custom "single family attached homes" by Romanelli Custom Homes. European style and quality will be yours in these spacious yet simplicity-oriented ranches with basements.
Should you decide on even more custom touches, your choice of home sites is available. The neighborhood is quiet and extremely convenient to Mount Carmel Hospital East and Route 270.
Don't give up space, style, or quality...DO enjoy simplicity!
2BR/2BA Single Family House
offered at $295,000
Year Built
2006
Sq Footage
1,956
Bedrooms
2
Bathrooms
2 full, 0 partial
Floors
1
Parking
2 Car garage
Lot Size
6,011 sqft
HOA/Maint
$60 per month
DESCRIPTION
(For a few more pictures, click on the VIRTUAL TOUR here - 6210 Kinver Edge Way.)
This home is the "sister" to 6204 Kinver Edge Way...they are set up twin single style and are both available! This "side" is the larger and its configuration is a bit different. Come see for yourself!
Come visit during model hours at 6192 Kinver Edge Way - just follow the blue & white OPEN HOUSE signs!
These patio-style attached single-family homes are semi-custom. We have a selection of homes ready to finish, each with its own personality. Or build your own to suit yourself!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
A post to a local Freecycle group brought my attention to this creative little idea. Most homes with kids tend to have a stock of crayons...so what happens when they wear down into tiny pieces or get broken? Of course, most will probably toss them out.
to expand the use of hydroelectric plants along the Ohio River.
Central A/C
With the increasing interest in moving away from wasteful, toxic side effects of business practices that are still rooted in the 19th Century model of the Industrial Revolution, our new "green collar" job sector is going to grow. Emerging growth sectors which provide new-tech jobs is a happy feature of our relatively fast-moving response to new information about the big picture beyond our own personal back yard. It's a given that old-tech thinkers who have personally profited from practices that are becoming outdated are going to grouse about potential changes and a slowing of their old-tech gravy train, even if the new changes promise benefits on a bigger-picture scale. We've heard plenty of moaning in that direction already. However, all the complaining and cynicism in the world isn't going to stop progress. Old technologies routinely become obsolete...the manual washing machine, the car phone, the 8-track tape player. It's a fact of life, and now we're not looking for just a better mousetrap, we're looking at the wider effects on the planet of building it.
;)
;)
