Deb's Home Recycling (aka Residential Resale)

Living walls Natural Air Filtration

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:59:24 -0600

The quality of our indoor air has declined to the point that poor air quality is fourth on a list of 31 environmental threats in the US, according to the EPA. "It is estimated that nearly 25% of US residents are affected by poor indoor air quality, either at the workplace or the home. Indoor air pollutants can be as diverse as toxic chemicals emitted from building materials and furnishings, combustion pollutants like carbon monoxide and toxic particles, and biological contaminants such as mold and bacteria."

A living wall is a vertical arrangement of plants and other organisms that naturally removes toxins and unhealthy contaminants from the air. Living walls can be complete ecosystems or simple configurations of plants that thrive in and help to decontaminate indor environments. Those of us who remember the 60's and 70's remember that houseplants were widely touted as a means of helping to keep our indoor air clean. Now architects are taking this idea to a new level in green building. The process of photosynthesis has some great side effects for humans.

Living walls are primarily composed of plants that absorb and filter out airborne toxins. All plants are able to remove toxins, but some plants are better at filtering out such harmful substances than others. The plants that are especially good at removing toxins include: azalea, bamboo palm, chrysanthemum, spider plant, aloe vera, English ivy, elephant ear philodendron, golden pothos, and peace lily. Different plants can remove different types of toxins, so use a variety of plants. It requires a bit of figuring out to know what plants are best suited for what environments and what size wall is required for any given space so it is not really a DIY project unless you have an appropriate background. It certainly can be a beautiful way to improve indoor air quality though!

Job Done Construction - Bridgehead Coffee House Ottawa

Forestell Designed Landscapes Garden

Singapore Green Thumb Festival

Condominium Vancouver BC

Lighthouse Sustainable Building Centre Booth

Caisse Populaire Terrebonne

EarthMoment - Shop and get Carbon Offsets

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:24:00 -0500

Carbon offsets represent investments that reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon offsets typically include investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects. They are one way to begin to make a difference in influencing climate change. Personally, I am not a huge fan of this approach but it definitely beats doing nothing and it provides funding for efforts to do more.

That said, many of us do a fair amount of online shopping. http://EarthMoment.comoffers an opportunity to get carbon offsets when making purchases from more than 1.000 online vendors including Target, Sears, Macy's, PetSmart and Barnes and Noble. You pay no additional fees for your purchases nor are the prices higher. EarthMoment.com is an online shopping portal that make a donation of 50% of its commission for every purchase to purchase carbon offsets. Those of you with websites know that your get revenue for sales made through your website and this works exactly the same way. Other vendors available on the site in addition to the ones I have already mentioned include Home Depot, Amazon.com,Travelocity, AT&T, Circuit City and Dell,

You create a profile when you use the site just like other shopping sites. When you create your profile at EarthMoment you choose to what carbon offset project(s) you want to allocate your proceeds; renewable energy, energy efficiency, reforestation or any combination of the three. The experts at carbonfund.orgpick the specific projects within those categories, and you can read about those projects online at Carbonfund.org.

Carbonfund.org is a nonprofit organization committed to the fight against climate change, making it easy and affordable to eliminate climate impact and hastening the transformation to a clean energy and technology future. The organization supports renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects globally that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the threat of climate change.

This can be a great resource for holiday shopping or closing gifts.

Home Improvements for Energy Efficiency

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:59:08 -0500

The first step should be to make sure that you have adequate insulation and weather stripping in place. That low cost improvement can save an amazing amount of utility money by itself.

It may take a bite out of your savings, but upgrading your HVAC system can be a no-brainer from a financial standpoint. Installing energy efficient furnaces and air conditioners for example can cut a home's energy consumption by 50% if you have, like I did, the original 30 year old furnace that came with the house. New energy efficient windows can save a homeowner $300-$400 a year. A programmable thermostate can help accomplish that goal because it will remember to adjust the temperature when you forget. Extend those savings a few years down the road and you can see that these renovations can pay for themselves in a fairly short period of time.

This is, of course another good reason to consider downsizing rather than moving up. The less space there is to heat and cool, the less it is going to cost. You can also put on socks or a sweater (preferably made from natural fiber) instead of turning up the heat!

Samuel Mockbee and an Architechture of Decency

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:33:06 -0500

Given the current confusion in the housing market, I found myself looking for a different way to view the the context of the places we live. I picked up a book I have not looked at for a while RURAL STUDIO

It tells the story of a teacher, his students and a poor community in Alabama. The teacher is Samuel Mockbee and the students are his architecture students at Auburn University. The introduction explains that Mockbee believes that his profession has an ehical responsibility to improve living conditions for the poor. To that end, he inspired his students to create real buildings and interact with the community. His demands for homes was that they be "warm. dry, and noble"

Many of the homes featured here are much needed remodels or additions rather than new construction. Many used recycled materials including tires donated by a company that was ordered to remove them from their lot. They helped form the walls of a chapel that was built by the students. The rock for the floor came from a nearby riverbed and the roof beams were salvaged from an old house and covered with tin. at a total cost of $15,000 in 1995. Here is a link to the website with pictures of the chapel: http://cadc.auburn.edu/soa/rural-studio/projects_yancey.htm

The homes reflect the vernacular of the locale and could never exist anywhere else like the "dirt and newspaper house" http://www.cadc.auburn.edu/soa/rural-studio/projects_christine.htm --very similar to our native adobes here in the Southwest actually but they are now warm, dry safe places to live. Anyway, I believe part of the definition of sustainable housing is that it should fit the location in which it is built. I'd say these do an extraordinary job of demonstrating what is possible with enough imagination, skill and passion applied to a challenging situation.

Chances are we will see a return to more of this kind of smaller, less ostentatious building. Over consumption is taking its toll in many ways theses days--obviously the whole mortgage/bank/stock market roller coaster ride is one example. But we can add many health issues that can be directly linked to our enormous use of fossil fuels which not only causes respiratory issues for many people but also means that we drive or ride instead of getting exercise by waling or bicycling. Yes, it would slow us down some in our breakneck pace but I'm not sure that is a bad thing.

Preparing for Winter

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:39:48 -0500

Rocky Mountain Institutes's Home Energy Briefs (HEBs) are a series of nine practical guides describing what the average homeowner can do to save energy. These reports give paople easy to understand ways can save on energy use in their homes and part of the funding for the reports came from the National Association or Realtors. They are available at http://nc.rmi.org/Page.aspx?pid=217

Report number 4 is about Space Heating. The 8 page report includes tips on:

passive heating and heat loss
types of space heating systems
sizing and installation of space heating systems
considerations for replacing space heating systems

Report Number 1 is about the building envelope and this 10 page report is loaded with information about:

Heat Loss and heat gain
Insulation
Sealing leaks and cracks
Windows

The other six Energy Briefs cover

Lighting
Space Cooling
Water Heating
Cleaning Appliances
Electronics,
Kitchen Appliances
Whole System Design

Rocky Mountain Institute ® (RMI)is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982 by resource analysts L. Hunter Lovins and Amory B. Lovins. Started as a small group of colleagues focusing on energy policy, it has since grown into a broad-based institution with approximately eighty full-time staff.

Easy ways to Increase Storage in Small Spaces

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:58:04 -0500

One of the simple ways to live comfortably in a small space is to use the space in the most sfficient way possible. Organization is always a good thing, but in a small space it is also an essential requirement for maintaining sanity.

Consider a Murphy Bed if you have a studio or you have a guest room that needs to double as an office or other workspace when not being used for that purpose
Invest in closet organizers-whether you create your own from components found in your local home improvement center or you decide to splurge on a custom design from one of the big companies like California Closets this can create a lot of space for you. Drawers and shelves in the closet can eliminate the need for a dresser in the bedroom
Wall sconces, track lights and ceioling fixtures can make floor lamps and table lamps (and the tables to hold them) unnecessary except as a matter of choice
Ope bookcases can be used as "walls" to divide living spaces as well as for storage. A 36 inch tall bookcase could hold cookbooks on one side that faces int the kitchen while the other side, facing the dining area could hold not only other books but a display of travel souvenirs or wine glasses or teapots or whatever other food related items you might have that could be displayed rather than taking up cabinet space. Even attractive food storage containers like cookie jars (I have one that is actually filled with tea bags)
Use nesting and/or stackable units.
Consider multipurpose furniture--the most well known and obvious of these is, of course, a sofa sleeper or a futon but dining tables with extra leaves can be used as well or sectional sofas, drop leaf tables or computer desks, and various rolling carts
My favorite is window seats and other built in furniture. Examples of these abound in Frank Lloyd Wright homes, especially the Usonian homes.

Giving Green This Holiday Season

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:18:21 -0500

No, I am not talking about giving away moeny, although that always seems to be a popular and much appreciated gift. I'll take some too if you have any extra!

My friends and family will tell you that I am not a person who likes or ejoys the holiday season. Then why am I writing this? Because I went into my favorite arts and crafts supply store last week and they already had half the store stocked with Christmas decorations and all the various stuff that comes out only between Thanksgiving and Christmas although in this case, I did not even see any Thanksgiving turkey decorations or serving platters. There was Halloween candy and costumes and everything else was Christmas. I got my silk flowers and left, but it made me think that maybe it is not too early to suggest a few alternative gift ideas that are less commercial and more environmentally friendly.

For a family gift, consider an annual National Parks Pass - this is great for family outings, picnics or retirees who like to RV or camp
For the coffee drinkers on your list really nice reusable mugs are a great idea- you know the ones you look at and think those a really nice but you never would buy for yourself? You could combine a stainless steel commuter mug with some shade grown coffee (I'll do another post later on why shade grown coffee makes a difference.
A bicycle or gear for the bicycle they already have. It could be a comfy cruiser or a lightweight road bike. It helps lower pollution and ups the ante on your exercise at the same time. Panniers (saddle bags), a new helmet or bike shoes, a new seat or a gift certificate for a tune up at the local bike shop might be more appreciated than you think. Don't forget rechargeable lights and/or reflective clothing are also good gifts in this category.
Rechargeable batteries are good to include when giving battery operated gifts--as are the charging stations to use them. How about a solar charger for the laptop (I saw one advertised somewhere that was part of the carrying case--not sure how well that one would go through the airport but it's a great idea otherwise. These solar chargers can be used for laptops, ipods, and cellphones.
Information is a great gift. I love books and my standard reply to people who ask about my home is that I live in a library. My husband shares my passion for books and one of my past business ventures was owning a used bookstore. I now try, whenever possible to buy used books in like new condition from Amazon.com or give a gift cetificate for a class. It doesn't have to be for a specific class even. Make it for a certain amount to take a painting class, or cooking class or whatever you know they are interested in and would like to learn more about and then when they find a class to take you pay for it or for the portion of it your amount covers.
How about a gift certificate to the local health food store? Many people are surprised once they get through the door to find that they CAN afford to shop there, if it is a local store rather than one of the big chains. My local health food market often has lower produce prices than the regular grocery store. In addition cereals, grains, beans and even peanut butter can be purchased cheaper in bulk.
Anything you made yourself, especially for them.

Merry Bah Humbug to all!

A New Life for Shipping Containers

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:51:07 -0500

Those of yoy who know me or read my blog know that I am an advocate for recycling,simple living and good design. I wanted to help get the word out about this so I am reblogging it here in the hopes that some of you who might not have seen it will see it here.

Shipping containers can be a very god thing! Think about the possibilities for really affordable housing. And to people who are going to say they are ugly, that can be changed but even if you think they are ugly, please remember they are also warm, dry and readily available.

Via Evan T. Little - EcoBroker®:

From the moment I was first introduced to the idea of using shipping containers for real estate development, it made a whole lot of sense. I caught some "green" home or living show on TV that featured LA architect, Peter Demaria of Demaria Design. So when I heard about Larry Pokras' new firm, LNP Design, in Costa Mesa, I was thrilled to have a local design firm centered around shipping container development. With the Port of Long Beach just miles away, this is something for any real estate investor or developer to seriously consider getting into.

The aesthetic appeal of using modern modular units from developers like Living Homes and shipping container projects has overwhelmingly been proven to be a success around the world so why not in Orange County? With building and land prices as high as they are, this seems to me like a very lucrative opportunity for anyone able to obtain construction financing. Especially anyone sitting around with monopoly money in the bank. The possibilities are nearly endless with what creative developers can do with shipping containers.

L.N.P. Design & Architecture
575 West 19th Street, Suite 228
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
www.LNPDesigns.net
714.713.0981
Written by, Evan T. Little

Realtor®, EcoBroker®
Volkl Investments Inc.
949.939.9687 phone
evan@volklinvestmentsinc.com

My other blogs:
Going "Green" in Orange County
Orange County, CA Community
Real Estate in Orange County, CA

Small Space Living

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:05:51 -0500

Is there anyone out there who specializes in studio living--not large, sweeping, open loft spaces but places like the 350 square foot Manhattan co-op my recent client sold? She was ecstatic to find a two bedroom two bath condo in Santa Fe, NM that gave her twice the space at half the cost.

I realized that the place was tiny by most local standards but it is in an amazing complex with duck ponds and trees and winding footpaths. It is Pueblo vernacular style complete with a kiva style fireplace and a balcony that overlooks one of the duck ponds. Because it is well designed, there is enough storage and skylights make it feel open and bright. The french doors that open from the living room to the balcony make the space feel very open and larger than the actual square footage. She is on the second floor and the steps going up to her door are wide plank boards reminescent of old Santa Fe. Here's a link to the property.

http://www.tierradezia.com/zia_new007a.htm

New York City, Tokyo, London, Paris are all amazing cities that are nothing if not cosmopolitan. One of the things they share is that many of the residents live in (by American standards at least) very small spaces. They also walk more because not only are things within walking distance but since they have less space they shop more frequently and buy less because they do not have room to store it.

I think that smaller home will continue to become more and more popular as people tighten their belts and look for practical ways to downsize. Boomers, in particular,at least the ones moving here, I have noticed are tending to look for town homes and condos partly out of an awareness that they represent a more sustainable form of building but more because they are looking forward to spending time traveling, volunteering or pursuing a passion and they no longer want their shelter and the stuff in it to own them.

Green Dreams

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:33:45 -0500

I have been dealing with sleep issues lately so I have been particularly interested in 'greening" the bedroom. As one of the many people who suffer from sleep apnea in this country, I am always interested in making the most out of the sleep I do get. Thankfully, I will have new equipment in the next week or so and my husband will be quite gateful that he can sleep undisturbed again!

The bedrooms are always of concern to buyers, especially the master bedroom or, any mor, the master suite. They seem to be getting larger and more complex as we sleep both less hours and less soundly.

As any of you know who may have had sleep issues,one of the recommendations is that you do nothing in bed or the bedroom other than sleep...no television, no reading, no paperwork--I've even gotten email from people who were in bed with their trusty laptop....Our bedrooms house entertainment centers, exercise equipment and the library of reading we meant to catch up on. All of these things simply add more activity rather than restfulness and they are dust catchers that help pollute the bedroom air. I even saw a recent study that said we should not sleep in the same rom with our cell phones because we don't sleep as well when they are in the same room. Put the charger in the office or on the kitchen counter next to the coffee pot but get it off the nightstand!

Natural organic cotton and bamboo sheets and pillow cases are now widely available. Natural floor coverings are a good thing to use in bedrooms--tile, wood, cotton, wool, bamboo,cork, Stores like Bed Bath & Beyond and Crate and Barrel are a good bet and many items can even be found at places like JC Penney or Target.

The first matress maker in the USA to receive GreenGuard certification for its mattresses, certifying that they meet low VOC emmisions standards is Lifekind. They offer a variety of other bedding products as well at http://www.lifekind.com

Sweet dreams.

Foreclosure anyone????

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:14:32 -0500

Okay, It really can happen to anyone. I know I did a post aboout this before but somehow we never think it can happen to the rich and famous--OK, Neverland doesn't count....ANYTHING can happen if you are talking about Michael Jackson.

This is really kind of sad but brings home the point. I know it is a matter of scale and those of us who work with a lot of first time home buyers and working class families can sometimes be less than sympathetic when it is a multi million dollar mansion that is going into foreclosure--but ED MCMAHON???? All those years of late night television and the Publisher's Clearing House giveaways have not kept him out of the foreclosure mess. Like so many other people with even less resources a medical problem made him unable to work for months resulting in his going into default on his mortgage. Granted, his is bigger than a lot of other people's It is still sad to think that an also 85 year old man is in danger of losing his home.

http://www.latimes.com/la-fi-mcmahon4-2008jun04,0,4963138.story If you read the story, you will see that there are some unusual factors here. I particularly like the argument that the house being so close to Brittany Spears house makes it harder to sell.....probably not nearly as hard as the mold problem!

Albuquerque Prescription for Health

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:20:25 -0500

Albuquerque is a regular contender on the list of healthiest cities in the US. Some of the reason has to do with our clean air, which is no longer as clean as it used to be as the city and its industry grow and expand but also because of the efforts ofthe city to promoe healthy lifestyles.

The city fleet has a majority of its vehicles running on natural gas, E85 and biodiesel. Many of the buses have bike racks on the front so commuters can bike part of the way or if your biking destination is far enough away that you would need to drive to it - going mountain biking in the Petroglyphs if you live in the North east Heights for example.

Here is a new program the city has created to encourage people to get out and walk (or roll) around their neighborhoods.

Get Up and Get Moving!

The Albuquerque Prescription Trails Pilot Program provides prescriptions for walking and wheelchair rolling and a walking guide that suggests routes in our community.

The world's Best Clients

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Sun, 25 May 2008 15:34:27 -0500

I had a remarkable experience last week. I have Buyer clients with whom I spent close to a year helping them find a home here in Albuquerque. They moved from the east coast almost a year and a half ago. I have kept in touch with them regularly.

Last week I got a call from the wife to tell me that she had picked up a lyer on her way to work for an Open House that was coming up on the weekend. It looked like a very nice house and it was a FSBO--she did not know if I could get the listing but she thought that I might have a buyer for it--a nice Craftsman style bungalow completely remodeled downtown within walking distance of state office buildings (which is why she had they flyer having walked past it on her way to work).

This particular one did not work out but these clients have given me a referral which turned into a sale and one which produced both a sale and a new Realtor whom I was able to sponsor into EXIT REALTY.

Now, if I just had 3 or 4 more of these kind of clients......

Affordable ABQ Green

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:41:16 -0500

For anyone thinking about moving to the Land of Enchantment, I have good news for you. Albuquerque is a city working hard to be green (I think the mayor is trying to get into a competition with Rocky Anderson up in Salt Lake City). Check out http://cabq.gov/sustainability One of the great things about it is that the public transportation continues to improve with frequent busees (even equipped with bicycle racks on some routes) the expansion of the RailRunner light rail train which will eventually extend from Belen in the south through Albuquerque up to Santa Fe in the north.

Most exciting for me as an EcoBroker is the fact that there are over 2,000 EnergyStar certified homes in Albuquerque. I checked this afternoon and there were 40 of them on the market at VERY AFFORDABLE PRICES.

How affordable? Try between $125,000 and $210,000. Green, eco-friendly building does not have to be expensive. These homes are mostly three bedroom two bath family homes in planned developments in conveniently located neighborhoods. The secret to accomplishing this? There is none. It is just the result of a builder who made a committment to build to this standard and does it because it is the right thing to do and because it is profitable. Building this way can actually reduce both time and labor costs. We all know that the more you buy of something the less it costs you per item with bulk rates so if you are buying enough insulation, EnergyStar rated appliances and windows and doors and HVAC systems to build 200-500 houses at a time, your overall cost is not going to be grater than other builders who are building conventionally. If you want to know how this particular builder ot started down the energy efficiency path, here is a link to the Department of Energy Building America program that tells about it. http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/pdfs/hot-dry_mixed-dry_bpg/38360_casestudyb_vol2_sept05.pdf

I do residential resale so I am not promoting them because I work for them or even have any of their homes listed but because I think this is the type of housing we need a lot more of. One of the ways to lower our dependence on fossil fuels, foreign or domestic, is to use less of the stuff. The technologhy exists to do that easily and comfortably. These homes use at least 15 to 30 percent less energy than standard homes with the occupants not changing their habits at all (except fiddling with the thermostat is a no-no). This is not rocket science...it may, however be the science we need.

1968 revisited?

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:46:26 -0500

I went to a meet-up group today at one of our two remaining independent bookstores. There is a group that meets there every Saturday afternoon to knit and/or crochet. In the course of the conversation one of the other group members who is the same age as I am made a comment about how the last time she had been really interested in simple living, and doing things like knitting and spinning her own yarn (which how the conversation got started--someone is taking a spinning and weaving class) was "back in the 60's when we were hippies"...

Well, she and I were probably the only ones who really qualified for that category since the one other person present in our age bracket (Boomers and older) was definitely and emphatically NOT a hippie and no one else in the group was born before 1975. It made me reflect, though on what she was saying. Perhaps it is just 20/20 hindsight with a dose of maturity tossed in for seasoning, but the core values and beliefs of that time seem to be regenerating in full blown mainstream ways.

Recycling, alternative fuels (more about that in another post--growing grain to fuel vehicles rather than feed people is NOT an acceptable solution to the end of cheap oil....at some point you just have learn to use less of the stuff)organic farming and gardening, low or no toxic paints, walking and cycling as well as using public transportation as a means of primary transportation....these are all ideas I was well acquainted with "back in the day"....

I wrote in a previous post about NYC being one of the greenest cities and that being in large part because people live in small apartments in multi-unit buildings. It is also in part because the walk a lot and use mass transit a lot. If one of the most cosmopolitan, sophisticated cities in the world can also be one of the greenest, there is no reason, given the political will to make it so, the rest of our cities can't follow suit. Same ideas, maybe a different point of view.

Oh, yeah, I'm knitting with only natural fibers--wool, cotton, silk and alpaca so far and recycled fiber too rayon and cotton--and I've begun spinning with a hand spindle--the really old fashioned way!

Why I like Relocation Buyers

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:54:02 -0500

I've decided I love working with relocation buyers. Usually, they are looking because they really need to buy now. The actually listen when you explain things to them about the town or neighborhood--unless they have lived in the area before and then they want to know what is the same and what has changed. For me, they have been a great source of referrals. 90% of referrals I have gotten have come from buyers whom I represented when they moved to the area.

The other thing I like about relocation buyers is that I get to learn a lot about where they have come from, which is often useful when I have someone else relocating from the same area. Since I love working online, it makes relocation clients a good match as well since a lot of our contact and many times a lot of the transaction is done that way too.

On top of all that, I can wear my sweatshirt and jeans if I want! It's the Southwest so I can usually get away with "dressy" jeans anyway--you have to live out here to understand that I guess. If you need a reference, think Governor Bill Richardson in every photo you have ever seen of him when he was not wearing a suit.......

EnergyStar rated Homes

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:28:19 -0500

It's Earth Day 2008. Clearly, we need to make it at least Earth month but I guess we will take what we can get in terms of focusing people's attention. I was astounded to read about the lake in Greenland that disappeared in 90 minutes. The entire lake drained through the glacial ice in about ninety minutes and at the highest flow was moving as fast as Niagra Falls. This is SCIENCE magazine, folks, not the National Enquirer. www.sciencemag.org

What can we do to encourage our clients to consider sustainable living when we are working wit them? One of the most effective we all know is to show them what's in it for them. Most buyers are familiar with the EnergyStar rating and know that it means that appliances and products like windows given this rating are more energy efficient than products without this rating. What they most understand is that more energy efficiency means money saved on energy bills for them.

The Department of Energy Building America program supports the research and development of energy efficient buildings. http://www.buildingamerica.gov/

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes. Any home three stories or less can earn the ENERGY STAR label if it has been verified to meet EPA's guidelines, including: single family, attached, and low-rise multi-family homes; manufactured homes; systems-built homes (e.g., SIP, ICF, or modular construction); log homes, concrete homes; and even existing retrofitted homes. According to the EnergyStar site, these homes can save a homeowner between $200 and $400 per hear in heating, cooling and water heating costs. They also often require less maintenance and repair which creates even larger savings when compared to other homes.

You can find a list of EnergyStar rated homebuilders and locations of homes they have built by state at www.energystar.govClick on the link and find your state to see who the builders are and what city the homes are in as well as the name of the subdivision in which they are located. These are not necessarily high end homes. Those of you who know me, know that this is my soapbox moment. Green can be quite affordable. the largest EnergyStar builder in my area builds most of their homes in the 150k to 250k range.

These techniques are ot rocket science. They need not be expensive. Being simple and creative may be what we really need.

How to dress green

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:11:40 -0500

Okay, here is one for the casual fans among us and the fashion mavens too. Same TIME magazine article as the last tips:

1. Wear "vintage" clothing. What they suggest is not just hitting the Goodwill (although there are those among us who love to do just that) but also to donate your clothes to organizations like homeless shelters or take them to resale shops who deal in "professional" clothes. Besides reducing the amount of materials used to produce new garments, it turns out that cotton accounts for less than 3% of the land farmed globally, but about a quarter of the pesticides.....And giving clothes to people like the homeless or battered women's shelters is just a good thing to do besides the recycling aspect of it.

The best part of this one was the other way to get rid of old clothes and get new ones---throw a closet party--invite friends over and everyone brings a few items to trade.

2. Okay, this one is primarily for the gentlemen. It seems that in 2005 Japanese "salarymen" swapped their trademark dark blue business suits for open collars and light tropical colors as part of the government's effort to save energy by keeping it's office temperatures at 82 degrees throughout the summer. In one summr of not wearing suits and ties Japan cut an estimated 79,000 TONS of co2. Casual Friday everyday, all summer? Hey, if any of you work in companies with large offices or have been in a hotel you know that the suits and ties are to help keep people warm because air conditioning is frigid! 82 might be a bit much but most folks can be pretty comfortable anywhere between 72 and 80.

Take a Right Turn

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:54:01 -0500

Okay, this is amazing even to me, a dyed in the wool tree hugger! I was cleaning out some old articlea and I ran across aa April, 2007 issue of TIME MAGAZINE that had a feature story about things we can do to make a difference in Global warming.....I am not making this up--it is the April 9, 2007 issue with the penguin on the cover.

UPS (yes, the guys in the brown truck) announced in 2004 that it's drivers would avoid making left turns. It turns out that they figured out they could reduce CO2 emissions and save millions of dollars in fuel costs. They have saved A THOUSAND METRIC TONS in metro New York City since January. A software program actually maps out customized routes for every driver to minimize left turns because the time spent idling while waiting to turn left against oncoming traffic burns so much fuel and costs millions of dollars every year.

Does someone know how to program my GPS to do that????

Good Old Small Homes

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:04:51 -0500

Just reread an article about some of the things that make New York City one of the "greenest" cities in the country. There isn't a lot of new construction there. There is great public transportation and driving is a nightmare--even the mayor takes public transit to work.

Most people do not live in large homes. In fact they live in apartments. One of the pluses of apartment living is that heating and cooling costs tend to be lower because of the shared walls. People walk more in New York because things are closer together so thy get the bonus of exercise as well. Consider a townhouse or a condo unit to get the energy benefit while still owning your own home.

One more thought......according to several climate change studies, the single act of buying an existing home will save more energy and resources than recycling all the paper, plastic, glass and metal and using only compact florescent lightbulbs for 40 years of living in new construction.

Remodeling My Business

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:10:35 -0500

We all feel overwhelmed or discouraged at some time in our lives. If we try to live in awareness, we can see these moments approaching and do something creative before we are driven to change simply because it is too painful to remain stuck where we are.

I recently attended a business development seminar and came back prepared to make some changes as a result. I felt one of those moments approaching and this seminar came along at the right time. I had applied one of their suggestions and seen an immediate result so I was encouraged. It doesn't matter which Rel Estate Guru it was, the point is that I was and am motivated to take a positive, creative step out of my personal rut. The key thing is to take action and keep taking it until change happens. Find whatever system or method inspires you. It will be different for every individual.

It seems to me that one of the challenges we face is knowing the difference between when to keep doing something long enough to get a result and when we have crossed the line into insanity--doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. For example I'm sure many of us can relate to farming an area or niche market. Sometimes we have to realize that it may not be that we need to stop farming that particular area; we may just need to use a different method. Any gardener can tell you that sometimes building a raised bed and tending it is much more effective than double digging sandy, rocky soil if you want healthy produce quickly. If you don't want weeds in your flower garden you can pull them or you can mulch around the flowers. Both methods work. Depending on what kind of weeds you have and what kind of mulch you have one may work better than the other

I am becoming much more focused, learning to create and use boundaries and hopefully to work smarter instead or harder while still providing stellar service for clients committed to working with me.

A Room of One's Own--Small house living

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 23:14:52 -0500

I was musing the other day about small space living. A friend who lived i a 25 foot fifth wheel trailer for a couple of years pointed out that it really felt like he had much more space because he spent so much time outdoors. Another small house (650 square feet) dweller said that just having a 36 inch tall bookcase as a divider behind the desk and chair at one end of the living space was enough give him the sense of having a separate office space of his own, even when the rest of the family was in the room with him.

We are used to building walls as boundaries in this country and we somehow, most of us, continue to think that bigger is better and that we need ever more space. I'm still not convinced that we own our stuff rather than the other way around because most of the space is used to store stuff rather than to actually live in. When all is said and done, except for the catered sit down dinner,when you have people over to share a meal, most folks crowd nto the kitchen/dining room area and the rest of the house stays empty.

Most of us shared bedrooms and televisions sets just fine with other family members. I think we probably got to know them a lot better too because we actually spent time with them rather than having each one in their own room with their own television and/or computer.

My two favorite places that I have lived in were a 450 square foot studio apartment in San Francisco (okay it was right after college and I didn't have that much stuff, an 8x35 foot fifth wheel travel trailer I lived in with my husband for 6 months and another 450 square foot studio apartment for a year or so in 2005-2006. Having a larger house only works for me now because that way I have room for an office separate from the sewing and painting (acrylic) and fiber art. My husband has someplace to build airplanes (remote control, not the real ones) and garden scale railroads and do woodworking. I think we really should just buy an old warehouse and make a small apartment in one end!

Of course, my other belief is that smaller homes are greener because they use less resources too, which means making a smaller impact on the planet.

The power of relationship building

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:13:03 -0500

I am meeting tomorrow with two renters who like where they live. They like it so much, they want to buy it. The landlord has made oises since they moved inabout being tired of being a landlord and wanting to sell the house. He brought the subject up again a few days ago....and they called me.

These buyers contacted me several months ago on behalf of a friend of theirs who lived out of state and was planning to relocate. They heard my underwriting on the local public radio station and contacted me nased on that. After talking to them, it turned out that I was going to be visiting the area the currently lived in the following week to see family. I took an afternoon and went to see her. We talked about her move, her wants and needs and I set her up to get listings from me. She is now here and we are actively looking for a place.

When her friends began talking about buying the house from the landlord she told them they needed to call me first. Talk about a circular referral....I met with them today and will meet with them and the landlord tomorrow to see if we can begin to work out a deal.

Both of these sales will be under 100k but know that there will be several more from their circle of friends and acquaintances and the satisfaction is pricless.

TheMoveable Edible Landscape

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 01:02:43 -0500

For those who think that edible landscaping is too big a hassle for them and vegetables in the front yard is a little too risque...here is an idea. Herbs and in particular grow well in pots. Placed as accent pieces on the porch or in distinct places in the yard they are quite attractive.

Growing a pot with purple, sweet and peppermint basil can be stunning. Add hanging baskets of cherry or grape tomatoes in red and yellow along with a pot of mesclun (mixed lettuces and greens) and you can grow wonderful fresh salads as well as saving money at the grocery store.

Ornamental cabbages make stunning borders. Grapevines over a trellis provide summer shade as well as delicious, healthy, healthy fruit. Artichokes are amazingly large plants and quite a stunning accent plant if you have room for one or two plants. A little creativity can lead to a beautiful and interesting low care landscape that gives you food for the table as well.

Simple Green

Deb Hurt, ABR, e-Pro, EcoBroker, TRC (Exit Realty of Albuquerque) — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 11:03:46 -0500

No, not the cleaning product. Just some more ideas in the wake of the Live Earth Event.

Install motion detectors on room lights. That way the lights will automatically come on when you enter and will go off when you leave--no more yelling at people (or yourself) for forgetting to turn off the light
Work at home more
Carpool or walk whenever possible
Use public transportation whenever possible. If the mayor of New York City can do it, so can you, assuming you live somewhere that actually has decent public transit
Use recycled paper and ink cartridges in your office
Use recycled paper stock for your mailings
Put recycling bins for plastic, cans and paper in your office
Walk an bicycle more often instead of taking the car on short errands
Take your own bags to the market
Get paper instead of plastic if you do not take your own