green living: Tankless Water Heaters – Not As Green as One Might Think
- 09/06/08 01:11 PM
It seems that my recent conversations around green living and sustainable building have been dominated by discussions about tankless water heaters. I just mention high efficiency appliances and people start asking about the benefits of a tankless water heater. Did The New York Times write an article on them that I haven't heard about?
The funny thing is that I have yet to have the discussion with anyone who would be able to benefit from using one! Let me explain why.
Pro & Cons of going tankless:
The big "PRO" for going tankless is that it only runs when it is … (19 comments)
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green living: Is “Extreme Green” too much for most Americans?
- 08/31/08 10:29 AM
As a real estate agent in Vancouver Washington, most of my friends tend to be real estate agents in Vancouver Washington or people who work in or around the real estate business in Vancouver Washington. (Sad, isn't it? I will save that topic for another post.)
Last week I was with a "Green" real estate friend of mine and another friend in the mortgage business. Our mortgage friend asked the simple question, "What is a Green Home really?"
Before I could open my mouth, my green friend went off on a 10 minute lecture covering glues and paints and fresh … (26 comments)
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green living: Another Green Home at the Clark County Parade of Homes - The Cottage
- 08/29/08 06:45 AM
Clark County Parade of HomesThe 2008 Clark Parade of Homes in Vancouver Washington is also home the "The Cottage."
This beautiful home was built by Tamarack Homes. In my opinion, this is the greenest home at the parade, just ahead of the "Green Haus" which is located right around the corner.
The "Green-ness" of this European cottage style home comes in several ways. Special attention was paid during planning and construction in order to become LEED certified:
The walls were built using 24" on center studs, allowing more space for insulation as well as using less lumber.
The stucco finish was … (12 comments)
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green living: Green Drinks in Vancouver, Washington
- 08/27/08 06:03 AM
Green Drinks in Vancouver, Washington
In an effort to bring more sustainable building and green living ideas to Vancouver Washington, I have been attending classes, meeting, and group get togethers for folks with similar ideas. Last night was the monthly meeting for Green Drinks in Vancouver, Washington. We met at Hula Boys in downtown Vancouver.
The meetings are an informal affair with attendees from all walks of the "Green" movement. This month there was a group of 30 - 35 people gathered to listen to Jill Sughrue.
Jill is a sustainability consultant and coach with Sustain Northwest. A volunteer with the … (0 comments)
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green living: The Green Haus in Vancouver Washington
- 08/26/08 09:38 AM
The Green Haus in Vancouver WashingtonThe 2008 Clark Parade of Homes in Vancouver Washington is lucky enough to have one of the first LEED Gold certified homes in its line up.
The "Green Haus" was built by Axiom Luxury Homes specifically for the Parade of Homes. I had the opportunity to walk through it last week and I can tell you that living "Green" in a sustainably built home doesn't mean that you will have to make any sacrifices.
This gorgeous home sports Eldorado Stone accents, Skirl siding with cedar trim, cedar board and bat, and pervious pavers to mitigate rainwater runoff.
… (6 comments)
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green living: Earth Advantage Alumni Meet at EcoHaus
- 08/15/08 04:35 AM
Last night, Janice and I had the pleasure of attending an Alumni party hosted by Earth Advantage at EcoHaus in Portland, Oregon. The event was for graduates of Earth Advantage's Sustainability Training for Accredited Real Estate Professionals. (S.T.A.R.)
Sean Penrith, the Executive Director of Earth Advantage addressed the group of approximately 40 alumni with a talk about the future of sustainable building in the area.
Two notable projects that they are working on are the Energy Performance Score program and Earth Advantage's new Sustainable Homes Professional Training.
The Energy Performance Score (EPS) program is designed to test individual homes and assign … (1 comments)
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green living: Is the Economy Pushing People Towards a Greener Way of Life?
- 08/14/08 03:55 AM
The other day, I noticed that although gas prices are creeping up, my monthly gas bill has gone down. Why is that? The answer is simple; I haven't been driving nearly as much as I did just a few months ago. Not only is it better for my wallet but it is also better for the environment. (If I would start to ride my bicycle more often, it might even be better for my health)
This got me to thinking, as the American dollar loses a bit of its Green-ness, what kind of benefits might we see in the area of … (13 comments)
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green living: DISCOUNT COUPON & A quick note to the Attendees of the Clark County Parade of Homes
- 08/12/08 12:30 PM
Just two quick notes for folks who are planning on visiting the Clark County Parade of Homes.
1. Discount coupon for the Clark County Parade of Homes is available at the bottom of this post.
2. We will have the model at Ashley Manor open from 11:00 to 9:00 on each day that the Clark County Parade of Homes is open. Ashley Manor is an upscale neighborhood located adjacent to Ashley Heights, one of Vancouver Washington's premier neighborhoods.
We are just blocks from the Clark County Parade of Homes on the corner of NW McCann Road and NW 43rd Court. … (0 comments)
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green living: The 2008 Clark County Washington Parade of Homes is in Felida Washington
- 08/11/08 07:49 AM
The 2008 Parade of Homes is in Felida Washington
This is the 31st year of the Clark County Parade of Homes. The BIA and the 2008 Parade builders broke ground at the Moongate, a subdivision in Felida Washington back in February and having been working non- stop to provide us with, what looks like, the best parade ever!.
This year's Parade of Homes Committee Chair Morall Olson of M.J. Olson Enterprises in Kalama Washington is very excited about bringing this year's Parade of Homes to Felida:
"We're looking forward to all the new opportunities that being in a new area brings. … (1 comments)
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green living: Picking Marionberries in Vancouver Washington
- 08/11/08 06:40 AM
Picking Marionberries in Vancouver Washington
Here we go again, Mark goes off on a tangent that has nothing to do with real estate in Vancouver Washington. Or does it?*
The weather has been great here in Vancouver Washington. Blue skies. Warm temps. The only thing that could possibly make it better is that my kids have come up from California to visit me! Perfect timing for the weather as we are having a great Vancouver summer.
The trick for me when the kids are in town is keeping them entertained. At 7 and 11 years old, they can be quite a … (0 comments)
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green living: How GREEN are You?
- 08/09/08 06:50 AM
Earth Advantage categorizes green homeowners into four different levels, Conventionals, Drifters, Naturalites, and LOHAS (Lifestyle Of Health And Sustainability). Each is defined as follows:
Conventionals have some municipal environmental behaviors. These people do not make decisions based on green values. However the are practical and have civic awareness that sometimes lead to decisions that have a positive impact, such as energy conservation and recycling. They are the most cost sensitive. In terms of home products, they are more like to purchase energy efficient appliances provided they can be shown cost savings over time.
Drifters have good intentions. Drifers hold green values, … (2 comments)
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green living: For My Green Friends on ActiveRain!
- 08/04/08 05:11 PM
This isn't directly real estate related but I ran across a clever advertisement in TransWorld Surf magazine the other day and I thought I would share with you, my green friends. It goes like this:
FREE GAS FOR LIFE!With the absurd cost of gas these days, it seems like this summer, you might be stuck at home. ...LOST has stepped up so that you can come out to the U.S. Open of Surfing... We'll have our competing surfers giving out $100 gas cards and 10 lucky grand prize winners will receive FREE GAS FOR LIFE! (A Bicycle)
Too Funny! I am … (6 comments)
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green living: Green vs. Sustainable - What's the difference?
- 07/29/08 05:03 PM
As a real estate agent here in Vancouver , Washington, I often get this question:
What is the difference between Green Building and Sustainable Building?
Here is the answer as defined by Earth Advantage in Portland, Oregon:
Green usually refers to a product or practice that requires less resources and has fewer negative impacts on the environment than its conventional counterpart. Sustainable in its strictest sense is a higher standard than green and refers to a product or practice that is forever renewable and has no harmful impacts on the environment or the people that provide or manufacture it.
Photo: noticias-tic
… (3 comments)
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green living: Tips for "Green Curious" Clients - WE are the Teachers!
- 07/28/08 11:07 AM
As members of the real estate community, we find ourselves responsible for educating most of the population on Green building practices. The simple fact is that most people don't give a whole lot of thought to green or sustainable building until they start their search for a new home. There is a good chance they will be with a realtor when they start that search.
Here are a few tips that I have learned while working with clients who are curious about "that whole Green Building thing." Please note that in this post I am not addressing clients who may already … (5 comments)
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green living: ECO-Terrorism in Vancouver, Washington?
- 07/28/08 04:24 AM
ECO-Terrorism in Vancouver, Washington?I found this yesterday on the side of a new home being built here in Vancouver, Washington. While I applaud the message, I can't condone the method. Also, I can't help but wonder if the culprit used low VOC paint with a HVLP sprayer to minimize any unnecessary pollution during the caper! Before any of you start accusing Vancouver, Washington's first "Green Certified" real estate agent (me!), no, I didn't do it and you can't prove anything anyhow! Just kidding!
Stay GREEN!
… (9 comments)
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green living: Mark VS. The Deer - AKA The WAR of the Roses in Vancouver, Washington
- 07/27/08 12:01 PM
Mark VS. The Deer - AKA The WAR of the Roses in Vancouver, Washington
As a real estate agent here in Vancouver, Washington writing a Real Estate Blog, most people would expect me to blab on and on exclusively about real estate, real estate trends, and real estate related topics here in Vancouver, Washington. Of course, if you were to talk to my family and friends, they would be happy to tell you that I would never be able to stay focused that long and before too long I would wander off in search of shiny objects that have caught my … (7 comments)
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green living: What is a Green House?
- 07/18/08 03:15 PM
Being a real estate agent here in Vancouver, Washington, I have had an increasing number of clients ask me," exactly what is a green home.?" My definition (actually my 15 second elevator speech) is as follows:
A green home is a home that minimizes its use of outside energy, minimizes the pollution that it expels, while maximizing the comfort, health, safety, and wellbeing of its inhabitants. Ultimately it is better for you, better for the earth, and better for your wallet.
So that is the opinion of just one real estate agent (me!) who is interested in eco-friendly building and living. How do … (31 comments)
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green living: How is the Green Movement Affecting Real Estate in Vancouver, Washington?
- 07/17/08 09:44 AM
Sadly, I have to report that it is barely moving at all. I am one of only ten agents in all of Washington to be certified by Earth Advantage as a "Green Realtor." There are several hundred certified agents working in the Portland market. We are certainly being overshadowed by our Oregon cousins but all is not lost.
The Building Industry Association of Clark County has been embracing green building ideas for more than a year now. This year's Parade of Homes in Vancouver, Washington's Felida neighborhood will feature a special tent dedicated to green building techniques. While the homes that … (2 comments)
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green living: Green Living in Vancouver, Washington
- 07/06/08 09:11 AM
As one of only ten Earth Advantage certified real estate agents here in Clark County (actually there are only ten of us in the state of Washington) it is be safe to say that I have a passion for green building, green living, and ideas that foster a more ecologically responsible way of living. I have spent a great deal of time and money educating myself on what green living is and I have put a lot of effort into finding ways to can make it easier for average families to lead greener lives.
As I travel farther down the path … (1 comments)
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It seems that my recent conversations around green living and sustainable building have been dominated by discussions about tankless water heaters. I just mention high efficiency appliances and people start asking about the benefits of a tankless water heater. Did The New York Times write an article on them that I haven't heard about?
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