LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1998. LEED ratings measure the overall performance of homes in the following eight areas:
1. Innovation and design process 2. location and linkages 3. Sustainable sites 4. water efficiency 5. Energy and atmosphere 6. Materials and resources 7. Indoor environmental quality 8. Awareness and education.
There are four levels of LEED ratings - certification, silver, gold, and platinum - awarded according to the number of points a home earns in each of the above eight categories.
Participation in the LEED for Homes program requires third-party inspection and verification through LEED for Home Providers and Green Raters. LEED for Home Providers are organizations selected by USGBC to provide certification services in local and regional markets, and Green Raters are individuals who work as part of the Home Providers team to perform field inspections and performance testing. The USGBC maintains an updated list of providers on its website.
New homes, renovated homes, and multi-family homes that meet LEED standards can be marketed and sold as LEED-approved, which can significantly increase their resale value.
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The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) launched the National Green Building Program in February 2008 - an education, verification and certification initiative for builders located anywhere in the United States. For a home to qualify, an independent home energy rater must verify that it adheres to the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard, which award point values across a range of categories, including lot and site development; resource, energy, and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and homeowner education.
The NAHB website features an interactive scoring tool that helps homebuilders and homeowners alike guage how a home will score according to the Guidelines and Standard. The scoring tool also provides continual feedback, helping those who use it to understand what steps they can take to make a home more green.
Both single- and multi-family homes, including renovations, are eligible for certification through the NAHB program. To locate an accredited National Green Building Program verifier, use the state-by-state listing on the NAHB website or call the National Green Building Hotline at (877) NAHB-GRN.
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Provided your home meets a minimum threshold for energy efficiency, you may be eligible for certification under a range of national and regional energy-efficiency certification programs. Even if you don't already meet required thresholds, a few inexpensive improvements may be all that stand in your way.
Certification through programs such as ENERGY STAR, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Building Program, LEED for Homes and others can show potential buyers that a home promises significant utility cost savings over homes without certification - a major selling point in today's economy. Certification also helps ensure that homebuyers and sellers alike are making greener choices that reduce overall environmental impact.
Read on to learn more about a range of energy-efficiency certification programs and how to participate.
ENERGY STAR
To qualify for certification under the ENERGY STAR program, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency as set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Homes must be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and typically include energy-saving features that make them as much as 20 to 30 percent more efficient than standard homes. Some of these features include effective insulation, high-performance windows, tight construction ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment and energy-efficient appliances.
According to ENERGY STAR, homes certified through its program use substantially less energy for heating, cooling and water heating, resulting in average savings of $200 to $400 annually. Additional savings on maintenance can also be significant, and ENERGY STAR homes are eligible for financing through energy-efficient mortgages.
The EPA reported in July 2009 that nearly 17 percent of new homes built in 2008 earned the ENERGY STAR label, up from 12 percent in 2007. According to the EPA, American families living in ENERGY STAR homes slashed more than $250 million in annual utility bills in 2008 alone, saving enough energy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 29 million cars
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.
When you're trying to sell a home, beautiful bathrooms can go a long way toward winning over buyers. In some cases - especially in older homes with bathrooms that have undergone little or no updating - a complete bathroom remodel is the way to go. If you have the money up front to put into such a project, it could offer a higher selling price in the end. But if you are working within a limited budget, there are still ways to give an affordable facelift to your home's bathroom without breaking the bank.
Follow these five easy steps to a more beautiful bathroom, and you may be surprised at how quickly you can transform a tired, overworked space into a spa-like retreat that will have you wanting to draw a relaxing bubble bath for yourself.
Fresh Paint
Nothing beats a fresh coat of paint for instantly updating a room and bathrooms are no exception. In fact, because they are usually smaller spaces with tiling and mirrors over some of their surfaces, bathrooms constitute one of the easiest paint jobs in a house, perfect for even the least experienced painter.
In terms of paint, select a durable semi-gloss, which will stand up well to moisture. In terms of color, draw inspiration from exclusive spas at chic hotels or the pages of magazines, like Better Homes and Gardens®. As you'll probably notice, cooler colors and lighter hues can help convey a sense of relaxation and calm while also adding the illusion of spaciousness to smaller rooms. If you are unsure of a color choice, purchase the smallest quantity available and try painting a small area on one wall to get a feel for it before you commit to the entire room.
Tub or Shower Resurfacing
Bathtubs and showers get a lot of use, so it's no surprise that they can show a lot of wear. Whether yours is an antique porcelain claw-foot or a five-year-old fiberglass whirlpool, you could be plagued with knicks, cracks, chips and other damage - or just stuck with an outdated color or drab, dull finish. If pulling out the whole thing and replacing it is not an option, consider the more affordable alternatives of tub refinishing or relining.
Fixture Updates
What better way to add a little sparkle to your bathroom than through shiny, new fixtures? You can select fixtures yourself at a home repair store, choosing from a wide range of styles from classic to modern. Replacing a sink faucet makes a good DIY project. Just remember to turn off the water supply at the valves beneath the sink or at the main water-supply valve. Then follow the directions provided with the new fixture to remove the existing fixture and pop-up drain, secure the new faucet, attach the drain housing and flange, install the new pop-up drain, and clean the supply tubes and test for leaks.
New shower fixtures - especially ones with luxury features such as a large-diameter full-flow rain shower, multiple showerheads, or adjustable-flow, multi-speed massage options - are another way to add a degree of pampering while staying within your budget.
Lastly, consider replacing your straightforward, utilitarian shower rod with an updated sweeping curved one. Available for just $35 to $50, they replicate the look of a fine hotel while adding as much as half a foot of extra elbow room in the shower.
Organization
Organization is key in most rooms and the bathroom is no exception. Take the time to neatly fold or roll towels - clean, fresh ones that match the colors of the room - and create an attractive display in shelves adjacent to the shower or tub. Remove any personal toiletries from site, keeping counters and surfaces clean and uncluttered. And bring order to the insides of cabinets and cupboards, since prospective buyers may open them up to assess storage space. Finally, stow any bathroom cleaning products in a closet or separate utility room.
Final Touches
Here's your opportunity to complete the spa theme. Replace worn bathmats and shower curtains with fresh ones in soothing colors to match the rest of the room. Add accent color with coordinating accessories such as a soap dispenser, tissue box, water glass, and hand towels. Arrange a few current magazines artfully in a rack or basket. Finally, strategically place a few elegant candles or a simple vase filled with cut flowers on the back of the toilet for a final splash of color and pleasing aroma.
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.
Choosing quality carpet for an existing or new home is challenging due to the wide variety of carpeting choices available today.
You want the most value for your money, so how do you choose which carpet will wear the best for your home and lifestyle?
High or low traffic?
The key to carpet durability comes from selecting the right style and fiber, suggests the Carpet and Rug Institute, http://www.carpet-rug.org.
Buyers can choose carpets appropriate for particular rooms, based on whether the room is formal or casual, and how much traffic it will endure. This will tell you whether you want a smooth or textured pile.
Pile is comprised of the fibers. A thick pile is more durable, and provides more cushion under the feet. Thicker pile is also more costly, as there are more fibers per inch to create a denser product.
Types of carpet
There are several types of carpet available, including:
Textured - carpet in which the fibers are cut at various lengths. Textured carpets bear high traffic areas well. Textured carpets include Frieze (knobby appearance), l Looped (Berber), Cable (dense, soft, looped) and Cut and Loop (varied textures.)
The trendy Cut and Loop can be put in any room. The variation of surface textures in a cut and loop style creates a variety of pattern effects and design options in contemporary, casual, and traditional decors.
Saxony or Plush - dense, plush carpet with an even pile height, Saxony carpet is ideal for formal living and dining areas and master bedrooms.
Fiber quality
The next key to carpet selection is fiber. Quality can be enhanced by the twist and heat set of the fibers, as well as the density of the tufts.
Generally, "the shorter, the tighter the twist, the denser, the better the carpet", goes an old saying in the carpet business, as quoted by Carpet Guru, http://www.carpetguru.com.
Synthetic fibers make up over 90% of today's carpets, according to the World Floor Covering Association, http://www.wfca.org.
Nylon is the leader for appearance, fade and heat resistance and soil and stain resistance, with the most variety in color and styling options. Other synthetic options include those made of olefin or polypropylene (most often used in loop pile construction), and polyester (luxurious, soft texture).
The most expensive fiber is wool. Also soft and high in density, the WFCA states that wool cleans well, but doesn't stand up to abrasion and moisture as well as synthetics.
Which carpet is better?
Major carpet manufacturers such as Mohawk, Karastan, and Shaw take the guesswork out of carpet comparisons by offering performance ratings on their products.
Once you've determined the purpose, traffic patterns and performance expectations of the carpet, your selection can easily be narrowed by consulting the rating found on the manufacturing label. A lower rating, however, may not mean a lesser quality carpet, but one that is not expected to compete with the top end carpet sold by the brand.
Manufacturers today also have carpet pad guidelines, advises the Carpet Guru, and if not followed, will void the carpet warranty. Again, consult the manufacturer's label on guidelines.
Shop for value
Before you buy, make sure you are paying for density. Dig your fingers into the pile. If they reach the backing quickly, the carpet isn't packed densely enough with fibers.
Look for tight tuft twists. Lower-priced carpets will have loose tuft twists in the fibers.
Comparison shop for the best price. One store may charge much more for the same carpet, more for the pad, or more for the installation.
Buying better quality pays in the long run. A good carpet can last you 10 to 20 years, while a cheap carpet can wear out quickly.
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.
Anthony Stokes Pereira, Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty is pleased to present this compilation of autumn events, including Harvest celebrations, farm stand listings, and foliage tours. We Hope that you enjoy the festivities and foliage of the lovely Hudson Valley!
Please call and verify dates/times of events.
ORANGE, NY COUNTY COMMUNITY EVENTS
Monroe, November 15, 12:30 PM, November 16, 3:30 PM - 20th Century Thanksgiving. See and taste a traditional dinner prepared over an open hearth. Crafts and activities for children. Museum Village. (845) 782-8247. www.museumvillage.org
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.
Anthony Stokes Pereira, Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty is pleased to present this compilation of autumn events, including Harvest celebrations, farm stand listings, and foliage tours. We Hope that you enjoy the festivities and foliage of the lovely Hudson Valley!
Please call and verify dates/times of events.
ROCKLAND COUNTY COMMUNITY EVENTS
On-going - Nyack, thru November 25, 8:30-2 PM, Thursdays - Nyack's Farmers' Market will be back for its 8th big season at Main & Ceder Streets. Locally grown fruits, veggies, flowers, herbs, specialty food items plus special events & more. (845) 353-2221.
On-going - Piermont, thru December 16, 11-3 PM, Sundays -Village of Piermont Farmer's Market. Shop for farm fresh foods, grown and produced locally in the Hudson River Valley; rain or shine; free. Fruits and vegetables, wines, fresh cut flowers, breads and pastries and salsas. M&T Bank lot, Ash Street and Piermont Avenue, Piermont. (914) 923-4837. www.rockland.org
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.
Anthony Stokes Pereira, Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty is pleased to present this compilation of autumn events, including Harvest celebrations, farm stand listings, and foliage tours. We Hope that you enjoy the festivities and foliage of the lovely Hudson Valley!
Please call and verify dates/times of events.
WESTCHESTER-PUTNAM-DUTCHESS COUNTIES COMMUNITY EVENTS
Cross River, November 14, 2 PM - Leatherman's Cave Hike. On this organized hike to Leatherman's Cave, learn the history and lore of our local hermit, the Leatherman, and the history of his time. The 2.5-mile hike is led by renowned storyteller Jonathan Kruk. Meet at the Michigan Road parking area. Parking $4 with Westchester County Park Pass; $8 without Park Pass. Tour is free. (914) 864-7322. www.trailsidemuseum.org
On-going - Rhinebeck, thru November 22, 10-2 PM - Farmers' Market - Every Sunday - The Hudson Valley's premier farmers' market featuring the freshest and best locally grown produce, as well as meats, cheeses, bread, wine, flowers, honey and more! Special events, free tastings&free live music, all season long. Municipal Parking Lot on East Market St. www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com
On-going - Yorktown Heights, thru November, 10 AM-4:30 PM - Farmstand. Pick your own apples and pumpkins at Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm. Visit the farm market every weekend for jams, jellies, honey, pies, donuts, and cider. (914) 245-5111. www.wilkensfarm.com
On-going - Ossining, thru December 15, 8:30-2 PM - Visit the Ossining Farmers' Market located at the corner of Main and Spring St. rain or shine every Saturday. Featuring locally grown produce, fruit, organic produce as well as farm raised poultry, meats, grass fed beef and more! (914) 941-3189. www.ossining.com
On-going - Millbrook, Thru December 27, 3 PM - The Hudson Valley -VS- France Wine Tasting Competition. Join us at Oak Summit Vineyard and enjoy a local version of the historic 1976 event! You will be blind tasting and judging 3 Gold Medal Hudson River wines, against 3 Gold Medal French wines of the same varieties. Every Second Sunday of every month by appointment only. Fee: $65. www.oaksummitvineyard.com
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.
We cannot sing the praises of shelving and hooks loudly enough when it comes to organizing a mudroom. Especially in smaller entryways, they allow you to take full advantage of the area's only actual real estate - the walls. Inexpensive and easy to install, simple hooks and shelves can become valuable storage devices for everything from snow boots and goulashes to umbrellas and baseball caps.
If your space is not very wide, install a few shelves up high where they won't impede passage but can still be a great spot to stash items like boots or sporting equipment that can be tall and/or unwieldy. If space is not an issue, shelves lower down the wall can be great, too, lined with baskets or bins.
Hooks - installed on the underside of shelves, directly into the walls, or into a long painted or stained board that then gets attached to the wall (reducing the overall number of holes you create in the wall itself) - are perfect for baseball caps, backpacks, purses, umbrellas, and shopping totes.
Seasonal Swap Out
If space is an issue, another way to make your mudroom more functional is by swapping out things seasonally so only the items you need right now are at your fingertips. If you have a back closet in addition to a front entryway, perhaps use the back closet as longer-term storage, where ski jackets and boots can live in the summer and flip flops and beach bags can reside during winter months. If just a single space is all you have, again think vertically. High shelves can hold out-of-season items so that lower wall space is freed up for what you need now.
A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
Bins and baskets are a mudroom's best friends. Grouped, organized, and labeled by content (mittens, scarves, hats, etc.) or by family member, they provide a place for everything and make it that much more likely things actually get put where they belong.
Keys and mail also often play a part in mudroom messiness. Designating a hook or basket for keys - and getting into the habit of dropping them there as soon as you come into the house - can be an easy way to cut down on last-minute frantic searches. A shelf for mail - with a tray divided into slots for each family member - can also keep important missives from getting lost or misplaced.
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.
Is your home's mudroom or entryway a cluttered mess of coats and boots that makes it hard to see the floor? Don't sweat it. You are not alone. By bringing organization to this space in a house, you can provide a much warmer welcome to visitors, cut down on time wasted looking for that umbrella or gym bag, and make the space you have - however limited - at least twice as useful. Best of all, it can all be done on the cheap.
Far too often, too little attention has been paid to the area between the door to your house and the true entrance to your home. In some cases, this space is nothing more than a narrow entryway you pass through between the front door and the foyer or living room. In other homes, the mudroom can actually be a full-sized room - perhaps between the garage and kitchen - but even in these cases it's often still just a jumble of cluttered items dumped on the way in or out.
Whether yours is large or small, in the front of the house or the back, a mudroom makeover can transform wasted space into usable storage that will almost always bring greater efficiency to the household while turning an unsightly mess into a welcoming first impression for those who visit
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.
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.
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