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NPR and Your Carbon Foot Print

I was on my way into work the other day and instead of listening to music I turned on NPR. There was a program on reducing your carbon footprint. A lady and her daughter moved from her house in the suburbs to a community in downtown Atlanta. In the process she had to downsize her belongings, reduced her commute time, her daughters time in day care and her utilities. It sounded great!! But.. as a Realtor I thought to myself, if she is currently renting her loft apartment ( loft apartment.. cool) what about the money she is throwing out the window by renting instead of owning. They were clear to say that she could not afford to buy in the city. With everything considered is she really saving money? Helping the enviroment yes.. but is she really saving money?

Posted by Debbie in Raleigh Your Real Estate Advantage on 04/03/2008 07:35 PM

Comments (4)

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4 Comments on NPR and Your Carbon Foot Print

APR

2008

You have to feel sorry for people like that. I am all for conservation and taking care of our resourses. However "global warming" and their half baked carbon footprint nonsense is just a political money making scam. You are right she is throwing money away.

I am frustrated by this lack of balnace and equity. I know that I, l;ike this woman, would love to live in downtown. Unfortunately, in my area, there is practically Nothing for sale there- it is almost all subsidized apartments. And when we finally do get some places that we can buy, it will be MUCH more expensive than a place further out. And this doesn't make sense to me.

When you live in a smaller property, without the land, and without as much privacy, I would expect to pay less, not more. I expect to spend the difference in the community: eating out more often, trips to drycleaners, paying a dogwalker, etc.

There is an imbalance. And I don't believe it is all because of supply/demand.

Joshua: I don't think global warming is a "political money making scam" as you put it. It is just the avenue chosen to wake up Americans to be more "Green." Could one honestly think we humans are making no impact on this planet? The green trend should be a way of life. I am only sorry that the "Global Warming" scare is what is has taken people to actually give their actions a second thought. Regardless if global warming is real or not...and I am not saying what is true either way...thank goodness for it because it is finally educating people about using less toxins, saving energy, saving our natural resources, and that reducing, reusing, and recycling should be a way of life FOR ALL. I think people who take no responsibilty are selfish or ignorant.

Debbie: What about the money she saves in gas and utilities, as well as the time she saves (cleaning a larger home, gardening, mowing the lawn, upkeep, etc). Agreed, I think it is almost always better to own, but sometime people are willing to give up this investment for a better quality of life and that is all in the eye of the beholder. It seems to me that saving the environment is more important to this woman than making money. Now if she could only find the balance:).

APR

2008

I believe that she was saving money and time. That is why is was particularly attractive to her. Obviously was a quality of life change for her. I agree I wish she had the opportunity to strike a balance by being able to own rather than renting.

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