Remodeling Projects Go Green
The American Society of Interior Designers Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council launched the nation’s first green residential remodeling guidelines.

The REGREEN Guidelines provide resources and tools to make home remodeling projects more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The guidelines are organized into the 10 most common remodeling projects.“Consumers overwhelmingly want greener homes, and the REGREEN Guidelines will help by showing them how,” Michelle Moore, senior vice president of the U.S. Green Building Council, said in a public statement. “The REGREEN Guidelines empower people with practical information about how to green projects ranging from kitchen and bath renovations to deep energy upgrades.”

The REGREEN guidelines include the major elements of any green renovation project, such as the site of the home, water efficiency, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

“You can start greening your home without spending a lot of money just by getting informed,” Moore said. “Weatherization projects can save energy and lower your utility bills, which also reduce your Carbon footprint. Similarly, choosing low-VOC paints, flooring, and adhesives eliminates bad-smelling toxins and creates a healthier home.”

To access the guidelines visit www.regreenprogram.org or www.thegreenhomeguide.org.

— REALTOR magazine online and American Society of Interior Designers

King County, Seattle Announce Second Round of Built Green® Incentive Opening Nov. 19!
The King County/Seattle Built Green® Incentive provides grant funding for single-family residential, town-home and community development projects to help offset the cost of certifying and designing innovative projects that achieve a four- or five-start Built Green certification, and meet key water conservation, stormwater management, and recycling goals. Eligible projects may receive between $2,500 and $15,000 depending on the project type and level of green design and building elements employed.

As local governments draw the connection between water conservation and quality, stormwater runoff, and residential development, incentives for the development industry to reduce its impact on the environment and conserve valuable natural resources have become increasingly important. The grants, which will be competitively awarded, are funded through the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, and Seattle Public Utilities.

Built Green is a residential building program that provides a rating system for single and multifamily housing projects, remodels and community developments. The program certifies projects at the 1- through 5- star level based on the number of points a project earns in categories that highlight energy and water conservation, healthy materials, and minimized impacts to the property. Seattle and King County, helped develop the program in partnership with the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, and value Built Green as an industry benchmark for green residential development.

The King County/Seattle Built Green Incentive was established to encourage developers, builders, and residents building new homes to use green building standards while attempting to address barriers such as higher upfront costs for projects. Grant award projects will serve as demonstrations of high performance, replicable, green housing for the region, and highlight builders and developers who are making outstanding contributions to local communities, our economy, and the environment.

Built Green Incentive applications are due Friday, Dec. 21, 2007. Applications and guidelines will be available online on Nov. 19.

Living in the city yields access to an array of business, theaters, galleries, restaurants, condos, clubs, and boutiques and basically any and everything a modern dweller would need or want. Yet, if you live in a condo or apartment and like to garden, you may be missing one thing…an actual piece of land to garden. Sure, there are planter boxes on rooftops, pots on decks and in your condo or apartment, but digging in the actual earth rules. Gardening outdoors and around other gardens and gardeners is where it’s at. A mere replica of an actual plot of land, well, it just isn’t really a garden. Not saying it can’t be splendid, well designed and groomed, of course, they can be fantastic. I’ve seen many lovely terraces and decks, but they simply aren’t the same as a garden of the earth.

Seattle inner city has 70 Pea Patch Gardens. I have some listed at the bottom of this post. In fact, there are plots available now. Even if you are relocating to Seattle, you can sign up. Most P-Patches have waiting lists, so you may want to get on it! The magnificent thing about these urban gardens is that the environment benefits, not only by nurturing the air, but it also aesthetically enhance our communities within the city. In my garden at the Cascade Pea Patch, locals and visitors from all over walk through the garden to breath in and view the beauty of our garden. There is a cancer clinic down the street. Patients from the clinic take walks through the garden while they are enduring cancer treatment. While I’ve gardened, many of the patients have stopped by to talk to me. They are always smiling and even though I know they are in pain and discomfort, I know something as small as a walk through the garden lightens their spirits, if only a little bit. The kids from the “Seattle Times preschool” down the street have produced a lovely garden there among the plethora of other plots. The kids (mostly the one adorable teacher named Brian) have created a gorgeous, plentiful and artistic plot interlaced with woven sticks, ceramics and hand-made glass pieces. The kids and teachers often take walks through the gardens and seem to love it. I’ve gotten questions like, “what are you doing?” I’ve said, “Weeding”. They’ve said, “Why?” and I’ve replied in many supposed adult-like ways. I said, “I’m cleaning the garden.” “Because I need to make room to grow vegetables.”, “because the weeds take away the nutrients for the plants I DO want.” Most of the time, they reply with the same question – “Why?”

Gardening is therapeutic. When gardening, digging, pruning, plucking, weeding, picking, sowing and even dropping piles of compost and manure around, one can become entranced  to a higher level of consciousness. I call it Garden Zone Out. Both mental and physical health practitioners recommend it as “therapy”. In this Information-tech Age and mass media mania, we forget how connected we are with the earth. We forget the origins of our food sources. When we eat a delicious baguette from Macrina Bakery or devouring delicacies at Dahlia Lounge, Campagne or Ray’s Boathouse or any of the fine restaurants here in Seattle – do you think about from where your food originated? Even buying at the grocery store, we forget or we don’t always consider. Knowing that the Swiss Chard on your plate came from a seed that you’ve sewn, nurtured, and harvested is beyond satisfying. It’s comforting. The entire process is strangely therapeutic. It’s an accomplishment of the simplest form. Gardening in a community is an act that you can do that is “just yours” or you may garden with your mate and family. We give extra produce to shelters and churches and fellow gardeners unite with pleasure! Who needs spending mass amounts on therapy – GARDEN NOW! In Seattle, we also have winter gardens, because of our awesome Pacific Maritime weather. Rarely does it get too hot and only freezes maybe a couple days of the year! September and most of October in Seattle are soooo gorgeous. It was nearly 80 degrees today and now I’m leaving the office to go pick red raspberries from my garden. Please read on for more information on The P-Path community gardening program…..

 Kathryn Lewis, Realtor/Coldwell Banker Bain, Seattle

P-PATCH COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM
The Department of Neighborhoods’ P-Patch Program, in conjunction with the not-for-profit P-Patch Trust, provides organic community garden space for residents of 70 Seattle neighborhoods. The community based program areas of the P-Patch Program are community gardening, market gardening, youth gardening, and food policy in the City of Seattle. These programs serve all citizens of Seattle with an emphasis on low-income and immigrant populations and youth. Our community gardens offer 2500 plots serve more than 6000 urban gardeners on 23 acres of land.
P-Patch community gardeners show their concern for the value of fresh organic vegetables by supplying 7 to 10 tons of produce to Seattle food banks each year. Supporting a strong environmental ethic, the P-Patch Program allows organic gardening only and since community members maintain all our gardens, we have an 8 hour annual volunteer requirement in our allotment gardens. Due to high demand, only one plot per household is available at most sites.
HOW DO P-PATCHES WORK?
Gardeners are collectively responsible for all the basic work to keep the P-Patch looking nice. Gardeners like you volunteer to team up and coordinate the tasks and activities that keep your garden running smoothly. This leadership group organizes work parties, watches over the site and coordinates with Program staff and P-Patch Trust. Please identify which activities interest you from the Preference List following the application. Please be aware it’s your responsibility to get involved, don’t wait for someone to call.
WHAT CAN I GROW?
Any vegetables, small fruits, flowers or herbs you choose. Organic gardening only. Produce may be shared with friends or donated to food banks but may not be sold.
WHAT SIZE ARE THE PLOTS, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
PROGRAM PLOT FEES
$23 application fee
$11 for each 100sf gardened
Please refer to the examples below:
10 x 10 (100 square feet) – $34 annual fee
10 x 20 (200 square feet) – $45 annual fee
10 x 40 (400 square feet) – $67 annual fee
Plot fee assistance is available if you qualify; please call.
WHAT ELSE DO I RECEIVE?
· Annual spring meeting at your P-Patch
· Festive events: Harvest Banquet.
· Organic fertilizer, water, use of hoses, tools at most sites.
· Organic gardening educational opportunities (to be announced).
· Quarterly newsletter, the P-Patch Post, published by the P-Patch Trust.
· P-Patch Listserve: a moderated tool for gardeners and staff to share ideas, horticulture information, and events. New gardeners will be automatically added to the listserve and can expect zero to five e-mails a day. You may opt out by checking the “Do not add” box on the application page.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?
· You must contribute a minimum 8 hours of time to the common areas of the garden
· You must give four of those hours at your P-Patch site.
· You must care for your plot (keep it weeded, watered and harvested!) and paths on a year-round basis
· You must provide soil improvements, seeds, tools (some tools available for loan) and labor.
· Keep in mind, as a gardener, you reflect the P-Patch program to the surrounding neighbors – please be nice.

HOW LONG IS THE GARDEN SEASON?
If you have a year-round garden (most plots are year-round), you should begin gardening as soon as the soil is workable orupon plot assignment. Then you must maintain your plot all year (plant, weed, water, harvest, and winterize!).
Fall and Winter Gardening options: Please remove all non-organic material (tomato cages, trellises, etc.) and choose one or a combination of these options to help with weed suppression and protect your soil from the winter rains. Tending the soil in the cool season pays you back in the warm!
Option #1: Grow winter crops such as garlic, onions, kale, etc.
Option #2: Plant cover crops: Cover crops are also called green manure because in the spring you dig them into your soil and they feed nitrogen and provide organic material as they decompose.
Option #3: Mulch /Sheet Compost to protect and build bare soil.

If you have a short season plot at Picardo, you may begin gardening in early April and must finish by the third weekend in October. Short season plots are rototilled in the spring and the fall.
HOW ARE PLOTS ASSIGNED?
Last year’s participants have priority to renew their plots. New participants are assigned by waiting list rank. You may place your name on a waiting list for a more preferred site while still at your current site. Confirmation letters are mailed throughout the Spring.
P-Patch Community Garden Wait List
WHAT IS THE P-PATCH TRUST?
P-Patch Trust, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, partners with the P-Patch Program to nurture a strong community gardening organization for Seattle. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the P-Patch Trust and please join. Click Here to visit the P-Patch Trust web site.
WHAT IS FOOD BANK GARDENING?
Most P-Patches have a food bank or “giving garden” program to provide fresh produce for those in need. In all P-Patches, individual gardeners can grow food in their own plots to donate to local food banks. Please think about planting an extra row to donate. Many P-Patches also have plots designated as “food bank plots” that are communally or individually gardened specifically to grow food for donation. Lettuce Link coordinates with food bank gardening leaders at each garden and will connect you to your nearest food bank. To get involved in food bank gardening, please call Michele Bates Benetua at 206-694-6754, or email michelleb@fremontpublic.org or talk to the food bank coordinator at your garden.
Article source:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/gardening.htm

Grab the ‘green’ real-estate boom By Fast Company  If the workplace is any indication, you could almost believe corporate America really cares about the environment. Goldman Sachs (GS, news, msgs), Hearst, IBM Corp. (IBM, news, msgs), JPMorgan Chase (JPM, news, msgs) and Toyota Motor (TM, news, msgs) all have made the move into “green” buildings. Bank of America (BAC, news, msgs) plans to build a 52-story eco-skyscraper near New York’s Times Square, and Accenture (ACN, news, msgs) has leased green office space throughout the country.  Sustainable construction is one of the fastest-growing segments of the already-red-hot commercial-building industry. An estimated 5% of all new U.S. commercial construction received the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification last year. And by 2010, 10% of all new commercial construction will be sustainable, according to McGraw-Hill’s (MHP, news, msgs) 2006 Smart Market report. (The green trend in home construction is still in its infancy, although that’s bound to change.)Existing construction is getting an eco-lift too. Developers such as Hines and the Durst Organization, and some real-estate investment trusts (REITs), are snapping up half-empty office buildings and renovating them according to green standards. That can often bring 3% higher rents and a 7.5% increase in a building’s value, according to the McGraw-Hill report. On average, green buildings save 10% of utility costs each year — and sometimes much more. Genzyme’s (GENZ, news, msgs) corporate headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., spends 42% less on energy and uses 34% less water than a similar traditional building would. Even more important, as sustainable materials and technology improve, green construction will become more cost-effective, says Charles Lockwood, an environmental and real-estate consultant in Southern California and New York. 

]]> http://thinkhomesseattle.wordpress.com/2007/06/25/35/feed/ 0 hothomes http://thinkhomesseattle.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/pea-patch-info-in-south-lake-union-neighborhood-seattle/ http://thinkhomesseattle.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/pea-patch-info-in-south-lake-union-neighborhood-seattle/#comments Thu, 24 May 2007 00:11:13 +0000 Kathryn Lewis http://thinkhomesseattle.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/pea-patch-info-in-south-lake-union-neighborhood-seattle/ ]]> I love my Pea Patch in South Lake Union. My neighborhood was originally called The Cascade District until Mr Allen changed it’s name with the press. Technically, it still is the Cascade District. I’ve lived here 4 years, before the “upgrading” of the hood. Now, there is a giant building of apartments, shops, architectural firm…across the street. I endured a lot of LOUD noise and shakes for 1.75 years and now they want to build next to me. Still, the Hood has character and it’s a little cleaner and less industrial looking now. Still, lost some old school appeal of living on “the fringe” of Seattle City.  My Pea Patch garden is like therapy for me and the Cascade Community Center holds my yoga classes, among child care and a plethora of events. Starbucks and REI volunteered to spruce up the Center grounds and it looks pretty good! They layed down a bunch of wood chips so it doesn’t have the rangey wild look. Local perennial flowers were removed. It’s neat and clean like the companies who volunteered. I prefer a more natural looking garden but still…they did their best. Here’s some info on our Pea Patch Trust in Seattle. Contact me if you are moving here or live here and want to join and get a garden.Building Gardens…

P-Patch Trust is a nonprofit organization working to acquire, build, preserve and protect community gardens in Seattle’s neighborhoods. Through advocacy, leadership and partnerships, the Trust expands access to community gardening across economic, racial, ethnic, ability and gender lines. We promote organic gardening and build community by breaking urban isolation by providing opportunities to for people to garden together, learn from each other, develop a sense of neighborhood and create a more livable urban environment.

The Trust owns various properties that serve as community gardens. These gardens are managed with the help of the City of Seattle’s P-Patch Program and enable the Trust to:

• Provide education on urban ecology and biodiversity through organic gardening and sustainable development.

• Promote healthy organic gardening and urban ecology practices.

Photo By Ray Schutte

Growing Communities…

P-Patch Trust seeks to break urban isolation by providing opportunities for people to garden together, learn from each other, develop a sense of neighborhood and create a more livable urban environment. The P-Patch Trust grows communities by:

• Providing community gardens with small development grants, plot rental fees for low-income gardeners and tools for all at the garden to use.

• Creating greater public awareness of food security.

• Supporting community supported agriculture (CSA) programs in public housing communities in partnership with the City of Seattle and the Seattle Housing Authority.

• Helping to distribute tons of fresh produce from the more than 60 community gardens to area food banks each year.

Gardening is fun and a great way to get dirty!!!

source: Mary Trupo         http://www.realtor.org

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2007 - 

The National Association of Realtors®, at two congressional hearings today, called upon the Senate to enact a comprehensive natural disaster plan that addresses insurance availability and affordability in both property and casualty insurance markets, acknowledges the importance and limitations of the private markets, and recognizes the respective responsibilities of property owners and all levels of government.

The plan should recognize that property owners, private insurance markets and all levels of government must work together to successfully address the problem of available and affordable property insurance, especially in disaster prone areas, NAR said.

In testimony submitted to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, as well as the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, NAR pledged to work with Congress to craft a national natural disaster plan that would include accessible and affordable insurance, improved preparedness and thorough planning for recovery efforts. NAR noted the importance of insurance to finance real estate purchases.

“NAR is a leading advocate for homeownership and has been an active proponent for the creation of comprehensive federal natural disaster legislation. If insurance is unaffordable or unavailable, there will be a serious threat to residential real estate, affecting consumers’ ability to purchase single family homes, condos and co-operatives, as well as opportunities to invest in rental property and commercial real estate,” said NAR President Pat Vredevoogd Combs, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and vice president of Coldwell Banker-AJS Schmidt.

NAR noted that a strong real estate market is the linchpin of a healthy economy, generating jobs, wages, tax revenue and a demand for goods and services. To maintain a strong economy, the vitality of residential and commercial real estate must be safeguarded.

NAR presented a statement of principles in support of the creation of a federal policy that addresses catastrophic natural disasters. Those principles must be included in a comprehensive approach to natural disaster preparedness that encourages personal responsibility, promotes mitigation measures, ensures insurance availability and strengthens critical infrastructure, NAR said.

Last month, NAR both testified and submitted statements for the record at two House hearings on natural disaster insurance. In addition, this past September the trade group hosted a Federal Natural Disaster Policy Symposium, where attendees from across the country reiterated that natural disasters are a national problem and that state resources are not sufficient to deal with such “mega-catastrophes.”

Review Banking committee testimony and the Commerce committee testimony

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Not to scare any of you couples buying a house together, but it is something to think about. People change. Things change. This is something to consider when buying.  There is always a resolution and when buying a home, if done wisely and while having good advocacy from a professional, you can prepare for possiblilities of the future. It’s always an investment. Period.

A house divided can sell
Realtors, lawyers offer tips on how to deal with a divorce.
By Michele Chan Santos
SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Sunday, February 04, 2007Couples buying a house together are often in the throes of marital bliss. “Oh, darling, it will be our home forever and ever . . . and the nursery can go here!”

http://www.think-homes-seattle.com   kathrynlewis@cbba.com

Daily Real Estate News  |   February 14, 2007Investors Offer Money For Green Boomer Homes
Investors Steve Case, best known as a founder and former CEO of AOL.com, and Donn Davis, former CEO of Exclusive Resorts, are looking for a developer with a design for a baby boomer community of affordable new homes, packed with luxury amenities and based on green values.

The plan would cater to retiring boomers who believe in sustainable living and “wellness” lifestyles, but who don’t have a huge nest egg to spend. Case and Davis are willing to pay $5 million to the team that can pull the plan together.

They’re looking for a small team to identify developable land, map out home architecture and design and assemble the right mix of services. “It’s about lots of services, lots of amenities, lots of convenience,” Davis says. He’d also like to see potential buyers have lots of ownership options.

 ENERGY STAR Qualified

  Homes

• ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes
• ENERGY STAR Events

THIS ARTICLE IS COURTESY OF PUGET SOUND ENERGY AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ANY BUYERS TO READ THIS…NOW:)

CHOOSE an ENERGY STAR^® Qualified Home

Enjoy the benefits for a lifetime.

Searching for the right house can be overwhelming. There are so many decisions in front of you. And with the cost of owning any home on the rise, it makes sense to think about how energy efficient your new home will be. Because saving on your energy costs can help you put more dollars into the things you like to do.

One of the best things about selecting an ENERGY STAR qualified home is that all the decisions about getting energy efficient performance from your new home has already been done for you by your homebuilder. ENERGY STAR qualified builders carefully consider the interaction of all systems in the home, including heating and cooling, windows, doors, insulation, appliances, and lighting to construct a home that will save energy and money.

What’s more, you get the added confidence that an independent third party has verified that the home will be the most energy-efficient one you can buy in the Puget Sound region.

Bottom Line? An ENERGY STAR qualified home:

• Uses less energy than a conventional home, so you pay less on energy bills each month. These savings come from a variety of energy saving features including increased insulation, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, well-sealed duct systems, and ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, lighting, and windows.

• Is more comfortable because it is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer as a result of increased insulation and tightly sealed ducts.

• Is performance tested to give you peace of mind in knowing that your home will operate at optimal levels for greater durability and lower maintenance. Each home must pass a stringent evaluation by a certified technician. In addition, an independent third-party verifies that the required equipment and building specifications for the ENERGY STAR Homes Northwest certification requirements are met. Only then, does it receive the ENERGY STAR – your assurance of energy efficiency.

Ask your builder for an ENERGY STAR qualified home, and earn at least 15% more efficiency from your energy use. For a complete list of homebuilders offering ENERGY STAR homes, visit www.NorthwestENERGYSTAR.com or call toll-free 1-888-373-2283.

 Cascade People’s Center Eco Renovation Project

The Cascade People’s Center Eco Renovation will transform the 4,000 sq ft. People’s Center, in Cascade Park, into a permanent, learning/gathering center that showcases environmentally responsible design choices. Improvements include exciting hands-on demonstration projects like: Capturing sunlight for electricity and heat

Photo Courtesy of Environmental Works

	Harvesting and using rainwater
	Greening the roof to improve air quality
	Treating water on site with plants and organisms

In Fall 2002, the Cascade Neighborhood Council submitted an application to the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhood (DON) matching fund to complete construction documents and capital fundraising.
 
If you are interested in more information, want to participate in the community design review process or assist with fundraising, contact Patty Borman at (206) 760-2848 or Robin Russell at (206) 58-0320. 

Courtesy of SLUFAN — http://www.slufan.org