Buying Green

You've decided to live a more sustainable life.  You know this means you must create a home that allows you to minimize your carbon footprint, reduce your energy usage and increase air quality - not really news to anyone who has heard of Al Gore.  You have the list of updates your house needs, you call Thinking Boise for phone numbers to green contractors, and then you relax, knowing your home will soon match your philosophy. If you're looking to buy green, though, you'll need to look for certain things, because you won't already know the history of the houses you're viewing. When buying green: size matters - That's easy and obvious, right?  A smaller house needs less energy to heat and cool. the windows are important - Look for insulated, double-hung and well-sealed.  Which direction do they face?  Are there shade trees or awnings to keep the heat (or cold) where it should be? indoor air quality is important - Is the home well-insulated?  Was it constructed with non-toxic materials?  What kind of heating/cooling system is in place? Ask for receipts or other proof of work done. look at the appliances - If they're staying, are they energy-efficient? look at the utilities - How efficient is the plumbing?  Is there irrigation for that organic garden you're planning?  Is it off the grid? look at the roof - What color is it?  Lighter means the air conditioner won't work as hard in the summer. look at the neighborhood's walkability - Check www.walkscore.com to find out how the area rates.  Is it close to public transportation?  stores?  schools? entertainment? your work? check out the landscaping - Is it xeriscaped?  How much watering would be necessary for the grass? look for a LEED certification - Check for some kind of assurance that the house is certified green.  The U.S. Green Building Council and the EPA also have a rating system. the right Realtor can make a huge difference - call Janet Parsons for more information @ (208) 371-3728.

Selling Green

As many of you know, I have my GREEN Designation through the National Association of Realtors. This means I've had formal training into what it means to truly have a sustainable home. Because of the rampant greenwashing going on, people are becoming wary of "green marketing". The best way to get past that wariness is to emphasize the true benefits of your eco-home and I can help you do that.

If you're selling after investing a lot into a remodel that has created a more eco-friendly house, you need a Realtor who can showcase it. A potential buyer needs to know, from a reputable source, that the investment he is about to make will pay off.

Money-minded buyers will need more than a few buzzwords, they will want receipts and home energy ratings and proof of the value you are trying to sell them. I can put together a professional packet for potential buyers that will include this information and more.

In November, HomeGain.com surveyed licensed Realtors and compiled a list of the top nine improvements, including the return on investment and the amount the house price increased after the additional work:

These are simple changes that can increase the value of your house to potential buyers. If you are unsure where to start, I have a resource list of trusted contractors. All you need to do is call me. Together we can decide what will be worth spending money on (or if you even need any improvements) and create a marketing plan that will best fit your property.

If you ever have questions - green or not - I am always here to help.

GiGi's Little House 4 - the Table

My husband and I are disagreeing on tables lately. We have a table we shortened (by taking out the leaf) and made square, so that we can put one side against the wall and have room for the three of us to eat.

This is okay FOR NOW.

I think a round table would be nice, specifically one with a pedestal bottom, so many people can be seated. He is not sold on this (yet).

As it is, we don't have a lot of room for entertaining, so we don't. Our friends probably think we're the rudest people, but no one's called us on it (yet).

He's thrown ideas at me that involve creating a drop down table (not bad, but it is a rental...) or a corner counter-type thing. I'm just not sold (yet).

Top 5 GREEN Home Improvements

The Top 5 GREEN Home Improvements that REALTORS Recommend to Home Sellers are:

1. Plant native trees and plants ($141 average cost / $399 average price increase / 284% average ROI / 65% of agents recommended)


2. Replace air filters ($141 cost / $399 price increase / 284% ROI / 65% recommended)


3. GREEN home staging ($223 cost / $445 price increase / 199% ROI / 47% recommended)


4. Weather strip and caulk doors and windows ($169 cost / $313 price increase / 185% ROI / 68% recommended)


5. Install programmable thermostats ($146 cost / $249 price increase / 170% ROI / 62% recommended

Information provided by Home Gain.

I'm Back!

Sorry for being gone for so long! I've been busy getting my new Thinking Boise Real Estate team set up and learning more and more at Keller Williams Realty Boise.

I'm happy to report that KW is very serious about greening up the office. While we still have to maintain hard copies with signatures, instead of many copies being passed around, we've gone mostly wireless. KW has a specific system set up that requires us to email instead of hand delivering important transactions. It's a big step in the right direction for a business that usually has quite a paper trail.

My new assistant and I are notorious for rummaging through the recycle bin for paper we can reuse. She has a small clipboard she uses to create a notebook of one-sided paper she can carry around with her. It's half the size of a regular clipboard, so she can take it anywhere. I like to cut my paper into fourths to use for quick memos. After we've exhausted all clean edges, into the recycle bin it goes - we have one for each desk in the Thinking Boise office.

And, while it seems like a no-brainer, we bring our lunches and snacks so we don't feel compelled to hop into a car for something to eat. My Subaru gets used enough showing properties!

Got any green tips or eco-resolutions you want to share for 2010? Leave us a comment!

Copenhagen

Been a while since I posted and there's so much to write about with the important meeting in Copenhagen.

For those of you too busy to pay attention to the news (and, with the holidays, that is many of us!), the conference is being held to create a global plan to reduce emissions and hash out the financing to do so. Representatives from 192 countries have given themselves until December 18.

The conference started shortly after the EPA officially announced that greenhouse gases are a danger to human health. This announcement means the EPA has the power to regulate emissions irregardless of Congressional action on the subject.

I'll keep you posted on results, but you can catch up at http://en.cop15.dk/. For more info on the EPA's announcement, click here.

GiGi's Little House - Part Three (Figuring Out Storage)

I really love so much about our new little house, but I'm frustrated about the storage situation. We have a total of two small closets and thirteen years worth of stuff to put into them. We've downsized (and continue to do so almost daily), but there comes a point when a mother has to stop sneaking her kid's toys into the donate box, you know?

We're still living in a mess, too, and if you talk with friends of mine that have known me for a while, they will tell you that the few times I've moved things are unpacked within the first week. Seriously. Pictures hanging and everything in its place. But not this time because I'm unsure how to set it all up.

So I'm searching for shelves, credenzas, armoires - anything that can store clothes, toys, food, towels, linens, coats, books, etc.

And I'm scouring the internet for ideas. Some of my favorites:

Green Friday

Shopping on Black Friday means great deals, right? Here are some ways to make it a little more eco-friendly, too:

• Use your own shopping bags (I love those Chico bags, as you know. They fold up small until you need them).
• Shop consignment stores, thrift stores, and/or local handmade shops (or try Etsy.com for handmade goods - if you pick a local artist, you won't feel bad about fuel spent shipping your choices).
• Make your own gifts - upcycle and get creative.
  
• Choose experiential gifts. An animal lover will love a Zoo pass (and Zoo Boise will love you for thinking of it!), scientists love the Discovery Center, and artists could spend hours at the Boise Art Museum.
• Carpool. Make a day of it, spend time with friends, and save gas and emissions.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Before I sit down for dessert, I wanted to say thanks for reading Thinking Boise Green this year. I have a lot of plans for the new year, and I hope to include a lot of your suggestions.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of all of your lives. Remember, if you need anything or have any ideas for this blog, all you have to do is call or write. I am always available to you.

Have a green Black Friday!

GiGi's Little House - Part Two (The Firepit)

Okay, so we're even more unpacked and have even had a couple of people over for dinner.

Because of the size of the house, we don't have an actual dining area set up (we made the only free corner into a crafting spot for my daughter and me), so the patio right outside the door is our extended entertaining space. With a fire it's pretty cozy and, honestly, we don't miss sitting at a table to chat or eat.

When you're talking around a fire, camp-style, there is no t.v. to distract (our house is small, remember? You see the t.v. as soon as you walk in the door!) and the focus is purely on the conversation. Add dinner, beer and/or wine and who would miss a dining room? Especially when you can have roasted marshmallows for dessert.

(I'll try to get some actual pictures on here soon, but our firepit resembles the image's.)

As small as the house is, we all still have our own space, which I'll write about next week...

Celebrity Inspiration

Love or hate their private lives, celebrities often give their faces, names and cash to many great causes. One charity with a green slant is Brad Pitt's Make It Right, which is rebuilding New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward and doing it with sustainable design.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, Make It Right is building the largest green neighborhood in the U.S. all while recreating a community and giving architects the opportunity to design eco-housing.

One award-winning eco-friendly house - FLOAT - was specifically built to withstand the flooding brought on by hurricanes like Katrina. In case of water overflow, the home can float, separate itself from electric and plumbing, and run on batteries as necessary.

I think it's great when actors and singers decide to use their fame for the greater good. If they decide to back it with their own cash, as Pitt and partner Angelina Jolie do, even better in my book.

Geothermal Power

Boise has the largest direct use geothermal system in the United States which supplies sustainable heat to more than 55 businesses. So what does that mean? What is geothermal energy?

According to TheDailyGreen.com, "Geothermal energy is harnessed from the...Earth’s core, which averages about 6,650 degrees Fahrenheit...Heated springs and geysers up to three miles underground can be accessed by special wells that bring the hot water (or steam from it) up to the surface where it can be used directly for heat or indirectly to generate electricity by powering rotating turbines.

"Since the water under the Earth’s surface is constantly replenished, and the Earth’s core will continue to generate heat indefinitely, geothermal power is ultimately clean and renewable...

"The Obama administration has set aside $750 million for geothermal development, and Congress has also been generous, allocating $129 million to the Department of Energy for various geothermal programs."

A Guest Poster - GiGi

My friend GiGi just recently downsized to a much smaller home. I thought we'd let her post a few thoughts now and then about the changes this is bringing...

A lot of events have led my family to this small house. Maybe I'll get into that later, but for now, here we are, in a house that is less than 800 sf. Me, my husband, our four year-old daughter, two cats and a few reptiles/amphibians. Oh, and one Betta fish.

It currently looks like a storage unit. (No, the image is not of her house...J)

The layout isn't too bad. There are two stories, two bedrooms, and two bathroom (or 1.75 bathrooms, if we want to maintain some accuracy). The storage isn't great, so we'll have to start working on fixing that. There are great windows, only one door and lots of quirky accents that I think give the house a lot of character. The upstairs "loft" bedroom is pink and our daughter is in love with it. There is one teeny closet in her room and one water heater area that has enough room for the cats' litter box.

We'll get organized. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

How Green is the Blue Turf?

Pretty green, actually. The famous playing field is made from recycled tires. So get to the game, root for the Broncos, and know that the field was constructed as green as possible while maintaining its infamous blue color.

Green Payless Shoes?

And I'm not not talking color. This is how eco-friendly products have to be marketed to revolutionize how people shop. A line of shoes all under $30 made from: organic cotton, hemp, jute, nickel-free hardware, and non-toxic glues. Did I mention the purses? Earrings? Necklaces?

How about these Oxford-style sneakers? for only $24.99? Throw in one of the Payless Shoes infamous buy-one-get-one (or BOGO, as the commercials point out) and you can get a lot of shoes for what a person might normally spend on on pair.

The Uniform Project

The ultimate in sustainable fashion would be having only one outfit, right? The Uniform Project takes on the challenge by having one woman wear the same dress 365 days in a row. It helps that the woman is extremely attractive and very crafty - she manages to look different every day through the use of accessories - most donated or found at thrift stores, eBay and etsy - keeping with her sustainable intentions.

The dress was specially designed for the project. It was sewn to be worn frontward, backward, and as a jacket (of sorts).

The site calls attention to the Akanksha School Project in Mumbia. The charity was started by college students in India who want to change the 80% dropout rate within their country. The Akanksha Project has been in effect for 15 years and now has the backing of the Indian government because alumni have achieved better results than the public school children.

Happy Time Change!

Don't forget to adjust your clocks back tonight (and switch out the batteries in your smoke detectors while you're at it - I'll trust you to find some sustainable batteries)!

Some history:

• Benjamin Franklin thought up Daylight Saving Time
  
• 2:00 a.m. was chosen to minimize disruption of schedules - no trains were running and most people were at home sleeping
• Hawaii and Arizona don't observe Daylight Saving Time
• While twins born at 11:55 p.m. and 12:05 a.m. may have different birthdays, Daylight Saving Time can change birth order -- on paper, anyway. During the time change in the fall, one baby could be born at 1:55 a.m. and the sibling born ten minutes later, at 1:05 a.m. In the spring, there is a gap when no babies are born at all: from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.

Halloween: Green-style

Time to plan what treats to hand out and what costumes to wear. How does one plan a traditional Halloween and still remain green?? It's easy...

Eco-friendly costumes won't be hard to find. Any thrift store will do. Recycling makes for the best costume choices. There are racks and racks available at Savers, the Idaho Youth Ranch, and St. Vincent de Paul. That's if you want a traditional costume, too. There are endless supplies if you want to get creative.

Maybe instead of trick-or-treating, you could have a party for the kids. Scary stories and pumpkin carving don't have to include anything that could add to your carbon footprint, and Halloween is the perfect excuse for a kid-friendly get-together with friends and family.

What about the trick-or-treaters that come to the door? Easy, head down to the Co-op and load up on organic candy.

Green Savings

Chances are you can turn down the thermostat on your home's water heater a few degrees, and still have plenty of hot water for everyone's daily shower, not to mention the dishes and laundry.

Installers and builders often think they're doing homeowners a favor by jacking up a water heater's temperature (commonly to 140 degrees F). Maybe such hardworking folks really appreciate a long, hot soak. But it's not necessary for most households to keep the appliance set to anything over 120 degrees F.

Lowering the temperature from 140 to 120 would reduce your water heating costs by 6 to 10%. Give it a try. Many people find that tweaking the dial can be addictive, and it's easy to reduce the temperature further to 115 or even lower.

• Presets are often 140 degrees.
• 120 degrees is often sufficient.
• Reduce your bill 6 to 10%.
• Find what works best for you.

Downsizing - Must-Read Blogs

Do this. Type "small space living" into a search engine and see what great stuff comes up.

I have a few favorite blogs that deal with downsizing in many different ways. A recently started one - Mini-Mobile Cottage - shows the simplicity movement at its best. A couple makes the huge decision to live smaller, so they create a mobile cottage (think high-class travel trailer) and move from California to Washington. Only a few entries have been posted, but there is some good advice for others considering the same and a lot of emotion.

Another one I've enjoyed is The Tiny Life. The information written on this blog follows the same philosophy of ThinkingBoiseGreen.com - that greening up is the right thing and, frankly, the stylish thing, to do. What becomes a neighborhood most? A McMansion or a high-end cottage?



Even if you have no interest in the small-space movement, you won't be able to tear yourself away from the photography on This Tiny House. I haven't made it through the archives, but I intend to - this blog is well-written and visually appealing. The articles are so informative, they'll have you fantasizing about living the rest of your life in an old Airstream or competing with the people who have managed to live in homes built for under $3000 (yes, these are actual posts from this site. Go there. Now.).

Alright, I could go on and on about sites that keep me entranced, but I'd rather help you find the home of your dreams, whether it's a small bungalow in the East End or a mid-century modern house in the foothills. Or maybe some property to park your mini-mobile cottage...

Frugality and Green Living

Okay, everyone's talking about the economy. You can't drop your kids off at school without money being brought up (this happened to a friend of mine) and strangers grumble about it at the grocery store.

How can you be green and still be frugal?

How can you not?

Think about this:

Organic vegetables cost more at the grocery store, but vegetable seeds are around a dollar. Grow your own and save money while knowing exactly where your food came from (not the back of a truck that just drove in from California).

There are people here in Boise who use previously-owned cars and fuel them with reclaimed french fry oil. (There will be a post on this soon, I promise.) I repeat, inexpensive used cars (that are paid for) are running on used vegetable oil.

Or give up driving and walk/ride to where you need to go. Catch the bus or carpool. You'll see a difference in your pocketbook, your waistline and your carbon footprint.

Everyone knows jeans need to be broken in. Skip the agony and the high retail prices by shopping some great local consignment shops. Check out thrift stores as the seasons are changing, and you can find even better deals. Even second-hand shops have sales. Not only are you recycling, you're saving money.

Some things may have a large initial cost but save you over the long run. Making your home energy efficient or taking it off the grid can be a huge investment that will pay you back over the years.

There are plenty more ways that green=money-saving if you sit down and consider them. Let me know what you come up with.

Another Way to Power That P.C.

Yesterday I said we'd get to the not-so-eco power usage to run a computer. You could power your whole house with solar panels, if you have the resources. If you can't quite afford that, there are other options:

• Charge your battery with solar power.
• Become your own energy.
• Build (or have built) a solar powered computer.

If you know of any other solutions, I'd be very interested in seeing them!

Eco-kids

There are a lot of ways to get your kids involved in greening up your home. Unfortunately, a lot of those ways seem like...well... work.

"Take this out to the recycling."
"Put the compost out."
"Turn off the lights."

You get the picture.

I have one suggestion that makes it fun to learn - online games. Okay, maybe the power used for the p.c. isn't so great. I have a solution for that, too. We'll get back to that in a bit, first the video games.

One of the first places I looked for green games was PBS. I wasn't disappointed. A new show, The Greens, introduces kids to the "green" life. The games are fun - help feed a squirrel or revamp some thrift store clothes into hip fashion - and teach kids at the same time.

I found another one called the Planet Green Game. Kids make choices in different settings to offset their carbon footprints and learn along the way. It is co-sponsored by Starbucks.

Try searching for "green games online" and you'll find a lot of resources out there. Make this fun for kids. I know it's a cliche, but they really will inherit the Earth. We can teach them to take care of it better than any generation before them.

RE Boutique

Now I have another reason to love my recent move to Keller Williams - a new place to shop! I was chatting with a co-worker who just happens to be married to the owner of RE Boutique and found out what a fun place it is (and eco-friendly, too! Read on...)

Located at 405 S. 8th Street in BoDo, RE Boutique is self-described as "a great boutique with a great concept: a small shop selling local artisan works, recycled clothing and re-purposed items. It is designed to be a community project that takes a creative look at how to reuse, renew and re-purpose."

Time to do some pre-holiday gift planning. Anyone up for a day donwtown?

Flynner Homes

What could be better than a beautiful home built to green standards? How about one built by a local company at a price you can afford?

Flynner Homes is dedicated to "certified green building and energy star construction" and to bringing eco-friendly to the streets of Boise. Right now they have a limited time offer to create a home for you that will be certified green by the National Association of Home Builders for no additional cost. Make sure you check the site for this offer!

The owner, Scott Flynn, is changing the face of the Valley one gorgeous green home at a time. You can reach him at 208-867-4587 or at sflynn@flynnerhomes.com.

Decomposing List or Why You Must Recycle

Ever hear someone say (as he throws away a water bottle), "It can't really take that long for this to biodegrade - plastic melts quickly" or some other off-hand remark?

Next time direct him to this post:

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DECOMPOSE?

Banana Peel - 3 to 4 weeks
Orange peels - 6 months
Apple Core - 2 months
Paper Bag - 1 month
Cardboard - 2 months
Milk Cartons - 5 years
Newspaper - 6 weeks
Paper Towel - 2 to 4 weeks
Cotton Glove - 3 months
Tinned Steel Can - 50 years
Aluminum Can - 200 to 500 years
Disposable Diapers - 550 years
Plastic Bags - 20 to 1000 years
Glass - 1 to 2 million years
Cigarette Butts - 10 to 12 years
Leather shoes - 25 to 40 years
Rubber-Boot Sole - 50 to 80 years
Plastic containers - 50 to 80 years
Monofilament Fishing Line - 600 years
Foamed Plastic Cups - 50 years
Wool Sock - 1 to 5 years
Plywood - 1 to 3 years
Plastic Bottles - 450 years

Walkable Communities

We'll leave out all the talk about peak oil, climate change, and inversions in today's post and just write the basics: walking has many benefits. It's good for your body, your brain, and your world.

Imagine a life without long commutes, road rage and high cholesterol. Instead of driving to the gym to walk on a tread mill before work, you would walk out your front door and end up at work - cutting out that extra time and expense. You wouldn't over-shop if you knew you were carrying those goods home, right? The air would be cleaner and the city quieter.

I found walkscore.com, which lets you know the walkability of your neighborhood. The East End gets an 85/100 and is considered "very walkable"... Live in downtown Boise? You score a 95. Close to the Co-Op? 98!

This could truly change the makeup of America. Bye, Bye, Suburbia - Hello, City! And if you're going to pick a city to enjoy walking through, why not Boise? New York may get 100/100, but I can guarantee it's not as pleasant as our town.

If you are thinking of moving to a more walkable neighborhood or want more information about Boise, give me a call: (208)371-3728.

Small Space Solutions

There are many reasons to downsize your home.

Maybe your kids have grown and you just don't need all the extra room (and now there are no teenagers to mow that huge backyard!), maybe you found that perfect house in the North End and are willing to sacrifice 500 sf in order to have a certain lifestyle, or maybe you bought a condo to enjoy the community amenities.

Whatever your reasons, there are a lot of ways to make use of the space you have and create a beautiful, stylish, functional home.

One of the first things you'll need is storage. Even if you've decided to simplify and have donated some things to remove clutter, you'll still need shelves and other ways to keep things in their place. Some great sites are from well-known retailers like IKEA, The Container Store, Pottery Barn, and Bed Bath and Beyond.

Another thing to consider is multi-tasking rooms. Use your space as you see fit. A fold-away Murphy bed gives you more floor space to set up your exercise equipment and comes in twin, full or queen sizes. An armoire can hide your computer and all its cables and accessories when you're not working.

Use your imagination! And if you're stuck, check out Apartment Therapy, Apartment Ideas or other great decorating sites that focus on small spaces. Inspiration is as close as your computer.

Organic Lawn Care - part three: Lawn Mowers

Still using that old gas mower? Upgrade to a manual one and don't worry about cleaning up all those clippings - they're good for your soil.

There are a lot of options if that doesn't sound appealing (or if you have to mow Simplot Hill sometime!).

No reviews to see if it works, but there are instructions on creating a solar-powered mower on SustainLane.com. If you're not a do-it-yourself kind of person, you can always invest $3000 in Husqvarna's solar hybrid Automower. It mows your lawn while you relax.

Husqvarna has also designed a rider mower that is "produced from recyclable materials...performs with low emissions and minimal noise pollution". It helps that it looks like something your teen will beg to use. It just might be worth the price tag once it's released for retail. It's planned for release in five years, so those of you with younger kids can plan ahead and start saving up.


Just in case those aren't in your budget, a manual mower is inexpensive, gives you some exercise, and is pretty quiet. It fits into a small space in your shed or garage, too.

Organic Lawn Care - part two: Weed Control

I don't think I need to explain the importance of a chemical-free lawn, this picture spells it out.

Instead of thinking in terms of what you need to get rid of in your grass, start thinking about what you need to nurture.

Begin practicing activities that will lead to a healthy and great looking lawn:

1. Feed your soil; it's the key to your healthy organic lawn. It needs to be alive with beneficial microorganisms and bugs. Apply a thin layer of compost in the spring and fall over the lawn, and water gently to wash the nutrients and microbes into the soil.

2. Water your lawn deeply (about one inch) on a weekly basis to establish healthy root systems. To measure the amount of water you are applying, place a tuna can under the sprinkler and time how long it takes for an inch to accumulate.

3. Mow lawn to a height of three inches. This is the ideal growth height for the types of grasses most people grow.

4. Leave your grass clippings on the lawn. They are full of nutrients to feed the lawn.

5. To fertilize, apply compost and grass clippings throughout the growing season. A slow-release organic fertilizer can be added in the early fall. It can also be used in the early spring.

6. Use an aerator every four years before fertilizing. Best results can be achieved by renting the equipment designed for that purpose. It pulls plugs of dirt and grass out of the lawn to allow air and water in.

7. Top dress with finished compost over the lawn after aerating and weeding, and before seeding. This can be done in the spring or fall.

8. Overseed, sprinkling grass seed throughout the lawn in the spring and fall. This helps fill in bare spots and choke out weeds.

(from HealthyLawns.org)