Welcome!

There’s lots of practical and helpful information in the various categories that will hopefully get you thinking about doing things a little differently around the house and in your everyday life! What you’ll find is that it’s not all that inconvenient and difficult to live sustainably.   

I truly believe that as a Real Estate Consultant, real estate is more than just buying and selling homes … it’s about building community and helping people increase their overall quality of life in and around their home. This makes choosing the right home through “green eyes.”

So, who’s the next person you know who’s talked about buying or selling a home recently?

I am available by phone 510.495.5505 or email darrell@houses2ahome.com

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Darrell Lew | Create Your Badge

Green Building: Top 5 Misconceptions About Home Energy Retrofits

Home energy retrofits are becoming increasingly common, but as the market spreads, so do misconceptions about the best way to generate savings. While some marketers have attempted to advertise “silver bullet” strategies, in reality, says Matt Golden of Sustainable Spaces, no one solution is right for every house every time. One of the best ways to figure out which retrofits work for your home is to have a professional energy audit, and in the meantime, watch out for these five misconceptions about home energy efficiency.

Myths:

1.   You should install solar PV as a first step: Solar systems may be flashy but there are many less showy measures that give you significantly more energy saving bang for your buck. More cost-efficient steps include insulation, sealing ducts, adding CFLs, and ENERGY STAR appliances to name a few.

2.   All insulation is equal: While fiberglass batts are common, small gaps can lead to dramatic efficiency reductions. Blown-in, or loose-fill, fiberglass orcellulose insulation is generally far more effective for retrofits.

3.   Double paned windows are always beneficial: In the U.S., window manufacturers aren’t required to report testing data on air leakage which means that some double-paned brands may actually leak a lot of air. Also windows with a low emissivity reflective film, may help in the summer but will hinder heat gain in the winter. The bottom line is that if you are buying new windows be sure to do your research on the manufacturer and consider your heating and cooling needs carefully.

4.   You need a tankless water heater: These systems do not necessarily save energy for larger families. Generally, if a household uses more than one tank worth of hot water per day, then a conventional system may be more efficient.Water heater tips >>

5.   Zeroing your electric bill means you’re using no energy: While cutting electricity is crucial, natural gas is also used in many homes for space and water heating, and it is important to cut back on natural gas use as well.

• Read background: “Top 5 Misconceptions About Home Energy Performance,” by Justin Moresco, earth2tech (8/13/09)
• Visit our Upgrade Your Home page to see our top energy saving recommendations
• Schedule a professional energy audit by calling the California Building Performance Contractors Association at 888-352-2722 (in Northern California) or 888-357-1777 (in Southern California) to find a qualified contractor

Food Inc. Trailer …

Are you curious about the American diet?  Food in America … What They Don’t Want You To Know …

It’ll change the way you think about food as you know it …

Turn off the A/C, go for passive cooling.

Highlights

ENERGY STAR® qualified ceiling fans move a greater volume of air with less power by taking advantage of advanced motor features and design. Some models also incorporate CFLs for even greater energy savings.

Over the summer you get a breeze. With air flow over your skin, you feel as comfortable at 75 degrees as in air that is still at 70 degrees. By setting the air conditioner thermostat higher, the electricity savings can be as high as 25- 40% in summer. As well you save up to 10% on heating bills in the winter by setting the fan on low speed and gently circulating the warm air down that has risen tot he ceiling.

The ROI Calculation is based on two rooms with multi-speed reversible fans, and savings of $5 per month over the course of the year.

10 Ways to Reuse a Plastic Bag.

We’ve all been sucked in. We’ve all given into that one little impulse buy. The reusable bag. However, forgetting to bring the bag to the grocery store is almost inevitable for most of us … go on, admit it; you feel good about buying it, use it once and always forget to bring it with you – either leaving it in the car or at home, right?

For those of you who strive to take that extra step to save the environment, but rarely remember to bring your reusable grocery bag, there are still ways you can go green. Here are 10 ways you can recycle your plastic bag and feel better about forgetting to bring your reusable bag to the store:

1. We all have them. Tiny trash cans. Instead of spending four bucks on tiny trash bags, use your plastic bags.
2. Use a plastic bag to pack your toiletries and guard your belongings from unwanted liquids.
3. Sending something? Use plastic bags as packing material – they’re light, so you won’t add weight
4. Use a plastic bag for tomorrow’s lunch bag.
5. Hey, dog-lovers! This is an obvious one. Recycle your plastic bags by bringing them along when you take your furry friend for a walk.
6. Bring along a plastic bag when you go on a road trip. No one likes a trash-filled car.
7. Ease your kid’s boredom by using a plastic bag as a kite. Tie a string around the handles, wait for a windy day and Voila!
8. Use a plastic bag to separate your dry laundry from your soggy laundry after a day at the beach.
9. Headache? Use a plastic bag as an ice pack.
10. If you’ve got a cat, use a plastic bag as a kitty litter liner.

3R’s Goes a Long Way!

3R’s …

Reduce.  Reuse.  Recycle.

You may have seen this before when it comes to things all around you in your everyday life.  Have you ever gotten tired of the bedroom, kitchen or dining set because you’ve thought … it’s looking a bit dated, old and just plain “tired?”  I know the feeling.  I recently had that same feeling about our dining set which we bought it when we first got married – that was almost 20 years ago!  Back then, white-washed (or pickled) finish was “in” at the time.  I didn’t want to just toss the old set (I actually didn’t want to spend over $3000 for a new set).  The style is fine, just the color was bothering me … so, over the next few weeks, I sanded it down, picked a dark espresso color stain and voila!  updated dining set.  As you can see, I Reduced my consumption, Reused something I already had and basically recycled a would-be destined perfectly good dining set to the landfill.

It was much easier than I thought it was going to be.

So, the next time you’re looking to buy something, give it the 3R Test and ask yourself … is there a way that I can reduce my consumption of “it,” can I reuse it in another way … if not, how can I recycle it?  At all cost (at the very least), re-purposing it is much better than simple trashing it and sending it to the landfill.

need a summer distraction?

Summer is upon us, and that means people are planning ways to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Below are some ideas that you can involve yourself and feel good about it be “green” at the same time!

Whether you’re looking to get in shape, planning a day for the family, or creating a romantic night out, Carlson has a variety of reasonably priced or free activities that are both recession-proof and green friendly.

FITNESS

Go Hiking - It’s good exercise for the body, and getting out in nature is a terrific stress reliever. As long as you follow the rule of “leave no trace.” The only footprint you’ll leave behind is a harmless one.

Take a Bike Ride – Bicycling has obvious leg and cardio benefits, but it is also a petro and emissions free way to see some new sights. Remember to wear a helmet and follow traffic rules.

Green Golf – Traditional golf courses are maintained with toxic chemicals, polluting mowers and use lots of water to keep the grass green. Some courses are switching to more environmentally preferable techniques, including narrower fairways with less turf and less toxic weed and feed. Opt for those! Check out this link for eco-friendly golf courses across the U.S.www.golfandenvironment.org/ecofriendlygolf.htm

Take the Plunge - A good old fashioned swim builds up your endurance and is less jolting to your body than running. Find a saltwater swimming pool, or go to the beach for a chlorine free afternoon—but remember the chemical-free sun block.

Grow Your Own – Organic gardening will bring you back to nature by giving you some mild exercise by bending, kneeling and digging. It is also a non-toxic way to raise your own veggies, herbs and flowers.

FAMILY & KID-FRIENDLY

Go to the Park – Take a child to the city, state or national park near you. It is not only free (or low-cost), but a great nature-teaching opportunity.

Jump Rope, Play Hopscotch or Red Rover - Oldies but goodies for entertaining the school-age troops and helping them get some outdoor exercise.

Kick Ball - It’s more than a movie and easier than baseball. Kids of all ages (yes, even middle aged kids) can play. Plus, it’s low impact.

Sponsor a Scavenger Hunt - Make it a green hunt by hiding earth-friendly prizes. It will help teach kids about the fun of being outside and give them an idea of what green means.

DATING & ROMANCE

Enjoy Music or Movies in the Park - There is nothing more romantic than being outdoors on a warm summer evening with your other. Remember the non-toxic bug spray.

Green Drinks – Visit a rooftop bar that serves organic cocktails – you may have less of a hang-over with all the toxins removed!

Go Local - Go to a restaurant that serves locally raised ingredients. Reduce your carbon footprint further by walking, biking, or taking public transit to dinner.

next gen lighting?

We all know that replacing old incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs saves energy and cuts lighting costs. As big of an improvement as CFLs are, new breakthroughs in Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology may soon put these bulbs in more homes, giving CFLs a run for their money.

Lemnis Lighting, a Dutch company, has developed a consumer-ready bulb that they believe is the future of lighting and is available now.

The new Pharox is a 6 watt LED bulb that matches the light output of a 60 watt incandescent bulb and contains no mercury. The bulbs are designed to last an astonishing 25 years with normal use and are fully dimmable.

While the price, just under $50, is steep for a single bulb, its super low energy use means a payback of just 3.5 years. Like any new technology there are some problems that need to be worked out. The bulbs may generate too much heat in enclosed fixtures like ceiling fans, and testing has shown lower light output than advertised. Despite this, the new bulb is important because it shows what is possible in the next generation of consumer lighting and the price is sure to fall as more companies produce these type of bulbs.

By  A. Galbraith

Wise Water Usage.

a precious resource

In the SF Bay Area, we enjoy clean, potable, good tasting tap water and often take it for granted that it’ll always be there.  As you know, this resource isgetting more and more scarce for a number reasons. I’ll first start off by identifying areas of waste, you can think of ways to stop this waste on your own …

• Dreading dripping faucet, could lose up to 6 gal/day (replace/fix it)
• Old toilet, uses 3.5 – 6 gal/flush (replace it)
• Running H2O while washing dishes, 20 gal/wash (stop it. fill one side for rinsing)
• Leaky toilet, could lose up to 40 gal/day (replace the stopper)
• Running H2O while brushing your teeth, @ 2x/day, 3.5 gal/day (use a cup)
• Washing machine loads, ~41 gal/load (get new one and/or use full loads only)

Go Low-flow. Use low flow shower heads (1.5 gal/min) and faucet aerators – can save up to 40% … you’ll never feel the difference!

Low Commode. Newer ones use as little as 1.3 gal/flush

Catch it. Consider install water catchment systems to be used in watering your landscape. This is the easiest way to conserve water for the landscape. Or, if you really want to go for it, consider a gray-water system that’ll take your shower water & sink (not food waste portion) and filter it through a system is used to water your landscape.  City permits and professional installation/advice is highly recommended for installing this type of system.

you’re in hot water …

smart ideas for home improvement, part iv

the other beast … the hot water heater.  Here are some ideas to help lower your overall energy consumption concerning your hot water.

Insulate it. Wrap it around the entire tank – don’t forget the hot water pipes (if exposed) too!

Lower it.  Turn the dial down to a comfortable level.

… when all else fails …

Replace it. Newer ones are more energy efficient and rebates from PG&E may be had.

Demand it. Heated tanks can lose up to 15% due to heat transfer so … Go tankless with a hot water on-demand system, they work much like those on-demand hot water dispenser near faucets and coffee makers.

Create it. Another good alternative is to install a solar hot water system.  Use something that is had for free … the sun!

Next week … Wise Water Usage.