Life’s a permanent vacation with these views and surrounding habitat

I had an interesting experience that just goes to prove how much the internet has changed our lives. I received an email from someone who needed help selling their home – in Waldport, Oregon.

Main picIt was unusual because I am not licensed to sell real estate in Oregon and don’t market myself there. And I happen to have family by marriage in the same town, my husband’s grandparents used to live in nearby Yachatz.

I was contacted because of previous posts regarding the hummingbirds we’ve been feeding this year and also the creation of our backyard habitat at our first home.

The people who contacted me host the coastal hummingbird migration and have an extensive web site and video of this amazing display of natural instinct.

For several reasons they found themselves having to move, so I agreed to help them find a team of professionals who would be able to help them. I checked with my family in Waldport to see if they could recommend anyone, no luck there. So I started researching online biographies of regional firms and found two people who have worked together and agreed to team up to help this family market their property. I call it “The J Team” since the agents are Joni and Joanna and one of the owner’s names is Jorrie.

The property is now listed for sale and there is a great photo tour available. I have their permission to recreate their information here and also there will be a short slide show available through a postlets.com listing.

223 E Darkey Creek Rd., Waldport, OR 97394
List #09-1482
Listing Member: Joanna Flippin
Office: (541) 563.5200 ext. 204
Co-listing Agent: JoAnne Biron of EMERALD COAST REALTY – WALDPORT

”Birders” will reverently flock to this enchanting RIVERVIEW home on 2.14 acres high above the Alsea River! This gorgeous 3 Bdrm./2 bath. home is a ”Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat”, and features MANY upgrades including granite countertops, cherry cabinets, appliances, generator, A Viking gas range, 2 wood stoves, an infrared sauna, daylight basement, detached shop, and so much more!!

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sauna, large laundry room. Detached garage, extensive gardens. River and mountain views. Over 2 acres of privacy on the Oregon coast.

FlexMLS #09-1482 Asking price: $425,000

This is a VERY special home and property. Check out ”www.birdsamore.com”, to truly understand the mission of this unique listing! If you have a passion for migrating hummingbirds, and can appreciate a stunning home w/ acreage that is Paradise, call today for a showing!

Driveway pic

Bird bath

Garden path

Garden tub

River view Detached garage

Water feature

Water feature 2

Backyard habitat sign

Interior photos:

Dining-Great Room

Dining room

Kitchen

Master bdrm

Sauna

If you would like more information you can contact the listing agents above, or drop me an email and I will help facilitate your connection.

If you live in a Built Green home, are fascinated by real estate, work in the industry, or just love STATS, then read on.

GreenWorks Realty (GWR) has just compiled an updated Environmental Certification Report comparing sales of traditional homes to homes possessing green certification through programs such as Built Green, Northwest Energy Star, and LEED for Homes. Some really cool charts and other good information. Please let me know if you would like clarification on any of this informaiton.

GreenWorks hand-picks a selection of green properties for sale in Seattle neighborhoods on its web site. Not all areas are represented – I can customize a search for you.

STAY TUNED: GWR will soon be launching a new search page that will enable users to search for *only* green homes on their own without needing the assistance of an agent who can only access the “green check boxes” as a secondary search function. Innovation is a hallmark of GWRs business practices and this new functionality is expected to go live in the next couple of weeks.

TODAY Saturday, June 27th is the annual Greenwood Car Show and I opened the office around 9:30. I’m here until noon but one of my colleagues will be keeping the office open until 4 pm. We got the cool ALIEN Jett Rocket vehicle out in front of our building – this picture was taken at about 9:40am.

Greenwood Avenue is closed from 70th to 87th but parking is available on nearby side streets.

Please let me know how I may assist you

Wendy Hughes-Jelen
Designated Built GreenR Professional: Real Estate Agent
Voice/Fax 206.686.HOME (4663)
Follow me on Twitter ~ @GreenSpacesRE

My team is at GreenWorks Realty, LLC
“Improving environmental performance and community in real estate”
Serving all of Washington, but located at: 7406 Greenwood Avenue North / Seattle, WA 98103

Hundreds of Homes Open Their Doors This Weekend!

Ever drive by a home and wonder what it looks like on the inside? You see the glow in the windows and wonder what it would be like to live there. Are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms for your family? Would your dinner table fit in the dining room where your family huddles safe and warm every Thanksgiving? Perhaps your kids need a place to play, the family grill master a place to grill.

Hundreds of homes will be throwing their doors open here in King County the weekend of June 27-28. Please stop by some of the nearly 500 Open Houses that will be held part of the very first “State-wide Open House” in Washington.

As a real estate professional who first began serving our communities in 1999 I can tell you I have never seen conditions better to go shopping for a home. The interest rates are lower than I have ever seen; there are more homes to choose from and at lower prices. On top of that there is an $8,000 tax credit from the federal government available for certain buyers who haven’t owned a home in the last three years.

Just take a drive Saturday or Sunday and stop in and take a look a around. No pressure, just stroll through and look. I personally will be holding an Open House in the Haller Lake neighborhood of central north Seattle at 13541 Meridian Avenue North on Sunday from 1-4 PM.

Real estate professionals are working together all over Washington to bring you the biggest open house weekend ever. Agents in our communities care about the quality of life here. I can tell you from first hand knowledge that they are concerned about good schools and safe neighborhoods and getting their clients into a home their clients’ love. They are your neighbors, they live and work here too and they probably know our neighborhoods better than anyone.

Stop by an open house either Saturday, June 27 or Sunday, June 28. In fact, you can give me a call at 206.686.HOME to find out if there is an open house in the neighborhood where you want to live. I can email you a list and at your leisure, you can go shopping for your dream home and at least get some free advice!

See you June 27-28 at the King County-wide Open House!

Sustainable Industries Announces 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products Award Winners

I was on the live webinar this morning announcing top new cutting edge products! What caught my eye? Look for the “rain tube” info below, and also the 20 year old SolaTube that is now being used for commercial purposes. ~ Wendy

SAN FRANCISCO – Award-winning business magazine Sustainable Industries today announced the release of its 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products guide, the annual publication profiling industry-leading green building products selected by a panel of expert judges and the Sustainable Industries editorial team. This year’s Top 10 Green Building Products guide received more nominations than anytime over the last 4 years.

Top 10 Green Building Product winners were selected based on their environmental performance, scalability/market impact, innovativeness, design aesthetic, value and compatibility with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Profiled in the guide with accompanying 3-D images, the winners were announced today in a Sustainable Industries Webinar featuring judges from our expert panel who addressed attendees’ questions about the pros and cons of the latest green building innovations. The 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products guide is emailed in advance to Sustainable Industries subscribers, is available for free online at and is also included within the July 2009 Clean Energy issue of Sustainable Industries.

“In the four years Sustainable Industries has produced this trusted and popular independent guide, green building has advanced to the mainstream,” says Brian Back, Founding Editor & Publisher of Sustainable Industries. “We’re confident the Top 10 Green Building Products guide provides a unique snapshot of some of the most innovative building materials on the market today.”

The 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products guide is sponsored by New Home Inc.

About Sustainable Industries
Sustainable Industries is an independent, award-winning business magazine, web site, event and media company serving top-of-the-pyramid sustainable business leaders on the West Coast and beyond. With offices in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, Sustainable Industries connects the dots between the environmental and social components of the region’s economy, just as it connects the dots between leading sectors, to raise the stakes in a working definition of sustainable industries. For more information, visit www.sustainableindustries.com

Contact: Brian Back, Publisherbrian@sustainableindustries.com(415) 762-3942

The 2009 Top 10 Green Building Product winners are:

Acadia Combined Heating and Cooling System
Made by Hallowell International
(http://www.gotohallowell.com/)
The Acadia is not just another heating and cooling system. It maintains 200 percent efficiency even when outdoor temperatures drop well below zero. When heating oil prices were sky high, Acadia users were saving up to 70 percent in energy costs.

ec-H20
Made by Tennant Co.
http://www.tennantco.com/)
Requiring no chemicals, ec-H2O uses tap water to clean most any surface of most any substance. Each machine reduces water usage by 70 to 80 percent, and the potential of 245 million gallons of water each year if it were installed in all new floor-cleaning machines.

InSpire Wall
Made by ATAS International
(http://www.atas.com/)
This simple, elegant technology essentially uses the power of the sun to heat outdoor air before sending it indoors, thereby slashing energy use while boosting indoor air quality. Depending on what kind of heating fuel is being replaced, this product can reduce heating costs by up to $5 for each square foot of InSpire Wall installed.

kama EEBS Structural Systems
Made by kama Energy Efficient Building Systems Inc.
(http://www.kama-eebs.com/)
kama EEBS Structural Systems integrate a light gauge metal stud framing system with expanded polystyrene insulation in a proprietary design that eliminates thermal bridging and helps to create a tight, energy-efficient building envelope.

PlybooPure Bamboo Plywood
Made by Smith & Fong Co.
(http://www.plyboo.com/)
Because it’s technically a grass, bamboo had not previously been eligible for FSC certification. But in January 2008, after two years of lobbying, Smith & Fong achieved this first that propelled it to recognition on this year’s Top 10 list.

RainTube
Made by GLI Systems Inc.
(http://www.raintube.com/)
This product received more Top 10 nominations than any other product this year. RainTube is a rain gutter filter made of 100 percent post-consumer high-density polyethylene – old milk jugs, in other words. This product is also Cradle to Cradle-certified, meaning that GLI Systems Inc had to develop a Post-Use Recovery Plan that goes out with every product.

Separett Villa
Made by Separett
www.ecovita.net/villa)
This urine-diverting composting toilet – which is 100 percent PVC fee – uses no water and keeps solids separate from liquids, reducing odor and making it possible to reuse waste and urine for composting and fertilizing. The Separett Villa can be deployed where no plumbing exists, allowing for a greater reach of the technology.

Serious Windows
Made by Serious Materials
(http://www.seriouswindows.com/)
Serious Windows are so efficient they have the potential to allow for the elimination of a building’s heating system, allowing waste heat from building appliances to serve as the main heat source in some applications. The windows have a full-frame R value of at least five and up to 11, which can cut a building’s energy bills by up to 50 percent per month.

Solatube Daylighting Systems
Made by Solatube International
(http://www.solatube.com/)
This patented technology catches direct sunlight and redirects it down an adjustable-length tube, bringing daylight to parts of buildings that would not otherwise have access to natural light. The Visa, Calif.-based company recently launched a product specifically designed for commercial applications, making it ideal for large-roofed warehouses and manufacturing facilities, as well as retail stores and schools – all places that have been shown to benefit from increased daylight, as daylight is linked to higher worker productivity, decreased absenteeism and better retail sales.

Your Old Light Fixture
Made by Eleek
(http://www.eleekinc.com/)
Eleek is the only business to make the Top 10 Green Bui
lding Products list all four years. Though not a product, Eleek’s lighting restoration service speaks to the important concept of the re-use of existing goods. When Eleek restores a light fixture, every piece of a fixture is taken apart, repaired and restored to its original splendor. Its wiring is updated to comply with modern codes and standards and a new lamp base is installed so it works with energy-efficient lamps such as CFLs and LEDs.

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How buyers’ allergies may be affected when they tour your home

The “healthy green homes” movement is about more than a squiggly light bulb and energy efficiency. It is just as much about indoor air quality – something that is more important than many people realize.

There is a new column from Phoebe Chongchua in today’s online Realty Times, “Selling Home May Be Influenced by What Buyers Can’t See” which speaks of 60 million out of 300 Americans who have allergies or asthma and how they are affected when walking in to a home for sale.

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) affect people with allergies or asthma very strongly. If you are preparing your home for sale it is worth it to you to use paints, stains and carpeting that are “low” or “no VOC”.

You don’t want to eliminate 20% of the buying market one foot inside your front door, do you?

*****

Looking for more great advice on how to prepare your home for sale? Or do you have allergies or asthma and are looking for a home that doesn’t make you miserable? Give me a call – as a Built Green certified real estate agent I have been trained to address your concerns and needs. I am licensed in Washington State and a member of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

The Good Guide

Thanks to this tip from my friend Katie, who thought The Good Guide was a good site for everyone to know about.

It is currently in beta, but with more people using it and contributing feedback, it could become a full-fledged master site!! They have a rating system and also a way for you to shop for the best prices.

About The Good Guide

What chemicals are in your baby shampoo?
Was sweatshop labor used to make your t-shirt?
What products are the best, and what products should you avoid?

Increasingly, you want to know about the impacts of the products you buy. On your health. On the environment. On society. But unless you’ve got a Ph.D, it is almost impossible to find out the impacts of the products you buy.

Until now…

GoodGuide provides the world’s largest and most reliable source of information on the health, environmental, and social impacts of the products in your home.

Let them know how you like their site!

Neighborhood House Launches Solar Panel Challenge

Seattle — On June 21st, Neighborhood House will launch its Solar Panel Challenge — a campaign to raise $100,000 to build a second array of solar panels atop the High Point Neighborhood Center. The campaign launch will coincide with the summer solstice on Sunday the 21st, the longest day of the year, and will end with the fall equinox on September 22, 2009.

A second array will allow all the rooftop panels to meet 100 percent of the High Point Neighborhood Center’s average energy demand, making the building completely self-sufficient, independent from Seattle City Light and one of the very few energy-neutral structures in the state.

Electrical bill estimates for a building of this size are in the thousands of dollars per month. A second array would therefore translate into savings of $20,000 – $30,000 per year, critical funds that, instead of going to bills, will go to services and programs, light up Head Start and ESL classrooms, heat a Family and Teen Center and fuel a community kitchen.

The center is scheduled to open in the fall in West Seattle’s High Point neighborhood, and plans are already in place for an initial array of 256 solar panels comprising 6,000 square feet. This array alone will be the largest atop a building in the entire state of Washington.

Neighborhood House recently completed a $13 million capital campaign to construct the center — a LEED Gold certified building that will be home to critical social services as well as state-of-the-art environmental education programs aimed at the High Point community.

The second array of solar panels can be sponsored for $1,000 per panel. Contributions can be made in monthly installments, in someone’s honor, or as some have done by teaming together as a group. The total project budget for the second array is $200,000. The City of Seattle Community Facilities Loan Program is providing $100,000 in funding.

To take a tour of the High Point Neighborhood Center, please contact Alex Wang, Development Associate, at (206) 461-8430 x257 or alexw@nhwa.org.

About Neighborhood House:
Founded in 1906, Neighborhood House is an independent nonprofit that has helped generations of families overcome economic challenges through a comprehensive web of services. Our mission is to help diverse communities of people with limited resources attain their goals for self-sufficiency, health, financial independence and community building. Learn more at http://www.nhwa.org/.

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Contact:
Ray Li
Director of Strategic Initiatives
(206) 461-8430 x260
rayl@nhwa.org
Find Neighborhood House online at www.nhwa.org

FREE recycling of your obsolete TV

Your TV might have become obsolete last Friday. In Washington state there is a free and safe way to recycle your old televisions — E-Cycle Washington. This producer-pays electronics recycling program is the result of a groundbreaking law that passed in 2006. In January, sites statewide started accepting old computers and televisions for recycling.

Reuse of older televisions is the least impact option for older TVs. If your TV goes dark, you can purchase a converter box, get cable, or donate it to a school or community group that can use it to show videos or dvds. However, if you opt to get rid of an older television, please recycle it safely.

City Green Building eVENTS

J U N E eV E N T S
CITY OF SEATTLE, DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

Introducing City Green Building eVENTS featuring opportunities to help make green building standard practice in Seattle. Transformational lectures, tours, classes and programs will be listed monthly.

June 13, 2009
SolarWorks! In Seattle: Introduction to Solar Electricity (PV)
How can solar work in a region known for its rainy days? How much does it cost? What kind of roof do I need? What incentives are available to help me keep costs down? How do I work with a contractor? This workshop will help answer these questions and others as we discuss the following topics related to solar electric (PV) technology: site assessment and system design, choosing a solar contractor, installing a system, state and federal incentives, as well as maintenance and operation of your system. Participants will walk away with the knowledge they need to begin investing wisely in solar electricity.
Target Audience: Residential customers with little or no solar background.Presented by Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development and Seattle City Light.
Online Registration required. Questions? call Seattle City Light’s Conservation Help Line at 206-684-3800.
Take the bus, or more directions @Carkeek.

Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Carkeek Environmental Learning Center
950 NW Carkeek Park Rd, Seattle FREE

June 16th RE-GENERATION SPEAKERS SERIES 09
Designing Green, Grown in Oregon
Robert Pena, Associate Professor Department of Architecture University of Washington
Laura Hafermann, AIA Principal Patano + Hafermannn
John S. Reynolds, F.A.I.A. Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, University of Oregon

4:00 – 6:00
Integrated Design Lab
100 NE Northlake Way, Seattle
Details and registration at www.asidwa.org

June 23, 2009
GREEN SHORELINES WORKSHOPS
Voluntary Approaches To Healthier Lakeshores
A free workshop for Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish shoreline property owners at the Mercer Island Community Center. Landowners will learn about Green Shoreline techniques to enhance fish and wildlife habitat and improve aesthetic quality of lakeshores. There will also be an opportunity to provide feedback on incentives to promote Green Shorelines. Techniques discussed include plantings, bulkhead removal, and partial or full beach restoration.
See City of Seattle’s informative publication Green Shorelines.
More information about the workshop here.

5:30-6 p.m. meet & greet/light refreshments
6-8 p.m. workshop
Mercer Island Community Center at Mercer View
8236 SE 24th Street, Mercer Island, WA
The workshop is free, but registration is required and space is limited.
To register, call or email Jeanne Fulcher at 425-649-4318, jful461@ecy.wa.gov, or register online.

June 25, 2009
SEATTLE TRANSFORMATIONAL LECTURE SERIES
Low Energy Buildings and Sustainable Communities: Designing for the Net Zero Economy
Guy Battle, Director of Battle McCarthy Ltd., is an environmental and building engineer known for his work in low energy sustainable buildings and urban environments. His consultancy engineering practice has worked on a vast range of projects and has an international reputation for its work in delivering cost effective eco-friendly buildings.
Cascadia Members, students, and City employees, free admission. Non-Members, $10. Registration required. See the flyer for more information.

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Seattle Central Library, Microsoft Auditorium
1000 4th Ave, Seattle

June 25-27, 2009
PASSIVE HOUSING CONSULTANT TRAINING SERIES
Phase II: Envelope Design & Detailing, Mechanical Systems Design
Presentations cover envelope design principles and the mechanical systems design will alternate with practical exercises. The number of participants is limited to assure individual tutoring during the three-day session. Registration: $650 per Phase

Weekend workshop
Integrated Design Lab
400 E. Pine St., Suite 100, Seattle
More Information: Mike Kernagis at the Passive House Institute
(206) 325-9711 mkernagis@passivehouse.us

June 27, 2009
21 Acres Sustainable Farm Tour
Interested in learning more about growing and eating local food? Join EOS Alliance for a tour of 21 Acres Farm, an organic farm and non-profit, in Woodinville. As part of the King County Farmland Preservation Project, 21 Acres’ mission is to cultivate, demonstrate, and advance systems that support sustainable agriculture. On the tour we’ll learn about the major differences between large scale production farms and smaller sustainable farms, especially the differences in their environmental impacts. We will be carpooling to Woodinville from EOS Alliance’s offices in Seattle. Please indicate on your registration form whether or not you wish to carpool.
Registration is $20 Please register in advance.
Car pool available — inquire with EOS Alliance.

10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
21 Acres Farm
13701 NE 171st Street, Woodinville, WA
Register at EOS Alliance