Category Archives: Green
Energy Efficiency Goes Mainstream thanks to Best Buy
I’ll wager that Best Buy isn’t entering the Home Energy market out of altruism.
Retailer giant Best Buy is launching a modest push into home energy products, planning to sell gadgets that can help home owners cut their energy consumption, and have lower energy bills. Best Buy will sell the gear via dedicated sections of three of its brick and mortar stores and also through a new Home Energy portal on its website.
Regardless of their motives, this is good news.
Years ago, I discussed how people were going green to save green.
From TallWall (thanks to @G2Architecture):
Myth 2: Green consumers’ main motivation when reducing their energy use is to save the planet. Continue reading
My Home’s LEAP Energy Makeover Continues
Today was interesting. As part of the LEAP Energy Makeover, the 2nd phase of my home’s energy efficient makeover began …
Foam insulation’s not cheap, and it wasn’t fully covered by the award, but doing it was the right choice. We’re nearing the finish of the makeover, and I an my family are looking forward to feeling the difference, both in our home and in our monthly budget.
Getting Started with Energy Efficiency in My Home
As some I know I am in the midst of making some energy efficient upgrades on my home. I am finding that the $2500 dollar prize is great, but its only just a start.
To truly realize energy efficient gains I am faced with the choice of spending an additional three to five thousand dollars (and could easily spend more). I could get the blown insulation, but will really see and feel differences with spray foam insulation. Which costs a lot more.
$2500 would let us achieve at least 15% energy savings, but I want (and really need) more savings and a more comfortable home.
As with everything new, there is a learning curve. New experiences, new products bring new things to learn and new questions to ask. There are potential negative and unintended consequences to sealing one area of your house and not the entire unit. One of these unintended consequences is the off gassing from the spray foam insulation. It is something that I never knew about. I never knew you’d ask. I never knew not to ask.
This is a process … of learning, of asking questions, of digesting answers and asking more questions. It’s also one of budgeting.
Continue reading
Sustainability Matters
I was humbled to participate in the panel with real business leaders John Lawrence of Mudhouse Coffee and Crystal Mario of Rivanna Natural Designs yesterday. John and Crystal are setting standards for what and how profitable green/sustainability can be done successfully. Continue reading
Seeing Green and Talking Green – Charlottesville Workshop Tomorrow
I have long said that a very small percentage of the (American) populace will make green decisions – conservation of resources, smarter use of resources, building green, etc. – because it saves green not solely for altruistic reasons.
With that preface, come to the Seeing Green: Savvy Solutions for your Business and Your Community workshop tomorrow at City Space (press release after the jump); I’ll be on the panel – “Been There, done that, have the results to prove it!” at 10:45 discussing some of the ways that I and Nest Realty have chosen to go green for green reasons as much as economic reasons.
The ways that I and we have “gone green” is surprisingly long … I’m looking forward to discussing them tomorrow as well as hearing feedback on which ones are applicable beyond real estate. Continue reading
Lifestyle Shift – Riding a Bike Revisited
Looking back at when I started riding a bike in Charlottesville in 2008 . What I wrote is as relevant now as it was then. Since then, I’ve gotten a better bike, discovered more routes and actually shown property to a client while on bikes . Continue reading
A first – Rode My Bike to Show a House in Charlottesville
Today marks a first: I rode my bike from Nest to a buyer client’s house (where they’re renting) and from there to a house on the market in the City. No car, just a nice ride on a beautiful day in Charlottesville. I’ve wanted to do this for years, ever since I started consistently riding a bike a few years ago. Continue reading
Backyard Garden, Year Two
Year One was a reasonable success , in that: – We fed ourselves a little bit, – We learned that gardening is a lot of work that requires constant vigilance – from weeds, deer and other critters – The family gardened together – I’d like to think I’m helping my little corner of the world by growing local, eating a bit local, and hopefully setting an example for others. – Spacing of plants matters. … In fact, they’ll likely die. – Order and planning seem to be reasonable foundations for success in gardening; I’ll let you know if that proves to be true. – I want a bigger garden. … More of my buyer clients have gardened, and many more want to have gardens; “I’d like some space for a garden” is one of the more common questions/criteria I am hearing, and I don’t think this is a self-selection whereby I am attracting like-minded buyer clients. I think more people want to garden. 
If you’re like me and are getting started in gardening and haven’t had time to plant, may I suggest a visit to the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s website ? Continue reading
