RealCentralVA.com » Green

Energy Efficiency Goes Mainstream thanks to Best Buy

Jim — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:00:51 +0000

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.

And in 2009:

From TallWall (thanks to @G2Architecture):

Myth 2: Green consumers’ main motivation when reducing their energy use is to save the planet.When asked the most important reason to reduce energy consumption, 73% chose “to reduce my bills/control costs” and only 26% chose “to lessen my impact on the environment.”

My house recently underwent a home energy makeover … why?

45% – have a more comfortable home
45.5% – save money
9.5% – help the environment

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Energy Efficiency Goes Mainstream thanks to Best Buy

My Home’s LEAP Energy Makeover Continues

Jim — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:19:18 +0000

Today was interesting. As part of the LEAP Energy Makeover, the 2nd phase of my home’s energy efficient makeover began …

Day one (Monday) started with having a few exhaust vents addressed.
Day two (Wednesday) brought the foam insulation as the builder neglected to put insulation in the floor.
Day three (Thursday) is going to add some missing insulation to ~~one~~ two of our walls.

Foam insulation’s not cheap, and it wasn’t fully covered by the award, but doing it was the right choice, as the alternative was going to be far less effective. 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.

As I said in the beginning – I’m excited to have won this award not just because it’s going to benefit my family, but also because the knowledge I gain will be beneficial to my clients. I have a feeling that I will be encouraging energy efficiency tests as part of what I bring to my buyer representation services.

And about 7 minutes later …

This is a good video that shows more detail about spray foam insulation.

Update 27 October 2011:

Thank you to Mike at APM Energy, LLC for the work he did and Weather Seal for the insulation.

This is the finished product (turn your sound down … the fan is quite loud)

But now I really want this:

… and not simply because of the similarities to Nest Realty.

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

My Home’s LEAP Energy Makeover Continues

Getting Started with Energy Efficiency in My Home

Jim — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:02:56 +0000

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.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the exceptional loan program offered by the UVA Credit Union.

To truly make my home much much more energy efficient I believe that I would have to spend realistically between twelve and twenty thousand dollars. If I was going to spend that much, I’d be very tempted to use the UVA Credit Union’s Power Saver Loan:

UVA Community Credit Union is one of only eighteen national, regional and local lenders selected by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to participate in the new PowerSaver loan program, a two-year pilot program offering low-cost financing for energy-efficient home improvements.

For many consumers, PowerSaver Loans will be less expensive than other kinds of financing for home improvements. This is because FHA is providing mortgage insurance and other incentives to lenders to lower costs for homeowners.

These new PowerSaver loans will offer qualified homeowners up to $25,000 to make energy-efficient improvements of their choice, such as replacement doors and windows, metal or asphalt roofs, HVAC systems, water heaters, insulation, duct sealing, solar panels, ground source heat pump systems and more.

Will we recoup these expenses when we sell? Who knows. I remain skeptical about the federal government’s ability to implement a “MPG for Houses” but I do foresee a time when energy audits will be as commonplace in the home buying process as are regular home inspections (much more on this in a later post).

For now, quantifying green improvements is a challenge, a challenge that is s slowly but surely being defined and solutions attempted.

** Wendy Edwards was kind enough to invite me onto her radio show Saturday morning to talk about our winning the LEAP prize and what improvements we are going to do. If you’re interested, you can listen to the show here.

* Photo courtesy of

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Getting Started with Energy Efficiency in My Home

Sustainability Matters

Jim Duncan — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:40:40 +0000

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.

Read about it at Charlottesville Tomorrow:

“Lynelle and I have been ‘green’ from the very beginning,” said Lawrence. “That’s been our intent from the start when we had a coffee cart [on the Downtown Mall] in 1993. We were composting our grinds and saving those for the sous chef at the Omni.”

Lawrence said that at his five area locations the Mudhouse is always looking for opportunities to become more energy efficient, use less water and produce less waste. He said upcoming renovations of the Downtown Mall Mudhouse would include a new roof, more insulation and solar panels.

Crystal Mario founded her business, Rivanna Natural Designs, after retiring as a globetrotting technology executive. In 2001, Mario said her goal was to create job opportunities in Charlottesville for recently arrived international refugees.

(follow cvillebetterbiz on Twitter)

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Sustainability Matters

Seeing Green and Talking Green – Charlottesville Workshop Tomorrow

Jim Duncan — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:30:30 +0000

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 energy efficiency and other green choices save – 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.

Some of the ways I’ve “gone green”:

- Biking wherever I can

- iPad – less print, more information

- Working from home (more than ever before)

- More video

- More efficient route planning for showings – avoiding traffic, left turns, etc

- Advising clients on green decision-making and prioritization

- Advising clients to drive by properties first

- Docusign (perhaps the single greatest thing ever)

And quite a few more tips specific to real estate. I’m looking forward to the thinking and reflection I’ll be forced to do to prepare for my 10-minute spiel.

* Photo courtesy of Will Clayton

Seeing Green – Charlottesville Workshop

SEEING GREEN:Savvy Solutions for Your Business and Your Community
Thursday, June 23
9 am – 12 pm

Networking: 8:30-9am

Introductions and overview of workshop: 9:00-9:20
Welcome

Nora Gillespie, Director, CV Small Business Development Center

Opening Comments/Welcome from City and County
Hollie Lee, Economic Development Specialist, Office of Economic Development, City of Charlottesville

Lee Catlin, Assistant to the County Executive for Community and Business Partnerships

Overview
9:20-9:50
Cynthia Adams, Executive Director, Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)
Going “green” is more than a great marketing line – sustainable business practices increase efficiency, productivity, savings, and consumer interest.

“Energy 101: Bills, Benchmarking, and Your Bottom Line”
9:50-10:15
Bob Thompson, Director of Sales, ColonialWebb Contractors
Do you know if you are paying too much for your heating and cooling costs? How to find out and what to do about it.

Break 10:15-10:30

“How to Afford the Fix”
10:30-10:45
Michael D. Lyster, Vice President of Business Services, UVa Community Credit Union
Financial resources/assistance – what your options are for rebates, loans, tax credits, and more.

“Been there, done that, have the results to prove it!”
10:45-11:40
Local business owners discuss their choices to implement sustainable business practices: why they did it, what they did,what results they have seen. We invite attendees to share insights from their own experiences and to engage panelists in discussion.

“Charlottesville Better Business Challenge”
11:40-11:55
Teri Kent, Executive Director, Better World Betty/Project Manager,Charlottesville Better Business Challenge
Hear about a new initiative sponsored by Better World Betty, LEAP, the Chamber of Commerce, UVa’s Darden School of Business, and local government to help your business become more sustainable.

Closing comments
Nancy Quirk, Climate Protection Program Coordinator, City of Charlottesville

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Seeing Green and Talking Green – Charlottesville Workshop Tomorrow

Lifestyle Shift – Riding a Bike Revisited

Jim — Mon, 16 May 2011 09:44:07 +0000

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.

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Lifestyle Shift – Riding a Bike Revisited

A first – Rode My Bike to Show a House in Charlottesville

Jim — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:44:05 +0000

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.

Now … to find another client who wants to see houses via bicycles …

* incidentally, this is the house:

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 487851 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

A first – Rode My Bike to Show a House in Charlottesville

Backyard Garden, Year Two

Jim — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:18:20 +0000

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.

- We learned that spacing of plants matters. Just because I think I have room for sixteen tomato plants in the bottom right corner doesn’t mean they’ll grow. 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 (and chickens)

- I’m never going to be as sustainable as Will at Revolutionary Soup (perhaps my favorite place to eat in Charlottesville)

Bringing this back to real estate … more of my clients are gardening. 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.

The Charlottesville area is known for being “progressive” whatever that means … we have a lot of CSAs and other options for shopping locally, cool garden stores and nurseries and generally a desire to try to do what’s right. I’m wondering if this “wanting to garden” trend is prevalent in other markets.

See that little monster? That made it worthwhile

Now, if can just nurture those "green shoots"

We’re not going to feed the family, but if we can get a few meals and teach the kids the value of growing your own food, I’ll mark this experiment down as a huge success.

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? It is, in a word, useful.

* I haven’t asked the HOA’s permission.

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Backyard Garden, Year Two

Charlottesville’s Retail Relay raises Nearly $3 Million

Jim — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 04:09:37 +0000

Congratulations are in order … :

Retail Relay Inc. has raised $2.96 million, according to a pair of SEC filings.

The online grocery retailer took in $2 million from an equity offering, while raising $959,836 from an offering of convertible notes.

Retail Relay is a pretty fascinating concept that speaks to the growing locavore movement that is so prevalent in Charlottesville, as well as the busy schedules of many people. Put simply: local foods come to you!

C-Ville had a nice description recently of what Retail Relay does:

The way Relay works is simple: you log on to their website, select from an extensive list of groceries (and gifts, cleaning supplies, etc.), pay with your credit card, select a pick-up location (or home delivery), then go get your necessaries in one easy trip. They even put the bags in your car (bring your own reusable totes for extra greenie points)!

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Charlottesville’s Retail Relay raises Nearly $3 Million

Cities Are Greener than the Suburbs. Apparently.

Jim — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:51:09 +0000

City dwellers have smaller carbon footprints, walk more and are generally better for the environment. So says Ed Glaeser in the Freakonomics podcast.

The higher price of urban space means that people are living in smaller homes, even with the same family size. And that leads to lower electricity usage, lower home heating usage — and those are the facts that I think make cities seem, at least to my eyes, significantly greener.

…

The home-mortgage interest deduction essentially acts as a push away from urban apartments and into suburban homes. And let’s just go through this — more than 85 percent of single-family detached houses in this country are owner occupied. More than 85 percent of multi-unit dwellings are rented.

There’s a good reason for this. If you rent out single-family detached housing, they depreciate on average, more than 1 percent a year, according to some studies. And that’s quite easy to understand: renters don’t do the maintenance that homeowners do, to keep taking care of their homes.

No word yet on how they plan to feed themselves.

What do you think? Where would you think are the most “green” neighborhoods of Charlottesville?

Didja know that you could search for walkable homes in the City of Charlottesville here? And sort by Walkscore?

Next on my reading list: Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Cities Are Greener than the Suburbs. Apparently.

Coaching Soccer This Spring. Again.

Jim — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:04:13 +0000

Next Wednesday my spring life changes again. My real estate business will shut down from three o’clock to six o’clock. And Saturdays’ schedules will be non-negotiably altered.

Soccer season for the little one begins anew.

Coaching U-8 soccer is a thrilling, exhausting, rewarding, exhausting, trying, fun, exhausting and one of the best things I’ve ever done. Seeing the girls I coached eight years ago develop into real people – real people who are still playing soccer – is indescribably rewarding. My goal for each practice, each season, is to instill the love of the game I’ve played for 30 years. (I’m 35, thankyouverymuch)

What does this have to do with real estate? Easy:

When we bought our home several years ago, one of my ~~requirements~~ wishes was that we live close to a soccer field. We achieved that; we live a short distance to Crozet Park and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the decision.

At the time, I was coaching my older daughter as she began her U-8 soccer career, and I was (and am still) playing in an adult soccer league. We got what we wanted. We can walk or ride our bikes to the soccer field.

We chose a location that would help us live happily. We now have a coffee shop to which we can walk or ride bikes. There is now a pub within easy walking distance.

Real estate is inherently about community, about being a part of a community. Coaching soccer is one of the ways I choose to participate in my community, and more importantly, my kids’ lives.

Seeing the kids in the hallways of the schools, in coffee shops, in grocery stores, and knowing that for that little time of their lives, I had a impact, is something I encourage every parent to do. If you can connect with the kids, you won’t regret it.

I look forward to the start of every season with the same level of anticipation as I do the end of the season. Hearing the girls say at the end of the season, “Coach, when’s the next practice?!” is enormously fulfilling.

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Coaching Soccer This Spring. Again.

Charlottesville’s LEAP One of 10 Communities to Test “MPG for Houses”

Jim — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:04:11 +0000

From the Press Release:

White House Selects Charlottesville’s LEAP as Pilot for Home Energy Score Program
 One of 10 Communities Nationwide to Test Score Akin to MPG Label for Cars

The White House today announced that Charlottesville’s Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) was selected to help pilot a new Home Energy Score Program, similar to a miles-per-gallon label for cars, before it is rolled out nationally next summer. LEAP’s Executive Director Cynthia Adams was in Washington, DC, for the announcement today which was attended by Vice President Joe Biden as Chair of the White House Middle Class Task Force, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan. LEAP will now be one of the first to offer this valuable tool to customers and stakeholder partners in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties of Albemarle, Greene, Nelson, Fluvanna, and Louisa and will help improve the program before it is rolled out nationally.

“We know that in the U.S. buildings account for 70% of our electrical and 40% of our overall energy use, and yet until now we have had no practical tool for quantifying the relative performance of these buildings. Consumers need access to accurate and reliable information about the places where they spend time and energy,” said Adams. “A building labeling program like the one created by the Department of Energy and piloted by LEAP and others could help increase the asset value of our energy efficient homes and create market-based incentives for energy improvements. The end result is to effectively save residents money and create jobs in the local community.”

If this program takes hold, the property values of existing, non-energy-efficient homes may be negatively impacted. And newly-built may have a positive impact. Combine these with Location Efficient Mortgages and we might be witnessing a game-changer.

Update 13 November 2010: I asked the NAR for their response/reaction to this program and they were kind enough to forward the letter they sent to the Administration.
This is the letter from the NAR (PDF) End Update
From the (obviously biased*) NAR:

I’m a Realtor®. What does this mean to my business?
If Congress or the EPA imposes mandatory federal energy efficiency requirements, property owners’ ability to sell their home or building without first having to conduct energy audits and improve its heating and cooling system, windows, insulation and/or lighting would be at risk.

* and a trade group should be biased for and towards its members.

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Charlottesville’s LEAP One of 10 Communities to Test “MPG for Houses”

Renovating an Historic Home? The Commonwealth of Virginia wants to Give you Money.

Jim — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:12:43 +0000

Update 1 June 2011: Dave Mcnair at the HooK has a great story using this story as a part of his premise: Extreme makeover: rich edition– State program benefits those who need it least

(guest post by Brian C. Broadus)

The Commonwealth of Virginia wants you to pay it less tax. Really.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the preliminary-through-final-judge of whether work on your old house suits Virginia Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program, secures the patrimony of Virginia. The Tax Credit Program creates jobs, which in turn generates popular support for the Department and still more rehabilitation projects. Every bureaucrat there, and every private professional with whom you will deal, will have ranked two priorities: First, protect the Commonwealth’s interest in its archeological and architectural history. Second, get you your Rehabilitation Tax Credits. Frankly, as an architect who has specialized in building rehabilitation, renovation, restoration, and repair for nigh on 22 years, I share a sentiment that pervades the historic preservation community, including the staff at the Commonwealth Department of Historic Resources: This is free money. Why don’t more homeowners come and grab it?

Tax incentives to refurbish owner-occupied historic homes are rare in the United States, but Virginia has such a program. The Federal government concentrates on income-producing properties. Virginia tax credits this work, too, and that’s a topic for another blog post. In fact, non-profit entities and municipalities can, and do, use tax credit subsidies. Again, we’ll touch on these aspects of the law another time.

But, about your old house. You can erase 25 percent of a rehabilitation’s “qualifying expenses” (See below.) from your state tax. If the credits exceed what you’ll pay in Commonwealth taxes in ten years, you can form a limited liability corporation to syndicate them. (It’s surprisingly easy to do.) Most of these entities dissolve after five years. You can keep a controlling property interest, but you can’t sell you house so long as the LLC exists. If there’s no such binding entity, you can sell the house as soon as it’s complete and still keep the tax credits.

Yes, there’s paperwork. But, I’ve seen the process work well on a project with a total construction budget of $250,000. Credits are worth pursuing if the construction budget is as low as $150,000.

The rehabilitation cost must exceed 25 percent of the most recent assessment of your house. Note: house. Not location, but construction.

The house must be a) listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register or b) a “contributing structure” to a Virginia Landmarks Register District or c) judged “register eligible.” The Department of Historic Resources has an online database of Landmarks and Districts (See link below.). A “contributing structure” makes a District a Landmark. It will be listed in the District Register Nomination Form according to street address. There will probably be a photograph, too. If Landmark District designation is officially pending, and your house is listed as contributing to that District, you may proceed with your rehabilitation project. But, if the District is not approved within one year of your project’s completion, the you lose tax-credit eligibility.

Important: an Architectural Control District, with a Board of Architectural Review, is emphatically not a Landmark Register District.

The third qualification category is mere register-eligibility. Hire, well, me to inspect your house. If it’s a good candidate, I’ll prepare a Preliminary Information Form, a summary National Register Nomination Form. I won’t do it unless I’m sure it will be accepted by the Department of Historic Resources. The staff there will score it and forward it to the State Review Board. Once the house is officially “register-eligible” you can proceed with tax-credit work in confidence.

There are three Parts to the Rehabilitation Tax Credit Application, each one submitted to the Department of Historic Resources. Part One is waived for individually-registered houses: it’s photos of the house interior, which are already part of a full Register Nomination. Part Two depicts your planned rehabilitation. You need an historic architecture architect. The work is rehabilitation: our team is bringing an uninhabitable or archaic structure into service. Therefore, the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties: Rehabilitation (See link below.) guide the work. Part Two documents are preliminary. The Owner has the biggest say. We present our preferred design to the Department of Historic Resources and negotiate details with its historian. We get agreement and proceed with builder documents.

An Owner gets 25-percent credit for all “qualifying expenses.” These are soft expenses (historian’s, architect’s, engineer’s, lawyer’s, accountant’s fees, printing, travel) and rehabilitation hard expenses. Demolition costs qualify, if re movals conform to Application Part Two. Power system replacement, including light fixtures, switches, outlets, cover plates, and other devices, is a qualifying expense. Payment for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, data systems, alarm systems, fire protection systems, foundation waterproofing systems, lightning protection systems, plumbing systems, brick repair and mortar repointing, siding repair and replacement, and re-roofing and guttering, are qualifying expenses. These are big-ticket items. Re-building an original porch or house wing that has been eaten away by termites is a qualifying expense. Structural repairs of any kind qualify. Rebuilding a missing character-defining element, such as a bay window, which can be very well documented through old photographs, is a qualifying expense. Putting back missing window shutters is a qualifying expense. None of these things prevent the Owner from getting energy-conservation or other Federal or local tax credits. And, the work can be coordinated with green-building standards.

Non-qualifying expenses: if you invert your house and shake it, and something tumbles out, you lose. Forget moveable furnishings and window treatments. An addition, except in the very rare circumstance that the addition makes the original house habitable, will not qualify. Kitchen appliances are ineligible. Replacement windows qualify if proposed and accepted during Application Part Two. Earthwork for protective drainage and for septic field and well installation qualifies. No other work outside the house will.

Each pay request your general contractor submits should note credit-worthy expenses. Your accountant will review these.

I submit Part Three of the Application when you’re ready to move in: photographs that illustrate that we did what we said we would do in Part Two. The Department of Historic Resources asserts in writing that the outcome conforms. Your accountant hands the report of qualifying expenses to the Commissioner of the Revenue along with the VDHR confirmation letter. The Commissioner then verifies that the expenses are qualifying and confirms the credit. The Commissioner sends you a letter enumerating the tax credit, which you file with your state taxes. It’s that simple.

Oh, if, at any point during this process, you cannot resist the urge to paint your house lime green, or international orange, or white with red polka dots, there’s no rule or regulation or tax credit standard that will stop you from doing so.

Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Secretary of Interior’s Rehabilitation Standards

Brian C. Broadus
Member, Virginia Board of Historic Resources
www.broadusllc.com
(1 +) 434 882 0867

Brian Carter Broadus LLC Architects
American Institute of Architects  United States Green Building Council
Charlottesville Virginia 22903 USA

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Renovating an Historic Home? The Commonwealth of Virginia wants to Give you Money.

Charlottesville’s LEAP

Jim — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:04:45 +0000

Via press release:

Charlottesville and Albemarle residents will have the chance to win $10,000 in energy efficiency improvements to their homes in a Home Energy Makeover Contest to be announced this Wednesday, July 7th. The contest is one of several upcoming opportunities for local homeowners to make their homes more safe and comfortable and save money on energy bills – including a major announcement about a suite of incentives and rebates to be made at the press conference.

What: Launch of the Charlottesville Home Energy Makeover Contest and announcement of new energy efficiency incentives and rebates for the community.

When: Wednesday, July 7th – 1:30 pm

Where: Charlottesville Community Design Center, Downtown Mall

Who:

- Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris and Cynthia Adams, Executive Director of the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)

- Local contractors who will perform home retrofits as part of the contest

- Local homeowners who have recently been involved in pilot energy efficiency assessments and retrofits

Local Energy Alliance Program – Charlottesville (PDF)

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Charlottesville’s LEAP

Charlottesville’s Buy Fresh Buy Local 2010 Guide

Jim — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:51:30 +0000

Thanks to Erika at C-Ville for pointing out that the Buy Fresh Buy Local 2010 Guide has been released. You can download the guide from the Buy Local Virginia site.

Your list of Farmer’s Markets, local farms, orchards, vineyards, CSAs, supporting Charlottesville area restaurants, retailers and caterers – all in one place.

My new garden is coming along nicely, too, thankyouverymuch. I’ll post photos of our “crops” soon.

I’ll have extra copies [of the publication] if you want some.:)

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Charlottesville’s Buy Fresh Buy Local 2010 Guide

Local Food in Charlottesville and Albemarle

Jim — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:15:43 +0000

This week, my family ate lettuce. And the little one liked it – because she helped to plant it, water it, grow it and pick it. This might not seem monumental, but growing something in my backyard has been a profound, humbling, frustrating and rewarding experience. This is a step towards educating my kids and myself about our food and our food system.

The more I delve into and learn about the food system, local food, where our food comes from, the more convinced I become that real estate – my chosen path – is a huge component to the food system. Real estate is about community, food, family … it’s local.

Update 7 May 2010 – I’m really happy now that we are growing our own lettuce:

RT @roanoketimes: Lettuce recalled in 23 states, including VA (Kroger “grab and go” salads affected) via AP: http://bit.ly/bPGza1 #Rkeless than a minute ago via TweetDeckDailyProgress
DailyProgress

End Update

A couple of interesting stories this week, both from Charlottesville Tomorrow.

Albemarle loosens some key regulations :

A pair of zoning amendments adopted Wednesday by the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will make it easier for farms and wineries to sell their products.

“The best way to preserve the rural character of Albemarle County is to make agriculture profitable,” said Matt Conrad of the Virginia Wine Council during a public hearing.

One of the amendments allows farmers to sell products at stands operated on land they do not own, something that had previously not been permitted.

The new language also allows farmers’ markets to be operated in more zoning districts throughout the county. Farms with their own stores can now be expanded to as much as 4,000 square feet, and owners are allowed to sell accessory products and non-local produce.

The other amendment gives wineries more opportunities to hold special events to attract customers. Previously, Albemarle restricted the amount of people allowed to attend events held at wineries to no more than 150 people, and restricted such events to no more than 12 a year.

UVA Planning Students audit area food systems:

For each of the past five years, students in Tanya Denckla Cobb and Timothy Beatley’s class have examined different aspects of how this community obtains its food. This year the class analyzed the policies of Charlottesville and five surrounding counties to determine how they might be changed to promote the cultivation and distribution of local food.

“A resilient community is one that produces more food locally,” said Beatley. “We like to think that this is something that every community ought to be doing. Taking stock of how much we’re producing [and] how well we’re doing it.

Students in this planning course study everything involved in getting food from the farm to the dinner plate, according to Cobb. She said a community’s agriculture sector can grow if efforts are made to better plan how people eat. If major institutions can be encouraged to buy from local producers, the local economy can grow.

“We know that dollars spent in our community have a multiplier effect,” Cobb said.

…

“Children [in Nelson County] used to actually take two weeks off from school to harvest apples,” said student Sara Teaster. “The challenges of losing that food heritage is very difficult.”

Additionally, many of the groups said the Virginia Cooperative Extension should expand opportunities to assist local farmers connect with consumers. Convenience stores should be encouraged to carry fresh produce.

There are at least nine Farmers’ Markets in Charlottesville and Albemarle:

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Local Food in Charlottesville and Albemarle

A Food Revolution – Start in Charlottesville

Jim — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:27:41 +0000

This is an absolute must-watch video.

Charlottesville folks – What are the best local food options you have found/used?

Search for local food options in Albemarle at Buy Fresh Buy Local; Search for local food options in Charlottesville.

Personally, I like reading the Green Scene blog at C-Ville.

Some options to learn about eating and cooking in Charlottesville:

- The Food Geek
- Notes from C-ville
- Bella Eats
- Charlottesville’s Local Food Hub
- Charlottesville Blogs’ Food and Farming category
- Life in Sugar Hollow

Update 7 March 2010: I was in Café Milano (closing soon unfortunately) and saw a flyer for C’Ville FoodScapes -

We believe that if more people knew the simple joys of plucking a perfect, vine-ripened tomato, or of pulling up a beautiful orange carrot out of the earth, more people would garden. But in our fast paced lives, we seldom have the time to devote to planning and maintaining a garden, and these moments of happiness never come to pass.

We believe that in a world where we are acutely aware of the impact we are having on our environment, growing some portion of our own food is the responsible decision. How much longer can we afford – financially and environmentally – to ship fruits and vegetables around the globe when we could take action into our own hands? We all need to start thinking globally by acting locally: and you can’t get much more local than your own backyard.

We believe that fresh, wholesome, healthy food is a right, not a privilege that varies by race or income level. That is why we set up our Garden Grant program. We want to ensure that those who are less fortunate than ourselves do not continue to be marginalized and forgotten. What good is being progressive if it does not help everyone progress?

We believe that businesses function optimally when they are owned by those who work for them – we take pride in and responsibility for that which we can call our own. C’ville Foodscapes strives to serve as a representative for cooperatively run, worker-owned enterprises everywhere. Membership is voluntary, and each member has equal say in the decision-making process.

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

A Food Revolution – Start in Charlottesville

Green – It’s about Saving Money

Jim Duncan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:12:47 +0000

Part 5 of – see bottom for links to each post in the series. This post was actually a work-in-progress from several weeks ago, but the conversation on the radio spurred me to finish it.

From TallWall (thanks to @G2Architecture):

Myth 2: Green consumers’ main motivation when reducing their energy use is to save the planet.

When asked the most important reason to reduce energy consumption, 73% chose “to reduce my bills/control costs” and only 26% chose “to lessen my impact on the environment.”

Duh.

Green Homes = Common Sense (2007)

When given the option to build green, will Buyers take it? (2008)

Proof There is a Market for Recycling in Charlottesville (and Albemarle) (2009)

As I said in a comment in 2008 on the Going Green to Save Green story:

I think his perspective is probably representative of the vast majority of consumers. My clients generally don’t necessarily care about their carbon footprints, but do care about saving money.If saving money means green, so be it.

10 Strategies to Increase the Energy Efficiency of Your Homes

Politically, as part of the Cap and Trade/Tax bill:
From Fast Company in October 2009:

Vice President Joe Biden and the government’s Middle Class Task Force unveiled a report this week that aims to make homes more energy efficient. Dubbed “Recovery Through Retrofit,” the report offers suggestions on how to use existing Recovery Act funding to create a home energy efficiency retrofit industry. An ambitious goal, to be sure, but is it plausible?

While by no means a comprehensive list, some of the green homes in Charlottesville can be found in the following neighborhoods:

- Belvedere
- Old Trail
- Westhall
- Wickham Pond
- Avon Park
- Poplar Glen
- Montgomery Ridge

The Code of the Commonwealth of Virginia allows for:

A. Energy-efficient buildings, not including the real estate or land on which they are located, are hereby declared to be a separate class of property and shall constitute a classification for local taxation separate from other classifications of real property. The governing body of any county, city, or town may, by ordinance, levy a tax on the value of such buildings at a different rate from that of tax levied on other real property. The rate of tax imposed by any county, city, or town on such buildings shall not exceed that applicable to the general class of real property.

B. For purposes of this section, an energy-efficient building is any building that exceeds the energy efficiency standards prescribed in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by 30 percent. Energy-efficient building certification for purposes of this subsection shall be determined by any qualified architect, professional engineer, or licensed contractor who is not related to the taxpayer and who shall certify to the taxpayer that he or she has qualifications to provide the certification.

—

Part 1- Quick Update on the Charlottesville Real Estate Market
Part 2 – Short sales and Foreclosures in Charlottesville
Part 3 – Homebuyer tax credit in 2010 – Who’s Eligible?
Part 4 – Strategic Defaults in Charlottesville – What will 2010 look like?
Part 5 – Green building trends in Charlottesville

Podcast of the full hour show and transcript.

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Green – It’s about Saving Money

Recycle Those Christmas Trees in Charlottesville and Albemarle

Jim Duncan — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:51:02 +0000

View Christmas Tree Recycling in Charlottesville-Albemarle in a larger map

From the desk of either “a good service provided by the local government” or “Charlottesville and Albemarle cooperate without great argument” …

From the County of Albemarle:

Trees will be recycled into free mulch for the public

It’s almost that time of year again!

As in the past, the Albemarle County Parks & Recreation Dept will host its annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program beginning December 26, 2009 through January 16, 2010. The Christmas Tree Recycling Program collects discarded Christmas trees which are chipped into mulch and then offered to the public at no cost. This program has been in operation since 1988 and recycles over 3000 trees each year; which in turn yields over 144 cubic yards of mulch. Not only does this recycling program provide citizens a place to dispose of a potentially large and cumbersome item, it also reduces the impact on our landfill.

By combining forces with the Charlottesville Curb Side Pick-Up Program, the two programs collected over 5600 trees last year, yielding approximately 268 cubic yards of mulch. According to the City Public Works Department, their curbside pick up will be the week of January 11th, 2010. Trees must be at the curbside by 7am. Shortly after the City’s curbside pick up, the County and City Parks & Recreation crews will team up to chip the estimated 2600 trees at Darden Towe Park.

As a reminder, this program is for Christmas trees only, please no yard waste. Both the County & City programs require that all decorations, stands and nails be removed from the Christmas trees. Free mulch will be available to citizen by February 1, 2009, at Darden Towe Park.

The County will operate seven sites daily, 7am till dark.

The sites are as follows:

- Chris Greene Lake in Earlysville

- Crozet Park

- Darden Towe Park

- Greenwood Community Center *

- Rivanna Solid Waste Authority Recycling Center on McIntire Road (*note: Sunday hours are 12noon – 5pm)

- Scottsville Community Center

- Walnut Creek Park

The recycling location on McIntire Road may be congested; please consider Darden Towe Park as an alternate location that is less congested and is suited better for large loads and contract haulers.

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Recycle Those Christmas Trees in Charlottesville and Albemarle

Please Buy my Client’s Car – They Don’t Need it Anymore

Jim Duncan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:12:25 +0000

I sold a house in the City of Charlottesville to some great clients last year. Now he’s selling his car. Which is awesome, and very green.

is living and working downtown, so no need for a second car – someone buy it! http://bit.ly/8DhpH6

That they’re living in the City and are able (and willing – that’s part of it, too!) to sell their car.

Incidentally, the current issue of National Association of Realtors’ On Common Ground (not yet online) is all about walkability, transit, smart (read: intelligent, not the bastardized/politicized “smart”) growth featuring Walkscore and a few quotes from yours truly.

Search for homes in Charlottesville with high Walkscores.

Search for homes in Crozet with high Walkscores. (coincidentally, I house I’m marketing comes up first … and the Walkscore is in reality much higher due to some missing restaurants and coffee shops in Crozet)

Search the Charlottesville MLS

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCentralVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Please Buy my Client’s Car – They Don’t Need it Anymore