Keyword: environmentalism
NAHB versus the EPA – it’s getting ugly and it impacts YOU
You all may recall I wrote earlier this year that the EPA (environmental protection agency) had issued rules with heavy penalties that required new lead safe practices for renovations and improvements being made on homes built before 1978. The rule was implemented in 2008 and required that contractors working on these homes have at least one on site employee be ...
How do the 25 largest American cities rank for wastefulness?
Wastefulness rankings According to a study commissioned by Nalgene, of the 3,750 people surveyed from the 25 largest American cities, San Francisco predictably ranks as the least wasteful. Participants were asked about a range of 23 behaviors from public transportation to shopping habits to saving leftovers and sustainability efforts. More weight was given to the actions with bigger impacts over ...
Community greening- why is no one doing this?
Greening the community For those of you not versed in commercial real estate, most states require a minimum amount of “green space” to be used in every development be it retail, multi-family and even industrial. Many developers get around this standard by excavating the land where the project will go, then adding some saplings and sod and calling it green ...
New 2012 AGBeat media kit available now
- We know you want the most sophisticated audience, and here it is!
New EPA laws on lead t-minus two days
Tick Tock Tick Tock With all the talk of market recovery, tax credits expiring, new Truth in Lending guidelines, this one may have snuck up on you. Yes, the EPA’s new law requiring contractors to be certified to do renovations on homes built before 1978 will go in effect a scant two days from now on April 22nd. From the ...
Energy Star – the government making a mockery of itself?
Oh the Humanity!! Apparently, there is such thing as the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and according to this NY Times Article the GAO recently audited Energy Star’s certification process with some pretty, ahem… embarrassing results. Among the bogus products that received the supposedly prestigious distinction were a “gasoline-powered alarm clock” and an air purifier which was nothing more than an ...
Philips to release 17 year, 60 watt bulb that only uses 12 watts
Super light bulb Between GE, Panasonic and Philips, there is a battle to the finish line for the newest style of light bulb- the generation beyond LED. Philips has announced that it will begin selling a 60-watt light-emitting diode bulb that only draws 12 watts by the end of the year. It will be part of the MASTER LED lamps ...
Inspiration For Your Blog: Water Pollutants by Zip Code
Blog Fodder Struggling to find something to write about after the holidays? In a rush to catch up with work? Last month, the cleanest and dirtiest water report was put into infographic form and today, we found the Environmental Working Group website that allows you to search for tap water data by zip code or water utility company and discover ...
Realtor Alert: Not All LG Refrigerators Meet Energy Star Standards, Despite Yellow Tag
Yellow tag fail. Earlier this month, LG filed suit to fight the Department of Energy‘s stripping LG french door refrigerator models of their energy star standard certification but to no avail, as today, the DoE officially announced this fridge no longer meets their standards and may no longer don the yellow sticker. As a Realtor, you probably get questions about ...
EPA Recognizes Top Cities For Achievement in Smart Growth
Did San Francisco or Lancaster win? Let’s see: This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named the winners of the 2009 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement, recognizing “outstanding achievement in smart growth by tribal, state, local or regional governments in four categories: Overall Excellence, Policies and Regulations, Built Projects, and Smart Growth & Green Building. Overall Excellence in Smart ...
New Study Shows Impact of Wind Farms on Home Values
If you practice real estate near a wind farm, you should know: With the increasing methods of alternative energy American cities are seeking out and implementing, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory set out to study whether or not wind power facilities impact sales prices of homes. Communities frequently worry about wind power facilities due to ...
Massachusetts Homeowners Making Money For Being Green
About time, Massachusetts This week, a law passed allowing homeowners in Massachusetts generating their own electricity (typically through solar panels) to sell back excess power to the electric companies at a premium rate. Utility companies here in Texas and in select other states have been doing that for some time and “net metering” allows users to be paid for excess ...
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Lani Rosales
Tara Steele
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