Part 3:
How to Buy a Green Home:
DIRECTIONS
So, in regards to location, you probably have an idea already of where you would like to be located. Ideally close to work and schools and parks and the farmers market.
Here are a few other things to consider- regarding the direction your home faces (no it's not Feng Shui) It's specific to Austin and if you buy an existing home, these features will help you be more green!
1 Catching the Breeze: You want your home to have the longer side with plenty of windows facing South and North.
Why?
In Austin most of the year, a breeze comes from the South (and SouthEast), and if you have windows facing that direction you can catch a great breeze, air out your house and stay cooler than other homes.
2. Keeping Cool: It's easier to shade those windows that are facing North or South. Because of where the sun hits your home, you'll have a much easier time shading windows with overhangs if they are facing North or South. This is because the sun will come in at an angle and hit the East and West windows from the side- catching them off guard.
3. Trees: You will want most of your trees on the north side to lose their leaves in the winter. That way, when it feels colder, you'll have more sun on your home. For the South side, you can have trees that stay green year-round.
This is your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
512-297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Your Roof, It's so... COOL
Your Roof, It's so... COOL
The color of your roof can make a big difference in your energy bills.
Just think of how much energy and moola you'll be saving!
What's the key?
A white roof or a reflective metal roof.
Here's how it works :
Heat hits your roof
Your roof is white
Heat bounces off the roof
Your house stays cooler
You use less energy
You put less CO2 in the atmosphere
More heat is able to escape the atmosphere
(ok, I think that's how it works... I'm a non-scientist!)
White Roof Article
When you are switching your roof, think about metal. It's much longer lasting and is very reflective to heat. Otherwise look the lightest possible shingle you can find.
Your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Keller Williams Realty
512-297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
Check out Green Homes in Austin
The color of your roof can make a big difference in your energy bills.
Just think of how much energy and moola you'll be saving!
What's the key?
A white roof or a reflective metal roof.
Here's how it works :
Heat hits your roof
Your roof is white
Heat bounces off the roof
Your house stays cooler
You use less energy
You put less CO2 in the atmosphere
More heat is able to escape the atmosphere
(ok, I think that's how it works... I'm a non-scientist!)
White Roof Article
When you are switching your roof, think about metal. It's much longer lasting and is very reflective to heat. Otherwise look the lightest possible shingle you can find.
Your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Keller Williams Realty
512-297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
Check out Green Homes in Austin
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Part 2: How to Buy Green- LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
Part 2:
How to Buy A Green Home:
Location Location Location
This factor is pretty critical. You can get a home, you can renovate it, you can remodel it, you can make it super green, but you can't really move it somewhere else. This is my weak spot- learn from my mistakes- I live in a great house, in a great neighborhood where I have to DRIVE to get anywhere other than my neighbors house. The schools also suck. It's so close, and it sucks. Now I've got to look at driving my daughter somewhere else EVERY day of the work week.
There is a great tool out there that will actually SHOW YOU THE MONEY!
It takes your commute and tells you how much you'll save each month by living close to your job. COOL BEANS!! This means that it really pays out when you buy a more expensive home next to your job and walk to work. Generally you save more on gas and commuting and time than you would pay for a better location. Not to mention the trips to the gym.
What makes a green location? Here are some tips and tricks:
1. Think about where you go the most- work/ schools/parks
2. Use this great tool to figure out how much it costs to commute. This one is the best because it figures in your hourly value from your job, and it pulls that time lost commuting into the equation.
Commuting Calculator
3. Get a walkability rating for neighborhoods. This handy tools rates the neighborhood based on how many things are within walking distance.
Walk Score
4. Where is the public transportation- will you be near a commuter rail or bus line?
Austins Commuter Rail
5. Schools- If you don't have kids, this will effect your re-sale value. If you have kids, then good schools will also save you the drive to schlep your kiddos to another location.
School Info
Your Green Realtor
Patty Sylvana
Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
512-297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
How to Buy A Green Home:
Location Location Location
This factor is pretty critical. You can get a home, you can renovate it, you can remodel it, you can make it super green, but you can't really move it somewhere else. This is my weak spot- learn from my mistakes- I live in a great house, in a great neighborhood where I have to DRIVE to get anywhere other than my neighbors house. The schools also suck. It's so close, and it sucks. Now I've got to look at driving my daughter somewhere else EVERY day of the work week.
There is a great tool out there that will actually SHOW YOU THE MONEY!
It takes your commute and tells you how much you'll save each month by living close to your job. COOL BEANS!! This means that it really pays out when you buy a more expensive home next to your job and walk to work. Generally you save more on gas and commuting and time than you would pay for a better location. Not to mention the trips to the gym.
What makes a green location? Here are some tips and tricks:
1. Think about where you go the most- work/ schools/parks
2. Use this great tool to figure out how much it costs to commute. This one is the best because it figures in your hourly value from your job, and it pulls that time lost commuting into the equation.
Commuting Calculator
3. Get a walkability rating for neighborhoods. This handy tools rates the neighborhood based on how many things are within walking distance.
Walk Score
4. Where is the public transportation- will you be near a commuter rail or bus line?
Austins Commuter Rail
5. Schools- If you don't have kids, this will effect your re-sale value. If you have kids, then good schools will also save you the drive to schlep your kiddos to another location.
School Info
Your Green Realtor
Patty Sylvana
Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
512-297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Austin's Zero Waste Plan
Austin has a plan to become ZERO WASTE!
I'm thrilled about the idea. We will be one of the first in the nation to implement such plan. I know that Vancouver is implementing one right now. Thank you to Mayor Will Wynn for his progressive thinking and long-sightedness about the sustainability of our city.
Here's the plan
"Austin wastes an estimated $40Million annually by not re-using or recylcling products "
My husband was dropping some things off at the dump and literally brought back a completely perfect 'Pier 1' style coffee table, and dominoes still in the wrapper that someone was also dropping off at the dump. The re-use of amazing things there is really an untapped resource!
We should integrate those folks that find deals and sell them on ebay!
Your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
512-297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
I'm thrilled about the idea. We will be one of the first in the nation to implement such plan. I know that Vancouver is implementing one right now. Thank you to Mayor Will Wynn for his progressive thinking and long-sightedness about the sustainability of our city.
Here's the plan
"Austin wastes an estimated $40Million annually by not re-using or recylcling products "
My husband was dropping some things off at the dump and literally brought back a completely perfect 'Pier 1' style coffee table, and dominoes still in the wrapper that someone was also dropping off at the dump. The re-use of amazing things there is really an untapped resource!
We should integrate those folks that find deals and sell them on ebay!
Your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
512-297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Part 1: How to Buy a Green Home- NEW OR OLD
Part 1
How to Buy a Green Home
New or Old
Forget all that jazz about new is better- upgraded state of the art yadda yadda.
Think about an existing home that was remodeled, or a new home which is in an older neighborhood. (this is called in-fill when a builder creates a new home on an existing lot)
Not only will you get tried and true techniques, but you'll often have mature trees to boot!
Now, in saying that, there are some AMAZING things being done out there. Really beautiful and green. I'm a sucker- but get a NEW HOME in an ESTABLISHED neighborhood.
Having a home that has been remodeled green means that less resources were used, less materials were shipped, many times the home is closer to town and you also benefit from mature trees and the shade they bring. The home is also 'broken in'. No surprises here. These walls have been holding up for years, and many more to come.
You could even look at getting a home that is just BEGGING to go green. They are out there- they ask me to bring them buyers. We'll go over what is important in finding a Green Location next!
Your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
512-297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
How to Buy a Green Home
New or Old
Forget all that jazz about new is better- upgraded state of the art yadda yadda.
Think about an existing home that was remodeled, or a new home which is in an older neighborhood. (this is called in-fill when a builder creates a new home on an existing lot)
Not only will you get tried and true techniques, but you'll often have mature trees to boot!
Now, in saying that, there are some AMAZING things being done out there. Really beautiful and green. I'm a sucker- but get a NEW HOME in an ESTABLISHED neighborhood.
Having a home that has been remodeled green means that less resources were used, less materials were shipped, many times the home is closer to town and you also benefit from mature trees and the shade they bring. The home is also 'broken in'. No surprises here. These walls have been holding up for years, and many more to come.
You could even look at getting a home that is just BEGGING to go green. They are out there- they ask me to bring them buyers. We'll go over what is important in finding a Green Location next!
Your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
512-297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
Thursday, June 12, 2008
IT'S CHICKEN DAY!
Wahooo!! It's chicken day! Now that we have so much space, it's time to get some chickens.
Callahan's by the airport carries all sorts of country things- so close in, so far out!
We're going for chicks because they are so danged cute. Something like 1/2 of them are supposed to die on me. That's a total bummer. Not sure what to tell Celeste about death. She's only 4. We talk about bugs dying in the pool, but that's been pretty much the extent of it. A friend had some ideas that we could just say they flew away. Hmmm... she might catch on to that one.
So- CHICKENS CHICKENS CHICKENS CHICKENS!
I'll post photos later!
Callahan's by the airport carries all sorts of country things- so close in, so far out!
We're going for chicks because they are so danged cute. Something like 1/2 of them are supposed to die on me. That's a total bummer. Not sure what to tell Celeste about death. She's only 4. We talk about bugs dying in the pool, but that's been pretty much the extent of it. A friend had some ideas that we could just say they flew away. Hmmm... she might catch on to that one.
So- CHICKENS CHICKENS CHICKENS CHICKENS!
I'll post photos later!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The magical growing yard
So, we've got this yard- it just grew 3 times larger. It's a little intimidating! There was a fence closing in a section of the yard by the house. The other 2/3 of the yard was out sight, out of mind... it's grassy with a nice grove of trees and a creek. It's a great space, mind you, but boy, that's a big project.
I've got to step up to the plate now and figure out the least expensive way to remove grass and make it look nice. I guess all that planning comes in handy- break it down into small steps.
1. plant vines to hide the chainlink
2. put in soaker hoses for the vines
3. build a fire pit
It will be good to sit with the space for a while and get a feeling for it. The hard part is visiting great houses and trying to figure out how to do what they did in my yard AND not go broke AND be low water.
The real first step is that patch of grass I ripped out right by the mailbox. I'm totally stuck on that. It seemed like a good idea and I've got a complete block on what to do next.
Here's a question for you-
What will not need mowing, doesn't get tall, likes the sun, and won't mind being driven on occasionally?
This is your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Keller Williams Realty
(512) 297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
I've got to step up to the plate now and figure out the least expensive way to remove grass and make it look nice. I guess all that planning comes in handy- break it down into small steps.
1. plant vines to hide the chainlink
2. put in soaker hoses for the vines
3. build a fire pit
It will be good to sit with the space for a while and get a feeling for it. The hard part is visiting great houses and trying to figure out how to do what they did in my yard AND not go broke AND be low water.
The real first step is that patch of grass I ripped out right by the mailbox. I'm totally stuck on that. It seemed like a good idea and I've got a complete block on what to do next.
Here's a question for you-
What will not need mowing, doesn't get tall, likes the sun, and won't mind being driven on occasionally?
This is your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Keller Williams Realty
(512) 297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
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