Green Spaces Real Estate

ecohaus is hiring

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:50:00 +0000

Caught this over on CL:

General Merchandising Manager (1st Avenue South)

Reply to: pickme_ecohaus@hotmail.com
Date: 2008-11-13, 2:52PM PST

You love merchandising. You believe in global warming.
Join us – make a difference ecohaus, Seattle-based leader in sustainable and green building and finishing materials is seeking an experienced senior manager to lead our Merchandising organization. This position reports to the CEO and will work closely with the rest of the senior management team to bring to market a compelling eco-friendly product assortment to drive ecohaus’ growth.

Three primary responsibilities:
• Develop and lead the Merchandising organization
• Define the product assortment strategy and manage the mix
• Establish standards and drive inventory sales performance

A unique opportunity:
• You will be the primary owner of the merchandising strategy and will lead your team in the development and execution of comprehensive tactics to deliver optimal GMROI while balancing quality, product selection, service levels and inventory.
• You will lead and direct the establishment of product assortment and pricing to achieve goals based on historic data, current trends, and future forecasts, while supporting the overall company culture and objectives.
• You will be responsible for leveraging the assortment across four distinct channels – retail operations, e-commerce, professional (B2B) sales (contractors, architects, etc.) and wholesale – including the development of processes and tools.
• You will lead and inspire the merchandising organization to build competencies in product development, negotiations, creating and cultivating effective and profitable vendor partnerships and product offering.
• You will employ best logistical methods of distribution to ultimately ensure having the right product in the right place at the right time at the right price.

Your qualities:
• Successful track record of 10+ years leading the development of new, innovative, branded products in a lifestyle-brand retail company
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing hardlines sourcing and buying strategies
• Proven history of affecting positive change and developing people
• 7+ years of P&L responsibility
• A passion for teamwork, problem-solving, and achieving results
• Broad-banded to make executive level decisions and take rolled-up-sleeves action
• High level of initiative and self-motivation, and the ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in all MSFT Office applications
• Familiarity with ERP systems and not afraid to learn new tools and technology
• Related Bachelor’s degree. MBA preferred.

If this sounds like you, and you clearly possess the experience described above, please send a resume and cover letter to: pickme_ecohaus@hotmail.com (no phone calls or visits, please.)

We offer a competitive salary, bonus program and a full benefits package, 401k, Paid Time Off, and a casual work environment.

About ecohaus: Environmental Home Center in Washington and Environmental Building Supplies in Oregon, helped pioneer the green building industry in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1990's and combined today, ecohaus is a leading supplier of sustainable building and finish materials. ecohaus offers stylish, durable and price competitive products in addition to expert advice and customer service to both homeowners and professionals.

Location: 1st Avenue South
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!

"Don't miss this" round-up

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:29:00 +0000

A round-up of some of the best articles I have read this week!

How Dirty is Your Zip Code?
Use the EPA’s tool to find out how clean your area’s resources are (or aren’t) and how you can help make your home town healthier and more environmentally friendly.

Are you debating whether to replace your kitchen surfaces?
Read today's Ideal Bite eco-tip

Best Choices When Organic Isn’t Available
Become a more health-conscious shopper. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s list of most- and least-contaminated fruits and vegetables.

Green Gardening: The finer qualities of mint
Garden expert Ann Lovejoy discusses the positive aspects of mint, that notorious land-grabber that has overrun many a garden plot.

Fantastic four of Seattle parks
String together these emerald parks for a gem of an urban hike

And something actually real estate related:

Why next year's home buyers should pay attention to credit scores today - If you're planning on waiting out this housing downturn, intending to buy a home when the coast is clear, you better start checking your credit reports now. There may be some surprises waiting for you. Credit-card companies are reducing credit limits on some borrowers. And for some people, that may cause a drag on their credit score.
See full story.

How to save up to $100 a month at the pump

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:57:00 +0000

Six Feet Under

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:26:00 +0000

Man, how I miss that show. The funereal industry was fascinating. The show even touched on natural burials for the environmentalist wife of Peter Krause's character. It's been so long I don't remember the character names much.

Anyway, I came across an article in the Seattle Times today that brought all this to mind, and if you are environmentally conscious as well, you will want to read about a Clark County Cemetery a pioneer in green burial trend.

Personally, I have my mind set on an Eternal Reef, unless being blasted into space becomes more affordable. They keep promising a West Coast reef soon. You can even have your pets memorialized this way.

And SFU? These days I get my Peter Krause fix on "Dirty Sexy Money".

More about Eternal Reefs:

Plot space is running out across America. Families are moving, couples are divorcing and no one visits their local cemetery to check on their final resting place. What are the burial options for the next generation? For families and individuals that choose alternative burial, a new memorial option is gaining popularity - reef burial.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) January 23, 2008 -- Plot space is running out across America. Families are moving, couples are divorcing and no one visits their local cemetery to check on their final resting place. What are the burial options for the next generation? Cremation is growing dramatically in the United States, and by 2010, the procedure may be included in 40 percent of funerals, according to the Cremation Association of North America. Given these cremation statistics, alternative burial trends are on the rise, including eco-friendly or "green burial," urging many Americans to think about leaving a permanent eco-living legacy. For families and individuals that choose alternative burial, a new memorial option is gaining popularity - reef burial.

Over the past seven years, Atlanta-based Company Eternal Reefs has offered underwater burial at sea in an artificial reef called a "Memorial Reef." Eternal Reefs is the only company in the United States to combine an individual's cremated remains with eco-friendly cast concrete to form a designed reef called a reef ball. Weighing anywhere from 400 - 4,000 pounds, each Memorial Reef placed on the ocean floor creates a new marine habitat for fish and other forms of sea life, allowing a new ecosystem to develop. Memorial reefs have also been a solution for the "shelf people" crisis across the country. An astonishing 45 percent of families that have chosen cremation still have their loved ones remains sitting on a shelf or in a closet. Thousands of individuals pass away unexpectedly and don't leave a will, leaving the next generation to handle their remains. Eternal Reefs offers a final resting place for those individuals.

With every Memorial Reef, the executor of the estate receives two memorial certificates that identify the longitude and latitude of the memorials, which are marked with bronze plaques. Loved ones can participate in every step of the Memorial Reef process and gather for the reef casting, viewing and placement ceremonies. Throughout the year, families and friends often return to the memorial reef site to dive, fish or even visit by glass bottom boat.

"You're seeing a change culturally. Rather than passing down an urn to future generations or taking up space in a cemetery, this memorial is a true living legacy, says Don Brawley, founder, Eternal Reefs Inc. "Our families find comfort in knowing their loved one has a final resting place and a meaningful environmental tribute to life."

2008 Eternal Reefs locations include:
Fort Myers, Florida - February 5, 2008
Sarasota, Florida - February 8, 2008
Miami, Florida - February 11, 2008
Ocean City, New Jersey - May 16, 2008
Ocean City, Maryland - May 19, 2008
Sarasota, Florida - July 15, 2008
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - July 18, 2008
Charleston, South Carolina - October 10, 2008
Chesapeake Bay - October 13, 2008

For more information about Eternal Reefs visit: http://www.eternalreefs.com/

About Eternal Reefs Inc.
Eternal Reefs, Inc is the first company in the United States to offer green burial at sea in an artificial reef ball to memorialize the cremated remains of a loved one. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company incorporates cremated remains with environmentally safe concrete to form an artificial reef formation called a Memorial Reef. The artificial reefs are dedicated as permanent memorials while also bolstering natural coastal reef formations. Over 1,000 Memorial Reefs, have been placed off the coasts of Florida, South Carolina, Texas, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.
For more information, visit: http://www.eternalreefs.com/

Are You Ready To Take the 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:11:00 +0000

Turkey day is less than three weeks away. That still gives you plenty of time to learn how to green up your Thanksgiving dinner.

A couple years ago, TreeHugger ran a contest based on the 100-Mile Diet that challenged readers to create a Thanksgiving dinner using only locally sourced food found within 100 miles from their homes. The contest turned out to be a huge success, proving not only that eating local is possible, but also easy, fun, and affordable. Are you up to the challenge? Do like the pilgrims and Indians, and enjoy your local bounty. TreeHugger.com

TreeHugger has posted its green holiday guides.

If you would like a little help in meeting the 100-mile challenge in the Puget Sound area, I suggest you check out your local farmers market and PCC. And if you do not know where to find an open farmers market this time of year, Puget Sound Fresh publishes a "fresh sheet", and also gives you a list of farmers market locations. You can pledge to eat local this Thanksgiving on their web site.

I personally recommend calling your closest PCC if you want to have a chance at getting a local or heritage turkey. If you really want to cut corners, you can order a prepared holiday meal that you just finish off at home. I am not certain if all of the food in their meal package deals comes from within 100 miles, however. You may want to ask.

I hope you enjoy your green Thanksgiving preparation! You will discover that eating locally and sustainably is a lot easier than you thought.

Just Say No to Ivy

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:40:00 +0000

Great article by Val Easton in this weekend's Home & Garden section of The Times. I became a Native Plant Steward with the Washington Native Plant Society in 2001 and the 100 hour training course was very enlightening!!

If you ever dabble in the dirt and plant anything in your yard or garden, you better read Know what's invasive and what's banned when deciding what to plant

OK, bottom line, which plants should we never allow into our gardens? "English ivy and any of the knotweeds. All knotweed cultivars are quarantined," says Reichard (see www.nwcb.wa.govto learn which plants are outlawed and/or quarantined in our state).

The Importance of the Tenant Selection Process

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:05:00 +0000

I know this is not a "green" topic, but it does strike a chord with me, for two reasons.

Many years ago I was a "risk analyst" at a screening company that processed apartment applications. I screened applications for hundreds of apartment communities and the company had clients in several states. When I first started in that particular niche, I was my happy-go-lucky trusting self. Eventually I involved into a savvy screener whose new attitude when processing applications was "you're lying until I discover you aren't." I was a very good screener, and the clients loved me - they would even have applications held if I was out, only trusting me to process them. The company wasn't as happy with me, tho, because I held applications to verify references, rather than making the required "two attempts" 30 seconds apart and marking the particular item "unverifiable" shrugging my shoulders and just closing out and making a recommendation regarding the application based on less information than was possible given a few more hours. This was a production environment, and the company unfortunately focused on quantity, not quality. But they guaranteed their recommendations, so there was no financial loss to the client should they make a bad recommendation.

Recently I also was working on a relocation project for the Port of Seattle for a bunch of homes and apartments that are being purchased as a result of the opening of the Third Runway at SeaTac. The new runway lines up with these homes and apartments, and the noise is going to be unbearable to people living in this area.

In preparation for relocating tenants in houses and also apartments, I toured rental properties for months, amassing enough data to be able to determine market rates for all sorts of properties. The apartments have it together, most are corporately owned and managed like an investment profit center. But many individual home owners are new to the landlord biz, since they really wanted to sell their house but couldn't, and decided to rent it out instead.

I can't tell you how many people I have coached on the proper rental screening process, trying to impress upon each of them how this was the most important thing to do, and to hire a professional firm to screen the application for them. The applicant pays for the service with their application fee. I think you can afford a couple of days' lost rent to rule out the tenants who are going to skip out owing rent, or totally trash the house, costing the owner thousands of dollars to fix it back up to rent it again. You homeowners who are getting into the landlord business can't afford to replace doors and patch walls and put in new carpets over and over again and still charge a competitive rent. It's a lot of work, a lot of money, and face it, your former home is more than just a financial investment - if you lived there you have some emotional investment as well, and you are going to be upset and hurt when someone comes in and disrespects your property in that manner.

Someone out there in the world has written a book about this very subject. Realty Times has an excerpt of an interview with Don Conrad, investor and author of "How to Find That Quality Tenant." and you can read it here.

You can listen to, or download the show archive MP3, here.

Conrad says,

The goal of the book is to give people a basic roadmap of the tenant selection process, a separate skill from just managing or investing. Most people don't respect it. While you might be able to buy a property in a couple of days or a couple of weeks or a couple of months, you have to deal with that property for years. By selecting the right person upfront everything that happens is so much easier to handle. The tenant selection process is the most important skill, bar none, a real estate investor will need for the next five or 10 years.

You just might thank me someday for straying from "green living" to discussing something important about the increasingly scarce "greenback". I am not a landlord, but I have met and talked with hundreds, and if this keeps you from experiencing a setback as a result of a bad tenant, I have done my job.

Added on 11/8/08
There was an article in Realty Times yesterday that also gives some good information and steps to follow if you decide to rent out your home. Read Can't Sell Your Home? Why Not Rent it?

Save a pumpkin's life!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:57:00 +0000

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Don't miss this ~ "The lowdown on GMOs" podcast from delicious living e-NEWS

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:13:00 +0000

Hot out of the Inbox -

The lowdown on GMOs: An interview with Beth Harrison, PhD

You may have heard the term “genetically modified” used negatively but still wonder what the big hoopla is about. After all, genetically engineered corn still looks and tastes like corn. Expert Beth Harrison, PhD, author of Shedding Light on Genetically Engineered Food explains why we should be more concerned about eating foods with tampered genes.

Listen now.

This year's Halloween colors are orange and GREEN

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:34:00 +0000

NWsource families columnist, Lora Shinn, says

Get on your eco-duds, then head to Ecohaus's Green Halloween party for some healthy Halloween ideas, hands-on activities and healthy snacks. Kids will get to meet "insulation man," who I imagine dates "duct girl." Prizes will be awarded for the most eco-friendly costumes. Sat., Oct. 18, noon-3 p.m., at Ecohaus, 4121 First Ave. S. Free.

Also, if you are looking for more green party ideas, you should pick up the book Simply Green Parties by Danny Seo, author of Simply Green Giving. I found it at Capers a year ago and it helped me plan our house warming party after moving into our Built Green Certified townhome in High Point in 2007. Nothing specific for Halloween, per se, but there are some AWEsome ideas in this book, great how-to's, and some really nice photographs. (ADDED on 10/31: See this video by Danny Seo about how to green up your Halloween)

On the scary Halloween night, you'll probably find us and my little Italian greyhound, Sophia (sporting her orange jack-o-lantern sweatshirt, complete with green stem on the hood) at Skeleton Theater on October 31st. We've gone for the past two years they have done this, and they say this year it will be one 20 minute show instead of clips. You should check it out if you are in the area!! It is pretty amazing what a couple of guys and creative genius can create.

Nature Journaling at CUH

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:24:00 +0000

I received an email that there are only 5 spots left for a unique class taking place at the Center for Urban Hortoculture at UW. I wish I was a better artist!! Maybe you might be interested in this unique opportunity.

Wendy

*******

Sunday, October 19, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Douglas Headhouse, Center for Urban Horticulture
$70; pre-registration required

Have you ever wished you could capture on paper what occurs in the world around you? Join wildlife biologist and watercolorist Heather A. Wallis Murphy for a fast-paced, fun class that explores the art and science of field observation. Whether you’re a writer, scientist, birder, artist, or nature lover, this is the class for you.

Participants will connect with the environment by recording small details of the natural world in pen and ink, pencil, and either watercolor or color pencil. For details, journal examples, and a list of class materials, visit http://www.wildtales.com/pages/events.html.

Space is going fast – please call 206-685-8033 or email jrobins@u.washington.edu today!

Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:12:00 +0000

Closing up our houses for fall and winter could lead to greater indoor air pollution problems. Gear up with an efficient vacuum to keep allergens and pollutants to a minimum. Read Nat Geo's Green Guide to Vacuum Cleaners.

Two NEW green building tours by Seattle Architectural Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:35:00 +0000

The Terry Thomas: An Elegant, Environmentally-Correct Approach to Design
When: Friday, October 17
Group 1: 10:00am
Group 2: 11:30am
Cost: $15 advance registration required. No walk-ups accepted.
Register online or call the SAF office at 206.667.9184.
Where: Weber Thompson offices in The Terry Thomas. 225 Terry Ave., N., second floor

Seattle Architecture Foundation is partnering with Weber Thompson to present The Terry Thomas: An Elegant, Environmentally-Correct Approach to Design, a one-hour guided tour. The Terry Thomas is a highly sustainable, commercial building located in the South Lake Union neighborhood. Wrapped in windows, it is a building designed along a modern aesthetic with a combination of time-tested strategies from the pre-HVAC era and complimentary new technologies.

Led by Weber Thompson Principals Scott Thompson AIA, LEED AP and Peter David Greaves AIA, LEED AP, this tour explains how the project reduces its carbon footprint, the workings of the passive cooling system, strategies employed to reduce water usage by 50% and energy usage by 30% and how the building has met its original vision of thoughtful sustainable design and a workplace that contributes to the occupant’s well-being, satisfaction and productivity.

It is Seattle’s first commercial office structure developed in decades without central air conditioning and is a working demonstration of the possibilities of sustainable design. The building is attempting is a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and the Weber Thompson tenant improvement is attempting LEED CI Platinum certification.

The project is purposefully located near transit and a future pedestrian corridor, building on civic amenities and encouraging employees to get out of their cars and walk, cycle or bus.
The former building—a 1920s vintage light industrial warehouse—was used as a practice space for one of Seattle's defining bands, Pearl Jam. Most of the existing, two-story building was salvaged for any reusable building materials and components, especially the existing brick and heavy timber (a few bricks were squirreled away by adoring grunge fans). Rafn Company recycled 93% of materials during demolition and 94% of the construction waste.

Joseph Vance Building: Historic Building, Modern Green Design
When: Tuesday, November 11
Group 10:00am
Group 11:30am
Cost: $15 advance registration required. No walk-ups accepted. Register online or call the SAF office at206.667.9184.Where: Joseph Vance Building lobby, 1402 Third Avenue

Seattle Architecture Foundation is proud to present: Joseph Vance Building: Historic Building, Modern Green Design, a special one-hour look at one of the city’s most innovative building renovations.

Spearheaded by nationally known sustainable developer, Jonathan Rose Companies, the renovation of the 14-story Joseph Vance Building not only preserves the character of the historic building (designed by Victor Voorhees and constructed in 1929), but makes environmentally conscious improvements to increase energy efficiency and create a sustainable and healthy workplace.
The renovation is a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings (EB)® and ENERGY STAR® registered project.

On hand to discuss the specifics of the project will be Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP staff including: Don Miles, FAIA, LEED AP Principal, Naomi Cole, LEED AP Sustainability Coordinator, and Criss Fournier, Senior Interior Designer and Peter Alspach, PE Mechanical Engineer, ARUP and a representative from Representative from GVA Kidder Mathews’.

Elements of the project include restoring the building's terra cotta façade, original ceilings, terrazzo floors, and operable windows, and updating the facility using sustainable materials, systems, and fixtures. Custom window shades and light shelves help preserve energy and maximize natural light while controlling heat gain and glare.

The design of a highly sustainable, 800 square foot Property Management Office incorporates elegant and simple 'green' elements including a conference table custom built from local, reclaimed trees; cabinetry using plyboo made from bamboo; and a natural color palette using environmentally friendly paints and finishes.

Seattle named #3 Most Sustainable City by Sustain Lane

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:27:00 +0000

This is the 3rd year Sustain Lane has put out a list of "Green Cities", ranking cities based on policy, innovation, economy and affordability, and even air and water quality. Each city is ranked in 16 categories, which then combine to make up that city's sustainability level. Seattle's City Chart is at left. Portland, OR was ranked #1 this year, Seattle ranked #1 in 2006. The study ranks 50 cities.

You can read more about the study methodology, learn "What is sustainability?" if this is something that still confuses you (there so much media use of this word, sometimes it can lose meaning altogether), and peruse a LOT of great information about the cities themselves and the ranking categories. A very educational site!

Green roofs becoming more common, but still can be a challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:58:00 +0000

Don't miss Valerie Easton's article on green roofs. There have been demonstrations of green roofs at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show for the past couple of years, and sometimes there are even self-guided "green roof home tours" organized in the Seattle area.

Read Keep a green roof thriving with the right soil and plants
Valerie says "Gritty soils and plenty of drought-tolerant, native plants are the secret to a successful green roof"

To My High Point Neighbors

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:29:00 +0000

I've spent the day slaving over a lovely jumbo postcard going out soon to my neigbhorhood. I've been a "secret agent" long enough. Despite several people around here knowing I am a real estate agent, it seems to be forgotten at the crucial moment of making a referral when someone talks about putting their lovely home, townhome, or condo here in HP up for sale. Personally, I have been surprised by how many homes I have seen go on the market in less than two years of occupancy. Why anyone would want to leave, I don't know because I love it here! But that's makes me a good listing agent for this neighborhood, too - no one can sell a neighborhood like a fan! I've got some great new pictures, too, so I'll give my HP readers a preview of a fancy UV-coated 100% recyclable postcard arriving in the mail shortly!

No one knows your neighborhood better than you…
you live here
Except maybe me
...I live here, too

We’re neighbors. No one knows better than you and I what sells High Point as a neighborhood—we both bought homes here. But I also have been trained to know what it takes to sell a home in High Point.

If you suddenly find yourself needing to sell your Certified Built Green™ home, there’s no one better to
market it for you than a Certified Built Green™ Professional: Real
Estate agent. By hiring a
licensed real estate professional who has been trained and educated in green homes, the many invisible but very important green features of your home will be specially highlighted to your advantage in today’s market.

And by working with an agent living down the street, today’s very
independent and ‘net savvy buyer will be able to have almost immediate showings of your home, whether they have an agent or not. Very important in today’s “I want it now” and “I can do it myself” reality.

Call for your FREE comprehensive market analysis

Wendy Hughes-Jelen
Certified Built Green™ Professional
206.686.HOME (4663)

Check out my blog : greenspacesrealestate.com

Wendy *IS* West Seattle - since 1997

Heads-up : Consumer Reports takes Energy Star ratings to task

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:33:00 +0000

Read Consumer Reports takes Energy Star ratings to task (Seattle Times)

Don't miss this : Modern-Shed, a chic outdoor space

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:37:00 +0000

Caught a blurb in the Seattle Times this weekend about a creative shed design company that has blossomed in our midst. Called Modern-Shed, they have a great story and some neat designs. Read Modern-Shed: a chic outdoor space

Photo from www.modern-shed.com

What is notable about these designs and this company is that they acknowledge the need for and also consumer desire for environmentally sensitive design. Besides a company mission statement, they also even have an Eco Statement on their web site, and green options hit all the right buttons:

Denim wall insulation

Cork floor tiles

Linoleum floor tiles (true linoleum)

Trex decking

SIPs (Structurally insulated panels)

FSC certified wood (Forest Stewardship Council)

Green roof options

Smart and efficient pre-fab structure made from materials supplied from Seattle area companies and completely constructed in one local facility

Be sure to check this company out. When my husband and I decided to build a shed at our last house, we hired a skilled friend to do the project for us. We bought all of our materials at McLendon's (as I recall) and we felt real good about employing a neighbor for a few weeks to build it. We picked a nice basic floorplan but it had a clerestory that helped with lighting and heat during the winter. Ours was not insulated or anything like that, but we also weren't using it for more than project and gardening and bike storage space. If I had to do it again (and I don't because now I live in a townhouse and just have a big deck, but also have a large garage), I would definitely be considering a green Modern-Shed!

This is a photo of the shed we built in 2005

Flashback : Do you remember what your first dream job was?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:13:00 +0000

Next week the international Association of Space Explorers opens its 21st Planetary Congress at Seattle's Sheraton Hotel - followed by a public event at the Museum of Flight. Some 70 astronauts and cosmonauts from 16 countries are expected to attend the meeting, which includes multiple public events and runs through Sept. 19.

My first career choice was to be an astronaut. One of my most prized possessions is The Kids Whole Future Catalog. That 1982 book was my bible. It outlines a number of different technologies and scenarios about the future. From housing, to food, longevity research, floating cities, robotics, space-travel, underwater exploration and living, and colonization. I knew everything there was to know about the future from this great book. (And yes, I still have it.) There's actually a movement out there to update and republish it. Wow, that would be something to read!

My intention to travel to space was further fueled by Robert Heinlein books and science classes. I was a sophomore in high school when the Challenger exploded. It was a very traumatic day for me. And it made me think about my willingness to die for my career. I'm a fickle girl, I guess. I got interested in marine biology. My thinking was that maybe we shouldn't be exploring space before exploring Earth's own oceans, which we knew so little of that it was essentially another planet anyway. Heinlein then died just as I was graduating from high school.

When I was a freshman at UW, planning to major in oceanography, I tried diving. It didn't go so well. I was born scared of the water (according to my mother) and they told me I would need private lessons and a lot of counseling to be able to overcome the instinct to surface I was battling.

Lucky for you, I then decided to study business instead!! And here I am, 20 years later, having worked in real estate and related industries for 17+ years.

Just because it was not for me, doesn't mean space travel isn't for you - or your children who are beginning to dream about what they want to be when they grow up. So you better read Space explorers conference lands here next week. Now's your chance to take your kids so they can ask those burning questions they (or you) have always wanted to know the answer to. Click here for the schedule. The morning and afternoon sessions at the UW are open to the public, with ample seating, and are free. The Monday afternoon session at the Museum of Flight is free with Museum admission. Technical Sessions at Microsoft will be web cast, with on site seating by invitation only.

You just might see me in the audience, with my hand up, asking them if any of them ever did like astronaut ice cream.

Green sourcing your bamboo flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:42:00 +0000

Interesting little article in Seattle Times this weekend, read Some bamboo floors aren't quite as green.

My recommendation is to check with the Forest Stewardship Council before committing to a purchase of flooring (or other home remodeling product). If you are going to the trouble to do a green remodel in your home, just putting in a bamboo floor is not necessarily "green" (as per the Times story).

To facilitate access to suppliers of FSC-certified products for LEED and other green building programs, Rainforest Alliance has compiled and introduced the SmartGuide, a listing of suppliers of FSC-certified products, with contact and product information, arranged according to product type. The list is growing quickly, so check this page periodically for updated versions of the guide.

SmartGuide to Paper and Print Sources [PDF - 4 MB]

SmartGuide to Green Building Wood Sources [PDF - 3.5 MB]

SmartGuide to Sustainable Furniture and FSC-Certified Products [PDF - 3 MB]

'round the hood : pics from this morning's walk

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:30:00 +0000

My battery died when I turned on the camera yesterday, so I had to wait another day and hope for still water to get this photo of homes around High Point Pond. There is amazing flora and fauna here, enjoy these pics!

Three surviving Mallard juvenile ducks from a clutch of 10 that were born at High Point Pond this spring. All girls.

High Point Market Garden is a very bountiful place.

Sunflowers are my favorite!

A gardener tends to his crops in the early morning.

Don't miss this ~ Real estate taxes Q&A

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:19:00 +0000

From the Seattle Times web site:

Barbara Alsheikh is supervisor for the King County Tax Advisor Office. She and her staff answer questions about assessment practices and values and help taxpayers navigate the tax-appeals process. She was a county appraiser for three years and is a certified real-estate appraiser with the state of Washington. She has a BA in economics from the University of Washington.

Q&A session from noon today transcript here.

A personal perspective on an application of basic real estate principles that affect the value of new in-city homes in conforming communities

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:03:00 +0000

(Photo of High Point homes above High Point Pond taken this morning shortly after sunrise)

Before I lived in a master planned community, and even longer before I became a real estate professional and began to understand the driving forces and governing principles of the housing market, I had no respect for suburban developments full of houses that all looked so similar but slightly different that I thought the builder had to think we were idiots to not know there wasn't a house exactly like *that* one 5 houses down. A friend of mine bought a house in an Auburn community in 2000, and I shook my head and still didn't really get it - why someone had to drive to Auburn to live in a house in a neighborhood that had sidewalks (the big thing that her husband wanted).

I certainly don't believe in driving out to the country to live in a community with sidewalks. You can get those right here in the city. Any city or town, actually. But some people really want to live out in the "country". There will always be people who want to live in big developments in the suburbs. I grew up in the country, 10 miles from the nearest town, 3 miles off the highway, and no such thing as bus service. My folks had 5 acres, and there were no suburban developments at the time (late 70s).

Country living, been there done that. I *like* living in the city - if you can call West Seattle the city. It is within the city limits but it really is like a small town all its own. When my husband and I bought our first house here its as if we were still hanging on to our roots but with an "in-city" compromise. We bought a 1929 farmhouse on a 1/4 acre lot, on a street with no sidewalks and few street lights. There was an elementary school a couple of blocks away, and a major community college a half mile away. It was within two blocks of the bus line, altho I never rode the bus (having grown up in the country, I never really learned how to use mass transit, and the few times as an adult I rode a public bus I got extremely motion sick). After almost 6 years there, having decided we were going to remain child-free and having become disenchanted with how much work a 75 year old house and really large yard and garden were, we finally looked at each other and said why are we doing this? Shortly thereafter we "sold out" and moved to a master planned community, albeit it was only a half mile away and still in the city. I am referring to High Point.

Not only did we move to a community with an HOA, we even moved into a subassociation that was a condominium. We have NO yard and are glad for it. We can't touch the landscaping out front and we are glad for it. We are free. We just celebrated our one year anniversary in our townhome and are still extremely happy we made the decision to move into a community with "rules". The homes that do have yards are small and manageable. Most of the landscaping and all of the parks are maintained by a service.

There is a lot of architectural variety here, but admittedly there are repeats of building plans frequently. Color changes can sort of hide the similarities, and flower pots certainly liven up the front porches on every street.

Why was this a smart move?
Altho we are taught to rail against conformity in our personalities, clothing style, and other parts of our culture, the principle of conformity when it pertains to real estate actually increases the value of homes within conforming neighborhoods. When all the buildings in a given area are of similar design, age, size, maintenance, and market appeal, value increases for everyone because the neighborhood is aesthetically pleasing due to its conformity or consistency.

The principle of progression refers to higher values attained when structures conform to each other. For example, a new home that appeals to current market preference is worth more when it is surrounded by other new homes in line with the current market preference.

The principle of regression refers to how ill placement or a lack of conformity adversely affects value. Consider in the previous example of the new home in adherence to current market preference. If this home was located around older homes with obsolete floor plans (i.e. my old neighborhood), then its value would be LESS than if it were surrounded by homes of the same style.

The principle of supply and demand: Most people understand that a high demand and low supply cause an increase in value. A new property probably corresponds to current market tastes and needs. Because new properties are generally in demand, and assuming no fundamental design flaw, you can conclude that for a period of time, the property's value will continue to increase. This defines the growth period. Eventually stability will then settle over the neighborhood. It will be a long time, if ever, before decline comes to this area.

Demand and scarcity are not unlike supply and demand on a local level. If there are only three houses of a popular style in a neighborhood, then those three homes are each worth more than if there were 30 homes of that style. Generally, a home is a useful commodity, however, a poor design or the presence of obsolete features lowers the value of property.

High Point was built with a lot of variety. Every home I have been in (and that's been *a lot*) was smartly designed, and all of the homes in High Point also bear the Built Green environmental certification, further increasing the value of the homes within these blocks. Every home is 2006 or newer. Not every home is unique, altho there is a limited amount of each kind of home here. There were 5 different development companies that built market rate homes in this community.

For all intents and purposes, governing real estate principles indicate High Point homes are a really good investment. I know I am glad I made the move.

There are some new homes still for sale, and there are even some resales now on the market. There is a studio with a really nice view of downtown, a carriage house with a loft, a rare 2x2.5 townhouse with 2-car tandem garage, and several 3+ bedroom townhomes or detached homes available. (Click here to view Built Green certified homes for sale in High Point in West Seattle). As most everywhere, supply is out of balance with demand at the moment, so some homes have been on the market longer than others. Most are competitively priced, some have experienced realistic price reductions, and one short sale townhome was an aberration and should not be considered as an indication of which direction home values in this community are headed (it went pending in 4 days and someone is getting a really amazing deal).

My home recently appraised at an 8.86% increase over what I paid for it in less than a year. The tax assessments are nicely below current market values so you don't feel like the government is putting the screws to you. It's a great community with lots of diversity and we have great friends and good volunteer opportunities within steps of our front door.

Now is the perfect time to be a buyer if you have the means to get into your starter townhome, or downsize from a larger real estate parcel into something more manageable. You'll find, like we did, that there are smart floor plans with sensible square footage that will perfectly meet your needs. Give me a call for a private tour or sign up for the Green Spaces Real Estate meetup group "outdoor environmental feature tour combined with an indoor real estate tour" scheduled for September 28th.

The High Point Market Garden is a very busy place these days. At last week's "farm stand" sales event, I got a ridiculous amount of SUPER FRESH vegetables for $6.50
2 1 pound bags of new potatoes
1 large bunch long green beans
1 bunch spinach
1 head Romaine lettuce
1 head green leaf lettuce
1 patty pan squash
1 fresh white onion
A bag of fresh carrots

Don't miss this ~ Plastics Q&A

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:18:00 +0000

Nat Geo's "Green Guide To Go" newsletter - to which my husband bought me an online subscription to for Xmas last year and I finally had time to read one because of some time off from work - arrived yesterday and I was glad to see a link to a comprehensive plastics Q&A article.

There has been a lot of talk in recent years regarding the safety of plastics and drinking water from or cooking food in a plastic container. I am a new aunt, well, she's one year old now (hi, Abigail!!) and for a recent visit I procured a certified BPA-free sippy cup, thinking she was probably to the sippy cup stage (being child-free, I don't know what happens when so I follow the age recommendations on the packaging). I purchased it at Pharmaca, which recently opened in the former family-owned Morton's Pharmacy space here in The Junction in West Seattle. I am all for supporting locally-owned family businesses, but in all honesty in over 10 years of living in WS I never went inside that store. Pharmaca is an "integrative pharmacy" and I think it's a great concept and we went during the opening weekend in to check it out. I can't remember what kind of sippy cup I bought, but in trying to figure it out I came across a BPA free bottle and sippy cup cheat sheet that you might find useful.

Well, that was a tangent. I guess the point is to be sure to read this FAQ on plastics and be thinking about the places plastics play a role in your life and see if you can replace plastics with safer materials. And check out the Plastic Containers Buying Guide they put together.

Summer stupor ended by summer sprinkle

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Hughes-Jelen) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:29:00 +0000

I don't do well in hot weather. I am a Washingtonian, born and bred, and when it gets above 75 I am not a happy camper. Don't let this picture fool you - it was taken on a sunny day in FEBRUARY out on Alki Beach, a lot more to my liking, temperature-wise. My Swedish ancestry means I burn in about 5 minutes. I've been avoiding chemical sunscreens (see a previous post about that), and I don't like the ghost-like sheen of mineral sunscreens (they just aren't quite there yet for me). So I started using a physical sunscreen - a lacy white poncho - to cut some of the sun exposure since I was scaring the kids at the tutoring center during the summer reading program. I would be so red that they were scared for me because they have never seen skin that color before. Most of them are from Somalia, and a few from Cambodia or Vietnam, and they just do not have the same sun reaction us Euro mutts do.

So I started covering up better, and on Saturday I even used an umbrella when attending the groundbreaking ceremony (hope stone ceremony, really) of the LEED Gold designed Neighborhood House planned for my neighborhood of High Point. I felt like a dork but I had not even arrived at the ampitheater before people were telling me how smart I was to bring an umbrella. I gave a silent thanks to the older Asian ladies in my neighborhood who do this all the time and just didn't happen to be around at the time to take the credit.

So in these weeks of hot weather I have spent my days dreading walking my dog but having to do it anyway since my husband and I moved into a High Point townhouse a year ago this week and we chose a place without a yard. I adopted a dog as a walking partner but when you have a house and a yard, you let yourself get lazy. I knew what moving to a townhouse entailed - 3 walks a day, 365 days a year, come rain, sleet, snow or hail - just like the old US Postal Service credo. Somehow they missed SUN in that credo - they must all love sun and that's why they got those cute blue shorts to wear. I would never make as a postal worker, unless trapped at the air-conditioned counter all day.

My dog, Sophia, an Italian greyhound, LOVES the sun. So I sometimes use a very long leash and bring a book and I sit in the shade of a tree and she stretches out in the sun and gets toasty. But even she gets too hot after awhile and we head home to recover and cool down. I am always wearing my lacy coverup since I don't want to scare any more neighbor kids.

So the cooler weather and rain the last couple of days has perked me up immensely and I feel motivated to sit down and bring you up-to-date with what I've been up to. I've not been blogging a lot, but I have been working a lot. Still I took a few days off last week when a friend from out of state came for a visit, so I had to cram a lot of work into the days leading up to it. I got my hair done at Mode Organic Salon. I finally got to visit the Chocolate Flower Farm on Whidbey Island, and having had a relatively mellow ferry trip, but still having to wait an hour on each end, am glad I don't live there and have a regular ferry commute. Altho I would probably get a lot more reading done.

Speaking of, What I've Been Reading:

My husband bought me an online subscription to the Green Guide magazine for Christmas, which I never read because I already spend too much time in front of a computer. But when they came out with their conscious consumerism reference guide, I ordered a copy right away - a book I can hold in my hands and more likely to read. I consider myself pretty green educated, but there's something new I have learned on nearly every page. Well worth the investment. I am considering giving it as Xmas gifts this year.

Plenty Magazine
A free subscription to this magazine came along with the cost of admission to this year's first ever Seattle green festival, a repeat of which is already scheduled for March 28-29, 2009. As someone who suffers from environmental guilt just as an every day thing by existing on this planet, I feel like this magazine has saved my life. This magazine has a positive outlook and dazzles with all of the innovation being created in this world right now that you just don't hear on the evening news. Good things aren't news, tragedy is. I prefer to have a little positive in my life, thank you very much, and I have really enjoyed this magazine. You can get a digital subscription if you want, but I have found I need something portable and in print. I read so fast that digital readers drive me crazy, so until something better comes along, I will trade a little recycled paper for green learning and a positive outlook on the future of our planet.

What I've Been Watching:

"Living With Ed"
My husband actually ordered up Season One on our Netflix account and we really enjoyed it. I can't wait to watch Season Two when it becomes available on DVD. Yeah, I still watch DVDs - we have an environmentally unfriendly although technically superior plasma screen and frankly my couch is a lot more comfortable than my desk chair. And besides, this way I get to spend quality time with my husband.

Green Real Estate Update

The Walking Tour of High Point scheduled for this Sunday has been postponed until late September. It seems no one can concentrate in this heat, so what's the point? Maybe by September 28th folks will get have cooled down enough to come out for an outdoor environmental feature tour combined with an indoor real estate tour. New people join the Green Spaces meetup group regularly and there is always something to learn and share in these informal tours. Why don't you plan on joining us this fall?

And now for the nitty-gritty - what's green and for sale today? Click here to see all of the environmentally certified for sale home listings in West Seattle. For condos click here. I focus on this area since it is where I live, but I am licensed for real estate sales in the entire state of Washington. My designation of Built Green Certified Professional: Real Estate was awarded by Built GreenTM, which is a partnership of the Master Builders Association, King County, and Snohomish County. I have been in West Seattle since 1997, but prior to that I lived in Bellevue, Lake Forest Park, Kirkland, Mill Creek, Everett, and I grew up in the wilds of unincorporated Snohomish county and graduated from Monroe High School.

I would love for the opportunity to answer your green real estate questions. Drop me an email!!