May 28th, 2008 categories: Green Living
The growing masses of eco-minded consumers are continuously seeking out ways of incorporating green design principles into new or existing homes, but figuring out the logistics isn’t always straightforward. Launched only a few short weeks ago and based on the belief that green design should be available to all, FreeGreen is a new site that offers free, downloadable green house plans.
Free Green’s team of engineers and designers works with industry-leading product manufacturers to create home designs that incorporate different combinations of products, materials and vendors. Their team can also modify or customize any of the design plans and they provide 3-D images, energy simulations and written descriptions to help consumers find the right fit for their lifestyle.
The first of the two models currently available on the site is called the ‘Healthy Family’ model, and combines comfortable contemporary living with superior indoor air quality and low energy bills. With functional options like mudrooms, homework nooks and home offices, Healthy Family homes are intended for young, three- to five-person families in cold to mixed climates.
The second model currently available, the modern ‘Suburban Loft’, on the other hand, features open floor plans and high ceiling loft spaces. Designed to perform efficiently even in cold northern climates, the Suburban Loft plan is intended for first-time buyers or downsizing baby boomers.
And coming soon is the ‘Smart Box’ plan, which FreeGreen aims to make a 1,200 to 1,400 sq. ft. home that can be built for less than $100 per square foot.
Consumers who download FreeGreen’s plans get not just the very detailed plan set, but also an energy report specific to the town or city they select and a welcome packet with additional information, tools and resources.
Check ‘em out at www.freegreen.com!
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May 8th, 2008 categories: Design, Green Living, Moving, Trends
One fifth of all Americans – 20 percent – move every year! That means that the average U.S. resident will move a total of 16 times over their lifetime – about once every five years! That’s a lot of moving!
Moving supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap and other packaging materials remain piled up in landfills long after people have settled into their new abodes. EarthFriendlyMoving has set out to change that by offering eco-friendly moving supplies available at consumer-friendly prices. Read the rest of this entry »
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March 19th, 2008 categories: Design, Green Living
Minnesota is already known for being “nice”, but a local company called ecoEnvelopes is bringing nice to the world and attempting to turn corporate America green by helping businesses reduce their company’s environmental impact AND save money in the process.
After working for years to perfect the design and obtain the US Postal Service’s approval, ecoEnvelopes has developed an innovative line of reusable envelopes that simply zip open, allowing users to insert their response or payment and seal them up again just like a regular envelope. With 81 billion return envelopes being sent through the US mail each year, ecoEnvelopes stands to have a great impact on the environment by helping to reduce the estimated cost of envelope-excessive corporate America’s 1 billion pounds in greenhouse gas emissions and more than 71 trillion BTUs of energy.
Not only can everyone participate in environmental stewardship and feel good about their part in greening the mail (the envelopes are also made with up to 100% post-consumer recycled content!), but by eliminating the need to print, store, handle, insert, track and include a separate reply envelope, ecoEnvelopes can cut mail costs 15% to 45%, the company says.
Not a bad way to “green” our real estate businesses, I say! 
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March 13th, 2008 categories: Design, For Fun, Green Living, Home Buying, Real Estate, Trends
Green is the new black during this, the final weekend of the 2008 Parade of Homes Spring PreviewSM presented by Builders Association of the Twin Cities’ members.
This year’s Guidebook includes plenty of great Green articles to help us make sense of this growing movement and the homes in this year’s 14-home earth-friendly mini tour are built to showcase Green building practices, products and design, and many of them will host education seminars and other interesting events to give home buyers a better understanding of their Green options.
Some of the seminars that are taking place this weekend include: “Landscaping for a Green Community”, “Light up Your Home AND Your Energy Bill” and “Geothermal Heating and Cooling: A Systems Approach.” And I’m thinking about checking out an event with eco-friendly design expert, Jackie Kanthak, who will be will answering questions, giving green design ideas, and offering advice on the the hard to find eco-friendly products for the kitchen and bathroom.
Green or not, the homes on parade cover a broad spectrum of prices to fit the needs of every buyer, ranging from the lowest priced home by S.W. Wold Townhomes, Inc. in Cambridge, priced at $119,900, to the most expensive home by Stonewood LLC, located on Loring Drive in Minnetrista and priced at $2,950,000.
So come on out this weekend to take advantage of the longer days and beautiful spring weather that’s rolled our way, and peruse the preview parade!
For more information go to http://www.paradeofhomes.org.
Happy house hunting!!!
:: Kelly ::
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