Good news for contractors regarding the new Lead based paint law.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.nahb.org


NAHB Applauds EPA'S Decision to Delay Lead Paint Certification Enforcement

WASHINGTON, June 21--The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to delay enforcement of the new Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule will provide much-needed time to get more remodelers and other contractors trained - and for EPA to get the word out to consumers about the importance of hiring a certified remodeler, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

"EPA listened to our concerns and did the right thing," said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a builder and developer in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

In revised guidance released on Friday, EPA acknowledged that remodelers in many parts of the country have been unable to obtain the required training to comply with the rule - a problem that NAHB has urged the agency to solve since the rule was announced two years ago.

The issue came to a head in May after floods devastated parts of Tennessee and there weren't enough certified remodelers to complete much-needed home repairs. NAHB and its state home builders association proposed a delay in enforcing the rule -- a decision EPA consented to in its letter on Friday.

While remodelers, electricians, heating and air conditioning technicians and other contractors must adhere to lead-safe work practices, including special equipment filters and a ban on open flames, EPA will not take enforcement action against firms that have been unable to obtain certification until Oct. 1 of this year.

Individual contractors must apply to enroll in a training class by Sept. 30 and complete the training by Dec. 31, 2010.

"This rule potentially affects about 79 million homeowners. That's how many homes were built before 1978, when lead paint was banned," Jones said. "We need significantly more contractors certified than the 300,000 who have taken the training course, and we also need to make sure that affected homeowners understand the importance of hiring a certified contractor."

Homeowners can find a certified firm at this link. Remodelers can search for an EPA-approved training provider at this link or contact their local home builders association here to find Certified Renovator training sessions.


ABOUT NAHB: The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 175,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. NAHB is affiliated with more than 800 state and local home builders associations around the country.

Spring "Greening" Tips

It's finally springtime, and spring cleaning time. How about turning it into spring greening? First, the laundry. Wash only full loads, use cold water whenever possible, hand your clothes and they will be so fresh!

Second, use Hydrogen Peroxide to clean most things instead of bleach and save your lungs and the oceans.

• Soak your toothbrushes in peroxide to keep them free from germs, use it as teeth whitening - way cheaper than other methods!



• Clean your counter tops with it, kills germs and bacteria - same with your cutting board, keep some in a spray bottle.



• Soak any infections or fungus on your body in it



• A cup of peroxide in laundry keeps it white and bright



• It cleans mirrors streak free!

Third, plant your garden with organic seeds and soil, and plant food. You can follow my son Jesse Grimes' adventures in his garden in Dana Point. He calls it the Trailer Trash Gardener at: http://jessebythesea.blogspot.com/ He is planting an organic garden in his yard at his mobile home, proving you can reap lots of food in a tiny space.

Rip up your Lawn - save water, work, use your yard as a grocery store!

As you may have read in previous blogs, I am a great proponent of ripping up your lawn. Why? Well, lawns use an amazingly large amount of water to upkeep, gas mowers contribute to air pollution, and lawns are not native to this area of the country. This is a great time of the year to consider this, as you can coordinate it with your regular spring planting.

Native plants are always a better choice for Mother Earth. Tree of Life Nursery http://www.californianativeplants.com/ has great classes with instructions on how to du this and alternatives once the lawn is removed. There are many beautiful landscape options available. Xeriscape landscaping creates a garden that will withstand drought conditions.

Or, why not grow a vegetable garden? A vegetable garden is not only an attractive alternative to a lawn, but with proper planning it uses significantly less water (30 percent to 60 percent less, depending on which study you read). Growing vegetables as a lawn substitute can be a rewarding experience while creating a very interesting landscape. Urban Plantations will help you with any aspect of this process. http://www.urbanplantations.com/.

Urban Sprawl and Sustainability in So Cal

KPCC/NPR has just run a 3 part series on sustainability and Los Angeles. In part 1, about smart growth for LA, Abdres Duany, a Miami based urban planner is interviewed:

"Southern California is a laboratory for everything that can go wrong in urban design, says Andres Duany. Also: he likes that. "You can find probably California has pioneered suburban sprawl and every aspect of it," he says. "But at the same time California has all the best examples of things as well. There are wonderful downtowns. Wonderful urban agricultural areas. And I think California is probably a good example of as good as things can get and as bad as things can get."

Part 2 address issues of mega cities, those with over 10 million population (wow! - I don;t think the entire country of Austrailia has that many people) and brings up the point that "people can’t make sustainable homes unless they think about problems across an entire region. But he adds that it’s impossible to improve the environment on a mega-city scale without starting in just one house."

In part 3 of the series, Architect Michael Maltzan, a sustainable architect, is interviewed. There are some neat things happenning in LA including sustainable housing for the homeless. As an EcoBrokerTM, I often write about residential sustainable housing as it relates to your home and maybe to those in your neighborhood. This feature story brings out a good point about your home in relation to the overall urban design:

"Passive heating and cooling, reduced energy consumption, and filtered
indoor air are common in Maltzan's work. But he says that sustainability is
bigger and more complicated than ultra-efficient internal systems and
eco-friendly building materials. For example, architects and urban designers
will have to commit to the efficient use of public space - and the zealous
protection of privacy - to help cities thrive. 'As our lives become more
interconnected I think one of the complexities of the contemporary life is
increasingly that blurry line between public and private and what that
means.' In a city like Los Angeles, Maltzan says, where public plazas are in
short supply, the blurry line is often the street and the sidewalk
themselves."

So, as we head to urbanization throughout the country including Southern California, we do need to think about our little piece of heaven in it's surroundings.

Read more about it at: http://www.scpr.org/news/2009/12/30/sustainable-home-3/

How can ancient mythology help us go green?

OC Green Realty is forming an alliance with Icarus Green Energy Solutions, in my due diligence researching their company, I of course, went to the about us section of their website. Here is why they call the company Icarus:

The story of Icarus dates back to the times of Greek Mythology. Icarus was the son of master craftsman Daedalus the inventor of carpentry. Imprisoned on the island of Crete, Icarus and Daedalus needed to plan an escape. Using his skills for building, Daedalus constructed wings made of wax and feathers to be used to fly Icarus and himself off the island. The plan was a success except for one major detail: THE ENERGY FROM THE SUN! In flight after the escape, Icarus flew too close to the sun. The sun melted the wax of his wings and Icarus’ escape ended in tragedy.
What can we learn from an ancient Greek mythological story today? Daedalus could have gone GREEN and utilized the energy of the sun! The 20th century Icarus has gone green and like his father is a master craftsman rebuilding green communities across the world. Icarus’ mission is to spread the word of going green and advocating energy efficiency and energy independence.

This company can help you with an energy audit, an energy efficient mortgage and general tips on going green in your home. I am excited to find them, and to be working with them, as they encompass all the support services I need as an EcoBrokerTM and Green Real Estate Agent to serve my clients with an extra package of services and products they need. I am forming an affiliate program for my clients to receive comlimentary upgrades and services through Icarus.

We have alliances with an Interior Designer, A Feng Shui Master, and Green Architects. Check out our website on the resources link page: http://www.ocgreenrealty.com/default.asp_Q_f_E_links

Can your yard be a wildlife habitat?

Yes! San Clemente Resident Lori Morgan, did this, and got her yard certified through the National Wildlife Federation. The plants in her yard are specifically planted to attract certain wildlife like butterflies, blue jays, and other birds who next or find shelter in her beautiful yard. She even harvests the seeds of the plants to replant instead of purchasing new seeds. Next, she is shooting for the Certified Monarch Weighstation Habitat.

My daughter is reading a lot of Bride and Bloom magazine, preparing for her wedding next year, but did you know there is also a Bird and Bloom magazine specifically for planting a garden to attract Birds and Butterflies?

This is a photo I took in Costa Rica in a Butterfly Garden. See how when they close their wings, they look like a lizard with an eye open? Inside they are an amazing iridescent blue.

How can I be Green if I Rent?

By now you have heard and seen all the tips for greening up a home you own. However, if you rent you can still green up your home and not make your landlord mad. It's as simple as changing out all the light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent, but take it a step further and get the full spectrum lighting to have daylight spectrum light inside your home. Full-spectrum output duplicates the rich, pure light of the sun. You’ll see colors more accurately, reduce eyestrain and increase your visual acuity, and they even emit small amounts of healthy UV light to help your skin produce crucial vitamin D indoors. Once you go full spectrum, you will never go back! Get them at realgoods.com or drugstore.com http://www.realgoods.com/product/home-outdoor/living+space/energy+efficiency/indoor+sunshine+cfl+bulbs.do

OK, we already know about light bulbs and bringing our own grocery bags, and reusing our stainless steel water bottles. What can you tell me that's new?
Stop your junk mail! Here's the link of the Direct Mailing Association's place to stop your junk mail (unless you roll it up tightly and use it for fire starter in your fireplace.) https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/home.action;jsessionid=54DDAD3A4390CB1F2F7CF5EF2E230DF5.tomcat1

Green is not just about reuse, reduce, recycle. Really? "I thought it was," you say. It's also about the sustainability of the planet and the care for the inhabitants in it. So try not to shop for items that may have been made in sweatshops. How in the world do you know where stuff comes from? The National Labor Committee's website can help http://www.nlcnet.org/index.php also, a quick Internet search can find products not produced in sweatshops, like www.rawganic.com.

Replace your bathmats (when they wear out) with organic. rawganique offers textiles that are not produced in sweatshops.http://www.rawganique.com/BAhc1.htm

And from Planet Green, some awesome advice for renters:
Talk to your Landlord - One of the biggest obstacles to living green in a rental property is the feeling of powerlessness to make changes. It's important to remember that as a tenant you are a customer and you deserve decent service. A good landlady or landlord should work with you to make your home as pleasant as possible. So talk to them if the property is drafty, the toilet keeps running, or heating systems are inefficient – after all, investing in improvements will help them to retain tenants, attract new ones, and it will increase the value of their property. The owner might be particularly amenable to funding improvements if you do the math to show them the return on their investment, and offer your labor free of charge, creating a win-win situation for all concerned.

Search for your rental on the Internet - OC Green Realty can set you up on a client gateway, which sends available rentals directly to your inbox as they become available. Save so much driving as you point and click and make notes on the houses you are interested in that we will see on our copy, and save phone calls, time, and resources by getting all the info you need to know about on a property without leaving your chair. Send me an e-mail with what you are looking for and say "I would like to be on the client gateway" No salesman will call, no obligation. ha ha, really.

Happy Renting!

Green Building and Real Estate is Booming in So Cal!

I went to the HUD Symposium on Green Building last week at Chapman University, and came back with my brain and bag loaded with great information. We got to see an abbreviated version of "An Inconvenient Truth" presented by the Climate Project. http://www.climateproject.org/ and I was so encouraged to see the government was presenting this! I think the ostrich's head is finally out of the sand! Anyway, I made some great connections with mortgage lenders with tons of experience with EEMs (Energy Efficient Mortgages -see my post from: April 27, 2009) and Energy Auditors, Certified Build it Green Companies, and so much more.

Also found out about some great programs where foreclosures are purchased by non-profits, remodeled green, then offered at a great discount to low income families. The families are helped with their down payment and also with part of the purchase price through HUD grants and these programs. More info on this can be found at: www.enterprisecommunity.org/about/media/news_releases/.../RNLA_pr_2009.pdf

The organizers of the symposium promised to post all the power point presentations on the web soon, so I will post the link when I get it for everyone. In the meantime, I have loads of information on my website: http://www.socalgreenrealty.com/ or http://www.ocgreenrealty.com/

TELE-BLOG AND WRITTEN BLOG

You may not be aware that I post a green tele-blog on my voice mail each week with green tips. Check it out at: 949-306-3854. I've decided to start doing a different green tip each week here on this written blog also.

Green tip of the week:

The HUD Symposium's presentation of the Climate Project reminded me that:

If you have not seen "An Inconvenient Truth"by Al Gore (who by the way won an Academy Award and a Nobel Prize for this work!) see it now! More information and resources can be found on http://www.theclimateproject.org/, http://www.wecansolveit.org/, http://www.realclimate.org/

Discover why the issue of Global Warming is so very important and be encouraged, as we are taking a lot of steps as a country and world to deal with it. I believe human ingenuity can and will come up with solutions to every problem.

Feng Shui and the Art of Life featuring Neuro Architectural Design

I'm sure by now all So Cal residents know what Feng Shui is all about, but what about combining Feng Shui with Neuro Architectural Design?

I can hear you already, neuro archi....what?

Well my colleague, Janet Woods, who is a Feng Shui Master, and her firm, the Art of Life Institute, specializes in the combination of the two and how it relates to your surroundings, be it home or office. I am intrigued... so I am attending her FREE workshop next weds on this topic.

First, here is a very simple description of the two, directly from her website: (http://www.janetwoods.com/)

• WHAT IS FENG SHUI ?
Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement. By creating positive energy flow through a home or place of business, you will bring good fortune and harmony.
The science works by blending the laws of nature and human dynamics together for the greatest good. Feng Shui contains the philosophy of eastern culture and quantum physics; it is not a religion, yet spiritual, and uses natural law as a basis.

• WHAT IS NEURO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN?

This is a combination of neurosceince, pyschology and interior design. The goal of Neuro Architecture is to create spaces that motivate individuals during their human experience.

The workshop will be held at the Awakenings Center, 25260 La Paz Road in Laguna Hills at 7:30 on every third Wednesday of the month.

Learn how your brain affects your living space, how your space creates your life and what to do about it, take the neuro DNA test and learn much more about your home and ancient wisdom combined with modern science to create an environment that supports your greatest good!

This month's topic, June 17th, is:

"Home Therapy"

How to create a Home that supports you intentionally, physically, and emotionally.

The July 15th seminar is entitled "Recovery at Home"

There is a $20 fee for materials, but my blog readers get that fee at 1/2 price of only $10! Simply e-mail me at ocgreenrealtor@yahoo.com and I will get your discount.

It is a proven fact that feng shui can be used for better staging of a home for sale, so if you are considering putting your home on the market, consider a feng shui consultation. Janet Woods is part of OC Green Realty's Team of Affiliates who offer added value to our Real Estate services.

Now.... go move 21 things in your home to clear the ch'i! and then register for the seminar. I'll be there!

Darlene

Saving Green With Green Real Estate!

I’m sure by now you have heard that there’s a huge opportunity right now until Dec 31, 2009 to get substantial savings on a home for first-time home buyers (or if you have not owned a home in the past 3 years.) You can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on your 2009 taxes. And NEW homebuyers get a $10,000 tax credit, combine the two on a new home for an $18,000 tax credit! Where does the eco-green come in? Other than the $$ green, if you combine these two programs with an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM,) you can lower your interest rate in many cases, and realize additional savings, or qualify for a larger home. An EEM is a mortgage that credits a home’s energy efficiency in the mortgage itself. This gives borrowers the opportunity to finance cost-effective, energy-saving measures as part of a single mortgage and stretch debt-to-income qualifying ratios on loans thereby allowing borrowers to qualify for a larger loan amount and a better, more energy-efficient home. For more information, go to: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.energy_efficient_mortgage
Or, better yet, ask me! I will send you all the info I have (or just tell you so you don’t have to sort through all that info)
So, baby, it’s prime time to be green and save green on homes in So Cal!