In This Issue:
LATEST & GREATEST...
REAL ESTATE SNAPSHOT:
This is a look at statistics provided through the Santa Barbara Multiple Listing Service over the past month. They include single family residences and condos, from Carpinteria to Goleta.
Sept. 21 - Oct. 18, 2009
New listings: 172
Price Improvements: 157
Pending: 128
(break down:)
Sub $1million: 95
$1-2M: 19
$2-4M: 6
$4-8M: 5
$8M+: 1
Closed: 107
Off Market: 127
Back On market: 47
GREEN NEWS:
Breaking Down Building Energy Use
We've all heard the numbers before, but here's a nice little chart with a helpful breakdown of information. Buildings account for roughly 40% of all U.S. energy use. Or stated with more particularity, residential buildings account for 22% of all U.S. energy use and commercial buildings account for 18% of all U.S. energy use. When you parse the numbers out, here's where that energy is used:
Residential Energy Use:
1% - Computers
5% - Cooking
5% - Wet clean
7% - Electronics
8% - Refrigeration
11% - Lights
12% - Cooling
12% - Water heat
31% - Heating
Commercial Energy Use:
2% - Cooking
3% - Computers
4% - Refrigeration
6% - Office equipment
6% - Ventilation
7% - Water heat
13% - Cooling
14% - Heating
26% - Lighting
Of course, there will be regional and building specific differences. For example, in Texas, you might use a lot more energy running the air conditioning equipment and maybe a little less energy running the heating. Also, it's interesting to see how much commercial energy is used on lighting, which is why the NY Times lighting experiment saved them some major cash on energy costs.
Also, consider this graph in the light of new technological advances relating to electrical vehicles and the smart grid. Ten years from now, is car charging going to be one of the major components of commercial and residential building energy use? And how's that going to affect the other pieces of the energy pie? Just thinking out loud, though ...
COMMUNITY:
If you haven't already, please take a look at some of the video presentations regarding Measure B and pass it along to your friends and family.
We need every resource available to communicate with voters until Nov 3.
Village Properties has established The "Teacher's Fund" to help local public and private K-12 school teachers buy the supplies and books they so desperately need. DeAnn & Elizabeth donate part of their commissions to this wonderful fund that helps the whole community and you can too...see this link for more details:
Built Green Resource Center
Grand Opening
October 29, 2009 from 4:00 to 7:00pm
SB Contractors Association Office
914 A Santa Barbara Street
(near Ensemble Theater & Playa Azul)
GET INVOLVED:
"Fresh Greens: dance to the new green beat..."
Tuesday Oct. 20, 2009, 5:30-7:30 pm
The Faulkner Gallery, SB Central Library
DeAnn will be hosting the Green Homes and Landscapes Session this Tuesday. Join her!
PROTECTING YOUR HOME AND FAMILY
Information You Need To Know Before the Next Disaster
Wed, Oct. 21, 2009 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
OR Tues, Oct. 27, 2009 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fess Parker Doubletree Resort:
San Rafael Ballroom
Santa Barbara/Goleta/Carpinteria residents:
Due to the devastating impact recent fires has had upon our community, a group of Santa Barbara citizens have come together to present information that will be helpful to local families in planning and ensuring they are protected in advance of the next catastrophe.
- Homeowners Insurance: Coverages Explained; Process of Rebuilding; Costs of Rebuilding after Fire, Flood, Earthquake...
- Automobile Insurance: Uninsured/Underinsured Insurance Explained.
- What happens in a claim or lawsuit and how can I protect myself in advance?
- Umbrella Insurance / Excess Insurance: Do I need it? Why or why not?
- Estate Planning: Do I need a Trust or a Will? What is the difference?
- How should I own my home - in joint tenancy, community property, or in trust?
Presented by:
Law Offices of Maho & Prentice:
Tyrone Maho, Chad Prentice
Law Offices of O'Gorman&O'Gorman:
Barrett O'Gorman
Ritter Pro Insurance Agency: Susan Ritter / Robert Ritter
Kent Mixon Architect : Kent Mixon
Allen Associates:Dennis Allen / Bryan Henson
The same forum will be presented on both occasions. Please tell your friends and family - as we believe information will be presented that will be helpful to everyone!
Please RSVP with number of attendees, to Maho & Prentice: (805) 962-1930
VOCABULARY LESSON:
A zero energy building (ZEB) or net zero energy building is a general term applied to a building with zero net energy consumption and zero carbon emissions annually. Zero energy buildings are autonomous from the energy grid supply - energy is produced on-site. This design principle is gaining considerable interest as renewable energy is a means to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
