August 24-August 30, 2009:
New Listings: 42
Price Improvements:44
Pending: 29 the past week
that breaks down to:
Under $1 Million: 21
$1-2M: 4
$2-4M: 3
$4-8M: 0
$8M+: 1 (2549 Sycamore Cnayon Road; The Val Verde Estate for $15,310,000)
Closed: 32
Off Market: 38
Back On Market:14
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
New Urbanism: What is that?
New Urbanism is a concept that I hear about a lot lately. In case you haven't heard about it yet, please refer to these definitions, sites and a video about the concept.
"Giving people many choices for living an urban lifestyle in sustainable, convenient and enjoyable places, while providing the solutions to peak oil, global warming, and climate change"
New Urbanism is "the most important collective architectural movement in the United States in the past fifty years." -New York Times
NewUrbanism.org was started in 1998, and has since grown to become a leading and well respected informational website promoting walkable urbanism, transit oriented development, trains and sustainability.
Here is a great short video on the concept of New Urbanism.
http://theoverheadwire.blogspot.com/2009/05/cul-de-sacs-kill.html
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever has" -Margaret Mead
Thursday, August 27, 2009
August: Santa Barbara EcoBrokers Newsletter
Here is our August newsletter, feel free to forward on to others to help spread the green word! Here is a link: http://app.e2ma.net/campaign/35400.7331e67f74d4b3566135f732dd827fcd
Thank you for your support!
Thank you for your support!
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009
"Where's Your Bag" Event Scheduled for Aug. 28th
"Where's Your Bag" is a comprehensive voluntary single-use bag reduction program. The City of Santa Barbara's Environmental Services Division, in conjunction with local partners Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Choose to Reuse, Tri-County Produce, and the California Grocer's Association, has worked to create an effective single-use bag reduction strategy and we're proud to announce the rollout of the "Where's Your Bag" program. In the coming weeks, we'll be training participating store staff and management and distributing several types of signage designed to remind shoppers to bring their bags with them into the store. These items include parking lot signs, window decals for customers' cars, in-store placards and buttons for grocery employees.
When? The "Where's Your Bag" program will be launched on Friday, August 28, 2009 at De La Guerra Plaza with a kick-off event from 2:00 to 5:00pm. We'll have entertainment by the "Banana Slug String Band," art projects for kids provided by Art from Scrap, informational tables, giveaways from local non-profits and much more!
Why? Plastic bags are causing huge problems in our oceans - animals like sea turtles die when they mistake them for food and the plastic breaks down into small bits that end up in the fish we eat. They are also a large source of unintentional street litter. The average person uses over 500 paper and plastic bags per year and our goal is to dramatically reduce that number. Paper bag production is extremely energy intensive - far more than plastic bags. Only a small percentage of each type of bag is recycled. "Where's Your Bag" aims to educate the community about the problems associated with single-use bags and an easy solution - bringing reusable bags whenever you shop.
How? We're partnering with local chain and independent grocery stores, providing them with starter kits of "reminder signage" and in-store employee training sessions. We'll also be tabling at community events and in front of participating stores on Saturday, August 29th as well as other dates.
To share your outreach ideas or ask questions about the "Where's Your Bag" program, please contact Kathi King
Monday, August 24, 2009
Weekly Real Estate Snapshot and Forbes Article: 8/17 - 8/23 2009
Weekly Real Estate Snapshot
August 17-August 23, 2009:
New Listings: 40
Price Improvements: 31
Pending: 30 the past week
that breaks down to:
Under $1 Million: 271
$1-2M: 5
$2-4M: 5
$4-8M: 0
$8M+: 0
Closed: 21
Off Market: 14
Back On Market: 7
Then on a positive note, this article from Forbes.com ranks Santa Barbara as one of the top 10 cities for a housing recovery. I edited a bit for size, to view the whole article visit www.forbes.com
Best Cities For A Housing Recovery
Matthew Woolsey, 08.13.09, 4:00 PM ET
The stock market is up 50% from its lows in March, and consumer spending increased in May, June and July. But when will housing turn around?
Even the wisest can't answer that, and experts caution against putting too much hope in rising home prices given the country's unemployment situation and high rate of mortgage defaults. But key measures indicate that some metros are more on their way to recovery than others...
Behind The Numbers
In compiling our list, Forbes looked at 161 of the country's largest metropolitan statistical areas (or metros)--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics--where sales activity had picked up over the last year, but where foreclosure sales, as a percentage of overall sales were the lowest. Our data came from Zillow.com, an online housing data firm based in Seattle, Wash. Our list doesn't profess to call the turnaround, but rather point out which cities are in the lead on the road to recovery...
The Rankings
10. San Jose, Calif.
9. Santa Barbara, Calif.
8. Redding, Calif.
7. Denver, Colo.
6. Bremerton, Wash.
5. San Luis Obispo, Calif.
4. Salem, Ore.
3. Colorado Springs, Colo.
2. Lincoln, Neb.
1. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Because housing, like any asset, depends on supply and demand, the sales rate is an incredibly useful statistic in judging a recovery. However, an increased number of sales does not necessarily mean an imminent recovery.
August 17-August 23, 2009:
New Listings: 40
Price Improvements: 31
Pending: 30 the past week
that breaks down to:
Under $1 Million: 271
$1-2M: 5
$2-4M: 5
$4-8M: 0
$8M+: 0
Closed: 21
Off Market: 14
Back On Market: 7
Then on a positive note, this article from Forbes.com ranks Santa Barbara as one of the top 10 cities for a housing recovery. I edited a bit for size, to view the whole article visit www.forbes.com
Best Cities For A Housing Recovery
Matthew Woolsey, 08.13.09, 4:00 PM ET
The stock market is up 50% from its lows in March, and consumer spending increased in May, June and July. But when will housing turn around?
Even the wisest can't answer that, and experts caution against putting too much hope in rising home prices given the country's unemployment situation and high rate of mortgage defaults. But key measures indicate that some metros are more on their way to recovery than others...
Behind The Numbers
In compiling our list, Forbes looked at 161 of the country's largest metropolitan statistical areas (or metros)--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics--where sales activity had picked up over the last year, but where foreclosure sales, as a percentage of overall sales were the lowest. Our data came from Zillow.com, an online housing data firm based in Seattle, Wash. Our list doesn't profess to call the turnaround, but rather point out which cities are in the lead on the road to recovery...
The Rankings
10. San Jose, Calif.
9. Santa Barbara, Calif.
8. Redding, Calif.
7. Denver, Colo.
6. Bremerton, Wash.
5. San Luis Obispo, Calif.
4. Salem, Ore.
3. Colorado Springs, Colo.
2. Lincoln, Neb.
1. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Because housing, like any asset, depends on supply and demand, the sales rate is an incredibly useful statistic in judging a recovery. However, an increased number of sales does not necessarily mean an imminent recovery.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Santa Barbara Triathlon
This morning I participated in the Santa Barbara Triathlon, co-ed sprint version. While this does not have anything to do with real estate, it does have to do with our generous and wonderful community. For the past 6 years that I have completed this event, I am always blown away by the support and volunteer efforts in our town. People that are not crazy enough to haul themselves out of their nice warm beds at 6am and fling themselves into the Pacific Ocean, then to jump on to their bicycles still dripping salt water and pedal away only to then ditch the bike and slip on running shoes to trot along Cabrillo Blvd and “sprint” back to the bath house, still get up early to come down to East Beach. Whether they are cheering on their loved ones, marking the course for direction, body marking the athletes or checking people in to the race, it is quite an effort. Being a native of Santa Barbara, I go through crushes on my town…sometimes it is just what I am used to, the…another day in paradise mentality. But on days like today, I get a bit emotional as they play the national anthem before the start and I truly appreciate our special community. It is so much more than a tourist town or a town filled with the ultra wealthy. It is my town and your town and filled with support and excellent athletes!
P.S. I finished 2nd in my class…no wonder I am crushing on Santa Barbara!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
A Tropical Rainy Day in August
The weather in August…very strange…a tropical storm on a Saturday then yesterday was sunny and warm and the past few weeks have been May Gray and June Gloom fog…I love the excuse of rain…oh it’s raining, I can’t possibly go anywhere. It is raining, I had better drink some green team and read a book and journal. Oh, it’s raining, let’s stay in and make a belly filling dinner and watch a movie. Oh, it’s raining, let’s lay here and listen to it on the roof. Oh, it’s raining, I wonder if the sellers want me to cancel the open house? Oh it’s raining, I just washed the car – oh well.. Oh it’s raining, I don’t have to water the garden. It won’t matter if it is raining tomorrow morning when I swim in the ocean. This is just a sprinkle. I am enjoying it. Rain on.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wilson & Wagner: Opening Doors To Sustainable Living
It’s official, my business partner is now Mrs. DeAnn Wilson.
Wagner & Wilson: Opening Doors To Sustainable Living.
We are ready. Put us to work for you here in Santa Barbara.
We can advise you. We can make suggestions.
We can talk with you to see if you are ready to make a move.
We are here. We are resources.
We love what we do. This comes across when you meet us.
We are passionate about greening up Santa Barbara, one property at a time…
Wagner & Wilson. It has a nice ring to it.
The Green Team is now double “W” trouble!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Top 10 Green Building Products of 2009
Each year I look to see what Sustainable Industries Magazine will come up with as their top 10 products. Some make perfect sense and some I never would have thought of but sure am glad that someone did!
by Sustainable Industries - 6.24.09
SAN FRANCISCO
Award-winning business magazine Sustainable Industries today announced the release of its 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products guide, the annual publication profiling industry-leading green building products selected by a panel of expert judges and the Sustainable Industries editorial team. This year’s Top 10 Green Building Products guide received more nominations than anytime over the last 4 years.
Top 10 Green Building Product winners were selected based on their environmental performance, scalability/market impact, innovativeness, design aesthetic, value and compatibility with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Profiled in the guide with accompanying 3-D images, the winners were announced today in a Sustainable Industries Webinar featuring judges from our expert panel who addressed attendees' questions about the pros and cons of the latest green building innovations. The 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products guide is emailed in advance to Sustainable Industries subscribers, is available for free online at www.sustainableindustries.com/resources, and is also included within the July 2009 Clean Energy issue of Sustainable Industries.
“In the four years Sustainable Industries has produced this trusted and popular independent guide, green building has advanced to the mainstream,” says Brian Back, Founding Editor & Publisher of Sustainable Industries. “We’re confident the Top 10 Green Building Products guide provides a unique snapshot of some of the most innovative building materials on the market today.”
The 2009 Top 10 Green Building Product winners are:
Acadia Combined Heating and Cooling System
Made by Hallowell International
(www.gotohallowell.com)
The Acadia is not just another heating and cooling system. It maintains 200 percent efficiency even when outdoor temperatures drop well below zero. When heating oil prices were sky high, Acadia users were saving up to 70 percent in energy costs.
ec-H20
Made by Tennant Co.
(www.tennantco.com)
Requiring no chemicals, ec-H2O uses tap water to clean most any surface of most any substance. Each machine reduces water usage by 70 to 80 percent, and the potential of 245 million gallons of water each year if it were installed in all new floor-cleaning machines.
InSpire Wall
Made by ATAS International
(www.atas.com)
This simple, elegant technology essentially uses the power of the sun to heat outdoor air before sending it indoors, thereby slashing energy use while boosting indoor air quality. Depending on what kind of heating fuel is being replaced, this product can reduce heating costs by up to $5 for each square foot of InSpire Wall installed.
kama EEBS Structural Systems
Made by kama Energy Efficient Building Systems Inc.
(www.kama-eebs.com)
kama EEBS Structural Systems integrate light gauge metal stud framing system with expanded polystyrene insulation in a proprietary design that eliminates thermal bridging and helps to create a tight, energy-efficient building envelope.
PlybooPure Bamboo Plywood
Made by Smith & Fong Co.
(www.plyboo.com)
Because it’s technically a grass, bamboo had not previously been eligible for FSC certification. But in January 2008, after two years of lobbying, Smith & Fong achieved this first that propelled it to recognition on this year’s Top 10 list.
RainTube
Made by GLI Systems Inc.
(www.raintube.com)
This product received more Top 10 nominations than any other product this year. RainTube is a rain gutter filter made of 100 percent post-consumer high-density polyethylene – old milk jugs, in other words. This product is also Cradle to Cradle-certified, meaning that GLI Systems Inc had to develop a Post-Use Recovery Plan that goes out with every product.
Separett Villa
Made by Separett
(www.ecovita.net/villa)
This urine-diverting composting toilet – which is 100 percent PVC fee – uses no water and keeps solids separate from liquids, reducing odor and making it possible to reuse waste and urine for composting and fertilizing. The Separett Villa can be deployed where no plumbing exists, allowing for a greater reach of the technology.
Serious Windows
Made by Serious Materials
(www.seriouswindows.com)
Serious Windows are so efficient they have the potential to allow for the elimination of a building’s heating system, allowing waste heat from building appliances to serve as the main heat source in some applications. The windows have a full-frame R value of at least five and up to 11, which can cut a building’s energy bills by up to 50 percent per month.
Solatube Daylighting Systems
Made by Solatube International
(www.solatube.com)
This patented technology catches direct sunlight and redirects it down an adjustable-length tube, bringing daylight to parts of buildings that would not otherwise have access to natural light. The Visa, Calif.-based company recently launched a product specifically designed for commercial applications, making it ideal for large-roofed warehouses and manufacturing facilities, as well as retail stores and schools – all places that have been shown to benefit from increased daylight, as daylight is linked to higher worker productivity, decreased absenteeism and better retail sales.
Your Old Light Fixture
Made by Eleek
(www.eleekinc.com)
Eleek is the only business to make the Top 10 Green Building Products list all four years. Though not a product, Eleek’s lighting restoration service speaks to the important concept of the re-use of existing goods. When Eleek restores a light fixture, every piece of a fixture is taken apart, repaired and restored to its original splendor. Its wiring is updated to comply with modern codes and standards and a new lamp base is installed so it works with energy-efficient lamps such as CFLs and LEDs.
Graywater: Now legal!
As a native of Santa Barbara, and having lived through several droughts, I have seen many graywater systems rigged up and used for irrigating and watering plants. Up until now, these systems have not been legal. Be sure to research what types of soaps and detergents can be used if you are looking to implement this water saving system.
What is Greywater?
According to Wikipedia: Greywater, also known as sullage, is non-industrial wastewater generated from domestic processes such as dish washing, laundry and bathing. Greywater comprises 50-80% of residential wastewater. Greywater comprises wastewater generated from all of the house's sanitation equipment except for the septic tank (water from toilets is blackwater, or sewage).
In recent years, concerns over dwindling reserves of groundwater and overloaded or costly sewage treatment plants have generated much interest in the reuse or recycling of greywater, both domestically and for use in commercial irrigation. However, concerns over potential health and environmental risks mean that many jurisdictions demand such intensive treatment systems for legal reuse of greywater that the commercial cost is higher than for fresh water. Despite these obstacles, greywater is often reused for irrigation, illegally or not. In droughtzones or areas hit by hose pipe bans (irrigation restrictions), greywater can be harvested informally by manual bucketing.
The article below describes how that has now changed, which, in my opinion is great news.
In Historic Move, California Building Standards Commission Green Visionaries Approve New Graywater Standard --
July 31st, 2009
A collision of world views was in full evidence at the California Building Standards Commission hearing yesterday on HCDs proposed new graywater standards.
Highly qualified stakeholders spoke passionately for and against the adoption of the new standards as the hearing roller-coastered dramatically to it's conclusion.
The commissioners are to be congratulated for their leadership. It is always more work to set up a new system than to fit into an existing one.
It would be a lot easier to stand aside as legal buildings continue waste resources and pollute the environment. However, in the face of deeply entrenched, powerful opposition, the commission is rising to the challenge of revising all of California's building codes to allow/ require better building systems...besides its emergency approval of the new graywater standards yesterday, the BSC is also revising California's Green Building Standards to include many new mandatory and voluntary measures to reduce negative impacts and increase positive impacts of California buildings.
Dawn of a new era: "On August 4th, 2009, California can legally install simple laundry and single fixture systems without a permit. For the first time, licensed professionals can legally help with the 1.7 million existing graywater systems in the state. " --Art Ludwig, graywater researcher and educator.
For more information visit: www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/press
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