drafty windows?

If you have an old house like I do chances are you don't have new windows or storm windows on all your windows. In cold weather it can be miserable to have drafty windows. There are two quick fix things to do that cost very little to do. My favorite method is the cord weather stripping. It is a clay like substance that comes off easily and it easy to apply. It also stops the window rattling. The other is the plastic window sheet that is taped and blowdried to finish. This method is less easy to take out and often the tape will take off the paint.

High performance Green Building policy~ public comments wanted

The High Performance Green Building Policy proposal will be posted for public comment starting tomorrow and continuing through January 20th, 2009:

www.portlandonline.com/osd/gbpolicy

Please contact Vinh Mason vinh.mason@ci.portland.or.us
or Michael Armstrong marmstrong@ci.portland.or.us if you have any questions regarding the policy proposal or supporting materials. Also, on Tuesday, January 6th, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm, we will present the policy proposal to the general public in The Portland Building Auditorium, 2nd floor, 1120 SW 5th Avenue , Portland .


http://www.sustainableportland.org

Energy trust has a good video on why to build green

http://www.energytrust.org/residential/enh/home_tour/index.html

The greening of the national real estate markets

It seems every week someone calls with a questions about greening the real estate market. I got a call about creating a course for Realtors to educate them about sustainable building practices. I find this all very exciting! I do feel it is important to have educated Realtors and appraisers. Fortunately lots of other people do too.

National Association of realtors has a Green designation

There is a new certification out there for realtors nationally through NAR. That is our parent organization. Now that NAR has made a designation for this I can't help but think the next step will be that more multiple listing stytems will encorporate green features.

Toxic Air Purifiers???

I have been aware for a while that there are "air purifiers" out there that actaully make ozone. There advertising is good and suggests that the oxygen it puts out will somehow detoxify everything. The o3 oxygen has an extra electon that is looking fo unattached electrons. Who knows what it will hook up with but do you want to pay with your health?

http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/ozone_gen_fact_sheet-a.pdf

This is a good source of info on it. If you need further convincing please goolge O3. If you or someone you love is considering buying an Ecoquest or an Eden Pure etc please educate yourself and don't buy them. See a complete list on the link

ABC refused to air this ad