Making ‘Green’ More Affordable for Everyone

Consumer demand for high-efficiency homes is rising. But the value of “green” isn’t always factored in by appraisers, and is typically ignored by mortgage lenders.  

A Senate bill supported by a broad coalition of business, real estate, energy and environmental groups seeks to put energy cost savings into the underwriting equation.  The bill which is being called the SAVE Act (for Sensible Accounting to Value Energy), the legislation could make energy-efficient features more affordable to average-income home buyers by allowing them to qualify for a larger loan amount.  he legislation would require Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration to incorporate energy efficiency into their underwriting policies.

Read NYTimes.com article

LEED Platinum 100 year old Craftsman Home in Venice

When I talk to my friends and family about LEED homes, they think that the homes are modern style and very "compact."  i'm here to say that LEED is a method of using our local resources that are in our community.  Take this beautiful craftsman style home that is 100 years old!! 

The owner/architect loves Venice because walkability of the city has. The 1,700-square-foot remodel involved gutting and opening up the existing first-floor house.  They added a second-floor master suite. The finished house hosts two baths and three bedrooms, one of which is in what used to be the attic.

The backyard is a formalized version of a natural world where native plants are aesthetically pleasing and serve a function, conserving water and providing sustenance for native animals.

To improve energy performance, this passive solar house has carefully-placed windows, solar tubes, and skylights. All new walls are 2×6 and installed insulation per Quality Installation of Insulation guidelines. The home features high-efficiency appliances, ENERGY STAR lighting (95% LED lights), and a 4-kW solar array that produces a power surplus 10 months of the year. Overall energy strategies resulted in 53% greater efficiency than Title 24.

Instead of buying new floors, the existing Douglas fir floors were restored. They selected high recycled content products, including exterior siding, bathroom tiles, concrete countertops, insulation, and foundation. 76% of construction waste was diverted from landfill.

To reduce water use, two cisterns collect 800 gallons of rainwater. One cistern is used to water a fruit orchard; the other is open and used as fish habitat and a water source for the cut-flower garden. A large swale in the backyard collects more than 850 gallons of rainwater. A greywater recycling system pumps water to riparian trees and a banana crescent. The landscaping is composed of 91% California native plants, which are naturally drought-tolerant and provide habitat for native species, and 84% of the site is permeable.

For more information, go to USGBC.org

Living Green in Eagle Rock at Rock Row

Model Unit at Rock Row

While homeowner have options to turn their own homes into a green home, for home buyers the option of buying green homes is becoming a hot market.  Rock row in Eagle Rock, CA is the first small lot subdivision in the City of Los Angeles to be LEED Certified under the new LEED for Homes program.  With the LEED certification, Rock Row guarantees excellent indoor air quality, very low utility bills, and energy efficient and sustainable design and construction. 

Rock Row Features:

LEED Certified

10' Ceiling Heights

Integrated Sound System

Multiple Decks and Balconies

Private Yards

Skylights in Stairwells and Baths

Green Roofs

Building Systems:

Grass Pave System reduces reflected heat and absorbs water.

Tankless Water Heaters save energy and last longer.  Saves $200 per year over conventional water heaters.

Drought Tolerant Landscaping

Solar Array - 60%-80% of household electric costs.

Central Vacuum System exhausts to the outside for better indoor air quality. 

Floor Plan

I have to applaud Heyday Development for designing and building Rock Row.  It's a great example of how design and sustainable can create wonderful sustainable lifestyle for the economy and the environment. Rock Row isn't their first sustainable project but their FOURTH!! Bravo!!


For more information on HeyDay Development, go to www.heyday-la.com to see their most current projects.  


Currently Rock Row is sold out but are accepting backup offer. If you would like to learn how to submit a backup offer, contact me at betancourtrealestategroup.com.  


For more information on Rock Row, go to www.leangreenlivingmachine.com 

Green Home in California

One of only a few LEED Platinum Certified homes in the country, project7ten was built as green as possible to serve as an educational model that creates a forum for smart discussion about environmental awareness.

Project7ten is one of the few homes that was conceived an educational model for environmental awareness. It showcase how design can be integrated with a sustainable lifestyle. I've seen this home in person and the amount of detail and sustainable features will amaze you!  This home makes you think that sustainable isn't just being green but creating a sustainable lifestyle for our world and ourselves.


Home Features:


•Low Energy Consumption
•Water Conservation 
•FSC-certified lumber
•locally source building materials
•solar panels
•Grey-Water Recycling
•Energy Efficient Appliances
•Water Efficient Fixtures
•much more

10 Items that Define a Sustainable Home

Global warming, climate-change and sustainability are words that we hear regularly these days, but what do they all mean for home owners or home buyers? A sustainable home is one that is more liveable, healthier, saves you money on water and energy bills, is constructed using environmentally efficient materials and thereby reduces its environmental impact and is useable for you throughout all of your life stages. Here are the ten items that defines a sustainable home. 


1. Water conservation 
Use water efficient appliances and fittings, such as 3-star ( or more) showerheads and water pressure-limiting devices, and include a rainwater tanks to supply water for use with gardens, toilets and laundry.


2. Natural heating and cooling (passive solar design) 
Good passive solar design allows your home to respond to its local climate through natural heating in winter and cooling in summer e.g. good orientation and room zoning, capturing breezes for cross-ventilation, appropriate insulation, shading (e.g. sufficient eaves), building materials (lightweight construction/thermal mass), and fixtures and finishes (e.g. skylights and window treatment). Incorporation of passive design reduces the need to rely on air conditioners/heaters. It can also indirectly promote natural daylighting and improve indoor air quality with circulating breezes providing fresh air inside the home.
3. Energy and greenhouse efficient water heating 
Install a solar, natural gas or electric heat pump hot water system to lower energy bills and reduce the single largest source of greenhouse emissions in the household. (ie. tankless water heater)

4. Future-proof 
The living area and at least one bedroom and toilet on the entry level should be readily accessible from the front boundary or car space to accommodate your changing housing needs as you get older.

5. Safe floors 
Design floors and showers to be step-free (hobless). Use floor surfaces that are slip resistant to guard against injuries.

6. Address the street 
An easy to read house number at the front of your property makes it easy to find. Good external lighting and separated driveway and pedestrian entries also makes it safer.

7. Casual surveillance 
Design your home to have easy surveillance to play areas and the street from the main living area and kitchen for better security.

8. Long-term maintenance 
Reduce the repair and ongoing maintenance costs of your home by using low maintenance materials. (ie. landscape that requires little water)

9. Indoor air quality 
Avoid materials that contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), such as paints/finishes and adhesives, which can cause irritation and allergies, and impact poorly on your health.

10. Outdoor living 
Include permanently covered outdoor play and entertainment areas with a good relationship to indoor spaces to maximise your home’s access to Queensland’s favorable lifestyle and climate.

Remember to check with your local council for any specific design requirement regulations, such as set backs and plumbing standards for rainwater tanks.


For more information on how to design and/or construct a high-performance green homes, go to LEED for HOMES website

Best Example of a Sustainable Home in Los Angeles

Please excuse the poor video quality. 

Living Homes is a company that designs and built homes that are set for the highest sustainable living home. By using the Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED®), Living Home maximizes the home to it's full potential in energy efficient design and use. 

As a Green Living Follower (I will admit that I don't live a 24/7 green lifestyle) I support and follow the innovated designs and efforts to create a clean energy efficient lifestyle for our high tech world.

Click here to view LivingHomes Floorplans and Designs.