Carole Fields

Green Projects for the Home

Many buyers are interested in environmentally friendly homes.  Some "green" improvements while beneficial to the homeowner may extract a hefty price tag.

To see which improvements seem to have a good return per investment and  have been rated the top 9, please read this article.

Projects for a Smarter Home

Many homeowners are trying to improve the efficiency of their homes-- make them smarter.  One of the best ways is by chalking.  For additional information on projects that can help "green" your home, this article  from "Popular Mechanics" has 10 weekend projects  that can help save energy and money. Enjoy!

Green Building for Multi-Family Units

The "Green Building" initiative is being implemented in multi-family units in response to consumer interest in this facet of conservation.

MULTIFAMILY BUILDERS CHOOSE TO BUILD GREEN

More of the nation’s multifamily buildings are going green as builders and developers respond to growing consumer interest in sustainable building practices. (NAHB, August 26, 2008) More Information . . .

New Options in Home Insulation

As energy costs escalate, many homeowners are trying to save as much as possible on their energy bills.  One way is a new "foam" type of insulation.  Is it effective and how long does it take for the payoff? What are the pros and cons?  Nancy Keates of The Wall Street Journal shares her experience and thoughts on this subject.

VOC Paints for the "Green" Home

VOC Paints are highly recommended for those who wish to have a "green" house.  What makes these paints different and are they worth the additional costs?  For additional information, please read this article by Gwendolyn Bounds in The Wall Street Journal.

Volunteering on the Harpeth River

My Office, Bob Parks Realty in Franklin, spent a day volunteering on the Harpeth River in the River Park area of Brentwood.

We had teams rolling cedar trees in erosion control matting. These cedar bundles were secured to the river bank by another team from our office. It was hard work but the weather was pleasant, and Lottie McCormick, Senior Vice President of Home Financial Group,LLC, provided breakfast and lunch for the volunteers.  Thanks Lottie!  The photo on the right is part of our group that bundled cedar trees for placement on the river bank.

The goal was to stabilize the river bank to prevent further erosion.  The cedar trees were donated by farmers who consider them a nuisance, and are glad to remove them from their property.  We are able to recycle and bundle the trees in a cost efficient manner.  The matting is made of recycled coconut husks.  This material takes longer to breakdown than jute and is better for management of the erosion control process. Our volunteeers bundled all the cedar trees available at the time, and these were installed on the riverbank.  A successful project!

If you have a creek or stream on your property,the Harpeth Valley Watershed Association recommends that you plant trees along the bank and mow 25-50 feet from the edge to help curb erosion.

The Harpeth River Watershed Association (HRWA) is "dedicated to protecting the ecological heath of the Harpeth and providing expertise in statewide conservation policy."  The drought last summer emphasized how important this goal is for everyone's well being.

The HRWA welcomes community support and volunteers. To learn more about this organization and how you can help, please visit www.harpethriver.org   You can make a difference!

"Green" Home Improvements

St. Patrick's Day has gotten me in a "green" mood, especially for homes. There are several  "green" options available for homeowners. Many tend to be more expensive than traditional materials. I found the following article of interest and hope you do, also.

LOW-COST FIXES TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE GREEN

With oil prices now well beyond $100 a barrel; many buyers have been asking how to have a greener, more energy-efficient home. One answer, promoted by "green" builders, is to buy a new eco-friendly abode with everything from solar shingles to geothermal heating systems to super-insulated windows. (June Fletcher, March 13, 2008, RealEstateJournal.com) More Information. . .

Energy Efficiency and Building Green

ENERGY EFFICIENCY RANKS #1 IN CONSUMER GREEN BUILDING PRIORITIES

A new survey conducted for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) confirms that a desire for greater energy efficiency drives consumers to choose a green-built home.
(Source: NAHB) More Information . . .

Urban Development and Climate Change

IMPROVED LAND USE WILL MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE

If you are looking for a major contribution to climate change, you need walk no further than your front doors.
Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change, published by the Urban Land Institute, is a comprehensive review of dozens of studies in which the researchers conclude that urban development is both a key contributor to climate change and an essential factor in combating global warming.
(Source: Realty Times) More Information . . .

"Green Gets Easier and Easier"

"The kind of footprint a home will leave behind has, for some, become the compass that points them in the right direction when building or remodeling their home.  A home's "footprint" is the term used to define how eco-friendly their choices are.

Bill Lawrence with Lawrence Bros., a construction company that specializes in building energy efficient quality homes,says that wise choices for home products are simple to make these days.

"You really see more and more green labels. I moved here from California, where everyone has been on the eco bandwagon for some time." Lawrence said.  "When I came here, it wasn't as prevalent.  I wanted to do something that would start that in my work. So we started focusing on using products that are efficient and earth friendly."

Lawrence recently won a Governors Award for Environmental Stewardship, the first builder to receive the award in its 23-year history.  Lawrence ways that choosing green products is not a compromise to quality.  In fact, most products are better than the standard, less energy efficient products.

"Some of the products are more expensive on the front end.  But they almost always pay for themselves over the long haul.  And they are just the right thing to do," he says.

What are the top eco-friendly products for building or remodeling a home?  From water heaters to low VOC paint, we give you a rundown on the best of the green products to choose from."

By Cathi Aycock for Williamson A.M.  For the entire article, click here.