U r b a n T r e k k e r

Second Life for Most C&D Materials

You probably heard this term before the 3Rs of waste management strategy 'reduce, reuse, recycle.'  The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has a searchable online database  for reuse and recycle construction material. (you can also download the recycling guide here -pdf).

According to MWCOG, most construction and demolition (C&D) materials are reusable or recyclable. These are things like metals, concrete, bricks, asphalt, untreated wood, cardboard, appliances, fixtures, carpet, and more.

Furthermore, by recycling, it actually helps buildings earn 'green' certification. 

Projects that recycle 50% of their waste can earn 1 point. A 75% recycling rate can earn a second point. An innovation credit point is available for projects achieving 90%+ recycling. To earn construction waste management points, projects must develop a construction waste management plan, identify recycling goals, and quantify waste generated and recycled either by volume or by weight.

[via MWCOG]

I think you can also purchase some of the construction materials from stores listed in the directory. For example, there are stores (here and here) that sell antiques and architectural salvage items, i.e. pre-1960 doors, bathtubs, stained glass, etc.

Weekly Roundup

America's Most Expensive Homes

There's been a lot of denial among luxury homeowners. In 2006, it was thought that the luxury market wouldn't suffer the same fate as the broader market.

The State of the Nation's Housing 2009 report gives U.S. market mixed grades

The nation's housing industry should remain mired in an epic slump for the rest of 2009, but the longer-term picture is not all doom and gloom, according to the "The State of the Nation's Housing 2009" report, to be presented on Monday by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies at the Ford Foundation in New York City. (We'll have more news from the event later this week.)

41 Charged as Mortgage Fraud Hits Condos and Suburbs

Federal law enforcement officials recently announced charges have brought against 41 defendants in five separate cases in Chicago. The cases involve more than $48 million in fraudulently obtained mortgages for dilapidated homes in urban areas as well as deals involving million dollar condominiums in a Chicago high-rise and sprawling homes in affluent suburbs like Wheaton and Glenview. The vice president of a title company, mortgage brokers, loan officers, appraisers, real estate investors and an attorney are among the 37 defendants charged.

What's With All the Moaning About Home Appraisals?

Lately, mortgage brokers, builders, real estate agents and others in the housing business have been moaning about appraisals. On Tuesday, it was the turn of Lawrence Yun, the chief economist of the National Association of Realtors. He lamented that May home sales were “less than expected because poor appraisals are stalling transactions. Pending home sales indicated much stronger activity, but some contracts are falling through from faulty valuations that keep buyers from getting a loan.”

10 Things Moving Companies Won't Say

The moving industry packs in nearly 55 percent of its business during the summer months, but often leaves a trail of frustrated consumers in its wake. The Department of Transportation receives up to 4,000 household moving complaints annually, mostly about loss and damage, poor service, or overcharging. The Council of Better Business Bureaus, meanwhile, reports that complaints about movers jumped from nearly 3,800 in 1997 to more than 9,200 in 2007.

Additional news from around DC region:

• Q&A: Sally Wilson on the USGBC Headquarters, LEED Fine Print, and Negotiating a Green Lease [Metropolis]
• Montgomery Approves Project Before Moratorium [Washington Post]
• Eastern Market reopens after $22M renovation [Wash Biz Journal]
• Index finds D.C. has best 'brain smarts' in U.S. [WTOP]
• Looking for a rent-free home on a lot of land [Real Estate Wonk]
• "Not Paying the Mortgage Yet Stuck with the Keys" [Hot Property]
• Prince William transfers Silver Lake to Park Authority [DC Examiner]
• Cuts Coming to Community Center Hours [Arlington Gazette]
• Experts: Investment in Green Amenities Pays Dividend [Gazette]
• DDOT Launches Real Time Circulator Mobile App [DCist]
• F.C. Council Unanimous in Bid to Convert City to 'Green Lab' [FCNP]

Straw Bale House Built with $50k

This video shows how the owner (a single mom) of this straw bale house built her own with $50,000!

There are a lot of benefits to using this natural building method. First, straw bales provide terrific insulation. They’re also an all-natural material, and it’s usually easy to find a source near you. Finally, building with straw bales can save you money because it doesn’t take a lot of training or special equipment. That means it’s possible to do most of the work yourself.

[via Mother Earth News]

Weekly Roundup

Which will hurt credit more, a bankruptcy or a foreclosure?

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Question: I am in a quandary. I don't know which will damage my credit score more, allowing my lender to foreclose on my house or declaring bankruptcy to buy myself a little more time. So my question is this: Which does more damage to a person's credit score, foreclosure or bankruptcy? And why?

Stay Cool, Naturally

Conserving energy rather than cranking up the AC will not only help cut greenhouse gas emissions but also keep your money in the bank. More than 40 percent of a typical family’s costs are spent keeping their home at a comfortable temperature.

Blight's Bargain, the Unfortunate Location

A WEEK after he moved into the circa-1800 farmhouse he had always dreamed of owning, David Evans spotted something glinting in his backyard. Within two hours, he had unearthed 19 spark plugs.   

Bill Gates Buys Historic Wyoming Ranch

Bill Gates, the world’s richest man, has reportedly purchased Irma Lake Lodge, a famous Wyoming ranch once owned by William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, who may have been one of the earliest successful entrepreneurs.

Anyone Want to Buy a Condo? Anyone?

Potential condominium buyers are facing a tough choice right now: new or used? There are deals to be had on new condos, as developers heavily discount units to move inventory. But getting a mortgage is tough.

Green Cubed Modern Eco Lux Home

This is the Green Cubed house, which was designed by Nelse Design + Build.  Located on an infill lot in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle, the 5-star home was recently the superstar of a Green Built home tour.

HUD Offers $58M for Housing Counseling

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that more than $58 million is available for a broad range of housing counseling programs to help families find and preserve housing. The funding is an increase of $11 million, or 23 percent, over last year.

The best U.S. transit systems you never knew existed

When it comes to public transit in the U.S., there are certain predictable all-stars: the Metro in Washington, D.C., is convenient, efficient, and clean. The anthropomorphically nicknamed El and BART in Chicago and San Francisco are legendary. And everyone knows it’s easier to navigate New York City without a car than with one.

Foreclosures grind on as lenders fail to modify loans

The Obama administration's $75 billion program to reduce foreclosures has been beset by backlogs and delays, leading many overstretched homeowners to complain about unreturned phone calls and inaccurate information from lenders, while others say they were denied help for reasons that weren't clear.

NEWS FROM AROUND GREATER DC REGION:

• Inner Harbor Ritz condos: 21 sold, 171 to go [Real Estate Wonk]
• Region's Economic Performance Ranks High [Washington Post]
• D.C. convention center hotel deal close [Washington Biz Journal]
• Drive in Traffic, Get Paid [We Love DC]
• Study to look at biker, walker paths near BRAC in Bethesda [Gazette.net]
• 26 Reasons to Love Washington [Washingtonian]
• Va. close to finalizing HOT deal on I-95/395 [WTOP]
• Dulles Rail focus turn to Herndon [Examiner]
• Color Primer [Washington Spaces]

2009 Virginia New Green Laws

Legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2009 in Virginia becomes law effective July 1, 2009. The same thing with the no text message bill while driving law that will become law come 7/1.

These are the new "green" laws for 2009, that includes land development, environment and taxation:

Preservation of Historical sites (SB 1416) - allows the local governments to establish areas of known historical or archaeological significance and to require development applicants to document how they will preserve such resources.

Land Preservation Credit (HB 1891/SB 986) - reduced from $100,000 to $50,000 the amount of the land preservation credit for tax years 2009 and 2010. Affected taxpayers may claim the credit for two additional years. 

Open-Space Easements (SB 907) - authorizes estate trustees to donate open-space easements to obtain estate tax exclusions.

Green Roofs (HB 1828, HB 1975/SB 1058) - allows localities to offer incentives for green roof construction.

Certification of Buildings (SB 1004) - allows architect to certify energy-efficient buildings for local taxation purposes.

Geothermal Heating (SB 1128) - requires the Board of Health to allow the construction of wells used solely for closed loop geothermal heating systems.

Clean Energy Financing (SB 1212) - allows localities to provide loans for initial acquisition and installation of clean energy improvements.

Stormwater (SB 982) - requires localities to provide full or partial waivers of charges to any person who redevelops or retrofits property to permanently reduce stormwater flow and pollutant loading. 

[via Update]

There you have it..

For more in-depth coverage of these bills, check out Virginia Legislative Information System. And to learn more about other Virginia green initiatives, go here.

Weekly Roundup

Mortgage Insurers to the Rescue?

Homeowners in trouble may find help from an unlikely source: their private mortgage insurance company. Typically, homeowners turn to nonprofit housing counseling services or even paid "mortgage fixers" (not a good idea) to help them renegotiate better, more affordable terms on their mortgage. But the credit crunch and the large numbers of folks in need of financial help have caused those avenues to clog up.

The Anytime Homebuyer Tax Credit

A new bill introduced in the House Thursday, HR  2801 or Home Ownership Moves the Economy (HOME) Act of 2009, aims to make the current $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit available to literally anyone that purchases a primary residence through the end of 2010.

Upwardly Mobile Homes

When it comes to real estate, the trailer park gets a bad rap. But some designers think that this forsaken corner of the market is worthy of reevaluation—and even resuscitation.

Bank Repossessions Surge, More Foreclosures Hit Market

Expect more foreclosed properties to hit the market. The number of U.S. properties for which a foreclosure filing was received rose 18% in May from a year earlier, according to numbers released by RealtyTrac on Wednesday, as bank repossessions surged in several states outside the Sun Belt, which has so far borne the brunt of foreclosures.

Jon and Kate Plus Eight's Real Estate Stress

As if Jon and Kate Gosselin didn’t have enough to worry about already (rumors of marital infidelity, aggressive paparazzi, national media scrutiny, and, oh, eight kids) they can now tack on an extra stressor: the sluggish real estate market.

10 ways to turnoff a homebuyer

What a difference a couple of years makes. Back in 2007, homebuyers would beg to purchase your house. They would even bid more than the asking price for the privilege to do so.

Q&A: How can I estimate how much roofing we need?

We're planning to replace our roof later this summer and want to get some ballpark estimates from a number of pros. How can I estimate how much roofing we'll need? Knowing how much roofing material you'll need will make it easier to compare bids from contractors.

Wright for Real People: A Family Restores Frank Lloyd Wright's Famed First House

Restoring an architectural treasure is a formidable task, and Steve Sikora and Lynette Erickson-Sikora knew the challenges they would face when they bought Frank Lloyd Wright’s dilapidated 1934 Malcolm Willey House in Minneapolis in 2002.

LOCAL NEWS FROM AROUND WASHINGTON DC REGION

• National Harbor to cyclists, pedestrians: Drop dead [Greater Greater Washington]
• Secretary paints dire transportation picture [Fairfax Times]
• Virginia gets $17.5 M to rehabilitate foreclosed homes [Virginia Business]
• Hill residents hear Hine proposal [Wash Biz Journal]
• Foreclosures soar in Maryland suburbs [DC Examiner]
• Spotsy VRE service would take years [Fredericksburg.com]
• Metro receives first $17 million in stimulus money [WTOP]
• First LEED Platinum House [DC Metrocentric]
• Room and Board Finally Buys the 14th and T Building [DCist]

Indoor Air Quality

We got into this discussion of indoor air quality (IAQ) last night at my relative's house. This particular relative of mine has not opened the windows of her house - for ages.  This is so true. I would say more than 10 years! She may have opened the windows once in a blue moon. But that's about it. So, I am on a mission today to write something about IAQ.

What she didn't realize (until last night) is that poor ventilation can put her at immediate or long term health risks. The Surgeon General states that "Poor indoor air quality contributes to cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and other illnesses." According to EPA, one of the three ways to improve IAQ is through improved ventilation.

Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.

The other two ways to improve the quality of indoor air is 1) to eliminate the single source of pollution or to reduce their emission, and 2) using air cleaners.

The Office of Surgeon General has issued "Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes" on Tuesday which outline simple steps, for example, to check gas and appliances, fireplaces, chimneys, and furnaces yearly and change furnace and air conditioning filters regularly. 

Here are some resources you can check into on creating healthy homes:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Environmental Protection Agency
• HUD Office of Healthy Homes
• American Lung Association

Or, the easiest way is to take this quick indoor air quality tour, courtesy of EPA, where you can go room-by-oom to learn the key pollutants and how to take care of them. (just click on the image below for the tour )

By the way, this is not going to be the last time (previous posts here and here)  I'm writing about this topic, because interestingly EPA cited the fact that  "five out of 10 Americans are not aware of this fact."

Building Green Floors and Closets

Continuation from the show Building Green via PBS that I've posted (among others) here, here.

Memorial Day Weekend Roundup

Low-VOC Paints

On two occasions in recent months we've needed painting done in our apartment -- once due to water damage and another time because we enlarged a room. For the first job, we got low-VOC paint; for the second one -- completed last night -- we forgot.

Is Cork Laminate A Realistic Option for a Kitchen Countertop? 

Question: My husband and I want to replace our kitchen countertop. We are considering traditional and non-traditional options. One of our most unconventional ideas is cork laminate—a material usually used for floors. Should we even consider this option, or is it completely unrealistic?

More Takers for 15-Year Loans

THE 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has traditionally been the go-to loan for borrowers who want stability and lower payments. Adjustable-rate mortgages, by contrast, are often seen as more suitable for risk takers and those who expect to sell their homes in a short time.

A Home with Fearless Color 

If Doug Meyer had an aura, it would certainly not be neutral. He would be surrounded by the blues, greens and turquoises he so favors, and the colors would shimmer in an ever-moving energy field. 

Real Estate Short Sales: The Shortcomings

DEALING WITH THE BURDEN of owning a home that's underwater, or worth less than the underlying mortgage, can be financially devastating. Go into foreclosure and the blemish will stay on your credit report for the next seven years. Try to eke by and you put the rest of your finances in danger.

Blast from Past: Lennar Advertising No-Money Down Homes

Home builder Lennar Corp. is offering some buyers a deal that might bring back memories of the housing frenzy: No money down. No closing costs.

Emeryville's platinum-certified neighborhood, on its way

While at the AIA convention (I'm not an architect but still want to be one when I grow up) last week, I attended a presentation on the redevelopment of the Marketplace site in Emeryville, California, right across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco, north of Oakland.  The new project, planned as a walkable, mixed-use, transit-accessible development, was the first of the participants in the LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot program to achieve platinum certification, the highest level.

Managing the Tenant Screening Process

Occasionally, I hear from landlords who have absolutely no problem marketing their rental units.  They put a sign out front, get a couple ofcalls and rent to the first likely prospect. 

12 tips to buying home at an auction

Foreclosure filings soared a staggering 81 percent over 2007, according to RealtyTrac, as one in 54 U.S. homes suffered the dreaded "Notice of Assessment Lien Foreclosure Sale" stigma.

ADDITTIONAL NEWS FROM AROUND WASHINGTON DC REGION: 

•  Area Jobless Rates Stable in April, but Expected to Grow [Washington Post] 
• Toll Brothers sales improving [Washington Business Journal]
• New York Avenue Corridors TMP Meeting [WashCycle]
• Where are the Region's traffic chokepoints? [WTOP]
• Transit authority opposes Purple Line tunnel [Gazette.net]
• Arlington approves towing fee hike [Examiner]
• ArchiCritic: Tiber Island [DC Metrocentric]
• Where we live: Capitol Hill [We Love DC]

Solar Energy in the City

This is something that any of the high rise buildings, especially the ones that have condo fee to include utilities (and there are plenty of them!) can use their rooftop to house solar panels. I could name names here. For example, Watergate at Landmark, Skyline, Pimmit Hills. To name a few. You can find many of these condos are located in Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, and all around DC region, incl. Maryland. They have 'unused' rooftops.

If they're unused, why not use it to house solar panels then?

There are many benefits to have installed the panels on the roof. Among others is reducing their utility bills. Some of the high rises tuck in all utilities into their monthly fee. As a result, the condo fee is so high. Depending on the square footage, a one bedroom condo fee at one of the buildings I mentioned could range anywhere from high $400 to $800 a month!

Net metering is when you send electricity back to the grid, thus, spin the meter backwards. Each jurisdiction has its own regulations. (I've written extensive posts on the this topic before, here and here.) Updated version of net metering for DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

When it comes to residential incentives, Maryland offers the most to its residents. So, why not condo owners co-op and fund solar energy for their buildings.

 Just a thought..

[Video via Talking Green]