NOTE: This article is part of the forthcoming book, the Gotcha Guide™ to Buying or Investing in Real Estate. by DeeinAustin™

Today, we’re continuing with Green Week here at Texas Realty Blog. If you haven’t already read our first post, take a look at Green Real Estate Events in Austin and Texas in Spring 2008.

QUICK INTRO TO GREEN BUILDING AND GREEN REMODELING

Green homes don’t have to be odd-shaped and made out of materials that aren’t normally seen in your neighborhood. According to EcoManor the most efficient green homes have the following characteristics:

Environmentally-sound materials
 Energy-efficient appliances
 Recycled & Locally-sourced materials
 Rain water collection
 Drought-resistant landscaping
 Natural, chemical-free insulation
 Low-flush toilets
 Natural cleaning products

TOP 5 QUICK, LOW-COST FIXES THAT YOU CAN DO TODAY FOR BETTER GREEN LIVING

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Popularity: 7% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

If green building is not a big issue in your area, it will be in 2008. I represent 5-star green builders who were  ahead of the curve years ago when they first became concerned with sustainable home design.

2008 will bring increased pressure to build green. To stay on top of this trend, real estate agents, contractors and home builders in Austin and nationwide will likely obtain their green certifications.

Two popular programs include EcoBroker as well as the Certified Green Professional Designation from the National Association of Home Builders.

SPECIAL GREEN WEEK AT TEXAS REALTY BLOG

This week is a special green real estate week for the Texas Realty Blog. Each article will highlight green real estate and green home building.

• Today, we’re covering upcoming green building events that you may want to attend in Texas, even if you’re from another state.
• Our popular Gotcha Guide™ series will see a green post mid-week. Look for our Gotcha Guide™ Intro to Green Building and Remodeling. We’ll tell you which quick green fixes bring the biggest bang for the buck.
• Friday’s Spotlight will be on the top green built communities in Central Texas and the U.S. You may be surprised at which developments made the list.

WHERE TO GET YOUR GREEN REAL ESTATE FIX IN 2008

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By DeeinAustin™

Let’s face it. Non-Texans sometimes perceived our state as being behind on the times. Lately, Texas is being recognized for being forward-thinking when it comes to green practices and sustainability. Texas is not just growing a green thumb, we’re passing laws that put a "green" boot in the backsides of corporations, developers and new construction builders to encourage them to adopt new practices.

Here’s what I mean.

A friend who works for Pepsi-Co International mentioned that large corporations have implemented more strict green requirements from suppliers. In order to supply products or services to Pepsi-co, your company must regularly report measures in areas such as recycling, carbon footprint and sustainable practices. Round Rock-based Dell Computers, Inc. has similar green guidelines for suppliers.

Green requirements are being adopted by Texas State Agencies in the areas of green building, sustainable development of subdivisions, affordable housing, and commercial construction.

COOL GREEN INITIATIVES IN TEXAS

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By Maria Scinto and DeeinAustin™

Don’t know if you guys have heard about the Villa Muse development (Dee had an earlier post about it), but it sounds pretty amazing to me. Villa Muse is a new mixed-use development going up just east of Austin. It may be some standards of new urbanism as well.

What makes this Villa Muse community different? The entire community is centered around The Arts.

Like most mixed-use developments, Villa Muse will include housing (mostly condos) for about 8,500 people  and will have an assortment of retail shops and restaurants with centerpiece being the Villa Muse Studios.

The studios will have state-of-the-art facilities for filmmakers, musicians, and game developers. Other perks include a 50,000-square-foot sound stage (largest one in North America) and an outdoor amphitheater that can seat 70,000 people.

MORE DETAILS ON VILLA MUSE AUSTIN

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By DeeinAustin™

I received an email alert October 31st from Tate Austin Hahn PR firm. They’re going to announce another phase of multi-family apartments at Mueller Austin today.

I serve on the City Advisory Commission for the Mueller Austin Redevelopment in East Central Austin. The 711-acre mixed-use development incorporates the principles of New Urbanism, which we blogged about earlier this week.

Simmons Vedder & Co. will build the second multi-family community at Mueller just north of the recently-announced Mosaic project that is currently under construction. Since affordability is a key issue in Austin, the unnamed new community will have 10% of the rental units reserved for families making 60% or less Austin’s median family income.

LET’S NAME THE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX

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By Maria Scinto and DeeinAustin™

New Urbanism - just what is this? It’s a way of planning cities and new developments so they have more of that traditional neighborhood feel.

Walking and biking is big in New Urban development. Instead of the old suburban car culture, where we all drive everywhere, even down the block, a "new urban" neighborhood is one where you’re tempted to leave the car in the driveway since you can easily walk to shops, restaurants, and schools.

This sounds better and better, the higher the gas prices set in!

But anyway, what’s this got to do with the Texas Coast? Quite a bit, it turns out. Developer Tofigh Sherazi is currently underway with plans for Beachtown Galveston, a 260 acre community meant to reflect Galveston’s past.

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Popularity: 5% [?]