Spotlight: Las Casas Verdes, Austin’s First Eco-Friendly Neighborhood
Thursday, August 7th, 2008
Las Casa Verdes will be comprised of twenty single family homes featuring the latest in solar, wind and water energy systems. All homes will meet the strict standards of the Austin Green Building Program, Energy Star and LEEDS certifications. Prices will fall within FHA guidelines for the area, with completion schedule for mid-2008.Passive solar design will be used and orientated to best manage light from the sun. Overhangs, porches and shade trees will provide shielding to reduce heat load.Heat chimneys, operable awning windows and landscape features will combine with local breezes to move air throughout the home with little or no mechanical assistance during spring and fall months.
Popularity: 20% [?]
Austin Real Estate Becomes Eco-Friendly With ‘Unbuilds’
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008In today’s ‘green conscious’ society, not only is there a moral obligation not to destroy and discard, but to recycle and reuse.
The eco-friendly ‘unbuild’ has now become an option to the traditional ‘tear-down’ of Austin real estate. According to a Wallstreet Journal article, an unbuilt house can be carefully disassembled, piece by piece, and the parts used for a new house and/or donated for reuse elsewhere. Whatever is donated can be deducted from income tax.
‘Unbuilding’ an Austin home may be the right thing to do for many reasons, but saving time and money is not top of the list. It will take longer to ‘unbuild’, but at least a couple of weeks and may end up being more expensive in the long run, even after any tax deductions. But, other benefits are the reuse of materials such as beautiful aged brick from fireplaces, stone foundations, custom woodwork, decorative tile or antique fixtures and working appliances.
Popularity: 33% [?]
