These events are amazing! Every month Sustain Dane hosts an evening to gather, meet new people and learn about important and relevant issues in the Madison area. This month is no exception.

This month Sustain Dane’s Eco Salon presents: “Schools. Food? Gardens!” An evening discussion about the growing importance of recognizing good food in our public schools.

March Speakers include:

• Madison School District Superintendent Dan Nerad
• Megan Cain who manages East High’s food/garden program
• Jay Affeldt representing Badger Rock Middle School

Thursday, March 10th
301 S. Few Street, Madison WI
Doors open at 6 pm, program begins at 7 pm
Beer & wine provided along with engaging discussion

We work with many Madison area first time home buyers. We sit and drink coffee or tea together and our clients tell us their dreams in a home. With first time home buyers we usually hear things like: We are tired of sharing walls with neighbors, we want more privacy and we want to paint the walls whatever colors we want. We want to invite our friends over to to grill on the deck. And of course:

We want a yard. A place to let the dogs play. A place to garden. A place to grow food, plant flowers. A place to compost or build a chicken coop. 

So we help them buy their first home. They get their yard. And then what?

They love their new home but don’t know what to do now that they have the yard. We have heard it many times. And now in perfect partnership with Sustain Dane we are excited to bring you a springtime seminar:

MY IDEAL BACKYARD: Turn your yard into a sustainable oasis. 

Part book club, part get-your-hands-dirty workshop, these series of interactive classes teach how to put together a sustainable backyard. Learn the building and gardening skills necessary to install a raised bed, to put in a water catchment system, and to build a chicken coop—and then make them happen!

Throughout the program, participants meet with experts and practitioners to learn the reasons for backyard gardening—and then will take those skills to their own homes.

Each week, participants meet at one person’s backyard and install that week’s lesson.

Limited availability so sign up today!

DATE & TIMES

• Thursday, March 17th, Madison Children’s Museum, 6:30 – 8 pm
  Initial design: Kate Hieber-Cobb, Madison Area Permaculture Guild
• Saturday, March 26th, Madison Children’s Museum 1—2:30 pm
  Review Backyard Designs
• Saturday, April 2nd, 1 —4 pm
  Install garden beds: Megan Blodgett, Willy Street Co-op
• Saturday, April 9th,1 — 4 pm. Madison Children’s Museum
  Introduction to Chicken Coops: Julie King, Rooftop Ramble Coordinator, Madison’s Children Museum
• Saturday, April 16th, 1 — 4 pm
  Install a chicken coop
• Saturday, April 23rd, 1 — 4 pm
  Install water conversation and irrigation systems: Jim Guither, rain barrel program
• Saturday, April 30th, 1— 4 pm
  Worm bins and bee-keeping: Kiera Mulvey, Madison-area Agriculture Supported Coalition
• Saturday, May 7th, 1— 4 pm
  Canning, jarring and enjoying your backyard: Sustain Dane staff

SIGN UP TODAY! Or contact Phil Busse at Sustain Dane with further questions: phil@sustaindane.org, 608.819.0689

I recently spent the month in Mexico, in a 900 sq. ft. apartment with my husband and two young boys. Our house in Madison is around 1700 sq. ft. with extra space in the basement and the 2 car garage for storage. Surprisingly enough, it is wonderful living in a smaller space. I was a bit worried at first yet right away I started discovering more and more reasons to embrace and love it. A couple of months ago I was talking to my dear friend Sonya Newenhouse who is in the midst of building a modular home in Viroqua WI and I told her my biggest concern in moving to smaller space with two growing boys is winter time. Here in Mexico we spend many hours outside and that is probably part of the reason I don’t notice the claustrophobic feeling that we get in the middle of winter when the kids have a lot of energy and are bouncing off the walls wishing they could go out and play. Here are some great tips for ways to embrace and create large living in small spaces.

Creating Space with Less Square Footage

Although a high ceiling, larger mirror, and natural light make a modest bathroom feel larger, actually cutting square feet from a home is more difficult than it sounds. Here are a few “small ideas” to make a small green home more functional and attractive.

Add Inches to Height: Instead of eight foot ceilings,  have nine foot ceilings. This keeps small rooms from seeming cramped. 

Eliminate Attics: The usable space under the attic can be used for visual appeal, conditioned storage, and loft space.

Eliminate Halls: Halls take up space that can be used for storage or larger rooms. Traffic patterns can cross rooms. 

Separate Space: Rather than building walls, separate spaces with changes in materials or ceiling height., Furniture, such as a bookcase perpendicular to a wall, also separates space without a wall.

Eliminate Formals: Do you use a parlor or a formal dining room more than a few times a year? Plan a larger kitchen or use two separate sitting areas within one living area. A living-dining area with a small, windowed breakfast nook in (or off) the kitchen adds visual space and usability to both rooms. When not eating, use the breakfast nook for homework or use the dining table for games and extra seating for guests.

Use Space Under Roof Peak: Look for a small second story under the peak of the roof. It costs less than first-story space because it uses far fewer resources to build.

I hope these are useful tips as we all learn to challenge how we live and be aware of our habits. I encourage you all to follow Sonya’s videos and track the progress of her home. There is so much to learn. We also have many more tips on our website and encourage you to send us your tips, thoughts or ideas for sustainable living in your home and community.

As the green movement gathers steam, many homeowners — and soon-to-be homeowners — are exploring ways to become environmentally conscious within their living spaces. Creating a healthier and more energy efficient home not only helps the planet but can also boost your home’s value when it comes time to sell. We notice that once there is a desire for more sustainable living, simple actions help create an awareness that then helps shift your daily habits and how you think about the choices you are making, not only in your home, but in your life. And creating a green home isn’t as expensive and hard as you may think.

Madison is at the forefront of the Green movement in many ways. Our team of EcoBrokers and agents with the GREEN designation have specialized training to help buyers and sellers (find out how we help here). Our MLS offers a searchable category to search for Green Built and Energy Star homes. And our local REALTORS Association partners with other local associations in hosting an annual Sustainable Showcase every fall. Madison is known for our natural settings and Lakes, Farmers’ Markets, amazing parks, bike paths, community building and strong initiative on local businesses and foods. All these factors support the concept that doing your part in creating a greener home is certainly a selling point that will add value.  

These days, there are an increasingly wide range of products that offer a variety of environmental values but fall short when it comes to style. As members of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, however, we have access to many credible sources on the subject, such as Robin Wilson, a pioneer in the eco-friendly design sector, and Vickie Gilstrap, vice president of color and design for Mohawk’s Residential Business. They offer the following areas to zero in on when greening your home … while, of course, being mindful of design.

1. Carpet. Did you know that one out of every four recycled plastic bottles is made into carpet? That’s more than 3 billion bottles each year! Choose carpet made from renewable or recycled materials. Sergenians Flooring has an innovative program that will keep your old carpet out of the landfill. (Thank you Sergenian’s!)
2. Paint. Create a cozy space by painting an accent wall in a warm earth tone like cocoa or cinnamon. Choose paint that is non-toxic and contains little or no volatile organic compounds. If your home was built before 1978 read up on new lead regulations before starting your project.
3. Pillows. Use certified organic fabrics to create window treatments or accent pillows. You’ll be surprised at the variety of colors and patterns available.
4. Floors. When choosing hardwood flooring, using reclaimed wood adds a touch of antique, natural beauty to your home. We recommend Eco Friendly Flooring and Habitat ReStore.
5. Counters. Look for those made from recycled glass, ceramic or sustainable bamboo. Use them in both your kitchen and your bathroom. The Alvarado Real Estate Group office features a counter top made from pressed sunflower seeds (View our Eco Friendly Work Space Slide Show to see what else we have done).
6. Accessories. Don’t just throw away your older items — breathe new life into vintage pieces instead by pairing them with fresh accessories. Reupholster an old arm chair or add an accent pillow to give it a fresh, new look. Or look for accessories at garage sales and resale shops.
7. Lighting. Install dimmable compact fluorescent lights, which can consume up to 75% less electricity and last 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs. Or open your shades and let the natural sunlight shine in (and check out our blog post on windows and energy savings for more info).
8. Bathrooms. A new shower curtain can update the entire look of your bathroom. Opt for nylon, which is one of the more eco-friendly materials available. Learning how to ensure your indoor air quality is healthy, take the time for Green Cleaning and use non toxic cleaning products!
9. Faucets/Toilets. Look for faucets with the WaterSense label, which can save the average household more than 500 gallons of water each year and hundreds of dollars in utility bills. If you buy a low water use toilet don’t miss out on the City of Madison’s great rebate program!
10. Bedrooms. Transform your bedroom with eco-friendly bedding. Duvets, shams and linens are available in organic materials and recycled yarn.

Thankfully, manufacturers are answering the consumer demand for eco-friendly products that are also beautifully designed. Be conscious of consumerism and only buy when you need to and when you do – BUY LOCAL! Check for tax rebates too or call us for the most up to date information.

Please pass this email on to your other eco-conscious family and friends or use the Ask a Question form on the sidebar to request our monthly email tips and updates.

I love meeting with Buyers for the first time and helping them create their top 5 most important considerations. Not only is it fun to listen to people talk about their dreams and their visions for their next home, but it is an important step that MUST happen before we go out looking at houses so we can create the right search criteria. Usually the list contains things like, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, a specific area, amount of square feet, etc. But then there are times I get things that are subjective like: charming, a great neighborhood, sunny. And that creates a whole new conversation. Let’s talk about a SUNNY home…   

For Madison Sellers – IMPORTANT!

Sunny. Who doesn’t dream of a sunny, warm home? Look around your home, go through each room with your Buyer’s hat on. I know it might be the room where your youngest child learned to walk, but you need to take off your homeowner hat and get to work. You want to sell your Madison house right! You might need to address the window coverings. Here are some things I’ve learned:

- If you have blinds that are old and dusty you have two choices, 1) take them down and donate them or 2) clean them and pull them all the way to the top so no one can see them. Don’t leave your blinds closed during showings.

- Get rid of horizontal shades. They rarely do anything for the aesthesis of a room and are old and outdated.

- Use curtains to: add color or neutralize  a room, add style and update a room, give the room personality.  

Dining room curtains that add style and can help save energy when closed at night.

This is a SUNNY room that features shades and curtains.

For Madison Buyers – IMPORTANT!

Sunny. Who doesn’t dream of a sunny, warm home? Your living room bathed in natural light. All the lights are off because the sun in pouring in. Sounds dreamy? Yes, very dreamy on a crisp November afternoon. Not so much if it is July, 100 degrees outside and your air conditioner is working overtime. You are buying a home that not only provides shelter for you and your family (and just for that we are grateful) but the reality of living in a 1^st world country is that our home also becomes an extension of who we are, a safe place to come home to each day. Our home represents us. Give it style (unless of course you don’t have style, which I hardly believe).

You can MAKE IT EFFICIENT! You have the ability to spend a little time making tweaks to your home that will save you a lot each month on your energy bills. Here are some more things that I’ve learned:

- Cellular shades are amazing for keeping the cold air out in the winter and the bright sun from overheating your home in the summer. Replace vertical or horizontal blinds with cellular shades. For living areas and kitchens I prefer the light shades so when you need privacy and when the sun is too hot, you can close your shades and the sunlight can still provide excellent natural light.

- Natural light means you can turn off your lamps and energy sucking overhead lights!

- Bedrooms can either go with the lighter shades if you like the sunlight to wake you each morning, or there are room darkening shades that work wonders for keeping your upstairs rooms cooler during hot summer days.   

A charming living room that could use window coverings.

Imagine this room with the right curtains...

 

Create Energy Saving Habits

Summer habits: before you leave in the morning go through each room and close your shades and curtains. It will seem like you are leaving your home dark and depressing but this habit will keep your home as cool as possible throughout the day. Your air conditioner should be programmed through a programmable thermostat so you don’t need to remember to turn the a/c down each morning.   

Winter habits: Open your shades and curtains every morning and let the sun in for natural heating. At night, close all shades and curtains to keep the cold air out.   

Be nice to yourself and remember that it takes a while to create a habit and it won’t happen overnight. Do you unplug your cell phone charger every morning when you leave the house? Keeping chargers plugged in when not in use wastes a lot of unnecessary energy. But when you commit to creating that habit let me warn you (because it happened to me more than once) you will forget that it is unplugged at the end of the day and you will connect your phone but forget that the charger isn’t in the outlet. The next day you will have a dead phone. Incredibly annoying. I promise you, it won’t happen many times after that.   

More home energy tips here…    

Do you need shades and curtains? Yes. Well no, of course not. We only *need* shelter, food, water and love. But you may want them and they will serve the purpose of saving energy, adding personality to your home and they will help you in staging your home if you are trying to sell it. If this overwhelms you, feel free to contact us to help.  

Alvarado Real Estate Group is committed to setting ourselves apart from the rest in a way that means something to us, in a way that not only helps our clients, but helps our planet Earth too. The homes we live in create a sacred place for our families…and that takes energy and resources. There are many ways we can make changes in our homes and lives that will not only increase our enjoyment but can also be less stressful on the planet.

One of the reasons we love Madison WI is the dedication the city has to sustainability at the city level. Madison has a Water Conservation and Sustainability Plan to reduce per capita water usage 20% by the year 2020. How amazing is that? And they can’t do it by themselves…the city needs us all to participate so they’ve created a wonderful program to help homeowners (and apartment building owners) to replace water wasting toilets (which can use up to 3 gallons of water with each flush) with an EPA WaterSense rated high efficiency toilet that only uses an average of 1.28 gallons of water per flush and they’ll send you an rebate up to $100!

How can Madison Homeowners save more water?

1)      Purchase a new toilet (anytime after January 1, 2009). The toilet model must be on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense list {click here for the list}.

2)      Submit the original receipt of the toilet and the application {click here for the application form}. Please remember to keep a copy of your receipt for your records. Send your receipt and application to: Madison Water Utility, Toilet Rebate Program, 119 East Olin Avenue, Madison, WI 53713.

3)      The City of Madison will send you a rebate of up to $100 for residential customers!

The City of Madison Toilet Rebate Program:

-You must be residential customers of the Madison Water Utility, and the installation address must be in the customer service area of the utility.

-You must live in single-family homes, condos, or apartments in buildings no larger than four units.

-Rebates are for replacement of existing larger-capacity toilets, and are not for new construction.  -The program is for only one rebate per household.

More details about installation, rebate details and disposal of old toilets can be found on the Madison Water Utility website">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />.

Madison WI Event & Parade Info

Join us for the first annual Parade for the Planet and Sustainability Fair

12-4pm, Sunday, October 10, 2010 – State Street, Madison, Wisconsin

This parade is for you if you…

• Have worked to reduce your carbon footprint
• Are concerned about climate change
• Want to send a message to our leaders to enact policies reducing our use of carbon fuels
• Want to join with people across the globe to save our planet

Students, congregations, businesses, agencies, non-profits, neighborhoods, and families throughout the Madison area have already been taking many creative and determined steps to lower our carbon emissions.  We invite you to join the Parade! Organize a delegation from your group to celebrate your efforts and ask our leaders to increase theirs. Help us build a movement to stop climate change

Please contact Nathan Gorst at ngorst@gmail.com or visit the event website: www.paradefortheplanet.com

About 350.org

350.org is a global movement to stop climate change. Local members are organizing the Parade and Fair as part of the Global Work Party being held by 350.org on 10/10/10. (Read our mission statement.) Over the weekend of 10-10-10, citizens around the world will complete work projects and celebrate in their communities to show concern for the planet. Our government leaders will take note of the many ways we are all working to reduce our carbon emissions. Leaders will be encouraged to increase their own efforts to create policies and programs that will reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million or less. Find out more about the Global Work Party at 350.org.

Madison’s Green Realtors

Alvarado Real Estate Group is committed to creating awareness and inspiring change for greener homes and living. As trained EcoBrokers we help our homebuyer clients understand homes from an energy and health related perspective as we tour and guide through the decision making process and we help our Seller clients differentiate their home from the competion. We also give our clients Green Home Care Packages when they move into their new homes and do our best to promote ways to create a more energy efficient and healthy living space for their families and for the planet. And as a local and independent Madison WI business we are able to create business policies and office standards with our values at the forefront. Whether it is saving paper, conserving energy or making decisions about our office space and furniture – we are committed to being innovative in every aspect of our business.

Sustainable Showcase of Homes Features Green Building Techniques

Join us for an open house event across the Madison area to tour Green Built Certified and/or Energy Star homes and remodel projects and learn more about what people in our communities are doing. The 2010 Sustainable Showcase of homes is an all day event on Saturday, October 23^rd from 10-4pm. An after-event party will be held at the Habitat ReStore, 208 Cottage Grove Road, Madison for networking and business contacts plus beer tasting. Proceeds from the event will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Dane County.

The showcase will contain a mix of new, remodeled and existing homes that were built with the Green Built Home certification. Properties will highlight many different “green” principals and products including renewable energy, energy efficient construction, water conservation and more throughout the Dane county area.

This tour allows homeowners and contractors to discuss their green building techniques and the newest innovations in sustainable building and remodeling. Tour attendees will be able to ask questions and see firsthand how they could incorporate green building practices in their current or future home. More than 20 homes and sites will be featured in various stages of construction and certification.

The tickets will be $10 per person and sold at all four Home Savings Bank locations and also available for purchase at sites the day of the event.

For more information visit www.sustainableshowcase.org

Presented by Madison Area Builders Association (MABA), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), Realtors® Association of South Central Wisconsin (RASCW) and the Madison Chapter of the Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association (WMBA).

JUST ANNOUNCED: The Presenting Sponsor for the event is MG&E, which is generously donating funds and in-kind support. Focus on Energy is a Gold Sponsor and Isthmus is the Media Partner for the event.

A Madison WI Green Home for Sale! And a garden lovers heaven! The time, love & dedication that has gone into the landscaping makes this sweet bungalow a special find. And if you value energy efficiency and green features, check out the solar hot water system, rain barrel and the low utility bills! Interior features: laminate floors, spacious layout, newer windows. Exterior features: new siding, built in patio firepit, amazing garden and more! The backyard borders a city park & bike path! Sit on the front 3 season porch and escape into your retreat home.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

2550 Hoard Street has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1155 sq. ft and a 1 car garage attached. For the current price, click here.

Property Updates and Features

- New toilet 2010
- Replaced sink, faucet & disposal 2007
- Solar hot water heater panels and system installed in 2005
- Gas water heater New 2001
- New stainless steel siding 2005 with lifetime warranty
- Windows replaced in 2005 (Living Room, 1999)
- Refrigerator replaced in 2003
- Laminate wood flooring installed 2001
- Roof replaced in 1999
- Washer & dryer 1998
- Great edible landscaping includes: Raspberries, blackberries, kiwi, apple tree, blueberries, strawberries, mulberries,
currants, lingon berries, josten berries, elderberries, perennials and more!
- Tile work by Red Rose Mosaics
- Backyard patio features high efficiency fire pit surrounded by gardens and borders the city bike path and park
- UHP warranty included in sale (value $425)

Neighborhood Information

- Walk to area restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, Walgreen’s
- Walk to famous Ella’s Deli
- East commute access to Downtown or Aberg to Stoughton Rd.
- Close to the bike path, bus routs and parks
- Family friendly, quiet neighborhood
- Visit the Hawthorne Library on E. Washington
- Minutes from Downtown, Capitol & Beltline
- Walkscore of 68 (pretty good!) at www.walkscore.com

2550 Hoard Street School Information

Emerson Elementary
Sherman Middle School
East High School

For a private tour or more information on this home and its availability, please contact office@thealvaradogroup.com or 608.438.4315.

Green Built Home

Sometimes when I start talking to a prospective Seller I get this question and it is always interesting to see where the conversation goes as we talk about the definition of green, what that means and what that has to do with whether I can help or not.

First of all, I’m a Real Estate Broker and study all things real estate which include the housing market, mortgages, negotiation, marketing, information technology, community data, property preparation/staging, buyer psychology, and local and national trends. I love helping all different kinds of people and families through the buying and selling process and I love helping to sell all different kinds of homes. So to me it doesn’t matter if your home is a ranch or a two story; if it is feng shuied or vacant; if it is beige or green. Our Madison real estate team is talented in many different ways. Our excellence in service and commitment to our passion for real estate make us a great choice for many people hiring a real estate team.  

So why do we get this question?

Not only does our team live and breathe Madison Real Estate but we are also passionate about the environment and sharing information with our clients and the community about ways we can all make a difference for our families and our planet in the homes we live in and the choices we make. The community hears this message loud and clear because it is a core value of our company. The real question is not whether I can help you sell your home because it is or is not green. The question is what is a green home?  

What is a Green Home?

This is the interesting question because there are so many aspects to green and what we have been bombarded with from the media that is gets quite confusing. In researching the definition of green I came across Michael Richmond’s work (an expert author on the subject) and found this:

“The best definition of Green refers to the health impact of what we do on living things. So Green is primarily a health-related issue. This is seen in the fact that cleaning products were the early Green issues. In fact, indoor air quality is a big factor in Green buildings. Sick building syndrome was the result of poor indoor air quality, which is the antithesis of Green.” I also found the dictionary definition includes, “environmentally sound, beneficial” (along with references to color and money).

Energy Star Home

With that, a green home could be a home with healthy indoor air quality and environmentally sound. That doesn’t really work for me. If I owned a 4,500 sq. ft. home located 15 minutes (driving a car) to where I work but had great indoor air quality and was built in an environmentally sound fashion, it still wouldn’t feel green to me. For me a green home takes into consideration the energy efficiency of the mechanicals, the system of the home, the landscaping, the location in relation to daily living, the space and how it is used for the family. It is a healthy space. It is efficient. And it takes smart choices in sustaining its green features. What is the point of having a super efficient furnace if I keep the heat set at 80 degrees all winter long? That is where our choices make a difference. A big difference.

If you are curious how our passion and additional training as EcoBrokers can help in a real estate transaction, please read more here. But if you just want a Realtor to help get your home sold or help you find a new home, then call us. We can help.

Darcy, Kathryn, Sara & Carlos Alvarado, Julie

608.251.6600, team@thealvaradogroup.com