Southern California Green Real Estate Blog

MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING PROGRAM

MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING PROGRAM

by the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation

edited by Jodi Summers

Here is a straight forward guide to what to recycle in the blue bins, courtesy of the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Department. Please read it, it will make you smarter.

HOW TO RECYCLE

• Please rinse all cans, bottles and plastics before recycling. Crush aluminum cans to save space in the bin.

• Put recyclable items into the blue recycling bin or store them in a bag or container. Do not tie or close the bag.

• Empty the container or bag into the blue recycling bin. Reuse the bag or container or recycle it, if it’s recyclable.

YES – WHAT TO RECYCLE

Brown paper bags

Cans/Metal, aluminum, steel & tin

Cardboard (flattened and put next to the bin)

Cereal boxes

Colored paper

Glass bottles & containers

Magazines

Metal coat hangers

Mixed paper

Newspaper

Office paper

Plastic containers

Plastic grocery bags

Styrofoam

Unwanted mail

For a complete list of accepted items visit www.larecycles.org

NO – DON’T RECYCLE THESE THINGS

Anti-freeze

Appliances & electronics

Batteries

Broken glass

Ceramic mugs

Cleaning products

Clothing

Construction debris

Food-soiled paper (eg. pizza boxes)

Food waste

Furniture

Gardening pots

Glass mirrors

Light bulbs

Medical waste (eg. syringes, bandages, tissues, cotton swabs)

Motor oil

Paint

Pressurized cans

Trash

Waxed cardboard & paper (eg. milk cartons)

Yard trimmings

For additional program information visit the Multi-Family Residential Recycling website at www.larecycles.org or Email us at multifamily@lacity.org. Call the Hotline at 800-773-2489 or 3-1-1

THAT’S IT! IT’S EASY!

**

http://www.larecycles.org/pdf/Resorce_Card_english.pdf

REAL ESTATE PRICES ARE STILL UP THIS MILLENIUM IN LOS ANGELES

REAL ESTATE PRICES ARE STILL UP THIS MILLENIIUM IN LOS ANGELES

by Jodi Summers

A recent report on Forbes.com citing the 10 Best and 10 Worst U.S. Housing Markets noted that in Los Angeles, if you bought in 2000, paid your mortgage on time and are still in your home, you’ve seen a 71.5% price appreciation.

Up north, San Francisco’s prices are up 30.12% from 2000. It still has the potential for a further fall, given the 31% drop for 2008.

Forbes analyzed monthly declines and year-over-year declines in home prices to determine where prices were falling fastest and where those drops were picking up momentum. They noted, “It’s not a good thing for San Diego that prices from November 2008 to December 2008 fell 2.13%, but as prices declined by 2.29% from October to November, and 2.44% from September to October, the speed with which prices are falling is slowing.”

The information is based on an S&P/Case-Shiller home price index, which measured metro home prices in 20 cities through December 2008.

Info courtesy of:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/24/housing-cities-ten-lifestyle-real-Estate_home_prices.html?partner=alerts

GREENING BUILDINGS THE EASY WAY - THE ICC GREEN BUILDING OVERLAY

GREENING BUILDINGS THE EASY WAY - THE ICC GREEN BUILDING OVERLAY

By Jodi Summers

More green building codes anyone? Sure, there are already several green building codes in use today - LEED, Energy Star, NAHB Green, Green Globes, BREEM and the latest, and perhaps most practical to join the crowd is ICC – the of International Code Council.

FYI, you’ve walked through hundreds of International Code Council respecting properties. Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt building codes choose the International Codes developed by the International Code Council. As the ICC already has such a huge fan base, they’ve decided to have their input into green building codes > a.k.a. IGCC.

The objective of this new project is to develop a Green Building Code for traditional and high-performance buildings that is consistent and coordinated with the ICC family of Codes and Standards.

“Congratulations on taking such an important step to ensure the creation of such a code system. We are pleased to support this effort in any way possible,” USGBC President Richard Fedrizzi stated publicly, throwing in a compliment to the Code Council for “undertaking a collaborative approach to this important work.”

A bit of insight: the International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools.

Being the progressive state that we are, California, has already adopted a green building code, which is incorporated into the template the ICC has come up with for the rest of the country.

“California continues to lead the nation and I commend the hard work of the Building Standards Commission to adopt the first-in-the-nation statewide green building standards,” proudly observed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The objective of the ICC code will be to raise the bottom line, giving all buildings a greener baseline. LEED, in contrast, is a bolder standard, providing innovative and more challenging ways to reduce green house gas emissions, materials usage, enhance energy efficiency, and all other good green things.

An ICC green code will make politicians, building inspectors and code officials comfortable with adopting and utilizing I-Codes as the basis for building regulations. By adopting an ICC code and augmenting it with what some of the greener cities like Santa Monica, Berkeley, Sacramento and West Hollywood are doing, municipalities will not have to reinvent the code wheel when looking to implement green building practices.

Wisely, the ICC Green Building Code is an overlay that can integrate with the I-codes that already exist in most jurisdictions.

**

http://www.greenbuildinglawblog.com

http://www.greenerbuildings.com/blog/2009/08/20/why-world-needs-another-green-building-standard

http://www.iccsafe.org/

http://www.socalgreenrealestateblog.com/?p=157

http://www.iccsafe.org/news/nr/2009/0722_USGBC.pdf

GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHICS ARE SHAPING REAL ESTATE TRENDS

GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHICS ARE SHAPING REAL ESTATE TRENDS

Edited by Jodi Summers

Global Demographics: Shaping Real Estate’s Future offers recent research from the Urban Land Institute about the effect of global demographic change on real estate.

“Over the next 20 years, demographic megatrends — and their variations by continent — present the real estate industry with tremendous opportunity to not only grow, but to better serve the people real estate is designed for,” said David Jacobstein, senior advisor to co-sponsor Deloitte LLP ’s Real Estate practice. “Mature economies — especially growing ones — offer attractive investment opportunities, but emerging markets require vast quantities of infrastructure, as well as residential, retail, office, and hotel properties to support their burgeoning populations.”

Findings from the report include:

Aging

The aging of the world’s population is arguably the single most dramatic demographic trend today, with three key trends emerging:

v In 2006, almost 500 million people worldwide were 65 and older.

v By 2030, individuals 65 and older are projected to increase to 1 billion — equaling one out of every eight people on earth.

v The most rapid increases in the 65-and-older population are occurring in developing countries, which will see a jump of 140 percent by 2030.

Real estate implications

v Retirement housing is the primary real estate beneficiary of global aging, with the U.S. senior housing industry set to benefit from the opportunity to produce new products.

v Rapid consolidation of senior housing operators will result in more professional and cost-effective management.

v Investor interest will continue to grow because economic cycles have little effect on dementia and nursing care facilities.

v There is increased demand for affordable senior housing and senior housing options in ethnic communities.

Urbanization

As of 2007, 3.3 billion people — half of the world’s population — live in urban areas. With that number expected to increase to 60 percent by 2030, five key trends are emerging:

v One billion people live in slums, with 90 percent of this population occurring in developing countries.

v At least 133 million city dwellers in the developing world lack durable housing.

v Twenty percent of urban dwellers in emerging nations are overcrowded, with more than three people per bedroom.

v Only two-thirds of the world’s urban population has access to tap water, with only 46 percent having access in their homes.

v More than 25 percent of the world’s urban population lacks adequate sanitation.

Real estate implications of these urbanization trends include:

v Investing in infrastructure — whether new or established — is essential to the viability of long-term commercial real estate projects. Privatization of infrastructure through public/private partnerships with investment funds are becoming increasingly important, with notable examples occurring in the United States, Spain and France.

v Better land use controls should be implemented to prevent high-density, informal communities from developing and reduce outward urban sprawl because both trends present difficulties to residents in terms of infrastructure, safety and lifestyle.

v There is increased demand for housing and retail as a result of a growing workforce.

v In stagnant or shrinking populations, new construction must be viewed as replacement properties — even if that entails older building demolition to maintain vacancy rates — as has occurred in continental Europe.

v Emerging markets can leap from traditional, organic models to contemporary multi-use projects and residential communities if ground level infrastructure is established.

v The lack of mortgage availability in the emerging market is the greatest limitation on new development.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS187513+12-Jun-2008+BW2008061

http://totallycebu.com/aging-lecture

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/165513789/

HOUSEPLANTS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE HEALTHIER

HOUSEPLANTS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE HEALTHIER

Here’s a fabulous tidbit you can share with your friends about greening your environment. According to a recently completed two-year study by NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, the following houseplants help get rid of common household toxins like benzene (solvent found in detergents, rubber, inks, and paints), formaldehyde (used in particle board and grocery bags), and trichloroethylene (used in varnishes, adhesives, and paints):

1. Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

2. Lady palm (Rhapis spp.)

3. Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

4. Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

5. ‘Janet Craig’ dracaena (Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’)

6. English ivy (Hedera helix)

7. Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii), xylene

8. ‘Alii’ ficus (Ficus macleilandii ‘Alii’)

9. Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’)

10. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)

11. Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’)

12. Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

13. Kimberley Queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)

14. Florist’s mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

15. Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

All the details @ http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2007/ps_3.html

GREEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING – THE NEXT FRONTIER?

GREEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING – THE NEXT FRONTIER?

The experts say green affordable housing is within reach. The theory is that if President Barack Obama would green the existing US affordable housing stock–some six million units—this would provide important fiscal, economic and environmental benefits.

David M. Abromowitz, a partner with the law firm of Goulston & Storrs and a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress–a nonpartisan research and educational institute notes that if President Obama’s sustainability goals targeted green retrofitting, it can lead to a growth in employment within the sector. Further, investment in making low-income housing more efficient has the potential to stimulate a green renovation industry with best practices and technologies that would apply to the market-rate housing sector.

Affordable housing currently accounts for almost 17% of the 35-million-unit US housing inventory and because it is federally assisted, targeted green policies would apply. A good portion of subsidized housing is at least 20 years old; more than 65% was built before 1970, before the sustainability trend even emerged.

“A targeted emphasis on energy conservation means these units are prime candidates for necessary renovation work that will generate significant energy and carbon dioxide reductions,” pontificates Abromowitz.

While current government spending on affordable housing energy expenses totals $5 billion, according to the Government Accountability Office, implementing relatively inexpensive improvements–about $2,500 to $5,000 a unit–could result in a cost savings of between 25% and 40%.

“Spending today on a large scale to retrofit millions of units stimulates construction activity, creates jobs and produces better-quality housing and long-term energy cost reductions,” relates Abromowitz.

Public housing authorities and private owners of federally subsidized housing aren’t likely to invest in green improvements themselves, given the costs and existing rules and policies to overcome. Therefore, sustainability would have to be mandated through policy changes that entice owners to give their affordable projects a makeover.

The experience gained from the green retrofit of federally subsidized communities can be applied to the market-rate segment of the housing industry, and a widespread effort to make affordable units more environmentally friendly would result in an increase in green products and workers, leading to a full-fledged green renovation industry. “Early action by HUD on green retrofitting can boost green workforce development and training through recognized federal programs such as YouthBuild and other national service programs, as well as fulfill a longstanding mandate to promote local economic development and improvement and individual self-sufficiency for low or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods,” concludes Abromowitz.

Get the full story @

http://www.globest.com/news/1318_1318/insider/176097-1.html

http://www.youthconservation.org/Images/ABOUT_YCC/Youthbuild%20logo.jpg

http://www.csc.gen.or.us/YouthBuildLogowithText_small1.gif

http://www.youthbuild.org/atf/cf/%7B22B5F680-2AF9-4ED2-B948-40C4B32E6198%7D/realestate_davida.jpg

WAYS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WILL BUILD A GREEN ECONOMIC SECTOR

WAYS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WILL BUILD A GREEN ECONOMIC SECTOR

Allow us to share with you a collection of green initiatives proposed by President-elect Barack Obama. The quotes come from the President-elect’s website @

www.barackobama.com and information has yet to be offered as to how these initiatives will be implemented and funded. Nonetheless, we like to concept.

BUILDING EFFICIENCY

* Weatherize 1 million homes annually. “Obama will make a national commitment to weatherize at least one million low-income homes each year for the next decade, which can reduce energy usage across the economy and help moderate energy prices for all.”

* Set building efficiency goals. “Obama will establish a goal of making all new buildings carbon neutral, or produce zero emissions, by 2030. He’ll also establish a national goal of improving new building efficiency by 50 percent and existing building efficiency by 25 percent over the next decade to help us meet the 2030 goal.”

* Establish a grant program for early adopters. “Obama will create a competitive grant program to award those states and localities that take the first steps in implementing new building codes that prioritize energy efficiency, and provide a federal match for those states with leading-edge public benefits funds that support energy efficiency retrofits of existing buildings.”

* Expand federal efficiency grants. “Obama will also expand federal grant programs to help states and localities build more efficient public buildings, including libraries, schools, and police stations that adopt aggressive green building provisions like those provided by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Buildings Council.”

UTILITIES AND ELECTRIC GRID

* Flip incentives to energy utilities. “An Obama administration will ‘flip’ incentives to utility companies by requiring states to conduct proceedings to implement incentive changes and offering them targeted technical assistance. These measures will benefit utilities for improving energy efficiency, rather than just from supporting higher energy consumption. This ‘regulatory equity’ starts with the decoupling of profits from increased energy usage, which will incentivize utilities to partner with consumers and the federal and state governments to reduce monthly energy bills for families and businesses.”

APPLIANCE/PRODUCT EFFICIENCY

* Overhaul federal efficiency standards. “The current Department of Energy has missed 34 deadlines for setting updated appliance efficiency standards, which has cost American consumers millions of dollars in unrealized energy savings. Obama will overhaul this process for appliances and provide more resources to his Department of Energy so it implements regular updates for efficiency standards. He will also work with Congress to ensure that it continues to play a key role in improving our national efficiency codes.”

* Phase out incandescents. “Obama supports the effort led by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) to update federal lighting efficiency standards to ensure that new lighting technologies are phased into the marketplace. As president, Obama will implement legislation that phases out traditional incandescent light bulbs by 2014.”

RENEWABLE ENERGY

* Increase share of government electricity from renewable sources. “As president, Obama will ensure that at least 30 percent of the federal government’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020.”

* Require 25% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025. “Obama will establish a 25 percent federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to require that 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources, like solar, wind, and geothermal by 2025.”

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

* Build neighborhoods around alternative transportation. “Obama believes that we must devote substantial resources to repairing our roads and bridges. He also believes that we must devote significantly more attention to investments that will make it easier for us to walk, bicycle, and access other transportation alternatives. Obama is committed to reforming the federal transportation funding and leveling employer incentives for driving and public transit.”

CARBON EMISSIONS

* Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.  “Obama’s cap-and-trade policy will require all pollution credits to be auctioned, and proceeds will go to investments in a clean energy future, habitat protections, and rebates and other transition relief for families.”

GREEN JOBS

* Invest in clean energy. “The Obama-Biden comprehensive New Energy for America plan will help create 5 million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next 10 years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.”

Info courtesy of

http://www.barackobama.com

http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/news/obama-wins-green-movement-wins.aspx

DIDJA KNOW…THE LIFESPAN OF CARPET

DIDJA KNOW…THE LIFESPAN OF CARPET

The “lifespan” of carpet is a function of the quality of the carpet and the intensity of use and many other factors such as sunlight. Columnist Robert Griswold notes, “So while each carpet must be evaluated individually, I think it is safe to say that the usual range of years for the average life of an apartment-grade carpet is 5-10 years.”