Southern California Green Real Estate Blog

NEW MARKET TERMS

NEW MARKET TERMS

We get lots of interesting email…this one, from Sanddra ay Costalife Services rollover@costalifeservices.com  gives us a chuckle…

BULL MARKET — A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.

BEAR MARKET — A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance and the wife gets no jewelry.

VALUE INVESTING — The art of buying low and selling lower.

BROKER — What my broker has made me.

STANDARD & POOR — Your life in a nutshell.

STOCK ANALYST — Idiot who just downgraded your stock.

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR — Past year investor who’s now locked up in a nuthouse.

PROFIT — An archaic word no longer in use.

Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board Proposes New Fees and Restrictions on Land

Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board Proposes New Fees and Restrictions on Land

The Regional Water Quality Control Board Los Angeles Region, which governs stream in LA and Ventura Counties, is renewing the Urban Storm Water Permit for Ventura County that will be replicated in 2009 in Los Angeles County permits. The Environmental Protection agency has indicated that they want consistency in permits across all southern California Counties. This permit contains significant new controls for how renovation, construction and development occur, in addition to numerous restrictions on the cities in Ventura County. For example, the permit:

• Restricted grading on any slope more than 20% for 6 ½ months out of the year.
• Contains low impact development requirements that will make infill and redevelopment more difficult.
• Will force storm water systems to be implemented on individual lots, which dedicates portions of homeowners’ yards to storm water management and prevents them from using that space for other purposes, such as a patio or a pool.
• Will cost $600 per household with per door for multifamily to implement.

For more detailed information please visit http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/losangeles/water_issues/programs/stormwater

For more info on the Action Apartment Association, please visit www.action-wam.com

Green News Update

Green News Update

 National News

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), more than 1,000 builders, remodelers, and other members of the home building industry have earned the Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation, an educational recognition introduced in 2008 by NAHB. You can locate a CGP at www.nahb.org/builderremodelerdirectory.

In related news, NAHB surveyed its builder members and found that 89 percent of respondents reported installing energy-efficient appliances and lighting in their projects; 64 percent are using recycled and recyclable products; and 50 percent are using substantially more insulation than required by building codes (this number increases to 70 percent for West Coast respondents).

Info courtesy of:  www.car.org/newsstand/crem/current-issue/october2008/235686/

THE EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT HAS A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON SOLAR DEVELPMENT

THE EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT HAS A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON SOLAR DEVELPMENT

Solar is seeing some of the benefits of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (a.k.a.  H.R. 1424). In addition to extending the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for 8 years, the legislation includes the removal of a prohibition that previously prevented electric utilities from taking advantage of the credit.

Now, the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is predicting that utilities will become the largest and one of the most important customers for the solar industry, expanding solar markets beyond analysts’ expectations.

“U.S. electric utilities’ engagement with grid-connected solar electricity has increased significantly in 2008, with major photovoltaic and concentrating solar thermal project announcements totaling more than 5,000 megawatts,” said Julia Hamm, SEPA executive director. “Without the ability to take direct advantage of the ITC, the only viable financial option was to have these plants be owned and operated by independent power producers who then in turn sell the electricity to the utility. The change to the tax credit facilitates utility ownership as another option, which will result in additional projects and innovations.”

With the policy change, utilities can own solar generation projects.

“This is a very positive development for the utility industry as it will go a long way to putting solar power within reach of many more Americans,” said Jim Rogers, chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy. “It is exactly what we need as we explore investing $100 million to install, operate, maintain and dispatch solar panels as a viable option to build a bridge to a low-carbon future.”

“The extension of the tax credit also significantly increases the likelihood that recently announced solar projects will come to fruition,” says Hamm.

For the record, the largest planned photovoltaic projects in history – one for 550 MW and the other for 250 MW – announced as long term contracts with private solar companies in August by Pacific Gas and Electric Company will most likely go forward with the extension of the federal investment tax credit.

The full list of the solar investment tax credit provisions in H.R. 1424 include:

·                     Extension for 8 years of the 30-percent tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations

·                     Elimination of the $2,000 monetary cap for residential solar electric installations, creating a true 30-percent tax credit (effective for property placed in service after December 31, 2008)

·                     Elimination of the prohibition on utilities from benefiting from the credit;

·                     Allowance for Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) filers, both businesses and individuals, to take the credit

·                     Authorization of $800 million for clean energy bonds for renewable energy generating facilities, including solar

###

Resources:

SEPA Top Ten Utility Solar Integration Rankings:

http://www.solarelectricpower.org/docs/Aug%204%20Top%20Ten%20Final%20revised.pdf

H.R. 1424 Full Bill Text: http://www.solarelectricpower.org/docs/Fin_Stab_Bill_Text.pdf

IMPROVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY

IMPROVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY

It’s been reported that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors.  Safe you’d think, but recent studies by the Environmental Protection Agency have shown that indoor air can be even more dangerous than outdoor air. As a matter of fact, indoor air quality came second on the list in a 2007 survey of builders by Hanley Wood of what green qualities matter the most, following only energy efficiency.

Help is on the way. Three major residential green building programs–the NAHB’s National Green Building Program, LEED for Homes, and Energy Star’s Qualified New Homes program–have sections in their rules that deal with indoor air quality.

The NAHB’s program has a section called Indoor Environmental Quality that awards builders points for using products or practices that improve indoor air quality. Of the 222 minimum points required to become certified, 36 must come from the indoor air section. Of the six sections in the program, indoor air quality ranks third in most points required.

Builders who go the Energy Star path can choose to have a complimentary label added to the property. Called the Indoor Air Package, it requires builders to follow steps that lead to homes with “improved indoor air quality over code-built homes.”

LEED for Homes, the certification program run by the U.S. Green Building Council, also has an Indoor Environmental Quality section. Builders can choose to complete Energy Star’s Indoor Air Package to earn points in LEED’s program, or they can follow mandatory and voluntary steps that LEED provides. Of the 45 minimum points that it requires to become certified, 13 must come from the indoor air section. That is the highest amount of required points for any of LEED’s sections. Some measures that promote better indoor air are also listed under LEED for Homes’ Materials and Resources section.

Both the NAHB and LEED award points for the use of building materials, coatings, sealants, and adhesives with low amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Along with being a probable source of short- and long-term negative health effects, such as headaches and dizziness, VOCs contribute to the breakdown of ozone, which in turn causes smog, states the Environmental Protection Agency. Studies from the EPA found that levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants were two to five times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas.

Ventilation is another element necessary to keeping a property healthy. The NAHB, LEED for Homes and Energy Star require whole-property ventilation that meets the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers 62.2 standard.

LEED and Energy Star also expect Energy Star labeled exhaust fans in bathrooms. The NAHB program awards points for Energy Star fans, but does not require them.

Find out more @

http://www.prosalesmagazine.com/post.asp?BlogId=webbsblog&postid=165548&sectionID=437

California Recycles is offering FREE pick ups in October

California Recycles is offering FREE pick ups in October

Today’s public service announcement…

It’s good to be green, everyone wants to do nice things for you. California Recycles is offering free pick ups for businesses and residence during the month of October in the following areas:

October 13
Downtown LA
Please RSVP by noon on October 9th to be included on our schedule.

October 15
Santa Monica and West Los Angeles
Please RSVP by noon on October 13th to be included on our schedule.

October 21
Woodland Hills and Calabasas
Please RSVP by noon on October 17th to be included on our schedule.

October 24
Beverly Hills and West Hollywood
Please RSVP by noon on October 22th to be included on our schedule.

All Items need to be together and ready for pick up.

To be included in the Free Pick Up please RSVP by sending your completed pick up request form http://www.californiarecycles.com/request.htm via email to info@californiarecycles.com of by fax to 310-478-3005.

It’s easy to be green.

HOW GREEN RENNOVATIONS PAY OFF

HOW GREEN RENNOVATIONS PAY OFF

Green remodeling can pay off — not only in lowered utility bills, but also in buyer appeal when the property is sold.

Here are some green things to consider:

~ Energy-efficient products. Choose Energy Star appliances, double-paned windows, low-flush toilets, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

~ Spray foam insulation. Seal the home with insulation that doesn’t let the heat or cooled air leak out.

~ Sustainable wood flooring. Select flooring certified by Forest Stewardship Council, which protects forests by managing the amount of wood harvested annually.

~ Locally made products. Buy products made less than 250 miles away to reduce transportation costs. Granite, for instance, is generally imported from afar.

~ Nontoxic paint. Use paint that is low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — chemicals that evaporate into the atmosphere. Look for Green Seal certified brands.

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2007123106?OpenDocument

GREEN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE WEBSITES

GREEN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE WEBSITES

Building Owners and Managers Association - www.boma.org -  provides goals with its 7 point challenge, plus links to resource sites.

California Sustainability Alliance  - www.sustainca.org ­- offers a toolkit to help tenants evaluate the greenness of buildings.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program - www.energystar.gov-  offers an energy assessment matrix and online portfolio manager software to help assess energy and water consumption in a building.

Institute of Real Estate Management - www.irem.org - publishes A Practical Guide to Energy Management, a primer on buying and

saving energy.

National Association of REALTORS®  - www.realtor.org - offers an online “Field Guide to Commercial Green Buildings,” through its

Information Central.

U.S. Green Buildings Council - www.usgbc.org - provides an operating and maintenance rating system and checklist for existing Buildings to benchmark building performance–a first step toward achieving a

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification

Wind Power  - www.windustry.com - This web site provides an overview of the basics of land specifics that are needed to produce wind energy.

Manufactured Housing  - www.manufacturedhousing.org/default.asp -

Low cost housing developments; investing, green buildings

Info courtesy of http://www.realtor.org/NCommSrc.nsf/files/RCA_Report_summer2008.pdf/$FILE/RCA_Report_summer2008.pdf