What the heck are all these things?  We have a vague idea about some, but most of us don’t really know what they are… let alone use them.  Unless we get to the point where we need them or really feel motivated to learn them.  Like this blog of mine.  I really wanted to talk about real estate to people, and how we can all take care of our homes and ourselves in an environmentally friendly way.  So, my son set this up and I’ve learned to use it.  Not all of our sons are web designers you may be thinking.  Well, there is a fabulous website for beginners by Lee Lefever, which includes videos describing all the above.  It’s cool.  It’s simple.  It’s for everyone and it’s FREE!! 

I received an email from PGE today which contained the most amazing videos showing how to green up an older home.  Just click here Green Home Makeover Videos to watch them.  They were created by National Geographic.  These are great for those of us (like me) with homes built before 1970.  You don’t have to do costly remodels, you can just do some of these procedures and you will save tons of money and resources.

HANG IN THERE FELLOW PORTLANDERS !
We are definately faring better than the rest of the country.  According to Zillow’s latest Home Value Report, home values in Portland decreased 1.2% in the first quarter of 2008, compared to the first quarter of 2007.  But Nationally, single-family homes decreased 7.5% while condo values declined 9.0% during this same period.

Portland surpassed Seattle to become the second strongest U.S. housing market among the 20 largest markets.  Closed Sales are up 27.6% from January.  Pending sales rose 9.9% from January.  And we need to remember that homes appreciated 5.8% from Frebruary 2007 to February 2008.  So, we still have appreciation going on here.  And this, combined with the recent news from HUD that FHA loan limits are increasing is good news for buyers.

Undoubtedly, real estate has been hit hard in other areas of the country.  But for now, at least, Portland area homes are still appreciating at a healthy rate.  and now is a great time for buyers to take the leap to homeownership.  A big inventory to choose from, prices a bit lower than the past years....all good news for buyers!

This article is directly from the EcoBroker website:
Technology Snapshot & Benefits:
You can save a lot of money by installing or improving insulation. Insulation retards the flow of heat and is one of the most cost-effective investments that you can make. The effectiveness of insulation is measured by its tested resistance to heat flow and is known by its ‘R’ value. The greater the ‘R’ value, the greater the effectiveness. One of the easiest and most effective places to install insulation is in the attic, since heat rises from the heated rooms below. Insulation comes in many different forms including the familiar fiberglass, Styrofoam, vermiculite, pouring wool, cellulose materials such as shredded newspaper, and numerous ‘foamed-in-place’ types. Particularly within the fiberglass and rigid foamed board types, there are a variety of choices of heat-reflective coatings. Properly installed insulation always improves comfort and reduces heating and cooling costs.

Estimated Cost Savings:
Heating buildings is one of the largest expenditures of energy in the nation and one of the greatest opportunities for saving. The average U.S. household spent more than $2,350 in 1999 for energy: $1,200 for home energy and $1,150 for motor gasoline to run vehicles. (AEO2001, p.213) Of the $1,200 spent in the home, nearly half is spent for heating and cooling (AEO2001, p.162) and in aggregate, amounted to more than $50 billion in 1999. (p.159)

For new construction, the maximum recommended amounts of insulation yield huge savings compared to no insulation. For existing buildings, upgrading to the recommended amount of insulation will save money. The amount of savings vary widely depending upon your starting point.. namely, how much insulation you already have. See Energy Star’s Cost-Effective Insulation Values for Existing Homes for recommended insulating values for walls, floors, ceilings, and basements.

In general terms, when you double the R value of your insulation, the heat flow through the insulated surface will halve. Your bill, however, may not halve because of other, less well-insulated surfaces in the building. Typical savings for retrofit insulation are on the order of 20-30% of your heating bill. For a monthly heating bill of $200, this can amount to $40-$60 in savings.

Issues:
A plan will help you with insulating decisions. In general, you should bring the attic insulation up to currents standards because it is easy to do so. Wall insulation can be problematic, as many walls are little more than the width of a 2x4, which limits the depth of insulation that can be easily installed. Sometimes a second interior wall can be built which provides a deeper cavity for insulation as well as providing an easy opportunity to upgrade electrical wiring and new cable and telephone wiring. This is most economical when done as part of a larger room-remodeling effort.

Regional Issues:
The amount of insulation that you need varies upon your climate and exposure to prevailing winds. Northern locations benefit most from insulation during the heating season; southern locations benefit most during the cooling season.

Installation (Getting it Done)
Be sure to get bids from two or three (or more) contractors and explore different methods and types of insulation. Multiple bids will allow you to gain immediate perspective on the true costs and value of insulation in your area

We are interested, we are motivated, we want to do the right thing....but we aren’t sure what to do.  Where can a person go to find a list of events Promoting Sustainability in Portland and surrounding communities?  Go to the Portland Office of Sustainable Development.