Thought leadership on everything..Real Estate.. Carpe Diem..For the ongoing collection of Life! Sotheby's International Realty
Thursday, October 31, 2013
"Deal with the difficult while it is yet easy; deal with the great while it is yet small."
"Deal with the difficult while it is yet easy; deal with the great while it is yet small."
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Price adjustment on 27 unit multi-family package. An Investment that won't SCARE you.
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Thursday, October 24, 2013
Jobs & Homes..Base of our Economy! Top 10 careers for 2013+
Jobs & Homes..Base of our Economy! Top 10 careers for 2014+
Home ownership expands personal liberty, builds communities, and helps Americans create wealth. “The American Dream” is not a stale slogan. It is the lived reality that expresses the aspirations of all our people. It means a decent place to live, a safe place to raise kids, a welcoming place to retire. It bespeaks the quiet pride of those who work hard to shelter their family and, in the process, create caring neighborhoods. Home ownership is best fostered by a growing economy with low interest rates, as well as prudent regulation, financial education, and targeted assistance to responsible borrowers.
The S&P Case-Shiller index, which tracks the 20 largest markets in the nation, showed the biggest year-over-year gain in prices since June 2006.
"The market still has a long way to go nationally, but the healing process -- and a return to a normalized housing market -- is definitely well underway," said Jim Baird, chief investment officer for Plante Moran Financial Advisors.
Home prices have been helped in recent months by a number of factors, including tight inventory of homes available for sale, near record-low mortgage rates and a drop in homes in foreclosure. A decline in unemployment is also helping the housing recovery.
The housing recovery itself is helping support overall economic growth, as builders scramble to hire workers to meet the renewed demand. The lift goes beyond the impact of increased construction on the economy, as the rise in home prices lifts household wealth.
Rising home prices also reduce the number of people owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. That, in turn, can help them to refinance those loans at a lower rate, freeing up money to spend on other goods and services.
Carpe Diem... Today is your day!
My motto in life and business. As an exclusive senior broker representing buyers, sellers, investors, developers and financial institutions, I am dedicated to providing high quality service in the Chicago suburbs and city as well as exposure on a global level for your property. I possess an intimate knowledge of the local market and specialize in residential and commercial properties of distinction.
I am a certified Eco-Broker and offer an educational based approach to my clients by delivering information on green products, services and market issues. I will educate them on energy, environmental, financial and green market issues.
Practicing the art of uniting extraordinary properties with extraordinary lives, I am ready to devote my attention to your particular real estate needs. I have the TRC designation which affords me the opportunity to conduct and facilitate transactions on an international level.
Over the last 15 years, I have professionally sold in the real estate, banking, legal and corporate environments throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Utilizing the latest in marketing strategies, information technologies and business acumen, I welcome the opportunity to be a thought leader and trusted advisor throughout your real estate acquisition and disposition process.
I understand that real estate, regardless of its price range, reflects the incalculable value of the life lived within.
Chicagoluxuryrealty.com
TOP 10 HOT CAREERS for 2014+
1. Information technology. When career site Indeed.com recently analyzed millions of job postings on its web site, researchers found that the fastest-growing category of keywords — including HTML5, Android, mobile app, and social media — were in IT, and a new survey by tech job site Dice.com bears that out: About 65% of hiring managers said they hope to add tech staff in the first half of 2014. Roughly a quarter of those (27%) said they want to expand their IT headcount by more than 20%. Openings for software developers who specialize in applications will rise by more than one-third (34%) by 2018, says Best Jobs for the 21st Century, a new book by job market analyst Laurence Shatkin, while companies will hire 20% more computer systems analysts. Rising pay in these fields reflects the surge in demand: The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that developers of systems software, for instance, earn an average of $94,180 per year. Reinvigorate your ROI! Check out Silver Professionals IT offerings@ a fraction of the old school cost..
2. Health care professionals. Partly due to the aging of the U.S. population, health care has been hot for a while now, and the trend shows no sign of slowing. Shatkin's research says the U.S. will need 103,900 more registered nurses every year (average salary: $64,690) well into the next decade, along with 7,860 new physical therapists per annum (average pay: $76,310). Demand for dental hygienists is up too, with a projected 36.1% growth in job openings between now and 2018 (average pay: $68,250). One of Silver Professionals fastest growing verticals..RN,NP,PA,Physician and Executive Professional Medical Hiring
4. Engineers. Note to college students who want their pick of job offers when they graduate: Consider majoring in engineering. A whopping 88% of employers in a new poll by the Society for Human Resource Management bemoaned the difficulty of finding enough engineers to hire. Civil engineers are in demand too: Shatkin's analysis of BLS data shows a 24.3% spike ahead in jobs for people who design roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects (average annual pay: $77,560).
5. Industrial skills. Think U.S. manufacturing is moribund? Think again. More than two-thirds (68%) of employers in the SHRM survey pointed to a shortage of qualified new hires to replace people retiring from the skilled trades: electricians, carpenters, welders. Moreover, says Justin Hirsch, "We're seeing an increase in industrial hiring in logistics, supply-chain management, and plant management." As more companies go global, demand for expertise in logistics -- the art and science of moving stuff efficiently from one place to another -- will continue to heat up.
6. Life sciences and biotech. Medical innovators ranging in size from Big Pharma down to biotech startups are on a hiring binge: Shatkin sees a 40% jump in job openings for research scientists between now and 2018 (average salary: $76,700). As with health care companies in general, these employers will also need managers and support staff (see No. 3).
7. Salespeople. Selling has historically been the closest thing there is to a recession-proof career, and this economic downturn is no exception. Since they're the ones bringing the dough in the door, salespeople are often the first to be hired and last to get laid off. Almost three-quarters (72%) of employers in the SHRM survey said they can't get enough salespeople now.
SalesForce gurus..is the newest service offering nationwide finding the best and brightest talent for your company..
8. Accounting and finance. Demand for accountants and finance mavens (particularly forensic accountants and compliance specialists) has been climbing steadily for the past several years, and U.S. colleges are still not turning out enough grads in these fields to fill the available openings. The SHRM survey found that more than half (54%) of employers would hire more accountants and finance experts if they could find them. Silver Professionals just launched a new service offering..CFOgurus.com. Blend the tactical approach of a controller +The strategic thinking of a CFO + The Benefits of a CPA outsourced partner
9. Discount retailers. "Not to mention any specific company names -- everyone knows who they are, anyway -- but the big national discount store companies have flourished during this recession," notes Justin Hirsch. "And most of them are hiring managers as well as in-store personnel."
10. Private equity firms. Recruiters report that private equity firms are actively seeking management talent for their portfolio companies "across all industries and all functional areas," says Hirsch. "They're poaching already-employed, seasoned managers from big companies -- people who can step into either a turnaround situation or a pre-IPO company and make it work. These are challenging jobs, and could be a real feather in a manager's cap if he or she can bring it off successfully."
Silver Professionals.. Employment power and opportunities for dependable and loyal professional job seekers. Employers..We have a reliable and repeatable process in the hiring of candidates from our pool of professional talent. We offer a flat fee schedule of permanent PT/FT (975/4995) employment and several business service offerings to make your human resource capital as efficient as possible. We offer a comprehensive background/interview check, leveraging behavioral questioning to facilitate mutual success. We have recruiting available with our global reach .90 day guarantees..amazing talent from Interim Surgical RN,LPN,Physician Assistant, outside/inside sales/biz dev. gurus..Enterprise IT architects.IOS/Android/Mobile developers..nurses/nurse practitioners.bookkeepers..CEO to COO, CFO, CIO, audit CPAs,Dir of HR, Dir of Manufctg, CRM, ERP and EHR implementers/thought leaders/developers, research scientist, hematologist/oncologist, Concierge Dr… Come check out our 900+ talent available..
Check out our latest Jobs for Fall..
http://www.ziprecruiter.com/
Our deepest satisfaction comes from finding other companies to
embrace our professional salespeople, scientists,health care,
manufacturing, energy/green, legal, tax , financial, HR, IT
professionals and veterans and help them put to work some of the
greatest minds, while increasing their ROI.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Chicago Home sales up nearly 26% in September!
Home sales up nearly 26% in September!
Chicago-area home sales continued their rebound last month, posting the most active September since 2005.
In the nine-county area, 9,583 homes sold last month, down from 11,771 sales in August but up 25.6 percent from 7,629 sales in September 2012, the Illinois Association of Realtors said today.
The total marked the best September since 2005, when 12,073 homes sold. And it was the 27th consecutive month that local home sales rose year over year.
The average listing time for area homes also fell, to 61 days in September compared with 83 days in September 2012.
“September homebuyers showed they were not going to be deterred by slight interest rate increases or the possibility of a federal government shutdown,” Illinois Association of Realtors President Phil Chiles and broker-associate at the Real Estate Group in Springfield, said in a statement.
In the city of Chicago, 2,352 homes sold last month, up 23.4 percent from 1,906 sales during the same period last year.
The Realtors group's sales figures include new and existing homes. Its nine-county Chicago area consists of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.
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Ron Goldstein, MBA
Principal
Silver Professionals, LLC.
Certified Luxury and Eco-Broker@Prudential Rubloff..chicagoluxuryrealty.com
Check out my blogs@silverprofessionals.blogspot.com and carpediemrealestate.blogspot.com
ron@silverprofessionals.com
Offices in Chicago and St. Petersburg
Carpe Diem..Jobs & Homes..Base of our Economy!
Find us on:
In the nine-county area, 9,583 homes sold last month, down from 11,771 sales in August but up 25.6 percent from 7,629 sales in September 2012, the Illinois Association of Realtors said today.
The total marked the best September since 2005, when 12,073 homes sold. And it was the 27th consecutive month that local home sales rose year over year.
The average listing time for area homes also fell, to 61 days in September compared with 83 days in September 2012.
“September homebuyers showed they were not going to be deterred by slight interest rate increases or the possibility of a federal government shutdown,” Illinois Association of Realtors President Phil Chiles and broker-associate at the Real Estate Group in Springfield, said in a statement.
In the city of Chicago, 2,352 homes sold last month, up 23.4 percent from 1,906 sales during the same period last year.
The Realtors group's sales figures include new and existing homes. Its nine-county Chicago area consists of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.
--
Ron Goldstein, MBA
Principal
Silver Professionals, LLC.
Certified Luxury and Eco-Broker@Prudential Rubloff..chicagoluxuryrealty.com
Check out my blogs@silverprofessionals.blogspot.com and carpediemrealestate.blogspot.com
ron@silverprofessionals.com
(o)312-264-5846 (c)312-771-7190
(f)312-264-5746
Offices in Chicago and St. Petersburg
Carpe Diem..Jobs & Homes..Base of our Economy!
Find us on:
Thursday, October 17, 2013
What's LEED All About, Anyway?..The skinny on Sustainable homes
What's LEED All About, Anyway?
If you're looking for a sustainable, energy-efficient home, look into LEED certification. Learn about the program and its rating system here
How can you tell the difference between houses that look environmentally friendly and ones that actually are? Home certifications can help. Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
(LEED) is just one certification that helps all sectors of the
home-building industry use some of the best methods of sustainable
design and construction.
Your first two questions about certification are likely going to be, "What's in it for me? and "How much is this going to cost?" Let's look at some of the basics.
Your first two questions about certification are likely going to be, "What's in it for me? and "How much is this going to cost?" Let's look at some of the basics.
Benefits of LEED Certification
The benefits touch everyone involved. For the homeowner a voluntary certification like LEED for homes increases accountability for quality checks on the construction site, therefore decreasing the frequency of costly mistakes. Plus, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED-certified homes use on average 20 to 30 percent less energy and water, with some homes reporting up to 60 percent less energy use than a home built to meet code minimums.
In addition to the decrease in monthly utility bills, many states and cities have tax breaks and incentives for environmentally friendly construction. While the LEED rating itself doesn’t address individual incentives, the requirements often overlap. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy has a searchable Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. You and your project team can look up federal and state incentives to give your budget a little boost.
Finally, if you ever need to sell your home, you can ask for a higher price for a LEED home than similar houses on the market. One study in California, for example, showed an 8 to 9 percent increase in the market value of green-certified homes.
Meanwhile, any builders wanting to set themselves apart should consider learning how to build according to LEED requirements. Most agree that there is a steep learning curve, but with more than 100,000 home units certified in the U.S. (and many more in the pipeline), it could set an experienced business even further apart from the crowd or help a new business leap ahead. The same goes for designers who want to show clients that they can be creative even within environmental parameters.
Costs of LEED Certification
It's difficult to pinpoint an exact percentage increase in construction costs that you are likely to see with a LEED home. It depends on what you are comparing it to. In an apples-to-apples comparison with a high-quality, uncertified construction that follows best-practice guidelines, the cost difference is hardly noticeable: maybe 2 to 5 percent higher).
In a comparison with the average home on the market that just meets the minimum building codes (apples to oranges in this little fruit metaphor), the percentage would be much higher: maybe 20 percent.
The benefits touch everyone involved. For the homeowner a voluntary certification like LEED for homes increases accountability for quality checks on the construction site, therefore decreasing the frequency of costly mistakes. Plus, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED-certified homes use on average 20 to 30 percent less energy and water, with some homes reporting up to 60 percent less energy use than a home built to meet code minimums.
In addition to the decrease in monthly utility bills, many states and cities have tax breaks and incentives for environmentally friendly construction. While the LEED rating itself doesn’t address individual incentives, the requirements often overlap. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy has a searchable Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. You and your project team can look up federal and state incentives to give your budget a little boost.
Finally, if you ever need to sell your home, you can ask for a higher price for a LEED home than similar houses on the market. One study in California, for example, showed an 8 to 9 percent increase in the market value of green-certified homes.
Meanwhile, any builders wanting to set themselves apart should consider learning how to build according to LEED requirements. Most agree that there is a steep learning curve, but with more than 100,000 home units certified in the U.S. (and many more in the pipeline), it could set an experienced business even further apart from the crowd or help a new business leap ahead. The same goes for designers who want to show clients that they can be creative even within environmental parameters.
Costs of LEED Certification
It's difficult to pinpoint an exact percentage increase in construction costs that you are likely to see with a LEED home. It depends on what you are comparing it to. In an apples-to-apples comparison with a high-quality, uncertified construction that follows best-practice guidelines, the cost difference is hardly noticeable: maybe 2 to 5 percent higher).
In a comparison with the average home on the market that just meets the minimum building codes (apples to oranges in this little fruit metaphor), the percentage would be much higher: maybe 20 percent.
By earning points in eight categories, the finished house can achieve one of these ratings:
1. Innovation and Design Process (ID)
Points available: 11
Points earned for: Making sure that the home is sustainable, durable and cost efficient, with a well-rounded approach to the design.
Things to keep in mind: This category of credits is meant to see if you really mean it — if you really want to build a sustainable home or if you’re just looking for a quick certification. The lesson: Plan early and plan often. You need to get your project team on the same page as soon as possible and make sure that every professional involved is willing to use the best methods, rather than the easiest methods.
The design of your home should be integrated with the selection of your team. It should take into consideration the path of the sun and the use of solar heat to reduce consumption. The home should also be durable and high quality, not only to last you through the years, but also to provide a good base for whatever the future of building technology may hold.
2. Location and Linkages (LL)
Points available: 10
Points earned for: Selecting a sustainable location for your home. To be truly green, you must try to use an existing infrastructure.
Things to keep in mind: Urban infill projects located near transportation, services and public parks are the ideal candidates for this. This doesn't mean that your countryside cottage can't be LEED certified; you just may have to work harder in other sections to gain enough points.
The most straightforward way to earn points in this category is by purchasing land within an already certified LEED neighborhood.
- Platinum (90 to 136 points)
- Gold (75 to 89 points)
- Silver (60 to 74 points)
- Certified (45 to 59 points)
1. Innovation and Design Process (ID)
Points available: 11
Points earned for: Making sure that the home is sustainable, durable and cost efficient, with a well-rounded approach to the design.
Things to keep in mind: This category of credits is meant to see if you really mean it — if you really want to build a sustainable home or if you’re just looking for a quick certification. The lesson: Plan early and plan often. You need to get your project team on the same page as soon as possible and make sure that every professional involved is willing to use the best methods, rather than the easiest methods.
The design of your home should be integrated with the selection of your team. It should take into consideration the path of the sun and the use of solar heat to reduce consumption. The home should also be durable and high quality, not only to last you through the years, but also to provide a good base for whatever the future of building technology may hold.
2. Location and Linkages (LL)
Points available: 10
Points earned for: Selecting a sustainable location for your home. To be truly green, you must try to use an existing infrastructure.
Things to keep in mind: Urban infill projects located near transportation, services and public parks are the ideal candidates for this. This doesn't mean that your countryside cottage can't be LEED certified; you just may have to work harder in other sections to gain enough points.
The most straightforward way to earn points in this category is by purchasing land within an already certified LEED neighborhood.
3. Sustainable Sites (SS)
Points available: 25 (minimum of 5 required)
Points earned for: Managing the effect of the construction process and landscaping on your piece of land and neighboring environments.
Things to keep in mind: There is a 5-point minimum requirement for this section, because the sustainability of a home doesn’t stop at the walls. To reduce your ecological footprint, you will need to look at your entire piece of land and even beyond. Your construction team will need to properly control erosion and storm water runoff to reduce the down the stream impact of building activities. In addition, your landscaping cannot include any plants that are considered invasive in your region.
To earn points in this category, your design needs to consider everything from landscaping to pest control. For example, you can earn points by using drought-tolerant plants and by using permeable paving systems to allow rainwater to filter naturally through to the ground. You can also use innovative technologies like green roofs (sometimes called living roofs) to increase the amount of green space on a small lot.
Points available: 25 (minimum of 5 required)
Points earned for: Managing the effect of the construction process and landscaping on your piece of land and neighboring environments.
Things to keep in mind: There is a 5-point minimum requirement for this section, because the sustainability of a home doesn’t stop at the walls. To reduce your ecological footprint, you will need to look at your entire piece of land and even beyond. Your construction team will need to properly control erosion and storm water runoff to reduce the down the stream impact of building activities. In addition, your landscaping cannot include any plants that are considered invasive in your region.
To earn points in this category, your design needs to consider everything from landscaping to pest control. For example, you can earn points by using drought-tolerant plants and by using permeable paving systems to allow rainwater to filter naturally through to the ground. You can also use innovative technologies like green roofs (sometimes called living roofs) to increase the amount of green space on a small lot.
4. Water Efficiency (WE)
Points available: 15 (minimum of 3 required)
Points earned for: Conserving and using less water in and around the house.
Things to keep in mind: This category is fairly straightforward. But you do have to achieve at least 3 points. There are several easy fixes you can pursue, such as low-flow toilets and energy-rated appliances. Harvesting rainwater and using other sources of recycled water are rewarded, as is landscaping that has low irrigation needs (for example, it uses native plants adapted to your climate).
For a complete list of products that meet the guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for water efficiency, including fixtures like faucets and showerheads, check out its Water Sense website.
Points available: 15 (minimum of 3 required)
Points earned for: Conserving and using less water in and around the house.
Things to keep in mind: This category is fairly straightforward. But you do have to achieve at least 3 points. There are several easy fixes you can pursue, such as low-flow toilets and energy-rated appliances. Harvesting rainwater and using other sources of recycled water are rewarded, as is landscaping that has low irrigation needs (for example, it uses native plants adapted to your climate).
For a complete list of products that meet the guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for water efficiency, including fixtures like faucets and showerheads, check out its Water Sense website.
5. Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
Points available: 38
Points earned for: Building a more efficient home, which consumes less and cleaner energy.
Things to keep in mind: This is one of the most complicated categories, with a number of options for pursuing credit points and many mandatory measures. For example, all homes must meet the minimum requirements of Energy Star. Beyond that your project team can evaluate the energy efficiency of your designed home in a number of ways, including the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) or Title 24 Energy Code if you are located in California.
The goal of this section is basically to predict how energy efficient your home will be, based on factors such as insulation, air filtration, windows, heating and cooling, hot water, lighting, refrigerants and renewables.
The big question here is cost. Designing for excellent energy performance requires an increase in construction costs relative to an average home. More insulation and higher-quality windows can take their toll on the overall budget. Many LEED-certified homes achieve their ratings by picking up points in other categories and skimping on this one. The added costs of this category are also highly dependent on your local climate. For example, in hot and humid locations, good dehumidification can reduce the cost of cooling your home.
Keep this in mind when you are interviewing builders or looking at already certified homes. On completed constructions, it could be worthwhile to check the individual score out of 38 points in this group of credits. The long-term effect of an efficient home could be much more important to the utility-paying homeowner than to the cost-cutting builder. But remember that no two houses are the same, and no two builders. So it's always best to have a full understanding of the pros and cons of investing in your home’s energy efficiency given your particular climate.
Points available: 38
Points earned for: Building a more efficient home, which consumes less and cleaner energy.
Things to keep in mind: This is one of the most complicated categories, with a number of options for pursuing credit points and many mandatory measures. For example, all homes must meet the minimum requirements of Energy Star. Beyond that your project team can evaluate the energy efficiency of your designed home in a number of ways, including the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) or Title 24 Energy Code if you are located in California.
The goal of this section is basically to predict how energy efficient your home will be, based on factors such as insulation, air filtration, windows, heating and cooling, hot water, lighting, refrigerants and renewables.
The big question here is cost. Designing for excellent energy performance requires an increase in construction costs relative to an average home. More insulation and higher-quality windows can take their toll on the overall budget. Many LEED-certified homes achieve their ratings by picking up points in other categories and skimping on this one. The added costs of this category are also highly dependent on your local climate. For example, in hot and humid locations, good dehumidification can reduce the cost of cooling your home.
Keep this in mind when you are interviewing builders or looking at already certified homes. On completed constructions, it could be worthwhile to check the individual score out of 38 points in this group of credits. The long-term effect of an efficient home could be much more important to the utility-paying homeowner than to the cost-cutting builder. But remember that no two houses are the same, and no two builders. So it's always best to have a full understanding of the pros and cons of investing in your home’s energy efficiency given your particular climate.
6. Materials and Resources (MR)
Points available: 16 (minimum of 2 required)
Points earned for: Reducing the demand of new materials and minimizing waste.
Things to keep in mind: This category of credits often gets a lot of attention from homeowners interested in recycled carpets and sustainably harvested wood flooring. While environmentally preferable products are certainly part of this section, there is also a strong focus on materials and resources used in the process of building.
Two out of the three main groups of credits in this category address construction waste. In the traditional American building industry, one of the largest waste components is discarded framing material. According to the National Resources Defense Council, the financial motivation to reduce wasted framing material is notable, even on an individual-home basis.
Points available: 16 (minimum of 2 required)
Points earned for: Reducing the demand of new materials and minimizing waste.
Things to keep in mind: This category of credits often gets a lot of attention from homeowners interested in recycled carpets and sustainably harvested wood flooring. While environmentally preferable products are certainly part of this section, there is also a strong focus on materials and resources used in the process of building.
Two out of the three main groups of credits in this category address construction waste. In the traditional American building industry, one of the largest waste components is discarded framing material. According to the National Resources Defense Council, the financial motivation to reduce wasted framing material is notable, even on an individual-home basis.
7. Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)
Points available: 21 (minimum of 6 required)
Points earned for: Creating a healthy and comfortable indoor environment while managing pollutants properly.
Things to keep in mind: This is another big category, covering the overall sustainability of the project. The way you manage the air you breathe in your home can have huge effects on your overall health and comfort. This means, for example, choosing a fireplace that seals shut and paying special attention to kitchen and bathroom exhaust systems. Some other easy fixes to help improve indoor air quality are to keep garages detached and to install shoe-scrubbing mats at entryways.
As with other categories, this group of credits can be addressed by participating in a parallel program — in this case the EPA's airPLUS program.
People often ask about natural ventilation: "If I open up my windows, won't I have healthy indoor air?" Well, it depends on where you live. Naturally occurring pollens, levels of humidity in certain climates and pollutants from nearby constructions may still affect your health. Mechanical ventilation and filtration can be a good way to ensure high-quality indoor air.
Points available: 21 (minimum of 6 required)
Points earned for: Creating a healthy and comfortable indoor environment while managing pollutants properly.
Things to keep in mind: This is another big category, covering the overall sustainability of the project. The way you manage the air you breathe in your home can have huge effects on your overall health and comfort. This means, for example, choosing a fireplace that seals shut and paying special attention to kitchen and bathroom exhaust systems. Some other easy fixes to help improve indoor air quality are to keep garages detached and to install shoe-scrubbing mats at entryways.
As with other categories, this group of credits can be addressed by participating in a parallel program — in this case the EPA's airPLUS program.
People often ask about natural ventilation: "If I open up my windows, won't I have healthy indoor air?" Well, it depends on where you live. Naturally occurring pollens, levels of humidity in certain climates and pollutants from nearby constructions may still affect your health. Mechanical ventilation and filtration can be a good way to ensure high-quality indoor air.
Points available: 3
Points earned for: Educating the homeowners and passing on knowledge about sustainable home building.
Things to keep in mind: A sustainably designed home has limited impact if you don’t know how to use it. As with any other product, your home should come with a user’s manual. Responsible owners of LEED-certified homes understand how the path of the sun affects the heat gain in their home, understand the importance of a durability checklist and understand the need to be familiar with their home's systems.
For an additional credit, you can then “pay it forward” by passing that information and knowledge on to others.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Picture the Holidays in your new home. 2300 sf of gold coast boutique living... Priced right!
Picture the holidays in..your new home!
Boutique bldg. in the heart of Gold Coast, steps to the Lake. Foyer opens to expansive 2300 SF floor plan featuring new kitchen w/high end appliances and adjoining large dining room. Washer/dryer. Great master suite w/floor to ceiling windows overlooking Wrigley mansion. Garage pkg on-site (plenty of guest pkg as well). No weight limit on pets. Carpe Diem. This is living!
priced right@599,700
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Carpe October..RE natl.update..Check it out..
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