So with the mortgage crunch, how are the green loans holding up for energy efficient homes or other lending needs?

“We’re as strong as ever,” says Tomek Rondio of MortgageGreen reporting that they still have competitive rates and are continuing their full slate of financing programs.

Jeff Harnois, mortgage planner at CountryWide in San Jose, California, says that their home loans are not based on mortgage fluctuations. Countrywide sends an inspector to review and report on the energy efficiency of a home. Countrywide offers a closing credit to pay future PG&E bills, based on the efficiency of the property. They also have a flat credit for certain non-conforming loans. Sean Boehmer’s Boulder, Colorado, CountryWide office originates purchase and refi loans toward energy efficiency. Western Colorado and Utah offices offer programs, too.

They’re not the only ones. Colorado’s Aspen Creek Financial and myEnergyLoan of Atlanta, GA, offer energy-efficient mortgages. Indigo Financial Group has expanded their reach to 37 states.

Check out too, the range of offerings from Mountain Country Mortgage in Colorado and Mortgage Marketplace in Oregon. It’s still a competitive marketplace, and everyone wins.

Copyright © 2007. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ValueAndComfort.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Concrete replaced by Rubber

Many cities throughout the country are moving toward greener practices and policies. With so many choices available, it’s getting easy to pick the products and practices to support. The companies have difficult part — the need to get their innovative products known to the marketplace. While talking to Menlo Park Green Ribbon Citizens Committee member Gail Slocum, she was intrigued by my mention of alternative sidewalks.

Recently named “Best of America” by the editors of Reader’s Digest magazine, and getting a spot on NBC Nightly News and numerous other media mentions, Rubbersidewalks is getting known.

I saw Rubbersidewalks installed near the San Jose Convention Center, then found that the company developed their line of red “bricks” specifically for Boston’s Freedom Trail.

I certainly applaud the creativity of turning landfill garbage into a useful product. Cities will breath a sigh of relief at the drop in slip-and-fall claims from buckling concrete. They’ll also like the long term cost savings compared to concrete. Arborists and urban forest supporters will appreciate the harmony between rubber sidewalk and trees. Me? I like that the rubber is easier on my feet.

For the home and garden, there are environmentally-friendly paving alternatives. These may be recycled stone, or products made from rubber or plastic. As I said, there are lots of choices available.

Copyright © 2007. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ValueAndComfort.com then the material has been stolen without permission*. Violators will be reported.

*except that I did post a copy on ActiveRain before being informed that it was not appropriate to copy even my own posts.

We already knew this, but it’s always satisfying to be acknowledged. Green building and design has been identified as one of the five hottest market growth areas in real estate development. The report cites increased pressure on communities and businesses to incorporate environmentally sound designs as a reason for the trend.

Retail development may include green roofs, rain gardens, or gutter water retention/irrigation systems. LEED-certified environmental experts will become essential team members, and of course, your EcoBroker^® will be the go-to Realtor^®.

Assisted-living centers, hospital expansions and education campus additions, mixed-use developments, and urban revitalization were mentioned as the other four trends. Green building and design can be incorporated into any of these developments. The trends are based on a report by Detroit civil engineering firm Giffels-Webster Engineers.

Copyright © 2007. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ValueAndComfort.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Abandoned properties may present more than just an eyesore in a neighborhood. They can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and an attractive nuisance to transients and vandals.

Some reports relate an increase in West Nile Virus outbreaks to the sharp increase in forclosures. Realtors have been notified to report “green” swimming pools to local mosquito and vector control agencies. The green color comes from organic matter or bacterial growth. Any standing water can become a mosquito breeding ground.

Neighbors would do well to heed this advise, too. You know the neglected homes in your area. Since I’ve been hip to the West Nile Virus warning, I’ve noticed standing water even in the yards of inhabited homes — primarily renters and our elderly neighbors.

Standing water is defined as any water standing for seven or more days. Common sources are trash cans, bird baths, wading pools, toys, and rain gutters. Keep an eye out. You’ll be surprised where water will collect.

If you notice standing water, let the residents know about the mosquito issue. They’ll probably thank you. After all, they don’t want to be bitten either.

When it comes to climate change, most schools get a failing grade.

But first, let’s look at the big picture, which shows a growing interest in building greener schools. Sixty schools across the U.S. have been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, and 360 more are waiting to have applications approved.

There is a movement towards greener practices, too. Residence halls and dorm rooms are sporting energy-efficient mini-fridges and low-flow shower heads, among other eco-products for the generation used to sorting trash.

Locally, the Bay Area Green Business Program lists only four schools in Santa Clara County that they’ve certified as “Green.” San Mateo County started it’s program during the latter half of 2007 and is not yet certifying schools.

Stanford University is no surprise on the list. Stanford Dining received the first Acterra Award for Sustainability. They were a runner up in Grist’s 15 Green Colleges and Universities. They’ve embarked on a fascinating multidisciplinary Initiative on the Environment and Sustainablility. Lots of cool stuff going on at Stanford.

Palo Alto hosts two green schools: Castilleja, a private girls middle and high school on Bryant Street, and Gunn High School on Arastradero Road. The only elementary school is Sunnyvale’s Cumberland.

I guess as parents and teachers influence the schools, more environmental awareness will pass through the school. Then, the kids will be teaching us how to take better care of the planet we’ll be leaving them.

The little cul-de-sac of Stardust Lane may have been named for the composer of a famous song. The court containing 14 houses was developed as part of the Carmichael Estates, named for the builder. 634 Stardust Lane, Los Altos, just went on the market, and the current owner calls it “The Carmichael House,” saying that builder lived in for a time. The composer of the song Stardust was Hoagy Carmichael.

A former long-time resident on the street who is very familiar with local history insists that there is no familial connection between the two Carmichaels. However, the homes were built in 1957. That same year, the Billy Ward and His Dominoes version of the song was #13 on the charts and the better-known rendition by Nat King Cole charted #24. Coincidence? I think not.

The song “Stardust” was originally written as “Star Dust” in 1929 with words by Michell Parish and music by Hoagy Carmichael. It was most recently popularized by Natalie Cole as the title track of her 1996 CD. Through the years, it was also charted by Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman,Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and others.

A prolific songwriter, some of Hoagy’s other most famous tunes include “The Nearness of You,” recently recorded by Nora Jones, and “Georgia On My Mind.”