D

New Resource Group Forms: Dallas Green Building Alliance

Last year a group of contractors, while working together on a sustainable/green/resource-efficient residential project on Walnut Hill, started hanging out together to talk about sustainability, how to make their projects more sustainable, and how to support each other in those efforts.  After months of once-a-week conversations, they decided to start a new group, the Dallas Green Building Alliance.  Their mission is to be a resource for homeowners, Realtors, builders–anyone with an interest in learning more about building and remodeling in a sustainable way.  Their brand-new website is absolutely loaded with information, technical and otherwise, on heating and air conditioning systems, low-VOC finishes, solar, projects, etc.  Yes, they are looking for business, but they have definitely drunk the Kool-Aid and they are really committed to this.  Check it out.

Green Certification Class for Realtors This Week

You’ll remember that last year the National Association of Realtors developed a pretty comprehensive certification for Realtors that covered many different aspects of “green” buildings.  There’s a two-day core curriculum class, being offered this week at MetroTex/dfwRealtors, and then a one-day elective in residential, commercial or property management.  It’s hard to give up two days, but you Realtors will be amazed at how much has been crammed into the class–all of which will come in handy sooner or later.

Green Labron Ctd.

I had the chance to take a tour of the Green Labron home in June and if you are looking for a few good “green” ideas then this stop on the AIA Dallas house tour is definitely worth your time. While these guys shot for the moon (LEED Platinum certification) when it comes to reducing their carbon footprint, you don’t have to spend as much green to help the environment. Simple things like installing energy star appliances, dual flush toilets and tankless water heaters will make your home more engery efficient. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat that allows you to set different temperatures during the day and at night (or while on vacation) then I recommend getting one — it’s an easy DIY project that will only cost you around $75. I just installed one in my 1970s circa home and my wife no longer complains about waking up to a cold house in the morning. If you need more inspiration, head on over to the Green Labron website.

Also, if you’re curious to read about a teeny, tiny struggle they had with the city of Dallas then click here. But keep it on the DL, because more than a few people are unhappy I wrote that article.

Now THIS Is A House Tour!

Photo by Charles D. Smith AIA

This year’s AIA Dallas house tour, November 7-8, has some truly extraordinary houses designed by some of the very best local architects.  One of the houses, on Labron, we wrote about here many moons ago.  Designed by Kelly Mitchell and Sean Garman, two of the most fun folks around as well as really good architects, it’ll be well worth the price of admission on its own.  And I want to see the rest, so see you there.

Dream Pool, Ctd.

This pool at Wimberley Place overlooks Twin Creeks Golf Course — see the fairway, not power lines in the back yard!

Dallas Real Estate: Do We Love Radiant Barriers?

My colleague Josh Hixson is seeking homeowners who have had experience with radiant barriers in their home for a year or more. Love it, hate itation? Please email Josh at josh.hixson@peoplenewspapers.com

Energy-Efficiency Incentives For Home Buyers Are Growing, Blowing

I’ve heard this from both coasts, and already happening in Austin. FHA is prepared to give borrowers up to 5% more in loans if they use the funds to make their homes more energy efficient. That could be an extra $15,000 on a $300,000 mortgage to use for tighter windows, improved insulation, tank less water heaters, etc. Remember that FHA only covers conforming loans, that is, up to $417,000 in our area. But still, this could not only help spur home sales but stir up business for the folks who make your home energy efficient. Stay tuned this week for an interview with a realtor who takes 1% of his commission, comes to your new house, and puts the money to work making your home superbly green.

Earth Day and the Ag Exemption

If you love trees and tree farms, then you should love what the Texas agriculture exemption has done for them. In honor of Earth Day, here’s an out-take from my recent post on  farms and suburbs for the national land-use website The New Geography, an interesting aside relayed to me by Phillip Williams, developer of Montgomery Farm in Allen:

Margaret Crow thought that cows stank. Margaret was the elegant wife of Trammell Crow, Jr., a  Dallas property developer who created the Dallas Design District, Dallas Market Center, Atlanta’s Peachtree Center and San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center.

The problem was that without any cows, Mr. Crow would not be able to obtain an agricultural exemption on his extensive properties and would instead pay full Texas property taxes. How the hell, he asked, can you get an ag exemption without any cows? He posed the question to a young CPA at Arthur Young, Crow’s accounting firm, who shot back a memo to Crow saying sir, you can have your agricultural exemption: plant a tree farm.

 That CPA was young Philip Williams.

 ”By 1988,” says Williams, “Every major real estate developer in Texas had a tree farm.”

Dallas Dirt Comments

We have people of superior intelligence commenting here on Dallas Dirt. Proof: someone just posted a comment that I think is brilliant and appropriate for Earth Day. Why don’t electricians wire houses so that, as you walk out the door, you could flip a switch and turn off all electrical outlets? Not only would that save electricity it would prevent potential fires from hair dryers/curling irons/irons/Christmas tree lights left plugged in. Our house is wired as a “smart house”, meaning we are able to access electronics (lights, music) from our cell phones or computer. Naturally, I have done it once in nine years. But if I could shut down the juice remotely, I might do it more often.

Whole Foods Lakewood: Special Parking For Hybrids

Vehicles, that is. I could park in this spot — not the truck. (Sorry!)

Whole Foods Lakewood: Kids Will Want To Wash And Dry Their (Germy Little) Hands

This is a Dyson sanitizing hand dryer in the ladies’ bathroom. Pop in your hands, they are dried and cleansed. Rather OCD myself, I love this concept (just ordered my sanitizing wand for hotel rooms) and will be in the bathroom over there every day. As will the kids, I’m sure — just hope they don’t go sticking little Gerbils in there — oh Lord — horrors. �

Whole Foods Lakewood: No More Excuses Not To Cook

Or, like me, let meat and poultry get freezer burn in my freezer while I doodle around with recipe books. One-of-a-kind, this tech-age scale weighs your meat choice (even venison and buffalo), prices it, then prints off three recipes so you know what the hecvk to do with it, AND serve with it: appropriate side-dishes and the perfect wine selections are also included. Will it suggest the perfect guests? Spouse? Will it do the dishes?

Whole Foods Lakewood

60-foot long timeline marking notable events in Lakewood history and important dates in Whole Foods Market History. Anyone remember the Bluebonnet Cafe?

Whole Foods Lakewood

Since this store marks the move of the famous, 22 year staple Whole Foods on Lower Greenville, WFMI went to extra lengths to make this store a significant “crunchy” showcase and take a nod to the community’s as well as the chain’s lineage, as depicted with this 60-foot long wall timeline.

Whole Foods Lakewood

Counters are made of recycled bottles and jars.

Whole Foods Lakewood

Go green: Lights in the frozen food cases are motion-activated, turn on when a shopper walks by.

Whole Foods Lakewood — Way Cool Interiors

This store will receive L.E.E.D. certification for reducing its environmental impact and improving store occupants’ health and well-being. There are 47 skylights for natural sunlight and photo-responsive daylight controls that turn off when the daylight is sufficient. In other words, strong energy savings.

Whole Foods Lakewood — Sneak Peak Inside The New Store

Whole Foods Market opens its long-anticipated Lakewood store Monday, March 2…. and Lakewood homeowners will celebrate not only what is possibly the most “green” Whole Foods store in the chain (Austin, earmuffs) but a tremendous boost for Lakewood home values. “That store,” said Realtor Scott Carlson, “is going to give us all even more of an appreciation boost.” Not that Lakewood needs any help: though there’s plenty of inventory, sensibly priced homes there are selling well, agents tell me.�

Golf Porn: The Tribute

Nice and green in more ways than one.

Green Building Increases In Dallas Exponentially

Just came from the Texas Green Home Summit–which had almost 700 attendees, blowing everyone’s estimates out of the water.  Mayor Leppert reaffirmed the City of Dallas’s commitment to green building, both for the health of the universe and for the bottom line.  Michelle Russo from McGraw Hill had some great data on how much green building has increased over the last couple of years and how much it’s expected to increase over time (basically becoming the only way to build), as well as what consumers are looking for.  (Presentations are expected to be posted on the website.)

But the best news came from someone in the City building department, who told me that permits are UP over the same period last year.  Now that’s some good news.  Long may it continue.

Ice Storm

It’s almost time to leave the house, darn it — had such a great time lolling about, getting spooked by the sound of ice chunks sliding down the roof. Question: are you more productive in a condo? That was one of my thoughts this morning — and last night — as I battened down the hatches, made sure the pool was on freeze guard, the outside shower turned off, the garage door sealed, the porch plants covered, the heater on in the plastic greenhouse (oh forgot that one), dogs peed and ice wiped from paws, all doors shut and mental note to have insulation re-done on back door to patio — the seal is like a cold air sieve. Ironically, my ice maker is broken: no margaritas. So here I sit at home, tootling on the computer, drinking coffee, petting the dogs, and I think how much more productive I’d be if I lived in a condo closer to everything. A place where you could just walk — or slide — to work. I think this because we went to the Tate Lecture Series last night and I am concerned over my geographical footprint which must be the size of Bigfoot. After listening attentively to Chris Jordan and admiring his work, I wanted to grab the mike and ask him if we shouldn’t just all give it up. I mean, the only way for us to stop contaminating this world is to stop virtually everything we do, especially living as the way we know it. No more wood floors in our homes — let’s go back to living in caves. No long distance travel, just stay in the tribe. Let de-throned financial types hunt for food (eating only what is in a ten mile radius, though I suppose with accelerated fitness they could dig up Arlington zucchinis). Shut down Whole Foods. Quit trucking in those berries from Mexico, even though they are loaded with anti-oxidants! As for the owners of 10,000 square foot houses, you might as well Photoshop Bigfoot, enlarge and stretch him out over five acres. 

Thoughts? �

Modernist Excellence in an Unexpected Spot

The Dallas Morning News has a great piece on Ron Wommack’s quite wonderful house off Douglas Avenue.  Despite the challenges of skyrocketing materials prices and a couple of subs with questionable expertise, Wommack designed a house that takes full advantage of the site and optimizes its space.  And he fully deserves all the accolades.  So does Monica.

802 Salmon on the Home Stretch

On Thursday night, Preservation Dallas is hosting a preview of 802 Salmon, which, when I was over there this morning, was a veritable vortex of activity.  802 Salmon, you’ll recall, is intended as a model project: how to take a modest but historical (1926) bungalow and rehab it in a way that is both energy- and cost-efficient.  And looks fabulous as well.  In fact, I want it.

USGBC and Home Builders Team Up

Looking for info on where green building is headed in the coming year?  The US Green Building Council and the Homebuilders Association of Greater Dallas are collaborating on the 2009 Texas Green Home Summit at the Convention Center on January 29.  Mayor Leppert will speak, as will folks from the sponsoring organizations and from McGraw Hill, who have done considerable research into what buyers are looking for in “green” homes.

And we don’t have to drive to Plano!

A House Is Not Necessarily The Same House

Remember The House By Phillipe Starck? Remember this? I’m told sales are going slow but also told that folks confuse the The House with The Glass House. OK, here’s our lesson for the day: The Glass House is a high-end, high rise rental unit, leasing just starting this month. The House By Phillipe Starck is a high-end, high rise condo where I’m told model furniture is en route and models should be rolling out the red carpet for buyers any minute now. You rent at The Glass House, you buy at The House — David Griffin is the broker. Pop quiz in twenty.