Bele Cher this weekend

Bele Cher has been toned down a little this year and getting back to it's roots. All musical acts are free this year and the weather is supposed to be beautiful.

See the music lineup here: http://www.belecherefestival.com/elements/entertainment_grid/BC09%20Ent%20Sched.pdf

and make sure to check out the ultimate air dogs competition too.

http://www.ultimateairdogs.net/7.24_FN0X.html

Green Building Council analyses existing structures for sustainability

Existing structures break down like this ...

• 72% of electricity consumption,
• 39% of energy use,
• 38% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions,
• 40% of raw materials use,
• 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually), and
• 14% of potable water consumption.

see another post about this here ...http://geospatial.blogs.com/geospatial/2009/07/sustainable-design-for-existing-structures.html

Google getting it's Real-Estate search on ...

looks like Google is building more real-estate into it's internet search. This time in Australia and New Zealand. I'd seen part of this search in the states a while back 

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/biz-tech/google-wants-a-bigger-slice-of-the-realestate-search-business-20090706-da4l.html

I've done real-estate search in http://maps.google.com by putting in 'real-estate' in the search box and then click the 'Real-estate on Google Maps' link. From there you can search by price, size, # of baths and more.  Pretty cool....

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=&vps=3&jsv=165c&ie=UTF8&rq=2&mrt=realestate&ct=onebox&cd=1&cad=onebox

House of the week

Not green yet but primed to be upgraded. Great location ... downtown Asheville.

http://www.trulia.com/property/1081325077-26-Magnolia-Ave-Asheville-NC-28801

Asheville GO - Green Opportunities

Have you heard of Asheville GO?

Green Opportunities (GO) is dedicated to building a strong and just green economy in Western NC from the bottom-up through green-collar job training, community education, and green microenterprises.

Our core program, the Asheville GO Training Team, combines service-learning projects, life-skills training, support services, community college coursework and on-the-job experience to provide everything GO members need to launch successful green-collar careers.

http://www.greenopportunities.org/

Low Tech Solutions for Droubt - Green Drinks at BoBo Gallery

Come join Sherry Ingram at BoBo Gallery this Friday, June 5th to hear her explanation of droubt and ideas for reversing it. See here email below ...

With so much rain over the past month, it sure LOOKS like the drought is over.  Meteorological and agricultural drought certainly are, at least for now, and to some extent economic.  However, it is too soon to tell about hydrologic drought, and that may vary over the area based on how much rain fell within your sub-watershed, what the soils are made of, how receptive the use of the land is, how far below the surface the water table was, whether you have built simple small-scale earthworks to capture the rain and maximize infiltration, and whether your neighbors are capturing rain as well.  If you live in the forest, which infiltrates almost all the rain that falls, your drought may be over, but if you live in a city, most of your rain is sent away rapidly along roads and through storm sewers, and you are more dependent on moisture coming from outside of your area.   If you have not seen my explanation of drought and my ideas for reversing it, I hope you will join us this Friday, June 5, at 6pm for Green Drinks at BoBo Gallery, 22 North Lexington Avenue in Asheville.  Attached is a flyer to pass on or post, if you know someone else who might appreciate it.    We have been busy: Low-Tech Solutions for Drought at AB Tech, the start of the Eliada Homes Water Project, and a couple of tv appearances.  More details are given at our web site, www.WaterLinksPLLC.com.  Check us out!

How GIS plays into zero carbon real estate

Tools and data from the GIS world including elevation, slope and aspect models are essential to the new 'zero carbon' green world of building houses and real-estate. Learn more here ...

http://vector1media.com/vectorone/?p=2874

House of the week

140 McElrath Rd.

Mills River NC 28759 - MLS No. 440178
OFFERED AT: $625,000

Private 6.99 acre getaway adjoining nat'l forest. New England style farmhouse w/2 master BR. Amazing kitchen w/solid cherry cabinets, custom matching cherry panels on appliances, granite countertops & kit island. 2 stone fireplaces & wood burning stove to keep you cozy. Wide plank pine flooring on the main levels. Master BR has custom shower & clawfoot tub. Hot tub, wrap around cov porch, huge garage w/approx 16' ceilings. Must see.

Interior Features

• Features: 2 Master Bedrooms, Alarm System, Breakfast Bar, Fireplace - Wood, Fireplace(s), Hot Tub/Sauna, Kitchen Island, Master on Main, Rec/Game Room, Walk-In Closet(s)

Alternative Energy Seminars

Alternative Energy: How going Green can Benefit You

June 17 and 19 at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce.  Sessions will be geared towards contractors and builders, commercial businesses and residential consumers.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Scarlett Goodman at McNutt Service Group at 209-4421.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905210356

Asheville Green Homes Tour

Here's a little sample of some of the green homes for sale around Asheville. As always, call Haven if you'd like to see any ... or all of them!

828.230.0555 or haven@ecohouserealty.com

West Asheville for sale - Price reduction - $199,999

Great West Asheville location - 3 minutes from downtown.

Walk to:

• The Admiral (coolest bar with best food - yes best food and NOT bar food in town)
• Rocket Club (great music and more)
• Izzy's Coffee shop (new West Asheville location)
• Custom Boutique 
• Harvest Records
• The Gas Up - 1st gas station offering biodiesel in Asheville ... 

Completely re-modeled less than 3 years ago. Beautiful landscaping. New deck. Mountain views from front and back yard. 

• 2 bedroom / 1 bath
  
• .21 acres 

See more here: http://ashevilleecorealty.blogspot.com/2008/10/for-sale-209-westwood-place.html

Asheville makes the list...again

Today I read on CNN that Asheville is #41 in the top 100 best places to live. Check out the article.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0803/gallery.best_places_to_launch.fsb/41.html

Future of GIS in Real-Estate

interesting article from the All Points Blog ... specific app targeting military relocating to Hawaii

http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/5546-Future-of-GIS-in-Real-Estate-Generic-to-Specific.html

Asheville gets first dose of stimulus money ...

in the form of $842,000 meant to combat homelessness and help with other community-building projects like affordable housing. The article in the Citizen-Times goes on to talk about other projects they hope to get funded like a $40 million solar power plant and widening Victoria Road. Both of those projects get BIG support from me!

The best way to have a green home...

With all the talk in the media of green, it's exciting I must admit. I've been a fan of the green movement for a long time. I remember in high school going to the local thrift store and buying my clothes because I was freaked out about the landfill filling up with fashionable clothes. Which brings me to my next point, maybe we are forgetting one simple rule in the green world...reuse. The best place to reuse?? Buying an old home instead of building a new one and green it up. That's right..pimp my house green. Here are a few ideas...

• Low VOC paints
• Energy credits
• Planting native species in the landscape

There are a ton of ways to be green in an old home. As a matter of fact, I think my house could use a little greening.

$100 billion in economic stimulus for 'green measures'

Spatial Sustain broke the story ... to me at least ... here -

http://vector1media.com/spatialsustain/cnn-parses-the-stimulus-for-green-measures.html

House of the Week

66 Rumbough in West Asheville right across from Malvern Hills park. A green remodel from JAG construction. Priced at 299,000 3br/2ba.

Please contact Haven@ecohouserealty.com for more information.

cradle to cradle

A very important concept -

GIS and Our world

Check out the article in Citizens Times:

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990103037