Do the Right Thing.

Did you ever have a client that you really, really wanted to help and just couldn't? I did, sort of, she was my brokers client. But when I heard her story my heart bled. So I called the Colorado Association of Realtors and spoke to Kay in the education department, she was unaware that a green certification was available. The following weekend at the CAR convention at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs the Ecobrokers set up right next to them. Kay excitedly called me Monday A.M. to tell me about the program.

Now I never did get to help the original client. But I enjoyed the program and it fit beautifully with some of my personal beliefs. It all worked at well.

Tony Marriott recently wrote a blog called Full Circle. In his comments Tony wrote about how Active Rain and the Ecobroker program all worked together for him. And oh by-the-way Tony found all of this out on Google and I'm the one who popped up.

More about the Ecobroker program.

EcoBroker is Education that Means Business and Makes a Difference
If you are a licensed real estate agent, earn the EcoBroker Certified^® Designation while learning about the latest topics influencing the way your clients buy and sell real estate. EcoBroker helps you stay current with the growing green real estate market and the opportunities it presents. EcoBroker's core curriculum offers innovative energy, environmental, and green strategies and tools for real estate professionals. Learn to reduce liabilities and increase buyer and seller satisfaction. Create competitive advantages in the marketplace and build business. The EcoBroker Designation is a positive and profitable way to differentiate yourself in today's real estate market. Becoming an EcoBroker^® is a great opportunity for you to benefit your community and the planet, while broadening your base of training and earning more business.

If you decide to research the program please use my name, I'd appreciate it.

Despite all the snow Colorado has had this year (2006-2007) the west is still in a drought. But don't let that stop you from coming for a visit. We have plenty of water to keep you entertained. Visit the mountains and play in the water.

          Arkansas River Barker Reservoir

• Bear & Blue Lake
• Blue River
• Bonny Reservoir
• Colorado River
• Big Creek Lakes
• Brush Hollow Reservoir
• Crystal River
•  Big Thompson River
• Clear Creek Reservoir
• Cottonwood Lake
• Elkhead Reservoir
• Eleven Mile Reservoir
• Elk River
•  Boedecker Reservoir
• Horseshoe Reservoir
• Frying Pan River
• Boyd Lake
• John Martin Reservoir
• Granby Reservoir
• Carter Lake
• Nee Noshe Reservoir
• Grand Lake
• Chambers Lake North Lake
• Green River
• Cowdrey Lake
•  Pueblo Reservoir
• Muddy Creek
• Delaney Lakes
• South Platte
• River Rifle
• Gap Reservoir
• Dowdy Lake
• Spinney Mountain Reservoir
• Roaring Fork River
• Estes Lake
• Trinidad Reservoir
• Shadow Mountain
• Horsetooth Reservoir
• Stagecoach Reservoir
• Adobe Creek Reservoir
• Steamboat Lake
• Jackson Lake Animas River
• Trappers Lake
• Joe Wright Reservoir
• Beaver Creek Reservoir
• Vega Reservoir
• Jumbo Reservoir
• White River
• Laramie River
• Big Meadows Reservoir
• Williams Fork Reservoir
• North Park Streams
• Blue Mesa Reservoir
• Williams Fork River
• North Platte River
• Conejos River
• Willow Creek Reservoir
• Pinewood Reservoir
•  Culebra Creek
• Wolford Reservoir
• Poudre River
• Dolores River
• Yampa River
• Echo Canyon Reservoir
• Red Feather Lakes
• Gunnison River
• Los Pinos River
• Arvada Reservoir
• St.Vrain River
•  McPhee Reservoir
• Bear Creek
• Teal Lake
• Piedra River
• Ridgeway Reservoir
• Bear Creek Reservoir
• Union Reservoir
• South Fork River
• Chatfield Reservoir
• Sanchez Reservoir
• San Juan River
• Clear Lake
• San Miquel River
• Georgetown Lake
• Taylor Reservoir
• Smith Reservoir
• Taylor River
• Uncompahgre River
• Vallecito Reservoir

What do you think? Is it refridgerator worthy?

This weekend I've been working a booth at the Pueblo Association of Home Builders Home and Garden Show. The weather has been better than expected and the crowds are terrific. Donna Phillips is representing President Homes and I'm along for the ride. It's been a great way to meet people, see new services and just have a great time.

Shelley the "Rag Lady" 

Pam Simmons from PAHB and Allied Building Supply clowning around with Dan Wiebe from PAHB and Liberty Hearing Center of Pueblo.

 Crystal from Domega Homes

Paul Hubert from Eco Structure

I'd like to invite every body to the Pueblo Association of Home Builders Home and Garden Show this weekend. Colorado Western Real Estate will be there representing President Homes. Dena will have extra copies to the newsletter That's Natural for anybody who wants one.

Show Hours:
Friday, 5pm to 8pm                                        
Saturday, 10am to 7pm
Sunday, 10am to 5pm

Hope to see you there!                                     

New Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is promoting E85 in Colorado by having more gas stations distributing the fuel. For anybody who does know what E85 is, it is a combination fuel for equipped cars that is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. This product is a nice next step in not relying on foreign oil and reducing pollution, but I don't think it's the final step. E85 is made up in most part by ethanol. The corn that goes into producing the ethanol needs large qualities of water and fertilizer. While the promotion of corn is good for the farmer it is not good for our water supply.

Both the vehicle you drive and the buildings you live and work in can use Clean Energy.

Clean energy: Clean energy can be generally defined as energy from renewable sources such as biomass, wind, or solar power. The goal of clean energy is to have a low environmental impact, with low or zero emissions, and a minimal impact on the physical surroundings. Hydropower can be defined as clean energy due to zero emissions, but today's hydropower still often has substantial impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Waste-burning and wood-burning plants that capture emissions can be clean energy generators. Fossil fuels do not provide clean energy because of their emissions and environmental impacts.

Clean energy offers a cost-effective way to meet our nation's growing demand for electricity and natural gas while reducing emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, lowering consumers energy bills, and improving the reliability and security of our energy system.

Quite often I have conversations with people who know so much more about solar energy than I do. In fact some of these people are experts. I am not an expert, but I can carry on a conversation.

What's the difference between passive and active solar? The answer is easy - sound like an expert when you have a conversation.

Passive solar has no moving parts. The design of the building is what makes it a passive solar design. This picture is an example of passive solar design.

Active Solar has moving parts.Things that makes a building active: Photo voltaic (PV's) Solar Water heater, even geothermal systems.

Colorado is ideally suited for both passive and active solar. Resource: http://www.ases.org/

Colorado and anywhere else on or near the 38 parallel is ideally suited for passive solar houses. Southern Colorado has 300 or more days of sunshine. Cloudy climates don't work as well.

About thermal mass:

Thermal mass materials have the ability to conduct and store energy, both heat and cold, and to release that energy back into the living space when it's needed.

Heat always moves to colder surfaces. In the solar home, the free solar energy first heats up the air. Since the mass floors and walls are cooler, the heat is absorbed and conducted into these materials. Later, when the sun has set and the room air temperature falls, it will reach a point where the mass materials are warmer than the room air temperature. Since heat seeks out cold, the stored energy will now return to the room. The more mass in the home, the more energy that can be stored.

The amount of south facing glass to be installed is related to the amount of thermal mass in the home, and the reverse is also true. In the sun tempered design, the home does not have the mass needed to absorb the amount of solar energy delivered when glass amounts exceed 7%. With slab construction, the mass is built in, but when carpeted, it can't work for you. When you tile your slab, you have added thermal mass and you can increase the amount of south glass accordingly.

For more information: http://www.nrel.gov/ And research Trombe Walls: http://www.eere.energy.gov

The direct gain system is the easiest and most cost effective way to use solar energy. The structure itself is the solar system. The south windows are the collectors. The walls and floor are the storage. (mass). Orientate the structure and windows as close to true south as possible.

• The ideal thickness for mass materials is 4 to 5 inches.
• Use mass materials in the construction, for floors and walls. (adobe, concrete, brick, rock)
  
• Water is the best mass, storing far more energy than other materials, BUT it's not structural.
• A masonry fireplace adds thermal mass but should be located on an interior wall.
• An interior mass wall performs better than an exterior wall.
• Insulate the exterior of your walls, keeping the masonry inside, protected from outside temperature extremes.
• Provide for night time insulation on large glass areas. ( insulating curtains, moveable insulation, shutters. )
• Provide adequate overhangs on the south side to prevent direct gain during the cooling season.
• Use light colors on low mass construction. (ceilings, and partition walls)

Over Presidents weekend I worked the Home and Garden Show at the Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs. Time and time again I've learned that you can't just sit at these things and expect people to come find you. You have to get out from behind your little table and meet people.

For three days I sat across from Styria Bakery out of Frederick (303) 587-9658 getbread@comcast.net the best bread ever. Now I know that I like sour dough based breads over potato based breads. And I've never been a big bread eater, now I am! Thanks Shannon!

Donna Phillips and Wally Ross of www.presidenthomes.com and www.coloradowesternland.com Owner-Builder Programs is who I worked with all weekend. If you are interested in building your own home visit the President Homes website.

I met the nicest young woman, Mary beth Sanders, D.C. of Sanders Chiropractic and massage therapy www.sanders-chiropractic.com 719 475-2455 She did a test on my neck with Myo Vision Static Graphic. Which has something to do with high levels of muscle tension and are associated with subluxation.

Astar Heating and Air conditioning is starting up in the Pueblo area but are based in Peyton CO but cover all of El Paseo county. They have a mind for the energy efficient products. www.astarheating.net The demand is there and growing. familyheating@aol.com

Alan Werckle from EcoQuest International. He has a machine that will your laundry with out detergents and has as some cool humidifiers www.ecoquest.com or newdawnsolutions@yahoo.com

Brian Dornsbach has granite and glass counter tops that you put over your existing counter tops. They really look nice. By the way Brian is that glass found from the recycle bin? www.granitetransformations.com

Stephanie Ellingson from Countrywide Home Loans found me to tell me that the Pueblo Countrywide office now has a new staff. And I told Stephanie she needs to brush up on her green or Energy Efficient Mortgages! Stephanie_ellingson@countrywide.com

Backstreet Custom Window Coverings also found me. Lisa DeGennaro didn't have a booth at the show she was out enjoying it! www.backstreetwindowcoverings.com

For three days we sat next to Regency Windows and Siding. www.bristolwindows.com and had a great time visiting.

I met the nicest guys at Paramount Security Frederick and Andrew were there ever time I turned around. Llcparamount.@yahoo.com and www.monitronics.com

Mark Nelson is our local weatherman but he also works for www.edwardjones.com The guy never stops smiling. How did you do that for the entire home show? M.Nelson@edwardjones.com Hey Scott!

Les Kahler from Grand Timber Lodge in Breckenridge kept looking at his watch! Email Les and tell him to stop doing that. Ikahler@grandtimber.com

Susan Schrempf has the coolest booth. Digitally Yours media personalizes all sorts of things like tiles, moose pads, aprons and on and on. www.Digitallyyoursmedia.comCindy Nogle works the same business out of Colorado Springs.

See ya next weekend at the Pueblo Association of Home Builders Show at the State Fair Grounds - Ag palace.

In the middle of Pueblo just off of I-25 on the corners of 5^th and Main is Pueblo's Old Federal Building. Once a court house where those on trail would be brought up the back stairs to avoid mixing with the public. Today this building is used as an office building. Besides the Espresso Shop and the 5^th Street Art Gallery you will find counseling offices, Liberty Hearing Center, TNT Security, a hair salon and Colorado Western Real Estate. Soon the old brass front mail boxes will be taken out and replaced with a white linen restaurant.

 The old court room can now be rented for weddings and parties >

 <The old post office boxes add to the charm of the old building