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By Kim Mulligan: Seattle Realtor: 206-579-9066 kim@cooperjacobs.com, on May 19th, 2012
Luxurious Living in Mother Nature’s Playground
 Suncadia Golf Course Home for Sale Want to live the life of Riley in a comfortable and gracious home? Have fine dining within walking distance? Watch elk and deer from your own property? Play golf whenever you feel like it and keep your golf cart in your own over-sized garage on the lucky 13th hole of the golf course? Do you want all this within 90 minutes of Seattle and within 60 minutes of Issaquah?
 Deck with views of golf course and wildlife Well you can have it, as well as access to boating and fishing, hiking, alpine and nordic skiing, live music venues, antiquing, even gold panning. That’s what upper Kittitas County has to offer and so much more. The destination Suncadia Resort is where this home is located and central to the finer things in life. It has a large lodge and winery on the premises along with other family activities. Outside the resort and further down Bullfrog Road is the charming and historic town of Roslyn WA made famous by a popular TV series, and where at the start of the 20th century, “Coal was King”! Further down the road is Salmon la Sac and the gateway to the Alpine Lakes wilderness. Safe to say, most people wouldn’t be bored in this environment. There is truly something for almost anyone.
If that’s not enough even yet, this listing and special get-away is an award winning 5 Star Built Green home built by local green building champions. This house has earned the highest ranking available for energy efficiency, and and air quality. Built Green is a program developed by our local Master Builders Association to quantify green features. It takes into account not only things that are beneficial to the occupants but to the surrounding environment as well. This house has met or exceeded in all categories the highest bar set by the local organization.
 Fine dining here or within walking distance If you want to know more about this beautiful area please contact me. I know not only about Suncadia, but the surrounding area which has a rich and varied history. This home has recently been reduced in price. There are signs the market is picking up, so these could be a great opportunity for the right buyer. To see the listing, here’s the link: Suncadia Mountain Home
By Kim Mulligan: Seattle Realtor: 206-579-9066 kim@cooperjacobs.com, on May 13th, 2012
Seattle’s Annual Greenwood Garage Sale Day
The PNA or the Phinney Neighborhood Association is holding it’s annual event again this coming Saturday. It’s a veritable mega-mall of kid gear, furniture, household items, recreational gear, gardening equipment, tools and things you may not even know what the heck they are. If you are the kind of person who enjoys the “hunt” this annual event might be right up your street. Many people pack comfy shoes, a hat and sunglasses, lots of one dollar bills and quarters and of course the garage sale map and descriptions. This year it’s on-line on a Google map and can be easily downloaded or stored on your smart-phone.
The PNA, as usual, does a great job organizing this Seattle neighborhood event and it draws people from all parts. To learn about the type of shoppers one might experience click on this link. If you live in Greenwood, Phinney, or West Green Lake, you are bound to run into your neighbors. Especially in nice weather, this sale brings out all kinds of people walking with wagons and carts in tow. There are people driving in trucks and cars filled to the headliners with baskets, stools, plants and what-nots. People drive down the street with one arm out the window holding especially large items on the roofs of the slow moving vehicles. If it sounds a little chaotic. . . . . it is.
Especially nice weather brings out the crowds, and the forecast is great. Want some cheap entertainment? Want to promote the lemonade stands of the next generation of entrepreneurs? Want to furnish your new studio apartment? Want to meet the neighbors? It’s all here in the Phinney Ridge and Greenwood neighborhoods this Saturday May 19th .
Reduce, REUSE, Recycle!
By Kim Mulligan: Seattle Realtor: 206-579-9066 kim@cooperjacobs.com, on April 19th, 2012
Shoreline Home Featured on Green Home Tour
 Family Room Focal Point It’s just around the bend and we just received some pictures from one of the homes on the north end of the Seattle Green Home Tour this coming weekend. This home has a view and is featured as N10 on your map and Natural Awakenings brochure.
Here is how the designer described her project:
Jolly Green Giant Home on Seattle Green Home Tour
by Interior Designer Wendy Albee, Albee Interior Design
This is the story of the Ekrem family who built their dream home on a small parcel of land taking advantage of the beautiful views of Puget Sound. Though they did not specifically set out to make a green home, they wanted to incorporate some green and sustainable features that made sense, making their home a little more earth-friendly and energy efficient than most. And we incorporated universal design features to ensure the family can live in their dream home for a very long time.
Because the concept of ‘green’ building or remodeling can be daunting to the average person, we decided to be part of the tour to demonstrate simple, practical steps that the this home incorporated to save money on energy costs and to improve air quality. We also used recycled materials where it made sense esthetically rather than setting out purposefully to use these materials.
 Green can be beautiful (From an interior design perspective, if a client is not that interested in being ‘green’, I do make a point of showing my clients products and materials that are recycled or upcycled that fit in our design style and color palette(s). The dual-flush toilets are an easy sell as they look great and function so well and when I tell them 1/3 of their water usage is from the toilet, they don’t hesitate. Low voltage lighting is getting less expensive so that is also easy for clients to see the benefit).
The first thing you’ll notice walking into the home is the enormous amount of natural light. The windows are all high-performance, triple pane glass.
The main floor includes one bathroom with earth-friendly Marmoleum flooring and recycled glass tiles in the shower and vanity backsplash. A second bathroom has a solid surface countertop that is made from86% recycled materials including corn, ceramics, mirrors and glass (Eco from Consentino). The laundry room also has Marmoleum flooring and Energy Star appliances. All cabinetry is made locally in Monroe.
The great room is located on the 2nd floor where the extended family gets together every Sunday. The kitchen appliances are Energy Star rated and much of the lighting is LED. The family side of the great room has an energy efficient gas fireplace.
The master suite, also on this floor, hosts a dual-flush toilet, radiant heated floors with programmable thermostat, engineered quartz countertop, locally-produced finishes, and Water Sense fixtures. Ambience is created with the LED soffit lighting.
 Newly remodeled bathroom
The lower floor has hydronic radiant heat with Marmoleum flooring. It contains a small bathroom, mud room and ‘man work cave’.
This home goes to show how so called “green professionals” can make small changes in the perceptions of our clients. A lower flow toilet is a painless step to take towards saving resources and reduction of infrastructure. Insulation not only saves money on energy costs in the long run, but increases the comfort of a home. . . . and it all adds up!
By Kim Mulligan: Seattle Realtor: 206-579-9066 kim@cooperjacobs.com, on April 19th, 2012
Kent Award Winning Home on the Seattle Green Home Tour
 This Home is on the Seattle Green Home Tour Do you have a preconception of Kent? I have to admit I did having spent some time there in the past. I love the city of Seattle and all it has to offer, it’s quiet sophistication, it’s culture and yes it’s beauty. I also happen to love getting away from the city to enjoy the great outdoors Washington State. All the water, the forests, the vistas and viewing the wildlife. Just like Ruth Anne on Northern Exposure, I go shooting quite often when I go out to the country, but it involves F-stops and lenses, and finding the elusive perfect lighting.
So I have to admit, when I heard a house was in Kent on the tour this year, I thought it was great, that green building concepts were spreading further out than just Bellevue into the suburbs of our metropolis. Then I opened the file with the pictures attached. All I can say now is WOWIE! (In my best Christopher Walken voice)
 What a view inside or out  Award winning home  Worth the drive from Seattle to see this home Here is what Sockeye has to say about it:
Located in Kent, this custom home is so packed with ideas it has been named The Northwest Idea House of the Year. Come see for yourself the incredible design ideas, cutting edge systems, and Built Green features, making this a 5 star demonstration home and Click Here to View Case Study
Especially if you are in the south end of the Seattle grid I urge you to go see this home and be inspired by the creativity in solving the matrixs of what green can be to come up with such a lovely solution!
You can see the whole tour brochure at the NW Eco Building Guild’s website
By Kim Mulligan: Seattle Realtor: 206-579-9066 kim@cooperjacobs.com, on February 10th, 2012
West Seattle Home on April Green Home Tour
Seattle area residents are lucky enough to have a Green Home Tour that is drawing interest other parts of the country. This years tour is appropriately on Earth Day weekend. A popular home is back this again this year so more people can be inspired by seeing how one growing family did so much for less money than you may think.
Does “green” mean:
Using fewer resources?
Re-purposing existing elements?
Saving energy and costs?
Improving indoor air quality?
Solar power?
Saving water?
Renewable materials?
Improved indoor air quality?
Increased comfort and simpler lifestyle?
Planning for the future?
In short, YES!!!
Here’s an opportunity to see why simple (and not so simple) things can make a difference, why it may not look like you think it might, and why it’s worth it!
A [LITTLE] MIGHTY HOUSE
Location
3108 SW Webster StWest Seattle, WA 98126
Mighty House Construction
This West Seattle home provides a story of innovative use of materials, green and healthy finishes, energy conservation, integrated, expandable solar, and a multitude of solutions to accommodate the ebb and flow of a young and growing family.
 The mainstay of this project is conservation — conservation of costs and conservation of materials; all the meanwhile maintaining a high level of sustainable building measures and excellent indoor air quality.
The house is a 1980, rambler which when purchased in 2006 had clearly not had any finishes or renovations made to it since it’s completion in 1980. A remodeling plan was put into place to update the home’s aesthetics, remove low-quality and crummy fixtures, and to find better solutions for a growing family’s spatial needs.
As we mentioned, the big story in this home is conversation and simplicity. The projects feels tangible, something anyone can do to make big change to the use and/or aesthetics of their home… although truth be told, the work not only took fine craftsmanship, but a dedication to thoughtfulness and a lot of patience. The budget was a driving force to the schedule of projects and part of keeping to the budget often meant waiting for the ‘right’ salvaged or re-purposed materials to present themselves.
The scope of the remodel to-date includes:
- Maintaining existing footprint to maximize outdoor spaces
- Salvaged or re-purposed materials in every room.
- Low-impact flooring (including bamboo and remnant marmoleum) replaced vinyl and carpet.
- Low-/No-VOC or reused paints throughout.
- “Water-wise” fixtures.
- “Energy-star” appliances.
- Tool-shed entirely from salvaged materials.
- Smart powerstrips throughout (as appropriate).
- Radiant ceiling heat (office only)
- Expandable solar installed (1-panel up, brackets ready for 3 more next spring, system ready for 23 more!)
- Redesigned yard for fun, privacy, and low-water and low-maintenance with a few edibles thrown in for yum.
- And more.
The kitchen itself is exemplary of all the attributes of the remodel:
 Salvaged cabinets- Butcher block countertops re-oriented and re-worked into an island top
- Paperstone countertops surround
- Bamboo flooring
- Salvaged garden window
- Low-voltage pendant light
- Dimmers on all switches
- Low-VOC paints
- Salvaged pantry shelf
- Marmoleum backer for future wine rack
- Energy Star and Water Wise appliances/fixtures
- Smart cell phone charging station
Some of the other features of this sustainable home are in the choices made on a daily basis furnishing and living in the home. From homemade cleaning products to a “no-more new plastics” intention, every decision is made with indoor air quality, health, and sustainability forward.
![A [Little] Mighty House](http://www.ecobuilding.org/guild-chapters/seattle/green-home-tour/south-seattle-tour-sites/a-mighty-house/@@images/6b04f623-db4f-441b-b090-1714c2715555.jpeg "A [Little] Mighty House")
The kitchen is exemplary with salvaged, low toxic materials and energy-efficient appliances
![A [Little] Mighty House](http://www.ecobuilding.org/guild-chapters/seattle/green-home-tour/south-seattle-tour-sites/a-mighty-house/@@images/c944c28e-2830-40b8-aed8-e7b2105c6900.jpeg "A [Little] Mighty House")
Low-impact flooring and re-purposed materials make this living area supremely sustainable
Stay tuned to learn more about a post-tour class about buying or greening an existing home April 28, 2012
By Courtney Cooper - EcoBroker, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate: courtney@cooperjacobs.com, on January 7th, 2012
Did you get a chance to read about the cool house in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood that not only produces enough energy to have zero costs, but also produces more energy than it uses! As a tribute to Robert Downey Jr. , I am calling it the Less Than Zero house, but obviously green building has nothing to do with the excess of the 1980′s. Anyway, I stray. Here is a screen shot from Eric Thomas and Alexandra Salmon’s blog on their innovative Ballard green home.
What is the most impressive thing about this story to me is that this creative couple was able to get a brand new Ballard home for just under $400k when all was said and done plus it is a green home. Who says green real estate has to be expensive? Do your homework like these two did and you will be surprised!
Are you interested in Seattle Green Real Estate? We are happy to help you and boast some great Green Seattle Realtors at Cooper Jacobs Real Estate! realestate@cooperjacobs.com
By Kim Mulligan: Seattle Realtor: 206-579-9066 kim@cooperjacobs.com, on December 18th, 2011
Green Building Can Be Fun!
Heard about the Triple Bottom Line in Green Building techniques and haven’t seen a real life example? Well here you go. . . .
 Who Says Green isn't Fun! A house "spotted" in Wallingford. There’s a remodel in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle underway with an obvious sense of humor. Green Canopy Home’s latest endeavor has the moniker of ”Keaton” after the famous actor Buster. If you aren’t familiar with this company, they are ‘house eco-flippers’. While this might have a negative connotation to some, this partnership has a unconventional business plan. They look for existing homes throughout Seattle to improve and spruce up just like ordinary investors do. What they do differently isn’t always easily apparent. Sure they add the usual bells and whistles buyers look for, but they go beyond the obvious and put in energy efficient windows, insulation and install energy efficient heating (and cooling) systems.
Don’t trust that behind the walls might not be what they promise? This company tests the house before and after their improvements with a blower door test and provide the buyer with the Energy Performance Score (EPS). This is an objective measure of efficiency and can give the buyer peace of mind knowing what to expect for heating and cooling bills. The completed houses are certified with Built Green of King and Snohomish Counties.
What Green Canopy Homes also does extremely well is marketing. They get the neighbors involved; you can vote for the exterior paint color on their facebook page (a lesson they learned the hard way and turned it into a positive!). They hold events for the neighbors and the public with behind-thewalls tours, and educate whoever is curious through the whole process. If you happen to tour one of their completed homes there’s information about what was done and a real time energy monitor so one can see how much energy is being used in the moment.
Flipping houses in this market is perceived as a risky enterprise. Green Canopy seems to be a great example of the working business model. The neighbors appreciate that the existing homes are kept in scale with the rest of the block. Less waste ends up in landfills. The homes perform much better than they did before and will last for at least a few more generations. In the process people are educated on what a green building is and get excited with the process and results. Green Canopy homes tend to sell quickly and typically aren’t on the market for long. It’s a business idea that seems to work well for everyone involved. A very tangible example of a ‘winning!’ Triple Bottom Line.
Are you looking for home to do an energy efficient retrofit on? If you would like more information on how to make your house more efficient, I’m here to help!
By Kim Mulligan: Seattle Realtor: 206-579-9066 kim@cooperjacobs.com, on December 9th, 2011
Eco Building Guild Home Tour
Show Us Your ‘Green’!
‘
 Coming this Earth Day 2012
Northwest EcoBuilding Guild – 2012 Green Home Tour – Call for Sites & Sponsors
This just in:
The 2012 Green Home Tour hosted by the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild (NWEBG) is underway. People want to ‘do the right thing’ when it comes to remodels, retrofits, and new construction but often times need to see “green” in action and how the benefits to people, planet, and profit unite in everyday practice. To that end, the inaugural 2011 Green Home Tour hosted 28 sites and over 1,250 visitors with great success! This year we’re planning to build off that success and make it bigger and better! There are 4 ways to participate:
- Showcase Your Project. (early bird deadline Jan 16, 2012)
- Showcase Your Services/Products through Sponsorship.
- Volunteer Your Heart Out.
- Attend and Tell Your Friends to Attend!
Two Tours – One Great Weekend! 2012 Green Home Tour is being hosted by the Seattle and the South Sound Chapter April 21 & 22, 2012. Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union has already stepped up as an event sponsor, and we’ve just gotten started! The earlier you get involved, the greater benefit will be realized by everyone!! Website updates are underway, in the meantime contact Cate O’dahl, Event Lead (Seattle Chapter), 425-670-1342; greenhometour@ecobuilding.org. Last year there were sites all around the Seattle area. Several in North Seattle, some in West Seattle, and several on the Eastside including Bastyr University. If you want to see your neighborhood represented then have a green home in your area sign up for the tour. If you participate in the tour or just want to enjoy the weekend learning about sustainable building mark your calendars now.
Hope to see you Earthday weekend 2012!
By Kim Mulligan: Seattle Realtor: 206-579-9066 kim@cooperjacobs.com, on October 18th, 2011
How to Reuse Old Clothes For Inexpensive Halloween Props
OK, granted it might be a bit of a reach easily putting your hands on a old Halloween Costume with a witches hat and a long grey wig around the house. That said, it is the Halloween season and most homeowners have a pair of old gloves, some unused fabric, unwanted shoes, odd bits of lumber and fasteners and an old broom lying around. My Norwegian grandparents never threw anything away and their Ballard homes (including the garages, basements, and canning cellars), were always neat as a pin with those amazing glass jars held in the line up by the single screw in the lids. But I digress. . . .
Many of us would have the bulk of this in the pile for the trash, Goodwill, Salvation Army, or some other charity. One can always wait for the Halloween overstock sales where you can buy previously un-obtained essentials when they have reached the prime of their shelf life. A local neighbor of mine installs this on the phone pole in front of his house annually. Every year it never fails to garner giggles and admiration from the passersby.
I know some will consider this is a stretch for a green post. However I will never underestimate the value of unexpected humor and whimsy! My personal touch would be the addition of an obvious outdated cell phone (before it goes to charity) in one of the gloves.
 ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD GAG. Props to Scott Let me know if you want to know the location in our local Seattle neighborhood. I am new to blogging and block the comments as a newbie, but feel free to give me a ring and I will let you know the intersection if you would to see this “masterpiece” in person!
By Kim Mulligan: Seattle Realtor: 206-579-9066 kim@cooperjacobs.com, on October 14th, 2011
Great Opportunity to Safely Dispose of Old Paint
Update 11:00am Monday 10/17/2011
Reed painting had an overwhelming response and has informed me that they reached their capacity on Saturday. You still can contact them if you can put the recycled paint to a good use. They plan on having another drive in the future or to look up another location where you can safely dispose of your unwanted paint you can find your answers on line.
This Saturday Oct 15th is the first day Reed Painting will be taking latex paint from homeowners for recycling and reusing. This local company is providing a valuable service as it allows us to recycle the paint that is in our basements, garages and sheds and know it to will be put to good use one again.
 Word is out, get there early! The organizers have asked me to pass on the following information:
“ Due to the overwhelming response so far it is estimated that the paint drive will not run the full week – people with donations are encouraged to come this Saturday. When we have reached capacity we will have to close the drive.”
“We do need to put the recycled paint to good use so we need people that are interested in taking some for community service projects or even individual projects. It will take some time to go through the paint but it will be available soon for use. We have donated to churches, schools, the Sheriff’s Dept for graffiti removal and artists for mural painting – to name a few.”
“ We are a painting company that specializes in residential interior and exterior painting, as well as cleaning services such as gutter cleaning, window washing, power washing and even holiday lighting.”
“Lastly, we are active in community service and strive to promote environmental conservation. We use NO and LOW VOC Paint and can use recycled paint at a customer’s request. The paint is high quality.”
The drop off site in located off Stone Way and Aurora roughly in the Wallingford and Fremont neighborhoods not too far from Green Lake. What a great public service these independent contractor is offering. To learn more about them and this paint drive you can contact them here.
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NWGoGreen.com Going Greener in the Pacific Northwest!
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![A [Little] Mighty House](http://www.ecobuilding.org/guild-chapters/seattle/green-home-tour/south-seattle-tour-sites/a-mighty-house/@@images/f242b73a-4fb8-45e0-953e-58a8331a8a62.jpeg "A [Little] Mighty House")
![A [Little] Mighty House](http://www.ecobuilding.org/guild-chapters/seattle/green-home-tour/south-seattle-tour-sites/a-mighty-house/@@images/f2d27f94-b116-497a-8c5e-bb4b656d15ca.jpeg "A [Little] Mighty House")
![A [Little] Mighty House](http://www.ecobuilding.org/guild-chapters/seattle/green-home-tour/south-seattle-tour-sites/a-mighty-house/@@images/c924243e-e4f9-4007-9367-2e2cca01bc09.jpeg "A [Little] Mighty House")
