Bob's Real Estate Blog

A Greener way to do Flyers - a work in progress

2010-06-05T20:48:00.001-05:00

For a long time I have been frustrated with flyers. They get taken by the neighbors, stolen by kids or destroyed by rains. It seems like a waste of paper, yet sellers like to have the information in front of the house and drive-by buyers want to know about the house.I'm trying two solutions at the same time. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK:Solution 1 -- All the signs in my brokerage say at the

Upgraded our insulation to R50 this week

2010-05-22T22:38:00.004-05:00

This week we had insulation added to our home. We went from 6 inches of insulation, installed when the house was built in 1983, to 20+ inches of insulation with a radiant barrier. This should save us a lot of money over the years. That said, we have a vaulted ceiling so there's still other solutions to find. A lot of our roofline doesn't have attic over it.

Carrollton City Presentation - Green Parking options

2010-05-22T22:34:00.001-05:00

Today my staff and I saw a presentation by Peter J. Braster, Sr. TOD Manager for the City of Carrollton. The city has a great master plan for the three DART stations that are set to open in December of this year. Peter walked us through the development around Downtown Carrollton which is already underway. There is a new parking lot being installed which will be green in that cars will park on

Carrollton Citizen's Evening

2010-03-26T23:08:00.001-05:00

Tonight was the 3rd Annual Carrollton Citizen's Evening where various city departments distribute information about their services and answer questions. We heard about crime stats, new city codes and code enforcement, and got to meet with our council members and the mayor. As is my custom these days, I documented it all with pictures. Carrollton Citizen's Evening

Let there be light! Solatube Installation at Texas Pride Realty

2010-03-26T23:06:00.000-05:00

In late August 2009 I started my own brokerage. I planted a flag in the ground and said from this day forth I will work for myself. I rented a humble office in an part of Carrollton that is on the verge or revitalization and all was good. Yet my humble little office lacked on vital necessity. Light! Being a GREEN person I knew the solution and actually had the forethought to wright the

Property Standards Board for the City of Carrollton

2010-03-26T23:05:00.000-05:00

For the past 3 years I have had the pleasure of working on the Property Standards Board for the City of Carrollton. Where a board like Planning & Zoning deals with what to build in what location, Property Standards deals with dilapidated and unsafe buildings. Before the city staff can take action against a property they need to get the citizen's permission. Our board represents the citizens. We

Looking for new DallasGreenStreets.com Logo

2010-02-17T00:01:00.002-06:00

Learned at #Raincamp about LogoTournament.com Submitted a request for new logo for my DallasGreenStreets.com environmental site.I'll post the winner soon. Our environmental efforts deserve so much more than my current site gives.

GE locomotives go green

2009-12-24T20:40:00.002-06:00

New technology allows the train's engine to capture the energy it now wastes, store it in a battery and use it for acceleration.from http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/12/23/f_BG_GE_locomotive.fortune/

2009 Renewable Energy Roundup - The New Products

2009-10-25T00:52:00.006-05:00

I have been remiss in posting about the Renewable Energy Roundup. We had a great time and saw a couple new products and trends I want to tell you about. If you missed my blog on last year's show, read it here. It will give you an idea of the full show. What I'll cover below is new items for 2009.WINDThis is a new idea on wind energy. On a normal windmill the generator is in the center so the wind

Bob McCranie to teach session at Renewal Energy Roundup 2009

2009-08-12T22:58:00.002-05:00

I'm very happy to announce that I have been selected to teach a session at this year's Renewable Energy Roundup in Fredericksburg, TX this September. If things go as scheduled, my session will be on Saturday, Sept 26th at 5 pm.GREEN Realtors® - Environmental Real Estate Options for Existing HomesBuilding a green home is a dream of every environmentalist. But most of us live in existing homes

First Solar Tower in United States Powers Up

2009-08-09T22:54:00.002-05:00

Idealab rebounds with recent focus on clean technologyRead Original ArticleGina Ferazzi / Los Angeles TimesIdealab’s Bill Gross is reflected in a solar tracking mirror on the firm’s rooftop in Pasadena. His ESolar opens an innovative energy facility today in Lancaster.Entrepreneur Bill Gross' Pasadena firm has had its ups and downs. But it is energized since turning to clean tech, including

How we put together our Rain Water system

2009-07-31T00:08:00.002-05:00

Our Rain Water Retention system consists of • Two 330 gallon tanks which were once used for Hawaiian Punch drink juice concentrate. • Three standard 55 gallon rain barrels. • Six additional 55 gallon barrels converted to hold water, like these pictured here. We added guttering to our roof line, put the barrels in the right locations and did a rain dance.Two of our Five downspouts drain directly

AC solar panels: One step closer to DIY solar? - from

2009-07-20T01:37:00.001-05:00

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10288234-54.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=GreenTechby Martin LaMonica Start-up GreenRay Solar has raised money to finalize development of a solar panel that puts out household-grade alternating current, a technology that backers say will make solar power more accessible to homeowners.The Westford, Mass.-based company said that it has raised $2 million from the

Microsoft wants to show you how to cut your utility bills.

2009-06-24T00:50:00.002-05:00

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10269832-54.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=GreenTechFrom CNET.comMicrosoft wants to show you how to cut your utility bills. The software giant will enter the burgeoning business of home-energy management on Wednesday with Hohm, a free Web application designed to show consumers how to conserve electricity and natural gas. Microsoft's chief research and strategy

High-altitude wind machines could power NYC

2009-06-16T20:55:00.001-05:00

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/06/16/high-altitude.wind.power/index.html?iref=mpstoryview(WIRED) -- The wind blowing through the streets of Manhattan couldn't power the city, but wind machines placed thousands of feet above the city theoretically could. The first rigorous, worldwide study of high-altitude wind power estimates that there is enough wind energy at altitudes of about 1,600 to

DFW HOMES UNDERVALUED

2009-06-06T01:14:00.000-05:00

DFW HOMES UNDERVALUEDDALLAS (Dallas Morning News) – Home prices in the Dallas area are almost 32 percent undervalued, according to an IHS Global Insight study.The same study indicates that prices in DFW have remained virtually unchanged over the year ending with first quarter 2009.Texas housing has traditionally been considered undervalued because of the ease of building in the state, said

May Real Estate & Green Newsletter!!

2009-05-17T22:46:00.001-05:00

Hello Friends!REAL ESTATE UPDATE:Well, let’s talk about Real Estate first. The Spring has picked up nicely. The market is not recovered from the last few years of trouble but buyers are able to get mortgages at good rates and sellers with homes in good condition are able to attract lookers. Both sides need to be patient right now as underwriters are reviewing everything and there’s no way to

Large ice shelf expected to break from Antarctica

2009-05-06T14:28:00.001-05:00

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/04/03/antarctica.ice.shelf/index.html(CNN) -- A large ice shelf is "imminently" close to breaking away from part of the Antarctic Peninsula, scientists said Friday.Scientists are investigating whether the ice breakup is caused by global climate change. Satellite images released by the European Space Agency on Friday show new cracks in the Wilkins Ice Shelf

Oprah & The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

2009-04-24T23:17:00.001-05:00

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch - From OPRAH.COM http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090422-tows-ocean-pollution Water covers more than 70 percent of the planet's surface, making our rivers, lakes and oceans the lifeblood of our planet. Many of these bodies of water may be out of sight and out of mind, but our health may depend on their protection.Currently, scientists

CFLs even more like incandescents

2009-04-14T22:22:00.001-05:00

Read Full ArticleCFLs even more like incandescentsBy Philip ProefrockPosted Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:09am PDT "I don't like the twisty shape of compact fluorescent bulbs; that's why I don't use them." We've come across this excuse as one of the reasons people don't use CFLs.GE now has an answer for that. The new GE Energy Smart CFL places a much smaller electronics package inside the neck of the bulb,

New Honda Takes on the Prius

2009-03-21T20:47:00.001-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/21/business/21hybrid.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rssTOKYO — The road is about to get a little more crowded for the Toyota Prius. Starting Tuesday, the Honda Motor Company will offer American consumers what it bills as “the world’s first affordable hybrid.” Costing just shy of $20,000, the Honda Insight promises to let drivers respond to both of the leading crises of

Planet Green - Message from a friend

2009-03-19T15:33:00.002-05:00

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/government-weatherization-assistance-program.htmlTake Advantage of the Government's Weatherization Assistance Program If life gives you a recession, make recession-ade.By Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, CA, USA | Thu Mar 19 09:00:00 EDT 2009 man with insulation photoStockbyte/GettyREAD MORE ABOUT:Green Home | Green Home Renovation | Heating | Insulation |

Could the Volt Jump-Start GM?

2009-03-15T14:06:00.002-05:00

Could the Volt Jump-Start GM?Automaker Hopes Battery-Powered Car Will Be A Game Changer. Critics Say It's Too Expensive.By Kendra MarrWashington Post Staff WriterSaturday, March 14, 2009; D01General Motors frequently holds up the Chevrolet Volt as a symbol of its future and a testimony to its ingenuity when it asks Washington officials for billions of dollars in federal aid.So prominent a role

Wind farm to be built off Delaware shore - CNN.com

2009-03-13T01:10:00.002-05:00

Read the Full Story (CNN) -- A contract to build what is being called the nation's first offshore field of wind turbines was announced Monday by a Delaware utility and a firm that will build the generators off the Atlantic coast.The 150 wind turbines off Delaware are expected to be operational in four years, say developers.The 150 wind turbines off Delaware are expected to be operational in four

Incentives on Solar Water Heating

2009-03-11T00:31:00.001-05:00

ONCOR ADDS INCENTIVE PROGRAMDALLAS (Oncor) – Monday, Oncor expanded its solar energy initiatives to include the Take A Load Off, Texas Solar Water Heating Incentive Program.Oncor’s Solar Water Heating Incentive Program offers cash incentives for the purchase and installation of qualifying residential solar water heating systems. Oncor expects to install about 1,100 new solar systems over the next

TODAY: Maytag recalling 1.6 million refrigerators

2009-03-10T12:18:00.000-05:00

Maytag recalling 1.6 million refrigeratorsAbout 1.6 million refrigerators are being recalled by Maytag Corp. due to an electrical failure in the relay - the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor - that can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29611744/from/ET/

GREEN Presentation Tomorrow - March 4th - WCR Dallas!

2009-03-03T20:29:00.001-06:00

Women's Council of REALTORSWednesday, March 4 2009 - 11:30am - 1:00pm-----------Dallas Athletic Club - 4111 LaPrada in MesquitePresenter: Bob McCranie Let's All do our Share to Go Green!*Tips on small steps to take* What can we do in our own homesNAR Launches 'Green Designation" Realtors! Did you know that National Association of Realtors has launched a green designation? THis is a perfect

Whole lot of new Hybrid Cars about to be Announced

2009-01-11T22:22:00.000-06:00

In the next few days we'll see a lot of information on new HYBRID and ELECTRIC cars that will be on the dealer lots by late 2009. I am espeically excited about the new features of the TOYOTA PRIUS and HONDA INSIGHT (to be priced under $20,000).When reading these reports be sure to notice the EXPECTED NUMBER TO BE PRODUCED. Ford and General Motors love to talk about hybrids, electrics and fuel

Bob's January 2009 newsletter... Optimists vs Pessimists - Homestead - Time to Vote!

2009-01-08T02:17:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends…My father-in-law was a long-time member of the Optimists Club in his small Ohio town. And I always wondered if there was another club across town for the Pessimists and if they ever rumbled. Two opposite powers marking turf and keeping each other in check. Very West Side Story. That’s how the news feels these days. There are a lot of things to be down about and a few signs

Bob's Renewal Energy Roundup Update

2008-09-30T02:53:00.000-05:00

Renewable Energy Roundup September 2008We went to the Texas Renewal Energy