Archive for the 'Green Condos' Category
Property Purchase Tax and Green Housing in Vancouver Real Estate
June 4th, 2009 Categories: Green Condos
The Real Estate Council of BC has commissioned two public opinion research surveys to find out what the public think about housing attainability hurdles, like the PTT.Are these hurdles preventing homeowners, buyers, sellers and renters from moving up, down or into the market? Are these consumer groups aware of government programs that help them byy and own homes?
And what about green homes? Are British Columbians choosing to make their homes more environmentally friendly? If so, why?
Survey findings will provide valuable insight to consumer trends and behaviour at a time when economic uncertainty is directly impacting the provincial housing market.
The research will also help ensure BCREA, the 12 BC real estate boards and Realtors are seen as credible sources of information by the real estate consumers and decision makers, including provincial politicians.
What do you think?
Contact Maggie if you’re ready to buy or sell Vancouver real estate. Maggie is an experienced realtor marketing vancouver homes since 1981Keep up to date with the changing market, subscribe via RSS or email
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A new survey on affordability and green housing reveals BC trends
April 9th, 2009 Categories: Green Condos, Real Estate
A survey of homeowners and renters across British Columbia suggests that, when it comes to housing, affordability concerns and making smart green choices are top of mind for most BC residents.Sponsored by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), the January 2009 Mustel Group survey examines the top affordability barriers in the province and how provincial taxes and homeowner assistance programs impact BC buyers.
A total of 38 per cent of British Columbians plan or hope to purchase a property within the next five years, with about half of these potential buyers expecting to do so in the next two years.
“Following the May 12 election, quick actions by the newly elected provincial government on key issues of interest to the real estate sector may assist these buyers in their home buying decisions, while also potentially empowering those who are currently unable to purchase a home,” says BCREA President Scott Veitch. Read the rest of this entry »
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British Columbia’s Green Building Code is Now in Effect
September 29th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos
Every new building in the province must meet strict standards for energy and water efficiency. The new green requirements, which apply to all new construction in BC, were announced by the Provincial government in April and came into effect on September 5th.
New houses, multi-family residential buildings under 5 storeys, and small commercial and industrial buildings will now have to comply with the province’s new insulation requirements.
New high-rise residential towers and large commercial buildings must meet the American Society of Heating, refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers 90.1 (2004) standard. It applies to the building envelope, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, water heating, power, lighting and other equipment.
Ultra low flow toilets and other water efficient plumbing fixtures are now mandatory for all new construction.
The new Code also features amendments to the Development Cost charge provisions for developers. In principle, lower DCC’s will offset some of the appliance and construction improvement costs that may raise the price of a new home.
Both the federal and provincial governments offer rebates to underwrite some of the costs for existing home owners to renovate to Green Building Code standards and upgrade to energy efficient appliances and ultra low flow toilets. The BC government also offers PST exemptions on EnergyStar qualified products.
Get more info on the Building Code provisions by opening the link called ‘greening the BC building code’.
Share your green home story with us.
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courtesy REBGV
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It’s Getting Hot in Here
August 26th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos
BC Hydro introduces ESTAR windows, which keeps the heat out and allows the homeowner to stay cooler inside, whilst saving money. Homeowners can save up to 7% on energy costs or about $127 a year by replacing their windows and doors with ESTAR qualified products.
ESTAR windows are also PST exempt, saving consumers an additional 7%. If just 10% of Greater Vancouver’s households replaced all of their windows with ESTAR, there would be an energy saving of more than $10.4 million a year.
Visit Natural Resources Canada’s website to find model numbers of all Energy Star labelled windows qualified under the Canadian criteria. Look for the Energy Star label.
For more info about renovations to green homes and buildings, visit BCREA’s Green Tool Kit for REALTORS.
Have a energy saving idea you’d like to share with us?
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Power Smart tips for energy efficient use of home appliances
May 26th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Real Estate
Power Smart tips for energy-efficient use of home appliances
When using your household appliances, there are various, simple energy-efficient habits to implement that will help to reduce your monthly energy bills, as well as be more environmentally friendly.
When cooking, keep preheating to a minimum, and the oven door closed during use. You lose 20 per cent of the heat each time you open the oven door. You can usually turn the heat off about five minutes before the cooking time is up, allowing you to save energy by cooking food with residual heat. Read the rest of this entry »
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What is the Impact of the BC Building Code Going Green?
May 6th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos
In February 2007 the BC Government signaled that a “BC Green Building Code” would be developed to help reduce global warming.
Their goals are identification and removal of barriers to sustainable building practices within current codes and regulations. Identification and proposal of new provisions for green buildings regulation and implementation of new provisions through administration, education and training.
The green building provisions will focus on sustainable sites, water conservation , energy conservation, materials and indoor environment. Read the rest of this entry »
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British Columbia Real Estate Association launches a Green Website
April 21st, 2008 Categories: Green Condos
BCREA is committed to providing “green” information to Realtors, homebuyers and homeowners.
Its new website will focus on green real estate, water conservation, energy efficiency and parks, all of which add to our quality of life and mirrors their Quality of Life philosophy.
Here you can find information on the benefit of greener homes, making greener renovations, links to rebates and incentives. Read the rest of this entry »
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Lions Gate Bridge Plunged into Darkness for Earth Hour
March 30th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Vancouver
The Aussies are basking in the success of Earth Hour, which was started in Sydney in 2007.
This year it started in Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday, to raise awareness that generating electricity from coal and oil that produce greenhouse gases which are contributing to climate change.
The lights shut down over 14 time zones and 25 countries, the last being North America’s west coast. 1000,000 Canadians signed up.
In Vancouver the Science World went dark.
Do you think Canada should go nuclear for its electricity? BC Hydro has announced it will be raising our hydro costs 7% per year going forward, in order to build more infrastructure, rather than buying the shortfall.
What were the Canadian results?
Want to weigh in? Did you participate? Do you think Earth Hour was a success? How big will it grow next year and what will be the overall impact on the environment? Will it spin off to other things?
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Earth Hour In Vancouver
March 28th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos
On March 29, 2008 at 8pm join millions of people around the world by making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.
All the City of Vancouver, B.C. Hydro and Vancity buildings have already committed to powering down for Earth Hour and BC Hydro will measure the drop of activity use for the hour.
Sign up for Earth Hour 2008, get involved, reduce your impact, create your own event, tell a friend.
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Can We Improve the Air We Breathe?
March 13th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos
Yes! The amount of greenhouse gases in the air we breathe has risen steadily for 200 years.
In Vancouver we have pretty clean air, but we can always improve. A practical solution is to go carbon neutral by planting trees.
Tree Canada can help – people, companies and organizations. Their website says, on average, 98 trees capture and store one tonne of airborne carbon dioxide every year. If you visit their website, you can use their carbon calculator and learn how many trees must be planted to offset the carbon dioxide you produce.
Tree Canada is a charitable organization that partners with local volunteers to improve our quality of life by planting and caring for trees in our neighbourhoods and schoolyards. Let’s plant a tree!
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