4th Annual Green Home Bike Tour - May 18th, 2013

The bike tour has been canceled due to the rain and possibility of thunderstorms.We will reschedule for another date.

Tour De Green

On Saturday May 18th, take a bicycle tour of Asheville neighborhoods and visit 5 properties that feature green building and enegy conservation construction methods. Cutting edge properties built by JAG Construction, Koerber Construction and Surefoot Builders will be featured along with the Gain and Clingman Loft Developments.

The tour will also provide information on energy efficiency upgrades and methods that can be applied to existing homes. Green Building professionals will be available at select properties to answer questions and an experienced cyclist will be your guide and provide information on current and developing infrastructure improvements taking place in core areas of the city.

The tour will originate at Beer City Bicycles, conveniently located in the heart of Downtown at 144 Biltmore Ave. A moderate fitness level is suggested and helmets are required.

Meet at Beer City Bicycles at noon and the ride will begin at 12:15. Parking is available to the right of the building.

The tour is free and food and refreshments will be provided at the end of the tour. To register for the event, contact Justin Mitchell with the number of participants in your party at justin@justinasheville.com or 828.713.9400.

Tour De Green is proud to be a part of Strive Not To Drive week taking place in Asheville May 12th-18th. To learn more about the events or to take the pledge visit the Strive Not to Drive website. www.strivenottodrive.org or check them out on Facebook .

Sponsored by Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty, Pisgah Brewing Company and Doc Cheys

Tour De Green

Along with the spring flowers there are a number of green homes coming out of the ground in Asheville. Take a bike ride with us and learn more about green building and green enhancements you can make to your current home. The tour will feature 6 - 7 properties that offer a variety of energy conservation techniques and green building principles. The tour will also provide information on energy efficiency upgrades and methods that can be applied to existing homes. Green Building professionals will be available at select properties to answer questions and an experienced cyclist will be your guide and provide information on current and developing infrastructure improvements taking place in core areas of the city.

The tour is free and food and refreshments will be provided at the end by Doc Cheys and Pisgah Brewing. You can register for the tour here.

The tour will originate at Mosaic Realty, conveniently located in the heart of West Asheville on Haywood Rd, and will visit properties primarily in West Asheville area. The ride will be approximately 5 miles total distance. A moderate fitness level is suggested and helmets are required.

Meet at Mosaic Realty 797 Haywood Rd (located under Hop and Vines) at noon. The ride will begin at 12:15. Additional parking is available behind the building.

Feel free to contact me with any questions. Hope to see you on the tour.

Justin Mitchell

Justin@JustInAsheville.com
828.713.9400

2011 Green Home Bike Tour! Bicycles and Building Science.

We're going for another ride... Last year's Green Home Bike Tour was a great event and from the smiles on people faces in the photos from last year I am looking forward to another tour in 2011. If you didn't make it to last years event, here is the info.

Take a bike ride through Asheville’s core neighborhoods and learn more about green building at the second annual Green Home Bike Tour on May 21st. The tour will include a variety of green properties and provide participants information on bicycle routes and alternative transportation options in Asheville.

Mike Figura and I will lead a tour of 6-7 properties ranging from a commercial green rehab to the first home built in Asheville from all nontoxic materials. Green building professionals will be available at select properties to answer questions and provide information about green features and construction methods.

The tour will originate at Biowheels Bike Shop and visit properties in the Downtown and West Asheville areas. The ride will be approximately ten miles in total distance and due to the hilly nature of the Asheville landscape a moderate fitness level is suggested and helmets are required.

Start: Biowheels: 81 Coxe Ave. Presentation at 12:00. Ride begins at 12:30
Finish: Biowheels: 81 Coxe Ave. Post ride will begin at 5:00

A suggested donation of $5 - $10 will go to benefit Asheville on Bikes a local nonprofit organization focused on improving Asheville’s cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

A post ride reception at Biowheels will offer refreshments from local craft breweries and food from Doc Cheys.

For general information or to register for the tour Please email me at JustInAsheville@gmail.com with the number of people in your party or you can sign up at Biowheels at 81 Coxe Ave. I may also be reached at (828)713-9400.

The event is sponsored by Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty, Biowheels and Pisgah Brewing Company.

Here are few of the properties that will be featured on the tour.

The Kestrel - This home has caught many people's attention and I am excited to show participants the interior of this unique property. Located at 47 Waynesville Road near the River Arts District this home features a small footprint and offers 973 sq ft of green built living area over three floors.


Hudson Street Cottages - A courtyard community in West Asheville featuring community gardens, solar, and many more green features. Developer Mike Figura will be on hand to answer questions regarding this exciting concept community.

Rich Street Hemp House - Though this home has yet to be built Push Design will be on hand at a home recently completed to discuss the features of this home. The demonstration will take place at Asheville's first home built from all nontoxic materials on Pruitt Street in West Asheville.

Davenport Park in West Asheville by JAG Builders. Great microcommunity walking / biking distance from all that West Asheville has to offer and located adjacent to a community park. Green Built with solar and top notch construction.

Clingman Lofts - Participants will tour a one bedroom and two bedroom unit. These properties are Healthy Built Certified and come with attractive financing options via Mountain Housing Opportunities. Great location for the price.


Since buying a new green property is only one way of living in a green home, I am excited to announce that the tour will provide a demonstration showcasing a homeowners options to improve an existing property. Choosing to live in a home that has already exist is very green option when you factor the embodied energy it takes to build a new structure. Participants will tour an older home in need of improvements and professionals will be on hand to show what methods and materials can be used to improve energy efficiency and create a healthier indoor living environment.

Hope to see you on this year's tour!

Justin

Bicycles and Building Science

Thanks to Western North Carolina Green Building Council for putting together four wonderful days of events. The Many Shades of Green Extravaganza was a great success. Each night there was something to learn and great people to meet. I enjoyed taking part in all the events but it was the bike tour that I was most excited about.

Asheville has a very high number of cyclist and I knew a few of them would be interested in green properties as well. It was a perfect spring day and the bike tour attracted a great mix of green minded people who could not have picked a better day to ride a bicycle. Everyone had a good time and got some exercise while learning something new. It was great meeting new people and inspiring several people to dust of thier bike and start riding again. Just knowing that Asheville has a few new cyclist that will now think twice about driving across town knowing they can bike there instead made the experience worth it.

Thanks to all the riders who participated in the first green home bike tour, I hope you enjoyed the experience as much as I did. Special thanks to the builders and owners who opened their homes and businesses and provided us with a wealth of information. Big thanks to Robbie McLucas , Biowheels and Pisgah Brewing for the wonderful support, after party, food and refreshments.

Hope to see you all this Fall at the next tour.

Justin Mitchell
Keller Williams Realty
828.713.9400

Getting ready to ride at Biowheels.

Souvenirs from ReCycled Concepts.

Grant Gosch with First Light Solar discussing Biowheel's Solar hot water system.

Bill McCurdy of Sun Construction talks about the green features of 411 West Haywood Rd.

A great sight at a green home.

Brain Knight with Springtime Homes talks about his latest green home on Crestmont.

A green fleet of over twenty riders.

Community garden space in a courtyard development in West Asheville.

What a gorgeous spring day.

Taking a look at what will be earthen wall coverings at the Nauhaus.

The "Hemp House" as it is known by most will be a recording setting property in terms energy efficiency.

The smiles say it all. Great ride, amazing properties, and fun people.

The Sun will come out tomorrow..

As I sit at my desk watching snow accumulate on the trees I am once again amazed by the winter weather we have been experiencing this year. It seems as though the world at large is experiencing a volatile climate referring to both weather and the economy. As unpredictable as both the weather and our economy seems these days, I feel as though there is only one thing we can be sure of, the sun will come out tomorrow.

In Asheville we are nationally known for many things, outdoor recreation, beer, music and the arts. After researching local alternative energy businesses I have come to find that for a city of 80,000+ we have large number of companies that realize the suns potential. The solar business is one thing that makes a lot of sense to me. The sun is most renewable resource we have and according to many theories it is only gaining strength. Solar power is only one part of the green housing movement however,I believe that solar energy will be a major player in future generations way of life. That being said there are many companies here in Asheville doing their part to encourage a movement away from nonrenewable energy sources to solar and other renewable energy.

Vanir Energy of Fletcher is making a bold move by launching the worlds largest solar heating and cooling project. The technology they use and systems they represent are amazing and I would expect to see more of this technology used in high density residential and commercial construction in the years ahead.

FLS Energy /First Light Solar of Asheville is making headlines everywhere you turn in Asheville. They recently made news with the largest solar array in the region going online, their direct connection to local neighborhoods and to ongoing community support. FLS Energy is proving that business can thrive by doing the right thing.

Sundance Power Systems has been providing solar options for 14 years in the Asheville area. The company has installed over a thousand systems in the area and offers a multitude of services for residential, commercial and municipal applications. They also work with Micro Hydro and Wind Power systems and over the years they have grown to be one of the largest renewable energy firms in the Southeast.

Solar Plus Green is the main supplier of Evacuated Tube Solar Collector to the Western North Carolina area. While this system comes at a slightly higher cost the system does seem to have certain advantages over flat plate collectors.

There are a number of smaller companies that work mainly with installation and maintenance such as Thermacraft, Sun Stuff Energy, Si Envirotec, and Solar Dynamics. So as you can see much like our extensive options we have trails, bike shops, and local beer Asheville also provides it's residence with a multitude of alternative energy options as well.

When you consider the unique financing options for a solar system offered by many of the companies listed above and the 65% tax credit (30% national, 35% state) a solar system can add value to your property, reduce your monthly expenses and your carbon footprint very easily if you are building a new home or considering upgrading your current home.

Yes, even with the cold days we have been experiencing in Asheville the sun shines down and give us it's energy to heat our water and create power. Now if it can just warm up so I can start working on my tan.

Justin Mitchell

Ecohouse / Dwell Realty
828.713.9400

What does it mean to build Green?

With all the talk about green building in the news I hear this question frequently. Frankly there is no simple answer when I am asked "what is green building"? To some it means building with all natural materials and others it involves complex systems and using the latest in modern technology. Simply put "Green Building" means something different to people within the same industry.

For some a green home is one that uses primarily recycled or natural materials in the design and building process. There are many types of practices and materials used in this type of green building philosophy and often the methods / materials used are dependant on the region's climate and local resources where the construction is taking place. These homes may be as ecoconscious as an Earthship or Strawbale home or as simple as reusing shipping containers to create efficient living spaces. Natural building has been practiced for generations (think adobe huts) and has been proven by the test of time. While this style may not be for everyone it is undeniable that these structures in many cases will survive well beyond many of our modern structures. As for shipping container homes or upcycling modern materials (tires, glass, etc) I believe we are on the cusp of trend that will gain momentum as we learn to work with less and make use of what we have already created. One man's trash, as they say..

In other circles the Green Building movement refers to incorporating the latest technology available to create a space that can now be powered by the sun, wind or water for all your energy needs. These homes may feature technologies that provide higher indoor air quality, feature building materials that are nontoxic, can withstand many lifetimes of wear and tear and yet are easy to produce and harvest. The most basic principle in this type of construction places great importance on building a tight building envelop to conserve energy and testing the major systems of the home to address energy loss. New certification processes and building practices are being integrated into our traditional construction methods insuring that a consumer is purchasing a home with improved qualities that can be measured. While these new technological systems are designed to reduce both input and output one can not ignore the considerable embodied energy in making the products designed to reduce energy consumption in the long run. Modular homes are growing far more common and acceptable to consumers as the benefits of building in a controlled environment are realized. Construction waste can be minimised and quality standards stay uniform resulting in a much greener dwelling. While technological advancements and new construction methods tends to be the type of green building getting the most headlines it is important to consider yet another side of green building.

What is greener than using what's already been built many ask? You can "green" an existing home and improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality and incorporate many of the same systems available to new construction. There are many green benefits of rehabbing an existing structure. In purchasing an existing property the user is not disturbing a new building site for access and construction and less materials are used in a rehab verses building from ground up greatly reducing the embodied energy required. A green rehab might involve gutting a home to the studs and replacing all the major systems and incorporating new technology in the process. However, for most people this process can be as simple as making the decision to purchase low flow fixtures, LED lighting, Energy Star appliances, etc. when replacing items in your home. Or green your home by winterizing your building envelop with can of spray foam or a local company that specializes in energy conservation.

As you see, the term Green Building means different things to different people. Consumers today are certainly paying more attention to energy conservation to both lesson their impact and reduce their spending. As a Realtor with ten years experience it is clear that people want to purchase homes that suite their lifestyle, offer a feeling of security and comfort but in the end it comes down to affordability and economics. As heartwarming as the environmental benefits of Green Building are it has been documented that the primary motivation for people to purchase a green home is due to the potential economic savings. Buying green saves you green if you will and in most cases people adapt their view of Green Building to what is available to them.

So what does it mean to build green? To me it means raising expectations and making educated decisions throughout the entire process of home construction to create a home that suites your lifestyle and budget while lessening your impact on your health and the world outside of your living space.

Go green, whatever that means to you.

Justin Mitchell

Ecohouse / Dwell Realty

Going Greener

I moved to Asheville to pursue a greener approach to the Real Estate business that I have been a part of since 1999. I am excited to see that Green Building in Asheville is getting a little more progressive every day. Here is some recent news form the Nauhaus Blog.

"Press Release: Prototype House Becomes First Passive “Hemcrete” Home in the World
November 25th, 2009 by Billy Schweig

Asheville, NC–The Nauhaus Institute (NHI) is scheduled to begin the installation of its revolutionary hemcrete walls on its prototype research home this Wednesday December 2nd. Because a small part of the wall system was installed as a demonstration on November 12th, the prototype home is already the first of its kind in the US. The material, called Tradical® Hemcrete®, is made from waste hemp shiv and a lime-based binder. Designers from NHI have opted to pursue Passive House certification which would make the house not only one of the fist ten certified in the US but also the first Passive House hemp home in the world.

“This is going to be a really significant project on a global scale,” said Ian Pritchett, the Chairman and Technical Director of Lime Technologies who manufactures Hemcrete®. Pritchett flew in from the United Kingdom to mark the event. (see the full interview here – Youtube).

Designers of the home say that the new material will not only create breathable, long-lasting walls but also give the home an insulation performance of three times what building code requires. The material can be mixed and poured in to forms in a similar fashion to concrete.

“We’re essentially building with a bio-composite made from agricultural waste and a recyclable binder,” said Tim Callahan, Architectural Designer for NHI. “The lime binder itself has been used as a building material for thousands of years.”

The construction project has already raised eyebrows nationally in the green building world. “It’s going to be off the scale for LEED points,” said Pritchett. “This is a very big deal.” LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” and is the dominant rating system for environmentally sustainable construction. And it doesn’t stop there; the NHI team is projecting that the house will break records in nearly every quantifiable sustainability standard by which homes are measured.

“We sought out this home because it’s had a reputation as a historic project,” said Matt Schillig, owner of WNC ProBuilt. Schillig is installing the Hemcrete®, framing and Eco-Panels roofing on the prototype home.

The Nauhaus Institute is the research, education, and information-generating branch of the Nauhaus family of organizations based in Asheville, NC. The goal of NHI is to merge the best of modern high tech building science with the core principles of the “natural” and “green” building movements."

I look forward to touring this home and learning more about the construction methods. I expect to see our methods of building to change considerably over the next few years. From more Prefab structures to Hemcrete construction I have no doubt that the type of buildings our children will be purchasing will be much different than the poor quality construction of production builders that I have witnessed far to much of over the last 10 years of my Real Estate career.

All the best in 2010. May we all see more quailty in our lives and building practices in the year ahead.

Justin Mitchell

Ecohouse / Dwell Realty
828.713.9400

Fall In (love with) Asheville

Fall has always been one of my favorite times of the year. Living in Asheville during the fall provides so many experiences that are unique to this town. Here are a few highlights.


Mountain Bike Stage Racing came to the Asheville area in 2009. The Pisgah Mountain Bike Stage Race took place on October 15th-18th. The race was a success and even though we experienced an early season snow storm that eliminated some of my favorite trails from the race I think the racers were still felt they got their money's worth after three days of long climbs and technical descents.


Endurance running is something that I am always impressed by. One race that puts runners to the test and occurs every year in Asheville is the Shut In Ridge Trail Race. This year it took place despite a rock slide closing several miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Runners from all over the country came to compete in a brutal 30 race on single track that features views and more views and requires runners to endure over 3,000 ft of elevation gain over 30 miles of rocks and roots.


The Western North Carolina Fall Green Home Tour took place on October 10th. The Western NC Green Building Council hosted the event and there were a number of amazing homes on the tour. I was host at an amazing Green Home in West Asheville and meet over forty people taking part in the tour. If you want to know more about the green homes in Asheville just give me a call. One great thing about living in Asheville is the overall emphasis on green living. Considering the low population numbers of Asheville and being located in the South we see a very high percentage of available green homes. Builders and designers have relocated to our area bring their green building experience with them. The WNCGBC has created an affordable certification process, Healthy Built Homes, opening doors to builders wanting a green certification but not being able to afford the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification process.


Speaking of new green homes, I must say I feel in love with this home the first time I toured it. It has location, style and a great private backyard in the heart of the city. It's located at 121 Courtland Ave in the Montford neighborhood which is just a few blocks from all my favorite restaurants, stores, and venues downtown.




I am hosting an Open House at this home on Sunday 11/22/09 from 2-4. Stop by and see a beautiful Modern home and enjoy some great wine or an organic beer from Pisgah Brewing Company.



Justin Mitchell

Ecohouse / DWELL Realty
Justin@JustInAsheville.com
828-713-9400