GREEN is the "other" topic.

While everyone is focused on the mortgage crisis (and that's a whole other snafu!), the topic the press focuses on is Green buildings and how to live green. Recently, REALTOR magazine interviewed me about buyers and their reaction/desire for green amenities. The discussion covered a wide range of ideas, ranging from recycled materials for kitchen counter tops to more readily renewable woods for flooring; from more effective insulating tactics for attics to dual-zoned heating/cooling systems.

My contribution to this article was reduced to, "insulate your attic and install dual-zoned thermostats." (Ho-hum.) A minor redemption was the author's including my observation and assertion that "today's North Shore buyer is not as sensitive to green attributes in houses and that the Chicago area housing stock is quite old and difficult to convert" (short of knocking most of it down!)

This afternoon I was reading KILPINGER'S magazine (October 2007) and came across a great article. "29 Ways to Conserve and Save" by Jane Bennett Clark. Here are three links; smart ideas that are easy to follow.

Title article: http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2007/10/conserve.html
13 Ways to Trim Use: http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2007/10/energy.html
16 Ways to Save Water: http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2007/10/water.html

Enjoy.

DS