Over the past year, I’ve written many blogs about the state of going green in the Southern Oregon real estate market. With the coming of 2010, it is time to revisit the green movement to see where it is going. At its most fundamental definition, going green simply means that you care about the environment and the last year has seen a great surge in the sheer numbers of people, businesses, and organizations that have expressed their concern for the environment by joining the green movement.

These numbers also tell another story; the story of a growing consciousness of caring. This growing consciousness is a consciousness that has spread not just across our great country, but around the world. This consciousness can be categorized as enlightened, for it seeks to join others in a quest to create a better world by going green.

I am often asked if this mass transcendence to a higher level of consciousness spurred by the green movement can be applied to business principles that lead to success. In today’s world we are all well aware of the polarization that occurs between ideologies and how ideologies can become counter productive, freezing progress along the way. The pointing finger of blame presents the greatest resistance of all to achieving meaningful change and the Great Recession is living proof that individual and corporate profits driven by greed and corruption lead to disaster. But there is now a transcendence underway that will lead to a new belief structure in the power of enlightened consciousness and enhanced business practices. Transcendence to enlightened consciousness is a journey that can be taken by anyone courageous enough believe that there is a better way, that doing the right thing is an inherent part of our DNA, and that the journey toward understanding and practice of enhanced business principles will lead to un-compromised success.

2010 holds the promise of a new beginning for those who believe in going green and are ready to begin a transcendence to the business principles of success attainable through enlightened consciousness.

The question is… are you ready?

Michael Masters

A Socially Conscious Real Estate Consultant

Recent statistics for July point to a national increase in new home construction nationwide and this is good news for every builder who has been waiting to return to work. Here in the Southern Oregon real estate market, most builders now accept the new reality of going green as the future of new home construction. Breaking out of a comfort zone has always been a challenge and going green is no exception.

From a pragmatic stand point, for builders going green means learning about new building technologies and then applying them to the trade. For buyers in search of a new home, going green means digging a little deeper into the pocket book. Fortunately, recent surveys are encouraging. Buyers are willing to pay more for the long-term money-saving advantages of going green. With the tighter framing envelopes of new home construction, power bills will go down for the life of the home and this is a feature worth investing in.

The Southern Oregon real estate market reflects the nationwide trend as developers explore the trend of going green. For example, the Summer Field subdivision in Grants Pass will be a subdivision of new homes with a green component that includes increased state-of-the-art insulation and a solar-power generation component.

Yes, the last year for the housing sector has been challenging, but the future of new home construction has never looked better. No one ever said change would be easy… that is, until it’s behind us.

Michael Masters

A Socially Conscious Real Estate Consultant

In a previous blog about Going Green in the Southern Oregon Real Estate Market, I pointed out the benefits of purchasing premium high-efficiency appliances and having the State of Oregon help you to pay for them. This blog focuses on the key elements of heating and cooling and the applicable tax credits from the State of Oregon.

Studies show that gaps, leaks, and holes in heating and cooling ductwork can account for as high as 25 percent of either heating or cooling loss, depending on the season. The Department of Energy for the State of Oregon offers a tax credit of up to 25 percent of the eligible cost with a cap of $250 for well-designed and sealed ductwork in new homes or for ductwork improvements made in existing homes in the Southern Oregon real estate market. If you’re going green, Continue reading Heating, Cooling, and Going Green in the Southern Oregon Real Estate Market

With the passing of each month, the Southern Oregon real estate market gets greener and greener, in part thanks to tax credits offered by the State of Oregon. The state currently offers Southern Oregon residents tax credits for premium energy efficient appliances, for heating and air conditioning systems, for high efficiency water heaters, for ground-source heat pumps, for making electricity and contributing to the grid, and yes, even for having hybrid vehicles.

Going green in the Southern Oregon real estate market is getting easier all the time and all you’ve got to Continue reading Going Green, Tax Credits, and the Southern Oregon Real Estate Market