A Calif. City Is First to Require Zero-Net Energy

Daily Real Estate News | Wednesday, November 02, 2016

Santa Monica, Calif., is the first city in the world to make it a requirement that all new single-family construction in the city meet zero-net energy standards. The ZNE standard means that projects must generate enough of their own energy from renewable sources to equal what they take from the power utility over a year.
The Santa Monica City Council voted last week to approve the ordinance requiring ZNE on all new-home construction. It must now be approved by the California Energy Commission before it becomes final.
“Santa Monica is proud to take a global lead in zero net energy building standards that put the state’s environmental policy to action,” says Mayor Tony Vazquez. “ZNE construction, considered the gold standard for green buildings, is a major component that will help us reach our ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.”
The California Public Utilities Commission in 2008 adopted what is essentially a roadmap for all California buildings to become ZNE. It has set 2020 as the year by which all new residential construction must achieve ZNE. All new commercial construction must meet ZNE standards by 2030. Santa Monica is the first city in California to adopt a ZNE ordinance to move toward that goal.
The Santa Monica ordinance also requires nonresidential construction to use 10 percent less energy than required by the 2016 California Energy Code.
Source: “Santa Monica Approves World’s First Net Zero Building Requirement,” BUILDER (Nov. 1, 2016)

Comments

VA Mortgage Loans - A Look at the Pros and Cons

If you're a veteran or on active military duty, you’ve likely heard of a Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgage loan and are wondering if it’s a good choice for you. You could also be eligible for a VA loan if you’re the spouse of a military member who passed away while on active duty. A fundamental difference with VA loans is that the VA guarantees the loans made by lenders, but doesn’t lend money. The VA’s backing for private financial institutions serves as insurance against losses if a borrower defaults on a loan. Is a VA mortgage loan right for you? Here are some pros and cons to help you evaluate: Pros: There's no need to be a first-time buyer, and if you've used this benefit in the past, you can use it again on a future home purchase. You could qualify for a Bourne VA loan with 100% financing, and no Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI); which is required on conventional loans if your down payment is less than 20%. With a conventional or an FHA loan, you'...

5 Driveway Designs to Drive Up Your Homes Value

1. Pavers: Driveways with pavers are often found in the village area's of Boston, Rhode Island and Coastal communities like Pocasset, Cataumet and Monument Beach. Very durable and many colors to choose from. This design often reminds me of Paul Revere days with candle light, lanterns and horses. 2. Brick: Brick is bold, beautiful and long lasting. Brick has multiple uses and can be combined to match your homes exterior. You do have the ability to change the color to give a custom look to your design. A quick stop at Pocasset Hardware will provide you with a color key and guide to all the paints available to make your driveway stand out from your neighbors. 3. Sea Shells: A crushed seashell driveway adds character to your coastal home. There is a little bit of a smell at first when laying the over your driveway, however in time you will loose the smell and gain a beautiful ...

Be Informed: What is Escrow?

The first time you heard the term, "escrow" you may have been thrown for a loop. While the word may have had you confused the first time, here are some essential things to know about escrow—what it is, what it's used for, and how it works. What Is Escrow? Escrow is a legal notion where money or assets are held by a third-party on behalf of two other parties in the middle of completing a transaction. An escrow company provides two parties the service to make sure everyone does what they say they're going to do. The escrow company acts as a middleman to protect the assets while the home purchasing process is happening. Applied to real estate transactions—when buying or selling a home, escrow is the trusted third-party, who is someone other than the buyer or seller, who will hold money to make sure you execute the transaction correctly. The key thing to remember here is that the third-party is a trusted party . This is a neutral entity who does...

Cheryl Nightingale - Monarch Realty Group, LLC

Search This Blog