Monday, May 28, 2007

Cut your grass and pollution at the same time!

So, this past weekend I volunteered some of my time Saturday morning with Rebuilidng Together. There was a team of us who helped an elderly couple remove their buried treasures that they had been collecting for 30+ years. Basically, there backyard looked like Urban Ore just on a smaller scale.

Anyways, after removing three lawn mowers that were probably made in the 70's it got me thinking why everyone on the block needs a lawn mower? And then I got this article via email regarding lawn mowers from seventh generation. The is called Mow better: how to cut pollution and your grass at the same time.

Here some facts and information that grabbed my attention:

Helpful though it may be, the gasoline-powered lawn mower, America’s tool of choice for keeping its grass well-groomed, is anything but green. In fact, lawnmowers are responsible for a lot more air pollution than their small size might suggest. Take a look at these facts and figures:

• Lawn mowers produce 5% of the nation’s total air pollution burden.

• A single gas-powered push lawn mower creates as much air pollution in an hour as a car driven 100 miles. Riding mowers are even worse offenders.

• Every hour the average 3.5 horsepower mower emits approximately the same amount of volatile organic compounds (a particular type of hazardous air pollutant) as an automobile driven 340 miles.

• During a typical day, Southern California’s lawn mowers, weed-whackers, and other lawn tools produce more air pollution than all the airplanes flying in and out of the Los Angeles region.

• The 20 million small engines purchased each year in the U.S. are responsible for about 10% of the country’s mobile-source hydrocarbon emissions.

• Homeowners use 800 million gallons of gasoline per year in their mowers.

• Outdoor equipment users spill 17 million gallons of fuel each year during refilling. That’s more fuel than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez.

• Lawnmowers create noise pollution, too. The typical model produces 90 decibels of engine noise, a level above the threshold at which experts recommend ear protection.

* If you would like to read more go to:

http://seventhgeneration.com/making_difference/newsletter_article.php?article=555&issue=97

Monday, May 21, 2007

What's your doggie style?


That's right... Does your dog prefer a mediterrianean-style estate to match your second home overlooking the ocean or New England colonial look? You can now build your dog a custom built doggie mansion!!

While all Doggie Mansions are custom built and no two are alike, they are there every step of the way to offer guidance on what colors might look best in your dog’s home, what type of roof and flooring is recommended—both for your climate and the amount of wear and tear expected—and what options you may wish to choose for your canine pal. Just think... now your dog can have the biggest house on the block just like you!

For more information you can go to www.doggiemansions.com

Friday, May 04, 2007

California Real Estate Fast Facts

Calif. median home price - March 07: $580,090 (Source: C.A.R.)

Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region March 07:
Santa Barbara So. Coast $1,200,000 (Source: C.A.R.)

Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region March 07:
High Desert $320,830 (Source: C.A.R.)

Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Fourth Quarter 06:
25 percent (Source: C.A.R.)

Mortgage rates - week ending 4/26:
30-yr. fixed: 6.16%; Fees/points: 0.5%
15-yr. fixed: 5.87%; Fees/points: 0.5%
1-yr. adjustable: 5.43%; Fees/points: 0.7%

(Source: Freddie Mac)