Betty Saenz EcoBroker® GRI SRES®

I have lived in Anderson Mill West and loved it!! Located at RR 620 and El Salido Parkway, this neighborhood is right on the edge of northwest Austin and Travis County but actually in Cedar Park and Williamson County. Anderson Mill West is so close to MoPac (Loop 1) as well as Research Blvd. or 183. Shopping, services and restaurants are all nearby. Taqueria Guadalajara is located at 12226 N. RR 620 (512) 219-9222. I love their gorditas and chile rellenos, Mexican sodas & desserts. Luby's is another favorite of mine because of their wonderful vegetables and salads. Luby's is located at Pecan Park and Research just south of RR620. For dessert try Shake's on Cypress Creek & El Salido or Yaghi's New York Pizzeria on El Salido right before Cypress Creek (2100 Cypress Creek Rd). There is an Olive Garden at RR 620 and 183 Research. For shopping Lakeline Mall is less than 5 minutes away as well as many other strip centers.

Old West Austin's Zocalo Taqueria Fresca Cafe at 1110 West Lynn Street in Austin, Texas is hosting a Breast Cancer Fundraiser August 18, 2009 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Zocalo Cafe will be providing light appetizers and refreshments in a joint fundraiser to fight breast cancer with the Sustainable Food Center. You will learn how to help fight breast cancer in Central Texas. Billed as the Texas Mamma Jamma Ride get together, you can get more information by contacting the Community Relations Director for the Sustainable Food Center, Susan Leibrock at (512) 236-0074 ext. 111

June 1st, 2009, Austin Energy's new Energy Audit Ordinance took effect in Austin, Texas. Basically, the ordinance requires homes in Austin that are getting electricity from Austin Energy to get an energy audit when selling. Instituted under Mayor Will Wynn's reign as Mayor of Austin, the ordinance is receiving mixed reviews. Many people are mad because it is required. My opinion on the ordinance is flavored by my long standing interest in ecology including energy efficiency. I had my first energy audit done on a home I owned back in the early 1980's. This first energy audit was an enlightening experience. A blower door and smoke pencil was used to show visually where my home's energy leaks were. The blower door created pressure enough to see smoke exiting through power outlets as well as around windows and doors and other places. Most items on the list of to dos created from the audit, I was able to do myself. I saved an incredible amount of energy so the ROI or Return On Investment was really impressive. The home was built in the 1940's and had no insulation in the walls and little in the attic. The auditor was from the electric utility and he gave me an extensive list of suggestions. I also made my own Roman Shades and placed them over the west windows so that in the afternoon, when the sun set, I would not get the incredible heat gain. I had another energy audit done 3 years ago on my home I currently own outside of Austin Energy's jurisdiction. The two audits I have done were very extensive. The required Austin Energy audit is minimal compared to my two. However, homeowners can voluntarily have the auditor do more. I have done my audits voluntarily because I wanted to save money by making my home more energy efficient. Austin's program is required. Enforceability is an issue that will be determined as the program comes along. I blog GREEN at TexasOrganicHome.com

The Mueller development is a brownfield redevelopment. This location was the old Austin, Texas airport at IH 35 and Airport Blvd. in East Austin. These statistics are for today 2/16/09 and go back 60 days for the solds. Many homes are Austin Energy 5 Star Rated (the highest available under Austin Energy's Green Building Program), are LEED certified, have tankless water heaters, Energy Star appliances, built low or no VOC's, thermal type double pane windows, ceiling fans, conditioned space for the HVAC system ducts, have foam insulation, programmable thermostats, have had energy audits. All are new or under construction.

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An Open House was held February 7th, 2009 at the Leander Train Station in Leander, Texas in the Leander TOD. The new Swiss made trains will start their run into Austin, Texas on March 30th, 2009. Commuters will be able to use their laptops on their commute with the Wi-Fi available on the train as well as at the Leander Station. It will truly be amazing when the Transit Oriented development (TOD) goes verticle. I will be wanting to want to sell my house and move there! The TOD is a walkable, bikable, pedestrian oriented development in Leander centered around the train and bus.