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Adam Gallegos

The Spectrum Condominium in Falls Church City Introduces Green Living

Green Condominiums in Northern Virginia are few and far between. We are just starting to see a trickle of eco-friendly features in some of the newer condos such as high efficiency windows, low VOC paint and sustainable flooring. The Spectrum Condominium in Falls Church City is the first condo to make a full commitment to green living. From top to bottom this is an example of the future in home design.

Let's start with the green roof. Due to the layout of the building, there are two separate roofs and they are both alive. One roof has been turned into a park like setting with grass and benches. The other roof includes plants that thrive in high temperatures and can sustain long periods of time without being watered. These living roofs will provide natural insulation for the building and cut down on energy costs. As noted by the developer, they will provide a scenic amenity for residents while reducing the ambient air temperature and without taking up more land. They have even gone so far as to filter the storm water runoff before it is introduced to the city storm water system. I love when my expectations are actually exceeded!

The Spectrum uses bamboo or cork flooring in the interior of each condo unit. Bamboo and cork are produced from rapidly renewable resources. It takes a fraction of the time for bamboo and cork to be reproduced as it does to grow more oak trees for example. Outside of being environmentally responsible, bamboo and cork provide a unique look that I think you will appreciate.

The centrally located mechanical system reduces overall energy costs for heating and cooling the entire building. You of course have full control over the thermostat in your individual home. The reduced energy costs pay off for home owners. The Spectrum has one of the lowest condo fees around and is still able to include water, heating, air conditioning and basic cable. The only utility you pay for is the electricity you use for lighting and the items you plug in. By using compact fluorescent light bulbs and outlet strips (you can turn off when not in use) I am guessing that you could keep your total monthly utilities below $40.

Each unit continually refreshes the air inside with fresh air from outdoors. This improves the quality of air you are breathing. It will also help eliminate the exchange of odors from one home to the next.

Other green features to note are:
* Dual flush toilets - you have the opportunity to choose a partial or full water flush. This cuts down on the water that is wasted when using the commode.
* Nylon carpets made of recycled materials. There is no difference to the touch, but these carpets are know to last longer and are making use of material that would otherwise add to our landfills.
* Locally made concrete. Not only do you benefit from the strength and sound insulation provided by concrete construction... the concrete has not been transported long distances, which saves on fuel and emissions.
* Commercial grade steel made of recycled materials. Again this is an opportunity for the developer to use material that would have otherwise gone to waste, while adding to the strength of the building.
* Low VOC paint - reduces irritating fumes that are released by paint over time. Tremendous health benefits have been reported by this new generation of paint. It is only a matter of time before this becomes the standard.
* Trash compactors - reduces build up in landfills and fewer trips to landfills.
* Easy access to public transportation through the GEORGE bus system. The GEORGE shuttles residents to East Falls Church and West Falls Church Metro Stations. These buses operate on clean diesel fuel.
* High efficiency windows that help maintain the temperature in your home and cut down on the noise you hear from outside.

If you want a home close to the city with easy access to Arlington, Tysons Corner and DC... you won't be disappointed by The Spectrum. The area is becoming more and more walkable as restaurants and shops continue to pour into Falls Church City.

At The Spectrum Condominium the price is right. You are going to save significantly over similar condos in Arlington. Though you are getting a brand new condo, prices are right on par with re-sale condos in the area. It is also worth considering the money you will save on utilities and condo fees. You may also be able to take advantage of public transportation to further reduce your monthly expenditures.

It's hard to put a price on the health benefits and peace of mind you gain by living in a green home. Another item that is hard to put a price on is the growing demand for eco-friendly homes. You may find when you are ready to sell that consumers are willing to pay a premium for homes that provide the benefits that I have been describing. Think Toyota Prius and the major increase in demand that has been created over the last few years.

As I am writing this, there are still some great units available at The Spectrum that I am happy to tell you more about. I do not represent the seller, I am a local agent and broker of the area's first green real estate company... Arbour Realty. I am happy to help you find answers to any questions you may have about this condominium or other properties for sale in Northern Virginia.

-Adam Gallegos (AskForAdam@gmail.com

The Spectrum Condominium in Falls Church City )

Eco-Friendly Condos in Northern Virginia.

A recent story on NPR featured the ease and affordability of an eco-friendly lifestyle in the Northern Virginia area. The NPR story interviewed a couple who recently purchased a home at the Spectrum Condominium building in Falls Church Virginia. This condo building was built with the environment in mind, and features a rooftop observation deck surrounded by an environmentally Green Roof design to improve air quality and to filter storm water run-off before it is retuned to the environment. Each unit has energy saving central hot water, electric air and natural gas which provides residents with an energy efficient system and an average electricity charge of less than $30 a month.

The NPR story also interviewed Adam Gallegos, the founder and principle broker of Arbour Realty, Northern Virginia’s first green real estate agency. Adam Gallegos states that for the same amount of money you can have a better quality eco-friendly property compared to a normal home. For more information on eco-friendly properties and environmentally conscious home buying and selling email Adam or visit the Arbour Realty website.

Click here to hear the full NPR story.

Build or Buy Green!


When you consider buying or building your next home, think Green. It is important to continue our environmental commitment and social responsibility in all aspects of our life. With more companies making an environmental commitment, it has never been easier to work with an Eco-Friendly company.

If the direction you decide to go in is building, find a building contractor who will follow the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Homes Program. You can locate a "green building" professional through the Green Building Professional Directory. Just walking around new and established neighborhoods in Arlington VA, you will see many Eco-Friendly Builders, either starting new home builds or renovating older homes.

Maybe building in not for you, and that you would prefer to buy a new or existing home. Don’t despair as there are now Green Real Estate Companies located all over the country and many in the Northern Virginia, Metropolitan corridor. Arbour Realty, which is the first Green Real Estate Company in Northern Virginia and Arlington VA can assist you with your home buying and selling needs, whilst reducing yours and their carbon footprint. Arbour Realty also has a team of Agents that have been awarded with the Eco-Broker Certification. The Eco-Broker Certification means that Arbour Realty’s Agents can advise on the energy efficiency of the home, and make suggestions to reduce your energy bills and long-term effect on the environment. For more information on Arbour Realty, check out their website at www.ArbourRealty.com.

Environmentally Friendly Holiday Gifts.

It is the season, the season of wastefulness. Every year millions of people buy unwanted gifts that either get thrown out or tossed to the back of a cupboard. I acknowledge that it is difficult to select the ideal gift and sometimes with time constraints buying the first item available on the shelf seems like an easy idea. But honestly, just taking 5 to 10 minutes to think about gift giving this year could save millions of items unnecessarily ending up in landfill sites.

Gift giving doesn’t have to involve purchasing an actual gift. Why not give the gift of your time. I am sure many of your friends would be delighted with the gift of a night out whilst you babysit their children, or offer to look after their pets during their next vacation. If you have a particular specialty, why not offer that as a gift, for example if you are an accountant offer to do taxes, a massage therapist could offer a massage, which I am sure would be greatly appreciated in the new year after the stressful holiday season.
For those who of you don’t have the time or a specialty there are still many options available that are kind to the environment. Create sustainable gift baskets filled with sustainable gift items (e.g., compact fluorescent light bulbs, plastic bag dryer, organic cotton socks/scarfs/hats/etc., showerhead with mist setting for lowest flow showers, organic and/or vegan snack items, organic cotton towels, shade grown coffee, fair trade gifts, solar battery charger, solar radio/flashlight, etc. Alternatively give a charity gift, this website gives great gifts ideas that give to a charitable cause.

Whatever, gift you decide on this season, please consider the environmental impact. I would love to hear your eco-gift ideas.

Recycling is Good, but Waste Reduction is Better!!!

There is no doubt that recycling is key to an environmentally conscious lifestyle, but the critical first step has to be waste reduction. If you ask a majority of people what the most important process to saving the environment is, nearly all would answer recycling. This response is due largely to the fact that recycling has overshadowed the whole process of waste reduction, but if you think that with out additional waste, the process of recycling would be lessened.

Waste reduction is simple, and can be easily added to your day-to-day routine. Reduce your purchases; before you buy a product think do I really need this. Calculate how much raw material went into the product, and what impact disposal of it will have on the environment. Buy in bulk, generally bulk items have less packing compared to single items, and avoid buying individual servings. Consider buying a full size product and making single serving for the family using reusable containers.

Think outside the grocery store, there are many other ways to reduce our waste, including creating a ‘Tree Free Home’, which involves replacing paper for cloth (i.e. Napkins, Cleaning Clothes etc) whenever possible. Additionally think about local companies you use, switch to environmentally conscious companies, those who focus on reducing their carbon footprint, and waste production. These companies can range from Hotels, to Taxi Cabs(EnviroCab) and even Real Estate Companies Arbour Realty(Arbour Realty).

How are you planning on reducing your waste today?