Kaire Downin

To think that there are people who don't beleive that global warming is scientifically proven, people who are important parts of our community, who help to have legislations passed or opposed.... I bring you this today because there is so much controversy on the new SB 80 in Oregon.

http://www.aoi.org/posted_docs/publications/2009/SB%200080%20intro1.pdf

The Oregon Association of REALTORS is highly opposed to this bill. The only thing I see wrong with it is the idea of trade. If someone is going to modify their buildings to prevent green house gases from being distributed, their "allowance" should not be allowed to be adopted by another "dirtier" company. AND furthermore, I have no reason to oppose the monitoring of greenhouse gasses, not only in commercial property but also in residential property. We have lived gluttonous for far too long, it is time to pay up that balloon payment and make some sacrifices. It is not going to be easy, in fact, I am sure it will be painful to most people once they see what kind of destruction they are contributing to but will be even more painful when they can not breathe or eat or live here anymore. It is high time we owned up to the consequences of convienience. Stop complaining about it, stop trying to evade it, stop procrastinating, THE TIME IS NOW to make the changes we need to put forth to proptect our future. I am 30 years old, my children are young, my grandparents' and parents' generation have blindly allowed our leaders to make choices that are going to effect the rest of humanity for a LONG time, not just humanity but ALL LIFE on this planet is threatened because of us! I won't be part of the problem any longer than I have to. I make changes to my lifestyle DAILY to start creating good habits, educate myself and become more and more aware of ways to improve how me and my family live to help contribute to the change I want, the change we need, it is now, it is here, what are you going to do???

Sat Feb 14, 10:04 am ET AFP/File - Icebergs in Vincennes Bay in the Australian Antarctic Territory in January 2008. It seems the dire warnings ...

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CHICAGO (AFP) - It seems the dire warnings about the oncoming devastation wrought by global warming were not dire enough, a top climate scientist warned Saturday.

It has been just over a year since the Nobel-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a landmark report warning of rising sea levels, expanding deserts, more intense storms and the extinction of up to 30 percent of plant and animal species.

But recent climate studies suggest that report significantly underestimates the potential severity of global warming over the next 100 years, a senior member of the panel warned.

"We now have data showing that from 2000 to 2007, greenhouse gas emissions increased far more rapidly than we expected," said Chris Field, who was a coordinating lead author of the report.

This is "primarily because developing countries like China and India saw a huge upsurge in electric power generation, almost all of it based on coal," Field said in a statement ahead of a presentation to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Without decisive action to slow global warming, higher temperatures could ignite tropical forests and thaw the Arctic tundra, potentially releasing billions of tons of carbon dioxide that has been stored for thousands of years.

That could raise temperatures even more and create "a vicious cycle that could spiral out of control by the end of the century."

"We don't want to cross a critical threshold where this massive release of carbon starts to run on autopilot," said Field, a professor of biology and of environmental Earth system science at Stanford University.

The amount of carbon that could be released is staggering.

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and estimated 350 billions tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) has been released through the burning of fossil fuels.

The new estimate of the amount of carbon stored in the Arctic's permafrost soils is around 1,000 billion tons. And the Arctic is warming faster than any other part of the globe.

Several recent climate models have estimated that the loss of tropical rainforests to wildfires, deforestation and other causes could increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 10 to 100 parts per million by the end of the century.

The current level is about 380 parts per million.

"Tropical forests are essentially inflammable," Field said. "You couldn't get a fire to burn there if you tried. But if they dry out just a little bit, the result can be very large and destructive wildfires."

Recent studies have also shown that global warming is reducing the ocean's ability to store carbon by altering wind patterns in the Southern Ocean.

"As the Earth warms, it generates faster winds over the oceans surrounding Antarctica," Field explained.

"These winds essentially blow the surface water out of the way, allowing water with higher concentrations of CO2 to rise to the surface. This higher-CO2 water is closer to CO2-saturated, so it takes up less carbon dioxide from the atmosphere."

Field is co-chair of the group charged with assessing the impacts of climate change on social, economic and natural systems for the IPCC's fifth assessment due in 2014.

The 2007 fourth assessment presented at a "very conservative range of climate outcomes" but the next report will "include futures with a lot more warming," Field said.

"We now know that, without effective action, climate change is going to be larger and more difficult to deal with than we thought."

Kaire Downin provides consultations on how to improve your home to decrease your carbon footprint and support sustainability. If you would like a free consultation, please contact her today!! Green Real Estate is the way of the Future, Kaire is preparing for that NOW with knowledge and resources that can help put your home in the front of the line for meeting the needs of our planet. Put an edge to your property, make it more sellable, update it, reuse, recycle and restore, not remodel.......

Kaire Downin is a licensed broker in the State of OR and is a REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty Mid Willamette. All offices are independently owned and operated.

Ultra Modern Green Maryfield Home Posted: 03 Feb 2009 07:14 AM PST Pardon the amateur photography in this article, but hopefully you can see how beautiful this newly built home is -- it could become the first LEED certified home in Utah! The Maryfield Home was designed by John Sparano and Anne Mooney of Sparano + Mooney Architecture, also the owners, and they're eagerly working towards certification. I first found out about it from Benchmark Modern, a local contractor specializing in modern green construction, and they were able to arrange a tour. Check it out: Maryfield has several and various green features, including concrete radiant floors, Energy Star dimmable CFLs, SolaTubes, recycled steel framing, low-VOC paint, R30 walls, R50 roofing, a high efficiency boiler and HVAC, and a tight footprint. The home has 2,600 square feet of living and unparalleled views, as you can see, of the mountainous outdoors. Located just a short jaunt up Emigration Canyon, the first thing you'll notice about Maryfield is the unique and captivating exterior cladding -- it's like a dragon or something -- 22 gauge, A606 weathering steel in a 12 x 12 inch, interlocking diamond configuration with concealed fasteners. Right now, the home kind of blends in with the snow, but as it ages, Maryfield won't be missed. Here's a closeup. The weathered steel theme carries over inside with this centerpiece. Notice below that the piece doubles as storage and conceals a flat screen. This is the view from inside -- this side of the home is all glass. The surrounding landscape was left undisturbed. You can slide these doors all the way back and really open up the inside to the out. Of course, dual flush toilets are standard, but check out the yellow paneling. You can't tell from this image, but the panels cover tubular fluorescent lights. When turned on, it's pretty fun feeling. Kohler Purist Wading Pool in action, vanity style. I really like the look. The entire master bathroom has a spa feel. Don't forget the high efficiency boiler and HVAC setup. Maryfield obtained a Five Plus Energy Star rating, 69 HERS rating, and a .16 blower door. At some point in the future, the owners may install on-site solar to drive these efficiency measures towards net zero energy. [+] Maryfield House Flickr Gallery by jetsongreen.

St. Charles Super Modern Green Cabinets Posted: 03 Feb 2009 12:03 AM PST St. Charles Cabinetry began manufacturing and designing in 1935, and today, they're still doing the same thing right here in the United States. Their cabinets are made from stainless steel and powder-coated in your choice of 23 colors (see below). What makes them a green product? They are 98% recyclable and are the perfect choice for a hypoallergenic interior. Now, I think we would all consider them a much more impressive green product if they were initially made from recycled content as well, but since the majority of cabinets are made with toxic chemicals (which stainless has no need for) and are not made from easily recyclable materials, I thought St. Charles was certainly worth a post. Even if they're not the greenest cabinet choice on the planet (which I think they could be if they had a decent percentage of recycled content), they might be my #1 rank for high style. These cabinets are the height of modernity. They're sleek, clean and understated, yet stunning, especially in an open-concept kitchen where they won't overpower you. The hardware choices (some pictured below) range from industrial to country to artsy and contemporary. Pricing is bound to be very steep, but I would guess that the life-range on these cabinets far exceeds any wooden cabinets, if well taken care of. Now, if we could only convince St. Charles to go the extra green mile, making these cabinets not only recyclable, but recycled! Photo credits: St. Charles Cabinetry.

Zira Island Planned as Zero Energy City Posted: 02 Feb 2009 09:50 AM PST Following in the footsteps of Dongtan and Masdar, the Danish firm of Bjarke Ingels Group has just released details of their masterplan for a zero energy resort and entertainment city on Zira Island, which is located within the bay of Baku, Azerbaijan. The plan calls for roughly 10.8 million square feet of architectural landscape based on the natural landscape of Azerbaijan. Indeed, Zira Island will feature seven residential developments, each in the shape of one of seven peaks of Azerbaijan, and 300 private villas with views over the Caspian Sea. Zira Island is intended to be entirely independent of external resources - to provide "high-end living with low end resource usage." Here's how they plan to do so: Heating/cooling by heat pumps connected to Caspian Sea Photovoltaics strategically placed on facades and rooftops Solar thermal panels integrated into architecture Energy efficient architecture An offshore wind farm for island power Waste and storm water collection, treatment, and reuse in landscaping The webosphere has gone crazy talking about this zero energy island plan, and that's a good thing. When entire cities are built from the ground up, they ought to be built with the best and greenest strategies available. [=] Zira Island Masterplan by BIG [+] Zira Island masterplan by BIG by Dezeen Image credits: BIG.

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Kaire Downin is a licensed Broker in the state of Oregon, With Keller Williams Realty Mid-Willamette. All offices are individually owned and operated. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

I am looking to build a network of referral agents who can help people looking for off grid properties. I am getting 2-4 leds per day from all over the country and I need people to assist these folks in finding their dream property for sustainable living and green building and going off grid.

Current leads are in these areas, please contact me TODAY for the information and get started!

Washington

California

Hill County Texas

Western New Mexico

Las Vegas or Southern Nevada

BC/Canada

I am getting leads faster than I can take care of them. Please help me match them with a Broker who KNOWS about Green building and sustainable living!

Kaire Downin is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the state of OR and a REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty Mid Willamette. All Keller Williams offices are individually owned and operated.

Keller Williams Realty Mid Willamette is located at 815 NW 9th St L195 in Corvallis, Oregon. This is a class taht will provide 1 CE Credit for licensed Real Estate professionals. Please come and bring your freinds!