Kay Boaz

This time of year everyone is out busily buying gifts, preparing food, decorating, and shopping for the perfect tree.

It is also important to cut back on costs this year for many of us. We can easily do this and go green at the same time, by limiting the amount of time you have your christmas tree lights and lights outside on.

If you decide to use a real tree instead of a fake one, it would be a way to help the environment if you planted it outside when the holidays are over.

Baking is a favorite activity around the holidays, and many of us keep our ovens heated, appliances running to bake pastries and other meals. It's always great to have energy star appliances, and use reusable dishes avoiding plastic wrap and tin foil.

Remember it is not so much about buying gifts for other people, but showing them you care by spending time with the ones you love.

Happy Holidays.

We are preparing for our Green Awards Ceremony tonight, and wanted to blog on some green news to get us ready.

This Article from the Baltimore Sun by Tim Wheeler highlights Green Roofs, which we are seeing more and more in Homes to conserve energy.

Green roofs are sprouting all over these days, mainly to prevent storm-water pollution and reduce energy costs. But a rooftop garden installed recently atop the historic American Ice Company building in northwest Baltimore had an additional purpose - to give honey bees a home.

Volunteers covered the roof of the 105-year-old former icehouse with a dense array of perennials and shrubs that bees like, including sedum, crocus bulbs, caryopteris, aster, goldenrod and boltonia. The mix of vegetation should ensure something will be flowering for the bees to pollinate from February through November.

"Urban sprawl is one of the greatest threats to our natural ecosystems," according to architect Diane Odell, who helped design the bee haven. "By planting these kinds of habitats on city roofs or in backyards we can all help."

The rooftop bee habitat was installed on the warehouse of Rooftop Conservation Technology, which sells materials for energy, water and environmental conservation projects, including green roofs. It was put together by Green Roof Service LLC and Architecture & Design Inc. (ADI) The beehive was donated by Maryland's state beekeeper, Oliver Snyder III.

We are into "going green" and found an interesting article saying the White House was now going back to solar panels, after President Bush had them removed. We know going green can save energy, and could be a great tool in selling homes. Do you think going green appliances/homes will be a thing of the future?

When dealing with buyers, in most situations they want to see what is out there. We have had agents showing clients many homes in one day, from morning to night. My question is do you set limits for your buyers? Saying you will show only 6 homes today, or setting a time limit? It seems that most of the time viewing so many homes doesn't help with the search as you can get an overload.

In this business I am aware it is common for agents to go from one office to the next often. Why do you think that is?

Our company is trying to recruit 10 Loudoun County, VA agents if anyone knows an agent ready to switch to Real Living. Thanks!