Dennis L. Kellermeier, Realtor

Saving Energy in your Home

2010-08-16T15:02:00.001-04:00

5 Tips for Saving Energy in the Family Room

Reduce your electricity bills by systematically purging your family room of wasteful energy practices. Read

12 Tips for Saving Energy in Your Home Office

Cut your power consumption, lighting, and heating and cooling costs when you work from home. Read

7 Tips for Saving Energy with Home Lighting

Lighting eats up as much as 20% of your annual electric bill, but using energy-efficient bulbs and making other simple changes can cut lighting costs dramatically. Read

10 Tips for Saving Energy in the Kitchen

Maintain your large kitchen appliances is part of a smart home energy efficiency plan. Read

7 Tips for Saving Energy in the Laundry Room

Understanding your laundry room appliances is part of a smart plan to help you save energy in your home. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Green Drinks

2010-02-18T16:22:00.004-05:00

Here's an interesting and fun way to share your passion for - or curiosity - about the environment and find out what people in your part of the world are doing about it. Green Drinks International started in London in 1989 and now has 350 chapters around the world - including several in West Michigan. The Grand Rapids group meets from 5:00 to 7:00 in a different location on the third Thursday of every month.

This month, the group met at the Tavern on the Square at 100 Ionia Avenue, SW. It's always a lively crowd and this month was no exception. There was a variety of attendees representing different professions, industries, and organizations. We had the opportunity to talk to a representative of the Sierra Club and discuss alternative energy sources and to see a demonstration of a solar-powered lantern that is assembled here in Grand Rapids.

If you're interested in joining the group, it's very simple. If you're in Grand Rapids, go to www.greeendrinksgr.org and sign up for the e-mail list. You'll be notified of the location of the next get-together. If you're in another city, state, or county; go to www.greendrinks.org and search for a chapter in your area.

The Little Green Book of the Home

2010-02-08T16:32:00.006-05:00

Last week I found a great little book. It's "The Little Green Book of the Home: 250 tips for an Eco Lifestyle" and it's just what the title says: 250 tips with no preaching or propaganda about the environment or global warming. Well, okay, there is a one-paragraph information introduction.

The first 10 tips concern saving energy through the thoughtful use of lighting - including natural light. The obvious tips include turning off lights that are not in use, switching to compact fluorescent bulbs, and using natural light throughout the day. The less obvious and harder to implement tips include recycling your used light bulbs.

Fluorescent bulbs, including compact fluorescent bulbs, contain a small amount of mercury to increase the efficiency of the bulb. In Kent County Michigan there a several recycling centers that accept hazardous household waste. Click on "Kent County Michigan" above and you will be directed to the county site that describes the options for recycling fluorescent bulbs.

If you're not in West Michigan, go to your local government's website or check with your local Home Depot stores to see if they participate in their company's recycling program. I've also included a link to the Kent County website in the left-hand margin of this blog.

For more information on "The Little Green Book of the Home," click on the image of the cover and you will be directed to the publisher's website.

Thoughts for the New Year

2010-01-27T15:52:00.005-05:00

At the beginning of January, my wife and I rented - on a month-to-month basis - a 10x10 booth in an indoor flea market. We are now systematically going through our house from top to bottom, drawer by drawer, and shelf by shelf and getting rid of everything we don't need - which sometimes seems to be about half of what we own. It has become a very liberating experience and should help us in several ways: less to clean now and less to move at some time in the future. Things that don't sell will be put on a garage sale - everything is already priced - and things that don't sell there will be donated to a local charity. Nothing will come back into our house.

Last week I started cleaning out my technical life. I have a new iPhone and am starting over on my contacts and calendar as my previous smart phone stopped hot syncing with my laptop months ago. There are a few contacts that I miss, but I'm adding them as I go along. Last week I even de-friended a contact on Facebook. That was more traumatic, but I don't miss the posts. I'm now working on hiding posts from several applications - mostly games that are played on Facebook. They clutter my news feed on a daily basis.

Today, I read an article in REALTOR magazine titled "Living Big in a Small Home." There's a lot of good information that's should be helpful whether you're moving and need to stage your house or just want to simplify your life. I hope that you find a few ideas that you can implement yourself. Click on this sentence to be directed to the article.

No matter how you decide to simplify your life, have a good year.

Recycling in Grand Rapids

2009-04-30T17:22:00.005-04:00

It's been a few months since I've posted anything, but yesterday I saw an article in Grand Rapids magazine that got my attention. It's an article on recycling and, while it provides a good overview, the best part is the list of resources for recycling a variety of household items. In particular, I like the resources that provide a benefit to society, in addition to reducing the quantity of stuff that goes into landfills.

For example, Comprenew Environmental recycles a variety of electronic products including televisions and computers. Some products are refurbished and sold in Comprenew's store while others are dismantled and recylcled. Comprenew is a non-profit organization that provides jobs and training. You get a tax deduction.

Other good resources are the Grand Rapids Lions Club for eyeglasses; Kent District Library for books, DVDs, CDs, and games; Ronald McDonald House for pop can tabs; and Kent District Library for batteries.

To read the article or view the full list of resources, go to www.grmag.com or click on the link to Grand Rapids on the left side of this blog.

Happy recycling.

Home Ownership in Michigan

2009-01-12T15:50:00.003-05:00

There are always a lot of facts and figures that can be quoted to help prove any point of view. For example, I read several items in the December 2008 issue of the AARP Bulletin that show two different sides of the housing situation in Michigan. First, the bad news: Michigan "has the sixth-highest housing foreclosure rate in the country." That is why "AARP is pushing for sweeping legislation that would crack down on predatory lenders."

On the positive side; Michigan, along with 13 other states including Idaho, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Maine, had the highest percentage of owner-occupied households in 2007. The U. S Census Bureau reports that, in these states, 73.3-77.6% of homes were owner-occupied. At the other end of the spectrum, Only 47.2-58.3% of homes in California and New York were owner-occupied.

It's always good to see more than one side of any story and the housing situation is Michigan is no exception.

Local First

2008-11-18T18:00:00.005-05:00

Buying and eating local is of special interest to me for several reasons. First, I grew up in a small town in Southern Indiana. Most of my family was, and still is, engaged in farming. While I didn't appreciate it at the time, most all of our food - including all of our meat - was grown in our family garden or on our families' farms. Today, I appreciate the flavor and quality of locally produced food. Second, before I became a real estate agent, I owned and operated a retail store that focused on sustainability before the concept was widely known. I designed and furnished the store before there was a LEED certification system. I'm sure that it would have earned a gold rating, if not platinum.

Today, the concept of sustainability is more widely known and there is a much better understanding of the benefits of buying locally produced products and services. With that in mind, I recommend that you check out Local First, an organization that provides a directory and other resources for those who wish to shop for local products and services. You can find them at www.localfirst.com or click on the link that I have provided at the left of this screen.

Thanks for thinking of Local First and good eating - and shopping.

Green Daily

2008-10-11T12:29:00.005-04:00

Today I discovered a new blog focused on the environment. You can find it at www.greendaily.com. There's also a corresponding and relatively new group on Facebook called Green Daily. The posts and other information that is provided cover a variety of topics. The overall tone is informative, not hysterical, and the site seems well organized. Check it out and let me know what you think. I've added a link to the web site on the left side of this blog and have tagged the site on delicious.com. I look forward to your comments.

Universal Design

2008-08-29T14:19:00.006-04:00

Two websites with information on universal design have recently come to my attention. The first is www.aias.org/aarp. This site presents information on a recent design competition that challenged architecture and planning students to learn more about universal design and designing for an aging population. The results of the 2008 competition, sponsored by the American Institute of Architecture Students and AARP, can be found on the website by clicking on "2008 Results" on the left side of the home page.

The second website is www.nahb.org/capsinfo. This site contains information about the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation that has been developed by the Remodelors Council of the National Association of Home Builders in collaboration with the NAHB Research Center, NAHB Seniors Housing Council, and AARP. CAPS professionals are "trained in the unique needs of the older adult population, aging-in-place home modifications, common remodeling projects, and solutions to common barriers."

While both the AIAS design competition and the CAPS designation are primarily focused on designing for the aging population, an underlying goal is to design homes that can be adapted as people and families move through the various life stages.

Green Grand Rapids

2008-08-20T16:18:00.004-04:00

The Sunday, August 17, edition of The Grand Rapids Press included a special advertising section titled "Greener Living." Along with articles about the green movement in the Grand Rapids area and ads from businesses that focus on green design and green products, there is information on Great Lakes Green, the inaugural conference that is being held on Friday and Saturday, August 22-23, at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. For more information about the conference, including registration, go to www.greatlakesgreen2008.com or www.grpress.com and click on the link "Great Lakes Green" in the list of special secitons located at the bottom left of the home screen. I have added a link to The Grand Rapids Press on the left side of this blog for your convenience. I hope to see you at the conference on Saturday, August 23.

Living and Working in the Grand Rapids Area

2008-08-05T17:23:00.005-04:00

The following is an introduction to The Right Place, Inc. and it is taken from the "About the Right Place" page of their website.

"The Right Place, Inc. is a regional non-profit economic development organization founded in 1985 and supported through investments from the private and public sector. Its mission is to promote economic growth in the areas of quality employment, productivity and technology in Greater Grand Rapids by developing jobs through leading business retention, expansion, and attraction efforts."

The site provides a variety of information about living and working in the Grand Rapids area. The Right Place, Inc. can be found on the internet at www.rightplace.org. I've also included a link on the left side of this blog. Be sure to download and view "57 Things to Know about Grand Rapids" and view the video "Live Vibrantly." Both can be found by clicking on the Live and Work Here tab on the left side of their home page.

Grand Rapids Area School and Metro Rankings

2008-07-07T15:15:00.012-04:00

In several recent posts I have mentioned the importance of being an informed real estate consumer and in gathering all of the pertinent data for the area(s) in which you are interested. Some of the data that you may wish to consider in your decision may not be or can not be shared by your real estate agent in the interest of fair housing and in an effort to prevent steering.

However, the information you want and need is generally available from a variety of sources such as the local school districts and the municipalities or townships that you are considering. Another source is local publications and Grand Rapids Magazine has just published it's 2008-09 school and metro rankings for 97 communities in West Michigan. The communities are combinations of school districts and cities or townships.

If you would like a copy of the rankings, call Grand Rapids Magazine at 616.459.4545 and request of copy of the July 2008 issue. For the current issue and archive copies of select articles from past issues, go to www.grmag.com or click on the link in the left hand margin of this blog.

Real Estate is Market Specific

2008-04-24T15:27:00.004-04:00

An article posted yesterday on msn.com by Forbes magazine provided lists of the best ten and worst ten real estate markets in the United States. While Grand Rapids, or any city in Michigan, wasn't on either list, the market-specific nature of real estate was evident. For example, two of the best and two of the worst markets are in California. The best are San Francisco and San Jose and the worst are Los Angeles and San Diego.

An even finer distinction was made in Colorado where Denver was on both the best and the worst lists. The difference was in what part of the greater Denver area one was considering; e.g. downtown Denver, the suburbs, or the area between Denver and Colorado Springs.

The implication is clear: focus on the area that you are considering and get all of the relevant data on that area. The best way to do that is to employ the services of a real estate professional who can provide you with all of the latest information.

Steam Ovens: Energy Savings & Health Benefits

2008-04-14T15:16:00.012-04:00

The Home and Garden section of the Sunday, April 13, 2008, The Grand Rapids Press included an article on the energy savings and health benefits of steam ovens. Energy savings result from shorter cooking times, lower wattage of the cooking elements, and the ability to prepare an entire meal without the use of the stove top, an inefficient cooking method due to the loss of heat around the sides of the pots. Health benefits result because foods cook faster without losing as many of the natural flavors and nutrients. Therefore, less salt and other seasonings are required.

The article suggested the websites of several manufacturers and I checked them all. mieleusa.com was my favorite with more information about the products, features and benefits, and the steam cooking process. However, my cooking and traveling interests were aroused by the culinary tours described on the vikingrange.com site. The other sites mentioned were kitchenaid.com and gagganau.com. The sharpusa.com site does not currently feature steam ovens and suggests that viewers check back later in the year.

The picture above shows one of the Miele ovens featured in the article.

Informed Consumers for Real Estate Tansactions

2008-04-08T16:16:00.005-04:00

A recent article posted on msn.com titled "What Realty Agents Won't Tell You" would have been more appropriately titled "What Realty Agents Can't Tell You." The article is informative but leaves the impression, at least initially, that agents don't want to tell clients certain things. However, the article later explains that fair-housing laws and the agents' desire to not engage in steering precludes those agents from providing that information. By the way, "steering" is directing a client toward or away from a particular property or neighborhood in a discriminatory manner.

The author of the article provides several resources for finding information about the neighborhood under consideration. These sources include familywatchdog.us, schoolmatters.com, and scorecard.com, a website that offers an environmental scorecard at the county level. Of course, it's always a good idea to go straight to the source and contact the local school system and the local government office.

For information on neighborhoods in Grand Rapids, go to grmag.com, click on "Article Archives" at the lower left of the screen, scroll down to "August 2007 A City of Neighborhoods," and then click on "Read Full Story." For your convenience, I've added a link to Grand Rapids magazine to the left side of my blog.

Be an informed consumer of real estate - and websites, for that matter.

Sustainable Business Program at Aquinas College

2008-04-03T16:09:00.005-04:00

I've mentioned before that the Rapid Growth GR website is one of my favorites and this week's issue is no exception. Click on the link on the left side of this page or go to www.rapidgrowthmedia.com to read about the program and the success of one of it's graduates. There are also links to other websites that provide information on a variety of topics related to sustainable design.

For those of you who enjoy the work of Brian Kelly, whose photographs grace the pages of Rapid Growth GR, I've added a link to his website. It's located on the left side of this blog. Or, go to www.briankellyphoto.net.

The Green Chauffeur

2008-03-25T15:33:00.004-04:00

Check out the recent edition of Rapid Growth GR for an article on the Green Chauffeur. What a great idea for a business. Just click on the link in the left column of my blog.

What's In and Out in Home Design

2008-03-25T13:39:00.002-04:00

The April 2008 issue of REALTOR magazine included a list of what's in and what's out in home design. For those interested in sustainable and universal design, the article included the following "ins:" a reduced carbon footprint for energy savings and home elevators for boomers wanting to age in place. The "outs" included voluminous ceiling heights and mcmansions.

What's on your list?

Welcome

2008-03-24T15:56:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my blog. As a real estate agent, I have a particular interest in this community. One of the ways in which I keep up to date is through the Rapid Growth Grand Rapids website. It's a great source of information on what's happening in the city, it's neighborhoods, and along the lake shore. I hope that you will find it interesting and helpful.

In future posts, I'll share information on several areas that are of greatest interest to me including sustainable design, universal design - or aging in place, and empty nesters.