SAGE: characterized by wisdom, prudence, and good judgment
Welcome to Sage Green Homes, the first Hybrid Zero-Net-Energy development in the nation!
phase 1 @ Sage Green, listed at $224,900 and 226,900
Located on Watershed Ln, just a stone’s throw from 149th & Farmington in Beaverton, the homes at Sage Green deliver a level of function, amenity and security beyond what most people in the world will ever experience. Sage Green demonstrates that zero-net energy is possible and accessible for mainstream builders and buyers in today’s new home construction industry. Because a Sage Green home produces as much energy as it needs, it’s effective insurance against future energy price inflation. A Sage Green home is a model for how we can meet growing housing and energy demands in ways that actually improve our collective circumstances. They have an informative site to explain some of the details of how they achieve this level of performance. I’d recommend taking a look. If you’d like to schedule a guided tour, contact me. I’ve toured these homes a couple times, and I must admit, this is a remarkable feat to offer homes of this performance and design at such a price. I’d love to show you around and share some of their cutting edge systems .
Listed by Shauna White at Keller Williams. For exclusive buyer representation, contact David Todd.
Rethinking Cornell: Checking my Math
As I “checked my math” and thought about this lot further, I got to thinking about buying the whole property, living in the existing home, building a minimalist+ home on the lot, move into the minimalist+ home, and redevelop the existing house to make this a dynamic duo perched out on the Cornell curve.
With this in mind, reconsider the following opportunities:
- own a view HOME on NW Cornell for $315,000
- own a LOT with a commanding city and mountain view for $200,000
- own the whole thing, a home on a double lot on NW Cornell for $515,000
- DESIGN a build-to-suit minimalist+ landmark home with stunning views at an amazing location with instant access to the city, Forest Park, and freeways for getaways!
If minimalist+ is not for you, we invite you to bring your builder and architect to assess the great potential on this site. Contact us for further information or to schedule a site visit.
The Leapfrog House: LEED-Platinum
FOR SALE: 541 SW Maplecrest Ct., Portland, OR 97219, listed @ $529,950, call David for more details
This home is the amazing result of many minds being drawn together to create a superior high performance home. Taking its name, the Leapfrog House, from the notion of “greening further than most people dare to green,” this home aims to go beyond common expectations for how a home can perform. Each day that it awaits it’s buyer, someone is out there spending too much money on utility bills. I’ll save the mechanical details for their site, which outlines the construction techniques, mechanicals, and materials that you could pour over for hours. In essence, the home is intended to have the smallest carbon footprint possible–in the construction phase and over the course of its life. They thought of everything and did most everything–from harvesting almost all of the framing lumber and timbers at FSC-certified forests within a couple hours of Portland to burying two cisterns that store about 6,000 gallons of rainwater that can be filtered and sterilized for all uses in the house and for irrigation.
The almighty mechanical wall that makes this home perform exceptionally well
The floor plan allows for a multitude of lifestyles and living arrangements. The main living spaces are open and loft-like, with a couple loosely defined spaces that could used for multiple purposes. The plans also include nearly 600sf of space for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) above the garage, if that is what the buyer chooses to do. Or, it could be a home office, an art studio, a yoga and exercise space, or a massive master suite (if you’re so inclined). As it stands, it’s a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with multiple bonus spaces that can adapt to different uses over time.
I highly recommend a tour, if you’d like to get a better sense of what sets this home apart. Contact me to set up a guided tour.
If this type of home appeals to you and you’d like to explore other options within the Portland market, you can set up a search here, or contact me for a customized residential market search. This home is listed by Sandi Sheets @ Windermere Real Estate.
Ascending the Pyramid of Conservation
Energy Conservation Pyramid
All we need is a few good autumn winds to rattle the windows and remind us that winter is on the way. If you’ve been contemplating some energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy incentives, or annual weatherization measures, here’s a helpful graphic to help prioritize which steps and upgrades will yield the best bang for the buck.
We are fortunate to live in the one of the country’s preeminent hotbeds for energy efficiency retrofitting. Between the Energy Trust, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, the Earth Advantage Institute, the Cascadia Green Building Council, and the abundance of general contractors and specialists who have committed to educating themselves and training their crews to help residents make gains in energy efficiency and overall carbon footprint reductions, we have what it takes. One place you might start is the Energy Trust of Oregon’s Trade Allies. This is a group of service providers who have taken the necessary training to be able to provide you with services and expertise in what incentives you may qualify for.
Another great option is Clean Energy Works Portland, a utility-based financing program that allows homeowners to make improvements with no money out of pocket upfront. This is an excellent program that supports homeowners in the getting a jump on those elements at the bottom of the Conservation Pyramid.
Stay tuned for more updates on the programs that become available to us in Oregon. It is a growing industry and legislation is continually working on incentive programs to help fund the retrofitting of our existing housing. Contact me if you’d like more information about any of these programs or organizations. I’m happy to be a resource and provide more information on local service providers as well.
Stay warm. Be well.
CONNECT
Agent Profile
In addition to offering sound real estate services, we bring a broad awareness of sustainable living and design to our practice. We thrive on making connections that help clients live and invest in alignment with their values, while supporting our local community, economy, and environment. Contact David and Steve today to learn how your next realty decision can enhance the place you call home. AGENCY INFO
1902 SE Morrison St. Portland, OR 97214
