The Leapfrog House: LEED-Platinum

FOR SALE: 541 SW Maplecrest Ct., Portland, OR 97219, listed @ $549,950, 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.

 

August 10, 2010 · Filed Under listings

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Power in Numbers, Renewable Solar Power!

Solar need not be for the renewable energy martyrs who overlook payback schedules. More power to the early adopters and pioneers, but SOLARIZE PORTLAND ups the ante to make solar pencil for more Portland residents than ever before. I highly recommend you check it out while you can. Solarize SE is in the early stages of Phase II. After a widely successful campaign last year, then an effort in NE and SW, it’s time for SE to take it the next level.

By joining your “neighbors” (other residents in your quadrant of Portland), local installers are able to offer incredible savings to add to the already aggressive incentive package through federal and state tax credits.

How it works (excerpt from the SE Uplift site):
- You and your neighbors all buy solar PV at once, allowing the contractor, Imagine Energy, to increase efficiency and buy the equipment at lower prices.  They pass those savings on to you for dramatically lower costs, especially after incentives.  The more people join in by the May 1st deadline, the lower the prices drop for all.

What to do:

1) Sign up by May 1st to let us know you’re interested in learning more.  Pricing for the project will be set on the 1st based on the number of people on the list.

2) Tell your friends:  Again, the more that join in, the better the deal gets.  Email tim@southeastuplift.org to get materials you can distribute to your friends and neighbors.

3) Attend a training session (free):  We’ll teach you all about the how solar PV works, how the pricing and incentives impact things, and what the process will be like.  You must attend one Basics of Going Solar with Solarize SE, and one topical session of your choice.  You can do both of these in one day, or split them up at your convenience (see schedule here).  Already know all about Solarize?  If you already know how the project works you can take our quiz instead of attending an information session.

4) Schedule a site assessment: Once you’ve been to the training and think Solarize is right for you, Imagine Energy solar experts will come evaluate your home and tell you what your options are.

5) Go Solar PV!  …Or Not….You’ll get a contract with a week of your site assessment. If solar PV wasn’t right for you, you can tap into community discounts on solar hot water or a Home Performance Energy Audit.

April 23, 2010 · Filed Under events, resources

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