Eco-Friendly Homes

Sustainability in the eyes of real estate comes in many forms - solar panels, eco-loans, community building, gardening. But what about financially? Absolutely!

In this spur of the moment episode, I got to meet with Diego Corzo, founder of Rat Race to FI!

Diego introduces the mentality and actions necessary to gain financial freedom and live sustainably free through real estate investing, or as he calls in house hacking.

If you're still wondering, "But Madi, what does financial freedom have to do with sustainability?" Well my friend, think of it as becoming self-sustaining through passive income. Something you invest in today will continue to fuel your lifestyle for years to come!

Find more of Diego on his websites: 
http://www.ratracetofi.com/
https://diegocorzo.com/

And on two of my favorite (and well known) real estate investment podcasts:
https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/biggerpockets-podcast-352-diego-corzo
https://www.millennial-realestate.com/post/2018/07/11/6-from-immigrant-to-successful-house-hacker-and-agent-with-diego-corzo

Rachel Norton is a residential and commercial energy specialist and has expansive knowledge on solar installations.

Her goal is to create a healthier, more sustainable global environment by focusing her efforts on the local community. She has been elected to leadership roles in her professional community, and participates in volunteer work around the state involving energy efficiency and solar energy.

Her most recent project, Solarize Lexington, doubled the amount of solar panels on homes in her hometown of Lexington, Kentucky!

Rachel is a nationally certified Building Performance Analyst, an international Certified Energy Manager, and has her own energy auditing business, GreenStep while also working a full time job at a non-profit.

Going pesticide free creates a positive ripple on your whole community's ecosystem! Guest speaker Wanda Osterman-Harris informs us why going pesticide free is important, how people are able to do that, and gives us communities to join!

Links / Networks mentioned:

Beyond Pesticides

NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care

Soil Testings

People and Pollinator Action Network Group

https://www.meetup.com/People-and-Pollinators-Action-Network/

Denver Botanic Gardens 

OMRI listed products

Non-toxic Communities

Integrated Pest Management Programs

International Climate Action Challenge

Tree People

I visit with Alex Ryden, CEO & Founder of the modern and local staging company, Guest House. Guest House partners with over 500 local makers of art, décor, and furniture and uses those goods as staging in homes that are for sale. 

Home buyers who visit a Guest House staged home for a private showing with their real estate agent or come during an open house are then able to buy the goods on the spot! This is a new and unique business model. 

Each piece is one of a kind and Guest House makes sure the value and aesthetic of the home and goods match. 

By partnering with artists, artisans, and agents in the local community, Guest House has grown to be a well known name.

Find more of Guest House at the following:
https://guesthouseshop.com/
https://www.instagram.com/guesthouseshop/
https://www.pinterest.com/guesthouseshop/

Wonderland Homes won the 2020 ENERGY STAR Market Leader Award, given to homebuilders committed to building over 100 ENERGY STAR® Certified homes in their market in a given year. 

Wonderland has been committed to building 100% of its homes as ENERGY STAR® Certified since 2005 and has been a leader in green/sustainable building practices since its inception in 1966!

I had the pleasure of meeting with the Wonderland Home team to explore what living in an Energy Star Certified home is like, what an Energy Star rating is, why it matters, and how it is implemented throughout the building process.

Wonderland speakers are Mike Davidson, VP of Sales & Marketing; Christina Tamerlano, New Home Specialist; Tyler Stein, Construction Quality Control Manager!

https://wonderlandhomes.com/

In mid-August 2020 they will begin building the last phase of their 18 most popular homes! If you would like a home tour or are interested in buying a Wonderland Home, simply contact me for more information.

[email protected]
Licensed Broker Associate in Colorado!

Sheets & Giggles brings us sustainable bedding with their Eucalyptus Lyocell fabric that is literally softer than cotton,  uses significantly less water to produce than cotton or bamboo, and does not require any insecticides or pesticides. 

The S&G factory also uses a closed loop production system. This means water that is used in the process creates more than just one sheet in it's utility lifetime. 

And from the cellular level, eucalyptus lyocell is also more moisture wicking than cotton because the cells are more circular so liquid disperses more evenly. 

S&G sleepers consistently report that it helps with their fibromyalgia, eczema, chronic nerve pains, and improves their sleeping cycles. 

Founder and CEO, Colin McIntosh, is famous for his crowdfunding campaign results, first year sales, and his bleeding heart.

Use code ECOHOMES for 10% off!

Click Here for the website :)

- S&G's eucalyptus lyocell is naturally softer, more breathable, more cooling, and more moisture-wicking than cotton sheets.

- S&G uses about 96% less water than some cotton sheets, and no insecticides or pesticides.

- S&G also plants a tree for every single order and facilitate bedding donations to homeless shelters!

I realize it will be 3 whole weeks until it's time for me to post again because this month has 5 Wednesdays! So I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone, share my excitement, and inform you of my upcoming events!

Links: 
http://sustainablebroomfield.com/ scroll to very bottom, see left for meeting address and dates
https://www.facebook.com/SustainableBroomfield/
Sign up here https://www.climateactionchallenge.net/ to join the ICAC20 90 Day Challenge!

Learn from “reluctant leaders” on how we can take action to change our neighborhood, city, or even global environment. Maybe you love your home but don’t love what you see in your neighborhood. Guess what? You CAN DO something about it! 

Joan Gregerson is a master at coaching soon to be activists through the initial stages and getting the project to be self sustaining, even after the founder is gone.

LOOKING FOR a place to start? Joan suggests finding 10 “Exemplary Models” who have executed your same or similar idea before. 

CONNECT with Joan:

Website: https://www.greenteamacademy.com/

90 Day Challenge: https://www.climateactionchallenge.net/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Q1lwDP74yttnkruWASHom?si=GZXJoq2LT82aLSM7GXRTuw

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/green-team-academy-with-joan-gregerson-eco-nut/id1420263687

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenTeamAcademy

RESOURCES mentioned:

https://www.sustainableneighborhoodnetwork.org/homepage

https://www.climateactionchallenge.net/

https://www.facebook.com/sustainablegreenmountain/

https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/trash-and-recycling/composting/compost-expansion.html

https://www.congressparkneighbors.org/green-team-2/

Neal Collins dynamically takes us out of our homes and into the streets where the heart and soul of community are formed! Learn how Neal's path in the emerging market of regenerative real estate has helped him forge deeper relations with his hyper local community as well as expand this international movement.

You can find more of Neal here:
Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_neal_collins/
Company IG: https://www.instagram.com/latitude.realty/
Website: https://chooselatitude.com/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-regenerative-real-estate-podcast/id1500361677 which has a 5 Star Review!

As a Senior Loan Officer with Champion Bank, Eric Krohn has helped thousands of homeowners purchase and refinance their property in order to maximize their financial situation and has been in Renewable Energy since 2009 for both residential and commercial projects.

We cover his "Renew Redo Colorado Program": adding a solar/eco-friendly mortgage to your home that includes updates/efficient appliances, window insulation, and solar panels all to provide to you with convenience and ease. 
We also cover the history of solar systems and where we are now!

To best reach Eric, send an email: [email protected].