I May Vote Republican, But I’m an Austinite Tree Hugger to the Core- YOU Can be TOO!
I may believe in the right to bear arms and I may have voted for Bush (twice), but I’m from Austin where no matter which ticket you punch, we all agree that the environment is crucially important. If you’ve been to Austin you’ll know right away why- it is gorgeous. Ask the Californian and Kansasian (?) that visited us this year and they’ll tell you that every single one of the millions of trees on every single lush hill adds up to the millions of reasons people move here. Our lake system that runs circles around the city and the majestic views (here I go getting sappy) draw people from around the world to visit that never intend on moving yet find themselves calling their Realtors back home and arranging movers before their return flight even takes off.
So what does all this mean? It means I care about the land here- I was born here and it matters to me. I’ve been in real estate on the commercial development side and now on the residential side and no matter how much it pays, my husband and I have continued to fight for legislation for mandatory green space (averaging 20% of all new projects in Austin- it’s a start). We fight for cleaner construction procedures (water filtration systems for run off, lower emissions equipment) so that we can preserve our gorgeous city. Recently, a California builder cut into the side of a famous “mountain” to build these beautiful luxury condo community that features city views, but despite how attractive it seems, no local Realtor will willingly take people to the project nor will any locals buy into it.
****WHAT IS MY PLAN? If you scroll to the bottom of the page just below the Blog Log, you’ll see a badge that says “This is a Green Website” that shows how much carbon emissions RE Revealed readers are using. Sidenote: You can get yours by clicking on the green badge on the sidebar (it autopopulates a simple copy and paste html for your site). This is what’s called a carbon footprint- how much electricity you use (while reading this specific site), resulting in carbon emissions by producing electricity. I’ve always been nervous about committing to buying carbon credits to make up for my carbon use- it sounds difficult and expensive, but in Austin, a company called Be Green Now allows you to purchase trees to be planted for only $9.95 per tree.
I am personally committing to buying a tree from Be Green Now (thus a carbon offset) for every five pounds of CO2 used from site traffic. This isn’t just because I love the trees in my hometown but because I love the trees in YOUR hometown too. Again, I may be a Romney fan and I may have stood in the snow (in Austin- I’m not kidding, it was a total fluke) for hours to vote for Bush, but I will fight to the death for my city to remain green. It starts here… can we count on your blog or website to join the fight to protect God’s creation? Let us know if you’ll be joining so we can promote your newly green blog!
November 9th, 2007 at 7:07 am
Austine is beautiful country. I’ve visited those lovely rolling oak hills three times. I’d love to have a picture from my last visit to post on your site. I was there for a Halloween party - bright royal blue pants, black t-shirt, white tails, bright yellow-painted face with blue hair. The gig star-shaped glittered eyeglasses were the best. We were two-stepping all night to the Austin beat.
There are at least two companies in operation right now that are casting iron filings into the oceans to create CO2 credits for corporations. The filings encourage high-productive algae growth that captures CO2 that then sinks to the ocean depths and is trapped there for eons.
Sounds like we share some politics, too. Though my votes were not so much party oriented. And, today my feelings and assesment seem to be more in line with many others that the major malfunction is a lack of intelligence and a obstinate mindset in one’s own press and mindset.
All this to say, I’m not big on the button idea nor the tree idea, but I’ll meet you somewhere along the continuum - I’ll commit to planting at least five trees next year in this neck of the woods along with the new flower garden I am planning.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:44 am
John, I think you planting trees yourself is a GREAT tribute to our planet- I thank you in advance!
Kudos for thinking outside the box… if the CO2 counter isn’t your bowl of cereal, can you think of other ways to offset? (I’ll stick to the counter and supporting my local economy by buying offsets here)
BTW, I’m glad we can all agree that Austin is the most amazing city in the world (I understood that correctly, right?
)!
November 9th, 2007 at 7:58 am
I think I’ll try to cut back to two bald eagles for the souffle this year at Christmas …
November 9th, 2007 at 8:07 am
Wait- you almost tricked me… you mean CHANUKAH souffle. You almost had me, buddy.
You just go to your corner and you don’t come out until you understand what you’ve done.
Back to business- who’s on board?
November 9th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Austin is absolutely gorgeous! I actually make it there at least 2x a year - KW Training … (So when I am there this January, we will have to meet up!)
I will join you!
November 9th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I think this is a great idea Lani - count me in as well ( I think Mariana is being trendy by the way) : )
November 9th, 2007 at 9:14 am
I’m not the sure the eagle is kosher … I need a ruling from the rabbinate.
November 9th, 2007 at 9:58 am
A couple notes here while waiting for Jeff Brown to check in. (That should be worth a laugh or two.)
1. I hope you don’t have a lot of slow readers. Slow readers will lead to more trees.
2. The term would be Kansans. Or “People from God’s Country.” Either will do. (Where we just voted down another coal plant. They are planning a windmill farm that can generate the same amount of electricty, CO2 free.)
November 9th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Chris, some readers spend about a tree per day on the site!
Kansans? Let’s find something better, I don’t like “Kansans” how about Kansonians or Kansasites? God’s Country? Might presumptuous- I thought we were ALL (minus Kemah, TX)in God’s Country!
I’m glad Kansas is on the green train! Some people count carbohydrates, we count carbon usage… LET’S ALL COUNT CARBS!!!
November 9th, 2007 at 10:55 am
“kansasites” sounds like “parasites”…..lol! sorry
how about “KANSANITES?”
November 9th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Okay. Let’s put an end to this Kansas thing. The state of Kansas was named after the Kanza indian. The Kanza were known as the “People of the South Wind.”
Therefore, you can refer to us in that manner, if you wish.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:39 am
I like your direction. Come by my site, I think we share some same principles.
http://www.GreenMortgageGroup.com
November 19th, 2007 at 8:37 am
hi there can we link to each blog since we have the same blog topic real estate ? id like to put your blog into my blogroll ..
hope to hear from you soon . my blog is cebu real estate http://www.johnvill.com
its a Philippine real estate focus on cebu real estate .
give me description or title of your blog so i can link into it to my blogroll
thanks
john paul