Going Green in San Francisco

It seems that everybody's talking about it...finally! Al Gore has been trying to get the word out for years now and it seems that his crusade for educating the world about Global Warming is finally paying off. From recycling and buying flourescent light bulbs to driving hybrid vehicles and owning solar powered homes, there are many things we can do for our planet to help turn what now looks like a bleak future around. For those people who are just starting to think about going green , the light bulbs are a great place to start. Many people, however, have gone way beyond recycling bottles and cans and have decided that their largest assets should be environmentally friendly as well. My partner Anja is really enjoying her new Prius; she watches the little diagram on her dashboard as she goes which gives her a reading of how much gas versus electricity she is using each moment, "oops, I'm using too much gas," she says as she lets up on the pedal! Taking it even one step further are those who are building and purchasing green homes! There are many exciting things happening on that front in San Francisco, and as we are in the midst of a shaky market, there is no question that everyone wants to be in on this cutting edge of housing.

One very exciting new building in the Inner Mission is called "La Casa Verde". This is Sunset Magazines' 2007 Idea House, and it will be the first of its kind in such a dense urban neighborhood. They chose this location to show how you can maximize a small space; it is essentially a showplace for green technology. The home is a three story single family residence complete with spa and rooftop garden (my personal favorite features). La Casa Verde is one of the first LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) certified residences in the nation.

Another recent addition to San Francisco's Inner Mission neighborhood is 3280 22nd Street. This is a three unit green constructed condominium complex complete with hardwood floors made out of reclaimed mine timbers and Solar PV Systems. All three units just hit the market at the end of July ranging in price from $849,000 to $1,399,000. Just two short weeks later, mid August, all three units were in contract and were reported to all have multiple offers and sell above their asking prices. Everyone is eager to go green!