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Thank you Los Angeles Business Journal for nominating me in the 2008 Residential Real Estate Awards for excellence in business practices and service, in the category of “Green Agent.” Three of my associates at Teles Properties were also nominated in different categories. We are all thankful and honored for this recognition!
Be well, be green, and Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Karen Nation
This week I had the honor of speaking to students at Environmental Charter High School for “Career Day.” 
A great experience to share knowledge and meet our future of the “green” movement. As I spoke about being an EcoBroker and Certified Green Building Professional, the question most asked was, “Who buys green homes?” Many were under the assumption that only environmentalists buy green homes! This got me thinking… Some buyers want a specific character or architecturally significant home, but otherwise the majority would buy a green home over a toxic or inefficient one, given the option… Doctors, film-makers, firemen, chefs, realtors like me, and anyone who cares about their health, the environment, and saving money in the long run on energy costs and better quality homes will buy them. Students were surprised to know that anyone who can buy a home can choose to buy green as more and more are becoming available! I think it gave them something to aspire to, to one day own their own green home. They hope to continue their environmental education at schools like UCLA and Humbolt University, but for now, they’re just trying to get through fifth period!
Before I left, Veronica from “One Million Ways” gave me a blue bracelet for my day’s good deed. These bracelets have a unique tracking number. When I go to her website www.OneMillionWays.org, I’ll enter the tracking number and see the history of this bracelet, which I’ll in turn pass to someone I encounter doing a good deed. But you don’t need a bracelet to log on… just go to the website and log your good deed. Then “One Million Ways” doubles the impact of that deed by matching it with a $1 donation to charity. In other words, holding the door for a stranger today, buys two meals for school-children in Columbia tomorrow. Because kindness is contagious!
Be well, be green! ~ Karen Nation
By Karen Nation
It’s always exciting to see a new green home for sale and know that builders out there are making wise decisions! Congratulations to Santa Monica for adding another green home to their community. This is builder Kyungje Lee’s third LEED home… one sold, another available in Pacific Palisades, and now 17th Street pending LEED certification, with five bedrooms, six baths, listed for $4,800,000.
It has everything a family needs… great location off San Vicente/ Montana, nice yard for play and entertaining, four bedrooms upstairs including an exquisite master-suite, one bedroom downstairs, a formal dining-room in addition to a spacious, open kitchen/ dining/ family room which opens out to the grassy yard thru French doors. Additionally there’s a detached office (or guest quarters) with a fireplace. I was surprised to see so many fireplaces (I think 5 total) that were gas and not ethanol which is cleaner for the environment. But otherwise a vastly healthier home for the family, less toxic, more efficient, and environmentally conscious.
Speaking of energy efficiency, the home comes equipped with energy-efficient appliances and heating (no A/C according to the realtor but I thought I saw a unit outside), partial solar-tube lighting on the second floor, and three KW solar panels on the roof. The builder also included water conserving features in the kitchen, baths, and landscaping. The agent was unclear on some of the other features I asked about when viewing the home, and kept refering to “Leeds” like the mattress store and not the green building council, but they did have a printed list of eco-features which recieve LEED credits (hopefully on recycled paper). It can take several months post-construction before the certification is issued, so they’re not yet sure which level they’ve acheived, but in true Olympic fashion they’re going for the Gold.
In my opinion ”17th St” looks well built, and well appointed… a little “beige” in design and finishes, but I’d say that’s common to see with new construction/ spec homes. Most importantly it’s GREEN… better quality and better value! Love it! Give me a call for more info or to schedule a showing.
Be well, be green! ~ Karen Nation (310) 701-9778
