We’re used to accolades here in Boulder County (after all, our new office is in Louisville, one of the most celebrated of them all!).  But we were pleasantly surprised to see Boulder performing well in this recent feature on America’s top midsize U.S. metro areas.

Today marks the last weekday of the first-ever World Green Building Week, a week celebrating the potential and promise of green building in all its glory. So it was more than appropriate that we got word recently that 84% of all waste generated on a home at Blue Vista was recycled.

Why does this statistic matter? Because the more builders can do to keep the environment in mind, the better.

Traditional buildings consume a whopping 40% of the nation’s energy, create nearly 40% of the country’s carbon emissions, and constitute 40% of the waste stream of the entire United States combined every year. In contrast, green buildings can help reduce that impact while delivering homes that are healthy to live in, valuable to invest in, and great for the Earth at large.

Green homes make dollars and sense, and we’re proud to add “green” to our list of the invaluable features that make Boulder Creek communities the perfect mix of life and home. Happy World Green Building Week!

The Fourmile Fire has left devastation in its wake…and we’re glad to see local businesses and organizations pull together in the spirit of life and home to help victims.  This just came in from the Boulder Area Realtors Association:

BARA Members,

I felt it was important for you to know the actions your association is taking to assist the many families, including fellow REALTORS®, who are victims of the Fourmile Fire.

Today, we requested and have been granted $25,000 from the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Housing Opportunity Foundation (CARHOF).  BARA members have contributed to CARHOF significantly over the last 20 years and we are grateful for the support CARHOF and our state association is lending our community at this most distressing time.

We are partnering with Elevations Credit Union’s Foundation, which will match publically donated funds up to $10,000.  Dennis Paul of Elevations Credit Union is an affiliate member of our association who made this partnership possible.

In addition, BARA has posted ways in which you may further provide relief on our Face Book page and on our web site – www.BARAonLine.com .  Please give as you can.

Mike Moger, President

Boulder Area REALTOR® Association

Kudos to BARA and to everyone who’s been so supportive after the fire.

At Boulder Creek Life and Home, we know that home isn’t home without lifestyle…and life isn’t life without home. As we look forward to the new year, what will be the biggest trends in life and home? We venture to make some predictions:

Green: not just a buzzword any more It seems like everyone has been jumping on the environmentally friendly bandwagon, but in 2010 we predict that this trend will gain some staying power. Adopting eco-friendly lifestyle choices like hybrid vehicles, renewable power, and energy-efficiency doesn’t just sound cool…it saves money, which means it fits perfectly into the more financially-conscious decade we’re entering. And maybe we’re biased, but we think our energy-efficient, green building techniques will withstand the test of time.

Kitchen as home So much of the life of a home is in the kitchen, and these cost-conscious times mean the kitchen will be a more important gathering place than ever. Look for increased emphasis on in-kitchen dining and functional, fun kitchens like the ones offered in our patio and townhomes.

Inside/outside We’re lucky enough to live surounded by some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. While interiors become more comfortable than ever, we predict a renewed emphasis on outdoor recreation in 2010. That means hiking, biking, and taking advantage of everything Boulder County has to offer.

Ready to invest in life and home in the new year? Click here to view our hot homes!