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An Insider's Look At Blacksburg's Mount Tabor Meadows

On Tuesday, I was fortunate enough to have the chance to see up close and personal a new home community being built in Blacksburg.  The community is called "Mount Tabor Meadows", and it's a project being built out by Green Valley Builders.  I've mentioned it briefly before.

So what?  There's a lot of construction going on around Montgomery County, what's so special about this one?

Mount Tabor Meadows is building these homes to be Earthcraft-certified, and they're working hard to assure that each home exceeds the Earthcraft standards.  It's one of the first times in recent memory that we've seen a builder locally truly practice the green model with new construction on a large-scale basis, and I'm glad to see it come.

A link to the project's "Green Checklist".

How is an EarthCraft house certified?  It starts with the builder joining the EarthCraft House program, attending training, and registering as an ENERGY STAR partner.  But it doesn't stop there ... when a home is being built to EarthCraft standards, the builder must participate in a design review with EarthCraft House staff and do a walkthrough with that same staff, as well as pass a final inspection by an EarthCraft House inspector.  Other requirements include:

It's no joke, and these guys seem to be taking it very seriously.  I'm glad to see their project beginning to take shape - if you'd like more information on the project, or a personal tour of the site and available homes, contact me and we'll set it up!

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Virginia Tech Showing Commitment to Sustainability *Updated 6/3/08*

This is one step towards creating a better campus climate.

The Roanoke Times chimed in with an editorial a few days later.

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Have A Say - Get Involved

The AEP Falling Branch-Merrimac Transmission Reinforcement Project is in need of public input.  They've got a big long name to say that they need to add overhead electric lines through portions of Blacksburg, Montgomery County and Christiansburg.  My question is ... why can't these be buried?  They're burying everything else these days.  Here's the text of the email I received:

Appalachian Power announced a $15 million upgrade in the electric infrastructure that serves parts of Montgomery County, the Town of Blacksburg and the Town of Christiansburg. The company is in the initial study phase of the project which involves construction of approximately eight miles of electric transmission line and is seeking public input into the siting process before pursuing approval to construct the new line. The project scope is focused on the south end of Blacksburg in the vicinity of the Montgomery Regional Hospital and continues through Montgomery County and the Town of Christiansburg.

The new facilities will be constructed on single pole structures with an average height of 100 feet tall and be built on a 100 foot-wide right of way. The company has identified preliminary proposed corridors for review. The public can provide comments on the preliminary study corridors and suggest alternative routing options at Appalachian Power’s website, which is linked below and at a public workshop 5-8 p.m. Thursday, June 5, at Christiansburg High School, 100 Independence Blvd., Christiansburg, Va., 24073. The public comment period continues through July 18.

Customers can find more information about the Falling Branch-Merrimac Transmission Reinforcement Project, including maps and photos of similar facilities to those proposed, or provide comments on the project at the Appalachian Power website.

Once, I was bemoaning all of the legal and ethical problems the President at the time had gotten himself into, and how it reflected on our society.  My wife looked at me very sternly and asked "did you vote?".  She knew the answer; she knew I hadn't, and she said I had no room to complain.  I learned a lesson that day - whether I want power lines or don't want power lines, I can't complain without having my voice heard.  Here's our chance to have our voices heard.

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Don't Forget!

The NRV Green Home Tour and Seminar will be this coming Saturday, April 26th from 9am - 5pm, to be followed on Sunday the 27th by the NRVLiving Real Estate Team's very own green home open house!

Reduce ... Reuse ... Recycle.

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Green Home Tour Coming To Blacksburg

More information forthcoming early next week, but if you caught the NRVLiving Real Estate Show this weekend you heard us talk about the Green Home Tour that will be rolling into Blacksburg on April 26th. 

You can find out more about the Tour by visiting their blog, or stay right here and we'll post more information on Monday!  And don't forget that the following day, April 27th, we'll be hosting an open house of one of our own green home listings, at 153 Gracie Lane in Floyd!  Check out the video!

Virginia Tech Goes Green

From Planet Blacksburg ...