The diapers are FREE of chlorine processing; they are also FREE of fragrances, latex and petroleum-based lotions, so you get to decide what touches your baby’s sensitive skin.  Another cool thing is that the diaper’s core has been redesigned so that is more efficient at absorption and uses less processed chlorine free wood pulp = better for the environment than traditional disposable diapers.

I highly recommend these chlorine free diapers and they have been working great for the last three months!

Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

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1. Seventh Generation
2. Whole Foods
3. Tom’s of Maine
4. Burt’s Bees
5. Trader Joe’s
6. The Walt Disney Company
7. S.C. Johnson
8. Dove
9. Apple
10. Starbucks, Microsoft (tied)

The ImagePower Global Green Brands Survey features 9,000 respondents in eight countries measuring perceptions and sentiments of green actions by industries, products, and brands. The survey is sponsored by WPP companies Cohn & Wolfe, Landor Associate, Penn Schoen Berland, and partner company Esty Environmental Partners.

The news was announced at the Sustainable Brands Conference this week.

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

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- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

http://jaymecarleton.com

By MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON
For The Associated Press

Home sellers hoping to close a deal sometimes agree to purchase home warranties to give their buyers peace of mind.

Prospective homeowners, however, should do their homework to make sure the policies, which typically cover the major mechanicals and appliances in a home for one year after the sale, will actually help, say consumer protection experts.

The warranties range in price from $350 to $800. If purchased from reputable companies, they can help homeowners deal with broken appliances, malfunctioning air-conditioning and other problems, the experts say.

The policies usually call for homeowners to contact the service company when something breaks. The company then sends out a repair person who provides an evaluation for a set fee, usually about $65.

Once a professional has determined what the problem is, the warranty company pays for the broken item to be repaired or replaced.

Often, homeowners dislike transferring that decision-making power to a third party, said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List, the national consumer rating service based in Indianapolis. Users of home warranty or home service companies have been the least satisfied group of reviewers on the site for the past six years, she said.

Homeowners often expect the companies to replace the item and are disappointed to learn it’s going to be repaired, added Bob Miller, president-elect of the Ohio Association of Realtors in Columbus, Ohio. “They’re going to try and fix things before they give new ones,” he said. It wouldn’t be economically viable to replace furnaces, washers and garbage disposals that can be repaired, said Art Chartrand, spokesman for the National Home Service Contract Association, headquartered in Olathe, Kan. “If servicing it will take care of it, we’ll service it,” he said. “We certainly don’t want our product oversold.”

Homeowners may end up surprised by the details of their policies because the contracts are often bought as closing gifts, so the person using the service is not the one who bought it, Hicks said. That means the user did not have a chance to research the company and carefully evaluate the policy before it was purchased, she said.

When William Merritt bought his first house last summer in Leander, Texas, the seller purchased a warranty for him. He’s been satisfied with the service so far, but wishes he was given the opportunity to vet the company himself. “When I go to renew, I’ll look at all the options,” said Merritt, whose warranty recently covered an $800 repair to his pool pump. “I’ll definitely do my research.”

Sheila Adkins, a spokeswoman for the council of Better Business Bureaus in Arlington, Va., recommends researching home warranty or home service contract providers before making an offer on a house. When it’s time to buy, ask for the company by name in the offer, she said.

It’s a reasonable request, Miller added. Many home sellers are expecting to buy the agreements and should be willing to go with the company of the buyer’s choosing, he said. “Depending on who you go with, you can get some really good stuff out of these,” Miller said.

Angie’s List members also have had issues with some contractors that warranty companies send on service calls, Hicks said. She suggests asking the company that holds the policy for a list of the plumbers, electricians and repair people it uses, and checking them out before a problem occurs. When something goes wrong, request the contractor with the best track record, she said.

Other tips for selecting a home service provider:

• Find out exactly what the contract covers and how much the service fee is. Pools, spa tubs and other specialty items might not be included.
• Check to see if the company has policies on pre-existing conditions, and whether those repairs would be covered.
• Find out how the company handles complaints about the contractors who handle repairs.
• Ask if the company will let you buy a new appliance or item at a reduced rate if you would rather not have it repaired.

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- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

Green Mixes With Universal Access in a New House Built in Suncadia
By KATIE ZEMTSEFF
Journal Staff Reporter

Tour Event

The Carrs’ house was designed by 4D Architects and built by Nine Pine Developments.

When Mike and Susie Carr decided to build a vacation home at Suncadia in Cle Elum, they wanted a house that was both sustainable and accessibile to everyone. The result is wheelchair-friendly, but it also offers a number of lessons about design for an aging population.

Universal access means all people of all abilities can use a space. The project is called the Green Access Home at Suncadia, and it opens this weekend at 4047 Swiftwater Drive.

The 2,000-square-foot home is in Suncadia’s Nelson Preserve and has targeted 5 Star Built Green. Weekend public tours will begin later this month.

Mike Carr offers one lesson: With a little thought, people can build a house they can live in long-term. Carr, a director of software development at Amazon.com, has been in a wheelchair since 1996, but he said universal design is useful for everyone. Having a house that can easily accommodate aging people adds value because you can live in it longer.

“One of the tips we got from our architect is envision how you’re going to use the space,” he said. “Especially for a vacation home because people use them when they are retired. You don’t want to build it out, finally retire and not be able to use it.”

The house was designed by 4D Architects and built by Nine Pine Developments. The Carrs live in Bellevue and plan to use it as a vacation home for themselves and friends. It has three bedrooms and two baths.

Carr said it is interesting to watch how universal design and sustainability intersect. For example, he said the house is smaller to make it more sustainable but that also makes it more accessible.

The single-level house sits on a ridge with an elevation change. In front, the house has a long driveway, creating less of a grade change. A viewing deck in back extends about 50 feet from the house, making it easier for people in wheelchairs to experience the outdoors. Carr said the deck will let him watch elk and other wildlife.

The house has smooth, easy to navigate concrete floors. Windows are lower so a seated person can get a better view of the outside. Door handles are another focus. As people age, many develop arthritis, making it hard to turn knobs. The Green Access home has levers on the doors rather than knobs.

The house has wide doors and corridors, a roll-in shower, lower light switches and appropriate tub and bed heights. It has a front loading washer and dryer and an easy access pantry.

One challenge was the kitchen. Countertops are low but a wheelchair user still needs to be able to roll under them, leaving little room for a standard sink. The team used a poured concrete countertop with a built-in sink: “It’s hard to get that out of the box.”

The house is well insulated so air flow was a concern. The team added remote controls that allow Carr to open and close the top part of windows, so hot air will flow out of the home.

Green design also forced some innovative solutions. The guest bedroom, for example, was originally slated to have two twin beds, but that would make it difficult to navigate in a wheelchair. The Carrs added a sleeper sofa instead. “If we weren’t being green, we would have built it bigger with beds that aren’t used. Now it’s cozier and mostly a study,” he said. “It led to a better use of the room.”

The house was sited based on the sun and prevailing winds. A large overhang and eaves will protect the house from passive solar gain. It is built into a hillside, which will provide cooling during the summer.

Susie Carr, a naturopath, wanted a strong emphasis on indoor air quality and non-toxic paints and finishes.

The house has solar energy and a solar thermal heating system will warm water for the radiant system in the floors.

With green systems, Carr said the team had to be concerned about payback. But designing for universal accessibility mostly involved smart design and configuration with no added cost.

Carr said visitors wouldn’t know the house is different if they don’t know the history.

“It’s not like you have to have a giant wooden ramp in front of it,” he said. “The whole intent is to make it accessible without being obviously accessible. Good design is accessible.”

Other groups that have been involved in the project include the Sustainability Foundation, the Central Washington Built Green Association, Senger Construction and Second Nature.

Public tours will be given from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays from Sept. 25 to Oct. 10. On Sept. 18 and 19 the project will be featured during the Kittitas Tour of Homes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information or to learn more about the tour, visit www.greenaccessatsuncadia.com/about.

For the full article click here.

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I absolutely love Clever Bottle! It is the gem of Belltown.

I am a huge fan of good drinks and food in a sustainably designed atmosphere and this has it all – excellent drinks, local appetizers, reused wine bottles as flower vases, really cool light fixtures – reclaimed light bulbs and rope with recycled glass globes, minimalistic design, concrete floors, to name a few…

I absolutely love the owner/operator – her name is Kristen Burns. She buys all of her flowers, cheeses, appetizer items from Pike Place Market (supporting our local economy). She takes pride in everything she does and it shows. Kristen makes all of her own simple sugars for her sparkling wine drinks, each unique, just like her.

My to-be husband and I always look forward to going to Belltown just so that we can stop by this quaint bar.

If you are a first timer try the "Lavender Currant Cocktail" or the "Vintage Ruby" they are to die for!

This is a must visit!

Clever Bottle
2222 2nd Ave Ste 100
Seattle WA 98121
cleverbottle.com

Click Here for Yelp Reviews

- Jayme Mattson

http://jaymemattson.com

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