Ted Wight's St. Louis Style

Making the Best of What You Have

On one hand we have a University of Michigan student who is fed up with $800-a-month rent on campus, so he builds his own tiny house and uses solar power and compost toilet to live off the grid – and saves himself $6,000. He spent around $13,000 on the 'house' and is happy with his decision. 
What is your take on this? Leave a comment below!

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A Dilapidated Bank Turned Stunning Cultural Center Opens in Chicago’s South Side

On the other hand, and somewhat unrelated, we have Theaster Gates an artist, urban planner, and professor and director at the University of Chicago’s Arts and Public Life who believes in a culturally driven approach to urban redevelopment.

"It’s part of an evolving way of reimagining that culture should be central to the way our cities and neighborhoods work."

Which do you like more?

Original article on Slate

Solar Panels

I drove by the Olivette house yesterday.  I like the idea of using solar panels, though they do detract from a colonial house. I think if this home was contemporary, you could work with the black solar panels into the design of the house.  What do you think?

 

2 West Pine Court, CWE FOR SALE

Lovely 12 year old townhome in the fashionable Central West End. Walk to restaurants, coffee shops, BJC, Forest Park & The Metrolink. This is an end unit, so you get plenty of light from windows on 3 sides. 3 bedrooms & 2 full baths & 2 half baths. Open floor plan with hardwood floors. Living room with gas fireplace. Gorgeous eat-in kitchen with center island, granite counters, stainless steel appliances & custom wood cabinets. The kitchen has doors that lead to your private patio. The 2nd floor features a master bedroom suite with Brazilian cherry floors, built-in entertainment center with bookshelves, a large walk-in closet and gorgeous bath with double marble vanities. Second floor laundry. 2 more bedrooms are on the 2nd level & another full bath. The lower level is finished with a family room, gas fireplace, bar & half bath. Low monthly fees. Bonus 2nd patio offers an extra private outdoor space. Zoned HVAC. 2 car oversized heated garage. A nice pool is located in the development.

$2950/mo lease

$499,900 Purchase

http://2westpinecourt.canbyours.com/

Listed by Ted Wight, Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty, 314-607-5555   [email protected]

Remains- finding a use for all of those old clothes

Yesterday I popped by Remains on Morganford in S City for their annual Christmas Party. Remains collects clothes, shoes, toys and much more. They are ingenious in finding ways to take large bulks of these discarded items and finding a use for them. The better items go to vintage stores or items like jeans go to the Far East for hipsters to wear. Some of the pieces are shipped in bulk to areas of Africa or South America. The rest is pulvarized and turned into rag cloth, paper and much more. It makes you feel good that something is done with with items rather than sending them to the landfill.  Check out my post from last year entitled HARD TOYS.  That is Kelly below, the owner of Remains, frying a turkey. It was the first time I had a fried turkey....very tender and juicy. They also had these wonderful dove breast wrapped around cream cheese and a jalapano and then rewrapped in bacon....yum! The food did not stop there... grilled deer steaks, fried goose breast...and much more! Maybe they should open up a little restaurant there also!

 

Alternative/Green Counter Surfaces

When I was at the Green Homes Festival in Grand Center on Saturday, I came across a new counter surface that I was not familiar...PaperStone.  It does not sound very solid, though it is supposedly as strong as steel. Solid Surface Resources in St. Louis was at the festival and sells it.  314-771-1234

I love this sustainable counter surface option also..... IceStone

Driveable Grass

The world does not need anymore asphalt.  I think that this is a great solution to eliminate water run-off and it looks nice.  I wonder if you could use some low sedums as a filler also?  Find out more HERE.

Green Wall- PNC, Pittsburgh, PA

Check this out......we need a corporation in St. Louis to do this here!  See on this BLOG.

University City Rain Barrel Project

In an effort to alleviate some of the flooding in the River Des Peres, University City has a grant to give residents one rain barrel....while supplies and $ last.  I had mine installed today.  It even has a spigot that I can use to water my plants!

U City residents can find out more HERE.

 

The Show Me Solar Tour

The Show Me Solar Tour

Saturday October 10, 2009

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

 

The American Solar Energy Society is featuring five homes on this year’s tour.  The Butterfly Experiment Home is one of them.  The tour begins at the Earthways Center on 3617 Grandell Square, St. Louis 63108.  For more information and registration go to http://showmesolar.org/tourstl.htm.

 

If you can’t do the whole day, you are invited to join us for a

 

Butterfly Experiment Home Open House

Saturday October 10, 2009

12:00 to 4:00 PM

Tours every 30 minutes between 12:00 and 3:30 PM

Our 62 year old Experiment Home is one of the most energy efficient in the region.  Our company owner, Gary Steps, has installed many energy efficient systems in addition to solar.  Come see what is possible with the high performance technologies and conservation ideas working together in an existing home.  Read  more about the Butterfly Experiment Home. 

  427 S. Park Avenue

Webster Groves, MO 63119

Google map to Experiment Home

Earthways Green Homes Festival- This Saturday!

Don't forget to hit the Earthways Green Homes Festival this Saturday down on Grandel Ave in Grand Center.  Find out more HERE.

Composite Pavers

It is nice to see that there are new uses being created for all of the plastic that we are recycling. These are composite pavers.  Think how good these would be on a rooftop!  They are lighter than masonry pavers.  Find out more HERE.

Grain Silo House

Check out this fun building!  See more pics and find out more HERE.

Tiny Homes

Maybe the days of the McMansion are gone and the movement towards Tiny Homes is here. They are green and affordable.

 

Green Holiday Gift Guide

I ran across this site that had some nice idea for economical Green gifts.  Below are some of the glass items made out of wine bottles and windshield glass.

IceStone

Everyone loves granite counter-tops, though they are becoming a little too standard in homes.  Why not be different and "green" and use recycled glass and concrete counter-tops?  They come in all sorts of cool colors!

Available in St.Louis at Solid Surface Resources 314-771-1234

Green Homes & Renewable Energy Festival

Saturday, September 27

Green Homes & Renewable Energy Festival
Mid-Town St. Louis
10:00 am–6:00 pm

3600 Block of Grandel Square

Grandel Square, the urban home of the EarthWays Center, will become an exciting Green Street Promenade of exhibitors, green vendors, and kid’s activities. Festival admission and parking is free!

Learn How to Green an Older House.....THIS IS TODAY

If you'd like to view this email in a Web browser, please click here Forward this email JOIN US THIS WEEK FOR A BUTTERFLY SHOWHOUSE TOUR    Butterfly Showhouse Tour Thursday July 10, 2008   -   4 o'clock in the afternoon 427 S. Park Avenue, Webster Groves MO 63119 Come by the Butterfly Showcase home (and home of our owner, Gary Steps) to see energy efficient implementations in this 62-year old Webster Groves home.  A great opportunity to see energy efficiency and conservation ideas at work in an existing home.   RSVP to Danielle at 314.961.8418 or .

E-cycle Missouri

Here is a list of places to take all of those electronic stored in your basement and garage: ECYCLE 

STLOUISGREEN.com Launch Party- You Are Invited!

LAUNCH PARTY INVITE

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Thursday, March 6, 2008
5:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Tarlton Corp. St. Louis
USGBC Leed Silver Certified Building
5500 West Park Avenue
(off of Manchester east of Hampton Ave. west of Macklind Ave.)

Food by Local Harvest Grocery
Drinks by Anheuser Busch, 360 Vodka, D'Vine Wines and Schlafly Beer
Live music by the City Billy Hill Slickers
Raffle including restaurant certificates, clothing and much, much more!!
Models in green clothing!

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 314-822-1792 stlouisgreen

Canvas Shopping Bags

I have finally moved to using canvas shopping bags when I go grocery shopping. I think it was reading about how China was outlawing plastic shopping bags coupled with the extra clutter plastic bags are in my kitchen when I am collecting them. Now I look like a "french" shopper in the market.

I also have moved to the "green" light bulbs. At first I was hesitant that they would put out a fluorescent light... though this is not an issue. Over the Holidays I gave my sister-in-laws "green" light bulbs and some homemade pesto as presents.  One of my sister-in-laws gave me an odd look when she got light bulbs. I think I am going to give them canvas shopping bags for their birthdays.

Recycled Glass Tiles

Look at these beautiful tiles crafted from 100% recycled glass.  Find out more here: http://www.bedrockindustries.com/blazetile.html

Prefab Homes

"Living Homes  http://www.livinghomes.net/primer.html is a premier developer of modern, prefab homes, today introduced three new standard homes, making it the first company in the US to offer prefabricated, LEED-certified residences to consumers. It collects, recycles, and solar-heats its own water."   From www.outnext.com

The Eco-friendly Pool

Eco-friendly pool sounds better than a "green" pool.

"A natural alternative to the chlorine with no chemical treatment. This natural environment pool is the pool of the future. 15 years ago this system was introduced in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. It is naturally heated. The price of this pool is around €600 per meter square. The cost for one year €400 for electricity and €100 for the water." from www.out next.com    If you can read french...check out this site:  http://www.biotic.fr/

New Modular Home in the City

For those of you who love modern, modular and marvelous....check out the new, green house at 3140 Pennsylvania Street. It really is not attractive from the outside, though exciting none-the-less. The link below is from Urban Review where I "borrowed" the photo and you can find out more about the story.  The other link is for the developer/designer.  Ted Wight St. Louis Real Estate

http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3156

http://www.ecourbanhomes.com/featuredhomes.html

Demun Pointe

Clayton's first green mixed-use residential building. Built per LEED specifications.  Residences range from 1170 sq ft. to over 2500 sq ft, with eco-friendly wood floors, 9 and 10 ft ceiling heights, state-of-the art appliances, expansive terraces and balconies, Pella windows, luxurious master suites, 2 car garage parking and most important---Close to everything. Priced from $349,000 to $995,000.

Find out more here:  www.demunpointe.com

The Green Home

I came across this website which gives you tips on how to have a "greener" home and lifestyle: http://www.greenhome.com/

Demand Hot Water Heaters

During my trip to New York, I visited my brother in Corning, NY.   He is going through the process of "greening" his house to make it more energy efficient.  Other than putting in a new energy-efficient furnace and insulation, he put in a new, demand hot water heater.   The benefits are not only the energy savings, though you never run out of hot water.    I think it would be great for a big family, someone who is not home much or for a vacation home.   Read more about this below:

Demand (or instantaneous) water heaters eliminate the storage tank by heating water directly when there is a call for hot water. These units are experiencing a growing popularity in the U.S. The energy consumption of these units may be lower since standby losses from the storage tank are eliminated. Demand water heaters make the most sense in homes with natural gas and easily coordinated water requirements. Look for a model with electronic ignition to eliminate the energy consumed by a continuously running pilot light.