LEEDing the Way!

For starters, how to decide on the title when so many opportunities to play on the LEED are available; Born to LEED, Follow the LEEDer, LEED By Example, Taking the LEED, actually I really like that last one...


Taking the LEED


The construction industry is riddled with the word "Green". It often accompanies environmental buzzwords like sustainability, but the real question is what does it mean? The unfortunate reality is that Green has been used as an all encompassing term to describe everything from the use of natural materials, to renewable energy production, to a recycling bin under the kitchen sink. As a result, many companies have become perpetrators of "Greenwashing". Greenwashing refers to those who make the claim that they are using Green Construction or Green Building, when in fact their methods only appear to be in the best interest of the environment.


This brings us to LEED, The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System®. This program was developed by the United States Green Building Council and has been adopted by the CaGBC as well. Its goal is to encourage and quantify the global adoption of environmental building and development practices with a specific set of universally understood and accepted criteria. This makes it one of the only programs available that offers quantified proof that construction is environmentally friendly.

The LEED program employs an approach that covers the entire building process and measures efficiencies in design and maintenance. It focuses on five specific areas of human and environmental health:

• Sustainable Site Development
• Water Efficiency
• Energy Efficiency
• Materials Selection
• Indoor Environmental Quality

The four levels of LEED Certification identify the depth of the effort and design to minimize the impact on the surrounding environment.

The motivation for Wing Creek Resort to work to certify each of the new homes two-fold. First of all, the passion we all feel towards the natural beauty of the Kootenay region is evident in almost everything that we do professionally and personally. We aren't environmentalists, but we respect and appreciate the untouched nature that makes the Kootenays so special. Second, the steps taken throughout the LEED process to ensure that a home works efficiency and, most importantly, is a healthy home to live in, made it a very easy choice. It gave us peace of mind in knowing that each of our homes have the cleanest possible air, the freshest and healthiest water, and the necessary protection against natural elements such as Radon. LEED ensures that we have all the necessary components and more. Combine that with the quality and luxury of a Hamill Creek Timber Homes and you have exactly what a home should be; a warm, safe, healthy, and beautiful place to live.

Thank you and see you out here,

Steve Hoffart

250.353.8985

stevehoffart@wingcreekresort.com

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2010 TD Canada Trust Boomer Buyers Report

So maybe not the catchiest title ever, with that said the information contained in this report is indicative of the positive proposition Wing Creek has to offer. The following was taken directly from the TD Canada Trust website and has not been altered in any way.

TORONTO (October 28, 2010) - For their next move, Canadian boomers are looking to downsize to smaller homes. According to the TD Canada Trust Boomer Buyers Report, four-in-five Canadian boomers say their next move will be to a smaller home, either to save money (46%) or to enjoy more luxurious features (34%).

“Many boomers find that their needs and priorities have changed since they moved into their current home. If you find you have more room than you need, consider ‘right-sizing,’” says Farhaneh Haque, Regional Sales Manager, Mobile Mortgage Specialists, TD Canada Trust. “Moving to a smaller home can allow you to free up assets to put towards your retirement savings or enjoy in other ways.”

Retiring with a mortgage?
Three-quarters of boomers say it is important that they pay off their mortgage before they retire, but less than half (44%) have paid off their entire mortgage. Of those boomers with a mortgage, one-third have paid off more than 60%, but one-quarter have a long way to go, having paid off less than 25% of their mortgage.

Haque offers this advice for boomers working to pay off their mortgage: “Talk to an expert about your home financing – you could pay off your mortgage faster with a different payment schedule, such as increasing your mortgage payment frequency from monthly to biweekly.”

Boomers prefer detached homes:
For their next home, the majority of boomers (61%) plan to purchase a detached house. Although condos come in as second choice at 24%, more than half say they are at least considering a condo because they involve less maintenance (84%) and offer better security (54%) and amenities such as a gym or pool (47%). The top reasons that most boomers prefer houses over condos are that they prefer to have a backyard and garden (61%) and don’t want to pay condo fees (57%).

However, some boomers say they will stay put. Forty-nine per cent will not move, either because they want to avoid the hassle of moving (61%), because their house is already the right size for them (43%) or they like having extra rooms for guests to visit (28%).

Boomers heading South:

Nine per cent of boomers currently own a vacation property and a further 12% plan to buy one for their retirement.

More than a third of boomers are considering buying a property south of the border. One quarter say opportunities created by the depressed real estate market have sparked their interest, while another 12% were already considering real estate opportunities in the United States. The most important criteria for buying a vacation property include location (99%), price (98%), low maintenance (95%), and the ability to have friends/family visit (92%).

“It is essential to talk with a qualified mortgage advisor if you are considering a property purchase in a different country,” says Haque. “While there can certainly be opportunities, it is important to consider lending rules and taxes. An expert can help walk you through the paperwork and decide whether a property in another country really is an affordable option.”

About the TD Canada Trust Boomer Buyers Report
Results for the TD Canada Trust Boomer Buyers Report were collected through a custom online survey conducted by Environics Research Group. A total of 1,000 completed surveys were collected between Sept. 30-Oct. 9, 2010. All participants were screened to have been born between 1946-1964 (“Baby Boomers”). This is the third report in a series on the life stages of Canadian home buyers. It follows the first time home buyers report and the repeat home buyers report.