Green Living in Marin 
Green ideas, tips and information on sustainable, eco-friendly living in Marin County, California.
There are currently 43 blog entries related to this category.
Prefab in San Francisco - a How to Workshop
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012 at 3:57pm. 178 Views, 0 Comments.
We wanted to let our clients and friends know that we are hosting an exclusive event later this month which is designed to educate attendees on the process of building a modern prefab home in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Importantly, we've hosted a similar event in the past (with a speaker from Michelle Kaufmann Design) which "sold out" quickly so we wanted to share this information with our blog followers early.
This event - Building a Modernist & Eco-Friendly Prefab Home in the San Francisco Bay Area - will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear from keynote speakers from Bay-area based Simpatico Homes, Swatt Architects, Marin Modern Real Estate, East Bay Modern Real Estate and…
Affordable Solar House Designed by Marin Architects' Rushton-Chartock
Monday, March 12th, 2012 at 7:54pm. 169 Views, 0 Comments.
A recent Marin IJ story, "Living Small" spotlighted a very cool prototype for a 2nd unit that is state of the art and energy efficient. It utilizes photovoltaic panels, on-demand water heater, state mandated insulation, energy efficient appliances and takes advantage of passive heating in winter months. Many communities are making it "somewhat" easier to add a second unit as a way to meet affordable housing goals. Think of all the possibilities from an in-law unit for parents, a separate home office, housing for an au-pair or for that 21 year old++ who has moved back home! Best of all, the design can be expanded to a 3 bedroom/2 bath, 1,031 sq. ft. single family home. The estimated cost is $237,000.
This design opens up so…
Dwell Homes Tour Marin - Buy Tickets Now!
Thursday, March 1st, 2012 at 7:38am. 2467 Views, 0 Comments.
As mentioned earlier this year, Marin Modern Real Estate is proud to once again serve as the exclusive real estate sponsor for the Dwell Modern Homes Tour in Marin County which will be held April 27 - April 29, 2012.
I'm excited to announce that tickets for this modern home tour in Marin County are now available for purchase and clients and friends of Marin Modern Real Estate can receive a 10% discount off of the ticket purchase price by utilizing a special Marin Modern / Dwell+Marin Magazine Marin County Home Tours coupon code.
Please mark your calendar (and purchase your tickets) for this unique events since a limited number of tickets will be sold and this is an extremely popular event. Ticket and event details are as…
Alternative heating for Eichler's whose radiant system has failed
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 at 6:44am. 385 Views, 0 Comments.
Over fifty years later, Joseph Eichler's iconic mid-century modern homes are still as popular as ever and San Rafael (Terra Linda and Lucas Valley), is full of them. I have had the good fortune to live in one for the last eight years. I love the floor to ceiling windows, feasibility of one level living, indoor outdoor lifestyle and up until a year ago my fabulous radiant heat. Radiant heat, a classic element in Eichler's building style, is a marvelous heating system that allows hot water to flow through pipes imbedded in the concrete slab and then radiate out to create a most wonderful warm home. But what happens if the 50 year plus system fails? The copper pipe systems seem to repair well, however mine was not made with copper pipes and it needed…
Chaat Lotus & Spices Rivals Sol Foods for Delicious, Inexpensive Dining in San Rafael
Sunday, November 6th, 2011 at 10:48am. 224 Views, 0 Comments.
Earlier this week on a balmy fall evening, my husband and I walked the hills above San Rafael on our way to dinner on Fourth Street. The beauty of living in the West End Neighborhood is the proximity to downtown San Rafael and San Anselmo.
Our walk took us up Spring Grove where we took a trail that landed us on Upper Toyon in Kentfield and a beautiful sunset over Mt. Tam, then meandered down another trail to Gerstle Park and from there to downtown. We were hungry but not in the white table cloth dining sort of way. We were in the mood for something more casual, less expensive, where we could have a glass of wine, sit outside and enjoy the last of the warm evenings.
We ended up at Chaat Lotus and Spices at the West End of…
San Rafael Resident with a Lifetime of Stories
Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 8:11am. 260 Views, 2 Comments.
If you're looking for a guide to the West End and San Rafael or a personal history of the Great Depression and World War Two, or maybe a unique garden tour, a musical evening, just the right screw for that broken door hinge or perhaps just some fatherly advice, then all roads should lead you to Stan Kosta's home on a quiet cul-de-sac above the Miracle Mile.
Stan, who turned 93 last year, has lived in his two-bedroom house since he bought it for $10,000 in 1948, bargaining with the builder as its wooden frame was being erected on a hilltop above the Miracle Mile. It had a wonderful panorama of San Rafael and the bay to the East, and Mount Tam, San Anselmo and Bald Mountain - when it really was bald and not covered in greenery - to the…
Public Storage Options in Marin County
Saturday, October 15th, 2011 at 8:35am. 415 Views, 1 Comments.
Perhaps you are preparing to move to another home locally or across the country. Maybe you are about to embark on a major remodel of your home and need to move much of your belongings out for a fixed period of time. Another scenario finds you getting ready to sell your home. You've selected a realtor, met with the stager and you need to make way for some important staging and accessorizing of your main living areas. Your garage is already packed to the gills so what exactly are your options?
The public storage options in Marin County are varied, flexible and quite affordable. They are designed to meet every conceivable need whether you've already identified it or are still trying to sort it all out. The important…
Friday Food Truck Crush at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal
Saturday, September 17th, 2011 at 12:57pm. 466 Views, 0 Comments.
Since mid-May, Larkspur Ferry commuters have been enjoying the Friday "Food Truck Crush" from 4 to 8 p.m. each week. This pilot program is coordinated by Marin County-based Ready Set Entertainment, Inc. and will come to an end at the end of this month. Thankfully, there is a recommendation pending before the Golden Gate Transit District to establish a long-term program beginning next spring. A concept that has its' true genesis in Portland where gourmet food trucks and carts have taken up permanent residence in large parking lots throughout the city, this is Marin's first foray into the world of gourmet food that is fast, fresh and outrageously delicious!
The truck line-up includes Asian Fusion, Peruvian sandwiches, Cajun, Mid-west style…
Sustainable Marin! EcoFair Marin this Sunday, 9/4/11
Thursday, September 1st, 2011 at 10:07pm. 388 Views, 0 Comments.
This weekend EcoFair Marin is being held on Sunday, September 4th from 10am-7pm at the Marin County Fairgrounds.
Exhibitors include everything from green housing, conservation, urban farming and living a greener lifestyle.
Sampling of demonstration topics:
- Learn how to save water inside and outside your home
- How to build and maintain a School Garden
- Sustainable farming
- Social Media for social good
- Marin Agricultural Land Trust
- How to raise chickens
- Sustainable cooking
- Green home products
And much much more...
There are so many amazing speakers at this event. Check out the event schedule for more details.
Tickets: $5 General Admission. Kids under 17 are FREE!
Transportation options: Spare the air and ride your bike.…
Curbside composting in Marin County: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How!
Monday, August 29th, 2011 at 3:15pm. 451 Views, 1 Comments.
This is a brief overview of why curbside composting is so important, how to do it right and who can participate in it.
WHO: First off there are several major refuse service providers in Marin County. Each one, except Bay City Refuse in Sausalito, has implemented a curbside composting service and each has their own rules as to what they accept. Links to their composting policies are provided in bold. Weekly curbside pick-up is available for single-family homes in residential areas from the following providers.
Marin Sanitary Service provides for San Rafael, Kentfield, Ross, Larkspur, Terra Linda, Lucas Valley, Marinwood, Fairfax and San Anselmo.
Mill Valley Refuse provides for Mill Valley, Corte Madera and Belvedere
Redwood Empire provides for…