Contemporary redwood and glass home situated on a hilltop with decks, trees and views. Cathedral ceilings, all ceramic tile flooring, in quiet, ecology-minded home. Constructed with all natural materials. No pesticides used on property for over 10 years. Fragrance-free, perfect for someone with E.I. or M.C.S.. No dogs please.

New all electric appliances include glass/ halogen cooktop and convection oven. Private bath includes bathtub and greenhouse window. Washer/dryer in unit. Near transportation and downtown San Rafael. 18 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Fast DSL internet connection, cable TV. $1625. month, plus 1 month security deposit, lease, credit check. Call (415)459-6620 for address, directions and open house dates. If you have questions contact joanee@binary-one.com.

Southern California --

That should take you to:
http://desertlink.com/parkplacerealty/wrightwood-homes/pk974.html

Description of Wrightwood in the San Gabriel Mountains
A house that was included several times on the National Solar Homes/Sustainable Living Tour is now for sale. It is in Wrightwood, in the San Gabriel Mountains, twelve miles off the Cajon Pass on the I-15 fwy.

The current owners moved there because one of them suffers from MCS, and chose the location for its clean air and this house for its healthy potential. They remodeled it to make it a safe place, replacing the carpet with ceramic tile and oak flooring, using non-toxic paints and finishes, etc. The house is especially appropriate for people with chemical sensitivities because it is heated primarily by passive solar energy, supplemented by a pellet stove, and it stays cool in summer without A/C.

Additional info:
The owners chose this house for its passive-solar potential, its spectacular views, and its sculptural character. They bought it knowing that extensive renovation would be necessary, both for reasons of health and to increase its energy efficiency. However, there was no other approprite house available and this one had "good bones." They had sold a larger house in the Los Angeles Basin and finally decided it made sense to
invest the proceeds from that sale into renovation of a house that was both stunningly beautiful and potentially very healthy and energy-efficient.

Life in this three-story, double-A-frame house is like living in a sculpture with its constant play of light and shade. Two-story walls of windows on both the north and the south allow the owners to virtually live in the trees surrounding the house. Equally important, the south-facing walls provide solar gain in cool weather but are shaded by eaves and deciduous vines and trees all summer. The house is comfortable all summer (so comfortable that visitors often think it is air-conditioned). Even during deep winter, when temperatures can reach below zero Fahrenheit, because of the high-quality windows and doors, it is remarkably free of drafts and usually requires supplemental heat from the pellet stove only in the morning and evenings.

Since one of the owners suffers from "multiple chemical sensitivities," the house's potential for solar heating and cooling was a key factor in choosing it. The major costs in renovation were: energy-efficient windows and doors, including an openable sky-light for heat exhaust; a second insulated roof over the original roof; transformation of the unfinished ground-floor area into a bedroom, bath, utility room, entry, and storage area; enclosed garage; two new stairways; new front deck; and installation of oak and ceramic tile floors. The tile floors were chosen both for heat-retaining mass and because of the owner's sensitivity to the toxins in carpets, vinyl floors, etc. After they replaced the original sliding glass doors and louvered windows, they were used to build a small greenhouse that helps warm the guest bedroom and extends the growing season for some plants.

A solar water heater provides adequate hot water nearly year-round. An all-season furnace fan, electrostatic filter, and humidifi er in the basement filter the air, add healthy moisture to it, and help keep the house cool in summer.

For health reasons, they replaced the gas stove and dryer with electrical ones. An energy-efficient dishwasher, refrigerator, and washer plus low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce energy and water use.

A small garden, two dozen varieties of fruit-bearing plants and trees, and hens tucked into the hillside lot supplement the owners' diet with organic food. A fishpond, bird- feeders, and plants chosen for their attractiveness to birds and beneficial insects and for their drought-resistant and fire-retardant properties, attract birds and insects that assist organic gardening and enhance the beauty of the location.

UTILITY COSTS:
Monthly utility bills are low. Averaged over the last two years, monthly bills were:
  Natural gas $8.85; Electricity $57.79; Water $71.77;
  Space heating per year: about 75 bags of pellets @$4.29/bag ! plus tax = $347.49

Florida -

HOUSE FOR SALE, Tampa, FL 33604.

Price $113,500.





Fantastic buy in North Tampa, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, two offices, ceramic tile in living areas, carpet in bedrooms, large all-electric kitchen, large shed & treehouse for the kids. Built 1979, 1,386 SqFt (centrally heated/air conditioned). Electric. Fenced lot 50x140, fruit trees.

Nice shade trees around keep utilities low. Quiet neighborhood. Furnishings and lawn equipment stay if desired. Custom shelves in bedroom. Dishwasher, washing machine (no fragrances used,) dryer (no fragrances used), microwave, range, refrigerator included.

Close to bus line, in city limits, paved street. Master bedroom has walk-in closet and private bathroom. Attic, blinds/shades, drapes, rods, smoke alarm.

Block construction. Wired for surround sound. No pesticides used on premises, no smoking. Home Warranty. Owner occupied. MLS: 2000071 (Area 220).

Agent: Alison DiChristopher. Office 813-949-7444, Home 813-961-1188.
Or write to me claire@blazingtattles.com.

Oregon -

A public service announcement ...
This is a start-up project. -- barb (12/01)

Environmentally Safer Housing
We are dedicated to providing a community housing facility for the chemically sensitive in a clean air environment to include rental apartments, a community center, grounds for trailers, tents and organic gardens. We plan to develop duplexes and/or individual home sites for sale and/or rent in the future.


Safe Haven Community Housing
8440 SW Canyon Drive
Portland, Oregon 97225
judiths@teleport.com

http://www.geocities.com/safehavencommunity/