Short notice for a neat event:

Today and tomorrow (1/25-26) the University of Texas is hosting the Sustainable Business Summit. Here is the description:

Through speaker panels, interactive workshops, a sustainable product fair, a conference luncheon, and hands-on activities, we will analyze the best practices of companies who have integrated green strategies into their vision and discuss emerging business innovations that will help businesses ensure future success.

Attendees will interact with local and national business leaders and faculty experts. The panels will focus on the important environmental issues that face businesses in the 21st century, and the economic opportunities therein. Half of the event will be hands-on learning opportunities, from green venture launch coaching to an alternative fuel vehicle car test drive.

The summit will move beyond making the business case for green business and will arm participants with the tools for implementation.

For more details checkout the webpage here: UT Sustainable Business Summit 2008.

It’s been awhile so here’s another long list of links. Happy reading!

Featured Listing

If you haven’t yet done so, please checkout my new listing at 1101 Canyon Edge. It’s an amazing home designed by Tom Hurt, featured on the 2006 AIA Homes Tour.

Austin News

• There has been a decent amount of coverage about a new Downtown Austin plan based on input from ROMA Design Group and HR&A Advisors (consultants). News8Austin has a high level overview of a recent public discussion – News 8 Austin: Downtown plan sets goals for the future. For all of the details check out City of Austin: Downtown Redevelopment
• In other development news, Villa Muse developers want to avoid City of Austin jurisdiction – Statesman: Proposed studio complex’s developers want to build outside Austin’s controls
• I recently covered Austin’s Greenest Home For Sale. Unfortunately Austin’s Greenest Home hasn’t sold. Statesman: Solar house draws interest but no bids yet
• In McMansion news, the City Council decided that further restrictions on East Austin lots was not the answer. Statesman: Austin council rejects more home limits
• A national study found Austin had more job openings advertised than most other large metro areas. Austin Business Journal: Need a job? Austin’s got plenty, report says
• Austin regularly receives national recognition for job growth (see above), green building, farmers markets, etc. Here’s a new one – Esquire Magazine rated The Mohawk as the best bar in America. Pretty cool!Esquire: Best Bars

Green News

• In green power news, Austin Energy has more ‘Greenchoice’ capacity available – Austinist: Austin Energy’s GreenChoice Program – It’s Back!
• Further wind power capacity will be coming to Texas thanks to GE – Statesman: GE to invest in $350 million Texas wind farm
• In Nevada, the largest solar array in North America has just started generating electricity – MetaEfficient: North America’s Largest Solar-Electric Plant Switched On
• It’s good news that many industries are working to make their products more energy and resource efficient. Electronic House covers how this trend was on display in the consumer electronics industry’s largest showcase – Electronic House: CES 2008 Goes Green
• Compact Flourescent bulbs are widely considered an easy step towards making our homes more efficient. Some detractors point out the higher mercury content as a critical flaw. Could CFL’s also cause migraines? Read for yourself – Switched: Energy-Saving Bulbs Causing Migraine Headaches
• Here’s an interesting article about how to invest in socially responsible (and fiscally sound) companies – Wisebread: Socially Responsible Investing Goes Green

Misc

• This may be the only time I mention the 2008 Presidential Election, so pay attention. Check out some of the candidates personal residences – Newsweek: The Candidates’ Homes
• A weak dollar can make US real estate prices a bargain for those overseas. Case in point – Overseas Property Mall: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Condo

Stay Warm!

A quick heads up – check out my new Featured Listing: 1101 Canyon Edge Dr

Whew… it took me 2 solid nights but my property database is now back up to date and correctly geo-located and tagged: Inspired Austin Modern Home Searches

You may now resume your modern real estate browsing. I will now resume the regularly scheduled blogging. We’ll all live happily ever after.

I’m sorry to report that the new MLS database has foiled me yet again. Yesterday’s data update contained a serious error that corrupted my database. You may have noticed that my Home Search results are missing photos, and are no longer sorted by their time on the market.

You can imagine my frustration, as this will take me some time to repair. The migration of the Austin MLS to new database software has been very rough. In any case, I apologize for the interruption in service, but (pending good data) I hope to have everything fixed by Monday.

If anyone needs data on a particular property from my list of modern homes/condos please don’t hesitate to contact me in the meantime:

ryan at inspiredaustin.com or 512-380-1663

Have a nice weekend. Wish me luck!