Jim Smardon- Real Estate Professional

Do you remember the Avro Arrow? I hope this project is a great success and that we see the Arrow EV available for purchase in the near future! Who knows, maybe this will be my replacement for the Soul EV. https://www.thestar.com//ambitious-project-aims-to-produce

I’ve been putting a lot of myself into being an advocate for living a greener lifestyle and as it turns out there is still more I can be doing (No big shocker, there’s always something more that can be done). This test has actually shown me that it’s not always easy let alone possible for some of us in today’s society to live the perfect green life and that’s ok! Everyone doing the best they can and changing some things how they can is enough in my books to be considered cli...mate heroes. Think of this test as a way to get a few new ideas, a few things you can change without disrupting your own life too greatly. And if you do better than I did let me know! I’ll be hitting you up for ideas. Are you a climate hero? Take the quiz to find out how you actions impact your carbon footprint.

This partnership between Loblaws and Loop is an exciting development! I hope this initiative is well received in Ontario and will be rolled out across the country. I’m all in for paying a deposit on reusable containers and and then returning them to the store so they can be reused at least 10 times before being recycled. What do you think? Would you give these products a try if they were available in your community?

Hey all, me again with a little green news. I’m happy to see that $5.5 million from the green fund created by Nova Scotia’s cap and trade program (our province’s version of the carbon tax) is being invested in the Solar Homes program. I was lucky to be able to take advantage of this program when it first started in 2018. The program is currently offering a rebate of up to $6000 ($0.60/Watt). I’d loved to see this bumped up to $1 per Watt which is where it started. If you... have any questions about my experience installing solar feel free to reach out. Have you taken advantage of the Solar Homes program? What programs do you think the green fund should be used for in the future? I’d love to see a NS EV rebate and a program to support residential efficiency upgrades. https://www.cbc.ca//investment-energy-efficiency-renewable

Check out this article about retrofitting vs new builds when it comes to ECO-friendly living. A lot of the info. ties into the training I received while becoming the first designated GREEN REALTOR in Atlantic Canada. Here are a few of my thoughts: #1 Living in a GREEN ECO-friendly home does not mean building from scratch. For those who are looking at new builds and are saying "look at all the lumber used, look at all the trucks and vehicles needed to get stuff to the lo...t, look at all the demolition of land and resources just to clean a lot for the house... You would be right, that is not super ECO-friendly at all. Slapping heat pumps or solar panels on a new build or tossing in a small green space are all great, but not necessarily the most effective way of being ECO-friendly. #2 It's a common misconception that "Newer is better". Many existing homes (you might even live in one) can become significantly more ECO-friendly with a little facelift. Try getting Efficiency Nova Scotia in to take a look at your place to do an energy audit. Often times, tossing in proper insulation, newer windows or having the home's envelope fixed by wrapping your house with wrap insulation like Tyvek makes a huge difference to your energy use. Just because your home is older, does not mean it can't become GREEN and ECO-friendly. #3 Another common misconception, Green is more expensive. Now this is where real estate me shines. No, it's not more expensive... in the long run. With higher upfront costs, it can seem a bit intimidating to make all these changes but I challenge you to sit down and do the budget and remember that changes can be made gradually as your budget allows. A few additional things to take into consideration: a) Your home appreciates in value when you add GREEN upgrades and limits the depreciation of a home in a bad market. Who isn't looking for a heat pump these days? Who isn't trying to save money on their heating/water bill? These new technologies are made with exactly that in mind. b)The government is even trying to help out by offering subsidies and low interest loans on getting some of these things installed. Plus the more we push for subsidies/rebates etc. the more we will get. Lastly, the savings essentially pay for the upgrades themselves, I'm serious, I've done the math, but don't take my word for it, do the research, make the calls, do the math, trust your own eyes and come to your own conclusions. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Are you considering any green upgrades to your home? If you were buying a new home, what green features are most important to you? https://ecologyaction.ca/retrofit-or-replace

Did you know that with every purchase or sale of your home, when you use me you are helping others? In October of 2020 I took my passion for the environment and merged it with the work of International Needs Canada. I began donating 8% of my commissions, in my clients names, to support the final phase of a solar panel project for the Ephphata School for the Deaf in the Democratic Republic of Congo. If you’re interested, you can read more about this project at thesmardonway....com under the Solar Panel Project tab. If you have questions, feel free to reach out. I’m so excited to champion a cause greater than myself and I’m always happy to help you, your family and/or friends with all your real estate needs.

I’d like to give a big thanks to all my clients and what better way to say thanks but with pie! Strap on in 2021 is on its way. (Not everyone made the video but it can only be so long )

Just listed, 5 Skeena Street, Halifax. Not one to be missed! ... https://5546-53267.ixactcontactwebsites.com//202024047/323/

With real estate what it is these days, you’d be bananas not to wonder about the market value of your home. Contact me today for your free market analysis, no monkey business.With real estate what it is these days, you’d be bananas not to wonder about the market value of your home. Contact me today for your free market analysis, no monkey business.

Had fun trying out the Tesla model 3. A big shout out to AllEV. Decisions decisions. I’d also like to point out that I will never buy another car that does not have collision avoidance. This could have been a very different post. Anyhow, EV’s have come a long way in a short time. If you have any questions about them, solar or real estate, feel free to drop me a line!

Congratulations and welcome home to this amazing family! #thesmardonway #internationalneedscanada #halifaxrealtor #halifaxrealestate