Want a good way to help protect the value of your home? Remember these two words: green matters. Not green paint, mind you, but green space. It’s an umbrella term for the trees, lawn, shrubs and other plantings that can affect not only the salability of your home, but your utility bills as well.
Which is why Project EverGreen, a national non-profit organization, is leading the charge to educate consumers about the many values of green space -- especially as it affects their pocketbooks.
According to Den Gardner, executive director of Project EverGreen, “research shows that improving the green space around your home can have real economic benefits.â€
Protecting Home Value
Gardner cites a number of studies which show that sprucing up your green space can help protect and, depending on market conditions, bolster home value. For example: a study cited in Smart Money magazine indicated that consumers value a landscaped home up to 11.3 percent higher than its base price. In addition, The Wall Street Journal reported that landscaping investment is normally recovered fully and sometimes doubled by its ability to increase home value.
That sounds good, but Gardner adds this important caution: “It’s wise to plan before you plant. Make sure you begin landscape improvement or renovation with well-thought-out ideas for maintaining and/or improving your green space. You may want to do the work yourself -- and that’s good exercise; however, it’s always wise to seek professional advice to get the right balance and placement of trees, shrubs, grass and other plantings.â€
As evidence of this he cited a research project conducted by the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI). This showed that a sophisticated landscape design with trees and large, colorful bedding plants can raise the perceived value of a home between 5 and 11 percent. On the other hand, consumer reaction was that minimalist landscapes (i.e. with small plant size and low sophistication) actually decreased the perception of home value.
Saving Energy Costs
Planning the right mix of trees, grass and other plantings can also make a difference in a home’s energy consumption. One study has estimated that when properly placed to shade your home, trees can reduce air conditioning demand by 10 to 30 percent. Another study found attic temperatures could be up to 40 degrees lower when adequate shade was present.
“There are two ways you take advantage of this natural cooling effect,†Gardner says. “First, if you have mature trees make sure they’re pruned properly to maximize shade benefits, and second, in planning for future shade, seek professional advice as to the type and location of the trees you should plant. Both steps can help lower your electrical bill.â€
Also, don’t overlook how maintaining a thick, healthy lawn and other plants also provides cooling benefits. “This is due to a process known as evapotranspiration. Gardner says. “When vegetation is warmed by the sun it gives up water which then evaporates to cool not only the plant itself but the surrounding area as well. The result is one of nature’s most overlooked, and yet most efficient cooling systems. In fact, researchers have calculated that evapotranspiration from the front lawns in a block of eight houses, produces cooling equivalent to 70 tons of air conditioning.â€
You can find more information about these and other benefits of green space by accessing www.projectevergreen.com.
Courtesy of ARA content
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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