News Picks:

Is Organic Food Worth It?: Real Food author Nina Planck explains why it is worth it to buy organic food.

“Pre-washed” Salad Precaution: A Consumer Reports test found bagged salads may not be as clean as you think.

Tax Rewards for Going Green: Good NYTimes summary of the expanded tax credits that make energy-saving purchases more affordable right now.

Multimedia Link:
Because it’s Friday and I want to pretend that my wardrobe consists of more than work clothes and yoga pants. The best moments of New York Fashion week’s Green Shows.

New and Cool Pick:

Prepeat Printer can erase and reprint on the same paper.

OK–this is by the far the coolest concept we saw this week.  The paper is made of plastic (bummer), but if you only need a few pieces, it will save lots and lots of trees (yeah!).

News Picks:

• ‘Desertification Danger’: A new report suggests 38% of the world’s land is at risk of ‘extreme deterioration’ due to human activities.

• Weather Chaos for Winter Olympics: Warmest temperatures on record in Vancouver threaten winter games due to lack of snow.

• NY Fashion Week Goes Green: For the first time ever, New York Fashion Week will have net-zero emissions levels.

Multimedia Pick:

HGTV’s Green Home 2010 recently posted an Outstanding Features Slideshow that has great ideas for green home design.








New and Cool Pick:

Swedish and American researchers are working together to create affordable energy-efficient glowing wallpaper using plastic panels and electrode technology.

I’m trying to be greener, but still practical. I guess I’m in the right place.

I’ve owned my home in Eastern Massachusetts for five years, and I’ve upgraded (sometimes by choice, sometimes not) much of the infrastructure in the house: the boiler, the washer and dryer, the refrigerator/freezer in the garage, the deck, and more. I’ve dumped enough money into this house that I’m wary of putting in more. Still, I’m intrigued by the “Cash for Appliances” program.

I’d love to upgrade some of the remaining original elements in the house, especially if Uncle Sam is going to chip in for it. I took advantage of similar programs over the past few years when I re-insulated the attic and put in central air conditioning. Everybody wins: my energy bills are lower and I’m dumping less into the environment. So, it’s a slam dunk, right? Bring it on!

Maybe not. We’re moving next year.

I really don’t want to drop more money into this house if I’m not going to get it back when I sell. Times are tough. And I’m not that hardcore.

CNN is reinforcing my worry, writing this morning that home-energy retrofits aren’t paying for themselves at resell time.

Nearly everyone agrees that performing an energy retrofit will make your place more comfortable and save a lot on bills. But if the retrofits don’t add value to the home’s price, will homeowners make the improvements, regardless of whether or not the government decides to pick up half the tab, as they are considering?

I think that a lot of the trouble is that the real-estate market hasn’t caught up to the green trends yet.

Part of the problem is that many real estate appraisers aren’t trained to look for energy efficiency upgrades.

…

[Appraisal Institute President Leslie] Sellers said the institute is currently running green certification programs that will teach appraisers how to better value upgrades like efficiency improvements.

Will Realtors and home-buyers be able to properly price these enhancements when they’re looking at a house? Eventually? Yes. In 2011? I don’t think so. To really be able to perform these retrofits if you’re planning on moving within a couple of years, the upgrades must pay for themselves as reliably as updating the 70’s bathroom and redoing the kitchen.

I want high-efficiency furnaces and zero-VOC paint to be this decade’s marble countertops. I just don’t think we’re there yet.

So, I’m probably going to hold off, even with the tax credit. I’m going to save that money and use it to upgrade the next house.

What do you think? Have you seen the housing market reward green retrofits? Let me know in the comments, or send us a tweet @practicalgreen.