We are so excited about the new building project that we are working on. I went today and changed several locks and put in some new light bulbs. I used CFL bulbs. They are on sale at Home Depot right now, a four pack for under 6 bucks! As is typical with anything like this, the doors are split or warped and so the new locks didn’t really fit right. Still, new doors are not the first thing to get fixed, as nearly all the doors in the place will be changed. I also took some pictures of the neighborhood. We are fortunate to have a bus stop right out front, and nearby is the 65th street rapid station. 
Just across from the rapid station is the Michael Zone Recreation Center. They have great green spaces and the building view is great.
We also met with an insurance broker today. We want to start with liability right away. Who know what can happen as we have site inspectors and such tramping through the property. The broker is familiar with green insurance products. One important point he brought up, is that if you plan to have a green building, you should make sure that your insurance is green as well. Property is valued at its green value, not just general value. For example, if building materials are damaged or stolen, you are entitled to the exact replacement value. Specialized materials (say recycled gypsum board) are replaced with the same thing (instead of standard drywall). Green buildings make use of as much existing materials as possible. If someone breaks into your site, and makes off with all the trim boards that you cut to size after lovingly pulling nails and refinishing, make sure that your insurance recognizes the labor and time that went into those materials, so you can be justly compensated. Our broker represents many insurance companies, and we will let you know more when we sit down with the final quotes. Fireman’s Insurance provides the most benefits for green buildings, but Travelers has recently entered the arena. When we meet with him again, I will tell you about the pros and cons…
