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February 6th, 2012

Enforcement Action Puts Farm Owner in Cross Hairs

Aerial view of client's property

Imagine buying a farm property then just a few months later being told that environmental disturbances have occurred on the site and the State is now taking an aggressive enforcement action against you that threatens your property, your livelihood and your family. Like it or not, you’re now in the cross hairs of the state’s environmental enforcement agency.

Thankfully, you’re smart enough to call GreenWorks.

That’s exactly what the real property owner did when confronted with the situation described above. We went to work to prove the technical claims of the state’s enforcement agency were inaccurate. Using historical geographical data, in-the-field research, soil boring and extensive research, GreenWorks discovered that site disturbances on the property went all the way back to the early 20th century. Over the decades, and many years before our client purchased the property, County, State & Federal agencies actually realigned the stream several times where the previous owners cleared and filled wooded wetlands and flood plains.

Once we had the facts, we then needed to lay it out clearly and make our case to the Department of Environmental Protection/ After doing just that, the fines were reduced saving our client more than $100,000. Additionally, the amount of land on the property that needed to be  restored was significantly decreased from 10 acres to 1 acre.

These types of violations never used to get this much attention, but now many towns and State agencies are increasingly relying upon serving up NOV’s as part of their revenue strategy. In this case, what began as an aggressive enforcement action requiring hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and improvements ended up as a minor restoration that saved our clients money, time and lots of headaches.

So, if you know a homeowner being cited for an illegal dock, bulkhead or property improvements with no permits, or commercial/industrial operation not in compliance with air emission or solid waste disposal standards, have them give GreenWorks a call. We’ll work hard to get the the cross hairs off their back!

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Posted in Environmental Science, Real Estate | No Comments »
February 6th, 2012

Healthy Homes and Happy Families

How clean is the air in YOUR home?

Molds, mildew, dangerous gases and household chemicals emit unhealthy fumes and toxins. From todays super energy-efficient homes that are sealed off from the exterior environment to older homes from our built environment, those unhealthy fumes, toxins and what’s known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can collect and grow to quantities inside your home that are unhealthy. That’s called “sick home syndrome.” It’s a health problem that’s on the rise. It’s also fully preventable.

GreenWorks has identified a “Fresh Air” solution for homes that is affordable, effective and sustainable. We’ve recently been working with homeowners in Ocean and Monmouth Counties who have sick homes and sick families due to unhealthy air and environmental conditions within their homes. They each were suffering from excessive moisture in their basements, crawl spaces and downstairs family areas. Over time they came to realize that those conditions were hurting their family’s health and financial situation.

That’s when GreenWorks got the call. We stepped in, identified the cause and recommended corrective actions that included a cost effective ventilation system that expelled the moisture, VOCs and other pollutants. Relative humidity inside the homes was reduced, healthier air was introduced and air quality inside the home rapidly improved. The home’s healthier, the family’s healthier and the home’s appeal to future buyers improved. That’s a GreenWorks solution!

The EPA is a great resource for increasing your level of understanding regarding Indoor Air Quality. Check it out.

Residential real estate deals can get hung up on environmental issues. Next time you hear about an underground tank, water in the basement or some other land use issue that is holding up the purchase or sale of a property – residential or commercial – give GreenWorks a call. We’ll clear the path and get the deal done!

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Posted in Air Quality | No Comments »
August 11th, 2011

Property Purchaser’s Due Diligence

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Posted in Environmental Science, Land Planning | No Comments »
August 11th, 2011

Environmental Strategies, Services….and Success!

Everyone has questions. We have answers.

Have you ever picked up that phone and made the tough call to get help only to find out later that you didn’t know what you needed help with in the first place?

Let’s face it, we all have.

But when dealing with environmental matters, don’t become a victim of “DIY-itus.” Enviro issues are complex and the legislative, regulatory and municipal entanglements surrounding them even more so.

Consider mold, for instance. Did you know that many home owner insurance policies cover “water intrusion” which is a primary culprit in triggering mold growth? We do, and we write our reports to reflect that so your claim stands a better chance of being approved.

How about TCE? It’s the de-greasing agent in dry cleaning fluid (a real enviro nasty!). Groundwater contaminated by TCE does not break down naturally, and the surrounding neighborhood impacts can last for decades. Did you know that the contaminated groundwater “plume” moves over time and its residential “vapor intrusion” is the real hazard to homeowners. We do, and we detail the testing that’s potentially needed as part of a property transaction accordingly so that a proper assessment can be made and a deal can be done.

Got LUST? Leaking Underground Storage Tanks are a major headache to clean up. The tightly regulated tanks cost New Jersey homeowners millions every year. But, did you know that not all leaking underground storage tank are created equal? We do, and we quickly make that determination to aide in assessing potential impacts to a property which saves our clients time, expense and anxiety.

Want exceptional value?

Any firm that does not take the time to understand your overall project goal, in addition to what they were hired for, may not be giving you the service you thought you hired them for. GreenWorks understands that all decisions are strategic in nature, which is why we endeavor to give you only the service that you truly need. The success of your project, be it commercial or residential, is our #1 priority.

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Posted in Environmental Science, Green Living, Real Estate | No Comments »
August 11th, 2011

Point Sea Offers Vision of Sustainability for Jersey Shore

Rendering of what will be known as "Point Sea"

At the northern edge of the Barnegat Bay, a mixed-use commercial and residential building is currently undergoing massive renovations and remodeling. The building and surrounding property that sits on Mantoloking Road in Brick will soon be a showcase for leading sustainable and green technologies. The first floor of the building will be a commercial property, the second floor, residential.  Now known as “Point Sea,” it is the mastermind of the area’s premier architect and green builder, Paul Barlo.

GreenWorks Environmental was proud to be part of the wetlands restoration aspect of the project. The wetlands that buffer Barnegat Bay along the southern edge of the property are extremely sensitive and important to the quality of the bay and the surrounding environment. The restoration project increased the total amount of wetlands, improved the wetlands’ long-term viability and enhanced the environment to better reflect its original state. Of course, the wetlands will do their work and filter out pollutants, act as a natural buffer and provide habitat for many indigenous species.

Here are some the green technological highlights being deployed at Point Sea.

The front of Point Sea

Outside
Wetlands Restoration – Improves water quality, protects Barnegat Bay and provides a permanent wetlands to a sensitive and critically important buffer area.

Shell Driveway – Driveway is permeable meaning that water can flow through the surface and to the soil below. This improves stormwater quality. No paving on site.

Rainwater Harvesting – Provides a renewable source of water for landscaping, plant beds, flowers. Water bills are also reduces as the need for municipal water for lawns declines.

Solar Panels – Installed on an outdoor trellis, solar panels will provide 10KW of renewable, green energy to the residential property on the second floor.

Wind Turbine – Installed behind the main building, a wind turbine will provide 10KW of renewable, green energy to the commercial property on the first floor.

Point Sea from behind. This portion of the building faces Barnegat Bay.

Inside
High-Efficiency Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning – HVAC system improves indoor air quality and reduces energy consumption.

Foamed-In Insulation – Ensures year-round comfort and lowers energy bills.

LED Lighting – Drastically reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Paints and Finishings Made From Non-Volatile Organic Compounds – Improve indoor air quality and health of the entire building….along with all its occupants!

Savant Home Automation System – Keeps all the home’s system continuously performing at their most efficient, saving money and guaranteeing peace of mind.

Bamboo Flooring – Harvested from sustainable sources while being extremely durable and attractive.

Non-Formaldehyde Cabinets - Give off very low toxins compared to cabinets that use formaldehyde.

Sun-Sensing Shades – Provide cool relief in the summer and warm comfort in the winter…automatically.

As you can see, Point Sea is a extremely innovative, environmentally-conscious “super green” project!The Jersey Shore hasn’t seen anything quite like this yet. It’s not only a visionary display of what’s possible, it’s also an inspiration to see how we can better live in balance with our environment.

Stay tuned for further updates as the Point Sea project progresses.

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Posted in Green Design / Build, Land Planning, Real Estate | No Comments »
June 29th, 2011

The Golden Key to Winning Your Tax Appeal

Property taxes are a major factor for homeowners in New Jersey

The world of municipal real estate tax appeals is unlike any other. Lawyers, politicians, residents and accountants all have a significant say not only in your property taxes, but also in the outcome of your property tax appeal. The deck is stacked against taxpayers before they even show up to their tax appeal.

How could that be?

A little something called the “Presumption of Correctness.”

The Presumption of Correctness is a legal doctrine in New Jersey that assumes the municipality is correct in how it levied its taxes against you. That means the default position where any tax appeal starts at is, you’re wrong. If the town had outdated information, improperly trained evaluators or just negligent or incompetent staff, unless you can prove otherwise, the town is presumed to be correct.

That’s a tough position for any homeowner to be in. You can see the results at the tax appeal hearings. The great mass of taxpayers’ appeals are routinely rejected because the town is presumed to be correct at the outset and the property owners are not properly armed with the data, evidence and facts needed to overcome the Presumption of Correctness. Overcoming the presumption of correctness is the golden key to winning your tax appeal.

But don’t take our word for it. Listen to what Sarah says about her tax appeal coordinated by GreenWorks.

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Tags: Tax Appeal
Posted in Green Living | No Comments »
June 29th, 2011

E-Permit Moves Project Along for GreenWorks Client

New Online Permitting from NJDEP

A new electronic permitting program offered by the state Department of Environmental (DEP) Protection was successfully utilized for a GreenWorks-led project on Barnegat Bay. The new on-line coastal general permit program is the first of its kind for the DEP’s Land Use Regulation Program. Property owners or their contractors can apply on-line for permits and within minutes get decisions on projects to replace bulkheads with identically sized bulkheads or to replace docks in man-made lagoons.

That’s precisely what happened when GreenWorks was one of the first to use the web-based permitting system for a client in Brick. A bulkhead replacement and new dock project moved along efficiently once the required state permits were electronically acquired. The residential project would’ve taken weeks, if not months, under the previous paper-based system. The online permitting system provided by DEP is a welcome solution for projects that have minimal environmental impact but can tie up DEP resources that could be better used elsewhere, as DEP Commissioner Bob Martin stated.

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Tags: Barnegat Bay, NJDEP, Permits
Posted in Water | No Comments »
May 27th, 2011

Stream Corridor Issues Turn Into Success in Manasquan

When a Manasquan homeowner received notice from the town of stream corridor issues on the his property, he didn’t know where to turn or how to properly proceed. The homeowner wanted to resolve the situation effectively, agreeably and as affordably as possible. He knew that dealing with attorneys, engineers and municipal officials on sensitive environmental issues was not his expertise. He also knew that he needed to resolve the situation with the Borough of Manasquan or the issue would be handed over to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Thankfully, he called GreenWorks.

We went to work immediately and coordinated with officials in Manasquan. The restoration work began and due to our highly-trained, productive team of professionals, the final price was 50% less than what was initially anticipated.

Additionally, the Borough of Manasquan was happy with the solution and the timeline met by GreenWorks, which was good news for the homeowner, for us and for local officials.

“GreenWorks was very cooperative and easy to work with,” said Patrick Callahan, heading of Zoning and Code Enforcement for the Borough of Manasquan. Callahan went on to say that working with GreenWorks was a “good experience” and the company did a good job presenting all the technical information and resolving the issue in a timely manner.

This example highlights an important issue that we encounter all the time: due diligence. A call to GreenWorks for an appropriate due diligence before the property purchase would’ve revealed the issues that were eventually required to be corrected.

When similar issues are revealed before purchasing a property, a due diligence investigation will identify them so the purchaser can make a fully informed decision.

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Posted in Backyard, Green Living | No Comments »
May 25th, 2011

GreenWorks Giveaway: Rainwater Harvesting Barrel for Your Home

A basic residential rainwater harvesting system

You probably know that rainwater harvesting is a smart step to a greener home and greener bank account. Using rainwater for watering and other residential uses conserves drinking water and lowers your water bill. It’s a win-win, especially for Jersey Shore residents who have high water bills.

But did you know that harvesting rainwater during storms and releasing slowly later on during non-storm events helps take the pressure off impaired waterways (like the Barnegat Bay) which get inundated with stormwater sheet flow from impervious surfaces. If every homeowner added a 50 gallon rain barrell to their property that quickly adds up to millions of gallons of water attenuation.

Now, GreenWorks is making it easier than ever to go green blue by giving away a free rainwater barrel for home use! The new rain barrel will introduce you to rainwater harvesting and begin saving you money right away.

How do you enter the contest?

1. Look for the free Coffee News publication at any of 800 local restaurants in Ocean and Monmouth County.

2. Find the GreenWorks ad and follow the directions to be entered into the drawing for a brand new, free rainwater barrel for rainwater harvesting at your home!

GreenWorks Environmental is a certified rainwater harvesting expert and is proud to work with RainXchange amongst other leading companies.

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Posted in Green Living, Rainwater Harvesting, Water | No Comments »
April 28th, 2011

Mold Remediation in Monmouth County Home

GreenWorks recently completed a mold remediation project in a Wall, NJ home, clearing the path for the home’s purchase.

Initially, the deal almost didn’t happen when mold was discovered in the home. GreenWorks, a certified mold remediator in the state of New Jersey, was brought in to assess the situation and resolve the mold issue. Mold represents a potentially dangerous threat inside a home. Indoor air quality is negatively impacted by mold that can lead to respiratory conditions and potentially unhealthy air in the home. GreenWorks was able to remediate the mold and provided post-remediation sampling, demonstrating to the home seller and buyer that the issue was resolved.

The deal moved ahead, and buyer and seller were very happy with the outcome.

Don’t let mold or other environmental issues scuttle a home or property purchase. As soon as those issues surface, contact GreenWorks for a thorough assessment of the situation and a complete cleanup solution that will get the transaction back on track.

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Posted in Air Quality, Mold, Real Estate | No Comments »
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