Happy New Year!

The late great Gregory Bateson proposed an “ecology of mind,” which basically meant finding and fostering beneficial ideas and identifying destructive ones, so that the entire system can thrive and have a sustainable future. 🌱

As I write this, it is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor—the beginning of U.S. involvement in the war for democracy, freedom, and anti-fascism. 🇺🇸 So many people lost their lives fighting for our freedoms.

Well, thinking about this, I am drawn to finding new ways to incorporate positivity into our daily existence. A world where we actually help one another, have awareness of our neighbors' needs, and strive to make our communities better places for everyone. 💛

How can you make a difference in your community's life for the better? It is a revolutionary idea to care about other people, and this kindness revolution could make considerable changes in our country. We need some kindness and generosity right now to combat the lack of it in the system. ✨

How can we tap into the wisdom of elders? Learn lessons from history? Learn from past mistakes and failures? Take this knowledge into the future to make something new and better?

As Nelson Mandela said:

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” 🌍

🏡 Real Estate Updates: Advocacy and Awareness

As for real estate, advocate for what is important to you. In Berkeley, two new factors are coming into play in real estate transactions: EMBER, legislation that aims to reduce ignition risk and increase fire resistance in residential neighborhoods; and the California Residential Code, which sets standards for construction and fire safety. Especially important for properties with an urban-wildland interface, this creates a regulatory framework for defensible space, enforces inspections, and encourages structural upgrades that mitigate wildfire exposure risk. 🔥

EMBER Ordinance

The EMBER Ordinance requires a five-foot buffer around a home to prevent flammable materials from reaching it. Houses have been assigned to zone designations 1–3:

• Zone 1: The Flats

• Zone 2: Lower Berkeley Hills

• Zone 3: The area around Panoramic Hill

EMBER also gives the fire department enforcement protocols and powers. They will begin annual inspections, and homeowners will have up to 60 days to comply before mandatory fines of up to $500 per day for non-compliance are assessed. They will also make suggestions on roof types, attic ventilation, and other potential fire safety hazards to educate homeowners.

BESO Updates

BESO has been revamped from requiring only disclosure of energy efficiency deficits to requiring upgrades under a point-of-sale ordinance. These are meant to meet climate goals and to improve indoor air quality. 🌿 Sellers must achieve six credits at the time of a sale.

The legislation has given a points system to varying kinds of energy efficiency choices:

• Installing a heat pump system will likely get you six credits.

• More minor upgrades, like attic insulation and weather stripping around doors and windows, will get fewer points.

You can combine fixes to achieve the six credits. If upgrades are not completed by the close of escrow, the buyer and the seller can submit $2,400 each as a deposit into escrow, which must be used within three years. If the work is not done, the money is forfeited to the city fund. 💰

There is a lot to be said for all points of view about the ramifications and unintended consequences of these new ordinances. Still, it was an apparent attempt to make something better for everyone, not just individual homeowners, and that is a step in the right direction. ✅