Serving MD,DC,VA
We all have a responsibility to care for our environment and to create healthy habitats for ourselves and future generations.
We must use our natural resources sustainably, build energy-efficient homes, and center our designs around the health of the occupants.
We can no longer afford to ignore the harmful effects that inefficient homes and toxic building materials have on our health and our environment.
But there is hope!
With intelligent planning, creativity, and a willingness to diverge from the status quo, you can create a fulfilling lifestyle that is resilient in the face of our changing environment.
-Javier Garza
Serving environmentally-conscious home buyers, sellers and investors in Central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
We will market your home so that potential buyers will see the value beyond numbers and specs. We will:
You can make smart investments and also have a positive effect on the environment. We will:
Founder & Real Estate Agent
Marketing Director
Javier Garza was the agent for the condo I purchased last May. I was new to home buying. Javier helped me navigate through the process smoothly. He was thorough, helpful, reliable, and professional to work with. He asked questions to understand our needs and always available to answer my questions, and show properties at the date/time I asked for. Javier spent time explaining everything in a way that was easy for me to understand from making an offer to working with a loan consultant. When my offer was accepted, he actively worked with my loan consultant to ensure everything is ready for the closing. Javier also had a good relationship with loan consultants and insurance agents. I was really happy with his referrals. I would recommend him to my friends without any hesitancy.
Javier is a great agent. He consistently went out of his way to help us sell the house and get the best deal.
Whenever I needed other assistance with the house, he readily provided whatever was needed to move forward. If I buy or sell another house near Javier, I would use his services again and again.
Javier was extremely helpful in our search for a home. He was responsive and exhibited great follow through, the entire time. Our process was quick and absolutely painless because of his expert level of service.
As a former realtor, I understand what goes into assisting clients in their home search and Javier ticks all the boxes.
I will absolutely recommend him to everyone I know and use his services in the future.
With all the talk about the energy crisis, environmental destruction, and increased toxic exposure, how can it be that energy efficiency, health, and durability are not the primary selling points of a home? The average home buyer is more concerned with design trends and surface-level aesthetics, or least it seems that way.
I began to research energy efficient and healthy home building practices, and I knew I'd fallen down another rabbit hole.
First, I came across the concept of passive solar design. In short, it's a design method which requires buildings to be oriented in a way that allows them to be heated by the sun's rays during the cold winter months (free heat!), while at the same time keeping buildings cool during the hot summer months by creating strategic areas of shade. No solar panels needed!
Realizing that we can massively reduce heating and cooling costs simply by orienting buildings properly was a revelation for me.
Why was something so seemingly obvious not a standard practice? Why should we prioritize facing the street, instead of facing the sun? What else weren't we doing to create healthier, more efficient homes?
I was both excited by the possibilities and also angry that this basic design principle was being ignored, creating tons of waste and inefficiency.
Of course, I quickly realized that passive solar design was just the tip of the iceberg in what should be “common sense” home building and renovation practices that create healthier, more efficient living environments.
From applying interior wall finishes like clay plaster to prevent mold and improve air quality, to sourcing high quality and locally-available salvaged materials to reduce costs and environmental impact, I began to see so many ways to improve our homes and the quality of life for those living in them.
The reason we aren’t seeing more intelligently-designed homes became apparent:
The average consumer isn't educated on what makes a home healthy, energy efficient, and durable, so they do not demand that homes be built and renovated to a higher standard.
Beginning to understand the principles behind healthy and energy-efficient homes has transformed the way I approach real estate. I'm inspired to educate others and spread awareness about ways that we can create healthier, more resilient living environments for ourselves and future generations.
Here's to a brighter future!
April 29, 2025
Creating healthier, more energy-efficient indoor spaces has been top of mind for many of us, so when we had the opportunity to chat with architect John Spears of the Sustainable Design Group, we jumped at the opportunity! We toured one of his recent projects under construction in Westminster, MD, and learned about passive solar design, grid-independent …
March 2, 2025
Every new presidential administration brings change to the DC-Metro area, and particularly in Montgomery County, MD, which borders DC. Of particular significance to our area this year is the ongoing downsizing of the federal workforce, which means the firing of thousands of Maryland residents. Given that Montgomery County has one of the highest percentages of …
February 9, 2025
Why were building codes created?Residential building codes are in place primarily to ensure the safety of buildings. Initially, they primarily dealt with structural integrity, fire safety, and resistance to natural disasters. Because of the oil embargo of the 1970’s, the insulation standards in the building code were increased to reduce the amount of fuel required to …
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