Keep Your House Warm and the Planet Cool Through Carbon-Neutral Mortgage

SEATTLE, WA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- October 23, 2006 -- As Al Gore takes the stage in Seattle tonight to discuss ways to reverse global warming, Seattle has already taken a page out of his playbook. Today, Seattle-based non-profit NetGreen (www.achievenetgreen.org) has announced partnerships with several local real estate and mortgage companies to offer the nation's first "Carbon Neutral Mortgage." EcoHomes NW.com, Network Mortgage Services, Inc., Home Realty Green Lake and Greenworks Realty are all offering carbon offsets in conjunction with a home purchase or refinance in an effort to help environmentally conscious homebuyers and homeowners reduce the harmful greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of their homes.

The average home produces 18-20 tons of greenhouse gas per year -- the result of the energy expended to provide electricity & heating the home. The new Carbon Neutral Mortgage, sponsored by the partners, will effectively offset up to 20 tons of greenhouse gas for the first year of the mortgage. To receive the offset, the owner must pledge to become carbon-neutral in the second year of the mortgage.

The partners will offset the emissions through a tax deductible contribution to NetGreen, who is bringing businesses, organizations, and communities together toward the common goal of reducing the tide of GHG emissions via contributions that fund high quality carbon offset projects. These projects are successfully implemented by NetGreen's partner, The Climate Trust, who is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing solutions to stabilize our rapidly changing climate. The Climate Trust invests funding from power plants, businesses, and individuals into projects that offset their GHG emissions. Offsets are a critical piece of the climate change solution, and because offsets can be readily implemented using existing technology, they make a difference today.

Gore has suggested the creation of a Carbon Neutral Mortgage Association to market new financial instruments and stimulate their use in the private sector by utilities, banks and homebuilders as one innovative approach to reducing GHG emissions. According to Gore, this new "Connie Mae" (CNMA) could be a valuable instrument for reducing the pollution from new buildings.

Regardless of whether or not such an association is created, Seattle's various Carbon Neutral Mortgage offers are an easy and quick way to have an impact on GHG emissions. The idea was the brainchild of Robin Rothwell at EcoHomesNW.com and Rob Hallum of Network Mortgage Services, Inc., and it's now catching on with other brokers and agents. Aaron Kahn of Windermere in Greenwood and Valerie Steel, broker of Greening Properties and Amy Lindsey of Skyline Properties in Northgate are also making homes carbon-neutral for the first year in real estate transactions.

People who are not purchasing or refinancing can still offset the greenhouse gas from their home. For about $200, they can purchase offsets via NetGreen. Greenworks Realty and NetGreen both have information on making a home carbon-neutral on their webpage. More information is available via the Web at www.AchieveNetGreen.org or via phone 206.391.6744.

Contact Information: Contact: John Williams Scoville PR Email Contact 206.625.0075