An article on US News & World Report's website earlier this week reported that a Florida woman has been complaining of burning eyes, sinus headaches, and a general heaviness in her chest since moving into her brand-new, 4,000-square foot house in Florida a few years ago. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating the potential health risks associated with the defective Chinese drywall, as well as health departments in Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Florida and Washington state.
In 2006 alone enough wallboard was imported from China to build roughly 34,000 homes in Florida. For the residents of the over 100,000 homes affected by the defective drywall across the country, questions remain as to what the severity of these health risks will be.
You can really the full article online here.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Home Remodeling Permits Holding Their Own
Residential permits have increased more than 10 times in the past 3 years!
By Justin HarrisBusiness Development Director
Residential remodeling is taking on a larger portion of the local construction industry. Building permits issued in the Southern Utah area from Iron & Washington counties indicate that in the last 3 years, the percentage of market attributed to the remodeling industry has been increasing.
"As the new construction numbers continue to remain low, the number of remodeling permits has remained quite steady. This confirms what our contractor clients have been telling us, that in order to remain competitive and productive during these difficult times, their focus has turned to the remodeling industry to help keep their people working", reports Justin Harris of Construction Monitor.
In 2006 the total residential building permit dollar values came in at just over $580 million with remodeling accounting for $8.1 million or only 1.4% of the permit values. 2007 showed a total of $503 million with remodels share increasing to $15.7 million or 3.13% of permit values. Last years numbers saw additional increases in market share with remodeling coming in at 6.7% of the residential permit totals with $14.9 million in an industry that dropped to $219 million for the total residential permit values for the year.
Editor's Note: The author is employed at the Construction Monitor, which organization has been actively tracking the building permits in Southern Utah (and allround the western United States) since 1992. Information from this company provides an interesting contrast to government generated statistics because of its closer to `real time data` posture. For more information visit them at www.constructionmonitor.com
By Justin HarrisBusiness Development Director
Residential remodeling is taking on a larger portion of the local construction industry. Building permits issued in the Southern Utah area from Iron & Washington counties indicate that in the last 3 years, the percentage of market attributed to the remodeling industry has been increasing.
"As the new construction numbers continue to remain low, the number of remodeling permits has remained quite steady. This confirms what our contractor clients have been telling us, that in order to remain competitive and productive during these difficult times, their focus has turned to the remodeling industry to help keep their people working", reports Justin Harris of Construction Monitor.
In 2006 the total residential building permit dollar values came in at just over $580 million with remodeling accounting for $8.1 million or only 1.4% of the permit values. 2007 showed a total of $503 million with remodels share increasing to $15.7 million or 3.13% of permit values. Last years numbers saw additional increases in market share with remodeling coming in at 6.7% of the residential permit totals with $14.9 million in an industry that dropped to $219 million for the total residential permit values for the year.
Editor's Note: The author is employed at the Construction Monitor, which organization has been actively tracking the building permits in Southern Utah (and allround the western United States) since 1992. Information from this company provides an interesting contrast to government generated statistics because of its closer to `real time data` posture. For more information visit them at www.constructionmonitor.com
Interest builds in home remodeling
By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
Palm Beach Post-Cox News Service
Sunday, April 12, 2009
ATLANTA — Despite the dismal economy, Ashley Lee launched into an ambitious remodeling of her family's home in January.
With a growing 2-year-old daughter, Lee and her husband decided they needed more room than their two-bedroom, 1940s-era home offered, but they didn't want to move. KEEP READING
Palm Beach Post-Cox News Service
Sunday, April 12, 2009
ATLANTA — Despite the dismal economy, Ashley Lee launched into an ambitious remodeling of her family's home in January.
With a growing 2-year-old daughter, Lee and her husband decided they needed more room than their two-bedroom, 1940s-era home offered, but they didn't want to move. KEEP READING
High-Design, Low-Impact House Wins Multiple Awards
A couple's family homestead sets an example of net-zero energy performance in the Northeast.
Source: CUSTOM HOME Magazine
Publication date: April 9, 2009
By Stephani L. Miller
When architect David Pill, AIA, of Pill-Maharam Architects in Shelburne, Vt., and his wife, former landscape designer Hillary Maharam set out to build their family's new home, their goal was simple: to create a house that produces zero carbon dioxide emissions, reducing their family's environmental impact, while maintaining a high level of detail and comfort. The best way to achieve this low-impact goal, they found, was to design a house that uses as little energy as possible and produces as much energy as it uses (or more) from renewable sources: a net-zero energy house. KEEP READING
Source: CUSTOM HOME Magazine
Publication date: April 9, 2009
By Stephani L. Miller
When architect David Pill, AIA, of Pill-Maharam Architects in Shelburne, Vt., and his wife, former landscape designer Hillary Maharam set out to build their family's new home, their goal was simple: to create a house that produces zero carbon dioxide emissions, reducing their family's environmental impact, while maintaining a high level of detail and comfort. The best way to achieve this low-impact goal, they found, was to design a house that uses as little energy as possible and produces as much energy as it uses (or more) from renewable sources: a net-zero energy house. KEEP READING
Getting Your Green Credentials
By Tanja Kern
Today’s homeowners want remodels that improve their quality of life and are eco-conscious. Figuring out what constitutes a green remodel can be confusing, and that’s why so many homeowners rely on contractors to help them navigate the choices. Remodelers who incorporate green building practices into their business have great potential to educate their clients and do something good for the Earth. Going green can also help set your business apart from the competition.
To be a green remodeler, contractors should make energy efficiency a top priority, salvage and reuse building materials whenever possible, specify eco-friendly materials, use low VOC and formaldehyde-free building components, and plan for water conservation. Becoming an expert in sustainable building takes years, and savvy remodelers know that promoting their expertise is a great way to find new clients. Incorporating these building methods into your company’s mission statement, Web site, promotional materials and project estimates will help to get the word out about your company’s eco focus.
Obtaining “green” credentials is another smart way to demonstrate your knowledge in environmentally friendly products and building practices. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry offers a Green Certified Professional (GCP) designation to help recognize remodelers who apply green or sustainable practices to their business.
Laurie Cisowski, project operations manager for Earth Bound Homes [www.myearthboundhome.com] in Santa Clara, Calif., says getting certified was an obvious choice for her business. All of Earth Bound’s projects are designed around increased energy efficiency and the use recycled, renewable and durable building materials. “In this day and age, with green taking off, there are a lot of people out there green washing,” she says. “Our clients come to us because or our knowledge, and our credentials add to our company’s credibility.”
Steve Shinn, owner of the design-build firm Homework Remodels [www.homeworkremodels.com] in Phoenix, Ariz., became one of the first remodelers in Phoenix to obtain green certification. Shinn often works on mid-century modern homes, and he saw the certification as a way to promote himself as a specialized professional to potential clients. “The people who own these homes care about details and about doing the right thing for the environment,” he says.
While some homeowners view sustainability as using a certain type of recycled countertop or flooring, Shinn teaches his clients to take a whole-house approach: “I pride myself on working with the homeowners during the design phase to get the most bang for their buck. Every remodel has hundreds of choices, and I walk them through them. It’s not an all or nothing thing.”
Josh Bogle, CRA, GCP, owner of Green Remodeling [www.greenrem.com] in Boise, Idaho, helped pilot the Green Certified Professional course for NARI. His work to bring "green" into the construction industry comes from a commitment to living simply, eating locally, and transforming the nation’s existing housing infrastructure to serve the needs of the future. “Our goal is to show customers how to make their home as durable, energy-efficient and healthy as possible,” Bogle says.
In between large remodeling projects, Bogle does readings on the energy efficiency of his customers’ homes. Bogle also will take the client’s energy bills for the year, insert the figures into a spreadsheet and compare them to other homes in the area. “This is a great way to help people figure out what their path toward net zero or close to zero should be,” he adds.
Today’s homeowners want remodels that improve their quality of life and are eco-conscious. Figuring out what constitutes a green remodel can be confusing, and that’s why so many homeowners rely on contractors to help them navigate the choices. Remodelers who incorporate green building practices into their business have great potential to educate their clients and do something good for the Earth. Going green can also help set your business apart from the competition.
To be a green remodeler, contractors should make energy efficiency a top priority, salvage and reuse building materials whenever possible, specify eco-friendly materials, use low VOC and formaldehyde-free building components, and plan for water conservation. Becoming an expert in sustainable building takes years, and savvy remodelers know that promoting their expertise is a great way to find new clients. Incorporating these building methods into your company’s mission statement, Web site, promotional materials and project estimates will help to get the word out about your company’s eco focus.
Obtaining “green” credentials is another smart way to demonstrate your knowledge in environmentally friendly products and building practices. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry offers a Green Certified Professional (GCP) designation to help recognize remodelers who apply green or sustainable practices to their business.
Laurie Cisowski, project operations manager for Earth Bound Homes [www.myearthboundhome.com] in Santa Clara, Calif., says getting certified was an obvious choice for her business. All of Earth Bound’s projects are designed around increased energy efficiency and the use recycled, renewable and durable building materials. “In this day and age, with green taking off, there are a lot of people out there green washing,” she says. “Our clients come to us because or our knowledge, and our credentials add to our company’s credibility.”
Steve Shinn, owner of the design-build firm Homework Remodels [www.homeworkremodels.com] in Phoenix, Ariz., became one of the first remodelers in Phoenix to obtain green certification. Shinn often works on mid-century modern homes, and he saw the certification as a way to promote himself as a specialized professional to potential clients. “The people who own these homes care about details and about doing the right thing for the environment,” he says.
While some homeowners view sustainability as using a certain type of recycled countertop or flooring, Shinn teaches his clients to take a whole-house approach: “I pride myself on working with the homeowners during the design phase to get the most bang for their buck. Every remodel has hundreds of choices, and I walk them through them. It’s not an all or nothing thing.”
Josh Bogle, CRA, GCP, owner of Green Remodeling [www.greenrem.com] in Boise, Idaho, helped pilot the Green Certified Professional course for NARI. His work to bring "green" into the construction industry comes from a commitment to living simply, eating locally, and transforming the nation’s existing housing infrastructure to serve the needs of the future. “Our goal is to show customers how to make their home as durable, energy-efficient and healthy as possible,” Bogle says.
In between large remodeling projects, Bogle does readings on the energy efficiency of his customers’ homes. Bogle also will take the client’s energy bills for the year, insert the figures into a spreadsheet and compare them to other homes in the area. “This is a great way to help people figure out what their path toward net zero or close to zero should be,” he adds.
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