Tech-savvy millennials aren’t the only ones seeking an upgrade at home. This holiday season, more homeowners are seeking to outfit their homes with devices designed for maximum convenience and security. Which features do high-tech homeowners covet most? Consumer Reports highlights the top choices on smart homeowner wish lists: Wireless meat thermometer – Perfect for entertaining, a… Continue Reading
Is the electronic faucet finally ready for the spotlight? Many manufacturers believe it is, and there are those in the plumbing industry that are trying to capture the buyer’s attention with sleek new models! The problem manufacturers have had is getting their product into the average home even though there are hygienic benefits and water… Continue Reading
Tom Shirley, President of New First National Bank in Rosenburg, will be providing the construction loan on our new Green Spec Home, “The Italian Farmhouse” in FulBrook. The home will feature a number of Green Building Techniques including the design, which incorporates sun and wind modeling, along with clear story windows for natural lighting. The… Continue Reading
A recent Yahoo survey about the American consumer’s evolving view of housing provides interesting and strong evidence of a definite market trend. According to the Yahoo survey, energy efficiency is a top hallmark of the “dream home” – more consumers cited energy efficiency as a desirable attribute than any other feature. (The Yahoo survey can… Continue Reading
According to Buildipedia.com – here’s what to watch for in the next few months. Many of these trends will sound very familiar; some have evolved out of economic necessity, while others exist thanks to great advances in technology. Whether you already own a home or plan to build a new one, there’s bound to be… Continue Reading
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that 25 percent of all single-family homes built in the United States in 2010 earned EPA’s Energy Star certification. This is up from 21 percent in 2009, according to Energy Boom. Energy Star is a joint EPA, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program that helps consumers save money… Continue Reading
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) energy performance label allows you to compare one window with another in terms of resisting heat buildup in summer, warming your house in winter, keeping out wind, and resisting condensation. Defining the Ratings U-Factor The U-factor measures how well a window prevents heat from escaping. The rate of heat… Continue Reading
Read this article posted on HousingZone.com conserving water without sacrificing design and performance! Now is the time for remodelers and designers to outfit their design/selection centers with high-efficiency plumbing products and to start advising their clients on how they can save water in their homes when undertaking kitchen and bathroom projects without sacrificing performance and… Continue Reading
1. Instant access to construction documents — Using file-hosting apps like Dropbox, builders can access virtually any construction documents from the field, including purchase orders, floor plans, site plans, selections, colors, and neighborhood plats. 2. Jobsite inspections — For instance, superintendents can snap a photo of a problem area, write a note on it, and… Continue Reading
4 projects that prove lavish homes don’t have to be wasteful! Many green-building advocates would say that “high-end green” is an oxymoron — that large, lavish custom homes can’t possibly be sustainable. While clients may not walk into a builder or architect’s office thinking green, much like other home buyers they’re still looking to reduce… Continue Reading