By Matt Weafer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home and Garden Show catalogue.
Whether you are looking to build a new home or renovate your current home, finding a contractor you can trust can be difficult.
But with the Home Builders Association of Owensboro’s Registered Builder / Remodeler program, consumers gain a little independence.
As a free consumer protection program, the Registered Builder / Remodeler program is an organization designed to set professional standards for builders and remodelers so consumers know their contractor can not only complete a job, but has insurance to protect the consumer and the crew and the references to back him up.
“In today’s time, all you have to do is call yourself a builder and the consumer assumes that (you have) experience,” HBAO President-elect Randy Hayden, with Image Builders, said. “That’s simply not the reality.”
“The foremost purpose of Registered Builder / Remodeler is consumer protection,” Mark Schmidt, of Mark Schmidt Remodeling, said. “There’s not police out there policing the industry. (Registered Builder / Remodeler) polices the industry pre-consumer.”
Registered builders and remodelers in the program must meet certain criteria, including workers compensation insurance and liability insurance; the contractor must be in business for at least two years and have completed a certain number of jobs; the contractor must supply references from previous customers and the contractor’s bank; the contractor must also provide a written contract and at least a one-year warranty.
Once the contractor is accepted as a registered builder or remodeler, he must complete at least six hours of continued education per year in a field related to construction or business, including anything from safety lessons to accounting.
“We check all your references, make sure you’re not just operating out of the back of your truck with Skil saw and hammer,” Neal Tong, of Neal Tong Building & Remodeling, said.
The Registered Builder / Remodeler program started with the Home Builders Association of Kentucky and 14 cities have adopted the program. The HBAO initiated its program in 1994.
“I think it’s of utmost importance,” Hayden said. “It’s not an easy program to get into. It takes a little bit of time to become a registered builder. You have to have a proven track record and a list of people that you have built or remodeled for. They check with those people and talk to them about their experience.”
“It’s a program that has worked very well for builders in our association,” Tong said.
The Registered Builder / Remodeler program also serves as a mediator during disputes between contractors and customers.
“If there is an issue regarding someone’s work,” Hayden said, “rather than it going to court and costing a lot of money for both the builder and consumer, (the mediators) can save you thousands of dollars.”
“We’ve had very few complaints,” Tong said, “but whenever they do occur, we have a registered builder committee to get rolling whatever needs to be done to get it resolved as quickly as possible so the client is satisfied. That doesn’t always mean the client is right. Sometimes the builder has done all they possibly can.”
One of the greatest advantages of the Registered Builder / Remodeler program, though, is consumer protection. Ascribing to guidelines from to the National Home Builders Association, registered builders and remodelers are some of the most dependable contractors in Owensboro.
Schmidt said to find the perfect contractor for you job, interview several companies.
“(The consumer) needs to get recommendations from other clients or their friends,” he said. “Interview a remodeler just like you would an employee. How long’s a job going to take? When are my payments due? What should I expect? It can be treacherous on customers if the don’t prepare themselves.”
And that is what the Registered Builder / Remodeler program is designed to accomplish.
Contact HBAO at (270) 688-0353 for the current list of registered builders and remodelers or visit the Web site www.hbao.com.
Reprinted with permission from Messenger-Inquirer.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Build the backyard of your dreams
By Matt Weafer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home and Garden Show catalogue
The new trend is backyard living.
At the Home and Garden Show this year, several booths will be dedicated to creating an outdoor living space complete with sofas, refrigerators, fireplaces, grills and swimming pools.
A backyard is a haven from traffic, work and weekly routines. Kicking back on an easy Sunday afternoon, under the warm sun with a cool breeze on your face is the perfect reprieve from a busy week.
But now backyards are transforming from just a rusty charcoal grill with a few lawn chairs to an outdoor living space with a stone floor, fireplace, refrigerator, canopy and outdoor couches as comfortable as indoor couches but with weather-proof fabric.
Christopher Thompson, president of operations with Integrity Nursery, said, “Outdoor kitchens have been a real big thing.”
Integrity Nursery will devote their entire booth to outdoor living as a result of the shift in the industry.
“Within the display we’ll be showing off a neat pergola defined as an outdoor room,” Thompson said.
In that outdoor room, Integrity will feature new furniture lines “that look very indoor — they’re definitely an indoor style — but as outdoor furniture,” Thompson said.
Integrity will also display outdoor custom fireplaces.
“They are out of the box fireplaces,” Thompson said. “We want to show our ability in custom fireplaces.”
Thompson said Integrity’s emphasis at the show this year will be the company’s ability to customize an outdoor space into the perfect backyard.
“The display will really show you what you can do in defining a space outside and creating a livable space or room,” Thompson said.
Integrity recently opened a store in Evansville and between the two locations, Thompson said, he has more than 100 sets of outdoor furniture.
“And one thing that does set us apart as well is we have very professional, talented . . . designers with education and experience with the whole landscape of an outdoor living space,” he said.
For Henderson-based Tri-State Landscaping, the Home and Garden Show is a chance to display a range of opportunities for outdoor living.
Owner Adam Farley said the family-owned business has grown since he and his younger brother mowed 20 yards a year at ages 11 and six, respectively.
Now, Tri-State Landscaping covers customers in Henderson, Madisonville, Evansville, Owensboro and more.
At the Home and Garden Show, the family-owned business will detail the many options it offers, from small jobs such as trimming hedges and mulching flower beds to big jobs, such as full outdoor kitchens with in-ground swimming pool, fence and deck.
Tri-State Landscaping will share the booth with some associates, including an architect to help design the landscaping of the full outdoor living rooms and a fence and deck company, Jonathon Dixon with Fence Pros.
While Tri-State Landscaping offers an array of options for outdoor living spaces, Farley and his family work with other contractors to provide the full package, not just the furniture and flower beds, but the deck and swimming pool as well.
Tri-State Landscaping will display retaining walls, man-made stone as well as natural stone, columns, lighting, fire pits, grills and greenery.
The company will also offer giveaways and promotions to start work on a customer’s dream backyard, and they will be grilling shish kabobs.
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer.
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home and Garden Show catalogue
The new trend is backyard living.
At the Home and Garden Show this year, several booths will be dedicated to creating an outdoor living space complete with sofas, refrigerators, fireplaces, grills and swimming pools.
A backyard is a haven from traffic, work and weekly routines. Kicking back on an easy Sunday afternoon, under the warm sun with a cool breeze on your face is the perfect reprieve from a busy week.
But now backyards are transforming from just a rusty charcoal grill with a few lawn chairs to an outdoor living space with a stone floor, fireplace, refrigerator, canopy and outdoor couches as comfortable as indoor couches but with weather-proof fabric.
Christopher Thompson, president of operations with Integrity Nursery, said, “Outdoor kitchens have been a real big thing.”
Integrity Nursery will devote their entire booth to outdoor living as a result of the shift in the industry.
“Within the display we’ll be showing off a neat pergola defined as an outdoor room,” Thompson said.
In that outdoor room, Integrity will feature new furniture lines “that look very indoor — they’re definitely an indoor style — but as outdoor furniture,” Thompson said.
Integrity will also display outdoor custom fireplaces.
“They are out of the box fireplaces,” Thompson said. “We want to show our ability in custom fireplaces.”
Thompson said Integrity’s emphasis at the show this year will be the company’s ability to customize an outdoor space into the perfect backyard.
“The display will really show you what you can do in defining a space outside and creating a livable space or room,” Thompson said.
Integrity recently opened a store in Evansville and between the two locations, Thompson said, he has more than 100 sets of outdoor furniture.
“And one thing that does set us apart as well is we have very professional, talented . . . designers with education and experience with the whole landscape of an outdoor living space,” he said.
For Henderson-based Tri-State Landscaping, the Home and Garden Show is a chance to display a range of opportunities for outdoor living.
Owner Adam Farley said the family-owned business has grown since he and his younger brother mowed 20 yards a year at ages 11 and six, respectively.
Now, Tri-State Landscaping covers customers in Henderson, Madisonville, Evansville, Owensboro and more.
At the Home and Garden Show, the family-owned business will detail the many options it offers, from small jobs such as trimming hedges and mulching flower beds to big jobs, such as full outdoor kitchens with in-ground swimming pool, fence and deck.
Tri-State Landscaping will share the booth with some associates, including an architect to help design the landscaping of the full outdoor living rooms and a fence and deck company, Jonathon Dixon with Fence Pros.
While Tri-State Landscaping offers an array of options for outdoor living spaces, Farley and his family work with other contractors to provide the full package, not just the furniture and flower beds, but the deck and swimming pool as well.
Tri-State Landscaping will display retaining walls, man-made stone as well as natural stone, columns, lighting, fire pits, grills and greenery.
The company will also offer giveaways and promotions to start work on a customer’s dream backyard, and they will be grilling shish kabobs.
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer.
Home Builders Association of Owensboro ensures quality, safety and customer satisfaction
By Matt Weafer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home and Garden Show catalogue
Until the birth of the National Home Builders Association, home construction had only one guideline, customer satisfaction.
But what happened when there was an injury on the job site? Or the customer was unhappy with the quality of craftsmanship?
The Home Builders Association of Owensboro is designed to ensure local contractors provide honest work and a quality product.
“We are a group of builders that strive for all builder members to be registered,” HBAO President David Clark said. “And registered means they use a written contract, carry insurance and continue their education every year.”
The HBAO has 333 members, including contractors and suppliers. And each member is dedicated to professional performance.
According to the HBAO Code of Ethics listed on the organization’s Web site, “Home ownership can and should by within reach of every American family. American homes should be well-designed, well-constructed and well-located in attractive communities with education, recreational, religious and shopping facilities accessible to all.”
Members of the HBAO ascribe to a list of principles that define their goals as responsible contractors; the first of which lists the members’ primary responsibilities as customer, community and country. And the second principle states, “Honesty is our guiding policy.”
The other policies create a standard of safety, fairness and legality. The members of the HBAO are a virtual brotherhood dedicated to creating a quality housing market and happy consumer-base in Owensboro.
“(For the) general public or someone that would be interested in building a house, the major benefit (of HBAO) is they can call and get a list of registered builders,” Clark said. “And those are the (builders) that in my opinion are more reputable.”
The HBAO also provides education seminars and safety training throughout the year.
“That goes along with part of the continuing education,” Clark said, “and also makes for a safer workplace for employees and all concerned.”
On top of dedication to consumer-satisfaction and quality control, the HBAO is also a networking organization for contractors.
With the 333 members in Owensboro, the HBAO offers a large network of businesses accessible for contractors.
Clark said members include contractors as well as suppliers. And many of the contractors use member suppliers for orders.
“And we provide a meeting 11 months out of the year where there is networking available to all the builders and associates,” Clark said.
Another benefit for members is discounted rates for workers compensation insurance.
To maintain a progressive level of quality control and new ideas, each year, the HBAO announces a new president. Board members are named according to a ladder system.
“Once you become involved,” Clark said, “you start out at different positions and just qualify as you go. It takes about four years once you’re on the ladder to actually become associates council president, which gives you a better understanding of how everything works.”
As the president for 2009, Clark said, “This year we just hope to survive.”
While tight economic times have drastically hurt some industries, Clark said Owensboro has suffered a little but not as bad as some cities.
In fact, the HBAO is still moving forward.
The new HBAO building has been completely paid for, Clark said, and the organization recently purchased a plot of land near the new building.
Clark’s goal is to pay off that plot of land by the end of the year.
But HBAO funds do not all stay within the membership.
As part of the HBAO’s dedication to the community, each year, the organization hosts a reverse raffle to raise money for different charities.
Last year, the HBAO donated $5,000 each to Friends of the Children and the Daviess County Lions Club.
The reverse raffle takes place each fall.
For more information about the HBAO, call (270) 699-0353 or visit www.hbao.com.
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer.
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home and Garden Show catalogue
Until the birth of the National Home Builders Association, home construction had only one guideline, customer satisfaction.
But what happened when there was an injury on the job site? Or the customer was unhappy with the quality of craftsmanship?
The Home Builders Association of Owensboro is designed to ensure local contractors provide honest work and a quality product.
“We are a group of builders that strive for all builder members to be registered,” HBAO President David Clark said. “And registered means they use a written contract, carry insurance and continue their education every year.”
The HBAO has 333 members, including contractors and suppliers. And each member is dedicated to professional performance.
According to the HBAO Code of Ethics listed on the organization’s Web site, “Home ownership can and should by within reach of every American family. American homes should be well-designed, well-constructed and well-located in attractive communities with education, recreational, religious and shopping facilities accessible to all.”
Members of the HBAO ascribe to a list of principles that define their goals as responsible contractors; the first of which lists the members’ primary responsibilities as customer, community and country. And the second principle states, “Honesty is our guiding policy.”
The other policies create a standard of safety, fairness and legality. The members of the HBAO are a virtual brotherhood dedicated to creating a quality housing market and happy consumer-base in Owensboro.
“(For the) general public or someone that would be interested in building a house, the major benefit (of HBAO) is they can call and get a list of registered builders,” Clark said. “And those are the (builders) that in my opinion are more reputable.”
The HBAO also provides education seminars and safety training throughout the year.
“That goes along with part of the continuing education,” Clark said, “and also makes for a safer workplace for employees and all concerned.”
On top of dedication to consumer-satisfaction and quality control, the HBAO is also a networking organization for contractors.
With the 333 members in Owensboro, the HBAO offers a large network of businesses accessible for contractors.
Clark said members include contractors as well as suppliers. And many of the contractors use member suppliers for orders.
“And we provide a meeting 11 months out of the year where there is networking available to all the builders and associates,” Clark said.
Another benefit for members is discounted rates for workers compensation insurance.
To maintain a progressive level of quality control and new ideas, each year, the HBAO announces a new president. Board members are named according to a ladder system.
“Once you become involved,” Clark said, “you start out at different positions and just qualify as you go. It takes about four years once you’re on the ladder to actually become associates council president, which gives you a better understanding of how everything works.”
As the president for 2009, Clark said, “This year we just hope to survive.”
While tight economic times have drastically hurt some industries, Clark said Owensboro has suffered a little but not as bad as some cities.
In fact, the HBAO is still moving forward.
The new HBAO building has been completely paid for, Clark said, and the organization recently purchased a plot of land near the new building.
Clark’s goal is to pay off that plot of land by the end of the year.
But HBAO funds do not all stay within the membership.
As part of the HBAO’s dedication to the community, each year, the organization hosts a reverse raffle to raise money for different charities.
Last year, the HBAO donated $5,000 each to Friends of the Children and the Daviess County Lions Club.
The reverse raffle takes place each fall.
For more information about the HBAO, call (270) 699-0353 or visit www.hbao.com.
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer.
The Home and Garden Show emphasizes eco-friendly
By Matt Weafer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home and Garden Show catalogue
While the venue may be smaller than last year, the Home and Garden Show will not lack in quality.
This year the Home Builders Association of Owensboro’s annual Home and Garden Show will start at 5 p.m. March 6 at Mid-America Jet at the end of Tamarack Rd. in the Mid-America AirPark.
“This is our first time in the venue,” Associates Council President John Sublett said. “We feel really good about the show. We did have to downsize a little bit but we feel like the quality of our vendors has increased as our actual size decreased.”
Expecting at least 69 vendors so far, the show will feature the newest trends and techniques and services available from local businesses in the home and garden industry.
“I think the Home and Garden Show is a great avenue for consumers to go out and look at the products available in Owensboro,” Mark Schmidt of Mark Schmidt Remodeling said. “(People) see products on HGTV and want those for a project, but in reality it takes longer for products to be ordered and received than it does to do the job.”
The Home and Garden Show is an opportunity for vendors to advertise their new products and services, and for consumers to research the market before they build their new privacy fence, in-ground pool or dream house.
“A lot of these products (on HGTV) are pricy, too,” Schmidt said. “Make sure you’re looking at products that are easily accessible to the community. And that’s what’s good about the Home and Garden show.”
For this year, Sublett said vendors are focusing heavily on environmentally friendly services and supplies.
“I think we’re going to see an emphasis on the green building and green cleaning (industry),” he said. “We’re seeing an increase in availability of environmentally friendly products and services here in the Owensboro area for our community.”
Sublett said the influx of environmentally friendly options at the Home and Garden Show is due to a combination of local interest and the national trend of eco-friendly living.
“That was unplanned,” he said. “As we were looking at some of our vendors, that’s what we were noticing. Our vendors are reflective of a national trend of environmentally friendly building and products.”
The environmental options available at the show range from recycled materials for home building and décor, Energy Star appliances, and other energy-saving and eco-conscious items.
“Specifically,” he said, “we have a new vendor bringing in new solar technology that hasn’t been readily available in the area.”
That vendor is World Class Renewable Energy, and will be located at booth 127.
Carpets Unlimited will also display recycled carpeting.
There will also be several new vendors this year.
“Especially with the economic downtown, we’re seeing a lot of newer vendors who are coming into our show who are vary eager to show off what they do for the folks in Owensboro,” Sublett said.
And many of the new vendors are from outside of Owensboro but offer services in the city and the area.
“We’re attracting these visitors outside of Owensboro because we put on a good show,” Sublett said. “They wouldn’t be coming back if they weren’t generating business from people.”
Sublett said the show also attracts residents from other counties as well.
“I think we always do a quality show,” he said. “Per size, we have probably the best show in the state.”
The Home and Garden Show is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 6; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 7; and noon to 4 p.m. on March 8.
Tickets are available at the door, $3 for adults; children 12 and under enter free.
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home and Garden Show catalogue
While the venue may be smaller than last year, the Home and Garden Show will not lack in quality.
This year the Home Builders Association of Owensboro’s annual Home and Garden Show will start at 5 p.m. March 6 at Mid-America Jet at the end of Tamarack Rd. in the Mid-America AirPark.
“This is our first time in the venue,” Associates Council President John Sublett said. “We feel really good about the show. We did have to downsize a little bit but we feel like the quality of our vendors has increased as our actual size decreased.”
Expecting at least 69 vendors so far, the show will feature the newest trends and techniques and services available from local businesses in the home and garden industry.
“I think the Home and Garden Show is a great avenue for consumers to go out and look at the products available in Owensboro,” Mark Schmidt of Mark Schmidt Remodeling said. “(People) see products on HGTV and want those for a project, but in reality it takes longer for products to be ordered and received than it does to do the job.”
The Home and Garden Show is an opportunity for vendors to advertise their new products and services, and for consumers to research the market before they build their new privacy fence, in-ground pool or dream house.
“A lot of these products (on HGTV) are pricy, too,” Schmidt said. “Make sure you’re looking at products that are easily accessible to the community. And that’s what’s good about the Home and Garden show.”
For this year, Sublett said vendors are focusing heavily on environmentally friendly services and supplies.
“I think we’re going to see an emphasis on the green building and green cleaning (industry),” he said. “We’re seeing an increase in availability of environmentally friendly products and services here in the Owensboro area for our community.”
Sublett said the influx of environmentally friendly options at the Home and Garden Show is due to a combination of local interest and the national trend of eco-friendly living.
“That was unplanned,” he said. “As we were looking at some of our vendors, that’s what we were noticing. Our vendors are reflective of a national trend of environmentally friendly building and products.”
The environmental options available at the show range from recycled materials for home building and décor, Energy Star appliances, and other energy-saving and eco-conscious items.
“Specifically,” he said, “we have a new vendor bringing in new solar technology that hasn’t been readily available in the area.”
That vendor is World Class Renewable Energy, and will be located at booth 127.
Carpets Unlimited will also display recycled carpeting.
There will also be several new vendors this year.
“Especially with the economic downtown, we’re seeing a lot of newer vendors who are coming into our show who are vary eager to show off what they do for the folks in Owensboro,” Sublett said.
And many of the new vendors are from outside of Owensboro but offer services in the city and the area.
“We’re attracting these visitors outside of Owensboro because we put on a good show,” Sublett said. “They wouldn’t be coming back if they weren’t generating business from people.”
Sublett said the show also attracts residents from other counties as well.
“I think we always do a quality show,” he said. “Per size, we have probably the best show in the state.”
The Home and Garden Show is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 6; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 7; and noon to 4 p.m. on March 8.
Tickets are available at the door, $3 for adults; children 12 and under enter free.
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer
Owensboro builders and suppliers offer energy-saving alternatives
By Matt Weafer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home & Garden Show Catalogue
Go green.
If the new millennium had a moniker, that would be it.
The trend of green construction has filtered into Owensboro. Now, not only have residents’ interests in recycling grown, but so have their interests in building to reduce their carbon footprint and save a dollar or two.
And the hero that makes this all possible — Energy Star appliances.
Energy Star, an organization stemming from the Environmental Protection Agency, sets a standard for energy efficiency in home appliances, conserving electricity and water and reducing greenhouse emissions.
Energy Star also sets a standard of tests during construction to ensure a home is sealed tight to minimize loss of energy through the heating and cooling system.
“The thing about green building that I see more than anything is (people) talk about the green building products you use,” Rick Bivins of JMJ Construction said. “This is green. That’s green. The problem is they don’t see the whole picture. What we’re putting in this building is important, but if you use all green materials but it’s not energy efficient, you’re defeating the purpose.”
Energy efficiency in a home is achieved by reducing energy consumption through appliances including heating and air conditioning units, and by reducing loss of energy through weak insulation, windows or leaky air ducts.
Ray Chambers of Green River Appliances said the biggest energy-savers are Energy Star refrigerators and washing machines.
He said, some of the new refrigerators reportedly “use less electricity than a 60-watt bulb.”
Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Owensboro Richard Stallings said, “The technology is out there to make sure you have the most energy efficient home possible, and we have contractors to counsel customers on new homes and existing homes.”
While many recycled and eco-friendly products dominate the housing market currently, Bivins and Chambers agreed the best way to create an environmentally friendly home is to decrease energy-consumption.
“These houses are going to be around for 100 years,” Bivins said. “I think it’s as important or more important to build energy-efficient homes by using good windows — the best windows you can find — good insulation and good heating and air.”
Chambers said some of the new French door refrigerators can save homeowners up $800 in energy savings over a five year period, and front-load washing machines can save up to 8,000 gallons of water annually.
Also, the new washers use around 14 gallons of water per load compared to the 40 gallons used by top load washers.
“The average front load washer will spin out about a quart more water out of the clothing which will require less drying time,” Chambers said. “Less time is less energy, and that protects our water supply as well.”
Stallings said the state currently offers a $500 tax credit for homeowners who upgrade insulation, windows or doors for more energy-efficient models.
“If you have a lot of duct leakage, it’s going to take more energy to heat and cool your house,” Bivins said.
With JMJ construction, he said, the company uses an Energy Star certified heating and cooling installer to make sure the ducts are as tightly sealed as possible to minimize leakage.
“We use several products that they say are green,” Bivins said. “But they call everything green. They a call a car green because it’s a midsize car and not an SUV. What we do is we build as energy-efficient as possible within financial reason. There’s other ways you can build tighter and more energy-efficient but most people couldn’t afford to build that house.”
And while building energy-efficient is an investment, the benefits pay off.
“It’s pretty amazing how energy star products will pay for themselves,” Chambers said.
More than a billion and a half products carrying the Energy Star label have been purchased, Chambers said.
“That’s going to obviously prevent some greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “Those products that have been purchased are equal to taking 20 million cars off the world. And we will all benefit from it and our grandchildren, too.”
With more than 1000 manufacturers building products for the Energy Star program, the options in design and performance range to suit any need.
“There are a lot of green products out there,” Neal Tong of Neal Tong Building and Remodeling said. “Some of them better than others, some of them more economical than others and will pay you back sooner. But the green building practices are a good thing.”
And according to Chambers, “Energy Star is here to stay.”
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home & Garden Show Catalogue
Go green.
If the new millennium had a moniker, that would be it.
The trend of green construction has filtered into Owensboro. Now, not only have residents’ interests in recycling grown, but so have their interests in building to reduce their carbon footprint and save a dollar or two.
And the hero that makes this all possible — Energy Star appliances.
Energy Star, an organization stemming from the Environmental Protection Agency, sets a standard for energy efficiency in home appliances, conserving electricity and water and reducing greenhouse emissions.
Energy Star also sets a standard of tests during construction to ensure a home is sealed tight to minimize loss of energy through the heating and cooling system.
“The thing about green building that I see more than anything is (people) talk about the green building products you use,” Rick Bivins of JMJ Construction said. “This is green. That’s green. The problem is they don’t see the whole picture. What we’re putting in this building is important, but if you use all green materials but it’s not energy efficient, you’re defeating the purpose.”
Energy efficiency in a home is achieved by reducing energy consumption through appliances including heating and air conditioning units, and by reducing loss of energy through weak insulation, windows or leaky air ducts.
Ray Chambers of Green River Appliances said the biggest energy-savers are Energy Star refrigerators and washing machines.
He said, some of the new refrigerators reportedly “use less electricity than a 60-watt bulb.”
Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Owensboro Richard Stallings said, “The technology is out there to make sure you have the most energy efficient home possible, and we have contractors to counsel customers on new homes and existing homes.”
While many recycled and eco-friendly products dominate the housing market currently, Bivins and Chambers agreed the best way to create an environmentally friendly home is to decrease energy-consumption.
“These houses are going to be around for 100 years,” Bivins said. “I think it’s as important or more important to build energy-efficient homes by using good windows — the best windows you can find — good insulation and good heating and air.”
Chambers said some of the new French door refrigerators can save homeowners up $800 in energy savings over a five year period, and front-load washing machines can save up to 8,000 gallons of water annually.
Also, the new washers use around 14 gallons of water per load compared to the 40 gallons used by top load washers.
“The average front load washer will spin out about a quart more water out of the clothing which will require less drying time,” Chambers said. “Less time is less energy, and that protects our water supply as well.”
Stallings said the state currently offers a $500 tax credit for homeowners who upgrade insulation, windows or doors for more energy-efficient models.
“If you have a lot of duct leakage, it’s going to take more energy to heat and cool your house,” Bivins said.
With JMJ construction, he said, the company uses an Energy Star certified heating and cooling installer to make sure the ducts are as tightly sealed as possible to minimize leakage.
“We use several products that they say are green,” Bivins said. “But they call everything green. They a call a car green because it’s a midsize car and not an SUV. What we do is we build as energy-efficient as possible within financial reason. There’s other ways you can build tighter and more energy-efficient but most people couldn’t afford to build that house.”
And while building energy-efficient is an investment, the benefits pay off.
“It’s pretty amazing how energy star products will pay for themselves,” Chambers said.
More than a billion and a half products carrying the Energy Star label have been purchased, Chambers said.
“That’s going to obviously prevent some greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “Those products that have been purchased are equal to taking 20 million cars off the world. And we will all benefit from it and our grandchildren, too.”
With more than 1000 manufacturers building products for the Energy Star program, the options in design and performance range to suit any need.
“There are a lot of green products out there,” Neal Tong of Neal Tong Building and Remodeling said. “Some of them better than others, some of them more economical than others and will pay you back sooner. But the green building practices are a good thing.”
And according to Chambers, “Energy Star is here to stay.”
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer
Owensboro builders and suppliers offer energy-saving alternatives
By Matt Weafer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home & Garden Show Catalogue
Go green.
If the new millennium had a moniker, that would be it.
The trend of green construction has filtered into Owensboro. Now, not only have residents’ interests in recycling grown, but so have their interests in building to reduce their carbon footprint and save a dollar or two.
And the hero that makes this all possible — Energy Star appliances.
Energy Star, an organization stemming from the Environmental Protection Agency, sets a standard for energy efficiency in home appliances, conserving electricity and water and reducing greenhouse emissions.
Energy Star also sets a standard of tests during construction to ensure a home is sealed tight to minimize loss of energy through the heating and cooling system.
“The thing about green building that I see more than anything is (people) talk about the green building products you use,” Rick Bivins of JMJ Construction said. “This is green. That’s green. The problem is they don’t see the whole picture. What we’re putting in this building is important, but if you use all green materials but it’s not energy efficient, you’re defeating the purpose.”
Energy efficiency in a home is achieved by reducing energy consumption through appliances including heating and air conditioning units, and by reducing loss of energy through weak insulation, windows or leaky air ducts.
Ray Chambers of Green River Appliances said the biggest energy-savers are Energy Star refrigerators and washing machines.
He said, some of the new refrigerators reportedly “use less electricity than a 60-watt bulb.”
Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Owensboro Richard Stallings said, “The technology is out there to make sure you have the most energy efficient home possible, and we have contractors to counsel customers on new homes and existing homes.”
While many recycled and eco-friendly products dominate the housing market currently, Bivins and Chambers agreed the best way to create an environmentally friendly home is to decrease energy-consumption.
“These houses are going to be around for 100 years,” Bivins said. “I think it’s as important or more important to build energy-efficient homes by using good windows — the best windows you can find — good insulation and good heating and air.”
Chambers said some of the new French door refrigerators can save homeowners up $800 in energy savings over a five year period, and front-load washing machines can save up to 8,000 gallons of water annually.
Also, the new washers use around 14 gallons of water per load compared to the 40 gallons used by top load washers.
“The average front load washer will spin out about a quart more water out of the clothing which will require less drying time,” Chambers said. “Less time is less energy, and that protects our water supply as well.”
Stallings said the state currently offers a $500 tax credit for homeowners who upgrade insulation, windows or doors for more energy-efficient models.
“If you have a lot of duct leakage, it’s going to take more energy to heat and cool your house,” Bivins said.
With JMJ construction, he said, the company uses an Energy Star certified heating and cooling installer to make sure the ducts are as tightly sealed as possible to minimize leakage.
“We use several products that they say are green,” Bivins said. “But they call everything green. They a call a car green because it’s a midsize car and not an SUV. What we do is we build as energy-efficient as possible within financial reason. There’s other ways you can build tighter and more energy-efficient but most people couldn’t afford to build that house.”
And while building energy-efficient is an investment, the benefits pay off.
“It’s pretty amazing how energy star products will pay for themselves,” Chambers said.
More than a billion and a half products carrying the Energy Star label have been purchased, Chambers said.
“That’s going to obviously prevent some greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “Those products that have been purchased are equal to taking 20 million cars off the world. And we will all benefit from it and our grandchildren, too.”
With more than 1000 manufacturers building products for the Energy Star program, the options in design and performance range to suit any need.
“There are a lot of green products out there,” Neal Tong of Neal Tong Building and Remodeling said. “Some of them better than others, some of them more economical than others and will pay you back sooner. But the green building practices are a good thing.”
And according to Chambers, “Energy Star is here to stay.”
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home & Garden Show Catalogue
Go green.
If the new millennium had a moniker, that would be it.
The trend of green construction has filtered into Owensboro. Now, not only have residents’ interests in recycling grown, but so have their interests in building to reduce their carbon footprint and save a dollar or two.
And the hero that makes this all possible — Energy Star appliances.
Energy Star, an organization stemming from the Environmental Protection Agency, sets a standard for energy efficiency in home appliances, conserving electricity and water and reducing greenhouse emissions.
Energy Star also sets a standard of tests during construction to ensure a home is sealed tight to minimize loss of energy through the heating and cooling system.
“The thing about green building that I see more than anything is (people) talk about the green building products you use,” Rick Bivins of JMJ Construction said. “This is green. That’s green. The problem is they don’t see the whole picture. What we’re putting in this building is important, but if you use all green materials but it’s not energy efficient, you’re defeating the purpose.”
Energy efficiency in a home is achieved by reducing energy consumption through appliances including heating and air conditioning units, and by reducing loss of energy through weak insulation, windows or leaky air ducts.
Ray Chambers of Green River Appliances said the biggest energy-savers are Energy Star refrigerators and washing machines.
He said, some of the new refrigerators reportedly “use less electricity than a 60-watt bulb.”
Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Owensboro Richard Stallings said, “The technology is out there to make sure you have the most energy efficient home possible, and we have contractors to counsel customers on new homes and existing homes.”
While many recycled and eco-friendly products dominate the housing market currently, Bivins and Chambers agreed the best way to create an environmentally friendly home is to decrease energy-consumption.
“These houses are going to be around for 100 years,” Bivins said. “I think it’s as important or more important to build energy-efficient homes by using good windows — the best windows you can find — good insulation and good heating and air.”
Chambers said some of the new French door refrigerators can save homeowners up $800 in energy savings over a five year period, and front-load washing machines can save up to 8,000 gallons of water annually.
Also, the new washers use around 14 gallons of water per load compared to the 40 gallons used by top load washers.
“The average front load washer will spin out about a quart more water out of the clothing which will require less drying time,” Chambers said. “Less time is less energy, and that protects our water supply as well.”
Stallings said the state currently offers a $500 tax credit for homeowners who upgrade insulation, windows or doors for more energy-efficient models.
“If you have a lot of duct leakage, it’s going to take more energy to heat and cool your house,” Bivins said.
With JMJ construction, he said, the company uses an Energy Star certified heating and cooling installer to make sure the ducts are as tightly sealed as possible to minimize leakage.
“We use several products that they say are green,” Bivins said. “But they call everything green. They a call a car green because it’s a midsize car and not an SUV. What we do is we build as energy-efficient as possible within financial reason. There’s other ways you can build tighter and more energy-efficient but most people couldn’t afford to build that house.”
And while building energy-efficient is an investment, the benefits pay off.
“It’s pretty amazing how energy star products will pay for themselves,” Chambers said.
More than a billion and a half products carrying the Energy Star label have been purchased, Chambers said.
“That’s going to obviously prevent some greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “Those products that have been purchased are equal to taking 20 million cars off the world. And we will all benefit from it and our grandchildren, too.”
With more than 1000 manufacturers building products for the Energy Star program, the options in design and performance range to suit any need.
“There are a lot of green products out there,” Neal Tong of Neal Tong Building and Remodeling said. “Some of them better than others, some of them more economical than others and will pay you back sooner. But the green building practices are a good thing.”
And according to Chambers, “Energy Star is here to stay.”
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer
Friday, February 20, 2009
Make your spring cleaning green
By Matt Weafer
Messenger-Inquirer Owensboro Today
This spring when you’re pulling out the couch to attack the annual aggregation of dust bunnies, emptying out the garage and wiping down the shelves of your refrigerator, consider the environment.
Every year, we break out the Pine-Sol and the vacuum cleaner attachments and go to town for spring cleaning for a fresh start to the new life of the new year. Why not make that fresh start even better by transforming your home into an eco-conscious living space?
The trick to establishing a greener home that is both easy to maintain through the year and functional is to create an infrastructure that supports recycling and a lighter eco-footprint.
Organize a recycling center in your home
Recycling is a breeze with a designated home recycling center that contains bins to separate and store waste until you take them to the city’s recycling center.
Clear out a space in your home, such as a corner in the garage, a broom closet or even the trunk of your car to store recyclables.
Owensboro only offers recycling for seven items at the recycling center: clear plastic, opaque non-colored plastic, cardboard, newspapers, magazines, steel cans and aluminum cans.
Some local retailers, including Wal-Mart, offer recycling for plastic grocery bags.
Make your trip to the recycling center an activity as regular as going to the groceries.
Avoid harmful cleaning products
Most household cleaning products contain harmful chemicals including carcinogens, endocrine disruptors (which can cause ADHD, infertility, challenged immune systems, miscarriages, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other cancers) and neurotoxins (which affect brain activity, causing headaches and loss of intellect).
While many cleaning products tout “natural” and “organic” in their names, those terms are not clearly defined to mean safe for you or the environment. And manufacturers are not required to list every ingredient in the product.
Researching safe cleaning products can be overwhelming, time consuming and frustrating. So look for cleaning products that don’t contain the warning signal words “caution,” “warning,” “danger” or “poison.” These terms indicate that the product is harmful or fatal.
Instead of reading ingredient lists, look for cleaning products that say on the front “contains no . . .” volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Alkylphenolethoxylates (APEs), Formaldehyde, Organochlorines (OCs), Styrene or Phthalates.
Also, though this may be disappointing to many people who love the smell of fabric softener, look for fragrance-free products.
In 1986 the U. S. National Academy of Science identified the ingredients in many manufactured fragrances as carcinogens and neurotoxins that are the primary cause of disease in humans along with insecticides, heavy metals, solvents and food additives.
Start a compost pile
When you chop lettuce and peel onions while fixing dinner, don’t throw the waste in the trash.
Start a compost pile in your backyard — or side yard if you don’t have a back yard. Or consider starting a community compost bin if you live in an apartment.
The compost pile can be kept neat and is easy to manage if started properly. Discard waste into a small area on the ground contained by some two-by-fours or some chicken wire about two to three feet high.
Keep the pile damp but not soggy, and cover it with a thin layer of dirt.
The best compost contains 75 percent brown material (leaves, saw dust, dye-free paper towels and napkins) and 25 percent green material (vegetable and fruit scraps, grass clippings in small amounts, egg shells, tea bags, and coffee filters) with a thin layer of dirt on top. Toss a couple of earth worms in there to speed up the process.
Rotate the pile with a pitchfork or shovel every two weeks. The bottom layer of the pile is ready to use every few months.
Minimize utility consumption
While you power through the house with your vacuum cleaner and dust rag, look for any electronic appliances that sit unused for significant intervals and unplug them.
Virtually every electronic appliance draws phantom power even when turned off. DVD players, TVs, computers, radios and cell phone chargers when not in use still draw electricity.
Desktop computers are one of the biggest energy leaches in your home.
If your entertainment center plug-ins are stashed behind a shelf unit, consider plugging them into an easily accessible surge protector so you can turn it on and off when you go to sleep or leave for school or work.
If you haven’t already, go ahead and switch you incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents (CFLs). They have decreased in price significantly since they first hit the market and you will earn your money back quickly as they last longer and use less electricity.
And when you hit the bathroom and kitchen, screw an aerator onto your faucets. They decrease water consumption and are easy to attach. Shower head aerators are available as well but may require a little more to install them.
Reprinted with permission from Messenger-Inquirer.
Messenger-Inquirer Owensboro Today
This spring when you’re pulling out the couch to attack the annual aggregation of dust bunnies, emptying out the garage and wiping down the shelves of your refrigerator, consider the environment.
Every year, we break out the Pine-Sol and the vacuum cleaner attachments and go to town for spring cleaning for a fresh start to the new life of the new year. Why not make that fresh start even better by transforming your home into an eco-conscious living space?
The trick to establishing a greener home that is both easy to maintain through the year and functional is to create an infrastructure that supports recycling and a lighter eco-footprint.
Organize a recycling center in your home
Recycling is a breeze with a designated home recycling center that contains bins to separate and store waste until you take them to the city’s recycling center.
Clear out a space in your home, such as a corner in the garage, a broom closet or even the trunk of your car to store recyclables.
Owensboro only offers recycling for seven items at the recycling center: clear plastic, opaque non-colored plastic, cardboard, newspapers, magazines, steel cans and aluminum cans.
Some local retailers, including Wal-Mart, offer recycling for plastic grocery bags.
Make your trip to the recycling center an activity as regular as going to the groceries.
Avoid harmful cleaning products
Most household cleaning products contain harmful chemicals including carcinogens, endocrine disruptors (which can cause ADHD, infertility, challenged immune systems, miscarriages, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other cancers) and neurotoxins (which affect brain activity, causing headaches and loss of intellect).
While many cleaning products tout “natural” and “organic” in their names, those terms are not clearly defined to mean safe for you or the environment. And manufacturers are not required to list every ingredient in the product.
Researching safe cleaning products can be overwhelming, time consuming and frustrating. So look for cleaning products that don’t contain the warning signal words “caution,” “warning,” “danger” or “poison.” These terms indicate that the product is harmful or fatal.
Instead of reading ingredient lists, look for cleaning products that say on the front “contains no . . .” volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Alkylphenolethoxylates (APEs), Formaldehyde, Organochlorines (OCs), Styrene or Phthalates.
Also, though this may be disappointing to many people who love the smell of fabric softener, look for fragrance-free products.
In 1986 the U. S. National Academy of Science identified the ingredients in many manufactured fragrances as carcinogens and neurotoxins that are the primary cause of disease in humans along with insecticides, heavy metals, solvents and food additives.
Start a compost pile
When you chop lettuce and peel onions while fixing dinner, don’t throw the waste in the trash.
Start a compost pile in your backyard — or side yard if you don’t have a back yard. Or consider starting a community compost bin if you live in an apartment.
The compost pile can be kept neat and is easy to manage if started properly. Discard waste into a small area on the ground contained by some two-by-fours or some chicken wire about two to three feet high.
Keep the pile damp but not soggy, and cover it with a thin layer of dirt.
The best compost contains 75 percent brown material (leaves, saw dust, dye-free paper towels and napkins) and 25 percent green material (vegetable and fruit scraps, grass clippings in small amounts, egg shells, tea bags, and coffee filters) with a thin layer of dirt on top. Toss a couple of earth worms in there to speed up the process.
Rotate the pile with a pitchfork or shovel every two weeks. The bottom layer of the pile is ready to use every few months.
Minimize utility consumption
While you power through the house with your vacuum cleaner and dust rag, look for any electronic appliances that sit unused for significant intervals and unplug them.
Virtually every electronic appliance draws phantom power even when turned off. DVD players, TVs, computers, radios and cell phone chargers when not in use still draw electricity.
Desktop computers are one of the biggest energy leaches in your home.
If your entertainment center plug-ins are stashed behind a shelf unit, consider plugging them into an easily accessible surge protector so you can turn it on and off when you go to sleep or leave for school or work.
If you haven’t already, go ahead and switch you incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents (CFLs). They have decreased in price significantly since they first hit the market and you will earn your money back quickly as they last longer and use less electricity.
And when you hit the bathroom and kitchen, screw an aerator onto your faucets. They decrease water consumption and are easy to attach. Shower head aerators are available as well but may require a little more to install them.
Reprinted with permission from Messenger-Inquirer.
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