If there?s a question relating to home improvement, the answer can likely be found among the 137 booths at the 43rd annual Johnson City Area Home Builders Association Home and Garden Show, which is set to begin Saturday at Freedom Hall Civic Center.

JCAHBA executive director Lisa Luster said all signs are pointing up for an industry that has seen some decline during the recession.

?A lot of the industry has been hit hard, but they have come to us this year realizing that things are turning around. The public is calling, builders are starting to build again, remodelers are working, landscapers are working full-tilt and this is a good time to start doing this work,? she said.

This year, the Home and Garden Show will feature 89 vendors dealing with everything from building, remodeling and landscaping to answering questions about refinancing and home restoration.

Even if one isn?t in the market to build or remodel a home, Luster said the show is the perfect place to come to get ideas for future projects.

?If they?ve got a wish list or a plan, we have an architect that can work with you,? she said. ?Come to get the idea. Come to make a plan and find the professionals that can put your plan into action, and that?s what we?re all about for this.?

As with previous years at the show, there is a concentration on energy-efficient building, including several vendors who offer solar power services.

?We feel like building smart is the only way to do it,? Luster said.

Certified green professionals will be on hand at the show, as well as green flags at booths where green products will be available.

Workshops will be hosted throughout the weekend, including workshops presented by the Northeast Tennessee Master Gardeners, the Orchid Society of East Tennessee, Englewood Lawn & Landscapes and Paul Walton, certified aging in place specialist and certified green professional.

For the first time in the show?s history, a ?Kid?s Zone? will be available for children where they can learn about building and decorating in a kid-friendly environment.

The showrooms will be open Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tickets are $3 per person per day and a weekend pass is available for $5. Children 12 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

For more information, call the JCAHBA at 282-2561.

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Home sweet home, garden show

GALLATIN, TN--(Marketwire -02/17/12)- For a property owner, a worst-case disaster scenario involving fire or water damage can seem unthinkable and then suddenly become a reality. In the aftermath of a disaster, quick response time by a disaster recovery and restoration specialist can help minimize property damage as well as inventory or home contents loss. To provide home and business owners with a quick and convenient way to call in the experts when disaster strikes, SERVPRO® announces the public release of their SERVPRO® Ready Plan Mobile Application. The free App is now available to download from app stores across three mobile platforms: Android™, iOS® and BlackBerry®.

"The one constant in disasters," says Rick Isaacson, Executive Vice President of Servpro Industries, Inc., "is that there isn't any constant. Disasters are unpredictable and frequently strike without warning. That's why SERVPRO's Ready Plan mobile app is so valuable. In the confusion and panic that often surround a disaster, a property owner or manager can reach out for expert help right from the scene, using their cell phones."

The application allows both residential and commercial property managers and owners to create an Emergency Ready Profile that contains critical facility information that can help speed up response time after fire or water damage occurs. In addition to property details, the application tracks prior loss history, utility shut off locations, and key contacts; stores photos of the damage; and integrates local weather forecasts and more, including the address and contact information for the user's preferred SERVPRO® Franchise.

Through the application, the user can quickly call SERVPRO® or submit an electronic "First Notice of Loss" (FNOL) to the SERVPRO® National Call Center setting the wheels of recovery in motion. Rapid response from a disaster cleanup and restoration specialist can help the property owner evaluate options, start the insurance process and take the right steps from the beginning to bring their property back to normal, "Like it never even happened."

"I hope that businesses and homeowners nationwide will take a moment to download our new Ready Plan mobile app to their smart phone," said Isaacson. "Having that information literally at your fingertips in an emergency can prove invaluable if disaster does strike."

SERVPRO® specializes in fire and water cleanup and restoration and repair services for both commercial and residential customers. SERVPRO® also offers large loss, national storm response, mold remediation and other property maintenance and restoration services.

For more information about SERVPRO®, please visit http://www.servpro.com.

An image is available for this release at http://www2.enr-corp.com/ht/strumpf03/1120781/ReadyAppHand.jpg.

About SERVPRO®
Founded in 1967, the SERVPRO® Franchise system is a national leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services and mold mitigation and remediation. SERVPRO's professional services network of more than 1,600 individually owned and operated Franchises responds to property damage emergencies ranging from small individual disasters to multi-million dollar large-loss situations. Providing coverage in 48 states, the SERVPRO® system has established relationships with major insurance companies and commercial clients, as well as individual homeowners.

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SERVPRO(R) Ready Plan Mobile Application Keeps Critical Disaster Recovery and Restoration Information at Property ...

17-02-2012 02:03 Simple picture montage start to finish showing a room getting torn down, wall paper and old paint getting removed then painted. Carpet was removed and solid wood floor was exposed.

Original post:
Image Montage with Music Of Remodeling a Room - Video

Maryland’s Best Roofing and Siding, Inc. advises U.S. homeowners to be proactive and evaluate the roof condition before putting it to test under the spring rains. Establishing the problem areas on early stages and waterproofing the roof will prevent spring leaks and potential interior damage.

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) February 17, 2012

As the spring approaches, Maryland’s Best Roofing and Siding, Inc. encourages homeowners to get their houses ready for the rainy season starting with the roof.

Spring, just like fall, comes with rainy weather for the most part of the continental U.S. According to the National Climatic Data Center, in the period between March and May 2011 most states experienced higher than normal precipitation levels, while nine states saw their heaviest rains in 117 years.

Climate change and global warming make it difficult to predict the exact weather for the upcoming spring, but no matter what the forecasts say, being prepared is the least homeowners can do.

Experienced provider of roof installation and roof repair services in Baltimore area, Maryland’s Best Roofing and Siding, Inc. recommends starting the preparation by examining the inside of the house.

“If you notice discoloration, mold, water damage or peeling paint on your ceiling, walls or attic, it means the roof is already leaking and needs to be repaired in time before the first rains,” says Mike Criddle, the Vice President of Maryland’s Best Roofing and Siding, Inc.

He goes on to explain that although minor leaks could be handled without hiring a roofer, in many cases detecting a leaking spot is tricky and requires professional help. “Our Baltimore roofers are versed in construction and have assisted many homeowners in getting rid of annoying leaks,” added Criddle.

If the inside has passed the inspection, the next step is to examine the roof itself. Criddle reminded all DIY experts to follow safety rules or invite an experienced contractor to take a look at the roof. Things to look out for include cracks, damaged, missing or loose shingles, tree branches and foreign object on the roof surface.

Houses in the areas of heavy snowfall require special attention. “The last year’s massive East coast snow storms kept our Baltimore roofers busy,” commented Criddle. “In many cases, the snow damage is not evident, and only a careful inspection could indicate if a repair or a complete replacement is needed.”

Checking on the gutters and snow guards is another way to get prepared for the spring. Gutters bent by snow and winds or clogged with leaves, branches or dead animals may cause many problems. “When the rainfall is not directed away from the house, it leads to foundation cracks, leaky basements, destroyed landscaping, etc.,” said Criddle

Having the roof inspected and fixed before the leaks establish themselves is a proactive approach. Even if no problems are found, the homeowners still gain a piece of mind and a sense of security.

About Maryland’s Best Roofing and Siding, Inc.

Headquartered in Columbia, Md., Maryland’s Best Roofing and Siding, Inc. serves residential and commercial customers within Baltimore, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Harford County, and many other areas in Maryland. The company offers a variety of roof repair and replacement services. For more information, please visit http://www.roofrepairsbaltimore.com.

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Mike Criddle
Maryland's Best Roofing and Siding
(410) 794-0419
Email Information

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Maryland’s Best Roofing and Siding, Inc. Reminds Homeowners to Perform Pre-spring Roof Maintenance

JANIE McCAULEY PHOENIX — The Associated Press Published Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 6:03PM EST Last updated Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 6:06PM EST

The Oakland Athletics still have strong interest in signing slugger Manny Ramirez, who presents a low-risk investment for the rebuilding franchise.

If things come together, the 39-year-old would sign a deal for slightly more than the league minimum of US$480,000.

He first must serve a 50-game suspension without pay for violating baseball's drug policy for the second time. With no rainouts, the first game Ramirez would be eligible to play is June 2 at Kansas City.

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The sides could reach agreement as soon as the next few days or some time next week, and Ramirez then likely would travel from Florida to Arizona to undergo a physical before joining Oakland's spring training camp for full-squad workouts starting Feb. 25. Pitchers and catchers report to camp Saturday.

Oakland recently sent representatives to Florida to observe workouts by Ramirez, who retired from the Tampa Bay Rays last season rather than serve a 100-game suspension. For Ramirez, this could become a chance to help repair his reputation and serve as a positive clubhouse influence on a young team — that's sure what the Oakland brass hope, anyway.

The A's last week agreed to terms on a $36-million, four-year contract with highly sought after outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, a Cuban defector who has expressed interest in playing with Ramirez.

At baseball's winter meetings in December, it was announced Ramirez had applied for reinstatement. He had his suspension for a second failed drug test cut to 50 because he sat out nearly all of last season.

MLB had announced his retirement April 8, saying he was notified “of an issue” under the drug program.

Ramirez, who will be 40 on May 30, ranks 14th on the career list with 555 home runs. He went 1-for-17 (.059) in five games last season for Tampa Bay, which had signed him to a one-year, $2.02-million deal.

This would be the 20th major league season for Ramirez, a career .312 hitter with 1,831 RBIs. Oakland, which traded away its top three pitchers this off-season, sure could use a power bat in the middle of the order in a tough AL West that already has seen the key additions of Albert Pujols on the Los Angeles Angels and star Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish for the two-time reigning AL champion Texas Rangers.

The A's haven't reached the playoffs or had a winning season since being swept by the Tigers in the 2006 AL championship series.

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A's still hoping to sign Manny Ramirez

DAVIE — You get a charming story line like this in sports sometimes, Mike Sherman becoming Dolphins offensive coordinator and coming full-circle with his former English student, Joe Philbin.

Sherman remembers back more than three decades to Philbin as a "very introspective, very cerebral" student at Worcester (Mass.) Academy as they broke down books like Sherwood Anderson's "Winesburg, Ohio." Philbin remembers Sherman as being late for class on occasion.

But even as he was asked about this Wednesday, Sherman says almost as an aside, "I'm not sure I remember that much about him from then."

Sports are about the moment, Sherman seemed to be saying, as any career coach knows with enough wins to wear a ring, enough losses to be fired and enough moves for his wife to get a nervous tic, "Whenever she sees a moving van," he says.

So this move for him isn't about some Big Chill reunion for Sherman and Philbin, as nice as that is. It's about now, about winning. And Sherman related two interesting aspects of his visit with Philbin a few weeks ago that swayed his taking the job.

The first was watching video of the Dolphins' offense. He confirmed what the second half of the season showed a lot of people, what gave hesitation for change by the end.

"I don't think we're that far away,'' he said. "We'll have some very explosive potential with the talent we have on offense. We have to fill some holes, but overall we have some explosive players and that's exciting.

"If you have explosive players, you should have explosive plays."

The second thing Sherman needed to know was owner Steve Ross' commitment to winning. Philbin convinced him on Ross.

"He was adamant about the fact that Mr. Ross wants to bring a Super Bowl, bring a Lombardi Trophy to Miami,'' Sherman said. "He's very passionate about that."

Sherman called that, "a very telling statement, a convincing statement that led me to feel we have a chance to do that here with the current level we're able to add to this as well."

Don't all owners say that to new coaches?

"I've met some that haven't said that, to be honest,'' Sherman said.

Sherman, on top of Philbin, gives the offense the kind of experience that suggests it's in good hands. You never know. And it proved to be in fine hands after a slow, introductory start with the younger Brian Daboll last year.

What Philbin and Sherman offer immediately is more collective knowledge of two of the available quarterbacks than anyone else in the hunt. This is vital, as any Dolphins fan knows, considering it's the most vital of those "holes" Sherman mentioned.

Philbin worked with Matt Flynn for the past four years at Green Bay. Sherman coached Ryan Tannehill the last few years at Texas A&M, the final one as his quarterback.

All you're going to get out of Sherman on Tannehill is, "He's a good kid,'' because this is one of those state secrets worth keeping.

You get some other news. Sherman will be calling the plays. He believes in a balanced offense in these pass-happy times. He says there are some "hidden gems" among the offensive linemen. He'll wait to fill the playbook until all the players are in hand.

"The best offense is the one that makes best use of the players' talents,'' he said.

Sitting at the next table over during an interview session is his son-in-law, the new Dolphins assistant quarterback coach, Zac Taylor. There's a lot of interwoven stories with this new staff, as there was with the old one, as there is with most any one.

The bottom line is Sherman's past with Philbin is a nice story. But winning is the only thing anyone cares about at this level. And the new architect of the offense thinks this team is ready to win with a few offseason additions.

"I don't think anyone would have picked the Giants necessarily to win the Super Bowl this year," he said.

dhyde@tribune.com.

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Sherman: 'I don't think we're that far away'

PELLA, Iowa, Feb. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Energy-efficient window and door manufacturer Pella donated $30,000 to the non-profit organization Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) and helped raise additional cash, building materials and labor to support the national cause through its partners in THE PRO EXPO Presented by PellaSM program.

Pella selected Homes for Our Troops -- which builds homes for severely injured U.S. service members and their families -- as its charitable partner for THE PRO EXPO Presented by Pella held in 30 U.S. and Canadian markets in 2011. Pella asked its national partners and professionals who attended events to help support the charitable cause.

"Through THE PRO EXPO Presented by Pella events, we bring together builders, remodelers, contractors and architects to network, share ideas and attend educational seminars," said Chris Dana, trade marketing manager at Pella. "We were also proud to help raise awareness and support for Homes for Our Troops to help those who've sacrificed so much for our country and our freedom."

How to help

Donations can be made through Homes for Our Troops' secure online fundraising site. For more information about home builds, visit the Homes for Our Troops website.

Non-profit helps severely injured veterans

Since it was founded in 2004, Homes for Our Troops has assisted severely injured veterans and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials, and professional labor and coordinates the process of building a specially-adapted home that enables an injured veteran to live more independently. The homes provided by Homes for Our Troops are given at no cost to the veterans.

"Many veterans are returning home from wars in Iraq or Afghanistan with life-altering injuries sustained while defending the United States overseas," said Dawn Teixeira, executive director of Homes for Our Troops. "These American heroes need specially adapted homes that will allow them to regain their independence and help them and their families rebuild their lives."

Injuries include the loss of one or more limbs, varying levels of paralysis and traumatic brain injury. Some veterans also return with blindness, deafness or severe burns. They may be confined to a wheelchair or may utilize a wheelchair when they are unable to walk on their prosthetics. Their homes are no longer a place of comfort, but rather filled with barriers that make the simplest tasks difficult, if not impossible, Teixeira said.

Homes designed for accessibility

Homes for Our Troops' specially adapted homes go beyond Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. They typically feature single-level, open floor plans, roll-in showers, roll-under cooktops and sinks, and other standard accessibility items. Depending on the severity of the injury sustained by the veteran, homes may also include specialized items like lift systems, keyless door entry and voice activation controls.

Additional information:

Homes for Our Troops videos:

About Pella

Pella Corporation is a leader in designing, testing, manufacturing and installing quality windows and doors for new construction, remodeling and replacement applications.

As a family-owned and professionally managed privately-held company, Pella is known for its 87-year history of making innovative products, providing quality service and delivering on customer satisfaction. Headquartered in Pella, Iowa, the company is committed to incorporating new technologies, increasing productivity and practicing environmental stewardship to create satisfied customers.

Pella manufactures quality windows, patio doors and entry door systems sold through a Direct Sales Network operating Pella Window & Door Showrooms across the United States and Canada and select building materials retailers, including Lowe's(R). For more information, call 888-847-3552 or visit pella.com. Follow Pella on Twitter.com @Pella_News, on Facebook at facebook.com/pellawindowsanddoors and on YouTube at youtube.com/pellawindowsanddoors.

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Pella(R) Windows & Doors Donates $30,000 to Homes for Our Troops

One of the hottest startups in Silicon Valley is not what you'd expect. It doesn't make iPhone apps or a new kind of database technology.

It's called Nest and it makes thermostats.

Cofounders Matt Rogers and Tony Fadell used to work at Apple on the iPod.

A couple of years ago, they came up with the idea that the thermostat on your wall is too hard to use, and doesn't provide enough easy ways to save money on energy. So they spent two years building and designing a new breed of thermostat—beautiful to look at, and easy to control from your mobile phone.

Best of all, Nest learns your energy usage habits and adjusts so you aren't blowing hot air throughout the house when nobody is home.

Nest launched last fall, and sales have been way higher than expected—the company has been continually selling out of all stock—and Nest has attracted fans like Google's Marissa Mayer.

It has also attracted the attention of the big guys. Last week, giant Honeywell sued Nest for patent infringement.

We caught up with cofounder Matt Rogers a couple days ago. He couldn't talk about the Honeywell suit for legal reasons, but here's what we learned:

Peers scoffed at the idea, but investors got it right away. "When we first did our first pitch, Randy Komisar at KP said 'we have been looking for a company to do this forever. and I am so glad you're here.'" It's not just for homeowners—renters are installing Nest, too. "It is not like you are getting a meter installed or a big piece of infrastructure. You take the one off the wall you have today, you plug a few wires into Nest, and you are good to go. Most customers are really very much able to do it themselves." They have no plans to work with utilities—they want customers to WANT this thing. "One of the things that are very core to us is being a trusted ally of the consumer and building a product that they want to invite into their homes." It's not intended to be a "green tech" product. "I don't really think it is a green tech revolution kind of product. We are building a great product for everybody, not just greenies. Everyone likes to save energy and money in their home." Working at Apple helped prepare them for Nest. "At Apple we would go to the moon and back for saving one millimeter off of the thinness on a device, and that kind of stuff definitely prepared us for Nest ... Everyone says they want to build beautiful products and products like Apple but very few are willing to put that time and energy, that focus in to do it." But there's no backup at a startup. "Apple is this gigantic company with a lot of resources and whenever we had something very difficult we always could invest our way out of it. We could put really fancy laser cutting equipment to make our metals and plastics or we could hire another engineer to help get the product to completion. In a startup you have it all, you have to do it. You can't just go hire and build a bigger team."

Business Insider: So you guys sold out on your first run. Did you expect that?

Matt Rogers: No we didn't actually. Once we launched it, announced it and started shipping, I think we struck a nerve with consumers and they saw the ugly thing on their wall today and the opportunity they had to get a better product and we have actually been, we have been continually selling out. So within three days we ... were taking reservations. And the last few months we have basically been filing off those reservation lists. It has been actually incredible, like how many people have been excited in buying the thermostat.

BI: What do you credit that to, is it design? And how did you get your message out across all the noise that's out there?

MR: So I mean, part of what gets people excited is design and usability and having a great interface that's easy. You shouldn't have to read a manual to figure out how to program your thermostat or use it. And in terms of how we got the word out, we did a lot of direct consumer conversations on social media. We did a lot of outreach in terms of PR. We talked to basically a lot of people and the more people we talked to the more the word got out. It was very much a grassroots type of campaign. We didn't do any advertising.

BI: How did you and Tony Fadell (the other cofounder) ever decide that thermostats were a ripe area for innovation?

MR: Tony and I, we met over lunch a long time ago, probably almost 2 1/2 years ago at this point, and were talking about what’s to come, what’s next. He had been building a very eco-friendly house in Tahoe and we were talking about some of the things going on there and the lack of innovation in the thermostat space. It got us really excited and we said hey, we built the iPod, what if we applied some of the great technology and design principles to the thermostat? And we spent a few months doing research and thinking about what that process would be and we went off and did it and we spent about 18 months with an amazing team building the product that we now have.

BI: Where do you even find people to work on that technology? This isn't your typical Silicon Valley startup.

MR: We hired folks from all around the Valley; from Apple, Microsoft, Google, from Twitter. People were excited to leave their jobs, basically their dream jobs, to work on this thermostat. It's a very impactful (sic) kind of product. Thermostats are responsible for about half of energy use so it is a huge amount of impact you could have.

BI: Was there a learning curve for these people?

MR: For those that are working on, I would say, the core thermostat part of the product, absolutely there was a learning curve and we spent quite a bit of time basically getting educated. We have an advisory board of heating and cooling experts from all around the country who basically educated us about this industry and about how the heating and cooling actually works.

But most of us don't work on the heating and cooling part of the product. We work on the mobile apps or the back-end servers or the algorithms or the UI [user interface] and that's the kind of techniques and technology that we used at Apple or at Google. It's just like building a phone.

BI: How big is the company?

MR: We're about 100.

BI: Wow. Not exactly a lean startup.

MR: It takes a lot to build this kind of product. To build just a great thermostat it was tough and then when you add in all of the things in the ecosystem, it is the whole company. We have to have manufacturing, we have a whole team that does apps, we have a web presence. It takes quite a bit.

BI: As you were planning the product and raising money, did you ever get any pushback from the investment community or your peers saying, "why are you making such an un-sexy product?"

MR: Different answers to your two questions. From friends or industry insiders, people that Tony and I know and trust, we did get the question, "A thermostat? Really?" But once we told them the story they got it.

Investors on the other hand totally got it. They had already been looking for companies to innovate in this area when we started and when we first did our first pitch, Randy Komisar at KP said "we have been looking for a company to do this forever. and I am so glad you're here."

BI: What do you guys do next? Are you planning on improving the core product and what kinds of areas do you look at to improve in?

MR: So there are a lot of areas where the product that we ship today could be a lot better ... Immediately we are looking next to "how do we better educate consumers about energy use and what things could we do there?" Today we are building a product that is a great tool to help consumers conserve energy. If you teach Nest well, you will save energy but how can we make that experience even better.

BI: Are you working at all with utilities?

MR: We have taken a different approach and we have decided to go basically on our own. One of the things that are very core to us is being a trusted ally of the consumer and building a product that they want to invite us into their homes. This is a product that they are going to hang on their wall and interact with every day so the path we have gone down is 100 percent consumer product.

BI: What do you do about renters? There is a sizable community, particularly in big cities, that don't own their home. Do they install Nest?

MR: We have actually seen quite a few renters buy Nest. They basically leave their thermostat on the wall and find that if they are compatible that they can buy it and install it there. It is a pretty low cost product that is helping them save energy, especially if they are a long-term renter and they are renting that house for years. I mean they will definitely see their savings.

BI: So it is not a real problem for them talking to the landlord.

MR: Exactly. It is not like you are getting a meter installed or a big piece of infrastructure. You take the one off the wall you have today, you plug a few wires into Nest, and you are good to go. Most customers are really very much able to do it themselves. The installations. We have online videos and all of those kinds of things.

BI: What about other products for the home? Or other energy-saving products?

MR: Today we are very much focused on the thermostat, improving that experience. Of course we are building a company and companies are more than about one product but today we are focused on the thermostat and doing that product really well.

BI: Do you see a resurgence in green tech and clean tech driven by consumers rather than the government and subsidies?

MR: I don't really think it is a green tech revolution kind of product. We are building a great product for everybody, not just greenies. Everyone likes to save energy and money in their home ... I don't know in terms of greater trends. I don't see too many other companies doing things like we are doing.

BI: You worked at Apple for almost 5 years. How did working at Apple prepare you to work at a startup? And specifically did it prepare you at all for working on this totally new kind of startup?

MR: Apple is a unique kind of place in that there is an exceptional amount of focus on the design and details. At Apple we would go to the moon and back for saving one millimeter off of the thinness on a device, and that kind of stuff definitely prepared us for Nest. Those kinds of design principles and diligence don't really exist anywhere else, and that core focus I think is what helped Tony and I basically design this thermostat. Everyone says they want to build beautiful products and products like Apple but very few are willing to put that time and energy, that focus in to do it.

BI: Do you see any other startups with the same kind of focus on design?

MR: The guys at Path have done an exceptional job in reinventing the user experience. I have been playing with that app recently and they really have built an amazingly easy to use beautiful UI and a great example of what a modern app can be.

BI: What about supply chain? That must be a big deal for you guys, and Tim Cook is heralded as a genius on that stuff.

MR: Absolutely, we have learned a ton from Apple in terms of operations, supply chain management and how to get a product built at high quality and at high volumes. That has been a continual focus for us and where we spend a lot of our time today is exactly on that.

BI: What did working at Apple not prepare you for? What were the surprises?

MR: Apple is this gigantic company with a lot of resources and whenever we had something very difficult we always could invest our way out of it. We could put really fancy laser cutting equipment to make our metals and plastics or we could hire another engineer to help get the product to completion. In a startup you have it all, you have to do it. You can't just go hire and build a bigger team. We have to be much more fiscally responsible. Also there is no backup, whereas at Apple you always could go call your buddies at the Mac team or in operations to help out a project. At a startup you’re on your own. You do your own backup.

BI: What is the weirdest thing you have had to do? Any emergencies?

MR: We have had to do anything and everything to the point. At one point I was even vacuuming the floor after we have had some stuff spill. When it comes down to it, everyone, the team here at Nest is willing to do anything it takes to get this product done and to build it.

More From Business Insider

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Nest Cofounder Explains How Working At Apple Helped Him Create The Perfect Thermostat

SHELBY COUNTY — Stewardson-Strasburg Schools got a $50,000 award for installing an alternative heating and cooling system into the building campus.

The Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) and Shelby Electric Cooperative presented the school the GeoAlliance Grant Wednesday morning. Attending the event were Regional Superintendent Dr. Bobbi Mattingly, school board representatives, and the design architect for the project.

The grant program is a collaboration between the AIEC in Springfield and Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation in Chicago(ICECF). It was developed in 2003 to promote the use of highly energy efficient, clean and safe geothermal technology in commercial application in cooperative territories. ICECF provides the funding for the grants and the AIEC administers the grant program. The funding is re-granted to Illinois electric cooperatives that in turn award the grants to their not-for-profit members.

“We congratulate Stewardson-Strasburg (school) for their decision to use geothermal,” said Darrell Shumard of Shelby Electric Cooperative, who provides electricity to the school.

Stewardson-Strasburg School installed a geothermal system as part of its construction project last summer.  A geothermal system uses the consistent temperature beneath the earth’s surface, about 50 degrees, to heat and cool buildings.  The system can also be used to heat hot water for the facility.

Geothermal system can save the school nearly $47,000 per year in energy costs, which will benefit students, teachers, and the school administration as well as taxpayers. It also provides a more comfortable learning environment for the students.

“It’s already been more cost effective. The payback is really quick,” said Stew-Stras superintendent Steve Harsy.

Nancy Nixon, marketing administrator for the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, presented the check to the school.

“The grant is calculated as one-third of the difference between a geothermal system and a standard fossil fuel system up to $50,000. We are happy to award the $50,000 to Stewardson-Strasburg Schools,” Nixon said.

Randy Porter, vice president of the Stew-Stras School Board, said he was pleased with the board’s decision to install the geothermal system.

“It has allowed us to create a comfortable environment for our students. It is one part of our school’s ongoing construction project,” Porter said.

Read the original here:
Stew-Stras Schools Receive $50,000 Energy Grant

Last Updated: February 16, 2012 07:17pm ET

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A 400,000-SF office building is
planned for Victory Park.

DALLAS-In its first project since taking complete ownership of the 75-acre, mixed-use Victory Park, Estein & Associates USA Ltd. of Orlando, FL has announced plans for a 400,000-square-foot, class A office building on the site near Dallas’ CBD. Estein has partnered with local KDC on the project, and assuming preleasing goals are met, construction could launch as early as fall, 2012, with completion scheduled for late 2014.

KDC senior vice president John Brownlee tells Globest.com that the building, which will go north on Victory Park Lane, will be 50% committed before construction begins. “There are a number of prospects in the market now, approaching us and other developers for new projects,” Brownlee says. “I’m not at liberty to say who, but I can say there is a strong deal flow of people out there looking for space.”

And when it comes to this commercial real estate development, there is little office space to be had. Though Victory Park developer Hillwood underwent a great many issues with the project in the depths of the financial crisis, the office space, which totals approximately 691,180 square feet, was quietly being leased up. The space today is 95% leased.

Brownlee says the idea for an office building at Victory Park was discussed around six months ago, when a client approached KDC with a build-to-suit suggestion for the piece of land. “That’s when we really began discussions about that particular site and got to know the Estein people,” Brownlee remarks.

The 23-story office building itself will offer its own amenities, including an upscale restaurant, fitness center and delicatessen. BOKA Powell will serve as the project architect, and KDC will pursue LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the project.

The residential component at Victory Park has done well, too, with complexes 98% leased and the W. Dallas-Victory Condo residences 94% sold. Though the 28-story condo tower, known as The House, was recently sold back to its lender for $32 million at a foreclosure auction, Lance Fair, COO of Estein & Associates and vice president of Victory Park points out that The House was delivered during the height of the financial crisis.

“We couldn’t sell those at a lower price,” he explains. “But now someone else can do so, and can get the building filled up.” And that, Fair says, is the goal right now of Victory Park. “Density on a 24/7 basis,” he comments.

When Hillwood broke ground on Victory Park during the late 1990s, the idea was create a kind of an urban renewal oasis at the northern edge of downtown. Anchored by American Airlines Center, Victory had initial success before running into problems in 2008 due to dropping retail occupancy and a lack of demand for luxury housing. In 2009 the Hillwood stake went to German equity partner, US Treuhand XVI LP, a process that avoided certain foreclosure.  US Treuhand GmbH is an affiliate and fund-raising arm of Estein & Associates USA Ltd.

Though the current retailers at Victory have done well, Fair says E&A’s main goal for Victory right now is to ensure office and residential stability. With more density in the area, retail will be better supported. As such, in addition to the new office project, a multifamily project is also in the works.

But Fair is clear there is no set-in-stone deadline about when everything will be built. “We’re patient about making sure things happen in the right order and right time,” Fair says. “We’re committed to this project over the long term, and want to make it an iconic destination in Dallas.”

Categories: Southwest, Office, Development, Dallas/Fort Worth

See the article here:
400,000-SF Office Planned for Victory Park