Categorys
Pages
Linkpartner


    Page 26«..1020..25262728..4050..»



    Industries hunt ideas to meet new power-saving goals - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Many companies are taking the initiative in finding ways to curb power use this summer now that the government has proposed voluntary saving targets for firms and households in many parts of the nation because of the Fukushima crisis.

    The toughest target, 15 percent, was set for the Kansai region, which is served by Kansai Electric Power Co.

    Major toiletry maker Lion Corp. is considering suspending washing powder production at its factory in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, and increasing production at its factory in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, instead. Chiba is served by Tokyo Electric Power Co.

    Iwatani Corp. is looking at temporarily halting its Sakai plant for liquefied hydrogen, the largest such facility in the country, while carrying out full production at its other factories.

    Kyushu Electric Power Co. customers will be asked to cut electricity use by 10 percent, but many electronics makers and automakers have production bases in the region.

    Among them, Toshiba Corp. is jittery about the target because large amounts of electricity are needed for air conditioning clean rooms at its semiconductor plant in Oita Prefecture.

    "Production there will be difficult unless nuclear plants restart operations," Toshiba President Norio Sasaki said.

    By contrast, Nippon Paper Group Inc. plans to transfer self-generated power at a plant in Kyushu Electric's area to four plants in Kepco's service area using the utilities' lines because the Kyushu plant is expected to have surplus power.

    Elsewhere, Toyota Motor Corp. plans to boost capacity at the power generation facilities at its plants in Aichi Prefecture, which is served by Chubu Electric Power Co.

    Imuraya Co., based in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, is looking at suspending frozen dessert production during daily peak hours between noon and 2 p.m.

    View post:
    Industries hunt ideas to meet new power-saving goals

    Blog writer helps owners restore their midcentury homes - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    When it seemed like everyone was outfitting their kitchens with granite countertops and Sub-Zero refrigerators, Pam Kueber was on the hunt for steel cabinets.

    Ten years ago, Kueber and her husband bought a 1951 ranch house in Lenox, Mass., with ugly plastic tiles in the bathroom and a 1970s kitchen that was showing its age.

    But rather than bringing the house up to date, she wanted to take it back to its mid-20th-Century character.

    A communications professional with a degree in journalism, she put her reporting skills to work on ferreting out sources of vintage materials to renovate her midcentury home.

    Five years into her search, she struck gold: a set of aquamarine Geneva steel cabinets in what was once a cooking school run by nuns in New York City.

    Her experience prompted her to start a blog to share her research with like-minded souls. Today her Retro Renovation blog, retrorenovation.com, attracts about 220,000 readers a month and is the go-to site for homeowners with a passion for restoring midcentury homes.

    Kueber shares resources and tips on great finds, like the stash of 1960s tile a guy in Mansfield, Ohio, found recently when he was cleaning out a contractor's house.

    "It's like Whac-A-Mole," she said of the constant chase of the latest bonanza.

    The blog celebrates what Kueber calls "midcentury modest" homes, houses like hers that sprang up across the U.S. in the wake of World War II.

    Unlike the chic, glass-walled atomic ranches that are revered as the epitome of midcentury modern style, these are the simpler Colonials, ranches and split-levels that housed a much larger segment of the postwar population.

    Read the rest here:
    Blog writer helps owners restore their midcentury homes

    The Benefits Of Hiring An Interior Designer - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    An interior designer is tasked with creating usable and aesthetically pleasing architectural spaces inside a physical structure. Interior design professionals typically study the behaviors and movements of individuals in the working and living environment in order to create spaces that are both attractive and functional.

    Interior designers may also perform the interior decorating work on the spaces they design. An interior decorator, by contrast, does not design the space in which he or she works. Instead, interior decorators focus on the furnishings, wall and floor treatments and artistic touches that provide ambience and atmosphere to the interior space.

    Differences Between Hiring A Designer Vs. A Decorator

    Most interior design professionals are employed by construction or architectural firms and work in conjunction with builders and architects to design usable spaces for a variety of human activities. In other cases, interior designers may be called upon to create a functional and beautiful set of interior spaces for a private home. Generally, however, interior design experts work for builders and contractors rather than directly for private individuals.

    Interior decorators are typically hired by homeowners to improve the aesthetic appeal of an existing space. These interior decor experts usually specialize in commercial or residential spaces and may use lighting, wall treatments, flooring, furnishings and accessories to create a look pleasing to the owner or manager of the space in question.

    Benefits Of Hiring A Decorator Or Designer

    The services of a qualified interior designer are crucial in order to create usable spaces for working and living. Contractors and builders depend on these professionals to provide advice on a variety of ergonomic and acoustic issues and to help in the design of lighting and traffic flow patterns that make sense in the specific interior environment.

    Homeowners can benefit significantly by enlisting the help of an interior decorator when remodeling or revamping their living and working areas. Interior decorators are knowledgeable about the effects of color and the right use of accessories to create an illusion of greater space or to provide a cozy, comfortable environment for everyday living.

    ________________________________

    This article originally appeared onAngies List.

    View original post here:
    The Benefits Of Hiring An Interior Designer

    New lifestyle park opens at Paseo - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Sock Development has opened another park to enhance the lifestyle at Paseo, the 2011 Community of the Year.

    According to Tim Clark, vice president of sales for Paseo, the new park is located on the east side amid Paseo's multifamily homes.

    "These are simply the latest additions we've made to our award-winning lifestyle," said Clark. "There are four chickee huts with seating for shade, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, grilling areas, a grass play area and two pickle ball courts."

    The park is open to all Paseo residents. It joins a lakefront park with a chickee hut, seating and hammocks on the west side of Phase I.

    "Residents love the first passive park," said Clark. "They gather in the evenings to relax and watch the sunset over the lake and Six Mile Cypress Preserve. This is an active, sporty park. These amenities make Paseo a special place."

    Paseo's village center has won numerous Pinnacle Awards from the Lee Building Industry Association for Best Clubhouse Exterior, Best Clubhouse Interior and Best Pool Design. The community has won six consecutive Community of the Year honors, as well as Developer of the Year honors. Prices begin in the $170s.

    The Paseo Village Center includes a full-service concierge, a bistro, an ice cream parlor, a pub, an internet caf, a coffee shop, a 4,000 square foot fitness center, a business center and library, as well as spa services and a 90-seat theatre with a projection room and comfortable elevated seating.

    The free-form pool includes waterfalls and rockscapes, as well as a poolside gazebo serving refreshments. Adjacent to the main pool is a spa, a fitness-oriented lap pool and a children's water playground. There is also a sports complex with six Har-Tru tennis courts, bocce ball courts, a basketball court, a fishing pier and restrooms.

    The private, gated 444-acre community of Paseo is surrounded by the environment of the Six Mile Cypress Slough.

    Flats and town homes, including two- and three-story designs, are available in 14 floor plans with two, three or four bedrooms and two or three baths. These homes range from 1,227 to 2,084 square feet under air and include a one- or two-car garage. Paseo also offers six casita floor plans ranging from 1,531 to 2,080 square feet under air. Each casita features two or three bedrooms, two-and-a-half or three baths and two floors of living space.

    See the original post:
    New lifestyle park opens at Paseo

    Challenge, charm - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Phil Fernandes helps people design new houses from the ground up, but for his own dream home, he's going with South Walkerville vintage.

    "An investment into a house, in a neighbourhood with that much character, just seems to be a lot more rewarding," he said.

    Phil and his wife Amanda, who works for a civil engineering firm, have been living on Lincoln Road in the Lincoln in the Woods area for about 10 years. They were looking for an upgrade and knew they wanted to stay in the neighbourhood, with its mature trees, big lots and unique architecture.

    When the owners of 2450 Lincoln Rd. decided to put their house on the market after living there since the mid-1940s, Phil and Amanda pounced. But it needed a lot of work - about $200,000 worth of work - or about as much as the price of the house itself.

    Phil was up to the challenge. He drew up plans for an ambitious renovation that brings the house up to date while keeping its character, with additions above the garage and off the back, an expanded kitchen and three small bedrooms converted to four.

    "It was a good project, because it was very challenging, to me, anyway, to make a floor plan for a house that wasn't really working for the modern family and revise it so that it could be utilized, reused, re-adapted to what we need today."

    Phil said the most difficult part has been keeping the house's original charm. The couple has gone to great lengths to do so, salvaging and cleaning the original bricks to use on the additions and moving the hardwood floors from the first floor to the second.

    Phil said the previous owner of the house is particularly pleased with a plan take the original etched glass from a vestibule and use it for the laundry room. "She loved that. It's really fun meeting somebody who loves their home so much," he said.

    The couple is on track to finish the project in July, about eight months after buying the house on Nov. 25. They've done some of the work themselves, with Phil's experience as a contractor for Paul Davis Systems coming in handy.

    They've also received a lot of help from Phil's father, who often comes all the way from Wallaceburg on weekends, and Tony Martell of Roofing With Integrity, who helped with demolition as well as the roof. Amanda is blogging about the project as she goes, keeping track with posts and pictures at pfernandesdesigns.com/blog.

    See the original post:
    Challenge, charm

    4 Stocks Being Buoyed by Good Housing News - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Just as a rising tide floats all boats, positive housing reports lift not only homebuilders' stocks, but those of companies that are less visibly involved in a rebounding housing market, such as cabinet and flooring installers and roofing contractors. If you are still unconvinced that housing is making a comeback, read on for some uplifting news from some companies that can be counted on to perk up right alongside a brightening housing picture.

    Masco (NYSE: MAS) is a global manufacturer of home products such as cabinets and plumbing products, as well as installation services. The company recently produced an improved first-quarter report after three years of depressed business activity. Importantly, the increase in revenue represents more business from an uptick in housing starts, particularly in North America, where the majority of the company's business is generated. Another good sign is that Masco was able to nearly double its operating profit margins year over year, from 3.3% to 6%.

    Every new house needs flooring, and two companies have been nailing down some improving numbers so far this year. Mohawk Industries (NYSE: MHK) produces a large variety of flooring products for homes and businesses in the U.S., as well as covering the European residential market. Its recent earnings report showed a profit increase, rather than a decrease, for the first time in nearly a year. Although at least some of the profit increase was due to price increases, management reported increased sales in its Dal-Tile division.

    Similarly, Interface (NYSE: IFSIA) , a carpet tile manufacturer, has also seen its business pick up this year, as it slowly claws its way back from a lackluster year. Although the company didn't make huge strides in the sales and revenue departments, it did report some very good news: Orders outstripped sales in the first quarter, resulting in a $13 million backlog for that time period.

    To top it all off, Beacon Roofing (NYSE: BECN) has been doing pretty well, having enjoyed a lift from the especially warm winter. The ability to increase prices helped bump up the company's profit margins, and cash flow increased by 14% from this time last year.

    Fool's takeFor Masco and Interface, a rebound in housing has had a direct effect upon their sunnier financial profiles already, and they should continue to experience an improving business climate as long as housing data remains positive. A better housing picture can only help Mohawk and Beacon, too, both of which will certainly be beneficiaries of new housing starts. If the recent auction of bundled foreclosure properties by Fannie Mae to large investor groups works out well, there should be plenty of work to go around in the renovation field, as well. When it comes to playing the housing investment market, these four companies are well worth keeping an eye on.

    Housing-related stocks are not the only ones that are benefiting from a rebounding economy. Check out some investment ideas that may not have crossed your radar screen in our free report today!

    Excerpt from:
    4 Stocks Being Buoyed by Good Housing News

    Shell Creek school project to be done in July - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    COLUMBUS The 175 students at Shell Creek Elementary School werent the only ones excited when classes were dismissed for the semester last week.

    Construction crews who have spent the past 10 months remodeling the K-6 school will use the summer break to make the final push toward completion of a $5.12 million expansion project there.

    It will make things a lot easier, said Jeff Keating of Bierman Contracting Inc., the projects construction manager.

    Although Keating said things went surprisingly well with classes in session, the absence of students will allow for unimpeded progress on the new wings and renovations planned in the old building.

    Keating expects the project to be wrapped up around July 15.

    Schedule-wise, were right where we need to be, he said.

    The school, located just north of Columbus at 16786 280th St., will be a double-track facility with two classrooms for each of the seven grades when classes resume this August.

    Students and staff began using five of the seven new classrooms a few weeks ago after the majority of work on the east addition was complete.

    They were pretty excited that they got to be in the new classrooms, said Principal John Mlinar.

    And thats just a portion of the benefits adding about 30,000 square feet to the school will bring.

    View original post here:
    Shell Creek school project to be done in July

    Cooper Lighting's LED Solutions Boost Long-Term Sustainability at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport recognized a need for upgrading the parking garage lighting that would optimize energy savings, while continuing to provide a safe and well-lit environment for its passengers. Analyzing multiple products and their performance to find the best solution, they selected LED fixtures from Cooper Lighting, an industry leader committed to delivering innovative products and driving transformational technology in the lighting industry.

    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120521/DA10935)

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110513/DA01852LOGO-b)

    Funded by the City of Atlanta Green Loan Fund, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials decided to replace each of the 4,342 210-watt metal-halide fixtures with Cooper Lighting's 80-watt McGraw-Edison Valet LED fixtures in its north and south parking decks. This decision would not only lead to greater energy-efficiency, but also cost savings of almost half a million dollars each year. According to the City of Atlanta's Office of Sustainability, the Airport's financial and environmental partner, the carbon reduction associated with the project is equivalent to taking 500 cars off of the road.

    "Replacing parking garage lighting with more energy-efficient options is one of the most practical upgrades a city can make to save energy, reduce costs and lower CO2 emissions," said Mark Eubanks, President, Cooper Lighting. "This project has been a great opportunity to showcase how Cooper's innovative LED products can increase overall efficiencies and performance to provide a safe and well-lit environment, all while helping the City of Atlanta save almost $500,000 each year in energy costs."

    Through superior optical control, Cooper's Valet LED fixtures deliver uniform and energy conscious illumination optimized to improve vehicular movement and pedestrian safety in parking structure applications. Cooper's modular LightBAR technology, featuring patented AccuLED Optics system, delivers uniform and energy conscious illumination. Both factors were key to Airport officials who hoped to improve the distribution of the lighting in the Airport parking garages while also optimizing energy savings. The Valet LED fixtures will also reduce maintenance costs as they are designed to last 50,000 hours.

    Cooper Lighting has made a significant investment in people, resources and technology to ensure the company provides first-class solutions to its customers' lighting challenges. The Company offers a range of indoor and outdoor LED lighting products and controls, all of which are specifically designed to maximize energy and cost savings. For additional information on Cooper's LED product offering, click here.

    About Cooper Lighting Cooper Lighting, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries plc (CBE), is the leading provider of world-class lighting fixtures and controls to commercial, industrial, retail, institutional, residential and utility markets. As lighting technologies have advanced over the years, Cooper Lighting has been at the forefront of the industry in helping businesses and communities leverage the latest technologies to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enrich the quality of the environment. For more information, visit http://www.cooperlighting.com.

    About Cooper Industries Cooper Industries plc (CBE) is a global electrical products manufacturer with 2011 revenues of $5.4 billion. Founded in 1833 Cooper's sustained success is attributable to a constant focus on innovation and evolving business practices, while maintaining the highest ethical standards and meeting customer needs. The Company has seven operating divisions with leading market positions and world-class products and brands, including Bussmann electrical and electronic fuses; Crouse-Hinds and CEAG explosion-proof electrical equipment; Halo and Metalux lighting fixtures; and Kyle and McGraw-Edison power systems products. With this broad range of products, Cooper is uniquely positioned for several long-term growth trends including the global infrastructure build-out, the need to improve the reliability and productivity of the electric grid, the demand for higher energy-efficient products and the need for improved electrical safety. In 2011 sixty-two percent of total sales were to customers in the industrial and utility end-markets and forty percent of total sales were to customers outside the United States. Cooper has manufacturing facilities in 23 countries as of 2011. For more information, visit the website at http://www.cooperindustries.com.

    Excerpt from:
    Cooper Lighting's LED Solutions Boost Long-Term Sustainability at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

    Fireplace becomes an eye-catching focal point for family room - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Hui Anne and Stephen's basement is a multifunctional space that does triple duty as office, TV room and playroom. Their family room is spacious, but it had way too much going on, and none of it was working. When you walked in, you just didn't know where to look there were distractions everywhere. The room had become a repository for old, mismatched furniture and storage boxes. But the space had huge potential, and I focused on creating a stylish yet hardworking room, perfect for this young family.

    First, I focused on the bulky, broken fireplace. Transforming this eyesore into an eye-catching focal point was as easy as expanding the width and refacing it with gorgeous, 12- by 24-inch natural stone in "wooden beige" color. We popped in a sleek gas insert and flanked the fireplace wall with playful wooden tiles made of oversized jigsaw-puzzle pieces. The black-onyx puzzle pieces provide the perfect backdrop for the fireplace wall, giving it dimension and subtle pattern, and attracting the attention it deserves.

    Beside the fireplace we positioned a big-screen TV on a funky high-gloss gray media cabinet. To provide loads of comfy seating, I selected the mother of all sectionals a mammoth charcoal three-piece sofa that will stand up to the kids while offering space for the adults to entertain downstairs after hours. Wall-to-wall rich espresso-brown carpeting is soft underfoot and grounds the space, while a creamy area rug positioned under the seating area really sets off the sectional. A couple of funky white stools and a two-piece solid wooden coffee table complete the furnishings in the lounge area of the family room.

    When they're not relaxing on the comfy sofa, Hui Anne and Stephen can get to work at the other end of the room. A stylish salvaged wooden desk was given new life with some walnut stain, and we installed the same high-gloss gray cabinetry on both sides of the desk, as well as beside the fireplace, to provide plenty of storage and surfaces to display fun accessories and artwork. The entire wall behind the desk is made from a magnetic dry-erase board, making it the one wall the kids are actually encouraged to write on.

    To light up this basement family room, we removed the old acoustic-tile ceiling and installed recessed pot lighting. We selected wonderful new ceiling tiles styled to look like white wooden planks, and the effect is marvelous. The new lighting changes the whole mood of the space, and we accented with task lighting at the desk and with lamps on either side of the sofa.

    Maximizing the illusion of height at the small windows, we hung floor-length draperies and custom graphic printed shades that truly create the feeling of larger windows and instantly banish that below-ground basement feeling.

    Finally, to finish off the wall behind the sectional and give it a personal touch, we selected several different salvaged frames some painted and some raw wood and hung them on the wall empty. Then, we positioned conversation pieces inside the frames we selected large old white keys, an antique bicycle horn and some of the kids' artwork. But you can try this idea at home with any kind of eclectic filler. Have fun and let your imagination run wild.

    The basement had huge potential, but it was a diamond in the rough. The broken fireplace was a problem, and the room lacked focus and a focal point. We transformed the fireplace into the centerpiece of the room, and created a stylish and inviting lounge area with lots of seating for family and friends. The couple also has a working office space now, with tons of storage and some fun touches like the whiteboard wall.

    Best of all, we banished the basement blues with floor-to-ceiling window treatments that give the illusion of larger windows, and installed more-inviting lighting fixtures that complement the room's funky yet functional style.

    Now, all we need to add is the family to make this room really come alive.

    Read the original post:
    Fireplace becomes an eye-catching focal point for family room

    Northwest Portland's Bud Clark Commons receives national architecture award - May 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Northwest Portlands Bud Clark Commons is the recipient of a national award for its architectural design.

    The American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Bud Clark Commons with the 2012 Creating Community Connections Award.

    The award is one of four annual awards given out by the two organizations, and the Creative Community Connections Award is given to projects that incorporate housing with other community amenities.

    Dave Otte, the lead architect on The Commons construction, accepted the award on May 19 at the American Institute of Architects national convention in Washington, D.C.

    In addition to the 130 studio apartments for formerly homeless people, the eight-story Bud Clark Commons, located at the corner of Northwest Broadway and Northwest Hoyt Street in Old Town, has a 90-bed mens shelter on the first floor that includes living, dining and sleeping areas. A day center, open to residents and the public, takes up the second and third floors and provides access to social services, restrooms, laundry facilities, computers and storage for bicycles and pets.

    The $46.9 million facility was also given a LEED Platinum certification by the United States Green Building Council for its use of energy efficient lighting, low-flow plumbing and green roofs, among other environmentally friendly attributes.

    The Commons was chosen for the award because its layout is inviting and warm, which differs from typical shelters and housing devoted to low-income people, according to a statement on the American Institute of Architects website.

    A jury of seven architects, design critics and housing officials were tasked with choosing the winners, and they provided these comments about the Commons: The architect is really trying to say something here, and it is inspiring. The way the shelter addresses the street and the commonsit creates a place of invitation and dignity in a warm, lively kind of way. It invites a wider idea of constructive citizenry.

    The building is more than an institution. Considering the homelessness initiativemost homeless projects seem institutionalized and one dimensional, but this is not stigmatized, it is thoughtful and brings a new way of thinking about how these facilities should be done. It is a gorgeous project. This approach should be imitated.

    To be considered for the award, the Commons had to be mixed-use and mixed-income building with a diversity of development. The ages, ethnicities, physical abilities and income of the people using the day center and living in the apartments also had to be diverse for the Commons to be considered for the award.

    Link:
    Northwest Portland's Bud Clark Commons receives national architecture award

    « old entrysnew entrys »



    Page 26«..1020..25262728..4050..»


    Recent Posts