Hesters Abbey Floorcoverings installers attend training session

Hesters Abbey Floorcoverings announced that Tom Partin and Dennis Kozlowski recently returned from Karastan carpet installation training in Tampa. The training, which was open to all floor covering installers in Florida, was conducted by Karastans master trainer Jim Walker. The two-day training required Partin and Kozlowski to commit time and money toward their professional education. While each of them has significant past experience, with a combined 40 years between them, they are now Karastan certified. That distinction, from the top carpet producer in America, separates them from others since they were the only carpet installers from NE Florida to attend.

Florida Humanities Council awards $15,000 grant to Florida Living History Inc.

Florida Living History Inc. has been awarded a grant of $15,000 by the Florida Humanities Council, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The grant funding is to be used for the planning and implementation of large-scale humanities projects for the grant-award period of March 1, 2012 to Aug. 31, 2013. Aside from the living history events and lectures that is already committed to for this grant period, the funding will be used for production of a free, interactive, educational e-booklet on early colonial Florida for the states schoolchildren, ages 8 to 10, which will support the State of Floridas social studies standards for grade 4.

Florida Living History Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, educational organization. Contact info@floridalivinghistory.org or 1-877-FLA-HIST.

Mattamy Homes acquires home sites at Kelly Pointe at Nocatee in Ponte Vedra Beach

Mattamy Homes U.S. Group acquired 100 new home sites at Kelly Pointe at Nocatee in Ponte Vedra Beach. Steve Parker, president of Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, said new three, four and five-bedroom homes at Kelly Pointe at Nocatee will range in size from 1,900 square feet of living space to 2,700 square feet priced from the low $200s. Parker said Mattamy Homes is about to start construction of two model homes at Kelly Pointe at Nocatee that will open in August.

Read more here:
Business Briefs: May 13, 2012

ELKO Business is booming at the City of Elko building department, with nearly all categories reporting gains in April.

Permits issued for the month totaled 153, an increase from the 95 issued during the same month a year prior. Permit valuations were also up, with $6.7 million reported for the month more than double the $2.5 million reported during April 2011.

If we keep on this pace, were going to way outdo last year, said Elko Building Official Ted Schnoor, who added the biggest category continues to be residential single-family dwellings.

The number of single-family dwellings permitted this year is more than double last years figure 29, compared with 14 year-to-date in 2011.

In April, residential construction again posted the highest figures of the various application types, with 69 permits issued for 10 new buildings. The valuation was $2.1 million, an amount largely due to the permitting of an additional building at the Rabbit Brush Run apartment complex, which amounted to $1.1 million in permit valuations.

Valuations were on the rise across the board, with a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system upgrade at Northside Elementary School amounting to nearly $2 million, and at the Elko Indian Colony the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone is in the process of building a new education center, with a valution of nearly $1 million.

Rounding out projects resulting in high permit valuations are the commercial remodels of McDonalds and Walmart, both on Mountain City Highway. Each of these projects contributed nearly half a million dollars apiece in permit valuations in April.

Theres a lot of activity, said Schnoor, who added the number of commercial permits being issued by the building department continue to grow, particularly with commercial warehouse remodeling.

He expects to see the number of commercial applicants outpace residential as the summer season approaches.

With the number of applications being seen, the building department is reporting a wait of six weeks or longer to issue permits, depending upon the complexity of the project.

Go here to read the rest:
City building continues strong upward trend

ELKO Business is booming at the City of Elko building department, with nearly all categories reporting gains in April.

Permits issued for the month totaled 153, an increase from the 95 issued during the same month a year prior. Permit valuations were also up, with $6.7 million reported for the month more than double the $2.5 million reported during April 2011.

If we keep on this pace, were going to way outdo last year, said Elko Building Official Ted Schnoor, who added the biggest category continues to be residential single-family dwellings.

The number of single-family dwellings permitted this year is more than double last years figure 29, compared with 14 year-to-date in 2011.

In April, residential construction again posted the highest figures of the various application types, with 69 permits issued for 10 new buildings. The valuation was $2.1 million, an amount largely due to the permitting of an additional building at the Rabbit Brush Run apartment complex, which amounted to $1.1 million in permit valuations.

Valuations were on the rise across the board, with a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system upgrade at Northside Elementary School amounting to nearly $2 million, and at the Elko Indian Colony the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone is in the process of building a new education center, with a valution of nearly $1 million.

Rounding out projects resulting in high permit valuations are the commercial remodels of McDonalds and Walmart, both on Mountain City Highway. Each of these projects contributed nearly half a million dollars apiece in permit valuations in April.

Theres a lot of activity, said Schnoor, who added the number of commercial permits being issued by the building department continue to grow, particularly with commercial warehouse remodeling.

He expects to see the number of commercial applicants outpace residential as the summer season approaches.

With the number of applications being seen, the building department is reporting a wait of six weeks or longer to issue permits, depending upon the complexity of the project.

Here is the original post:
Double the dollars; City building continues strong upward trend

ELKO Construction valuations in Elko County surged in April to slightly more than $8 million, or nearly double the $4.15 million in valuations for April 2011, thanks to a major project at Cactus Petes in Jackpot.

That $4.5 million project almost doubled valuations, said Thomas Ingersoll, Elko Countys director of building and safety.

He said Cactus Petes has gutted 89 rooms in the Granite Range tower for the remodeling project, so those rooms are closed to the public.

They want to get it done in June so its a big push, he said.

Building permits totaled 200 in April, up from 110 in the 2011 time period, and permit applications totaled 80, up from 56 in April 2011. Permit fees rose to $75,022, compared with $49,791 last year.

We had an almost 100 percent increase in residential for single-family dwellings, Ingersoll said.

New residential applications totaled 21, up from 11 the prior year, and residential permits totaled 98, up from 50. Residential accessory permit applications also were up, to 33 from 18 last year, and residential accessory permits totaled 57, up from 30.

Ingersoll said the jump in accessory permits really shows a strong economy.

The April list of permits issued in Elko County, including the owners name, location, description, valuation and builder:

Commercial, miscellaneous accessory structures W.H. Gibbs, Gibbs Ranch, telephone equipment, $5,656; Spring Creek Christian Center, 285 Spring Creek Parkway, detached garage, $21,841, Esprit Construction;

See the article here:
Jackpot project boosts county construction

May11,2012 The German-based firm has opened a lamps and luminaires sales office in Varese, Italy, by signing a distribution agreement with the company LEDisOne At the Grand Opening event in Varese, close to Milan, LEDisOne hosted more than 100 official guests, politicians, architects, representatives of industry and universities.

Newly certified distributor LEDisOne is specialised in LED lighting and shows a broad background in the semiconductor industry.

For Optogan the expansion to Italy has been a key target, since the country is considered as the home market for architectural lighting.

Italy has always been one of the front runners in Solid State Lighting and is traditionally first in adopting new technologies and trends of the indoor lighting industry, says Ove Srensen, Senior Sales Director & Business Development at Optogan GmbH.

He adds, The potential for LED based lamps and luminaires in this country is on such a high level that we cannot afford to miss this strategic market.

Besides the architectural lighting and retrofit business LEDisOne will also focus on sportfield and flood lighting. Regional sports clubs and associations have already expressed their interest.

So far our customers are mainly designers, architects, industrialists and public authorities, but our long-term goal is to collaborate with the government since there are development projects concerning an energy efficient re-design of cities, states Gabriele Demaria, Managing Director of LEDisOne.

Within the next year we plan to set up the company structure in terms of additional locations and manpower. We strongly believe we have found in Optogan the right partner to fulfil our ambitious targets.

Read this article:
LEDisOne with Optogan enter Italian lighting

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Lighting Science Group (LSCG.OB), one of the world's leading LED lighting companies, today joined Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray and officials from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Department of the Environment (DDOE) to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the relighting project that will save the city tens of thousands of dollars each year in energy costs. Part of the Mayor's larger vision for a Sustainable D.C., Lighting Science Group's energy-efficient, long-lasting street lights have replaced old, inefficient lights and will cut the District's annual carbon dioxide emissions by 719 tons.

"Already results show these new light fixtures are saving energy 57 to 60 percent compared to the old mercury vapor and high pressure sodium lights," said Mayor Gray. "Imagine how much energy we could save if we expand this program to all 70,000 street and alley lights across the District. That would be a great down payment on a truly Sustainable D.C."

Prior to the start of this project, in conjunction with Howard University Transportation Research Center, DDOT conducted a study and analysis of light emitting diode (LED) lighting products from a variety of vendors and manufacturers. The study involved the evaluation and analyses of photometric readings, fixture life, efficacy, aesthetics, color temperature, dimmability and compatibility with remote monitoring and control systems. At the conclusion of the Study, DDOT selected Lighting Science Group's PROLIFIC (LSG) LSR-2 LED street light as the preferred choice to replace the District's existing alley lights.

"When it comes to city planning, smart infrastructure saves lives and dollars," said Jim Haworth, chairman and chief executive officer of Lighting Science Group. "The Mayor's office, DDOT and DDOE are clearly united in their commitment to promoting both the safety and financial interests of District residents with their joint vision for a Sustainable D.C. Lighting Science Group is proud to play its part in bringing that vision to life. Our PROLIFIC Series roadway solutions offer notably longer-life expectancies than the District's existing lights and real reductions in maintenance and energy costs. With less glare and better illumination, uniformity, and color, the new LED street lights signal a true improvement for the District."

The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) supported and funded the LED lighting project, under the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficient and Conservation Block Grant program. Eventually DDOT plans to install energy-efficient light fixtures throughout D.C., including all of its alleys, streets, bridges, tunnels and underpasses, pedestrian walkways, bike and running trails.

Added Haworth: "TheWashington, D.C.project is another significant win forLighting Science Group in the infrastructure market, exemplifying the clear leadership and high-performance product capabilities of the Company."

About Lighting Science Group

Lighting Science Group Corporation (LSCG.OB) designs, develops, manufactures and markets LED lighting solutions that are environmentally friendlier and more energy efficient than traditional lighting products. Lighting Science Group offers retrofit LED lamps in form factors that match those of traditional lamps or bulbs and LED luminaires designed for a range of applications including public and private infrastructure for both indoor and outdoor use. Lighting Science Group's Advanced Projects Group business unit designs, develops and manufactures custom LED lighting solutions for architectural and artistic projects. Lighting Science Group is headquartered in Satellite Beach, Florida; the Company's European operations are based in Middelburg, The Netherlands; and the Company has a sales office in Sydney, Australia. Lighting Science Group employs approximately 1000 workers building lighting products from domestic and imported parts. Lighting Science Group is a Pegasus Capital Advisors portfolio company. More information about Lighting Science Group is available at http://www.lsgc.com.

Forward Looking Statement. Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the performance of Lighting Science Group and its products and/or use terminology such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "plan," "project," "seek," "target," "soon," "will," "first of many" and variations of such words and similar expressions. Such statements reflect the current view of Lighting Science Group with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. In evaluating these statements, you should carefully review the risk factors detailed under "Risk Factors" in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that may cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

Read the original here:
Lighting Science Group Lights Up Washington D.C. With Ultra-Efficient LED Street Lights

Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, whose body of work is mostly based on light installations, last week presented a small solar powered light during the World Economic Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Olafur collaborated with engineer Frederik Ottesen to create Little Sun, which they hope can help bring indoor lighting to those people who lack access in developing countries.

The flower-shaped Little Sun uses LED technology and captures sunlight through a 6 x 6 cm (2.4 x 2.4 inch) mono-crystalline solar module. After four hours of charging, the unit will provide light for five hours. The design makes it very versatile. It can be hung, used as a table lamp, or it can be taken out to be used as a lantern or bicycle accessory. It is fairly resilient and can be expected to work for three years.

Last year saw a massive growth in solar panel installations in countries such as the United and States and Germany. Centralized solar power is also striding forward with the opening of massive solar farms. Meanwhile, scientists work on increasing solar cell efficiency.

The reality, however, is that a huge chunk of the worlds population still lack access to grid electricity. It is there where the distributed solar power revolution can take place, and sustainably raise the standards of living for the more than 1.6 billion people living in this state of exclusion.

As we have seen previously, there are several initiatives such as the Solar Pebble and LuminAID that innovate both on the technological front, as well as their socially responsible applications.

Olafur said he considers his new project to be a piece of art for a large audience. It will be launched at the Tate Modern museum in London during the festival that precedes the upcoming Olympics in the English capital.

Below is a video featuring Eliasson talking about Little Sun.

Source: Little Sun

See more here:
Solar-powered light designed to provide indoor illumination in developing nations

Reprinted with permission from Cecilia Paredes

Even new homes will have a feature or two you may not like and will want to change.

If you've ever toured homes for sale, or watched hard-to-please homebuyers on HGTV's "House Hunters," you know there are always kitchen cabinets that are outdated, pink walls to be repainted or bathroom wallpaper that looks like it is 100 years old.

After shopping around for the lowestmortgage rates, you don't want to walk away from a house you like because it needs a few minor repairs, real estate experts say. The repair's price should be factored into what you're paying for the home, and mortgage lenders can help you pull money out of a home sale. For example, sellers may contribute to the repair bills, and some mortgages, like anFHA 203(k) loan, factor repair costs into the overall loan amount.

Sep Niakan, a real estate broker in Miami, says he's had clients walk away from homes because they can't see past minor flaws.

"Many buyers want to see an end product. They don't have a vision for what it could be with just a couple of tweaks," Niakan says.

So before you decide to cross a house off your list, here eight minor home flaws that shouldn't deter you from buying a home:

No. 1: Unappealing paint.This is one of the easiest and cheapest fixes, especially if you do it yourself. Don't let someone's poor taste in paint colors convince you not to buy. Most buyers who Niakan has worked with would rather pay a premium for a house that doesn't need fixes than take the time and money to do the repairs themselves. That's true even when the changes will cost less than a "perfect" house, he says. Even buyers of premium homes that don't need many changes still alter the home after they move in, Niakan says, and painting is often the first change.

"It's very, very rare for a buyer to buy a house and not personalize it in some way," he says.

Read:Go green when renovating: Choose deconstruction over demolition

See the original post here:
8 Common Flaws Homebuyers Shouldn't Worry About

BOSTON, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --GRAPHISOFT announced today the integration between e-SPECS and ArchiCAD. Both GRAPHISOFT and InterSpec, Inc. are committed to offering the best software solutions in their respective fields; linking the technologies will enhance the work of architects and facilitate construction management projects.

The e-SPECS Specification Management product suite serves to automate the preparation of construction specifications and selection of products and materials that are incorporated into construction projects. With e-SPECS for ArchiCAD, users have truly integrated and coordinated construction documents.

"This integration is something our users have looked forward to exploiting in their daily practice," said Steve Benford, GRAPHISOFT North America, Managing Director. "ArchiCAD users always keep a keen eye out for chances to create their designs in such a way that workflow is fully optimized and productivity is enhanced."

Architects, engineers and construction professionals use InterSpec's e-SPECS products on thousands of projects annually to maintain synchronization between construction models, drawings, and project specifications. ArchiCAD integration with e-SPECS provides overall cost management during the process of developing project construction documents.

"We welcome ArchiCAD to the family of BIM applications we support," said Michael Brennan, President of InterSpec. "We're happy to be able to deliver something ArchiCAD customers have been seeking a way to take advantage of our specification automation and coordination systems. Our e-SPECS Application Program Interface (API) provides automation, coordination, and access to the specifications and other project data."

About GRAPHISOFT

GRAPHISOFT ignited the BIM revolution with ArchiCAD, the industry first BIM software for architects. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions such as the revolutionary GRAPHISOFT BIM Server, the world's first real-time BIM collaboration environment, and the GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner, the world's first, fully integrated building energy modeling application. GRAPHISOFT's innovative solutions have fundamentally changed the way architects around the world design and collaborate. GRAPHISOFT has been part of the Nemetschek Group, since its acquisition in 2007.

About InterSpec

InterSpec provides construction document management solutions and services built on its patented e-SPECS specification management technology. e-SPECS software automates the specification process by extracting the product and material requirements directly from the project's BIM models and drawings. e-SPECS integrates directly with Autodesk and GRAPHISOFT BIM applications and supports all specification master libraries of MasterSpec, US Dept of Veterans Affairs, Canadian Master Specifications (CMS), National Master Specifications (NMS), as well as the ability to integrate custom office masters. For architects and engineers who spend many hours on every project preparing construction specifications, e-SPECS software saves time and money while ensuring that the construction drawings are coordinated with the specifications. For more information visit http://www.e-SPECS.com or contact sales at +1-207-772-6135 or email to sales@e-SPECS.com.

Press Informationwww.graphisoft.com press@graphisoft.com http://twitter.com/ArchiCAD

Originally posted here:
GRAPHISOFT and InterSpec, Inc. Announce ArchiCAD e-SPECS Integration

SANTA CRUZ -- While 45 Rocky Road's well-lit interior and high ceilings are striking, some may argue the split-level floor plan snaking through the yard steals the show.

"Santa Cruz has an incredibly benign environment that can promote beautiful architecture," said the home's lead architect, Bret Hancock. "There are a lot of buildings that are hugely transparent and undulate around courtyards, promoting a lot of interior and exterior usage."

According to Hancock, this design can lead to decreased energy usage, an important element he addressed when planning the home. Wanting to keep the property as environmentally friendly as possible, he also incorporated a solar-assisted water heater, a rainwater reclamation system and a sustainable metal roof.

"I think that good design and sustainability are completely compatible," said Hancock, who has been designing since the late 1970s. "I don't subscribe to the notion that to make something environmentally friendly, you have to sacrifice aesthetics."

One of the eight buildings on the 17th annual Open Architecture Tour, 45 Rocky Road isn't the only home to exemplify an architect's ability to cohesively integrate green architecture into design. Showcasing some of the top locally designed buildings in the county, the May 19 event is sponsored by the Architects Association of Santa Cruz County and benefits Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing homes to lower-income families.

"Every year the opportunity to visit these inspirational homes helps us reconnect with the power of architecture and of the continuing importance of the concept of home," said David Foster, executive director of Habitat for Humanity. "Habitat is grateful for the generosity of the Architects Association of Santa Cruz County for providing needed funds to support our mission to see the end of substandard housing."

The Architects Association of Santa Cruz County started the Open Architecture tour as a way to showcase the work of local architects, shedding light on Santa Cruz's diverse designs.

"Our association wants people to understand that architects bring value to the design and construction process," said the association's vice president, Hugh Carter. "We think that people very deeply understand the difference between a place that's not comfortable to be in and a true space, one that is enjoyable and one that properly functions with some elements of grace."

While the tour doesn't necessarily focus on eco-friendly structures, this year's selection features a variety of sustainable designs including a low-impact barn and a hilltop villa specifically positioned for optimal natural lighting.

Environmentally friendly design may seem like the now trend, but green architecture has long been at the forefront of functional design. Natural sunlight, proper insulation and high-quality windows can all contribute to more efficient housing, potentially leading to smaller energy bills and more comfortable accommodations.

More here:
Local architects get limelight: Open Architecture Tour promotes the work of Santa Cruz County home designers