09-05-2012 11:50 Clear Window Technology, Inc. 314.966.2666 Because the window repair method is relatively unheard of, people often want to know how long it has been around? The unique window repair method that removes moisture from failed thermal pane has been field tested in Canada since the early 1980's and was brought to the US in 2005. It has been used to successfully extract moisture out of glass ever since. You might find interesting that one of the most famous places that the window repair process has been used is at the Jack Daniels distillery in Tennessee where it was used on an old historic circle window. The process requires a small hole to be drilled into the windows double pane glass where a micro valve is installed. The heat of sunlight takes care of the evaporation. As the glass heats up, the moisture disappears. Unfortunately there are a lot of pick up truck contractors in the window repair business. I don't want you to become a victim. I've prepared a special report called The Top 10 Dirty Tricks and Sales Pitches of Cheats, Liars and Scoundrels in the Window Replacement Industry and I want you to have it for free. Go to http to get a free copy of my special report. Or, if you're in the St. Louis Metro area and want an expert who can tell you the truth about whether or not your windows can be repaired without being replaced, then l want to make sure you don't get ripped off or get hit with a service charge. I'd be happy to have one of our experts ...

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Window Repair Window Replacement: Historic Window - Video

Preservation Chelsea will be hosting and co-sponsoring a Free Wood Window Restoration Workshop in downtown Chelsea 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 19 that will give homeowners the skills necessary to restore their own windows, or the knowledge to hire the right contractor to do the work for them.

The eight-hour workshop will be taught by window restoration specialist Robin Adair, who has been restoring windows for the past six years in Ann Arbor and Detroit.

Window restoration has been gaining momentum as a viable alternative to replacing windows for several reasons, workshop organizer and Preservation Chelsea member Tom Girard stated. It allows homeowners to do a large portion of the work themselves and save money in the process. Furthermore, restoration is a far more sustainable approach than replacement windows. The old growth timber used to make the 90-plus year old windows in my home cant be found today, and if properly cared for, will last another 90-plus years.

Finally, with proper sealing and suitable storm windows with Low-E glass, old windows can be as energy efficient as new windows.

Adair will cover how to properly disassemble double hung windows, replace sash cords, replace glass, install weather-stripping and seals in key locations to stop drafts, and most importantly, how to put it all back together again.

Hell touch on his design for an easy to use wooden storm window as well.

Unfortunately, since this is only an eight-hour session, we wont be able to go through the details of storm windows. Ive covered that in a two-week workshop thats geared toward contractors, but well focus on double hung window restoration in this homeowner-focused workshop.

Fortunately, Girard said, Tom Clemons at Chelsea Village Hardware was willing to hold the workshop on the second floor, where they have a few second floor windows that fit the bill old double hung windows with sash cords that need some attention.

I think its an ideal location in that we can show participants exactly where they can find the supplies they need to do the job right you can find most of it right on the shelves of the store, Girard said.

Advance registration is required. The workshop is limited to a class size of 12, so participants are advised to apply early for the workshop. Continued...

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CHELSEA: Preservation Chelsea to offer free window restoration workshop

The Winona VFW Post 1287 will meet with the full Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) during a public hearing tonight to appeal the recent denial of a submitted certificate of appropriateness (COA).

The VFW submitted the COA early last month seeking approval to replace one existing glass block window with clear glass. The window is one of two on either side of the entrance on the east facing facade of the VFW building.

The replacement estimate from Glass Replacement Co. Inc. was listed at $650.

The one-floor concrete building is classified as noncontributing to the Local Winona Historic District. While the committee agreed with the classification, they said the replacement of a single window would change the structures symmetry and visual relationship to neighboring buildings.

The window replacement triggers a building permit and the VFW will not be able to proceed if the appeal is denied a second time.

The open hearing will be tonight at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at Winona City Hall.

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VFW to appeal Preservation decision on window replacement

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

With last years record breaking summer heat and calls for energy conservation fresh on Texans minds, reducing household electricity use while staying cool and minding the family budget will be a key concern for residents this summer. As part of its ongoing focus on customer service, Reliant is offering simple, low-cost/no-cost energy efficiency tips to help Texans conserve their hard earned green and be green as this summer approaches.

Summer is just around the corner and spring is already bringing warmer than usual temperatures. Hotter temperatures mean demanding more from our air conditioners, said Reliant Vice President of Customer Care, Bill Clayton. With cooling costs averaging up to 60% of yearly electricity costs, we want to equip consumers with information about the most effective and cost-efficient ways to save on their electricity bills and conserve energy.

The following are simple, low-cost energy efficiency tips to prepare for the summer. In addition, any consumer, whether they are a Reliant customer or not, can get answers to their energy savings questions from energyexperts@reliant.com.

Less is More: Energy Efficiency Tips to Help You be Green, Save Green

Contact service@reliant.com or call 1-866-RELIANT if you have questions, need information, want to compare prices and/or learn more about Reliant e-Sense smart energy solutions that provide better insight, choice and convenience.

About Reliant

Reliant provides electricity, energy services and smart energy solutions to more than 1.5 million retail customers including homes, businesses, manufacturing facilities, government entities and institutions in Texas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As part of NRG (NYSE:NRG - News), Reliant is backed by a Fortune 500 company that is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use energy. NRG is a pioneer in developing cleaner and smarter energy choices for its customers and its diverse power generating facilities can support over 20 million homes nationwide. For more information about Reliant products and services, visit http://www.reliant.com.

Connect with reliant at facebook.com/reliantenergy and on Twitter @reliantenergy.

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Reliant Provides Energy Efficiency Tips for Upcoming Summer Months

TOWNSEND -- Almost three years after both the Richard and Irene Collette Library and the Roy and Nancy Shepherd Senior Center opened, Sterilite is continuing to upgrade the building.

Plastics manufacturer Sterilite, whicht was established in Townsend in the late 60s, began the project in honor of the town's 275th anniversary. Since the construction, the company has kept an eye on its performance and now, in response to what they consider sub-par energy efficiency, the company has decided to install additional equipment to enhance heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the building.

"They didn't have to do this, it's already better than others in town, but they want to increase effiency and they are putting in the work," Town Administrator Andy Sheehan said.

The upgrades are expected to be finished this month and facilities manager Mark Mercurio said the weather might work out to check both A/C units before the heating is turned off for the summer.

"The temperature unit's on a semi-annual system, they turn over from cooling to heating as a whole so that they are not fighting each other and it can be as efficient as possible," he said.

Mercurio said that the systems react well to outside temperature, and he has heard very few complaints about the temperature of the building.

The upgrades consist mainly of adding more sensors and valves. More sensor points throughout the building mean more information it's central computer can

Valves are installed in the central HVAC units above the facility's kitchen and sensors have been placed on pipes leading from those units and around ceiling vents at the library and senior center. Each individual sensor is designated on a web-hosted program called Niagara, which services the entire building. Lights and temperature can be controlled and scheduled from it.

"By isolating even more areas in the system it can monitor them more effectively and adjust accordingly, it makes for a much more energy efficient operation," Mercurio said.

Sheehan said by having the thermostats talking to one another better, the already efficient building will get even better.

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Sterilite upgrades gift building

SAN ANTONIO, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With the weather heating up, Champion AC has seen a dramatic boost in consumer interest of ductless air conditioning systems. Champion AC has installed approximately 75 single- and multi-zone ductless air conditioning units in South Texas.

There has been a significant increase in ductless air conditioning installation requests and the HVAC company expects it to continue. In fact, Champion AC has averaged approximately 100 website visits per month specifically looking for information on ductless air conditioning.

Ductless systems make up more than 90 percent of HVAC sales in Japan and more than 80 percent in Europe, in comparison to less than 5 percent in the United States. That number is alarming considering one of the most common problems Champion AC has found with new customers is improper air duct designs. Ductless systems show great opportunity for the future of air conditioning, because the consumer can cool or heat only the spaces that are occupied and do not have to waste energy cooling areas in the home that are not being used.

"The majority of our ductless AC customers are residential homeowners who are renovating garages or making standard home additions," said Champion AC co-owner Ben Hubbert. "We are starting to install some ductless units in commercial applications as well; however, the tendency of the business owner is to for the most cost effective solution initially rather than long term efficiency."

A room that ismost popular for ductless unit installation is the media room. Because there continues to be a trend of garages being transformed into either bedrooms or party rooms, this is another common area that homeowners are interested in installing ductless systems.

Champion AC forecasts at least a twenty five percent growth in ductless sales this year. For more information on ductless units, visit http://www.championac.com/products/ductless-air-conditioners.

About Champion AC Champion AC is a veteran-owned and operated business specializing in residential heating and air conditioning. Champion AC leads the way in "going green" and is committed to helping San Antonio residents save money through the use of high efficiency, energy saving and environmentally friendly products and services. Headquartered in Helotes, the company is located at 12682 FM Road 1560 and has been in business for nearly five years. For more information on the services and community efforts of Champion AC, visit http://www.championac.com or call 210.888.9506.

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Champion AC Forecasts Significant Increase In Ductless Air Conditioning Systems For Homeowners

ORANGE PARK, Fla. --Sandra Lott had to pay a second company to remodel her kitchen because the first company took her money and did nothing and she doesn't know where the company is located.

"They go back from Miami to South Carolina to Jacksonville," said Lott.

In 2009, the Army Reserves nurse used money earned while serving in Iraq to pay a company called Extreme Kitchen Exclusive for a makeover.

"A family member recommended them," said Lott.

She paid them $8,609 up front, but it did nothing. She went to her credit cardand recovered $5,000 for the cabinets. Lott said the company still owes her $3,609, which was paid by check,for granite countertops that were never delivered.

"We just want a refund," said Lott, "because nothing has ever been done."

Calls to the company'sMiamiand South Carolina locations were unnecessary. The president of Extreme Kitchen Exclusive is Scott Schneidermesser.

Public records show he has been president of a number of kitchen remodeling companies since 2006, all out of business.

Tom Stephens, president of the Better Business Bureau, says Schneidermesser's company is not a member and it had one complaint with his South Florida counterpart.

"They did resolve the complaint, It was a serious complaint," said Stephens, "no way for me to tell what it was, but it could mean taking money and not doing the work, something like that."

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Kitchen Remodel Company Leaves First Coast Home Undone

A new survey released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows common remodeling projects have increased, compared to a similar survey from 2010. The survey, released in conjunction with National Home Remodeling Month, describes the changes the remodeling market has undergone in recent years.

Remodelers report that kitchen and bathroom projects remain the most popular remodeling jobs with home owners increasingly upgrading both rooms and making major repairs as they decide to stay in their current homes longer. Nearly 50 percent of remodelers report seeing an increase in the number of home owners who undertake remodels to avoid moving compared to the 2010 findings.

Both kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects were up 17 percent from two years ago, with bathroom remodels cited as a common job by 78 percent of remodelers and kitchen remodels at 69 percent. Since 2009, bathrooms and kitchens have switched places in popularity, with bathroom remodels moving into the top spot as the most common type of remodeling project.

As the priorities of home owners shift, remodelers have to adjust to the needs of their clients, says NAHB Remodelers Chairman George Geep Moore Jr., GMB, CAPS, GMR and owner/president of Moore-Built Construction & Restoration Inc. in Elm Grove, La. And while the motivation behind a home owners decision to remodel may have changed, their desire for quality, professional results have not. Professional remodelers remain committed to the highest industry standards.

Repairs and replacements of old components and the desire for upgraded amenities were cited as the top reasons for customers to hire a remodeler. More than 60 percent of remodelers reported increased demand for repairs and replacements of old components in the past two years, while more than half of remodelers said that the desire for upgraded amenities increased. In contrast, more than 20 percent of remodelers said there was a decrease in customers remodeling to increase home values as an investment.

In addition to kitchens and baths, other popular remodeling categories included window/door replacements (44 percent), whole house remodels (35 percent), room additions (33 percent) and handyman services (31 percent).

Home owners are repurposing spaces and making more efficient use of their homes square footage, Moore says. Whether it be young families or couples aging in their homes, people want to let their house adapt with their needs as they change over time.

For more information about remodeling, visit http://www.nahb.org/remodel.

Copyright 2011 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission from RISMedia.

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Kitchens and Bathrooms Remain Top Remodeling Jobs

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Building Official (OBO) is now tasked to speed up the processing of applications for building construction permits as Mayor Michael Rama wants them to be immediately released to applicants.

The mayor wants this done to prevent further delay on the start of the projects.

Although he is not totally against the city councils request to prohibit the construction of projects before the approval of building permits, Rama wants to speed up the issuance of permits within one day or a few days.

OBO head Engr. Josefa Ylanan assured that she can release the permits before the lapse of the 15-day maximum period set by the National Building Code if the applicants can submit all the necessary supporting documents.

But Ylanan said her other problem is the lack of technical personnel to review the technical descriptions of the building permit applications because OBO has only 32 personnel and cannot cope with the work demands.

Even if he wants to hasten the issuance of permits at the OBO, Rama did not assure that he will assign additional technical personnel to the said office.

Rama is pushing for the creation of a so-called One Stop Shop or an office or building where representatives from the various government agencies involved in the issuance of the necessary documents may hold office together.

Before a building permit can be secured, the applicants need to first get a locational clearance from the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) to find out whether the site is fit for the planned projects based on the zoning ordinance.

Although OBO and CPDO are two different offices, these are both situated at the City Hall building.

After the locational clearance, the applicant for building construction permit also needs to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), which is situated in Banilad.

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OBO urged to hasten processing of permits

COVINGTON -- The sound of sirens woke up the Covington Square Thursday morning as Covington Fire Department firefighters raced to the scene of a fire in an office building on Clark Street adjacent to the Historic Courthouse.

The offices of Alexander, Royston, Hardman and Shinall and Carter and Associates, which are also used as the facade for The Mystic Grill in fictitious Mystic Falls during filming for "The Vampire Diaries" TV series, erupted in flames apparently after a vehicle hit a power pole behind the building. CPD Assistant Fire Chief Tony Smith said it appears the fire was electrical.

"A delivery truck was trying to deliver something at the Bell South building and pulled into the parking lot back there. Our belief, though the driver denies it, is he snatched down the wires and sent an electrical surge through the buildings and it found a weak spot."

Smith said there was a lot of smoke damage to the building and offices belonging to owners of the businesses located there -- Pete Carter and Jim Alexander -- were essentially gutted.

Smith estimated the monetary damage to be around $200,000.

"Our guys did a good job containing the fire and holding it where it was at," Smith said. "Those old buildings don't have firewalls and things like we have in modern construction, and our guys held it in check where it was not able to get into other units on the Square."

Smith added that because of the Automatic Aid agreement between CPD and Newton County Fire Service, their men were also on the scene.

"That cooperation as a whole led to our being able to hold the fire in check like we did," he said.

Traffic was cut off from the Square during morning rush hour from about 6:45 until about 11:15.

"They were able to have the Concert on the Square (at noon). We tried to have a minimum of disruption for most of the businesses in there," Smith said.

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Covington Square office building, Mystic Grill destroyed by fire