Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The sign in front of Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, 535 Green St., in New Haven reads Thank you for 50 great years. Looking forward to 50 more.

It's been five decades since Les and Arnie Hartman christened their company and began making sheet metal ducts for apartment buildings around the area, across the state and in neighboring states.

Their work is part of the infrastructure of Northcrest and Georgetown shopping centers and the B.F. Goodrich plant. From that they moved on to heating and air conditioning for new home builders.

They both retired some years back, and Arnie is deceased. The firm is now run by Arnie's children: Richard as president, David as operations manager and Vicki Peterson as service manager. Another brother, Doug, is a service technician.

Over the years, business has evolved from standard furnace and air conditioning installations to the age of digital technology.

A couple of furnace manufacturers are coming up with smartphone applications, says Richard, that customers can use to control just about any electronic gadget in their homes via global positioning satellite. They'll be able to regulate their thermostat, turn on lights and maybe even turn on the coffee maker and start the crock pot with their cellphone.

Our IT guru Roger Buhr is implementing the programs into our system now and we expect to be up and running in 2014.

A system coming soon is one that senses when the home is empty and automatically reduces the heat setting on the thermostat. It's activated when family members return or can be controlled with a cellphone app.

Another innovation by Lennox is 'smart circuits.' These involve control panels that are self-diagnostic. If some part of the system is not operating properly, a light will flash on their thermostat readout similar to most new cars indicating something is wrong and the home owner should call for service. It's called 'icomfort Notification.' It could report the need to change the filter, a problem with the outdoor unit or a failure of the sensor unit. We also get an email highlighting the problem, but are not allowed to remotely take over a customer's thermostat. Those with concerns about privacy can elect to block us from receiving this information.

When Richard began installing furnaces 40 years ago, the highest-efficiency furnace available was 64 percent, which was considered the top of the line.

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Hartman Brothers enters digital age

Puget Sound Energy is offering electric customers who live in manufactured homes and use electric forced-air as their primary heat source the chance to seal up leaky ductwork and receive other energy efficiency upgrades for free.

The service is being offered to PSE customers in several areas around Pierce County: Graham, Orting, Puyallup and Sumner. The estimated value to each customer is about$500, and the upgrades could reduce their heating bills by approximately 30 percent.

A large number of manufactured homes likely have leaky heating and cooling systems that have to work overtime, which results in higher energy bills. The program helps customers who live in manufactured homes install energy-efficient measures to increase their comfort and manage their energy bills.

PSE has teamed up with energy services specialist UCONS, LLC to install the free energy-efficient upgrades. A certified specialist will seal the ductwork, as well as provide free, on-site installation of ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs in high-use areas such as kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms. Customers also receive furnace air filter replacements and up to two energy-efficient showerheads.

To qualify, those living in manufactured homes must be PSE electric customers and use electric forced-air as the primary heat source. Eligible homeowners cannot have previously received PSES manufactured home energy-efficiency upgrade service.

UCONS representatives will be going door-to-door with flyers to discuss the service with PSE customers.PSE customers can also request the service by calling UCONS at1-800-828-8440.

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Electric forced-air furnaces in manufactured homes free sealing and incentives | Puget Sound Energy

Kitchen Remodeling Los Gatos - Find Good Kitchen Remodeling Contractor
Kitchen Remodeling Los Gatos - Find Good Kitchen Remodeling Contractor. Do you think that having your kitchen remodel is that hard? Well.., having a kitchen ...

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Matawan, NJ (PRWEB) December 30, 2013

New Jersey-based Stone Creek Builders LLC, providers of home contracting services such as bathroom remodeling, kitchen design and custom cabinetry, has announced it will be exhibiting at three major upcoming tradeshows in its home state. The three exhibitions will encompass the Jersey Shore Home Show from January 10 to 12, the Ocean County Home Show from January 24 to 26 and the Garden State Home Show from February 7 to 9.

Stone Creek Builders will be at booth 349 at the Jersey Shore show, booth 877 at the Ocean County show and booth 465 at the Garden State show. The Jersey Shore Home Show runs from Friday, January 10 from 1 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, January 11 from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday, January 12 from 11 am to 5 pm. The Ocean County Home Show runs from Friday, January 24 from 4 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, January 25 from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday, January 26 from 11 am to 5 pm. The Garden State Home Show runs from Friday, February 7 from 1 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, February 8 from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday, February 9 from 11 am to 5 pm.

Stone Creek Builders LLC represents residential, commercial and insurance restoration home contracting service providers practicing in the areas of bathroom remodeling, additions, kitchen design, basement remodeling, handyman services, home office, painting services, tile installation, custom carpentry, cabinet installation exterior remodeling, whole house remodeling, custom home building and more.

The Home Shows are put on by MAC Events, a premier producer of expos throughout New Jersey, Virginia and New England. The Home Shows, in particular, attract homeowners seeking ideas, products, services and home improvement professionals for their remodeling projects. All the events presented by MAC encourage hundreds of quality exhibitors such as Stone Creek Builders and experts to help attendees plan projects that make their homes and landscapes more livable, and they have been doing just that for 40 years. MAC Events has proven its value through its events as showcases for new ideas and ideal occasions for homeowners to personally meet the professionals that can serve them best.

Stone Creek Builders LLC is located in Matawan and can be reached by calling (732) 566-0395. For more information visit http://www.stonecreekbldrs.com.

MAC Events LLC is located at 309 Morris Avenue Suite D in Spring Lake and can be reached by calling (800) 332-3976. For more information visit http://www.macevents.com.

About Stone Creek Builders

The founder of Stone Creek Builders has been a leading provider of building, remodeling and restoration services for over 20 years. Stone Creek Builders provides general contracting, remodeling, insurance restoration, house lifting, and storm reconstruction services to clients in central and shore regions of New Jersey. Contact us at (732) 566-0395 or visit our website at http://www.stonecreekbldrs.com for more information.

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Stone Creek Builders LLC to exhibit at major upcoming New Jersey tradeshows

California is about to run out of money for mapping earthquake faults, leaving many communities across the state with limited information about the seismic risks of new development.

The California Geological Survey has about 300 more fault maps left to complete, including some covering highly populated areas like the Westside of Los Angeles, the San Diego Bay area, and the San Gabriel Valley. But officials say the budget for mapping will run out once the state completes work on the Hollywood fault early next year.

Seismic experts say completing the mapping is crucial because the state's strict earthquake building regulations only apply to faults that have been zoned by the California Geological Survey. The regulations prohibit building on top of faults and require extensive seismic testing for any structure built within about 500 feet of a fault.

The slow pace of the state's mapping has come under new scrutiny in recent months because of several large projects in Los Angeles that were approved on or near the Hollywood fault.

On Monday, state Sen. Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance) called on the state Legislature to boost funding so the mapping can continue.

California aggressively mapped faults between the 1970s through the early 1990s. Then, a series of budget cuts slowed the effort dramatically. No new fault zoning occurred between 2004 and 2011. The California Geological Survey restarted the effort again using its existing budget, but that money will dry up next year, said State Geologist John Parrish.

At one time, the state had six people focused on fault mapping. That will drop to one person by next year, and no staffers are budgeted after June.

Lieu said that the state's budget situation has improved significantly in the last few years and fully funding fault mapping should be done immediately.

"It boggles my mind," Lieu said in an interview. "Every day across California, local planning departments are making decisions, and we need to make sure that no future buildings are going to be built on fault lines simply because a map wasn't updated."

His remarks come after The Times reported Monday that at least 18 buildings were approved for construction on or near the Hollywood and Santa Monica faults over the last decade without the rigorous studies that would have been required had the state zoned those faults. They include apartments, condos, an office building and a grocery store. Both faults are well-known and capable of producing disastrous earthquakes.

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L.A., Santa Monica buildings may sit atop quake faults

MIAMI, FL (PRWEB) December 31, 2013

Planning to increase your living space in 2014? Here are some things you must first resolve to do, said Chris Noe, president of Venetian Builders, Inc., Miami.

Venetian is a leading installer of custom-designed aluminum sunrooms, patio covers and screen swimming pool enclosures. It serves all of South Florida, including West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Weston, Pembroke, Miramar, Homestead and the Keys.

Before a builder can design a space that will work for your budget, lifestyles, tastes and neighborhood, you must make up your mind about a lot of things, Noe said.

Noe suggests homeowners make certain decisions before expanding a home. Treat them as New Years resolutions, he said:

About moving: Whether to move to a bigger home or stay and expand is a huge decision, Noe said. Before you resolve to move, get a handle on the costs. Youll have movers to pay, a real estate agents fee to sell your home, maybe furniture storage costs, most likely a bigger mortgage payment, and probably a need for more furniture to fill a bigger home.

About staying put. Before you resolve to stay and improve and of course wed love to help you do that think about the intangibles, Noe said. Do you like your neighbors? Do your kids like their schools? Are you content with your drive to work? Would expanding your home eliminate the things you dont like about it?

About lifestyles: What do you long for? Noe said. Are you resolving to live a more comfortable life? A more convenient life? Do you want to spend more time outdoors? Do you want more indoor space to do things you enjoy watching movies, entertaining, reading in comfort, dining outdoors? Resolve to do as many of these as suit your needs, and to build an addition that accommodates as many as possible.

About your budget. Know how much extra you can afford to spend, Noe said. The smartest thing you can do is arrive at that figure and resolve to stick to it. Remember that any space you add whether its indoors with an aluminum sunroom addition or outdoors with a screened patio cover will need furniture and accessories. Budget not just for the construction, but for those items, too.

About your spending habits. Resolve to save as much each month as you expect your remodeling to cost you, Noe said. That way you can be sure youre comfortable without having that money as discretionary income.

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New Year’s Resolutions for Homeowners Looking To Add Living Space: Tips from the President of Venetian Builders, Inc ...

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If you enjoy having fresh cut flowers in your home, especially during the holiday season, take a look at some of the many new, long-lasting varieties now available. They add so much colour and fragrance to the festive season, and with proper care, their lifespan can be almost doubled.

Cleanliness is the single most important factor in making fresh flowers last. Dirty vases are no place for fresh flowers. Not only should they be clean, but a few drops of bleach should also be added to the water to kill any bacteria that can reduce the capillary action of water flowing up the stems. The water should be warm, and the addition of floral preservatives will greatly extend the lifespan of your cut flowers.

It is always a good idea to re-cut the stems on all fresh flowers the moment you receive them, but it is very important for you to make that cut while the end of the stem is held underwater. Special machines are now available to florists for doing just that. Another re-cut should be done in about a week to keep that water flowing. Research has also proven that exposure to constant, rather than fluctuating temperatures, increases the lifespan of flowers. In other words, keep them at a reasonably cool room temperature rather than in a hot sunroom by day and in the cold at night.

I would never discourage anyone from picking up fresh cinnamon-scented carnations or long lasting chrysanthemums at this time of year, however, I would suggest trying a few different flowers that have great keeping qualities as well. Locally grown anthuriums are exotic looking. They are also very reasonably priced, as are cymbidium orchid stems, another long lasting flower. Colourful alstromerias fit in nicely with any bouquet and will go the distance even with mums. If you are really tropical minded, South African proteas last and last.

Spring flowers are now here and ready to bring a breath of fresh colour to brighten our winter spirits. Tulips, pussy willows and iris push aside those winter blues.

I am very fond of statice, and if you did not save any from your garden this past spring, fresh imported bunches are available even now.The Scotch heather that adorns the hillsides of northern California is now available, and it also lasts well. Pink or white wax flower is certainly one of my favourites to add a finishing touch to any bouquet. Some of the most fragrant flowers are Oriental lilies, Polianthes tuberosa or even a small bouquet of freesia. Just one blossom is sometimes enough to fill your whole room with a delightful perfume.

To accompany these flowers, I suggest you use some traditional winter greens. Noble and silver fir boughs are very dark green, fragrant and classy looking. They are also flat and easy to work with. The soft, wispy branches of white pine are certainly another favourite at this time of year, both for perfume and longevity. Some branches of golden or blue cedars and cypress growing in our yards can also provide a great enhancement for any bouquet. A little trick florists use to spice up the greens even further is a light dusting of gold or silver glitter spray. This alcohol based product can even be used on fresh flowers as an added festive touch.

Traditional holly is always nice at this time of year, but I suggest you try a twig or two of the deciduous holly, Ilex verticulata. he berries last well indoors, and wow, do they ever give your holiday bouquets that special festive look!

Were right in the middle of the cool, dark days of winter and fresh flowers brighten everyones spirits. According to research, fresh flowers are the gift that makes people the happiest. They do not have to cost a great deal, and garden centres, florists and larger stores all have super selections at this time of year. Although prices will vary, always buy quality and look for both fragrance and varieties that last.

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Long-lasting fresh flowers brighten up winter's dark days

A Ravena man was shot to death in Costa Rica last week, and his family knows little about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Stephen Rutkiewicz, 52, was in Costa Rica helping to rehabilitate some property owned by a family friend when he was shot in the early morning hours Dec. 21 in the village of Brasilito, a community on the Central American country's west coast.

The family friend called to alert relatives to the tragedy. But the family has gleaned little information from Costa Rican police officials or from the U.S. Embassy there, said a member of the Rutkiewicz family who did not want to comment further.

Police officials from Costa Rica had not contacted the Coeymans police or Albany County Sheriff's Office about the homicide.

A story in the Tico Times, a weekly English language newspaper in Central America, said Rutkiewicz was sitting in a car outside a bar when he was shot. He then drove to another bar nearby, where he bled to death waiting for an ambulance to arrive, according to a bouncer at the bar the Tico Times interviewed and who wanted to remain anonymous.

The newspaper also reported that there was a woman in Rutkiewicz's car, and that there was a man who jumped out of the back seat and ran after the shooting.

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said he got confirmation of Rutkiewicz's death from one of he slain man's brothers. Rutkiewicz, a graduate of Ravena-Coyemans-Selkirk High School, previously had a roofing business that specialized in the replacement of slate roofs. He was visiting Costa Rica a few times a year and staying with the close family friend.

Apple said in his time as sheriff, the department has never dealt with a murder that happened outside the U.S.

An official from the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica Sunday said he did not have any information about a murder investigation involving a U.S. citizen.

Arrangements are pending until Rutkiewicz's body is returned to the United States, family members said.

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Kin in dark about killing

tech section Computers Home Theater Mobile Personal Electronics Web eHow Now eHow Computers Computer Networking Ethernet How to Install Ethernet Wiring

Cameron Easey

Cameron Easey has over 15 years customer service experience, with eight of those years in the insurance industry. He has earned various designations from organizations like the Insurance Institute of America and LOMA. Easey earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history from Western Michigan University.

Ethernet cable is used to connect computers to a network as well as to provide access to the internet from a DSL or cable modem. Ethernet wiring is the process of adding cable throughout a home or building to setup a network or connect to the internet. Installing ethernet wiring is similar to wiring a telephone or cable line, because the cable goes to one or more outlets in a room.

Decide where the cable needs to be run. Ethernet cable can be wired into individual rooms to have a connection to the Internet. An outlet may need to be added, depending on how the cable is going to be wired into the room.

Use a standard electrical box as the outlet for the ethernet cable. An electrical box is nothing more than a metal or plastic box which contains the cable which is covered by a faceplate connector. An electrical box can be installed in an unfinished wall as well as a finished wall.

Run the cable from each outlet or room to a central location such as a basement. Ethernet wiring can be installed under the floor, on a ceiling in a basement as well as through a floor. Each of the ethernet connections to be used is going to need to connect to a hub of some kind.

Use a router and connect each individual ethernet cable. A router is used to connect more than one device to a network or internet connection. This allows more than one computer to share the same internet address used by the DSL or cable modem.

Label each cable that goes to a specific outlet in each room. Use a piece of masking tape to indicate which room the cable has been wired. This will make troubleshooting any problems that arise much easier.

Connect the router to a DSL or cable modem. Once all of the wiring and connections have been made, connect the router to whichever type of modem is being used.

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How to Install Ethernet Wiring | eHow

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