Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Colonial Laundromat, a family-owned chain of Laundromats in Central New York, is saving more than $54,234 per year after indoor fluorescent lighting upgrades at 23 of their facilities and outdoor LED pole lighting upgrades at 17 of their facilities. The lighting upgrades were performed by SmartWatt Energy via the National Grid Small Business Services Program, resulting in a National Grid rebate of more than $104,000 and interest-free financing for two years.

Syracuse, NY (PRWEB) October 12, 2012

SmartWatt Energy conducted a complimentary energy analysis of all indoor and outdoor lighting and proposed a plan to replace Colonial Laundromats interior T-12 fluorescent lighting with a high-efficiency fluorescent lighting system and exterior Metal Halide pole lighting with a more efficient LED pole lighting system. According to National Grid, the entire project will have an average payback period of less than 22 months. In addition to substantial improvements in interior and exterior lighting quality, this energy savings project is estimated to have the same effect on the environment as planting 8,623 trees or recycling 117.2 tons of waste per year according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculations.

SmartWatt Energy is the Administrator and Implementation Contractor for National Grid's Small Business Services Program in Central and Northern New York. The National Grid Small Business Services Program helps businesses, with an average peak demand of 100 kW or less per month, conduct energy-efficient upgrade measures. Through this program, National Grid will pay up to 70 percent of the installation costs and finance the remaining amount interest-free for up to 2 years.

ABOUT SMARTWATT ENERGY, INC.

SmartWatt Energy, Inc., is a leading nationwide provider of turnkey energy-efficiency solution for utilities, commercial and industrial customers. They are dedicated to lowering the operational costs of businesses through demand-side energy-reduction strategies and specialize in streamlining energy-efficiency projects for national accounts. SmartWatt Energy provides whole-building energy assessments and implements lighting retrofits, variable frequency drive upgrades, control system enhancements, HVAC upgrades and other measures. Their turnkey energy-efficiency services include: construction-grade energy audits, value-engineered designs, self-performed installations, utility incentive procurement, facilitation of EPAct 2005 tax deductions and maintenance support. For more information, visit http://www.smartwattinc.com.

Danielle Marquis SmartWatt Energy Inc. 720-273-9908 Email Information

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Colonial Laundromat Takes Advantage of New Outdoor LED Lighting Technologies Recently Incentivized Through the ...

At our upcoming VERGE conference, well be talking a lot about cities as the laboratories of the future. Youll hear how big data, smart grid technologies, connected vehicles, next-gen buildings and many more trends are shaping the urban environment.

But how these all come together depends upon whos at the table. At the recent American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) conference in Phoenix, leading landscape architects got together to discuss their role in shaping this future.

As award-winning landscape architect Thomas Balsley observed, We have to look at the design of cities more holistically. As more and more people move into cities, our quality of life will be defined by our public spaces.

Proof of that migration comes in recent U.S. Census data, as many of the nation's largest cities recorded spikes in population growth last year as Americans flocked to urban centers. New York City added nearly 70,000 residents and by 2030 it will add the equivalent of the population of San Francisco. Strategies for transitioning to denser city cores that are livable, and maybe even enjoyable, was a major topic of discussion at the ASLA meeting.

Photo of city park provided by GeorgeM Photography via Shutterstock

Next page: Reclaiming in-between spaces

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Urban interventions: Landscape architects take back the streets

Athfield Architects has taken out the 2012 Supreme Concrete3 Sustainability Award for its extensive refurbishment of the new Christchurch Civic Building on Hereford Street.

The award, presented at the annual New Zealand Concrete Conference in Hamilton on Friday evening, recognised the transformation of what was the New Zealand Post Building into an architectural statement that adds tremendous value to Christchurch, says Cement and Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ) chief executive Rob Gaimster.

The judging panel applauded Athfield Architects for the way in which significant changes were made to the existing concrete building, creating spectacular work and interactive spaces without losing the original architectural and industrial heritage.

"This is a truly outstanding example of adaptive reuse, one which demonstrates the flexibility of concrete as a sustainable construction material. It continues the emerging trend in New Zealand of optimising resources and enhancing the built environment through the innovative refurbishment of our existing concrete building stock," judges say.

The design reconfigured the buildings existing service and transportation cores, and added mezzanines to the main office levels. The existing precast concrete cladding panels from the southern facade were removed, reworked and reused on the northern side to create a completely new extension with double skin facade, and circulation stair and winter gardens behind.

Despite the significant changes, the design retains and celebrates the buildings original Brutalist style.

"The new construction materials read deliberately as distinct insertions, to set up a contrast between old and new, providing visual interest and complexity."

The Christchurch Civic Building is the first to receive a 6 Green Star Office Design rating, further testament to the projects successful outcome.

On their way to the top prize, the Athfield Architects team were also presented with the Excellence in Commercial Concrete Construction.

The Awards are part of the Concrete3 initiative launched in 2007 by CCANZ and acknowledge projects, products and initiatives which demonstrate excellence in environmental, economic and/or social sustainability for the built environment.

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Chch Civic Building wins award

Marco Filice believes that a bright future lies ahead for Highway 7.

I think it has the potential to be the next Yonge Street, says the senior vice president for Liberty Development, which is developing Centro Square, a two-tower, 800-unit condo project located at Highway 7 and Weston Rd., at the edge of Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. (The site was previously home to Al Palladinis Pine Tree Lincoln Mercury car dealership.)

Centro Squares two residential towers one 33 storeys, the other 31 storeys will sit atop a podium that will include more than 250,000 square feet of office and retail space.

Centro Square is only the latest in a slew of mixed-use condo projects that have been cropping up in recent years along Highway 7 from Vaughan to Richmond Hill to Markham as York Region works to concentrate high-density development on its major thoroughfare, in accordance with Ontarios smart growth strategy.

This intensification effort will be aided by the eventual construction of Viva transits Highway 7 rapidway, a bus rapid transit (BRT) service that will run down the median of Highway 7, connecting the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre with the Richmond Hill and Markham town centres.

There will also be a new TTC subway station opening at Highway 7 just west of Jane St., the final stop on the Toronto-York Spadina subway extension.

With all that mixed-use development and the transit to support it, Filice is convinced Highway 7 will ultimately rival North Yorks densely populated Yonge St. condo corridor. There are going to be a lot of new developments here in the years to come, he says.

Liberty has staked a few claims along Highway 7. The developer has completed work on Eko, a 196-unit project in Markham Centre at Highway 7 near Warden Ave., and has launched another, Royal Gardens, at Highway 7 and Bayview Ave.

Centro Square, situated at the entrance to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, is one of a number of other projects in the area particularly the Cortel Groups Expo City, just east of Centro Square that are helping develop a true city centre for Vaughan where none had existed before.

Centro Square has been designed by Kirkor Architects (the same firm that worked on Libertys mammoth World on Yonge project just north of Steeles Ave).

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Centro Square the gateway to Vaughan

Restoration lifts farmhouse off threat register

9:48am Friday 12th October 2012 in News

A 17TH Century farmhouse that was renovated with the help of English Heritage grants has been removed from the organisations at-risk register.

Middridge Grange, a grade II*- listed building in Heighington, near Darlington, was identified as a building of key importance to the region by English Heritage in 1998.

After eight years of work and 750,000, which included repairs to make it watertight and improvements to the roof, doors, floors and windows, the building has been hailed as a success and removed from the at-risk register.

Owned by farmer Edward Scott, 36, and his family, Middridge Grange has a colourful history and was once the home of Colonel Anthony Byerley, who commanded a regiment known as Byerleys Bulldogs, who fought for Charles I.

It is thought Byerley may have sheltered the embattled king at Middridge during the Civil War.

Another famous guest was the Byerley Turk, the first Arab horse in Britain, from which, along with two others, all British racing bloodstock is descended.

The horse was retired to stud at Middridge, having been the military mount of Anthony Byerleys son, Robert.

Carol Pyrah, English Heritage planning director for the North- East, said: Middridge Grange farmhouse is one of the most historically important buildings in the North-East, which is why English Heritage offered 288,000 to secure its future.

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Restoration lifts farmhouse off threat register

Now is our time when salmon are returning to the watersheds of Puget Sound. Even urban streams are showing the benefit of restoration work, with fish returning to their home waters.

A chum salmon returns to Piper's Creek at Carkeek Park.

Photo by Alan Berner of The Seattle Times.

This weekend, celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act at Carkeek Park, with talks at the environmental learning center on water quality.

From 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Saturday there will be tours of the facility, Seattle's first Gold LEED rated building, an opportunity to try your hand at water testing, and a children's activity table.

Beginning at noon Saturday, a scientific panel on water quality problems and solutions at Piper's Creek will be held until 2 p.m., with brainstorming on solutions invited from the audience.

The environmental learning center is at 950 NW Carkeek Park Road. For more information, call 206-363-4116

The 15th Annual Cedar River Salmon Journey also opens this weekend, at five sites along the lower Cedar River. More than 90 trained naturalists will be a designated observation spots along the river to answer questions every Saturday and Sunday in October from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More than 145,000 sockeye were counted at the Ballard Locks this summer, and now is your chance to see them swimming upriver. You may even see chinook.

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Welcome home, salmon: time to get out and see returning fish

The tradtional style replacement walkway has been chosen as a replacement NPS Graphics

Anthony Carroll Friday, October 12, 2012 2:41 PM

The hazardous and closed off Ladies Walk pathway on Southwold cliffs is set to be replaced with a 200,000 traditional style walkway next year.

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Today Mike Barnard, Waveney District Council cabinet member for resources, chose the traditional concrete footpath and a retaining wall option for a replacement pathway instead a second option involving a steel walkway elevated above the cliff on stilts.

The delegated cabinet member meeting followed a public consultation which saw residents raise their concerns over the second steel walkway option for Ladies Walk at Kilcock Cliff.

One said included Option two would look hideous from the prom. It will disturb the viewing line between the road and prom, will provide less stability to the bank and will make bank maintenance very difficult.

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UPDATE: Traditional pathway option is chosen for Southwold’s Ladies Walk replacement work

Legacy Remodeling, which specializes in replacement windows and other exterior remodeling projects, was named one of the top 100 contractors in the nation by Replacement Contractor magazine. Legacy was also ranked the highest of any Western Pennsylvania-based remodeling company.

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) October 12, 2012

Replacement Contractor is a national publication for the remodeling industry. Its annual Replacement 100 is a ranking of the largest contractors in the nation based upon annual sales revenue. The companies eligible for the ranking include those that specialize in exterior projects like replacement windows, siding, roofing, and doors, as well as interior work such as basement waterproofing and kitchen cabinet re-facing.

We are always striving to be the best in our market by providing homeowners with top-quality products, expert installation, and the best product warranty and customer service possible, said Legacy Remodeling President Jeff Moeslein. To be recognized as one the top 100 remodelers in the country and the largest in the Pittsburgh area is a testament to our success, and motivation to continue to grow and help even more Pittsburgh homeowners.

Founded in 1987 as replacement window company Swing Line Windows, Legacy has expanded its product offerings over its 25-year history to include siding, roofing, doors, kitchens, additions, and decks. One of Legacys defining features throughout its history has been its Century Warranty, which is a no-service charge warranty for as long as a customer owns the home.

The year 2012 has seen numerous accolades for Legacy Remodeling. In addition to the Replacement 100 honor, Legacy has also been recognized by Remodeling Magazine as one the Big 50 remodeling companies in the country, as well as by Qualified Remodeler in its annual Top 500 and Exterior 200 lists.

For more information about Legacy Remodeling or to schedule an interview with Legacy President Jeff Moeslein, please contact Betsy Rogerson at 412-341-1933 ext. 209 or Betsy.Rogerson(at)LegacyRemodel(dot)com.

Founded by Ken Moeslein in 1987, Legacy Remodeling specializes in exterior remodeling, kitchen, and design build projects. Voted one of the top 50 remodelers in the United States, Legacy has served more than 24,000 customers and installs more than 700 projects each year.

Betsy Rogerson Legacy Remodeling (412) 341-1933 209 Email Information

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Pittsburgh Remodeler Ranked One of the Top Contractors in the Nation

AGT Manufacturing LLC in Hudson, New Hampshire announces the addition of a new website update featuring a new e-commerce section.

Hudson, NH (PRWEB) October 12, 2012

The Trant Bar, available exclusively from AGT Manufacturing, is your new support extension that easily attaches to scaffolding and allows you better accessibility to the tools and supplies needed to get the job done quickly and safely.. By placing tools within easy reach, the Trant Bar eliminates the need for additional staging, boarding, and planking. Funny enough, it also adds more room in the back of the truck, reducing additional trips to get suppliesand this saves you gas! So, essentially youre saving money any way you look at it. But thats not the cool part. Keep Reading.

The Trant Bar works by securing enough siding material for an entire side of a house at one time, therefore you dont need to climb up and down a ladder all day long. The technology also eliminates the need for you to have a Ground Guy Now, your Ground Guy can either help out on the job or go grab the coffees! Win Win.

AGT Manufacturing LLC is dedicated to improving your efficiency of decking, siding, and roofing installation projects by inventing products to save you time, money, body aches and manpower. For further information about the Trant Bar, including photos or to order online, visit the http://www.agtmanufacturing.com.

About the company

AGT Manufacturing, LLC is dedicated to serving the local area, as well as, working with clients throughout the East Coast. The companys mission is to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of decking, siding and roofing installations, while reducing time and money, giving contractors superior returns on their projects. For more information visit their website at http://www.agtmanufacturing.com.

Allan Trant AGT Manufacturing, LLC 603-320-8665 Email Information

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AGT Manufacturing's Newest Website Update Provides a Stronger Customer Experience

Commercial roofing contractor Orlando, FL company has expanded in North Florida. Services have been upgraded by Roofing Emporium to include both residential and commercial roof repair and replacement services in and around the Orlando area.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) October 12, 2012

As the hurricane season in Florida ceases, some homeowners and business owners are likely to seek roof upgrade services. Strengthening an existing roof structure is one of the services that professional roofing companies can provide. Material creation is constantly expanding as new materials are used to protect against wind, water and hail damage during tropical storms and hurricanes.

Companies like Owens Corning that produce high quality materials are helping to provide hurricane proof products to roofers in states like Florida. The Roofing Emporium contractors are now using Owens Corning products and other products that are designed to maximize roof safety.

New home construction has started to grow in many states again according to housing data. Builders that are now constructing new homes and condominiums plan in advance to find and qualify professional roofing companies. One factor that homeowners or building owners have little control over is the type of materials used.

The Roofing Emporium contractors that are dispatched for roofing services discuss the installation and repair options with builders and homeowners to ensure the correct quality roofing coverings are used. This service is in line with Florida state legislation for building permits.

One area of expansion that Roofing Emporium has undertaken is with its online web presence. New and helpful information is now added daily to the RoofingEmporium.com website to help homeowners and business owners that are searching for roofing information.

A new online quotation system is now in place to help simplify the roofing quote process. A local telephone number is also available for Florida residents to call and retrieve more information about services offered by Roofing Emporium.

About Roofing Emporium

A staff of licensed commercial and residential contractors is part of what Roofing Emporium offers to citizens of Florida. A team of dedicated roofing specialists started this company that is now expanding in the North Florida area. The Roofing Emporium contractors use high quality materials that are offered from companies like Owens Corning. These materials and the experience of each contractor are two elements that have helped Roofing Emporium to expand. The Roofing Emporium company is based in Jacksonville Beach, FL and offers its services seven days a week.

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Commercial Roofing Contractor Orlando, FL Company Expands in North Florida