Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, an initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) in collaboration with Montana utilities, named Formula Fabrication the 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year for the state of Montana.

The Libby-based company is known for quality installations, commitment to customer service and educating its community about the energy efficiency benefits of ductless heating and cooling systems.

During the past year the company has installed more ductless heating and cooling systems than any other contractor in Montana.

When the recession hit, our business really suffered, said Frank Sweedman, owner of Formula Fabrication. Ductless heating systems allowed us to tap into a whole new market and grow our business in a way thats great for our customers and our community.

A ductless heat pump is a highly efficient and easily installed primary heating and cooling system for electrically heated homes. These systems are safe, quiet and heat rooms evenly at a fraction of the cost of baseboards or wall heaters.

Since 2008, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, in partnership with Northwest utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration and Energy Trust of Oregon, has worked with local businesses like Formula Fabrication to install more than 14,000 ductless heating and cooling systems in the Northwest, at a savings of 49,000,000 kWh per year. That is enough electricity to power 4,400 average homes for an entire year.

Formula Fabrications success is also a success for our local economy, said Ross Holter, Energy Services Supervisor, Flathead Electric. Thanks to their leadership in promoting ductless systems and their quality installations, our customers are enjoying more comfortable homes and are saving on their electric bills during tough economic times.

Each year, in collaboration with its regional utility partners, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project selects one Contractor of the Year representing each of the four states in the region. Winning companies are qualified as Master Installers, and have completed the highest number of ductless heating and cooling system installations in their state.

Currently, 92 utility partners in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington are offering customer rebates on energy-efficient ductless systems, up to $1,500, often covering 30-50 percent of the cost of an installed ductless system.

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Formula Fabrication is tops in sales in Montana

It's no secret that it's a buyer's market right now.

While a few cities like Seattle and Austin arecurrently experiencing relatively strong growth, most housing markets are still struggling to recover from the 2008 collapse. But as energy costs have risen steadily over the last decade--with no end in sight-- making a home more energy efficient could give sellers an edge. However, many of these upgrades aren't cheap, and experts say not all the green improvements are worth the added expense.

Where Does Your Money Go?

According to Energy Star, the average American family spends approximately $2,200 per year on utilities. But where does all that money go? Heating costs account for the largest chunk of the pie, encompassing 29% of total utilities expenses. Air conditioning costs account for 17%, water heating eats up 14%, and appliances (such as the refrigerator, washer, and dryer) account for 13%. The remainder is spent on electric appliances, such as the TV, computer, and lighting.

Practical Energy Upgrades

Homeowners looking to save money should focus their efforts on the areas that use up the most utility dollars, mainly upgrades that affect heating and cooling costs. An added bonus is that sometimes these upgrades will also improve the value of your home.

1. Upgrade to a New Furnace "Energy efficient furnaces are a very attractive item for energy savings and for resale," says Linda Barnwell, a certified ecobroker withKeller Williams."Airtight homes that are caulked well and have a roof in good condition really help with the savings and for resale. These upgrades are all worthwhile, and they're features that buyers are looking for too."

Since heating makes up the biggest chunk of your energy expenditures, it makes sense that upgrading here will make the most impact on reducing utility costs. Energy Star rated furnaces are reportedly 16% more efficient on average, and will save an average of $96 per year in energy costs.

Although a new furnace won't necessarily increase your home's value, experts say the upgrade could make your home more appealing to potential buyers. Installing a new furnace isn't cheap, and you should expect to spend $5,000 to $8,000. Experts advise shopping around and getting several quotes. You can also save money by purchasing your furnace directly from the manufacturer and then hiring a good contractor to install it for you--this skips adding the contractor's markup on the furnace.

It's important to keep in mind that although a new furnace won't add to your resale value, it will make it more appealing to buyers. If you're trying to sell your home with a furnace that's 20 or 30 years old, most buyers will insist it be replaced before they move in, or they'll ask for additional money off the sale price so they can replace it themselves. Putting in a new furnace might lead to a quicker sale, which save several months of mortgage payments and reduces the amount of time the house sits on the market.

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Four Tips to Save Money on Energy and Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers

Q: This is another one of those can-you-help-my-relationship plumbing questions. My husband and I are in a serious debate about our new kitchen sink. We're remodeling the kitchen and I would like a "single-bowl, under-mount" sink. He wants the more traditional "double-bowl, top-mount" sink. I know there is no right or wrong here, but can you help us reach a decision? We both agree to follow your advice.

Holly, Washington state

A: There is a kitchen sink that's a cross between the single- and double-bowl styles. It's called a low-threshold or "smart-divide" kitchen sink. If you wash a lot of pots and pans and need extra room, the divider between the bowls is much lower than in a normal kitchen sink. This allows large pots and pans to fit easily into the sink, yet you still get the functionality of a double-bowl sink.

As far as the "under- vs. top-mount" style sink, that is usually decided by the type of countertop you choose. If you're planning a laminate or tile counter, the top-mount is usually the industry standard. If you plan on a counter like granite, then under-mount sinks are the popular trend.

So, hopefully you both agree on your countertop choice, or else all my kitchen-sink advice could go down the drain!

Master plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of "Ed Del Grande's House Call," the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.comor write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.

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A double-duty kitchen sink

30-04-2012 08:30 Science Centre AHHAA in Tartu is the biggest science centre in the Baltic states. The main purposes of AHHAA are establishing positive attitude towards science and technology, propagating scientific approach and exciting interest in the general public. Since the beginning of May 2011, Science Centre AHHAA is conveniently located in the heart of Tartu, its address being Sadama 1, the city of Tartu, Tartu County, 51004, ESTONIA. The geographical coordinates of Science Centre AHHAA: 58° 12? 57? N, 24° 28? 40? E. Building The new and modern building of Science Centre AHHAA is situated in the city centre of Tartu at Sadama 1. The construction of the Centre's new building was launched in the summer of 2008 with the ground-breaking, and the work was finished by the end of 2010. The building in question covers a total of over 10 000 m2 with a cubage amounting to more than 54 000 steers. It is consists of three uniquely shaped blocks of exhibition halls (a dome, a half-dome and a box) which extend through several storeys. Furthermore, there is a full-sphere planetarium on the roof on top of the building. The framework of the building is made of the monolithic Ferro concrete, while the roof arcs of the dome and the half-dome are made of glue-laminated timber. Science Centre AHHAA together with its surrounding buildings (a parking-house, a tower-dwelling and yet-to-be-constructed office building) comprises a harmonious architectural ensemble that chimes in with the neighbouring ...

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Time-lapse building construction Ahhaa Tartu Estonia Eesti Science Center 20120426 160702 - Video

Nauset Construction is beginning foundation work on phase two of the National Guard Bureaus new Joint Force Headquarters at Hanscom Air Force Base.

The four-story, 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art office building will connect to the existing 193,000 square foot facility and should be completed by May of 2013. The construction of the building and connections to the existing facility have been well coordinated by Nausets Building Information Modeling Management Team, which used 3D modeling to detect structural clashes.

Nauset generated a 3-D image and it was terrific. They put it up on a screen and the model revealed potential conflicts, said Bob Brandon, principal at Kleinfelder/SEA, the architect on the project. We had all the subcontractors, our engineers, and the National Guard at a recent Nauset presentation, and we were able to get everyone from design to construction on the same page.

The new facility will have its own air handling units and heating and cooling systems, but the water, fire protection, and electrical systems will be central to the two phases.

Were going to be coordinating our MEP tie-ins with phase one, explained Mike Rimmel, Sr. Project Manager for Nauset. Rimmel said that the use of BIM for the project would save considerable time as well as money and materials on rework.

Our BIM Management team identified several conflicts that were critical to solve during this early phase, because once you build it, it costs so much more to make field alterations, said Rimmel. Its two months into the process and were already looking at the end result. Thats important because this is an occupied and restricted facility and it saves everyone work.

Designed to resist the effects of earthquake motions, the facility will house classrooms with raised computer access flooring, heated storage and vehicle ready work bays. The foundation will consist of reinforced concrete footings and floor slab with steel framed masonry walls, aluminum windows, and a metal paneled roof system with integrated gutters.

The HVAC system will include three 2,000 MBH gas fired boilers, two 140 ton electric air-cooled chillers and air handlers with multiple zones. Additional building features will include auxiliary power, fire detection and suppression, security access and surveillance and intrusion detection systems. Extensive roadways, ground level parking, an amphitheater with tiered seating, pedestrian walkways and landscaping is also part of the projects scope of work.

The LEED Silver rating will be achieved by utilizing energy efficient MEP systems and controls, as well as bio-swales to reduce storm water runoff. Project challenges include close coordination with all subcontractors due to the highly sensitive, occupied and restricted site location.

Kleinfelder is an employee-owned science, architecture and engineering consulting firm providing solutions to meet the world's complex infrastructure and natural resource challenges. A global firm with nearly 2,000 employee-owners, Kleinfelder provides planning, engineering, scientific, technical and management solutions. For more information about the company go online to kleinfelder.com.

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Nauset Construction begins addition to Hanscom National Guard building

An artist's impression of the Flinders Gate development looking from Federation Square.

A $150 MILLION project by Dexus Property Group in Flinders Street will restore a 100-year-old heritage building and add A-grade office space to the central business district.

The Flinders Gate development, directly opposite Federation Square, involves construction of a new 11-level office building over an existing car park with the addition of an internal landscaped atrium.

The new building at 172 Flinders will feature 20,000 square metres of A-grade office space with large campus style floor plates of about 2200 sq m. The building's heritage facade - the front of the old Ball & Welch building - will also be complemented by a new glass curtain wall.

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Specifically, the development will include the addition of eight new levels of office space with the 400 sq m atrium at the centre of the building. Under the design, half of the car park will be removed to provide the space for new office floors within the height limits of the site.

SJB Architects and Woods Bagot are the joint architects for the project. Dexus has secured development approval for the project from Melbourne City Council.

The project is targeting a five-star National Australian Built Environment Rating System Energy rating and five-star Green Star rating.

Head of development at Dexus Tony Gulliver said the developer was driven by the opportunity to use such a large site and would devote the rest of this year to seeking pre-commitments. JLL and Colliers have been appointed leasing agents.

''We aim to start construction in the middle of next year and complete it in the first half of 2015,'' Mr Gulliver told BusinessDay.

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Old city 'gate' to be new again

Design-build construction firm Ramtech Building Systems has announced that the company has now completed the manufacturing phase for a testing center for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Developed for the University of Arkansas Testing Services, the modular construction project is being built under a job order contract (JOC) awarded to the Northwest Arkansas office of CDI Contractors, LLC, with architectural and design assistance provided by Miller Boskus Lack Architects, P. A., both of Fayetteville. The new 3,249 square foot modular building will be located on the west side of the college campus adjacent to the former office of the Southeast Conference Academic Consortium near the university's football and basketball facilities.

Mansfield, TX (PRWEB) April 30, 2012

Design-build construction firm Ramtech Building Systems has announced that the company has now completed the manufacturing phase for a testing center for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Developed for the University of Arkansas Testing Services, the modular construction project is being built under a job order contract (JOC) awarded to the Northwest Arkansas office of CDI Contractors, LLC, with architectural and design assistance provided by Miller Boskus Lack Architects, P. A., both of Fayetteville. The new 3,249 square foot modular building will be located on the west side of the college campus adjacent to the former office of the Southeast Conference Academic Consortium near the university's football and basketball facilities. The interior floor plan consists of a waiting room, mens and womens restrooms, and a wide open testing area with ample space for multiple cubicles. Ramtech will also provide delivery, installation and finish-out of the building including the handicap accessible steps, ramps, and landing. The exterior finish will consist of 26-gauge R-panel metal siding and HardiePanel skirting to act as a wainscot. The interior calls for field applied textured and painted walls, along with carpet tiles for the open area and vinyl composition tile in the restrooms. Heating and cooling will be accommodated by three zoned split systems including two 3-ton and one 4-ton unit.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the second week of May with occupancy slated for the beginning of June. Ramtech was able to promote the project when officials from the University of Arkansas, CDI Contractors, and Miller Boskus Lack Architects visited the company's offices while doing preliminary due diligence on a permanent project being developed for the future. The six classroom modular wing addition that Ramtech has installed as a demonstration facility adjacent to their manufacturing plant caught the eye of each attendee and was immediately recognized as the perfect solution for the testing lab they wanted to build. The University was able to quickly approve the project and then move the requirement through the procurement process using CDI Contractors JOC contract which allows for construction projects under $400,000. According to Gary White, Ramtech's vice-president of sales and estimating, "Once the University officials saw what we could provide when they toured our plant and finished-out demonstration facility, it was an easy decision for them to choose a Ramtech modular building for the project."

Little Rock Arkansas-based CDI Contractors, LLC is a licensed general and electrical contractor in 29 states. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Dillard's Inc., CDI originally was founded to construct Dillard's facilities all over the United States for the upscale department store retailer. In addition to retail construction, the company also provides facilities to the healthcare, education, hospitality, and government markets. Miller Boskus Lack Architects, P. A., is the descendent of an existing Fayetteville-based architectural firm dating back to 1954. The firm works with contractors across the country designing commercial buildings for healthcare, shopping centers, restaurants, education facilities, churches, industrial buildings, and exclusive custom residences.

About Ramtech Building Systems The modular buildings for the University of Arkansas project were designed and manufactured at Ramtechs Mansfield, TX manufacturing facility, part of a 20 acre development located in the southern part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The company has convenient access to the major transportation arteries that serve cities throughout Texas and the Southwest. Structured as a vertically integrated design-build construction company, Ramtech provides space planning, design services, manufacturing, site construction and finish-out on every project they produce. The company maintains a consistent workforce of production workers and supervisory personnel with an average of 13 years experience, many with tenures over 20 years. This experience, coupled with Ramtechs approach to modular manufacturing and construction, allows for greater control at each step in the building process resulting in significant time and money savings for their clients. By emphasizing a value engineering approach, Ramtech has successfully completed over 2,500 prefabricated buildings for diverse projects of all sizes. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.ramtechgroup.com.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebmodular_buildings/ramtech_building_systems/prweb9448538.htm

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University of Arkansas Testing Program Adds Ramtech Modular Building

BOSTON, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Tocci Building Companies (Tocci), a leader in virtual design and construction solutions for complex building projects in the corporate, healthcare, and academic and hospitality industries, announced today that it has been awarded its second project with Autodesk, a world leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Housed within the Amoskeag Millyard, a historic area of former mills that has been renovated into office and residential space in Manchester, New Hampshire, the 40,000 SF project will consist of a comprehensive renovation and upgrade to the building's third and fourth floors as well as the lobby.

In 2008, Tocci and architect KlingStubbins collaborated on Autodesk's new headquarters in Waltham, the first true integrated project delivery (IPD) project in New England. The building earned LEED Platinum for Construction Interiors (LEED-CI) Certification and received 14 industry design and construction awards, including the AIA's Technology in Architectural Practice: Building Information Modeling (BIM) award and chosen as the "Best of Year" in Interior Design magazine.

This second alliance between Autodesk, Tocci and KlingStubbins kicks off with Autodesk's alternative workspace solutions (AWS) process, which was modeled after the success of the team's work on Autodesk's Waltham office. The project features a redesigned lobby area, upgrades to the third floor training room, and updated finishes and lighting in the fourth floor conference room, as well as renovations to common areas on both floors to create a more inviting environment for Autodesk's 240 employees and visitors to the Manchester office. To accommodate Autodesk's ongoing business activities, Tocci plans to divide the renovation into small projects within each floor, reducing the footprint of construction at any given time and minimizing disruptions within the occupied space.

About Tocci Building CompaniesNationally recognized as a leader in Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Tocci Building Companies has been delivering intelligent building solutions for more than a century. Built upon a tradition of successful relationships with clients within working, living and healing environments, the company specializes in lean construction and sustainable building projects throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. For more information, please visit http://www.tocci.com.

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Tocci Building Companies Selected for Renovation of Autodesk's New Hampshire Office

Saturday, April 28, 2012

MAYOR Mauricio Domogan appealed anew to Malacaang for the immediate release of the P80 million rehabilitation fund of the collapsed Irisan dumpsite retaining wall.

The mayor said he took advantage of the presence of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo during the dialogue conducted by the DILG on the SM City Baguio issue.

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Domogan said the city hopes to receive the fund as soon as possible to implement the rehabilitation work before the onset of the rainy season to avoid further untoward incident in the area.

The mayor said President Benigno Aquino III issued a memorandum to declare Baguio City along with Boracay as national asset and historical heritage sites and the city can use this to justify the release of the fund.

We hope that with the Presidents good intention for our city, Malacaang will see the urgency and the necessity of releasing the fund to help us rehabilitate the dumpsite, Domogan said.

The mayor earlier admitted being apprehensive the fund will not make it in time before the typhoon season.

I really hope the release of this fund will not drag on knowing the situation at the dumpsite which still poses risk especially if the retaining wall will not be repaired before the rainy season, he said.

The retaining wall collapsed at the height of a typhoon in August last year causing a trash slide that killed five persons and buried houses along Asin Road.

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Mayor appeals anew for release of dumpsite fund

Posted: Apr. 28, 2012 | 2:05 a.m.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, Ryland Homes plans to celebrate the grand opening of its new Maravilla Courtyards in Mountain's Edge, a master-planned community in the southwest.

The new-home community features two-story homes with rooftop decks.

"This is a completely unique concept and one we know new-home shoppers will like," said Mara Glaser, sales agent at Maravilla Courtyards. "Each of the three floor plans offered include an option for a rooftop deck. They are incredibly flexible, giving homeowners the option to use them for cooking, entertaining, sunbathing and peaceful relaxation."

During today's event, home shoppers are invited to stop by for a free lunch from noon to 3 p.m. and tours of the model homes. There also will be special activities, including a children's planting station with Star Nursery and entertainment. Event sponsors include Star Nursery, Xyience, Furniture Market, Pizza Hut, Evergreen Recycling and Sweet Glory Cupcakes. Prize drawings will be held for items including a flat-screen television.

Maravilla Courtyards offers three floor plans ranging from 1,852 to 2,157 square feet with prices starting at $154,990. The floor plans include such appointments as rooftop decks, two master suites and three-car parking.

Among the highlights of Maravilla Courtyards' location is its proximity to the newest park opened at Mountain's Edge. The 20-acre Nathaniel Jones Park includes a lighted basketball court, tot lot with shade structure, children's water play area with splash pad, turf areas, walking trails and shade structures. The park incorporates the natural terrain to complement design and to conserve water.

"This beautiful park is so close to Maravilla that some of our guests think the neighborhood has its own 20-acre park." Glaser said. "It is certainly lovely to see from the rooftop decks at our model homes and all of the neighborhoods' rooftop decks will look over either the parks, lights of the city or other natural areas surrounding Mountain's Edge."

Maravilla Courtyards showcases two of its three floor plans as model homes. Plan 2144 includes three bedrooms, 2 baths and a two-car garage with 2,144 square feet of living space.

"This home is extremely flexible," Glaser said. "It can be built with up to five bedrooms or with a dual master bedroom option. The front door also opens midway between the first and second floors, with the great room, dining room and kitchen all located on the second floor."

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Ryland To Host Grand Opening Today