Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Construction of single-family homes cooled off slightly in January after surging in the final month last year. But a rise in permits suggests builders are growing more confident that more buyers are ready to come off the sidelines.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that builders broke ground on a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 699,000 homes in January. That's up 1.5 percent from December and nearly matches November's three-year high for starts.

Construction crews began work on 508,000 single-family homes last month. That's a 1 percent drop from December and the first decline in four months. A big rise in volatile apartment construction helped offset the decline in single-family homes.

Still, December single-family homes were revised up strongly to show builders started 513,000 homes — a 12 percent gain from November.

And building permits, a gauge of future construction, rose 0.7 percent. The majority of those permits were for single-family homes. It can take 12 months for a builder to obtain a permit and construct a single-family home.

Single-family home construction rose in each of the final three months of last year, bringing the pace of those starts to the highest level since April 2010. The modest but steady gains helped boost confidence among builders after the worst year for single-family home construction on record.

"The upturn in permits and starts in recent months has been consistent with the surge in the ... survey of homebuilders, which has surprised the markets to the upside for five straight months," said Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. "The new home sales numbers have not yet responded but builders seem confident that if they build, buyers will come."

The critical gauge of the housing market's health has a long way to go before most declare a full recovery is under way. The current pace is less than half the rate in which those homes went up during the 1990s. And it's only one-quarter of the 1.82 million single-family homes that builders started in January 2006, at the peak of the housing boom.

Most analysts say it could be years before the industry is fully recovered from the damage caused by the housing bust.

Builders are starting to see some signs of progress.

A measure of builder sentiment has risen for five straight months and is now at its highest level in nearly five years. Many builders are seeing more people express interest in buying a home, leading them to believe 2012 could be a turn-around year for the market. Mortgage rates have never been cheaper. And home sales started to rise at the end of last year.

Yet for all their optimism, builders began just 430,900 single-family homes last year. It was the fewest on records dating back a half-century. And home prices are still falling.

Though new homes represent just 20 percent of the overall home market, they have an outsize impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Builders are struggling to compete with deeply discounted foreclosures and short sales — when lenders allow homes to be sold for less than what's owed on the mortgage.

After previous recessions, housing accounted for at least 15 percent of U.S. economic growth. Since the recession officially ended in June 2009, it has contributed just 4 percent.

Another reason sales have fallen is that previously occupied homes have become a better deal than new homes. The median price of a new home is about 30 percent higher than the median price for a re-sale. That's nearly twice the markup typical in a healthy housing market.

--The Associated Press

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New home construction rises 1.5 percent on budding apartment projects

A proposal to ban smoking on bar and restaurant patios is proving controversial — not just among smoking and non-smoking patrons but also among bar owners as well.

The community and protective service committee approved new bylaws Wednesday that will ban smoking on city property — including beaches and parks — and on bar and restaurant patios.

If council approves the ban, it will start in April with a probationary period, then take full effect July 2.

Ban supporter Toni Naje owns two local bars, the Firkin & Flyer on Riverside Drive and the Firkin & Knight on Merrivale Road. Both have had non-smoking patios since opening because Naje has asthma.

Business has always been good but not everyone is happy with the policy, he said.

“Right now a lot people won’t go to us because they have a choice to go anywhere else to smoke,” he said. “I have a lot of patrons who call me prejudiced, and they swear and yell and scream and say that I’m out to piss them off, have no respect for them or I’m trying to tell them how to live their lives.”

Bell’s Corners Business Improvement Area head Alex Lewis said bar owners in his area strongly oppose the tougher bylaw, not because they support smoking but because they want to make their own decisions.

“What our BIA is advocating for is the ability to practise private enterprise,” he said. “The world would be a much better place if everybody would butt out. The world would be a much better place as well if the government would butt out of business.”

Not all BIAs agree. Jasna Jennings, the ByWard Market BIA’s executive director,  told the committee her group supports the new bylaws as long as they’re enforced equally.

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Local bar owners butt heads over butting out

By Rachel Quigley

Last updated at 4:41 PM on 16th February 2012

An international murder investigation has been launched after an American socialite and interior designer was murdered in her luxury Bangkok hotel room.

Wendy Albano, from Florida, who is known to have decorated Derek Jeter's $20 million Manhattan home, was found stabbed to death by a maid on Monday morning.

The U.S. Embassy in Thailand broke the news to Ms Albano's family earlier this week.

Scroll down for video

Police believe Wendy Albano, left, was strangled and stabbed to death in her Bangkok hotel room by her Indian boyfriend and business associate, right, who is still at large

Police believe the 52-year-old was murdered by her Indian boyfriend, who she was seen checking into the hotel with on February 9.

According to News 13, the pair met through business and were working on a fashion import project together.

But they are also believed to have been dating each other since meeting through work.

He is 26-years-old.

The socialite checked into the Fraser Suites Sukhumvit on February 9 and was last seen on the hotel's surveillance camera on Sunday evening with the Indian man.

Police say he has since fled the country and is still at large.

Decorator to the stars: Wendy is known to have decorated Derek Jeter's $20 million Manhattan home

Family: Wendy leaves behind two daughters, Lauren and Jenny, who are trying to cope with their devastating loss

Detectives said surveillance video caught the suspect leaving Albano's room with luggage an hour after he entered.

Police believe the couple got into an argument and he killed her.

No one else was captured entering or leaving her room until the maid discovered the body the next morning.

She was choked and stabbed multiple times in the chest. Immigration said he left the country three hours after he was captured leaving her hotel room.

Her friends have said she may have had the intention of breaking up with the Indian man.

Hotel: The socialite checked into the Fraser Suites Sukhumvit on February 9 and was last seen on the hotel's surveillance camera on Sunday evening

Luxury suite: A maid at the hotel found Wendy in her hotel room (not pictured) on Monday morning where she had been stabbed multiple times in the chest

Ms Albano's family said she first met him when she did some business with him in India.

One of the designer's daughter told the Tampa Bay Times: 'I loved my mother dearly. Obviously, we're just trying to work through this the best we can.'

Twice married and divorced, Ms Albano leaves behind two daughters Jenny and Lauren. Her interior design business Wendy Albano Interiors was used by many high-profile celebrities.

Friends say Albano was 'talented and had an 'artistic flair'. She had been in the interior design business for 20 years.

Famous clients: Wendy is said to have decorated Derek Jeter's $20 million apartment in Trump World Tower, New York

Wendy and daughter: Police believe the socialite, right, was arguing with her Indian boyfriend when he killed her

Remembered: The 52-year-old was called a great mother and 'fantastic soul' by her friends

Close friend Maxine Stull told the Tampa Bay Times she was considering moving in with her friend. she has known her since college.

She said the last time they spoke, it was on the phone shortly before she left for Thailand.

Ms Stull recalls how happy her friend was and chatting about the man she was dating.

'She was always so positive,' she said. 'What happened, that's the kind of thing that didn't happen in her world.'

Another friend Denise Brown told Fox: 'She was the type of person that would give her love to anybody. She was a loving mother and a fantastic soul.'

Indian boyfriend a suspect in murder of Tampa woman in Thailand: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com

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Florida socialite and celebrity decorator, 52, murdered in Bangkok hotel room by 'Indian boyfriend, 26'

Scott Basta knows carpets. The York County native owns Basta's Floor Covering & Installation on Hayes Road.

He's lived in Gloucester for 38 of his 48 years.

What attracted you to owning your own floor covering and installation shop?

Basically I was maxed out where I was. I was told they couldn't pay me more and really wouldn't pay me more.

So I started out installing carpets out of a shop here in Gloucester, and they basically said, if you sell carpets on your own I'll sell to you at 5 percent over cost.

So I started out evenings going out and selling carpet.

What's changing in your work and what are your challenges?

Mainly the different types of floor covering. We're selling a lot of cork floors.

We're getting a right good demand for cork floors. And a lot of hard surfaces instead of the carpets.

It's a lot of the upper end stuff instead of the lower end.

What's fun for you in your work?

Meeting different people. Of course, some are challenges and some aren't.

Seeing the pleasure of them seeing the finished product on their faces. If they are satisfied that's great.

And if not, you stay there until you can make them satisfied.

I want them to be happy with what they have.

I've done about every church in this county. I always do something extra, throw in a portion of it. I always make a contribution to the church.

If someone unfamiliar with Gloucester asks what's cool or unique about it, how do you answer that?

I guess you would say it's a fast-growing community.

When I first moved here, you would drive down the road and everybody had their hand up whether you knew them or not. I know the majority of Gloucester. Most everybody knows me.

What's something about you people would be surprised to learn?

After 31 years I'm still on my hands and knees and interested in the intricate part of carpet. If there's a special need I'm interested in doing that.

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Carpets launched Basta's business

Deco Lighting
2917 S. Vail Avenue
Commerce, CA, 90040
USA

Press release date: February 4, 2012

With a multi million dollar R&D program nearing completion, Deco Lighting plans to launch a revolutionary portfolio of affordable high performance commercial LED luminaires. Municipalities and commercial customers seeking to replace their inefficient lighting to save energy will no longer be restricted to a limited selection of high priced LED fixtures.

Deco Lighting has announced plans to launch a revolutionary new line of commercial LED luminaires destined to change the current status quo in the solid state lighting (SSL) market. Integrating advanced design with next generation LED components and fabrication techniques, the new luminaire line will knock down the price barriers currently restricting widespread use of SSL for commercial applications. The culmination of a multi-million dollar R&D program and partnership with proprietary component suppliers, the new Deco Lighting LED line is slated for introduction in late 2012. The line will include radical new LED roadway, high bay, indoor recessed, wallpack, architectural and landscape luminaires.

Throughout the U.S., municipalities and businesses are striving to replace their inefficient lighting to save energy, reduce their utility costs, and go green with more environmentally friendly, sustainable lighting solutions. New solid state lighting (SSL) technologies offer numerous benefits, including immediate energy savings of 50% or more, 50,000 hour lifespan for long term maintenance savings, and greater controllability. The use of controls, sensors, daylighting, and intelligent network systems offer an additional 25% or more energy savings by adjusting light levels precisely when and where the illumination is needed. In addition, SSL possesses inherent green earth- friendly properties. Unlike typical gas discharge lamps, the semiconductor LED contains no mercury - a hazardous waste material, produces no ultraviolet radiation, and no EMI (electromagnetic interference) emissions. Due to these properties, LED lighting is a key contributor for government and utility sponsored rebate programs, as well as building projects seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status and recognition.

Major targets for conversion to LED include streetlighting, outdoor area lighting, parking lots and garages that traditionally use HID (high intensity discharge) fixtures. Streetlighting, in particular, can consume up to 40% of a municipality's utility budget. Indoor targets for LED include office lighting traditionally dominated by recessed fluorescent fixtures, and warehouses, high ceiling retail, commercial and industrial buildings that use HID. Despite the considerable benefits over conventional lighting, LED luminaires for these applications come with "sticker shock" prices for municipal and business customers. In some cases, federal stimulus funds and utility rebates can help mitigate project procurement costs. However, the typical per unit LED fixture price remains too expensive when compared to conventional alternatives. Deco Lighting has addressed this critical issue in its comprehensive research and development program for next generation LED luminaires. The result is an affordable product line with high performance features and modular design. The customer will also benefit with economical component upgrades to take advantage of the very latest advancements in LED technology and lighting control.

Deco Lighting has rapidly emerged as the leader of Induction lighting for high lumen applications. With the largest selection of outdoor and indoor Induction luminaires in the marketplace, Deco Lighting has developed many unique patented and award-winning fixture designs to enhance the performance of Induction technology and its unmatched 100,000 hour lamp life. These innovations include bi-level Induction fixtures, hybrid luminaires, and the use of integral sensors that function automatically without external controls. Deco Lighting recently introduced Plasma technology luminaires as another cutting edge solution for high lumen outdoor and high bay lighting.

Featuring a powerful
miniature electrodeless lamp and electronic control capabilities, the Deco Plasma lighting line will be expanded with many new fixture designs. The success of Deco Induction lighting is proven in an expanding number of municipal, commercial, university and military installations throughout the U.S. and overseas. Having established a strong distribution and sales network, as well as a growing base of major customers, Deco Lighting expects great market penetration and success with it's new LED product portfolio.

Deco Lighting is a leading manufacturer changing the world of lighting with the latest green technology, energy saving lighting and controls. Deco Lighting's extensive product line includes architectural and commercial fluorescent, Induction, HID, LED, Plasma, Solar, Dark Sky friendly outdoor luminaires, emergency fixtures and sensors.

For more information visit http://www.getdeco.com
e-mail: info@getdeco.com
phone 310-366-6866
fax 310-366-6855.

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Deco Lighting Announces Game Changing New Product Line will Deflate High LED Luminaire Prices ...

Dialight Corp.
1501 Route 34 South
Farmingdale, NJ, 07727, USA

FARMINGDALE, N.J. -- Dialight (LSE: DIA.L), the innovative global leader in LED lighting technology, today announced the launch of its new 17,000-lumen, 170W DuroSite? LED High Bay luminaire, designed to deliver superior lighting quality and clarity in a wide range of industrial lighting applications. The product is currently UL1598/A and CSA 22.2 certified and set to undergo CE compliance testing to broaden availability in the coming months.

The new 100 lumen per Watt fixture is the latest addition to Dialight's expanding High Bay product line that now offers lumen outputs ranging from 8,000 to 17,000, including several models certified for hazardous location use. LED low bay models are also available at 6,000 lumens for lower ceiling height applications, such as parking garages and cold storage facilities.

Instant-on capability allows the units to be paired with an occupancy sensor and/or dimmable components for enhanced energy efficiency. The units operate on an integrated universal power supply at 100-277VAC, and are well-suited for easy changeout from conventional HID light sources, such as metal halide and high pressure sodium. Each unit is backed by Dialight's 5-year full-performance warranty for exceptional long-life durability which encompasses the entire luminaire from fixture housing, lens and finish to LED light engines and integrated power supply.

"This new high-output High Bay is truly groundbreaking technology, combining the maximum light output available in an LED fixture with the superb energy efficiency our customers have come to expect from the Dialight brand," said Roy Burton, Dialight's Group Chief Executive. "For companies considering a move to LEDs, there's never been a better time to make the switch to save energy, and reduce electricity and maintenance costs, as well as take advantage of some valuable rebates that can further drive down total cost of ownership."

In addition to being UL1598/A and CSA listed, the 17,000 lumen product is also IP66 certified for use in outdoor and wash down locations, in addition to indoor use for warehouses, manufacturing facilities and cold storage applications. At just one-fourth the overall fixture height of conventional HID fixtures, the low-profile high bay reduces dust and dirt accumulation, as well as interference with air circulation or other structures.

Dialight's new 17,000 lumen model high bays will be available for delivery in March. For more information about Dialight's complete line of LED High Bay and Low Bay lighting solutions, visit http://www.dialight.com. Dialight's products are listed on the U.S. federal government's GSA Schedule 56, contract number GS-07F-0664X.

About Dialight

Dialight (LSE: DIA.L) is leading the energy efficient LED lighting revolution around the world for industrial and hazardous areas as well as transportation and infrastructure applications. For 40 years it has been committed to the development of LED lighting solutions that enable organizations to vastly reduce energy use and maintenance needs, improve safety, ease disposal and reduce CO2 emissions. The company is headquartered in the UK with operations in the USA, UK, Denmark, Germany, UAE, Japan, Australia and Mexico. http://www.dialight.com

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LED High Bay Luminaire delivers 17,000 lumens.

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper Lighting, an industry leader committed to delivering innovative products and driving transformational technology in the lighting industry, announces that six products have been recognized for ingenuity in Architectural Products 2011 Product Innovation Awards (PIA). Honored with the most company awards in the interior, exterior and controls lighting categories, Cooper Lighting received four product awards and Cooper Controls, a business unit of Cooper Lighting, was honored with two awards.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120216/DA54987)

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110513/DA01852LOGO-b)

The inaugural Architectural Products PIA competition is designed to give recognition of product ingenuity in the built environment. By identifying the most innovative products in 18 major categories, the competition hopes to bring awareness to specifiers dealing with diverse components when designing a building. The judges included 42 top industry experts in their fields.

The winning products include the following architectural solutions:

Cooper Lighting's Ametrix Arrowlinear LED Luminaires provide a smooth gradient of asymmetric illumination, free from striations and hot spots, for vertical and horizontal architectural surfaces. Cooper Lighting's Neo-Ray Straight and Narrow Series 22 LED Luminaires create slender lines of continuous, uniform illumination for recessed, suspended, surface- and wall-mounted applications. Cooper Lighting's RSA Continuous Channel system creates a single, streamlined channel for all ceiling-based lighting and utilities, including the integration of fire suppression, HVAC events, sensors and securities. Cooper Lighting's io® Koi Series integrates a variety of different io luminaires to create elegant wood bollards available in a variety of styles, sizes and finishes. Cooper Controls NeoSwitch Wall Switch Occupancy Sensor packs multiple functions into a single wall switch, including motion and daylight sensing, and provides an EcoMeter indicator light to reinforce energy-saving behavior. Cooper Controls Venergy Advanced Metering System, which is a code-compliant energy-saving solution that monitors energy consumption while being easy to use, specify and scalable across any enterprise.

"We are honored that so many of our architectural lighting products and control solutions are being recognized for ingenuity by such a prestigious panel of judges," said Mark Eubanks, President, Cooper Lighting. "Our continued commitment to providing industry-leading solutions gives specifiers unique, high-performing products to satisfy demanding market needs."

Cooper Lighting has made a significant investment in people, resources and technology to ensure the company provides first-class solutions to its customers' lighting challenges. The Company offers a range of indoor and outdoor LED lighting products and controls, all of which are specifically designed to maximize energy and cost savings. For additional information on Cooper's LED product offering, click here, or for information on Cooper Controls solutions, click here.

About Cooper Lighting
Cooper Lighting, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE - News), is the leading provider of world-class lighting fixtures and controls to commercial, industrial, retail, institutional, residential and utility markets. As lighting technologies have advanced over the years, Cooper Lighting has been at the forefront of the industry in helping businesses and communities leverage the latest technologies to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enrich the quality of the environment. For more information, visit http://www.cooperlighting.com.

About Cooper Controls
Cooper Controls, a business unit of Cooper Lighting, is a market leader in energy management, architectural, and entertainment lighting controls. A subsidiary of global manufacturer Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE - News), it was formed by its acquisition of Novitas Inc. in November 2005, Polaron plc in March 2007, PCI Lighting Control Systems in August 2007, and ALC Lighting Controls in November 2010.  Cooper Controls includes leading brands such as iLight (International), iLumin (North America), Greengate, and Zero 88. For more information, visit http://www.coopercontrol.com.

About Cooper Industries
Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE - News) is a global electrical products manufacturer with 2011 revenues of $5.4 billion.  Founded in 1833 Cooper's sustained success is attributable to a constant focus on innovation and evolving business practices, while maintaining the highest ethical standards and meeting customer needs.  The Company has seven operating divisions with leading market positions and world-class products and brands, including Bussmann electrical and electronic fuses; Crouse-Hinds and CEAG explosion-proof electrical equipment; Halo and Metalux lighting fixtures; and Kyle and McGraw-Edison power systems products.  With this broad range of products, Cooper is uniquely positioned for several long-term growth trends including the global infrastructure build-out, the need to improve the reliability and productivity of the electric grid, the demand for higher energy-efficient products and the need for improved electrical safety.  In 2011 fifty-nine percent of total sales were to customers in the industrial and utility end-markets and forty percent of total sales were to customers outside the United States.  Cooper has manufacturing facilities in 23 countries as of 2011.  For more information, visit the website at http://www.cooperindustries.com.

Contact:

Karin Martin, Karin Martin Communications

(630) 513-8625

Kmartin41@aol.com

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Six Cooper Lighting and Cooper Controls Products Honored in Architectural Products Inaugural Product Innovation Awards

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla., Feb. 16, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- Lighting up roadways around the world with ultra-efficient LED street lights, Lighting Science Group announced today that Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, has installed the Company's LED infrastructure products. Compared with traditional high pressure sodium (HPS) street lights, the Lighting Science Group PROLIFIC Series LED street lights are 50% more efficient, provide more uniform light distribution and increase light levels. The Company estimates that the lighting will pay for itself in approximately 3 years—with energy and maintenance savings continuing for decades afterward. 

"The State of Wisconsin only considered LED street lights for the project—a very smart decision given their efficiency, long lifespans and even light distribution, which improves the street lighting function and creates a better environment for people. After considering other LED products on the market, the State decided that Lighting Science Group's LED street lights outshined them all in price, performance and longevity," said Brian Plum of Traffic & Control, a transportation hardware and software company specializing in local and state traffic systems that was a materials supplier to the electrical sub for the general contractor.  

Lighting Science Group's PROLIFIC Series DBR and LSR4 street lights, complete with wildlife guards, were used to light of the streets of Pleasant Prairie. The DBR luminaires are compatible with smart grid services, remote monitoring capabilities, dimming, midnight dimming, and occupancy sensors; while the LSR4 fixtures offer a full cutoff optic that meets dark sky requirements. The Company's PROLIFIC Series street lights are the perfect one-to-one replacement for HPS street lights—easy to install, high lumen output, maintenance-free operation, long-lasting, and have outstanding energy savings.  The PROLIFIC Series LED technology eliminates costly re-lamping and re-ballasting of HPS street lights and direct line wiring is used in place of starters or capacitors to eliminate traditional maintenance issues.

"Lighting Science Group's PROLIFIC Series LED street lights bring into balance the need to responsibly illuminate roadways and reducing electricity consumption and maintenance cost. Our LED infrastructure products are the perfect solution for helping to ease states, cities and communities ever-present budgetary and environmental challenges," said Jim Haworth, chairman and chief executive officer of Lighting Science Group. 

About Lighting Science Group

Lighting Science Group Corporation (OTCBB: LSCG.OB - News) 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 more:
Lighting Science Group Lights Up Community Outside of Racine, Wisconsin

House Arc, by Bellomo Architects, is a prefabricated off-the-grid housing solution that facilitates compact living. The project was originally designed as an environmentally sensitive and affordable method of housing that is not only functional but also attractive to the eye. Furthermore, it is designed to be easily packed and shipped to any location, where it can then be erected by the user or community. "We designed it to be a kit of parts that can be assembled quickly-like an IKEA house," says House Arc architect Joseph Bellomo.

The House Arc is designed to be flat-packed and shipped in a remarkably small box that measures 4 x 10 x 3 feet (1.2 x 3 x .95 meters). The lightweight base structure consists of a modular system of bent steel tubes that can easily be assembled on site. Constructing the low-impact home requires no special training and is similar to building modular furniture, with a kit of parts and an easy-to-follow, graphic installation manual. Upon assembly, the House Arc becomes a curvaceous 150 square-foot (14 square meter) home that weighs 3,000 pounds (1,360 kg). The house features large windows that allow natural light to filter through the dwelling. A shading trellis limits the amount of heat that can infiltrate inside the building and the raised structure allows air to flow underneath for cooling, whilst also maintaining the permeability of the site. The House Arc can withstand the elements, including tropical winds, and also features a roof designed to support solar energy-generation.

Optional additions to further enhance the sustainability of House Arc include the installation of solar photovoltaic panels and insulation that can be added between panels.

Whilst the House Arc would make an attractive backyard retreat, the lightweight and easy-to-construct house could also function as an emergency shelter. It is a primary focus of Bellomo Architects to develop the House Arc concept so it can be used to house people in devastated areas after a catastrophic event or to replace housing that was not built to withstand such forces. "We foresee the House Arc in locations such as Haiti and New Orleans" says Bellomo Architects.

We just hope that they will drop the US$65,000 price tag for such a noble cause!

The House Arc will be a featured prefab house at this year's Sunset Celebration Weekend in Menlo Park, California from June 2-3.

Sources: Bellomo Architects, Bike Arc

Read more from the original source:
Modular home comes delivered in a 10 foot box and is assembled “like an IKEA house”

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Business activity for landscape architects continued to recede in fourth quarter 2011, but longer term, the profession is relatively optimistic about 2012.

Some 27.8 percent of respondents to the American Society of Landscape Architects’ fourth quarter Business Quarterly survey reported billable hours as slightly (plus 5 to 10 percent) or significantly (10 percent-plus) higher in fourth quarter when compared to the previous quarter. Another 34.8 reported billable hours as about the same (plus or minus 5 percent). This is down from the previous quarter, which showed 32.4 percent as slightly or significantly improved and 33 percent as stable.

Inquiries, too, showed a retreat, with quarter-to-quarter inquiries slightly or significantly improved for 31.9 percent of respondents compared to 35.7 percent in the previous quarter. Those reporting inquiries as stable remained unchanged at 33.8 percent.

Comparing fourth quarter 2011 to fourth quarter 2010, the picture improves slightly. Some 40.2 percent of firms reported improved billings, and 23.4 reported billable hours as about the same. Inquiries were 40.3 percent slightly to significantly improved, and another 28.6 percent reported inquiries as stable. In the third quarter, 39 percent reported improvement and 21.3 reported stability year-over-year when comparing billable hours; 39.1 reported improvement and 27.7 percent reported stability in inquiries.

A majority of landscape architecture firms, 75.3 percent, told the ASLA Business Quarterly survey for Q4 2011 that they do not expect to hire during the first quarter of 2012. While the number was high, it too is an improvement on the third quarter, when 81.3 percent said they were not hiring.

Asked about business conditions for the full year of 2012, 45.6 percent of respondents said they expected them to remain the same, but 43.1 percent said they expected conditions to improve. Only 11.2 percent expected conditions to decline. Concerning employment, a majority of 54.7 percent said they expected prospects to remain the same, while 34.3 percent said they expected prospects to improve. A minority of 11 percent said they expected prospects to worsen.

“Landscape architecture firms continue to be mired in the sluggish economy, and this is particularly true when it comes to hiring,” said ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO Nancy Somerville. “The year ahead, however, seems to hold some hope for firms that things may begin to move forward,” she said.

Regional Breakdowns

The West consistently ranked lowest in reporting improved billable hours and inquiries quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year. They also ranked highest in predicting improved employment and business conditions in 2012. The Midwest showed the strongest performance in three of the four measures, showing lonely a lower number in the quarter-to-quarter inquiries. Surprisingly, Midwest firms also were among the least optimistic when assessing the business outlook for 2012.

    Northeast   Midwest   South   West CT, ME, MA, IL, IN, MI, DC, DE, FL, AZ, CO, ID, NH, RI, VT, OH, WI, IA, GA, MD, NC, NM, MT, UT, NJ, NY, PA KS, MN, MO, SC, VA, WV, NV, WY, AK, NE, SD, ND AL, KY, MS, CA, HI, OR, TN, AR, LA, WA             OK, TX     3Q-to-4Q2011 billings somewhat or significantly improved   27.5   31.9   31.5   20.5 3Q-to-4Q2011 inquiries somewhat or significantly improved   34.5   33.8   35.4   25.4 4Q2010-to-4Q2011 billings somewhat or significantly improved   40.2   58.3   34.3   31.5 4Q2010-to-4Q2011 inquiries somewhat or significantly improved   46.0   48.6   38.6   33.1 Hiring will improve in 2012   34.5   33.8   32.7   36.4 Business conditions will improve in 2012   43.7   37.8   44.9   45.4  

About the Survey

The ASLA Quarterly Business survey asks about quarterly benchmarks on key statistics including billable hours, inquiries from prospective clients and hiring plans. The Q4 2011 national survey was completed on February 1, 2012 with 437 respondents.

About ASLA

Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 15,000 members in 48 professional chapters and 68 student chapters. The Society's mission is to lead, to educate and to participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning and artful design of our cultural and natural environments. Members of the Society use their “ASLA” suffix after their names to denote membership and their commitment to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Learn more about landscape architecture online at http://www.asla.org.

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Business Conditions for Landscape Architecture Firms Retreat, but Survey Finds Some Optimism About 2012