Birch Terrace by Silverstone Communities Proves Affordable Price and Desirable Location Can Still Sell Homes Despite the Market

Silverstone Communities today announced the completion of their new home community, Birch Terrace, near downtown Pleasanton, California. This new community of 45 townhomes opened in June 2007 and closed escrow on the final home in November 2008. According to an October 2008 report by the California Association of Realtors, Pleasanton was one of the 10 cities in California with the highest median home price during September 2008 with an average of... 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas With Your Ideal Tree

Deck the halls with the ultimate Christmas tree whether you’re living in an apartment or bustling household. This holiday season holds a tree for every budget and size so start preparing for your holly jolly season with assorted varieties of live-and hard-to-distinguish-from-live-Christmas trees at Lowe’s. “Choosing a Christmas tree is usually part of a dearly held tradition in many families, evoking childhood memories of riding... 

Why Brick Is Best For Cladding

There is something very special about brick. It’s not only beautiful to look at. It’s big in the sustainability stakes and has the ability to adapt as a building changes use. It also beats just about any other cladding material on price according to independent research. The findings are especially valuable right now, given that contractors are experiencing soaring costs and longer lead times for many rival cladding materials. Brick has long been... 

L.A.’s First Solar-Powered, All-Green Urban Community Premieres in Hollywood

Utility costs may be rising, but utility rates will remain at an all-time low at one eco-friendly Southern California community. The Gatsby Hollywood has announced it will be Metro L.A.’s first all solar-powered, all-green urban community. The enclave is now under construction on the corner of Hollywood’s Fountain and Wilcox Avenues. A first for the area, the all-new, single-family-home community offers premier sun-powered features and... 

Dominion Partnering With EarthCraft House for Next Generation of Energy Efficient Homes

Dominion Virginia Power has partnered with EarthCraft House(TM) Virginia to deliver a voluntary green building program to serve as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce energy consumption and protect the environment in the Commonwealth. “The EarthCraft Houses voluntary green builder program is an excellent fit with Dominion’s commitment to energy conservation and environmental stewardship,” said David A. Heacock,... 

GE Announces Program to Partner with Utilities to Reshape Energy Usage, Help Consumers Save Money

GE Consumer & Industrial announced today that it is introducing a program that will provide the next step in home energy cost savings for consumers while helping utility companies better manage the demand for energy during peak energy usage times. “Now that ENERGY STAR® appliances are recognized by 75 percent of American consumers, the next step is to reshape when energy is being used,” said Kevin Nolan, Vice President Technology for GE... 

Congressional Solar Energy Tax Credit Bill Creates Affordable Renewable Energy Systems for Homeowners

A part of the bailout package recently passed by the U.S. government included a generous solar energy tax credit bill which will dramatically reduce the cost and hasten the payback to homeowners for installing residential solar energy systems. A full 30% federal tax credit is now available for solar PV and thermal installations starting January 1, 2009. The Renewable Energy Division of S+H Construction, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the... 

Shea Homes Becomes First National Builder to Make Solar Power Systems an Included Option on New Homes

Victoria Gardens by Shea Homes announced today that solar power systems will be an included optional feature on its Shea Green Certified (TM) homes, beginning immediately. As part of its ongoing commitment to reduce the cost of home ownership and improve environmental performance, Victoria Gardens teamed up with BP Solar, a global leader in solar energy, to offer solar panels at no additional cost and reduce electric bills by up to 60 percent per... 

Many Save on Utility Bills Indoors, but Not with Their Yard, Lawn, or Garden

While most (96 percent) of U.S. adults have personally adopted sustainable or energy efficient practices at home, comparatively fewer (58 percent) use energy or water saving techniques in their yard, lawn, or garden, according to a new national survey about sustainability. Conducted online by Harris Interactive® on behalf of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the results were presented at the ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO in Philadelphia. Of... 

Solar Air Heaters – Solar Energy on Any Budget

Solar energy should play a part in every home’s energy economy. There are three ways one can take advantage of this renewable energy source in their home. Most common, photo-voltaic paneling is used to convert light into electricity. Photo-voltaic is the most expensive to integrate into your home. Next is solar water heat. This requires a plumber to install and might also freeze over in the cold if there is a leak US Solar Heating employs a...