Maine Modular & Custom Home News

“One of the good things is that the politicians have discovered energy efficiency. One of the bad things is that the politicians have discovered energy efficiency.”  This quote is from the Wiscasset newspaper on November 6th in an article about Maine resident Doug Baston.  Baston owns North Atlantic Energy Advisors and has been in the Energy field for nearly 40 years.  Baston feels that all the attention that the government is placing on energy efficiency has placed a burden of guilt on the general public.  While it is a good thing for each of us to be energy efficient, it is also important to keep the big picture in sight.  In the overall scope of things, industry is doing the most damage to our planet.  That is no excuse to not do our individual best at saving energy and becoming sustainable.  Once again, I reiterate that we need to be informed and keep on top of the ways we can participate in energy conservation.  Keep in mind that according to Baston, that does not necessarily mean listening to what the politicians are saying, or the incentives the government provides.  Sometimes they just want to be in the limelight…whatever it takes.

There are some home improvement jobs that any week-end carpenter can take care of.  In fact, a lot of home owners take pride in their ability to do regular home maintenance and repairs or small building projects.  If you run into any of these issues however, it may indicate that you need a bit of help from a contractor.  During your home improvement inspection if find wet or damp insulation it may indicate a leaky roof - a job that most homeowners will need help with.  Rotted attic or floor joists also indicate some kind of moisture problem and it could mean extensive repairs - you probably should call a contractor.  If you find that kitchen, bathroom or clothes dryer vents exhaust moist air directly into the attic instead of outdoors, you might need some help properly venting and repairing any damage caused to date.  The key to success in any project is to have a plan in place.  While working make sure you have all the correct tools and that you follow all safety precautions.  If you get into your project and find you need help, your back up plan should be to call Schiavi Home Builders and hire us as your contractor.  We will get the job done for you!

I found a website that has an incredible amount of free information on a variety of topics: www.onetoremember.co.uk has free e-books that provide a lot of useful building information.  Just today I downloaded one on  solar electricity, one on timber framing and a do-it-yourself guide to Energy Star home sealing.  There are also many options for purchasing books that relate to sustainable building or energy efficiency, but I found plenty of good reading in the free section.  The best thing is that the free books are available immediately in .pdf format.  So not only are they free…it’s immediate gratification….two things that make this site appealing.

There are so many tips abounding on saving energy this year it’s overwhelming. To find a whole lot of tips all in one place you can visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s website and review their energy saver blog.  You will find tips on replacing inefficient windows, as well as tips on how to make the windows you currently have more efficient.  There is a blog on the ways senior citizens can get help to save energy, ways low income families can get help to stay warm, and ways to take advantage of tax credits for those who are replacing old technology in their homes.  Visit the energy saver’s blog and get prepared for winter!

Do you like the appeal of copper trim on a home?  It sure fits within our New England tradition, yet you don’t see it much anymore.  That’s because the price has become cost inhibitive to the everyday buyer.  York Manufacturing in Sanford, ME has a new product called Soleil, made from Everlam, that combines the beauty of copper with the price of aluminum.  They make an array of trim products that are cost affordable and can give your home the charm you’ve been seeking.  To check out their products you can download their catalog here.  It might just be what you’ve been looking for.

Anyone who has a teenager most likely realizes that they know more about the DVD, HDTV, TiVo, and any other new technology than their parents do.  While we struggle to keep up with the new developments, they are right on top of things, waiting impatiently for the newest and greatest developments.  They can text message while down loading a new play list for their Nano, and programming the TiVo.  I on the other hand can barely load a DVD into the player and figure out how to make it actually play.  So then, as I ponder about new electronic technologies that are available for our homes, like enhanced security systems and programmable lights and thermostats, I have a hard time figuring it all out.  In fact the words Home Automation Systems are pretty daunting when you try to think about it.  According to the NAHB our home automation systems should enhance our lives while also being approachable.  There are specialists that can walk us through what is important to incorporate into our new home.  Perhaps it is lighting and heating automation that helps us the most.  Maybe we want music to be playing when we arrive home.  The possibilities are endless, and that’s why it can be overwhelming.  If you can’t deal with it as you are building your new home, there is at least one important rule to remember.  Install more structured wiring than you think you need.  This way when you do decide you need that surround sound stereo in each room of your home, the infrastructure will already be there.

The broad definition of sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  There are a lot of factors that contribute to the various aspects of sustainability, such as; the population and available living space, pollution of land, water and air, climate change, use of manufacturing materials, energy demands, etc.  There is so much involved in the sustainability equation that universities are teaching sustainability as a science major.  Included are sustainabilty accounting, or how to quantify sustainability and sustainability governance, or how to control sustainability.  The latest idea that I ran across is that sustainability should include preservation of our cultural knowledge.  So not only is sustainability applicable to our everday lifestyles, but also to our historical social perpetuation.  As the issues of sustainability become more and more complex, all I can do is to try to keep up with the latest information.  If you are considering building a home, call to find out what we can do to help you with your sustainability concerns.