By Jeanne Dion
Mr. Electric of queensbury
As a consumer, both in business and for your home, there has never been a time as exciting as now. With the transition from fluorescent and filament light bulbs to LED lighting, and the evolution of the IoT (Internet of Things), the world in which we live has changed forever.
For the typical home, each and every light that is converted from a conventional one to LED consumes on average 20 percent less power; and is able to be turned on and off by a switch, or an app, and even voice. Wireless and smart technology has enabled a plethora of options to turn on, off, dim, or monitor power consumption of just a single light, receptacle, or whole home with some simple navigating within an app.
Curtis Lumber To Open New Bathroom Design Center At Its Ballston Spa Facility
By Susan E. Campbell
Curtis Lumber Co.’s Ballston Spa location will unveil a new bathroom design center this month.
A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Thursday Sept. 12, and there will be a weekend of special events, including tours of the new showroom and the opportunity for “spectacular savings,” according to Elmer Manzer, facility coordinator for the store at 885 Route 67.
The company also has locations in Queensbury, Warrensburg and Granville.
A 34-year employee at Curtis, Manzer has seen the rise in popularity of the showroom concept, especially over the last two decades.
“The design centers have been growing for nearly 20 years,” he said. “There is a massive project center that is like a year-round home show, featuring ideas for patios, lighting, kitchen cabinets and counters, a one-car garage and many other aspects of home building and renovation.”
Business Report: Sustainable Energy Saving Options
By Lee Evans
Running a household or a small business can be expensive. However, many people don’t consider the choice and control they have over their energy expenses.
Now the emerging green economy combined with high connectivity has given birth to a bold new era of energy saving options for everyone. What follows is a list of essential, straightforward items that both homeowners and businesses can check off to trigger the type of cost reduction they’ve always wanted in terms of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
In general, the three main steps you can use to unlock the maximum amount of energy savings for your home or small business: Reduce, electrify and replace.
Reduce. This means that you should first take steps to audit and then lower your energy consumption by completing individualized identified Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs). For example, switch to automated thermostats, LED lighting and controls, increase air sealing and insulation, reduce electricity or fuel use especially for heating and cooling requirements. A review of third-party fuel supply options for potential cost reduction is available at merited.www9.nationalgridus.com
Business Report: Homebuyers Should Get Chimney Inspection
By Jamie Wallace
People considering buying a home should not neglect getting a chimney inspection.
Here are five reasons why.
1) Chimneys are one of the most neglected structures in a home
Did you know that very few chimneys that vent a furnace or fireplace have ever been professionally inspected? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 211) is the national standard for chimneys and vents and states that a chimney shall be inspected annually. A chimney is always under attack by corrosive flue gasses which wreak havoc on its flue liner.
The average gas furnace is pushing out about one gallon of water vapor through your chimney every hour during freezing temperatures. A chimney also rises above the roof line, making it the most exposed part of a structure to the elements. Yet, it is estimated that less than 10 percent of all chimneys have been professionally inspected. That’s a staggering number of potential carbon monoxide and fire hazards virtually unseen to the homeowner.
Don’t inherit someone else’s damaged chimney. This is preventable through a Level 2 chimney inspection by a certified chimney company.
NYSERDA Launches Second Phase Of Its Home Energy Rating Pilot Program
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has launch ed the second phase of a multi-year Home Energy Rating Pilot initially launched in February.
NYSERDA is seeking applications from licensed home inspectors to deliver home energy ratings during pre-purchase inspections to support homebuyer remodeling of a newly purchased one- to four-family home.
Alicia Barton, president and CEO of NYSERDA, said reducing energy use in homes “provides a foundation for greater statewide energy savings and advances us another step towards meeting Gov. Cuomo’s energy efficiency target by 2025. Piloting home energy ratings with home inspectors offers New York homebuyers access to a useful and informative tool that will identify energy efficient needs, features and upgrade opportunities to inform future remodeling decisions that will help them lower energy costs and increase the comfort of their homes.”
Interior Designers Say The Trend Is For More Casual, Spacious Looks Inside The Home
Courtesy Williams & Williams Designers Inc.
By Susan E. Campbell
The quest for larger, healthier, cozier homes is driving residential interior design trends and is manifest in the colors, textures and atmosphere of living spaces today, say design professionals.
The footprint of today’s homes has generally gotten larger, by about 400 square feet, according to Danny Williams of Williams & Williams Designers Inc. of Glens Falls.
If anyone can make such an estimate, it is Williams. His family business has been creating custom plans for new homes, expansions and renovations since 1916.
Business Report: Zero Energy Commercial Buildings
By Warren Evans
Zero energy (ZE) commercial buildings are grid-integrated buildings capable of generating as much energy as they consume through advanced efficiency technologies and onsite generation systems such as solar power and geothermal energy.
Beyond the environmental benefits, ZE projects provide owners with significant business value through resilience, employee and tenant retention and the ability to enjoy higher rents. Through intelligent design, clean construction and well-planned financing, developers can substantially increase the value of a commercial building with ZE.
Mold Problems In Homes And Businesses Can Be Alleviated By Qualified Professionals
Courtesy Bio Armor
By Jennifer Farnsworth
One thing homeowners don’t want to hear is, “you have mold.”
Area professionals can provide help with a series of steps to remove mold from a home.
“The most important thing for a homeowner or business owner to first understand is that there are steps to mold remediation,” said Mario Gonzalez, of Bio Armor in Ballston Spa.
He said before the mold can be removed, a “mold assessor” has to first meet with the homeowner to determine if there is mold and how it can be removed.
“The most important things to know is that once you find it, you have to determine the reason, fix it, remove the mold and cleanup and then monitor it,” said Bob Serafini of Quick Response Restoration in Round Lake. “Have proper ventilation, use dehumidifiers if necessary and work with a trusted professional.”
Serafini said many times people don’t realize they even have mold issues until they go to sell their home and an inspector discovers the problem.
Once this is determined, the property owner is given a report. They can then contact a mold remediation specialist to take care of the problem. Gonzalez said the assessor’s report protects the homeowner and the company removing the mold, ensuring there is no discrepancy regarding the severity of the problem.
Designers Say People Like Silver, Bronze And Gold Tones In Their Homes; Dark Wood Floors
Courtesy Victoria’s Corner
By Maureen Werther
Fall is a busy time of year for architectural and interior design showcases and magazines, which are full of new and upcoming trends in home design and décor.
Now is the time to see what’s new, what’s hot and what’s “not” in the world of interior design. Many people don’t want, or can’t afford, to completely redecorate an entire home every few years. Sometimes, all it takes is adding accent pieces in new colors and materials to update a home’s look, or renovating one room to give the kind of space a person is looking for.
“People are using more mixes of metals, like silver, bronze and gold tones, instead of having the same tones throughout the house,” said Shelly Walker, an interior designer for nearly 20 years and owner of Finishing Touches Home Décor, Ballard Road in Wilton. She added that she is seeing a lot of bronze, mixed with black and gold.
In terms of architectural style, Walker said that an open floor plan is still hugely popular.
She said that the architectural trend of blending farmhouse rustic with contemporary and industrial design is still extremely popular, particularly with millennials, who are quickly becoming the largest category of home buyers.
HVAC Industry Professionals See Technology Improvements Leading To Lower Utility Bills
John V. Bove, left, CFO of G. A. Bove and Sons says customer service is a priority. ©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com By Susan E. Campbell Trends in the heating and cooling fields and the sciences behind them project lower costs...