March 13, 2017 at 4:00 pm | By Hillary Gavan

BELOIT The School District of Beloits performance contractor Nexus Solutions released bids for air conditioning in Beloit Memorial High Schools fitness center this month.

The fitness center, part of the 2012 referendum projects, was built without air conditioning. The estimated costs of the air conditioning system, including cooling coils and an air handling unit, would be around $476,000, according Jamie Merath, executive director of business services.

Air conditioning for the fitness center is included in the 2016-2017 energy efficiency projects. Energy efficiency projects are allowed to exceed state-imposed revenue limits through an exemption from the Department of Public Instruction. The state exemption accommodates spending for energy-efficient projects, and the district receives approximately two-thirds of the cost reimbursed the following year through state equalization aid.

The board approved $1.66 million in projects for 2016-2017 which are being finished up this spring. Projects included converting air/pneumatic controls, window replacement, replacement of hot water boilers, lighting upgrades and the replacement of air handler units.

Although there is no dollar figure available for the 2017-2018 energy efficiency projects the following improvements have been suggested: HVAC replacement at Converse; BMHS heating system improvements; boiler and air handling unit replacement at Todd; and air handling unit replacements at Gaston and Aldrich; window replacement at Robinson; and roof replacement at Converse.

Merath said she will release an request for qualification for performance contractors to bid on next years energy efficiency projects in the next couple weeks.

Once all bids are received and are reviewed, administration will make a recommendation to the board, she said.

More:
District releases bids for AC - Beloit Daily News

A rare bit of good news on the home maintenance front, courtesy of Broward's Housing Finance and Community Redevelopment Division: It's home repair programs are back again.

The programs are open to residents in participating Community Development Block Grant cities including Oakland Park, which are helping to bring awareness to the programs' return.

The main program offers a 10-year deferred payment loan of up to $40,000 per eligible homeowner that can be used for everything from upgrading air conditioning to storm shutters.

Broward County offered the program two years ago. However, last year there was no funding. But now the program is back.

Of an initial pool of $2.2 million, said Sue Fejes, assistant director of the Housing Finance and Community Redevelopment Division, about $800,000 has been awarded, which doesn't go as far as it seems.

"The average roof can run $20,000, depending on whether it is tile or not," Fejes said.

The money can be used to cover roof repair or replacement, hurricane storm shutters, window and door replacement, and even insulation.

Meanwhile, a separate program offers a maximum $4,500 grant for water and sewer pipe repairs including installing a new line from the house to the street; cleaning existing drain lines and deactivating septic tanks.

Contractors are pre-selected and pre-approved and, with the exception of Pompano and Deerfield Beach residents, which offer city programs, any homeowner in Broward County with income below $40,600 for a family of one - and $67,300 per year for a family of six - is eligible.

For information about Broward County's Home Repair Program, call 954-357-4900.

eroberts@tronc.com

Link:
Cities offer bridge to county's home repair programs - Sun Sentinel

By Melissa Kossler Dutton

Associated Press

Dwain Livengood can save money on his home renovation project by doing the work himself. But he also knows that do-it-yourself projects in historic homes like his 100-year-old farmhouse require extra planning and research, and that mistakes can be costly.

Self-awareness is pretty huge, says Livengood, who grew up in the house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is the third generation of his family to own it. Saving money isnt worth it if in the end it looks like an amateur did it.

He is planning the first major renovations to the property, including a new kitchen, hardwood floor restorations and window repair.

DIY fails in historic homes can do more than look bad; they can seriously damage a homes structure and character, says Jody Robinson, historic preservation officer for the city of Bellevue, Kentucky. DIY has a place in historic home renovation, she says, but it needs to be well-researched.

If your home or neighborhood has a historical designation, there probably are restrictions on what you can do, particularly to exteriors. Consult with local authorities before initiating projects or hiring contractors.

The difference with a historic home is the materials used and how they were constructed, Robinson says.

Slate roofs, wood gutters, weight-and-pulley windows, plaster walls and old building materials require special attention, experts say. Luckily, there are numerous places where owners of historic homes can find information about which projects they should and shouldnt attempt on their own.

Cities, preservations societies, restoration enthusiasts, and even businesses that specialize in historic renovation offer workshops and classes. Window repair, plastering, basic fireplace fixes and tiling are among the most popular subjects.

Understanding your homes construction and appreciating historic renovation methods are the first step, says Benjamin Curran, department head for historic preservation at Savannah Technical College in Georgia. Through its Historic Homeowners Academy, the school teaches classes geared to the do-it-yourselfer.

When homeowners try to apply modern solutions to old homes a remodel can easily turn into a re-muddle, Curran says. For example, using the wrong mortar can damage old bricks.

He recommends taking a class and consulting with a professional or historical preservationist.

From there, its a question of what is achievable. What is the breadth of your skill set? Where might you stretch yourself and learn more? Curran says.

Jim Wigton, president of the Monrovia (California) Historic Preservation Group, says it was formed nearly 40 years ago by residents who were restoring homes and wanted to share knowledge.

At the beginning of the organization, we invited craftspeople in to share how to do things, says Wigton, adding that group also offers a home tour and works on city-wide preservation projects.

Livengood, who has experience restoring antique carriage and tractors, plans on repairing the 40 wood windows in his foursquare house this spring. Using tips from a professional restoration company, he will replace the rope that holds the cast-iron weights that allow the windows to move up and down, and will paint the windows interiors. Hes hired a professional to tackle the exterior. He anticipates the work he does will reduce the repair costs by $200 per window.

Windows are a good DIY project because the work is more time-consuming than difficult, says Danielle Keperling, who with her parents and husband owns Historic Restorations in Lancaster. Her company is open to teaching the how-tos in order to reduce project costs, she says.

To maintain a homes historical character, repairing old windows rather than installing new ones makes a big difference, says Keperling.

Windows show the age of the house, she says.

Whenever Doug Heavilin hires a professional to work on his 1902 Queen Anne Victorian in Franklin, Indiana, he shadows the person, soaking up as much information as he can.

Ive learned 90 percent of what I know about plumbing by sitting there and watching a plumber, says Heavilin, who is restoring the 4,700-square-foot house with his wife, Amy. Theyve finished five of the homes 22 rooms.

During their restoration journey, theyve learned to install tile, hang wallpaper and drywall, repair plaster, and match stain and paint. He once engineered a solution to create rounded replacement pieces for their homes turret.

The Heavilins read books and magazines, watch videos, take classes and swap tips with other homeowners before starting a project.

But they also know things might not go as planned, and say its important to be flexible. You never know what youre going to find, says Amy Heavilin, recalling the time they discovered that their dining room chandelier was wired to a pipe with a coat hanger.

Were at the point where Im pretty comfortable with whatever we find, Doug Heavilin adds. Im not always happy, but Im comfortable.

.

Visit link:
DIY work on older houses takes extra know-how, flexibility - Troy Daily News

Jessica Wehrman Dispatch Washington Bureau @JessicaWehrman

WASHINGTON In dueling appearances on talk shows Sunday morning, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan demonstrated the wide range of concerns varying wings of the GOP have with the current Obamacare replacement bill working its way through the House.

While Kasich urged Republicans and Democrats to work to fix the current system in order to prevent low-income Ohioans from losing access to health care, Jordan, an Urbana Republican, warned against offering subsidies to those with no tax liability and vowed to fight any extension of the current Medicaid expansion.

Taken together, the two offer a window into the very real problems that the GOP will have in passing this bill: One part of the party is concerned it goes too far, the other worries it doesnt go far enough.

Look, the bill needs fixed, said Kasich on NBCs Meet the Press with Chuck Todd. The current system doesn't work. That's why it's possible to get Democrats involved. But you don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

He calls for enlisting Democrats, saying that Republicans now are trying to jam through the bill without Democrats a mistake that he said Democrats made back in 2010 with Obamacare.

Kasich, who expanded Medicaid under the 2010 law despite concerns from some in his own party, said that expansion has covered some 700,000 in the state, including a large population of the mentally ill, the drug addicted and those with chronic diseases. They tend to move off that program, he said, but then head to an exchange that is broken.

The exchange needs to be fixed, he said, but don't kill Medicaid expansion.

The governor said the current bill does not provide adequate resources for the drug addicted, mentally ill and chronically ill to see a doctor.

If I put you on an exchange for your family and I give you a $4,000 tax credit or a $3,000 tax credit, what kind of insurance are you going to buy for $3,000? he asked.

Kasich said he believes the current bill will pass the House, but he is hopeful it will be changed in the Senate. Among those who have expressed concerns about the current bills impact on the Medicaid population is Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio. The Republican Governors Association, of which Kasich is a part, has been working with the Senate.

Jordan, meanwhile, has called for a clean repeal of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, saying the current bill does not fulfill the promises that Republicans made to voter during last years election cycle.

We told then we were going to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something thats going to bring down cost of insurance, he said on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. The current bill doesnt do that.

If Jordan has his say, the bill in its current form will not pass the House. He is the co-founder of the conservative Freedom Caucus, which has nearly 40 members. If more than half unite in opposition to the bill, its chances of passing the House will be grim.

Wallace asked Jordan if he was prepared to be part of what could be a death blow to the early days of the Trump presidency. Trump has been a leading supporter of the bill.

But Jordan said it was a false choice. Wed like a chance to amend it, change it and make it consistent with the message we told the voters we were going to accomplish, he said.

Both Jordan and Kasich say they believe Trump is open to negotiation, though Jordan, pressed by Wallace, would not list what the Freedom Caucus demands are. Were working on that, he said. He and other Freedom Caucus members head to the White House on Tuesday to speak to Trump.

I think that he's very open to compromise, Kasich said of Trump, saying the two have talked about drug costs. I have no doubt about that he would be flexible. He just wants to get something through."

He criticized Republicans for being too focused on fulfilling campaign promises at the risk of hurting some of the very constituents they serve.

If all you focus on in life is what's in it for me, you're a loser, he said. You are a big time loser. And this country better be careful we're not losing the soul of our country because we play politics and we forget people who are in need.

jwehrman@dispatch.com

@jessica_wehrman

Go here to read the rest:
Jordan, Kasich both unhappy with Obamacare replacement bill, but for different reasons - The Columbus Dispatch

STATE LINE, Pa. A few years ago, Foster Souders bought a home in the Cedarbrook development in southern Antrim Township, Pa., as a retirement investment, and renting the house to his stepson made the situation all the more attractive.

That was until someone began shooting out all of the second-story windows on one side of the home in an otherwise quiet State Line-area neighborhood.

Since spring 2015, the four windows have been damaged by gunfire four times, with the latest being two weeks ago.

Souders expects his bills for replacement of the glass to reach $5,000 with the current repairs that are needed to the home off U.S. 11 north of State Line.

This time, we're going to try something different with the glass, and it will run upward of $1,200 to $1,500, he said.We are thinking we need to put some protection over the glass itself. That's the next step.

In addition to the cost of repairs, the matter of safety is of prime concern to the family.

I'm not scared physically, said Chris Churchill, who moved his family from Hagerstown so his 10-year-old daughter could attend Greencastle-Antrim schools.But it's constantly on my mind. I check the windows each morning.Could they do something worse? I wouldn't think, but who knows?

While no one in the family has been injured, Churchill's daughter has moved out of her bedroom.

The first time it happened, it was spring, and I was on vacation doing things around the house, Churchill said. We went upstairs around 9 o'clock, and the window in the bathroom had been shot out. All four windows on that side of the house have been shot out multiple times.

My daughter couldn't sleep at night, so we had to change her to another room. She was my biggest concern. Since she's been out of the room, she's fine.

Souders did more than repair the damage by adding motion-activated surveillance cameras to the property. So far, the lens has not picked up anything.

Pennsylvania State Police were called to investigate after each shooting, including the latest in early March. Telephone calls from Herald-Mail Media to state police weren't returned.

We didn't know if it was kids or what, Churchill said of the first incident. We asked around the neighborhood. We didn't have any issues with anybody. A neighbor across the street said the windows had gotten shot out before we moved in.

"There were issues over dogs. We do have dogs who bark sometimes, but they stay in the fenced yard.

The gunshots never have penetrated the home's inner window, but pellets have remained in between window panes.

The shots have, in some cases, caused the whole window to shatter and, in one case, it eventually fell into the adjacent bathroom.

The sides of the family's swimming pool in the backyard also have been sprayed with gunshots.

I don't know what to do, Souders said. I have looked into solid glass, but the price is exorbitant. And that's still not bulletproof. It's going to chip off if they keep shooting at it.

The worse part is that, emotionally, it's taken its toll on our granddaughter more than anybody.

Churchill said the family has considered moving.

Maybe somebody knows something that they haven't told anybody, Souders said. I have thought about offering a reward. I don't have an endless supply of money, but when I think of what I've already spent, if I had put that $4,000 or $5,000 into a reward, I may have gotten somebody to come forward.

See the article here:
Antrim Township family fed up after windows repeatedly shot out - Herald-Mail Media

(NAPSI)You can keep your windows from decreasing your homes energy efficiency and increasing your monthly energy bills.

Windows typically account for 15 to 30 percent of the total heating load in a structure and may account for over half the summer cooling load. Money may be escaping out your windows.

I encourage homeowners to think of the hot and cool spots throughout their homes, said Darrell Smith, Executive Director of the nonprofit International Window Film Association (IWFA). These are indicators of areas that can be addressed to help boost a homes efficiency.

Full window replacement may not be the most cost-effective means for improvement.

A professional installation of window film can provide the sameif not morebenefits for homeowners as complete window replacements, said Smith. In addition, a film installation can often be completed without a major disruption in use of the rooms.

According to Smith, the potential savings per dollar can be seven times that of the installation of new windows. On average, an installation on a single-family home may range from $4 to $12 per square foot, depending on the type of window film installed.

Once window film is installed, it can help block up to 84 percent of the suns heatkeeping a home cool in summerand help hold heat inside during winterresulting in lower energy bills and a warmer environment.

An additional feature of window film is the ability to block up to 99 percent of ultraviolet rays from passing through a window, said Smith. This offers homeowners an extra measure of protection for furniture, floors and cherished heirlooms.

For more on window film or to find an accredited installer, visit http://www.iwfa.com.

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)

See more here:
Clearly, Window Film Saves Money - The Southeast Sun

Jessica Williams jessicawtn

The Alamance-Burlington School Systems Joint Facilities Task Force held what was ultimately an informational meeting Friday morning to introduce new members and get them up to speed on the current state of school facilities.

Assistant Superintendent for Operations Todd Thorpe presented the five-year facilities plan, which contains schedules for painting, repaving, repairing covered walkways, installing new lighting and roofs, HVAC and window replacement, carpet removal, electrical upgrades for nearly all schools, and a new gym floor for Broadview and South Graham.

County Planning Director Libby Hodges also presented an update on projected growth in Alamance County that uses a formula to predict how many students will be added to each school by all currently approved housing developments.

A chart showed that growth is concentrated mostly in the Mebane area, which could mean trouble for the already-over-capacity Eastern Alamance High School, and demonstrates the need the Board of Education hopes for a new high school to be built between Eastern and Southern.

Board of Education member Patsy Simpson expressed some frustration with the lack of discussion about funding the new high school considering that county commissioners Tim Sutton and Bill Lashley are on the task force.

Im hoping at some point this committee and where were heading to is how to financially address where we need to be in the future, Simpson said. I recall when we met with the county commissioners, saying, God, I hope we can get Tim and Bill on this facilities committee because I want you guys to be with us, meaning with the board. What I would like to see on the agenda is honest feedback from you two as far as what you want to discuss in order for us to be friends and for us to really talk about how we can work with you two guys to get where we need to get.

The Board of County Commissioners is responsible for funding capital improvements in the school system, and will decide how the $150 million redistricting plan that includes two new schools and renovations for current facilities is funded.

Sutton and Lashley, the most fiscally conservative members of the board, have spoken out against building new schools and using public-private partnerships to help fund construction in the past, but their first two meetings on the Facilities Task Force havent delved into those details.

Sutton told Simpson that hes also eager to start that discussion, and that coming up with a plan they can sell to taxpayers would be essential to funding new facilities and renovations.

It works two ways. Youve got to show us what you want to do, and weve got some good ideas as far as what we think you ought to do, Sutton said. But more than anything, PR-wise, weve got to convince the public, if this is a bond referendum, or even us, as far as how money can be put out there as a result of things we do, not just bonds. It has to be a PR deal thats a good package for everybody.

Between now and next months meeting, members of the Task Force plan to visit Southern Alamance High School, which is one the districts most overcrowded high schools with the greatest need for renovations, to see first-hand whats needed to meet the school systems goal of having world class facilities.

Reporter Jessica Williams can be reached at jessica.williams@thetimesnews.com or at 336-506-3046. Follow her on Twitter at @jessicawtn

Continued here:
Joint panel eager to talk funding - Burlington Times News

By MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON Associated Press

Dwain Livengood can save money on his home renovation project by doing the work himself. But he also knows that do-it-yourself projects in historic homes like his 100-year-old farmhouse require extra planning and research, and that mistakes can be costly.

Self-awareness is pretty huge, says Livengood, who grew up in the house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is the third generation of his family to own it. Saving money isn't worth it if in the end it looks like an amateur did it.

He is planning the first major renovations to the property, including a new kitchen, hardwood floor restorations and window repair.

DIY fails in historic homes can do more than look bad; they can seriously damage a home's structure and character, says Jody Robinson, historic preservation officer for the city of Bellevue, Kentucky. DIY has a place in historic home renovation, she says, but it needs to be well-researched.

If your home or neighborhood has a historical designation, there probably are restrictions on what you can do, particularly to exteriors. Consult with local authorities before initiating projects or hiring contractors.

The difference with a historic home is the materials used and how they were constructed, Robinson says.

Slate roofs, wood gutters, weight-and-pulley windows, plaster walls and old building materials require special attention, experts say. Luckily, there are numerous places where owners of historic homes can find information about which projects they should and shouldn't attempt on their own.

Cities, preservations societies, restoration enthusiasts, and even businesses that specialize in historic renovation offer workshops and classes. Window repair, plastering, basic fireplace fixes and tiling are among the most popular subjects.

Understanding your home's construction and appreciating historic renovation methods are the first step, says Benjamin Curran, department head for historic preservation at Savannah Technical College in Georgia. Through its Historic Homeowners Academy, the school teaches classes geared to the do-it-yourselfer.

When homeowners try to apply modern solutions to old homes a remodel can easily turn into a re-muddle, Curran says. For example, using the wrong mortar can damage old bricks.

He recommends taking a class and consulting with a professional or historical preservationist.

From there, it's a question of what is achievable. What is the breadth of your skill set? Where might you stretch yourself and learn more? Curran says.

Jim Wigton, president of the Monrovia (California) Historic Preservation Group, says it was formed nearly 40 years ago by residents who were restoring homes and wanted to share knowledge.

At the beginning of the organization, we invited craftspeople in to share how to do things, says Wigton, adding that group also offers a home tour and works on city-wide preservation projects.

Livengood, who has experience restoring antique carriage and tractors, plans on repairing the 40 wood windows in his foursquare house this spring. Using tips from a professional restoration company, he will replace the rope that holds the cast-iron weights that allow the windows to move up and down, and will paint the windows interiors. He's hired a professional to tackle the exterior. He anticipates the work he does will reduce the repair costs by $200 per window.

Windows are a good DIY project because the work is more time-consuming than difficult, says Danielle Keperling, who with her parents and husband owns Historic Restorations in Lancaster. Her company is open to teaching the how-tos in order to reduce project costs, she says.

To maintain a home's historical character, repairing old windows rather than installing new ones makes a big difference, says Keperling.

Windows show the age of the house, she says.

Whenever Doug Heavilin hires a professional to work on his 1902 Queen Anne Victorian in Franklin, Indiana, he shadows the person, soaking up as much information as he can.

I've learned 90 percent of what I know about plumbing by sitting there and watching a plumber, says Heavilin, who is restoring the 4,700-square-foot house with his wife, Amy. They've finished five of the home's 22 rooms.

During their restoration journey, they've learned to install tile, hang wallpaper and drywall, repair plaster, and match stain and paint. He once engineered a solution to create rounded replacement pieces for their home's turret.

The Heavilins read books and magazines, watch videos, take classes and swap tips with other homeowners before starting a project.

But they also know things might not go as planned, and say it's important to be flexible. You never know what you're going to find, says Amy Heavilin, recalling the time they discovered that their dining room chandelier was wired to a pipe with a coat hanger.

We're at the point where I'm pretty comfortable with whatever we find, Doug Heavilin adds. I'm not always happy, but I'm comfortable.

Read the original:
DIY work on older houses takes extra know-how, flexibility - Dothan Eagle

After nearly an entire years preparation, the 55th annual Topeka Home Show continues this weekend.

About 225 exhibitors have their wares on display through Sunday afternoon at the Kansas Expocentre, 1 Expocentre Drive.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7, with no charge for children 12 and younger.

Topeka Home Builders Association president and CEO Ivan Weichert recently talked about this years show, whats different in home improvement ideas and what proven favorites are back for people to enjoy.

Q: The home show is a yearly staple for Topeka. How many years has it been at the Kansas Expocentre?

Weichert: This is the 55th annual show and the 30th year it will be held at the Expocentre. An interesting fact: This was the very first event held in the newly constructed Exhibition Hall in 1987, and weve been there every year since.

Q: Its obviously a popular event in the capital city. What do you think has led to the shows longevity?

Weichert: Its pertinent for nearly everyone, since everyone lives in a home of some kind. We bring the local remodeling and building industry and consumers together in one place, where homeowners can see the latest innovations in products for building or remodeling, whatever their budgets may be.

Q: What tends to be the most popular products?

Weichert: Windows are always a huge attraction. Well have 10 window companies at this years show. You know, when homes were built 50, 60 or 70 years ago, windows werent given much thought. They were installed for the purpose of letting in light. Unfortunately, older windows let many other things in as well. One of the biggest markets is window replacement for older homes.

Heating bills in the winter and air-conditioning bills in the summer are some of the highest costs for homeowners. Window replacements and products for insulation, which people will also find at the show, are directly related to lowering those expenses, not to mention soundproofing their homes. And that ties in with our goal in promoting greener building codes: sustainable, efficient comfort and affordable products.

Q: Can you give us a sample of some of the other products consumers can find this weekend?

Weichert: Well have the latest in home security applications where even if youre at work, if someone rings your doorbell, you can answer as though youre simply in the kitchen. With hardware lock access apps, you could literally be in another country and lock your doors.

There will be new roofing materials on display, including a new product that looks like wood shake shingles but will last much longer and wont catch fire, so it gets a better insurance rating. There are flooring products you once saw only in high-end hotels that you can now have installed in your home.

Well have safety shelter companies there with pre-fabricated options that cause no inconvenience for homeowners. One day, its not there; the next day, its in place.

There will also be a number of products geared to help handicapped and elderly people stay in their homes, such as home elevator systems.

Q: Thats awesome! And I would imagine youll have all the popular interior remodeling ideas for people to see.

Weichert: Definitely. Well have all the other popular home improvement options, from lighting ideas and home siding to kitchen and bathroom displays. Well also have improved mud jacking products for foundation issues the list goes on and on.

Another thing we are doing this year is giving people the opportunity to register to win a Caribbean cruise.

With their registrations, we can find out what areas people are coming from and, in turn, someone will win a very nice vacation.

TOPEKA HOME SHOW

What: A three-day exposition featuring the latest in home trends; more than 120 vendors; displays on home building, remodeling and interiors; presentations on home financing and insurance; and give-aways. Concessions will be available.

When: 1 to 8 p.m. March 10; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 11; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 12

Where: Kansas Expocentre, 1 Expocentre Drive

Cost: $7; free for children 12 and younger

Information: http://www.thba.com

TOPEKA HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

Address: 1505 S.W. Fairlawn Road

Information about membership or upcoming events: Visit http://www.thba.com; email thba@thba.com; or call (785) 273-1260.

Liz Montano is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at (785) 230-3907 or newsbizliz@gmail.com.

Liz Montano is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at (785) 230-3907 or newsbizliz@gmail.com.

See original here:
At Home: Topeka Home Show continues this weekend - Topeka Capital Journal

SUN ON OUR SIDE Fred Garbo, co-owner of Garbo-Kane LLC Integrated Solar Builders, talks about solar energy with a potential customer during the Home Energy Fair in the Naples Town Gymnasium. (De Busk Photo)

By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES Everyone who had a booth at the Home Energy Fair was ready to talk about their product.

Everyone had their spiel.

Given that the topic was conserving energy for the homeowner, people were all ears.

About 100 people attended the fair, according to an organizer at the door. He said the majority of those people stopped in during the first two hours that the fair was open.

Ecomaine Environmental Educator Katrina Venhuizen said area residents were very interested about what happens to their household trash after it is dropped off at local transfer sites. Most residents who came to the fair lived in the communities that ecomaine serves, she said.

The ecomaine booth had many examples of products made from recycled trash including a flying disc, a bowl, a baseball cap and a super soft hoodie. All of it was produced from rubbish.

Also, it was news to people that plastic wrapping and plastic bags pose problems when thrown into the recycling bins.

We can no longer take plastic bags, Venhuizen said. They get jammed in our machines.

Those include wood pellet bags, bread bags and potato chip bags. She referred people to the website plasticfilm.org to learn where to drop off the plastic materials. Actually, many grocery stores have drop-off centers for nonrecyclable plastics, she said.

She said one important message is that ecomaine offers free educational outreach programs that are ideal for school children, scouting troops and businesses. Not only does she go to the communities that ecomaine serves but also civic groups and students can tour the Portland-based facility.

Venhuizen was excited that some local teachers attended the fair and did some networking with her.

Its a great field trip idea, she said.

Hopefully, the sun is shining on that day.

Probably, the most attention-grabbing booth was the one with a giant inflatable sun behind it.

This is our first energy fair, Fred Garbo said.

Norway resident Garbo is the co-owner of Garbo-Kane LLC Integrated Solar Builders. He paired up with Shawn Kane, of Otisfield, to start the business a few years ago.

While the earths sun assists people in harnessing energy via solar panels, a computer assisted Garbo in explaining the product to fairgoers.

It has been great. Weve met some wonderful people wanting to change their lifestyle, Garbo said.

He cited some example of business owners and individuals who have successfully explored solar options.

He was particularly proud of the products sold by Garbo-Kane, particularly the dual-axis solar trackers. The trackers swivel, he said.

The trackers follow the sun like a sunflower they move with the sun, he said. They require fewer panels.

The most frequently asked question he heard from people attending the fair was about the costs, he said. The federal government offers a tax credit on 30 percent of the cost of solar panels or solar trackers, he said.

He informed people about community solar farm options if they do not have room on their property. Also, he talked about how Central Maine Power offers energy credits to customers who use solar power.

Most people had an understanding of why they wanted solar energy products, he said.

At the booth for Renewal by Andersen, a window replacement company that is an arm of Andersen Windows, sunshine is needed for the free giveaway. The Andersen representative was handing out of forget-me-not seeds. The flower seeds were attached to tiny garden stakes, which were made from 100 percent compostable plastic.

Maine home owners sometimes receive rebates for weatherizing their home. Doing so has its own payoff. Replacing windows is one form of insulation that can result in stretching heating costs for homeowners. Heat is no longer lost through poor quality or ill-fitting windows.

Another booth that addressed windows was WindowDressers, which is a nonprofit that coordinates its work with Opportunity Alliance by providing insulating window inserts to Maine residents who qualify.

The window frames are made from locally sourced pine, according to Dianne Smith.

The costs are kept to minimum by using dozens of volunteers who show up at community build days, she said. In fact, a community build is scheduled to happen in Bridgton sometime in October.

Our target is leaky windows in Maines housing stock, the oldest in the nation. Inserts offer an inexpensive alternative to window replacement, according to the websites mission statement.

People sign up to have window inserts put in. We go into the home and take measurement with a laser. Every window is custom fit, Smith said.

A window insert stops condensation, keeps heat from escaping house and cuts down on drafts, she said. Plus, window inserts protect the environment because homeowners spend less on fuel.

Smith said she engaged in some networking for upcoming community builds since she was trying to drum up a volunteer base.

Churches are great at working with us, she said.

Having a presence at the Home Energy Fair was well worth the drive from Rockland, Smith said.

Originally posted here:
Fair energizers local residents - The Bridgton News