July

TALIESIN 100 YEARS

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:28:00 +0000

2011 Centennial

Taliesin Preservation, Inc. (TPI) is on the verge of a very exciting moment. 2011 marks the 100^th Anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin home – a full century since the creation of what has become one of the nation’s historical and architectural treasures. The Taliesin estate, located in Spring Green, Wisconsin, served as Frank Lloyd Wright’s principal residence, workshop, and architectural laboratory; in 1976, its long, storied history and masterful design led to its designation as a National Historical Landmark. And now, nearly a century after the building of Taliesin began, visitors from across the country and around the world continue to come to Taliesin each year to learn about Frank Lloyd Wright, his ideas, and his legacy.

Taliesin’s 100^th Anniversary is an important landmark in the estate’s history; as such, TPI is dedicating the coming year to celebrating this milestone.

www.taliesinpreservation.org/2011-centennial

D.C., Denver, New York Show Best Home Price Growth Over the Last 20 Years

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Strongest price growth in the West

By Jonathan Sweet, Editor in Chief

Washington, D.C., has seen home prices grow 220 percent over the last two decades, easily the top growth rate in the country since 1991, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s House Price Index for the first quarter of the year.

The FHFA is calculated using home sales price information from Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-acquired mortgages.Even with the severe price drops of the last five years, prices are up 81 percent nationwide for the last 20 years. Besides the District of Columbia, most of the states with the strongest price growth are concentrated in the West: Montana (184 percent), Wyoming (182 percent), Colorado (156 percent) and Oregon (147 percent) round out the top five. In fact, Louisiana is the only state east of the Mississippi River to crack the top 10. Nevada had the smallest price growth over the last 20 years, with only 21 percent appreciation since 1991 and a 56 percent drop in home prices since 2006. Michigan (42 percent), Ohio (50 percent), Georgia (51 percent) and California (55 percent) had the next smallest price increases over the two-decade period. Of the 25 largest metro areas in the country, Denver tops the list for price appreciation since 1991 at 165 percent. Three New York/New Jersey metro areas — Nassau-Suffolk (156 percent); New York-White Plains-Wayne (138 percent); and Edison-New Brunswick (125 percent) were next on the list. The worst markets were Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, Mich. (22 percent); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (30 percent); and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga. (41 percent).

On a national basis, the FHFA said that prices dropped 2.5 percent in the first quarter of this year, the second-largest quarterly drop since 1991 and the 16th straight quarter of declines. That represents a 5.5 percent price decline over the last year. Prices have decreased in every state except Alaska, West Virginia and North Dakota since a year ago. Idaho, Arizona, Oregon and Georgia all had double-digit percentage decreases in median home price, according to the FHFA index.

Biggest home price increases since 1991

1. Washington, D.C. 220 percent
2. Montana 184 percent
3. Wyoming 182 percent
4. Colorado 156 percent
5. Oregon 147 percent

Smallest home price increases since 1991

1. Nevada 21 percent
2. Michigan 42 percent
3. Ohio 50 percent
4. Georgia 51 percent
5. California 55 percent

www.housingzone.com/industry-data-research/dc-denver-new-york-show-best-home-price-growth-over-last-20-years

Heat & Cool Efficiently

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:15:00 +0000

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Change your air filter regularly

Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.

Seal your heating and cooling ducts

Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.

Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap them in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, look to seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house.

Consider installing ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment

If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, have it evaluated by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading,consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Depending on where you live, replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can cut your annual energy bill by nearly $200. But before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and the duct system. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than your HVAC equipment.

Ask about Proper Installation of your new equipment

Replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with new, energy-efficient models is a great start. But to make sure that you get the best performance, the new equipment must be properly installed. In fact, improper installation can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent — costing you more on your utility bills and possibly shortening the equipment's life. Learn more.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac