When it comes to energy efficiency, the most expensive strategies are the often the least effective and the least expensive strategies are often the most expensive. That’s what Peter Pfeiffer of Austin, Texas-based Barley & Pfeiffer Architects recently told an audience during a lecture titled, “Smart Design for Hot/Humid Climates.” If you have 30 minutes, [...]

Here’s a cool project we wanted to show you. It not only features Integrity, but also our sister brand Marvin Windows and Doors. The Manor Garden, a newly constructed, multi-family residential building designed by Anthony Vandermark Jr. and Frank Minervini of Minervini Vandermark Architecture, successfully blends modern building methods and materials into its neighborhood’s historical context. [...]

Green Building Megatrends for 2012 BUILDER “Yudelson unveiled a list of 10 other green megatrends destined for growth in 2012, both in the U.S. and abroad. And while, like the rest of the home building industry, green building will certainly face headwinds in coming days—such as squeezed budgets among families and governments—the market is poised [...]

Here’s an interesting story: a company is hoping to be build a new town in New Mexico. Only thing is, you can’t live there. It’s a ghost town. The town (currently called the Center for Innovation, Testing and Evaluation) will have all the amenities that a real city would have, including houses and businesses. Everything would be fully [...]

Certification programs like LEED for Homes can be wonderful things, but they’re sure not easy! (Not that we’re saying they should be!) It’s easy for builders to fail certain elements of it — there’s a lot to remember. EcoHome has a wonderfully informative article that runs us through the potential pitfalls. Let’s take a look, [...]

Hold the Salt BUILDER “But perhaps the coolest aspect of this luxury residence is its water story. In an area where fresh water is often scarce, it’s got the requisite low-flush toilets (which use salt water) and a side yard and third-floor deck outfitted with synthetic turf. To keep the natural landscaping healthy and prevent [...]

The summer building season may be  winding to a close, but builders and remodelers should know there’s still plenty of incentive for consumers to pursue new projects through autumn. The federal tax credit for consumer energy efficiency, which doesn’t expire until Dec. 31, offers a 10 percent return of up to $500 on qualifying ENERGY [...]

We ran across an article with some interesting tidbits about what homeowners want in 2011. As a builder or remodeler, are any of these on your radar? Outdoor living areas: Are you paying more attention to things like porches and patios? An outdoor kitchen (from simple to grand) and a fireplace can add a whole [...]

NAR: Pending home sales up 5% in March, continue upward swing HousingZone.com “Home-sales contract activity has now increased six of the past nine months, as the Pending Home Sales Index saw gains in March, according to the National Association of Realtors. The index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 5.1 percent to 94.1 [...]

Gathering Strength: The Healthiest Markets for 2011 Builder Online “The year’s list of the top 20 markets contains many of the same markets from last year, though we have a new leader of the pack. Housing markets in Texas and the Carolinas, where homes are relatively inexpensive, and where price appreciation didn’t get completely out [...]