Sep 4 2008 12:45PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
Blog This! using: Blogger.com | LiveJournal |

Energy Star is the most popular and easiest "green" program for remodelers to use and the most recognized by the average consumer. According to our recent green study (full results appearing in the October issue), 64 percent of remodelers describe it as easy to use and an equal number describe it as reliable, topping both categories amongst the various programs. It also easily came in as the most-used program in last year's survey, some 35 points ahead of the No. 2 program (NAHB...Read More

Sep 3 2008 9:47AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
Blog This! using: Blogger.com | LiveJournal |

Coming up in our October Green issue, we'll have the full results of our annual Green Remodeling survey, but I wanted to share some of it with you now.

There's still a sizable group that thinks green remodeling is a fad -- 20 percent of remodelers to be exact. That's about the same as last year, so not much has changed. But that's not my favorite stat out of the study. We also asked companies if they market themselves as green. Of those that do, 11 percent say they think green is a fad.

In other words, they don't buy it, but they're willing to sell it. In a way, this makes sense. It's no different than selling granite countertops because people want them ... you don't have to like them to install or spec them.

This brings up an important point. Even if you don't buy the green hype, you'd have to be stupid to not be offering it to your clients...Read More

Sep 2 2008 12:41PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
Blog This! using: Blogger.com | LiveJournal |

Just an FYI for all you green remodelers out there (isn't that everyone these days?). NAHB is accepting entries for the 2009 NAHB Green Building Awards. There are three categories likely to be of interest to remodelers: Advocate of the Year, Green Project of the Year and Outstanding Green Marketing. Awards will be presented at the NAHB Green Building Conference in Dallas next May.

You can download an application, get more info and see last year's winners here.

Aug 27 2008 2:58PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
Blog This! using: Blogger.com | LiveJournal |

If you weren't able to listen to our "Navigating the Downturn" webcast yesterday, you missed a great presentation by three leading remodelers: Sal Ferro of Alure Home Improvements, Gary Marrokal of Marrokal Construction and Andy Wells of Normandy Builders.

You can still catch the archived presentation here. Just click on the "Register for this Event" button to view. It's a great chance to learn from three companies...Read More

Aug 26 2008 1:03PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
Blog This! using: Blogger.com | LiveJournal |

Well, I think I've discovered the reason for the economic downturn: Americans are spending too much freakin' time in the bathroom.

American Standard just released the results of its 2008 Bathroom Habits Survey and it certainly reinforces the idea of the bathroom as a "retreat." In other words, a great target for remodeling. (I've got to be honest with you ... I have never gotten this. I guess I'm just a "take care of business and get out" kind of guy.)

The study was based on interviews of 1,001 homeowners in Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Minneapolis and Seattle.

So here are some key findings from the study:

• One in four people spends more than an hour a day in the bathroom (37 percent of

...Read More