DOE & President Obama announce New Energy Efficiency Initiatives

This was an interesting article in Builder Magazine regarding President Obama's and the Department of Energy's allocating $346 million to improve energy efficience in homes and commercial buildings. These type of programs and initiatives will help create jobs and boost programs like Energy Trust and Earth Advantage here on a local level in Portland.
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Administration Announces New Energy-Efficiency Initiatives

DOE allocates $346 million to improve energy efficiency in homes and commercial buildings, implements new lighting standards.
By: Katy Tomasulo Related Articles

June 29, 2009--President Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced new initiatives to promote energy efficiency and cost reductions.

According to a statement from the DOE, $346 million of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be allocated to “expand and accelerate the development, deployment, and use of energy-efficient technologies” in commercial buildings and new and existing homes. This includes funding for:

Advanced building systems research that will study interactions of buildings as a whole.

Residential buildings development and deployment, including providing technical support to train workers and create jobs, develop a new workforce to improve the nation’s homes, and “provide builders with technical assistance and training through states, utilities, and existing programs to increase market share of new homes achieving substantial whole-house energy savings.” The DOE also will work with municipalities to encourage energy-efficient retrofits.

Commercial buildings initiative, including expanding and accelerating partnerships with companies that commit to achieving exemplary energy performance in their buildings.

Buildings and appliance market transformation, including expanding Energy Star to accelerate development of efficient products and into new areas, and expanding the DOE’s appliance standards program to evaluate technologies and develop new test procedures.

Solid-state lighting research and development designed to advance SSL technology and coordinate development.

The actions also include new standards for residential and commercial lamps and lighting equipment, including reducing electricity consumption of general service fluorescent lamps by 15% and of incandescent reflector lamps by 25%.

For more information please contact LaDonna Miller-Broker Oregon First Real Estate (503) 310-9076 or ladonnamiller@earthlink.net

This was an interesting article from Eco Home Magazine. I personally believe that a mass market approach to sustainability and new energy sources, is vital to our long term success and our nations only chance to lessen the Unites States dependence on foreign oil sources. A more sustainable approach to building products, the actual structures built by builders, and increased energy efficiency are some of the best solutions for individual homeowners. Saving energy, being good stewards of our planet, controlling individual expenditures on monthly utility bills, and the creation of new jobs in forward industries will create many viable opportunities for many Americans. In my opinion, all of these steps will provide long term stability for our country.
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Bailout Package Provides Boon to Renewable Energy Industry
Solar industry says these tax credits could make U.S. largest solar market in world by 2016.
By: Nigel F. Maynard Related Articles

Green building advocates say the recently passed economic bailout package could provide a significant boost to the use and acceptance of alternative energy sources and energy efficiency in the United States, thanks to the legislation's provisions for renewable energy tax incentives.

But builders and remodelers may benefit as well as homeowners interested in high-performance housing have more financial incentives to invest in such energy-saving features. That's particularly true for solar energy technology, whose high cost often discourages homeowners and builders from including it in homes. Currently, less than 1 percent of U.S. energy is generated by solar power, placing the U.S. behind many other industrialized nations in terms of renewables. For example, roughly half of all solar power installations occurring around the world are in Germany.

This new legislation could change those trends. The solar industry says that these new tax incentives could make the United States the largest solar market in the world by 2016.

“This bill is a major step in our long journey toward energy independence and ensures that solar energy will be a significant part of America’s energy future,” says Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in Washington, D.C. “This long-term extension of the solar tax credits will create a domestic solar industry with hundreds of thousands of jobs while providing clean, affordable, carbon-free energy to millions of American families, businesses, and communities.”

“By passing this bill, Congress has finally given the solar energy industry ‘policy certainty’ that will attract investment, expand manufacturing and lower the cost of solar energy to consumers,” added Roger Efird, chairman of SEIA and president of Suntech America, a Chinese solar power manufacturing company. “This will allow companies like mine to move forward with expansion plans to serve the growing U.S. market.”

The cause for celebration stems from the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008," which included an extension of the residential tax credits for renewable energy as well as energy-efficient improvements for new construction and remodeling. The bill reinstates—and in some cases increases—tax incentives that were allowed to expire when President Bush signed the energy bill in December of last year.

For example, the bill extends for eight years a tax credit of 30 percent for both residential and commercial solar installations. It also eliminates the $2,000 monetary cap for residential solar electric installations. The installation must be put in service after Dec. 31 of this year, however.

Tax incentives apply to other renewable energy sources too. The legislation offers a one-time tax credit of 30 percent of the total investment for residential ground loop or ground water geothermal heat pump installations, with a maximum credit of $2,000 for a single residence. The legislation also provides a credit of 10 percent of the total investment. To qualify for the tax credit residential systems must meet Energy Star requirements, and legislation is retroactive to residential systems installed after Dec. 31, 2007.

“We believe this incentive will encourage many more homeowners and business owners to install geothermal heat pumps,” says Tim Shields, chairman of the board of WaterFurnace, a Fort Wayne, Ind.-based manufacturer of various types of geothermal and water source heat pumps. “Geothermal heat pumps are made right here in the U.S. and the machines used to put the renewable heat exchangers in the earth are all made right here. Every system installed requires skilled U.S. labor, and more installations mean more jobs. This is truly a homegrown solution to the energy crisis and a very good way to address the financial crisis at the same time.”

The economic package includes an extension of the residential tax credits (for energy-efficient improvements) that expired at the end of 2007. The extension is for improvements made between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2009, the EPA/DOE Energy Star Web site says, adding that improvements made in 2008 are not eligible for a tax credit. Consumer tax credits are available for insulation, replacement windows, water heaters, and certain high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment.

“If you are building a new home, you do not qualify for the tax credits for ‘eligible building envelope components’ (windows, doors, insulation, roofs) or "qualified energy property" (HVAC and non-solar water heaters). However, the tax credit for photovoltaics, solar water heating, and fuel cells is available for homeowners building new homes,” the Energy Star Web site says. The solar water heating and photovoltaic system tax credit is for 30 percent of the cost of the system, up to $2,000.

Home builders get some benefits too. Builders are eligible for a $2,000 tax credit for a new energy-efficient home that achieves 50 percent energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). But at least one-fifth of the energy savings must come from building envelope improvements. There is also a $1,000 tax credit to the builder of a new manufactured home which achieves 30 percent energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2004 IECC.

Nigel Maynard is senior editor, products, at BUILDER magazine.

Remodeling & Design Event in Portland this weekend

Sunday June 7th, 2009 from 1-4 pm- there will be a great Renovation Concepts event at Lakeside Lumber for homeowners who are searching for information on new design, product & remodeling trends. There will be panel discussions on Remodeling, Design, Green Building, Real Estate/Financing/Insurance as well as $2500 in gift drawings. This event is FREE to the general public.

If you are planning a remodeling or design project in the near future, this Renovation Concepts event is a great opportunity to view design portfolios and review product information & speak one on one with top design & building professionals.

Please plan to attend these informative Design & Building panel discussions

Green Building Seminar & Panel discussion - Sunday 1:30-2:00 pm Featuring Mark Tiffee-President of A Cut Above Exteriors- speaking about energy efficient/Green Seal certified windows & details regarding Federal Tax Credits.
Learn more about how Rinnai On-Demand water heaters can help you save 20-25% energy savings.

Design Seminar & Panel Discussion - Sunday 2:00 pm-2:30 pm

Featuring design trends by Susan Walter- owner of Sofa Table Chair, Amy Estrin- owner of The Whole 9 Yards, Nancy Faunt Interiors, Wendy Vaughn- designer for Bolliger Window Fashions & new color trends by Mary McMurray- owner of Art First Colors for Architecture.

Remodeling Seminar & Panel Discussion - Sunday 2:30-3:30 pm

Learn about the Remodeling process from Jim Bruce of JB Construction
Discuss Landscaping trends with Rod Faunt- Land Services Inc
NEW Painting trends by Michael McDonough of Upper V Painting.
Electrical trends- Jim Ferris- President- Red’s Electric
Roofing products & trends: Stan Robinson & Brian Jarvis- owners of Pacific West Roofing
Fireplace trends- Laura Hertner- Lisac’s Fireplaces

Real Estate / Financing / Insurance Panel Discussion - Sunday 3:30 pm-4 pm

Real Estate- LaDonna Miller- Broker w/Round Stone Properties, LLC- Come ask questions and learn more about current Real Estate Market conditions & market trends for 2009.


Finance- Thinking of Remodeling this year? Come hear Theresa Springer- Broker Pacific Residential Mortgage speak about financing your remodeling project and the various loan programs available to you.


Insurance- Come and meet Erin McCulloch & Sue Muir of Farmers Insurance in Lake Oswego.
Date: Sunday June 7, 2009 1-4pm
Where: Lakeside Lumber

10600 SW Tualatin Sherwood Rd.


Tualatin, OR. 97062
Phone: (503) 635-3693
Directions: Follow I5 South- take exit 289 Tualatin/Sherwood Rd follow 2 miles west to the Lakeside Lumber showroom.

For more information please contact LaDonna Miller- President of Renovation Concepts, LLC. ladonnamiller@earthlink.net (503) 310-9076

Breaking News: SEC Charging Ex-Countrywide CEO Mozilo with Fraud

SEC charging ex-Countrywide CEO Mozilo with fraud
Related Articles

This was a breaking article that was published in Builder Magazine this week. I for one fully support the government coming down hard on unscrupulous CEO's who cash out leaving an aftermath in their dust. I think that the SEC should start investigating all of the obvious companies that were involved.

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By MARCY GORDON and GREG RISLING

WASHINGTON - The government is charging Angelo Mozilo, the former chief executive of mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp., and two other company executives with civil fraud.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's case also accuses Mozilo of illegal insider trading, an agency spokesman said Thursday.

Countrywide was a major player in the subprime mortgage market, the collapse of which in 2007 touched off the financial crisis that has gripped the U.S. and global economies.

Mozilo is the most high-profile individual to face formal charges from the federal government in the aftermath of the crisis.

Mozilo has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney did not immediately return an e-mail message for comment Thursday afternoon.

Civil fraud charges also were filed against Countrywide's former chief operating officer David Sambol and ex-chief financial officer Eric Sieracki.

Paul Kranhold, a spokesman for Sambol, declined to comment because he hadn't seen the charges yet. An e-mail message to Sieracki's attorney, Shirli Fabbri Weiss, was not immediately returned.

The SEC and federal prosecutors have undertaken wide-ranging investigations of companies across the financial services industry, touching on mortgage lenders, the Wall Street investment banks that bundled home mortgages into securities sold to investors, and other market players.

The SEC's scrutiny of Mozilo's stock sales began in the fall of 2007 with an informal inquiry.

The filing of the agency's civil lawsuit is a striking turn for Mozilo, the man who 40 years ago co-founded what grew into the nation's largest mortgage lender. He moved the company in 1969 from New York to the housing hotbed of suburban Los Angeles, guiding Countrywide through numerous boom-and-bust housing cycles.

After the mortgage crisis hit, Calabasas, Calif.-based Countrywide was forced to cut thousands of jobs and saw its shares plummet. Its downward spiral ended in it being bought by titan Bank of America Corp. in July 2008 for about $2.5 billion. Countrywide itself is the target of multiple lawsuits related to the mortgage meltdown.

Mozilo sold about $130 million in Countrywide stock in the first half of 2007 through a prearranged 10b5-1 trading plan. These plans, popular among corporate executives, allow a company insider to set up a program in advance for such transactions and proceed with them even if he or she comes into possession of significant nonpublic information.

North Carolina's state treasurer, who asked the SEC in 2007 to investigate Mozilo's stock sales, raised questions about changes made to Mozilo's plan in the months before the company's stock plunged, which allowed Mozilo to significantly increase his sales of Countrywide shares.

Mozilo had sold company shares through prior arrangements since 2004; the pace of his sales began to quicken in October 2006 when he put a new plan into effect. Mozilo has said that he did so to reduce his stake in Countrywide and diversify his personal investments in an orderly fashion before his retirement, which was slated for December 2009.

For more information on finance information please contact: Theresa Springer- Mortgage Broker- Pacific Residential Mortgage- http://www.renovationconcepts.net/finance/theresa.html

For information on real estate in Portland- please contact LaDonna Miller-Broker Round Stone Properties, LLC. (503) 310-9076 or ladonnamiller@earthlink.net

New House National Energy Bill for a National Building Code

This is an article by the National Builders Association about the new House Energy Bill that would create a National Building Code. By reading this article you can really see how this might be a very heated topic. On one hand- builders do not want more layers of new codes to adhere to and on the other hand, one of the biggest obstacles to making green products more affordable is that these products have not hit mass market acceptability. I feel like if the new National Building code is passed, if the products that builders use to make their homes more energy efficient are green products. If builders on a national scale were purchasing energy efficient products then the price would go down making it more affordable because of the increased demand. So in the end- this new House Energy Bill might be for the benefit for everyone. Homeowners would be living in better homes, we would be good environmental stewards and builders would benefit because in time the costs would decrease because of demand.
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House Energy Bill Would Create National Building Code

By a 33 to 25 vote, the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week approved legislation that would limit greenhouse-gas emissions and create a national building code that completely supplants the national model code development process.

Prior to consideration of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy Security Act, NAHB sent a letter to members of the committee expressing the association’s concerns over the federal preemption of states’ rights to determine building codes.

“NAHB is concerned that H.R. 2454 violates state and local rights to establish building codes and efficiency targets within their jurisdiction,” the letter said. “We regret that the committee did not consider NAHB’s testimony presented on April 24, 2009, and that we must oppose this legislation. H.R. 2454 is unnecessarily prescriptive, falls short of creating an effective energy policy that is constitutional and endangers housing affordability.”

The House committee approved new measures to establish a national energy code administered by the Department of Energy (DOE) that comes complete with enforcement penalties and civil action against home owners and builders occupying non-compliant homes and buildings.

NAHB, along with a handful of other real estate groups, supported an amendment offered by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) to strike the egregious language, but it failed on a party-line vote of 31 to 20.

The new building code provisions in HR. 2454 provide for the following:

New national energy efficiency targets taking effect on the date of the bill’s enactment that require states and localities to prove code compliance at 30% above the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) level. By Jan. 1, 2014, the new target would be 50% above the 2006 IECC. Between years 2017 and 2029, the code target increases 5% every three years until it reaches 75% above the 2006 IECC by 2029.

The Department of Energy secretary can set interim code targets, as long as they are higher and based on the life-cycle of the home, not on economics or the payback to consumers.

Within one year after the date of enactment, a national building code will be established. States are required to adopt the national code within one year from that date, they can adopt a state code that is equally stringent or they can adopt California's Title 24 building code within two years.

If after one year the DOE doesn't have a certification from a state that its code meets the targets, then the national energy code automatically becomes the applicable building code for that state or locality.

Federal violations will be levied against builders or owners of a building if they permit occupancy of a home or building that is out of compliance with the national energy targets, even if the state refuses to adopt the new code, because the national building code will be in effect regardless.

If a state or locality is out of compliance with the codes, it will not receive emission allowances under any cap and trade plan. Also, states will lose federal funding from other parts of the bill on a sliding scale for each year of non-compliance.

If a state or locality fails to enforce either a compliant code or the national building code, then the DOE will enforce codes federally through "inspections" and enforcement fees.

The DOE will also assess a civil penalty for violators of this section. Each day of unlawful occupancy is considered a separate violation. If the home is constructed out of compliance with the provisions of this bill and it has been conveyed by a knowing builder or a knowing seller to an unknowing purchaser, then the builder or seller is the violator. The U.S. District Court has jurisdiction for all legal issues.

For more information please contact LaDonna Miller- Broker- Round Stone Properties, LLC. (503) 310-9076 or ladonnamiller@earthlink.net

Obama Administration announced its Foreclosure Alternatives Program

This is a great news that was published in the National Association of Realtors weekly update regarding the Obama Administration's plan to uniform the process for Short sales that will help struggling homeowners. I am personally so impressed with everything that President Obama has done thus far to help stablize the complex issues facing our country. This move called the "Foreclosure Alternatives program" has been applauded by the National Association of Realtors as a program that is another step in the process of offering homeowners additional options.

Here is the press release for your review from the National Association of Realtors.Uniform Process for Short Sales Will Help Struggling Homeowners, Say Realtors®
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2009

Help is on the way for many homeowners who are facing foreclosure, thanks to new details under the Making Home Affordable Program announced today by the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Making Home Affordable Program is designed to help homeowners obtain modifications to their loan so they can afford to stay in their home. Where a modification is not possible, new incentives encourage the “quick private sale or voluntary transfer of property, which will save homeowners money and protect their financial future,” according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The National Association of Realtors® expects that a uniform process for handling short sales and financial incentives will facilitate this process. View a summary of the incentives and process (PDF)

“NAR is pleased that the government is stepping in to help prevent foreclosures by streamlining the short-sale and deeds-in-lieu process,” said NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “NAR has been calling for uniform short sales procedures and other initiatives that will help today’s homeowners in challenging economy.”

Short sales occur when a bank agrees to let homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage to sell their home for less than they owe on their mortgage. Visit www.treasury.gov for detailed information on the program changes.

“Many families are finding themselves with a mortgage that is higher than their current home value, and they are struggling,” said McMillan. “As Secretary Geithner noted, and as NAR has been advocating for many months, stemming the foreclosure crisis and stabilizing the housing market are critical to our economic recovery.”

“We have heard from Realtors® that the extensive delay in the short sale process had caused many buyers to go elsewhere and have left many would-be sellers with no option but foreclosure. We are all pleased that the government has stepped in to help homeowners and those wishing to buy a home,” McMillan said.

For more information on Real Estate in the Portland area please contact
LaDonna Miller- Broker Round Stone Properties, LLC. (503) 310-9076 or ladonnamiller@earthlink.net (503) 310-9076

A Fun & Festive Renovation Concepts Event held at A Cut Above Exteriors

Last night- Mark Tiffee the President of A Cut Above Exteriors and his wonderful staff hosted a great Renovation Concepts Event at their beautiful showroom located on NW Cornell, and as always a great time was had by all!

Renovation Concepts Events provide an excellent forum for members to build strong relationships with other top notch building & design professionals in the Portland Metro area. Plus the members in the Renovation Concepts program are awesome. I am so proud of the level of expertise and wide variety of members that are represented in the Renovation Concepts program.

Here are some photo's from the event last evening at A Cut Above Exteriors.

Photo #1: Mark Tiffee- President of A Cut Above Exteriors & Ron Walter- Sofa Table Chair. www.ACutAboveExteriors.com & www.SofaTableChair.com

Photo #2: Harriet Lovins of C.A.D. Color & Design- Wendy Vaughn- Bolliger Window Fashions. www.BollingerWindowFashions.com


Photo #3: Beckie Blakley & Laura Dayton- A Cut Above Exteriors. www.ACutAboveExteriors.com

Photo #4: LaDonna Miller- President of Renovation Concepts & Stan Robinson- Pacific West Roofing. www.RenovationConcepts.net & www.PacificWestRoofing.com

Photo #5: John Hill, Darci Shaver & Betty Moore- Interstate Flooring.


For more information on these and other Renovation Concepts members- please visit www.RenovationConcepts.net or contact LaDonna Miller (503) 310-9076 or ladonnamiller@earthlink.net