Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

Brunswick County, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share that Bosch Appliances has unveiled the Vision, an Energy Star qualified full-size front-load laundry line. Vision washers and dryers use advanced EcoSmart™ technology, a network of sensors and intelligent controls, to deliver the most efficient performance without compromising cleaning results. In Vision washers, EcoSmart continuously analyzes the wash cycle and automatically adjusts water level, temperature and suds level. EcoSmart’s water savings are amplified with ActiveWater™, a system that uses 70% less water per load than the industry average. In Vision dryers, EcoSmart senses remaining moisture throughout the cycle to lower the energy usage. Below are just some of the outstanding features from the Vision line and for more information visit www.bosch-home.com/us, call 800.921.9622 to request a catalog or follow Bosch on Twitter at @BoschAppliances

Efficiency

• The ActiveWater™ system multiplies the cleaning power of each gallon of water. Combined with advanced EcoSmart technology, Vision uses just 13 gallons of water per load while delivering the cleaning power of 400 gallons.
• The dryer’s EcoSensor® measures the moisture level of the clothes and adjusts cycle length and heat level automatically for efficient and gentle drying.
• The Bosch exclusive EcoAction® feature is available on all Vision washers and dryers. With just the simple push of a button, consumers can reduce energy use by up to 20% per wash load and 10% per dry cycle.

Cleaning Performance

• The washer’s ActiveClean™ system adjusts the number of rinse cycles for custom cleaning results.
• The exclusive Stain Removal option tackles all stain types in one convenient wash cycle.
• New specialized wash cycles such as Baby Care and Allergy Rinse are ideal for family members with sensitive skin or detergent allergies.
• The Vision Steam Dryer offers three steam cycles (Steam Touch-up, Steam Refresh and Steam Wrinkle Relax) to efficiently and quickly reduce wrinkles and remove odors from clothes – without a wash cycle.
• The Bosch Vision ActiveDry™ system utilizes the moisture sensor and intelligent controls to deliver the exact level of dryness selected by the user.
• The DynamicAir™ dryer technology provides the gentlest environment for drying your clothes by delivering a high volume of air at a moderate temperature.
• Vision features the industry’s only one-piece stainless steel drum – a breakthrough that prevents corrosion, lowers friction, and in turn, reduces wear on clothes and fabrics.

Brunswick County, NC Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers an article from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Home Guide and ThisOldHouse.com. The tips listed below are aimed to be quick and easy; to read them each in complete detail, click here!

• Lower the Thermostat
• Install a Programmable Thermostat
• It’s Closed-Flue Season: Minimize Those Romantic Fires
• The Spin on Ceiling Fans
• Move Furniture Away From Vents, Registers, and Radiators
• Stop the Draft; Close the Door
• Quick-Seal Windows
• Install a Door Sweep
• Work the Drapes
• Change Your Furnace Filter
• Adjust Your Water Heater
• Defeat Rapid Cycling

“Free Energy-Saving Info: Need more guidance on saving energy? An online publication called “Energy Savers” is available free from the U.S. Department of Energy. It features more than 100 easy and practical energy-saving tips.”

Brunswick County, NC remodeler encourages those in the Cape Fear area to attend the 30^th North Carolina Jazz Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina. From February 4^th- 6th, 2010, the North Carolina Jazz Festival will showcase more than a dozen traditional jazz artists who perform in a cabaret-style setting at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside’s newly renovated ballroom in downtown Wilmington, NC. Fans will get a chance to see their favorite traditional jazz musicians perform live and have the opportunity to meet the artists. The Cape Fear Business News published a detailed article on the Jazz Festival today, below is an excerpt and to read more, click here! Visit www.ncjazzfestival.com to purchase tickets.

“To celebrate 30 years, this year’s North Carolina Jazz Festival kicks off on Thursday night with a “Styles of Jazz” concert vocalist Stephanie Nakasian & the Hod O’Brien Trio; New Orleans style jazz by the Duke Heitger Sextet; and local favorites Grenaldo Frazier (piano, vocals) and Kevin Kolb Quartet,. On Saturday morning festival patrons will enjoy a musical birthday cruise along the Cape Fear River with New Orleans style jazz and North Carolina barbecue.

On Friday and Saturday nights the festival features 14 world-renowned musicians, including guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli (www.benedettoguitars.com/players_bucky.php), Butch Miles on drums (www.butchmiles.com), pianist Hod O’Brien (www.hodobrien.com), and Duke Heitger on trumpet (www.dukeheitger.com). Other all-star jazz musicians include: Mark Shane (piano; www.shanepianojazz.com); Frank Tate (bass; www.atlantajazzparty.com/Tate.html); Tom Fischer (reeds; www.tomfischermusic.com); and John Allred (trombone; www.myspace.com/johnallredmusic). Back by popular demand are festival favorites Anat Cohen  (reeds; www.anatcohen.com); Ed Polcer (trumpet/cornet; www.edpolcer.com); Joe Ascione (drums; www.joeascione.com);; John Cocuzzi (vibes and piano; http://www.johncocuzzimusic.com/music.html);  Herman Burney (bass; www.hermanburney.com); and Stephanie Nakasian (vocalist; www.stephanienakasian.com).”

North Carolina’s oldest lighthouse, Old Baldy at Bald Head Island, will re-open on Friday, January 22, 2010 after being closed earlier this month for routine maintenance. Brunswick County, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages our readers to explore Bald Head Island and the Smith Island Museum located next to Old Baldy. You can opt for the self-guided tour or take advantage of their Historical Island Tours that include a visit to the civil war fort, stories of pirates, river pilots, and life-saving crewmen, a climb to the top of Old Baldy and much more! For more information on Old Baldy, click here and for more information on what to do while in Bald Head Island, visit their website!

Brunswick County, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share that Custom Home Online’s Stephani Miller reported that housing permits, starts and overall completions have improved according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau report. Below is an excerpt and to read the complete article, click here!

“Marking a 6.0 percent increase over October’s numbers, permits for privately-owned housing units rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 584,000 in November. Permits for single-family units increased 5.3 percent in November, while permits for units in buildings with five or more units increased slightly from 85,000 in October to 86,000.

November’s housing starts also strengthened, after experiencing dramatic drops in October. Overall starts of privately-owned housing units rose 8.9 percent over October’s revised rate of 527,000, which reflected an 11-percent decline from the previous month’s starts. Single-family housing starts increased by 2.1 percent, after a 6.8-percent decline the previous month, but starts of units in buildings with five or more units rose significantly from 48,000 in October to 83,000 in November.”

Brunswick County, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share an informative article by Custom Home Magazine’s Stephani Miller. Miller examined the investigation into the adverse health effects of drywall made in China. Below is an excerpt from her article and to read more, click here!

“Late in October 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released preliminary findings of the investigation it has been spearheading into drywall imported from China that is suspected of damaging homes and affecting homeowner health around the country. CPSC has been leading the coordinated federal effort since January 2009, tracking complaints from homeowners, conducting interviews and field measurements in homes, performing tests on samples taken from affected homes, and tracking the provenance of the defective drywall boards to locate their source. To date, 1,900 complaints of “rotten-egg” smells and corrosion of metal components and mechanical systems in homes, as well as asthma-like symptoms, headaches, and bloody noses, have been lodged with the CPSC from residents in 30 states. Most of the complaints have come from homeowners in Florida and Louisiana, likely due to the massive rebuilding of homes following hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.

According to the preliminary findings of CPSC’s elemental and chemical testing, higher levels of two elements—sulfur and strontium—have been found in certain Chinese-made drywall products than in drywall manufactured elsewhere. More testing is being conducted to determine the relationship between the elevated levels of these elements and reported health symptoms or corrosion in homes, however, researchers have determined that the levels of strontium present in samples were not high enough to impact human health. Chamber studies conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to detect chemicals emitted from drywall also determined that the Chinese-made drywall in question emits higher levels of volatile sulfur gases than drywall manufactured elsewhere. Further testing continues, including exposure and risk assessments.”

Brunswick County, NC Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes has previously blogged on the benefits of making your home more energy efficient. One very integral step in ensuring this is to get a home energy audit. When building our Energy Star home in Wilmington, NC we utilized the services of Above and Beyond Energy in Wilmington, NC, a third-party independent company that strives to help homeowners minimize their home’s carbon footprint through improved efficiency and durability. CNNMoney.com’s Steve Hargreaves published an article today detailing energy audits, including what to look for in an energy contractor. Below is an excerpt and to read the complete article, click here!

“The average American home wastes a lot of energy.

A complete energy retrofit – which could include caulking and insulation as well as new windows, appliances and boiler, could slice a home’s energy consumption in half, according to Lane Burt, manager of building energy policy at Natural Resources Defense Council.

But getting all that work done might run into the tens of thousands of dollars. And any new federal program – which is still being drafted and is not guaranteed to become law – would cap the government reimbursements at $12,000, said Burt.

Homeowners need not despair. There are some simple improvements that are relatively cheap and can pay for themselves quickly.

Just adding the insulation, caulking and lights might run an average homeowner $5,000 to $7,000, he said. That could shave about 30% off a home’s energy bill each month. And if the government picks up half the cost, the payback time for homeowners would be just a few years.”

Brunswick County, NC remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share a helpful article from OrganizedHome.com by Cynthia Ewer. Ewer outlines some very beneficial ideas on how to start the New Year with a clean, clutter-free home! Below is just one of her tips and to read more, click here!

“Get One, Toss Two: Try this simple idea to pack a powerful clutter-cutting punch as you put away new holiday gifts: for each gift received, toss two counterparts.

As you put away holiday gifts, take time to make extra room throughout the house. For example, for every new Christmas DVD you add to the shelves, remove two older titles. Did Nana gift the children with new holiday pajamas? Find two outgrown sets to add to the donation bag. If craft supplies made it into your stocking, be sure to remove double their number from your stash before adding them to the craft closet.

Whether you recycle, donate or sell the tossers, each gift will reduce clutter in your organized home–and the excitement of new possessions helps cut the ties to old, outworn items.

Get One, Toss Two: short, sweet and painless way to declutter for the New Year.”

Brunswick County, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share an exciting article by Amy Hotz of the Wilmington Star-News. With the growth of local ecotourism, several Brunswick County town officials are considering creating new paddling and biking trails. Below is an excerpt and to read Hotz’s complete article, click here!

“In North Carolina, a 2006 survey by the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation found that 3.4 million of the state’s residents and nonresidents, 16 years and older fished, hunted or watched wildlife in North Carolina.

Of the total number of participants, 1.3 million fished, 304,000 hunted and 2.6 million participated in wildlife-watching activities, which include observing, feeding and photographing wildlife.

All that adds up to money.

That same survey also indicated that 87.5 million Americans spent more than $122 billion in 2006 on wildlife-related recreation.”

Photo courtesy of: Sarracenia.com

Brunswick County, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share some helpful tips from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Home Guide. Below are the five helpful tips to choose a low-flow toilet for your home courtesy of author Willem Maas and to read more detail on each, click here!

4. In general, more expensive does not mean better.