Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

In a previous blog post, Jacksonville, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes introduced our readers to The Energy Detective and explained its role in tracking the energy efficiencies of our LEED Platinum home in Landfall in Wilmington, NC. Now information technology giant Google has signed up with Energy Inc, the maker of The Energy Detective, to make tracking the energy usage of your home even easier. Below is an excerpt from a recent article on BusinessGreen.com and to read the complete article, click here. To get The Energy Detective installed in your own home in Southeastern North Carolina, contact Electronics 2 You, Coastal Carolina’s finest home audio establishment, at (910) 397-0953 or visit their website!

“Aimed at consumers, the TED 5000 home energy usage monitoring device uses a gateway device that connects and stores energy usage data from a residential electrical panel. This data can then be beamed wirelessly to a display that can be carried around by the user, providing individuals with a constant reminder of how much energy they are using.

The system can also connect to a network, so that its data is also transmissible to Google’s servers. Google PowerMeter can then display a residence’s energy usage using a chronological chart, while also rating the house against other residences, so that users can tell how well they are doing compared to the average PowerMeter user.”

Jacksonville, NC Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes understands that building Green facilities and homes has more benefits than simply being eco-friendly and a lower utility bill – it’s also a healthier and more comfortable environment for their occupants. A recent study from the University of San Diego’s Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and property developers CB Richard Ellis found that employees in Green office buildings not only took less sick leave, but also had a higher productivity level. Better indoor air quality, plenty of natural light and better ventilation are all key components for a more sustainable building for employees. To read the complete article, click here.

When Jacksonville, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes tackled their first Green project, a LEED Platinum home in Wilmington, NC, they learned a very valuable lesson: although a client may not specifically ask for Green features, the features of a Green-built home are an obvious benefit. Every homeowner wants to save money on utility bills and live in a safe home to keep their families healthy and comfortable. Online for EcoHome’s Chief Editor Jean Dimeo interviewed Sam Raskin, the national director for Energy Star for Homes, on this very subject and the article was very insightful. Below is an excerpt and to read the complete article, click here!

“’You don’t know someone’s willingness to pay until you have the value proposition in hand,’ Raskin said. Energy Star for Homes provides builders a relatively easy way to offer buyers dwellings that are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC) and that include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20% to 30% more efficient than standard houses. But Energy Star-qualified houses are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to green building. That’s why EPA’s Climate Choice program seeks to accelerate market adoption of cutting-edge technologies.”

Jacksonville, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes understands that it could be an excellent time to invest in real estate – IF you are well prepared. A recent Realty Times article outlined the National Real Estate Investors Association’s suggested items to address before you take the plunge. Below is the list and to read the complete article by Broderick Perkins, click here.

• Buy your own home first.

• Go back to school.

• Educate yourself.

• Learn your investment market.

• Develop an exit strategy.

Jacksonville, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to pass along this valuable information regarding the prevention of water damage in your home.

• Check for hidden leaks by turning off faucets, all water-using appliances, and not flushing toilets for one hour. Record the water meter reading. If the flow indicator (triangular or diamond-shaped rotating button) is spinning or the meter reading has changed while no water is being used, a leaking pipe may exist.
• Know where the main water shut off valve is located in your home and check it frequently to make sure it is operational.
• Disconnect garden hoses from all spigots before the start of winter.
• Fill in any low spots around the house so water drains away from the foundation.
• Inspect caulking around windows and doors and replace as needed where cracked or deteriorated.

For many more tips on detecting water damage and preventative measures, click here.

Courtesy of: statefarm.com

Jacksonville, NC home remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to pass on this extremely valuable information. Courtesy of Sapona Green Building Center in Wilmington, NC, the brochures below outline the possible tax incentives and rebates your home could receive should you decide to “Go Green” for your next remodeling project! Mark Johnson Custom Homes is a Green builder that has built a LEED Platinum home in the Landfall Community in Wilmington, NC. Let us remodel your home to create the ”Green” home of your dreams! 

Jacksonville, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is among the 2008 winners of the National Association of Home Builders’ Safety Award for Excellence. Mark Johnson Custom Homes was recognized with the Single-Family Builder Safety Program Award, kept safety regulations at the forefront of their educational efforts and has maintained a workplace free from serious injuries for 41 consecutive months. “Safety is one the most important factors when considering the overall success of a project. If our trade partners and jobsite visitors don’t make it home in the same condition they arrived, we have failed them as managers,” said safety coordinator Kevin Johnson.