Construction-Trade Students Building for Future
The Florida Home Builders Association formally launched the National Future Builders of America (NFBA) program at the 2004 Southeast Building Conference in early August. Association President Mike Hickman remarked, "Through the program, we can identify students interested in construction and provide them with the leadership and training skills necessary to help ensure that the future of our nation's home building industry remains strong." The program introduces middle-school and high-school students to industry leaders to build relationships, obtain training and advice, and eventually secure jobs. The Colliers Building Industry Association sponsors the NFBA chapter at Lely High School's Academy of Architecture, Construction and Engineering. Participants in Lely's program will undertake community service projects as part of a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The state has a total of three NFBA chapters. (www.naplesnews.com)
Naples Daily News (09/01/04) Elliott, Marci
Monied Laundering
According to a recent NAHB survey, new-home buyers put laundry rooms at the top of their must-have lists. No longer relegated to the garage or the basement, today's laundry areas boast upscale countertops, cabinets, appliances and even televisions. The emergence of high-powered washers and dryers in black, stainless steel and blue, meanwhile, has made men more interested in laundry rooms. In fact, research by Maytag reveals that men play a major role in more than half of its top-of-the-line sales but only 40%-45% of purchases involving standard units. Home owners also can buy personal valets, ironing stations and drying centers at more than $1,000 apiece. While older laundry rooms were about 50 square feet in size, it is not unusual to see new laundry rooms taking up as much as six times that amount of space. (www.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal (09/03/04) P. W10; Reed, Danielle
Smart Home Thinks for Itself
A number of seniors in Gainesville, FL, will participate in a 10-year test of a 2,400-square-foot smart home developed by the University of Florida's Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for Successful Aging. The dwelling features a computerized mobile phone and several flat-screen monitors linked to appliances and other devices. The network lets residents know if they forget to turn off the stove or lock the doors; and off-site caregivers are alerted if the occupant enters the bathroom and fails to set off motion sensors after a certain amount of time has passed. The home even has a microwave that reads bar codes and sets the cooking time on prepared foods; a medicine cabinet that scans pill bottles and automatically reorders prescriptions; and a single machine to both wash and dry clothes, among other things. Researchers believe such technology would allow aging baby boomers to remain independent and keep nursing homes and assisted-living communities from overflowing. "We think whole retirement communities can be built this way," testifies Sumi Helal, the center's director of technology development. "The technology is there now. We're just putting it all together in a way that could be available and affordable to the public within the next few decades." (www.sun-sentinel.com)
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (08/29/04) P. 1A; Benedick, Robin
Home Buyers Hone In on Choices
Builders agree that new-home buyers want the most house for the best price. In particular, they look for huge kitchens with islands, spacious garages, flex space that can be turned into a home office, stainless steel appliances, French doors and other upscale features. Many buyers are so impressed with the builder's models that they will spend thousands to include the same options in their dwellings. Pardee Homes executive Jim Stringer notes that parks, new schools, recreation centers and other neighborhood amenities also are in high demand. He believes the expanding pool of non-traditional buyers, including singles and empty-nesters, will fuel condominium development in some locales. (www.shns.com)
Scripps Howard News Service (08/30/04) Auerbach, Erin
Cooking Up a Digital Future
Concocting futuristic kitchen technologies is the goal of MIT's Counter Intelligence Research initiative, whose areas of focus include smart appliances and more durable equipment. Concepts being researched include devices such as a sensor-studded plastic container that is aware of its contents and can clock how long before those contents go bad; oven mitts that read temperature and dispense culinary advice; and camera- and computer-equipped fridges that monitor stored items and add items that need to be replaced to a shopping list. Another project is a mug that tells the owner when it is hot through the incorporation of liquid crystal displays, bimetal strips, thermoresisters and thermochromic ink. "We're really starting to think about what we can sense, but more importantly how we can use the sensors to change the way people do things, and improve them," explains Ted Selker, director of Counter Intelligence Research. "My most exciting example of that is a spoon that literally teaches you how to cook, by watching and tasting, and noticing the temperature of the thing you're mixing." Research assistant Leonardo Bonanni notes that the "dishmaker" project is particularly fascinating: It involves a machine that inflates thin, recyclable plastic wafers into dishes and reduces kitchen clutter. Bonanni also calls attention to a kitchen sink made of pliant silicon rubber that is tolerant of high temperatures and resistant to breakage. The technologies being developed are often rough around the edges, with design refinements handled by appliance companies. (news.bbc.co.uk)
BBC News (08/31/04) Hardy, Ian
Retirement Place Rated Best: Florence, Oregon
The sixth edition of Retirement Places Rated ranks Florence, OR, as the best U.S. destination for Golden Agers — an impressive rise from its No. 30 position in the last analysis, conducted in 1999. The statistical study ranks 203 locations according to cost of living, climate, crime, economy, ambience and services. The only area in which Florence lagged was in crime, since its crime rate is higher than the national average. Though two Florida destinations — Melbourne-Palm Bay, at No. 4, and Daytona Beach, at No. 9 — are still in the top 10, the survey shows a continuing shift from Florida as the primary retirement hot spot to areas in the Northwest, Rocky Mountains and desert Southwest. Study editor David Savageau says the state is losing favor because of "population growth, crime, hurricanes, politics and because boomers view it as their gray-haired parents' retirement spot." The report also shows that Las Vegas has fallen in favor due to high housing costs, while California is attracting more retirees despite economic and weather-related problems there. The study also notes a number of additional retirement trends, such as seasonal housing, frequent relocation and full-time RV lifestyles. (www.usatoday.com)
USA Today (09/01/04) P. 1D; Minzesheimer, Bob
Constructing Standards
The NAHB Research Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, was opened in 1964 to research land use, sustainable housing and related issues; provide market research data and information on building materials; and build homes to demonstrate various technologies and features. The center also houses a laboratory that provides independent testing for manufacturers to ensure that products meet building and plumbing codes and comply with standards developed by the American National Standards Institute and the American Society for Testing and Materials, among others. The lab features a universal test machine that exerts a 200,000-pound force on concrete walls and steel reinforcements and a 150,000-pound shear wall tester to determine whether products are wind- and earthquake-resistant. Researchers also use scrubbers to ensure that sinks remain intact after frequent use; an ultraviolet test to see if sunlight causes cracking or fading; and an air cannon to test the performance of windows in hurricanes and tornados. They even conduct impact-resistance tests on sinks and figure out how much weight can be supported by shower grab bars, among other things. Lab director Robert Hill says products that pass such tests can be stamped with NAHB's certification logo, which "gives the consumer confidence that this company is willing to have a third party randomly test the product to make sure that it will perform like it's advertised." (www.washingtonpost.com)
Washington Post (08/28/04) P. F1; Flandez, Raymund
Building Trends: Order Makes an Entry
While mudrooms are a common feature in the North, where people need an area to remove snowy and muddy clothing before entering the home, similar spaces are growing in demand in the South. Market researcher Cecilia Davidson-Farkas, who specializes in the home building industry, says Atlanta residents use mudrooms as "drop zones" — places to store shoes, mail, school supplies and other items that can clutter the inside of the house. "There's a demand in the market for organizational products, those things that improve the quality of life for home owners," she notes. Builders are adding niches, cabinets, storage benches and message centers to new homes in order to meet this demand. Architect Bill Harrison says mudrooms are particularly popular among families with children as well as among active seniors who want a space for umbrellas, coats and messy projects such as potting plants. A mudroom equipped with several different storage options can cost as much as $10,000-$30,000 for an upscale home. (www.accessatlanta.com/ajc)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (08/27/04) P. 12HG; Saunders, Tinah
Greenhouses Are Growing in Popularity Among Home Owners
More and more home owners are putting greenhouses on their properties to protect their plants from deer and poor weather conditions, enclose swimming pools or house pets, among other things. These installations cost anywhere from $250-$600 for do-it-yourself kits or $3,000-$80,000 for professionally installed structures. Home owners can choose from silver aluminum, painted aluminum or wood — which can be assembled into various shapes and sizes. Experts say many owners want their greenhouses to complement their homes and also are adding ponds, fountains, garden seating and hot tubs to make them more visually appealing. To ensure maximum plant growth, the greenhouse should be situated on the southeastern portion of the property and climate controls, window and roof vents, timer watering systems and heating systems should be installed. (www.plaindealer.com)
Cleveland Plain Dealer (08/26/04) P. E9; Hebert, Melissa
Built-Ins Put Finishing Touches on Rooms
Built-in cabinets, shelves, benches, entertainment centers and home offices are gaining popularity among home owners. Built-in wall units or bookcases are becoming a standard feature in new homes; while owners of older properties are using the built-in approach to transform alcoves, attics, basements and recesses under stairwells into additional living spaces and storage areas. Sources say home owners typically recoup the costs associated with such conversions when they sell. Depending on the project type and scope and the materials used, built-ins can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to over $20,000. These projects are usually finished within six to eight weeks, but elaborate designs or demolitions could extend the completion date. Home owners also might want to consider set-ins, which are cheaper than traditional built-ins and are removable. (www.washtimes.com)
Washington Times (08/27/04) Ross, Audrey
Security Basics for PDAs and Handheld PCs
Many workers use their own PDAs and other handheld devices for business purposes, even linking them to the company network. As a result, companies need to be concerned about viruses, device and data theft, and other security breaches. They would be wise to create and enforce security policies governing the use of employee-owned handhelds. Users should write their phone number somewhere on the device and ensure that it is password-protected, increasing the likelihood that a lost or stolen handheld will be returned. They can also install software that erases all of the data stored on the device if the password is not entered correctly or synchronization does not occur within a certain amount of time. Anti-virus software, firewalls and tools for encryption and authentication are also useful. Among other things, companies might want to require workers to scan for viruses before connecting to the company network; use a remote-access virtual private network (VPN); and install the most up-to-date security patches. (www.smallbusinesscomputing.com)
Small Business Computing (08/27/04) Taylor, Laura |
