vets2vines.com

Napa’s most obscure AVA - Wild Horse Valley: “You’ll almost never find the Wild Horse Valley on a tourist map to Wine Country. There’s nary a mention of the Napa Valley’s smallest and most obscure appellation in the wine books. In fact, there is hardly any wine made from grapes from this most mysterious of wine regions. Adding to the mystique, the AVA’s only as-yet-to-be built winery has its vineyard in Solano County. “

Energy Future Coalition: “Link to the Smart Grid Chapter or the Full Report”

25x’25: “Economic Growth: Manufacturing wind turbines and developing wind farms create jobs, diversifies local economies, and increases local tax bases. By 2020, wind energy alone could create 80,000 new jobs and $1.2 billion in new income in the U.S. Because wind farm jobs are often located in rural areas they add economic diversity to a region, cushioning local economies from changes in other sectors. “

The Payback on Panels - 5/1/2005 - CA528951: “Through the ease and speed of assembly, wall and roof systems can be built in days rather than weeks. The faster construction time also greatly reduces the chance of theft and of bad weather creating construction delays. Because most of the cutting is done in a remote factory, the builder has to deal with much less waste on-site.
Only basic carpentry skills are required for laborers, which means assemblers don’t need the skill of conventional framing crews. For some builders, reducing the need for skilled labor is extremely beneficial.”

SIP Home Systems: “HERE’S THE SUMMARY
The advantages of building with Advantage SIP Panels compared to conventional framing and insulation:

Much more energy efficient.
Definitive accredited testing proves that SIPs out perform conventional frame construction by at least 66%,U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Substantially reduced energy bills for the life of the structure.
May use smaller HVAC system.
Will meet the new CA Title 24 requirements, effective October 1, 2005!
At least 2 times stronger (proven in earthquakes and hurricanes).
Much quieter interior environment.
Less jobsite waste.
Close-in the building in approximately 1/3 the time.
Walls are straight, square and plumb.
No sub-standard lumber to cull out and throw away.
Easier, faster, and less waste during drywall installation (no nail or screw pops).
Easier installation of cabinets, fixtures, trim etc.
Hang pictures, shelves, etc., anywhere!
No irritating fiberglass insulation.
An environmentally responsible choice, not only due to the conservation of energy, but the system requires up to 75% less dimensional lumber. “

SIP Home Systems: “The use of SIPs in residential and commercial construction in the U.S. has more than doubled over the past 4 years, with a 34% increase in 2001, and about a 50% increase in 2002 and in 2003 over 65 million square feet of panels were distributed. It is anticipated that THE USE OF SIP’s IS EXPECTED TO EXPLODE IN CALIFORIA OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS, primarily due to poor quality lumber, rising energy costs and the cost of construction. “

The Payback on Panels - 5/1/2005 - CA528951: “Through the ease and speed of assembly, wall and roof systems can be built in days rather than weeks. The faster construction time also greatly reduces the chance of theft and of bad weather creating construction delays. Because most of the cutting is done in a remote factory, the builder has to deal with much less waste on-site.
Only basic carpentry skills are required for laborers, which means assemblers don’t need the skill of conventional framing crews. For some builders, reducing the need for skilled labor is extremely beneficial.”

Article - Beyond the Box - All About SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels): “So, the question is, when will the panel industry come to the forefront? Recent moves by one of the nation’s largest home builders, Pulte, suggest that it could be soon.
Three years ago, the Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based builder built its own pilot plant in the Detroit area to investigate the viability of building large numbers of its homes with SIPs. ‘They found that if they made some changes, SIPs could work,’ Bryan says. ‘They decided to build another plant in Virginia, and they expect to churn out about eight houses a day.’ (Pulte did not return calls for comment.)
The importance of Pulte’s presence cannot be overstated, says Insulspan’s Baker. The builder’s success is seen as a vitally important step in the widespread adoption of the technology. ‘It would be huge if the No. 1 player in the home building industry adopted SIPs,’ Baker says. ‘It is a credibility thing for the industry.’ If Pulte uses it, he says, others will follow. “

Sourcebook Structural Walls: “Structural Wall Panels” In early 1994 Sustainable Sources made the Austin Green Building Program’s (GBP) Sourcebook available in electronic format through our (then active) Sustainable Sources bulletin board service. The GBP was looking for a way to get this information out to a wider audience in Austin and to make it available to people outside of the Austin area without spending their time and energy marketing it. Shortly thereafter, we also converted the Sourcebook to the Web.

It states that “eligible contractors” may claim the credit for new energy efficient homes that are substantially completed after August 8, 2005, and acquired by an individual from that contractor after 12/31/05 for use as a residence. The credit is $2,000 for dwelling units that are “certified” to be 50% energy efficient. The form further states that certification must be in writing in accordance with guidance prescribed by the IRS, and that “The IRS expects to issue the guidance in early 2006″
The credit can be taken for each home that meets the criteria - multiple builds, multiple credits!