Southwest Vermont Career Development Center Students Build State-of-the-Art Home

I sit on the Board of Directors of the Building Trades Department of the Career Development Center which teaches high school students building trades through the actual building of a house. This press release was produced by Efficiency Vermont in recognition of the most recent homes energy efficiency features.

Local Teachers Occupy Energy Efficient Residence

North Bennington, Vt. – Students from the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center
teamed up with the nonprofit Building Trades Corporation, Blue Heron Construction and
Efficiency Vermont to construct a house that serves as a model of energy efficiency both for the
students who built it and for the residents who are thrilled to occupy it.

Laurie and John Camelio, two local educators with a combined 50 years of experience in the
Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, wanted a house that that was more energy efficient and
closer to town than the wood-stove-heated house (complemented by a Monitor heating system) in
Sandgate they had occupied for 30 years.

“As teachers and members of the community, we like the idea of supporting the students at the
Southwest Vermont Career Development Center,” said the Camelios.

Approximately two dozen vocational students worked on the Camelio’s new house, garnering
incredible work experience in the process. According to Jim Gilbert of the Southwest Vermont
Career Development Center’s Building Trades group, almost every student who participated in
the construction program went on to a job in the industry.

The construction of the Camelio’s North Bennington home was made possible by the Building
Trades Corporation, a nonprofit corporation affiliated with the Southwest Vermont Career
Development Center that provides the vision and funding for the student-staffed building projects.
Chairman Jim Goodine, who also is an owner of Blue Heron Construction, noted that local
craftsmen – specialists in plumbing, electric, HVAC, etc. – on the Career Development Center
committee led the team effort.

When Jay Walsh of Efficiency Vermont inspected the Camelio’s new home prior to the final
touches completed by the residents, he noted how well it had been constructed.

“You would never know that this house had been built by students,” said Walsh. “The quality is
good, from the tight building envelope to the ventilation to the appliances and lighting. This
residence is very energy efficient.”

The house received a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score of 58. The HERS scale starts
at 100, with each one-point reduction corresponding to a one percent reduction in energy
consumption. Thus, the Camelio’s home is roughly 42 percent more energy efficient than a
standard home. Key energy efficiency features of the ENERGY STAR® -Rated house include:
• Foam insulation that acts as an air and sound barrier.
• High-performance windows and doors that contribute to the efficiency of the building.
• Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) that supplies fresh air while exhausting stale air. The
system also recovers between 60-75 percent of the heat being exhausted and preheats
the fresh air as it is brought into the home.
• ENERGY STAR-Rated products that can reduce energy typically consumed by up to 75
percent for lighting and 10 percent for appliances.

During their first winter in their new home, the Camelios were amazed at its energy performance.
The house was comfortable because the heating level was always the same, which was not

possible in the Camelio’s prior home that was heated by a wood stove. This year, the Camelios
burned only one tank of fuel during the entire winter-heating season and they were more
comfortable.

Building Trades Corporation chairman Jim Goodine is excited to have had the opportunity to work
with the next generation of home builders in Vermont, noting that Efficiency Vermont was a great
partner throughout the entire process.

“We’ve got students building state-of-the-art energy efficient homes,” said Goodine. “To me,
that’s pretty incredible, and a great sign of things to come.”

Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service
Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy, and protect
Vermont’s environment. Efficiency Vermont is currently operated by Vermont Energy Investment
Corporation (VEIC), an independent organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service
Board. VEIC is a Vermont-based nonprofit organization founded in 1986. For more information,
contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit www.efficiencyvermont.com.

Bennington VT, North Bennington VT, Press Release

Investing to Stay Ahead of Growing Demand for Wireless Voice, Multimedia and Internet Access

    POWNAL, Vt., June 3 /PRNewswire/ — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Bennington County, Verizon Wireless has activated a new cell site. The new site increases wireless voice and data coverage and capacity along Route 7 and Barber Pond Road in Pownal Center, as well as the surrounding area.

(more…)

     Two National Surveys Find RE/MAX Agents Average More Transactions

    DENVER, May 5 /PRNewswire/ — Two industry surveys of the nation’s top
brokerages reveal that RE/MAX Sales Associates outperform their competitors
at brokerages affiliated with the major national franchises. Based on
transactions closed in 2007, The RIS Media Power Broker Survey found that
RE/MAX Sales Associates averaged 15.5 transaction sides, 39% higher than
their nearest national competitor. In The REAL Trends 500, RE/MAX Sales
Associates were also ranked the highest of all national real estate
franchises, averaging 19% more transactions per agent than their closest
competitor. REAL Trends also noted that the average real estate agent in
2007 earned 7.6 transaction sides.

    (more…)

    MIDDLEBURY, Vt., May 5 /PRNewswire/ — In the midst of all the bad news
regarding the state of residential housing and the economic woes of home
builders, there is one home manufacturer that has more than held its own in
the housing downturn. In fact, sales have increased 300% in the past year.
The company is Connor Homes of Middlebury, Vermont. The company builds
exquisite — and affordable — colonial reproduction “kit” homes that can
be shipped anywhere in the world; and the world is beating a path to its
door.

   

(more…)

VAE and BBC Revitalize The Window Works Project 

BENNINGTON, VT — The Vermont Arts Exchange (VAE) and the Better Bennington Corporation (BBC) once again team up to dress up downtown windows by reinstituting the Window Works Project. Window Works now seeks downtown vacant storefront windows and work for exhibition from local artists.

Initially established in 1998 between the BBC and VAE, Window Works has coordinated and installed numerous art exhibits in Bennington storefronts, showcasing the work of prominent and emerging local artists. Towns in New England and all across the country are implementing similar projects to capitalize on the mutual benefits of pairing vacant storefronts with quality local art and artisan crafts. The results increase the appeal of the vacant buildings, inviting potential renters, while local artists get a boost in exposure.

With the help of members of the BBC Arts Committee, the Window Works Project has been revitalized and will begin its first “window exhibition” currently on display in the Nichols building (popularly remembered as the former Panache location), with watercolor paintings by Bennington artist Tony Conners and quilts by Wendy Sharkey.

Conners, a committed watercolorist, follows the traditions of many early masters of the medium while incorporating bolder elements from the modern approach. His watercolor paintings exhibit a range of representational expression, but common to all is a concern for the quality of light and its effects on form, color, and texture. His recent works are a diverse mixture of subject matter, including rural landscapes, seascapes inspired by the rugged New England coastline and intimate portraits of life among the blossoms of a summer garden. A native of Winchester, Virginia, Conners works from his studio in Bennington.

On exhibit adjacent to Conner’s window is the quilting work of Wendy Sharkey. Formally trained as an engineer, Sharkey says she has always found artistic release in needlework of all sorts, although it was not until 14 years ago, when she moved to Vermont, that she began to quilt. Mainly self taught, Sharkey regards of quilt design as an opportunity to problem solve. One of the principals to which she holds fast is that each quilt should be pleasing to the eye; a quilt is never truly finished until she is happy with it. Her pieces are all inspired by family and friends, using their favorite colors, seasons and hobbies to launch the initial idea. With so many different compositions, her collection may seem somewhat eclectic, but variety is the spice of life!

Sharkey’s quilts have been previously displayed at the Bennington Quiltfest, where she has received several ribbons for her work.

Downtown Bennington landlords and area artists interested in more information or application forms for Window Works can call John Shannahan
802-442-5758 or Matthew Perry at VAE, 802-442-5549.
* * *
Bennington VT, Community Information, Press Release

    MONTPELIER, Vt., April 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Florida residents
are invited to head north to Vermont where they can find lodging properties
offering special summer discounts and packages designed exclusively for
Floridians.

(more…)

    LOS ANGELES, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — One-third of
REALTOR.com’s 4.4 million property listings — over 1.55 million homes for
sale — are updated every fifteen minutes, delivering the freshest, most
current collection of real estate listings on the world wide web. This
means agents and brokers with listings on REALTOR.com can give their
clients the edge in finding their next home by delivering reliable
information on new listings, price reductions, expanded descriptions, and
new photos.

(more…)

WASHINGTON (March 7, 2008) – The National Association of Realtors® has acquired ePropertyData, a major provider of commercial information exchange services for the commercial real estate industry. The acquisition was accomplished by NAR’s new for-profit subsidiary, Second Century Ventures LLC, a strategic private equity fund that was conceived to help support NAR members in emerging technologies and services. (more…)

MONTPELIER (AP) – While a slump continues to grip the national housing market, Vermont is one of two states-the other is North Dakota-that have seen prices increasing slightly in the past year, according to the Vermont Association of Realtors.

“It seems we have weathered the national storm,” said the association’s Executive Vice President, Robert Hill.  “We are better off than the national trend.” (more…)

RE/MAX Maple Leaf Realty has joined The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM).

(more…)