New Technologies Boost Energy Efficiency
Though energy costs have held steady, today's home owners are paying more to heat and cool their homes. The Energy Information Administration attributes higher utility costs to larger homes and an increase in the number of energy-eating appliances. The Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Program is touting environmentally friendly geothermal heat pump (GHP) systems, also called ground-source heat pump systems or geoexchange systems, as a way to slash heating and cooling costs and increase energy efficiency. GHP systems extract heat from the earth during the winter for use in the home and moves heat from the home into the ground in warmer weather. The technology costs as much as $7,500 to install, but home owners can obtain energy-efficient mortgages through Fannie Mae or receive funding from the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program to cover the costs. According to DOE, 2 million homes should be equipped with GHP systems by 2005. (www.washtimes.com)
Washington Times (11/21/03) P. F3; Carr, M. Anthony
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Fees Found to Add as Much as $20,000 to House Price
According to a report by the Arizona Daily Star, government fees and sales taxes account for 7%-12% of new-home prices in the state, equaling $20,000 or more in some locales. The mortgage firm Charter Funding figures this amounts to between $72-$124 more per month for a median-size home priced at $168,106. Fees have been hiked in recent years to pay for roads, parks, sewer and water lines and other services needed by new-home owners. Home builders generally oppose these fees because they price middle- and working-class families out of the market. (www.ap.org)
Associated Press (11/19/03)
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Florida 'Smart Home' Demonstrates Concept of Automated Elderly Help and Care
University of Florida researchers have designed and built a 500-square-foot "smart house" that employs state-of-the-art computer and sensor technology to automatically provide assistive-living services to elderly residents. The many devices and sensors in the living area are sensitive to residents' needs and whereabouts via connections to a centralized computer network. Cutting-edge innovations and services this smart home offers include notification of detected water leaks by cell phone; vocal control of lights, doors, window curtains, stereo and television; location-tracking technologies that automatically trigger devices — TV screens, for example — whenever the resident moves into another room; and microwave ovens programmed to recognize foods and determine their cooking times. "What this home demonstrates is the evolution from assistive devices to assistive environments," declares UF Associate Professor of Computer and Information Science and Engineering Sumi Helal, who believes such a home might one day be capable of remote health monitoring. The need for money- and labor-saving assistive technologies is a pressing one, especially in Florida, where people 75 and up account for 9% of the state's population. William Mann, director of the National Institute for Disability, Rehabilitation and Research, notes that assistive care needs and costs will skyrocket in the next 20 or so years as 78 million baby boomers approach old age. Studies show that elderly people who do not acquire and use assistive devices become debilitated much faster than those who do — and are more expensive to care for, Mann asserts. Furthermore, elderly people are more inclined to embrace technology than stereotypes would suggest. (www.eurekalert.org)
EurekAlert (11/19/03)
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Real-Estate Taxes and Fees Are on the Rise
Across the country, states and municipalities are viewing rising commercial and residential property values as a way to cut into their respective budget gaps. Consequently, property owners will face higher real-estate taxes and fees in the months ahead. Indeed, more states are looking to implement tax hikes on both commercial and residential property deals. Meanwhile, local jurisdictions are dealing with state cutbacks by increasing property taxes and adding on development-related fees. Peter S. Brooks, a principal in Ernst & Young LLP's real-estate advisory services practice, observes, "[States are] trying to rationalize their use of real estate — how they can use their space more efficiently, or more to the point, use less of it." Looking at the various geographic areas, New York City has raised its property tax rate 18.5% this year, while the property-tax rate in jurisdictions throughout South Carolina climbed almost 10%. Trammell Crow Residential CEO Ron Terwilliger gripes that Raleigh, NC, recently added a $1,000-per-apartment school fee, while builders in southern Florida have to now pay a $10,000-per-apartment fee along with a $16,000 water and sewer fee. Brooks observes that much of the activity that has been occurring on the state level nationwide could be because there are so many new governors who have come into office. (www.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal (11/19/03) P. B4; Muto, Sheila
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Grasping at Straw
Straw homes are emerging across the country, but "The Straw Bale House" co-author Bill Steen notes that they are especially popular in Northern California. These dwellings have straw bales inside the walls, which are then covered with stucco and plaster. Though they cost 10%-15% more than traditional homes, experts say straw-bale construction is extremely energy-efficient, durable and fire-resistant. California Straw Building Association Executive Director Joy Bennett adds that the building technique also is environmentally friendly and has soundproofing properties. Most straw-bale homes are owner-built because builders have not embraced the technique due to lack of knowledge and the costs involved. Even so, Grass Valley, CA-based builder Keith Robertson believes prices will fall once the structures catch on. (www.sacbee.com)
Sacramento Bee (11/15/03) P. CL12; Masullo, Bob
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Midpoint in Chicago's Housing Overhaul
In Chicago, a $1.5 billion plan to replace public-housing developments with mixed-income neighborhoods comprised of townhomes, three-flats, mid-rises as well as new shops and businesses over a 10-year period is about 50% complete. According to Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) spokeswoman Kim Johnson, the effort is "about improving life for public-housing residents by allowing them to be a part of the city in a way they haven't been for 30 years." However, critics wonder what will happen to the tens of thousands of displaced residents, especially since the CHA is only obligated to find replacement housing for the 25,000 or so families that are in compliance with their leases. Moreover, the CHA will build just 8,000 units to replace the 22,000 slated for demolition. Though the agency says there will be enough new units for the 25,000 relocated families, critics are worried because provisions have not been made for the thousands of families on the public-housing waiting list. Furthermore, many residents feel they will be left homeless when the last of the public-housing developments are destroyed because they do not meet the credit standards necessary to secure a new unit. Depending on its success, the massive housing initiative will be used as a model for other cities in the coming years. (www.csmonitor.com)
Christian Science Monitor (11/17/03) P. 3; Paulson, Amanda
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Home Owners Want More Casual, Comfortable Spaces to Consume Meals and Entertain
Today's home owners are replacing the traditional formal dining room with an open floor plan that separates the dining room from the kitchen and great room with just columns, glass cabinets or fireplaces. "For the younger generations, it's more about making the dining experience special and less about the room...For the older generations, it's less about formality and more about creating a comfortable space for the family to reunite," remarks "When Generations Collide" co-author David Stillman. According to Builders Association of the Twin Cities President Chris Thompson, the open floor plan is preferred by many buyers because families tend to gather in the kitchen. Home owners also have traded in matched dining room furniture for mix-and-match pieces, notes American Furniture Manufacturers Association spokeswoman Patricia Bowling. (www.pioneerplanet.com)
Saint Paul Pioneer Press (11/14/03) Millett, Molly
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Spam Fighting for Small Businesses
Small businesses, which often lack the resources and funds to invest in expensive anti-spam software, can now choose from a variety of new anti-spam software being offered up by software developers. IDC analyst Jonathan Gaw points out that various anti-spam software is designed to stop or restrict spam using different methods, so small businesses must take it upon themselves to assess their spam-fighting needs before investing in one particular product. The variety of anti-spam software options also gives small businesses the ability to customize their anti-spam technology to meet their specific needs. However, before electing to purchase anti-spam software, small business owners must consider the role that e-mail plays in their company and the variety of uses that e-mail has for different users within the company. While some anti-spam software offerings use filters and white lists to block unsolicited e-mails, others employ blacklists or quarantines and other methods for restricting e-mail. Brightmail's anti-spam services and SpamKiller from McAfee are well known and widely used by small businesses. In addition to the slew of anti-spam software being provided by vendors, experts note that small businesses may also opt to depend on their Internet service provider to block spam. (www.ecommercetimes.com)
E-Commerce Times Online (11/14/03) Millard, Elizabeth
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Backup for Small Business
Small and mid-size businesses looking to avoid productivity and financial losses due to hard drive crashes should implement a data backup storage plan that goes beyond infrequently copying files onto CDs. They would be wise to consider tapes as alternatives to second hard drives because they can be stored at off-site locations. Exabyte VXA-2 — priced at $1,349 — is one of the most sophisticated tape solutions available, with expanded storage capacity and faster reading and writing capabilities. Unlike other tape solutions, the data is read and written on a packet basis. Moreover, the VXA-2 synchronizes the tape speed with the host's transfer rate to prevent disruptions. (www.pcmag.com)
PC Magazine (11/11/03) P. 53; Stam, Nick
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Blend of Phone and PDA Is Finally Getting it Right
The Samsung SPH-i500 combines a cellular phone and PDA in a single unit. The device features a color screen and numeric keypad, as well as voice dialing and voice memo capabilities. Given that it lacks a traditional keyboard, the i500 works best for users who spend most of their time talking on the phone, setting appointments and taking messages. Though the i500 offers clear calls and improved signal strength, its battery life is limited; the address book is not user-friendly; and it cannot be synchronized with Macintosh computers. The Handspring Treo 600 also effectively merges the cell phone and PDA, making it easy for users to check and write e-mail with a built-in keyboard. In addition, the Treo employs the most up-to-date Palm operating system and is equipped with a camera. (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Seattle Times Online (11/10/03) Fortt, Jon
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