NBN Online for the week of November 3, 2008

Tax Credits Heat Up Demand for Solar Homes in Florida

A Florida builder is taking advantage of energy-efficiency tax credit provisions to construct homes that include photovoltaic panels to produce electricity and a solar water heating system — at prices competitive with more traditional homes in his market.

Ronald King Construction in Brooksville is installing the renewable energy systems on homes in its Deerfield Estates subdivision. When combined with Energy Star-rated appliances, lighting and other features, the homes are built to be at least 60% more energy-efficient than conventional homes.

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Lumber Prices Provided by Random Lengths

Read More in Nation’s Building News — Win a Full IBS Registration

Click on and read five or more stories in this issue of Nation’s Building News and you automatically will be entered in a contest to win a full registration to the 2009 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 20-23.

Full registration — $425 for members and $575 for non-members — gives attendees access to four days of exhibits on one million net square feet of exhibit space, all the educational sessions at IBS and new, daily-featured speakers who will give you pointers on how to navigate the downturn.

Continue Reading the Industry News That Is Important to You

There are no forms or paperwork to fill out to enter this contest. Just read more about what’s important to you and your business in Nation’s Building News each week.

One avid reader will be selected randomly each week through the Dec. 22 issue. So read more in every issue until then to improve your chances of winning — and to put your business in a better position during the downturn.

Level Heads Keep Topeka's Housing on Healthier Track

By living up to their Midwestern reputation for not being risk-takers, residents of Topeka, Kan. have seen their local housing market weather the current economic crisis better than some others across the country.

“Obviously we’ve seen a downturn, but we never overbuilt so our builders are not sitting on too much inventory,” said Dawn Wright, president and CEO of the Topeka Home Builders Association (THBA).