NBN Online for the week of February 22, 2010

(Plain Text Version) for full graphical version, click here.

In This Issue:

Front Page
Slow Recovery May Be Leading to Serious Housing Shortages
National Green Building Conference Set for Raleigh in May
Coast to Coast
Good Real Estate News: Home Equity Is Rising Again
Politics & Government
Obama $3.8 Billion Budget Keys on Jobs, Deficit Trimming
GAO Says Davis-Bacon Delaying Weatherization Projects
Economics & Finance
January Housing Starts at Strongest Pace in Six Months
Builders Gain Confidence in Single-Family Market
Housing Affordability Near Record High for Fourth Straight Quarter
White House Announces $1.5 Billion for Hard-Hit Housing Markets
Eye on the Economy: Glimmers of Hope on the Employment Front
Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing Trends
Tips
Builders’ Tip: Protecting Stairs During Drywall Installation
Legal
NAHB Reports on Damage From Window Sunlight Reflection
Free Webinar on Chinese Drywall to Be Held on March 11
Business Management
Five Steps to Making Solid Staffing Decisions
Three New Biztools Business Guides Available Free to Members
Remodelers
Remodeling Market Looks in Worse Shape in Fourth Quarter
Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Threatened By Lead Paint Rule
Small Looks Beautiful in New Wave of Remodeling Jobs
Remodeler of the Year Lists 10 Keys to Business Success
Donna Shirey Selected as 2010 NAHB Remodelers Chair
Sales
Schleimer, Schatz Earn Top NAHB Marketing, Sales Awards
Building Systems
Log Home Tour to Visit a 'Dirty Jobs' TV Show Site
Education
NAHB Education Honors 10 Designees of the Year at IBS
Education Calendar
Green Building
2010 EVHA Gold Winners Cite Industry Education for Success
Green and Affordable Winning Combination in Mississippi
Green Home Features Should Appeal to What Women Want
environment
EPA Green House Gas Finding Draws Opposition
construction safety
Safety Award Winners Honored at IBS
hbi
Testing for HBI Certification Now Available Online
Building Products
Whirlpool Smart Grid Dryers to Be Introduced Next Year
TV
NAHB-Produced Programs on the DIY Network
Endowment
Endowment Awards 2010 HELP Grants to Five Universities
Challenge/Build/Grow Initiative Proposals Due March 26
Association News
Haiti Relief Fund Honors Builder's Fallen Daughter
Get BuilderBooks Virtual 2010 Publications Catalog Online
Jeffrey Tegeler, Iowa HBA Past President, Dies at 57
Let Love Bloom in February With FTD 20% Discount to Members
FedEx Offers Big Savings on Shipping
Members, Take Advantage of Special Offers From Hertz
Calendar of Events
NAHB Career Center

NAHB-Produced Programs on the DIY Network

The NAHB Production Group produces weekly television shows for consumers on the DIY network. The following is the latest lineup:

"Indoors Out" on DIY

Episode: "Rustic Outdoor Kitchen"

• Feb. 26, 11:00 a.m. EST
• March 1, 11:00 a.m. EST

 

Hosts Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns head to the outskirts of Nashville, Tenn. to add a rustic outdoor kitchen to the quiet, no-frills rural hideaway of country music star Trace Adkins. Adkins relishes rolling up his sleeves and working on his lakeside retreat, but his one-room getaway with a makeshift kitchen just isn't cutting it. That's where Dean and Derek come in. Using all natural Tennessee flagstone, Tennessee fieldstone and Vermont soapstone, they create a rustic outdoor kitchen complete with a patio, retaining wall, dining area and fireplace. They also add a custom-built, rustic wooden dining table, fireside sofa and coffee table to create a kitchen worthy of the country legend.

Episode: "Outdoor Office Lounge"

• Feb. 26, 11:30 a.m. EST
• March 1, 11:30 a.m. EST

 

What's the point of living and working in Las Vegas if you can't enjoy the beautiful year-round weather? Paula and Dave Braxton's current yard is uninhabitable so works-from-home Paula spends all of her time cooped up inside. Coming to the rescue, hosts Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns decide to expand Paula's business to her backyard with an outdoor office lounge. The focus of this client-oriented space is a comfortable seating area and an accessible snack station. A unique criss-cross patio features desert-friendly synthetic grass, a cozy fire pit for desert nights and an easy-to-assemble tricked-out grill to make entertaining a breeze. With plenty of hardscaping, a little irrigation and some desert-friendly plants, Dean and Derek turn a desert downer into an oasis-style office lounge.

Episode: "Swedish Sauna"

• Feb. 28, 8:00 a.m. EST

 

Hosts Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns help a Swedish expat couple adjust to American life with a one-of-a-kind outdoor spa. Mats and Tanja had no place to celebrate their shared love of European saunas and spas in their tiny 1920s house. So Dean and Derek surprise the couple with a European-meets-American style room complete with an easy-to-assemble infrared sauna, gorgeous hot tub and a do-it-yourself outdoor shower. Beautiful bluestone and Tennessee crab orchard stone create the floor and outdoor cedar furniture completes the look.

HGTV Seeking ‘Dream Home’ Builder/Architect Teams

HGTV is seeking developers, builders and architects to create the 2010 HGTV Dream Home, the grand prize in the network's annual sweepstakes. To learn more, click here.

About the NAHB Production Group

The NAHB Production Group is a full-service, self-contained, media production unit creating programming for cable television, broadcast television, non-profit, museum and corporate clients. Productions range from magazine format shows for general audiences to museum-installation videos for specialized use.

The production group includes award winning journalists, writers and photographers with experience in broadcast, documentary and corporate television.


 

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Sponsored by
NAHB

 
 
> Let Love Bloom With an FTD 20% Discount in February
> FedEx Offers Big Savings on Shipping
> Members, Take Advantage of Special Hertz Offers