I’m Randy Merrill, the owner of Cartridge World Atlanta and I’d like to share with you an idea to help save you money, help the community and save the planet with no inconvenience to you. We are currently saving Mount Vernon Presbyterian, Pace Academy and The Lovett School thousands of dollars a year on their ink and toner and we would like to do the same for you.

Our business is simple and successful. We take the empty casings of ink and toner cartridges and completely remanufacture them in our Vinings workshop. Through this process, we have a higher success rate vs. original manufacturer for a new cartridge or toner off the shelf. As a result, we are able to provide a savings of 25%-40% on each piece. Importantly, the dollars spent by you and your school go directly into our local economy, not overseas, which helps our community.

Finally, we recycle to reduce landfill waste. One toner casing requires 1 gallon of oil to make, produces 3.5 pounds of waste and remains in the landfill for 450 years. Our remanufacturing process reuses your casing and reduces waste.

We also offer free delivery for orders over $100.

We can save you money, put your printing dollars back into your community, help save the planet and our delivery (orders > $100) is free.

It would be our pleasure to provide you with a quote and you can compare the savings for you and the benefits for our community and planet.

From the manufacturer:

“I’m sure you are aware of the Energy Star Appliance rebate going into effect in GA, but I wanted to forward this just in case. Energy Star certified Solar Water Heating systems do apply, and our systems are Energy Star  …rebate is in place until the funds are exhausted, which could easily move quickly.

GA:
GA’s is going into effect on Feb. 12, 2010. GA’s pays $199 until the $9.3M runs out (all appliance rebates).
GA Rebate

Contact us today to get a free quote on your house  Fresh World Contact.

Here is a previous post updated with this rebate:

See you there.

Duct tape is a Southern tradition for home repair, however will not save you money in the long run.

All water heaters are created equally correct?  I wish. Unfortunately they are not, and making a bad choice in a water heater can cost you a lot in operating costs.  The water heater is the second largest consumer of energy on most residences.

What are the types of water heaters?

For the most part, there are 2 major types of water heaters (WH)- tank water heaters and tankless water heaters.  A tank water heater heats up the water and stores it in a tank until the plumbing device that needs hot water calls for it.  A tankless (AKA on demand WH)- heat up the water as it flows through the heater therefore does not need a tank.

What are energy used to heat water?

The most common types of tankless water heaters use gas, however some use electricity to heat the water.  Tank water heaters use can use either gas, electric or the sun to heat the water.  If is a solar water heater,  AKA Solar thermal, there is usually a gas or electric backup for when the sun is not out or for overcast days.

Keep in  mind:

• Not all water heaters are created equally, some only are build to last a few years, and others such as solar are designed to last even longer.
• A tankless water heater takes 18.5 years to pay for itself, while a solar water heater pays for itself in 3-7 years according to the department of energy.
• A solar water heater can heat up to 90% of the hot water for a house on average for the year.
• A water heater is sized according how much hot water you may use at once.  By choosing water saving plumbing devices, you reduce the cost of having to upgrade to a larger water heater.

Bottom Line (based on saving and durability):

• Good:     Basic gas or electric tank water heater
• Better:   Tankless Water Heater
• Best:       Solar Water Heater

My Design Partners that provide flooring:

Fresh World- Velux Solar Water Heaters

European Sink- Water saving plumbing fixtures

For full service design/ build services visit us at SawHorse

Other posts in the “Good Better Best” series:

Introduction to My Design Partners

Flooring

HVAC

Roofing

Water Heating

On average- in Atlanta you will save around 85% on water heating using a Velux system because the sun can preheat the water so the secondary heat source rarely has to kick on!  According the DOE the average payback is between 3-7 years.   Solar thermal is 5-10 times as efficient as tankless water heater in most cases and the payback is faster as a result.

To see how Solar Thermal works visit Fresh World.

Remember your parents being proud by giving you the basic essentials to include “a roof over you head?”   Well- not are roofs are created equal.  Some roofs are good enough to pass code and last a few years and others are designed to last for several generations.

What are the types of roofing?

For most houses in the Atlanta area we see asphalt shingles, however there are many more options beside asphalt.  Many of our clients have clay tile roofs, slate roofs and metal roofs.  On our modern houses, membrane roofs are the most common options.

Here are some of the roofing materials that are readily in the Atlanta area:

• Asphalt Shingles- are the most common because the that the easiest to install and the cheapest to purchase.  They start out at a 20 year warranty and go over 50 years for some of their shingles.  They are tar based and are subject to price fluctuations with the price of oil
• Natural Slate shingles- Slate shingles are a lifetime shingle.  Most installs will last the life of the structure.  The are very durable, but they are also very heavy.  If you are planning on using them for new construction, then you can plan to up-size the framing accordingly.  If you have an existing roof then you will need to plan for the extra weight of the natural slate or consider a composite slate that weighs less if you want the same look.
• Clay Tile- clay tile roofs also known as Spanish tile roofs are common in FL and CA.  However Atlanta has it’s fair share of clay tile roofs as well
• Metal Roofing- metal roofs are very durable and can save you money on energy bills if installed correctly

Bottom Line (based on price and durability):

• Good:     30 year + asphalt shingle
• Better:  40 year + asphalt shingle
• Best:       Tile, Slate and Metal roofs

My Design Partners that provide flooring:

RW Stokes- Hardwood material, install and finishing

For full service design/ build services visit us at SawHorse

Other posts in the “Good Better Best” series:

Introduction to My Design Partners

Flooring

HVAC

Roofing

Water Heating

In any type of renovation or new home build you will have to pick out or refinish the flooring in your home. There are many options to choose from along with some new and exciting new options that have just come on the market.  Flooring can add warmth and beauty to the home and in many cases makes or breaks the overall design.  Sometimes all you need is a fresh coat of paint and a new floor and the room will look new again.

What are the types of flooring?

There are many different types of flooring to chose from.  Just in the past 2 years at the Hoots Group and SawHorse we have installed, carpet, tile, cork, bamboo, reclaimed heart pine, hardwood (oak), vinyl, and concrete for starters.  In this section we will focus on wood and tile/ stone flooring which are more common in fine home-building and remodeling.

What are the different types of wood flooring?

When is comes to wood flooring, you can either get solid or engineered flooring.  Engineered flooring has a plywood base and a wood veneer on the top layer that is visible.  Solid flooring is solid piece of wood all the way through without any engineering.

While both types are good, most people opt for solid flooring because it is perceived as the better choice since it is pure throughout.  When choosing a wider plank floor, it is suggested that you choose a engineered floor that can be installed without the buckling over time.  Solid stock flooring may warp more when it comes to 8-12″ widths.

Here are some of the species that are readily available when it comes to wood floors:

• Oak- probably the most popular.  Oak is very strong and comes in red and white oak.  Oak has an open grain that is easily able to be stained or can be left natural.
• Pine- While oak is the most popular- pine is more common in the  Southeastern forests.  Pine is a little bit softer than oak, however when left in a natural state it does darken over time and provides a beautiful orange- glow that can be seen in older homes.  Pine is best left in its natural without stain since it is not an open grained wood like oak and does not receive stain evenly.
• Cherry- more recently, I have seen other hardwoods such as cherry available in the flooring market.  Cherry cabinetry has grown in popularity because of it’s natural orange finish.  Since cherry is a hardwood, it is one of the more durable options for floors.
• Bamboo- 10 years ago you could not give away bamboo floors, now they are a hot commodity.  Bamboo has become more popular recently because it is a rapidly renewable resource.  Bamboo does accept stain pretty well and is a popular choice for designers because of it’s recent buzz in the media.
• Cork- if you are looking for an option for a playroom or a kitchen that has a nice warm natural look, cork may be the solution for you.  Cork is not a hardwood and actually is soft to the touch, but that is it’s advantage.  It does not dent since it bounces back into place.  It is also a good choice for basements since it is moisture and mold resistant.

You can also reclaim oak and pine floors for added character.  New oak and pine flooring can be milled from old post and beam from older buildings that have aged or have wood from a different generation of trees.  These reclaimed floors add instant character to your home!

What about tile and stone?

Tile and stone are seen in wet areas of the house, but can also be used in kitchen, bedrooms and living areas.  Tile is very durable and does not need to be refinished or sanded like hardwoods.  Stone does need to be cleaned and sealing, but this cost is not that great.

Keep in  mind:

• Hardwoods are about 2 times as much as standard carpet and vinyl.  Tile and stone is about 1.5- 2 times as much as much as standard hardwoods.  There are exceptions to this rule.  Some hardwoods cost as much or more than tile.
• When looking at the cost of different flooring over time, carpet ends up being the most expensive since it has to be replaced several times while hardwoods and tile last much longer.  From a design perspective- hardwoods do need to be refinished every few years, however they tend to outlast tile style wise unless you pick a tile that is seen in past and present designs.
• Carpet not only off gases chemicals from the manufacturing process, but also traps dust and other allergens.  Some green building programs give you points for not using carpet.  If you do choose to use carpet, try wool or recycled content carpet that are low VOC.

Green Options:

• For hardwoods- if you get wood that is FSC certified then you know that it was sustainably harvested without damaging the forest.  Bamboo and some other trees are rapidly renewable.  Most hardwoods are grown in the US and buying local is green as well!  For more information on green wood products visit our partners sustainabilty section.
• Tile and stone- there are options for tile the is locally manufactured and some even have recycled content!  Make sure that you choose a design that can stand the test of tile so it can last a few generations and not get replaced with some thing else in the future.  For information on green tile visit our partners green options page.
• You get 1 LEED point for not using carpet on the LEED for Homes checklist.

Bottom Line (based on price and durability):

• Good:     Carpet/ Vinyl
• Better:   Engineered wood
• Best:       Solid wood/Tile/ Stone

My Design Partners that provide flooring:

InsiDesign- Hardwood material, install and finishing

Specialty Tile- Tile and Stone materials

For full service design/ build services visit us at SawHorse

Other posts in the “Good Better Best” series:

Introduction to My Design Partners

Flooring

HVAC

Roofing

Water Heating

Choosing the best HVAC for your house is not always any easy thing to decide upon.  Especially, when you are forced to make a decision quickly when it breaks when there are extreme temperatures outside!  It is best to have a plan in place (better yet a quote) before your system breaks.

In the Southeastern US there are several options that are readily available.  Standard heat pumps (heating and cooling), Furnaces (heating) with AC (cooling) , and Geothermal (heating and cooling)  are the most popular.

What is HVAC?

Your HVAC system is comprised of many different components.  The acronym best describes the components: Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning.  The Heating is possible either from a gas furnace or an outside condenser (heat pump).  The Ventilating is possible through the duct-work which takes the air to the rooms in the house and is forced into the duct-work by the air handler which has a blower.   The Air Conditioning is possible because of an outside condenser.

What are the types of heating?

You either heat your house with a heat pump or can used a gas powered furnace.  A gas heater will heat much faster when there is extreme temperature, however gas prices have seen much fluctuation in price over the past few years.  Where there are even more heating days, propane (which is more expensive than natural gas) becomes cost prohibitive. The option then becomes geothermal HVAC.

What are the types of cooling?

To cool your house, you need to be able to take the heat out of the house.  A typical outdoor unit uses freon for this heat exchange and take the hot freon to a large blower that tries to cool off the freon coil.  This type of system is called “air to air.”  The problem with air source cooling is that the time when you are trying to take the heat out of the house is when it is the hottest outside so it becomes more difficult to blow the hot temperature off of the coil when the outside air is already hot.  This is why they invented ground source heat pumps or geothermal.  Instead of exchanging the heat with the air, the heat is exchanged with the ground which is much cooler, therefore more efficient.  For more information on how geothermal works visit: How Geothermal Works

What type of energy is needed to power HVAC?

There are several different ways to provide the energy to heat and cool your home.  Electricity the primary source of energy to cool houses, while natural gas, propane and electricity are used to heat houses.   When choosing your equipment, is is good to know how much it will cost to operate versus the cost of the installation and equipment.  For instance and regular heat pump is cheaper to install, however a geothermal heat pump is much cheaper to operate.  Whenever energy prices go up, the more efficient HVAC system will win when it comes to payback.

Keep in  mind:

• In general-the cheapest equipment is not the most efficient and cost the most to operate
• Your HVAC is designed based on the efficiency of your house.  It is important to make sure that your window are functioning properly and that you have enough insulation before installing your HVAC.  The cost to upgrade your insulation is less that the amount will save you on HVAC costs!
• Make sure that you duct work is addressed at the same time if you are upgrading a unit.  Leaky duct work can take that precious air that you just paid to condition and dump it outside.  That does not make any sense!
• All equipment needs to be sized properly using a Manual J calculation.  If not, then the HVAC will not run properly and you will not be comfortable!

Bottom Line:

• Good:     Standard heat pump
• Better:   Dual fuel heat pump (gas and electric)
• Best:       Geothermal HVAC

For more information on HVAC and home performance solutions visit Fresh World

Other posts in the “Good Better Best” series:

Introduction to My Design Partners

Flooring

HVAC

Roofing

Water Heating

When designing a building a house or remodeling a home, how are you to know that you are getting the best options from your contractor?  Their goal is not only to make money, but to keep you on budget as well.  Unfortunately, in doing so you are not given the option to choose from the best categories when your house is being designed for you.

Our company, Fresh World, is a partner is a group called My Design Partners.  What is a “My Design Partner”?

“My Design Partners is a select association of the most innovative manufacturing and service providers in the custom residential, remodeling and construction industry. Through this premiere network, independent businesses collaborate to offer remodelers, builders and their clients a comprehensive, concierge level service that streamlines and enhances the design and building process with unsurpassed results.”

Fresh World will be hosting a discussion with the rest of the partners on Good, Better, Best design tips as they apply to designing various components of your home.  From Heating and Air and water heaters to Counter-tops and Flooring, we will discuss the various levels on the options that are currently available in the marketplace.  These options will help you better make good decisions when you are faced with either budget constraints or if you want the best on available and are not sure what that is!

I will will put my 2 cents worth in based on my design/ build experience and my partners will comment on my posts and offer even more information.  Check back often or RSS to the post and comments so you do not miss any thing in the series.  The category will be “Good, Better, Best”  AND “My Design Partners” on the sidebar.

Other posts in the “Good Better Best” series:

Introduction to My Design Partners

Flooring

HVAC

Roofing

Water Heating

Many years ago I was in the Marine Corps and was in excellent shape. I also trained the Marines under me and helped them meet the requirements of the physical fitness test. If they saw me at the beginning of December- they would wonder 2 things- 1. What happened to Matt’s hair? AND 2. Why is he not in peak shape?

Since I started back to the gym (my 2010 resolution), I feel much better. Exercise has been a great outlet to burn off the stress of running a business and dealing with year end “fun stuff.”

Why am I sharing this? No- it is not to brag- I have only been going for a few weeks now. It is to encourage you to start a routine or create a space that is yours to clear your head and get in shape so you can feel better.

I am stressed at the end of the day, but I would not compare my role as a business owner to the intensity of other professions. An air traffic controller or ER doctor is probably a little more intense than what I deal with on a day to day basis. When figuring out your routine- consider a few factors:

1. Do you have the energy to get through the day? If not- consider going to the gym in the morning to jump start your day.
2. Do you come home stressed out and unpleasant to be around? If yes- consider a quick trip to the gym after work to burn off the stress to come home refreshed.
3. Do you experience both? If yes- mix up your routine- cardio in the morning and strength in the evening.

Trying to save $$ and the gym is not in your 2010 budget? When I was in the Marine Corps, I was able achieve peak fitness with a pair of running shows and a pull up bar. Most public parks have a pull up and dip bar and along with cardio, you can get into great shape quickly while enjoying the outdoors!

Hope that you achieve your 2010 New Year’s Resolution whatever it might be. Go ahead and give is a practice run starting today to get the momentum that you need going into the 2010.

Over the next few days- I am going to revisit some of the post that I made 1 year ago that are still relevant in December of 2009.

One year ago, over 90% of my clients put their projects on hold so I was prompted to write this piece:

If the Rich are Hurting

What is different now?  People know that we are in a recession, however homes still need to be built and houses still need improvement.  I can only imagine how much work has been generated out of the flooding that occurred.  We are still an economy based on consumption, however people and spending their money with more care and not relying on banks as much anymore.  We are seeing more spending now over this time last year, however it is not dependent upon banks as much.

This could be the case, however each home or building is different and these types of savings are based on how bad the house is in the first place.

Confused? Well- you should be. Most contractors don’t even know where to start.

If you are talking to and HVAC contractor (that only does HVAC- not home performance) they will sell you on the latest and greatest equipment.

If you got one of those “free audits” for you home- you will get sold some insulation.

If you call a window replacement company- you will get sold some super insulated vinyl windows that will be 25% less if you sign now!

Not that these products do not work (this was an intentional “double negative”), however if they applied in the wrong order, you will end having to spend the money twice or may not get the full benefit of the improvement immediately.

What is the solution? The best thing to do is do everything at once with a home performance contractor. They will do full diagnostic assessment to see where the problems are on your home and will give you a prioritized list based on safety concerns and return on investment.

Typically, you will see the ROI in this order.

1. Fix the holes Any holes in the exterior of your home is costing you money every day.  Whether it is an actual home where air or water is coming in/ going out or if it is inadequate insulation allowing for heat to be lost in the winter or gained in the summer.  This applies to foaming holes around the windows, air sealing around outlets, adding insulation to areas that do not have it (after you seal the holes), replacing windows that leak, and fixing duct work that leaks.
2. Upgrade the HVAC This needs to happen after the house is weatherized.  If not, the HVAC will be sized according an inefficient house.  Once you make it efficient, then the HVAC will be over-sized for that house.  Over-sized HVAC systems do not run long enough to pull the moisture out of the air and this can cause indoor air quality issues.  If you are going to upgrade the insulation and windows (just not now) then size the HVAC for the more efficient house.  It will just have to run longer to condition the house, but it will condition it.  Also, make sure that you fix your ductwork at the same time.  If not, you just spend tens of thousands on a system that is 10-30% more efficient that you old one (unless you are going with geothermal) and your duct system could be leaking 50% of the air to the outside.  Fixing the ductwork is a fraction of the cost and yields a faster ROI.
3. Renewable Energy-
   1. Geothermal HVAC should be considered whenever you are looking to replace or add HVAC.  Since geothermal costs more,, you need to make your house as efficient as possible by upgrading your insulation to spray foam and adding good windows.  This will decrease the size of the geothermal unit and saze you on installation and operational costs.
   2. Solar Thermal- I like heating water with the sun since the sun’s energy is currently free.  Solar Thermal is also not dependent on insulation, windows etc.  You can upgrade to solar thermal at any time as long as you plan currently for the number for bathrooms that you have in your house and how many people will be using the water at once.

PS- Whatever you do for the winter will help lower your summer bills as well!!

For more examples on Building Performance Solutions visit Fresh World

We were part of several episodes set to air early next year and we were able to add a layer of green to each episode. John Gidding the principle designer and show host had this to say about our team:

“I just wanted to express my deep gratitude at the incredible work you guys did for the Avery project. In every way, you exceeded everyone’s expectations – even mine. Thank you so much for everything.

Of the many companies I’ve worked with for HGTV projects, and for my own design firm, you are among a tiny group of leaders; head and shoulders above the rest.”

I would like to attribute the success of these episodes to our VP of production- Justin McAusland, who was able to manage each project around the cameras and keep them on schedule!

Here is picture of a before and after of the last project that Justin managed.

Courtesy of John Gidding

The material that you see is a thermally modified decking and fencing material supplied by: 




Via Viridis, LLC,  131-A Bells Ferry Lane, Marietta, GA 30066, 770-345-4000 Office




Some of our fellow renovation contractors saw these picture and stated, ‘these pictures look good,  but I thought that the Hoots Group was a green contractor- these don’t look green!’

Seriously?  Why does building green not imply good design and craftsmanship?  That is too funny.  I guess that they were expecting to see an Earthship made out of tires and powered by a wind turbine!