Masco Home Services recently announced the launch of WellHome (www.wellhome.com), a new program offering home assessments and comfort and energy efficiency home improvement services for existing homes. The WellHome service is launching in seven cities — Austin, Dallas, Orlando, Phoenix, Tucson, Ann Arbor, Mich. and Nashua, N.H. — and plans to expand to other cities before the end of 2010.
Through its WellHome business, Masco Home Services, a subsidiary of Masco Corp., plans to become the first national provider of home performance services, including whole home comfort and energy efficiency assessments, recommendations and project implementation. Unlike simple energy auditing services, WellHome will provide assessments and implementation, serving as the general contractor to oversee all home improvement projects.
Additionally, WellHome provides homeowners with a Whole Home Energy Savings Limited Guarantee on their energy savings resulting from the improvements. State and federal tax credits, and utility rebates and incentives, may be available to help pay for these improvements.
Education
InSinkErator Offers CEU Program
InSinkErator, a manufacturer of food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers, is now an official Continuing Education Unit (CEU) provider with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). The company’s first program is “Solutions for Sinks — Sustainable Kitchen Design.”
The course is aimed at educating designers about the sink appliances to consider when designing a green kitchen. These live, one-hour sessions will begin with the different types of in-home water purification systems available and how to select a delivery system that fits client needs. Participants will also learn about the household and community waste management processes that impact kitchen design and how food waste, when sent through a disposer and household plumbing to wastewater treatment facilities, can be turned into renewable energy and beneficial fertilizer for farmers, landscapers and home gardeners.
Upon completion of the course, participants will earn a 0.1 CEU toward their mandatory certification. To learn more, call (800) 558-5700.
Lead Paint
CEDIA to Host Training
The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA), in partnership with accredited training providers, is offering a simple and cost-effective solution for companies that must comply with the Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The training will be available to electronic systems contractors as well as builders, remodelers and any other professionals who perform applicable work.
In cooperation with the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) and other EPA-accredited providers, CEDIA is now offering a two-part Certified Lead Renovator course, which includes both an online component and a hands-on component. The online portion of the training will be available through the CEDIA e-Learning platform, and the hands-on lab portion of the training will be hosted by CEDIA at select ADI locations throughout the United States.
To register for the online training or to learn more about how the EPA’s Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule affects your business, visit www.cedia.org/lead.
Energy Incentives
Obama Pushes Home Star
President Barack Obama promoted the proposed Home Star incentive program after touring an energy efficiency workforce development program at Savannah Technical College recently.
The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI), a national standards development and contractor credentialing organization for residential energy efficiency retrofit work, is part of a coalition of more than 500 construction contractors, building products and mechanical manufacturers, retail sales businesses, environmental and energy efficiency groups, and labor advocates from all 50 states who want to see the job creation and energy savings benefits of federal Home Star legislation realized. BPI personnel certification and contracting company accreditation credentials are cited in the current draft legislation for Home Star.
In his remarks, the president outlined the job-creation benefits of Home Star, noting that with unemployment in the construction sector near 25 percent, along with substantial underutilized capacity in the manufacturing sector, the
Home Star program has the potential to jump-start economic recovery by boosting demand for energy efficiency products and installation services. Home Star is expected to create approximately 168,000 new jobs in local communities.
Acquisitions
Staroba Acquires EcoStar
Staroba Plastics, Inc. announced the acquisition of EcoStar from Carlisle Construction Materials. EcoStar, known for its roofing tiles manufactured from recycled rubber and plastic, will now be known as EcoStar LLC under the ownership of Staroba Plastics. Based in Holland, N.Y., Staroba Plastics has manufactured the EcoStar product since its inception.