Local builders official hearing growing demand from consumers

Residents willing to take on the challenge of building a home during a national recession are saving their money through energy-efficient construction, according to industry experts at this weekend's West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association Home Show.

"These houses are being built enormously energy-efficient," said Doug Meshaw, executive vice president of the state builder's association. "Energy is the big driver these days."

Describing energy-efficient products as customer favorites, state builder's association Vice President Ray Venema said they run the gamut of possibilities, from windows to insulation to appliances.

Venema, an owner of Susquehanna Builders, said many local customers are using federal tax credits to offset the upfront costs.

Venema said three of every four new homes he builds within an 80-mile radius of Williamsport include geothermal units, which uses the ground's heat as an energy source.

Tax credits mean savings

Tax credits can make for a 30-percent savings in geothermal systems, according to Venema.

A man with a spacious area home, nearly twice the size of what Venema considers average, affordably cools and heats it with a geothermal system.

Frank Franek said his geothermal device drives the heater in his 4,000-square-foot Montoursville-area home for about $170 per month.

His monthly air conditiong bill is about $60 in the summer.

Constant ground

temperature

While the weather outside can fluctuate, John Kauffman of Geo Climate Control, Danville, said the ground temperature constantly stays around 52 degrees.

"You don't have a drop-off," Kauffman said. "You're getting four to five times more heat than the electric it uses will give you."

He simplified the process as moving compressed heat from the ground to the home using a pipeline and refrigerant systems.

Homeowners efficiently heating or cooling their homes want to make sure they seal them tightly, but not too tight, according to Dean Bohartz of Energy Solutions, Lewisburg.

Don't seal too tightly

"If you go too tight, you're going to save energy, but you create a major health problem," he said.

Mold growth and appliance exhaust can linger in homes suffering from a lack of fresh air.

Air seeping in from the wrong places, such as attics or crawl spaces, can be unhealthy and sediment laden, according to Bohartz.

"When I test out a house, I always look at safety, then energy efficiency," said Bohartz. "Safety is always first."

His tools include a blower door depressurizer that uses a fan to seek air leaks and a thermal imaging camera that detects cold and hot air.

Bohartz works closely with Michael Portwood, project manager for CVC Mechanical, Lewisburg.

Applicances factor in

Often, Bohartz finds unefficient heating and air conditioning equipment when he seals cracks.

This can prompt Portwood to arrange installation of more affordable appliances, including heating, air conditioning and tankless water heaters.

"A lot of times, we can put in a new system that is smaller because the house is tighter," Portwood said.

He said he's helped homeowners save 15 to 20 percent on their monthly energy bills.

Larry Miller of Bend-Fab, Milton, said his metal roofing customers using tax credits are saving up to $1,500 on purchases.

Reflecting more solar rays, he said metal roofs are considered environmentally efficient.

Reduced roof temperature results in less heat transfer into the home.

Best value for dollar

"It's the best value for your dollar," Miller said. "You won't have to replace it again for the rest of your life."

He added that metal roofs give homes more resale value.

Harley W. Fry II said his Crestwood Kitchen Supply, Muncy, business is featuring an economically sensible offering to supplement their kitchen business.

He said more and more residents wanting to improve their home, but lacking the money for complete overhauls, are opting to upgrade their bathroom.

"The bathroom make-over is relatively inexpensive, compared to doing other projects," Fry said.

Bathroom decor

Expanding their offerings past vanities and countertops, Fry's company three months ago began offering all bathroom decor.

He expects it to continue.

"I think bathrooms will be a good part of our business," Fry said.

Mark Turner of the Kitchen Design Studio, 315 W. Third St., said he designs kitchens for all price points.

He's noticed more people are building new kitchens in the basement, which can serve a couple of purposes.

Younger people are using them as a wet bar for entertainment.

Basement kitchens

Some older customers build basement kitchens, making it more convenient for their elderly parents to move in with them, according to Turner.

With two grown children of their own, and two grandchildren, Kurt and Nancy Renninger of Warrensville Road said they could use more home space.

They said they visit the home show annually for ideas, and they said they'd like more bedrooms when their family comes to visit.

The Renningers would also like a bigger kitchen. For the time being, they added kitchen cabinets to an adjacent room.

"I'm here to urge him into building a new house," Nancy Renninger said to her husband, smiling in acknowledgement.