Best Built Construction

Otsego County Conservation Association's first ever Renewable Energy Workshop

2010-02-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (WKTV) - Templeton Hall was standing room only on Saturday morning for the Otsego County Conservation Association's first ever Renewable Energy Workshop.

At the event, OCCA's President Martha Clarvoe said, "I was really expecting it to be a small crowd and I'm really pleased that it's a pretty big group." Well over 100 residents from around Otsego County turned out to find out how how to make their homes more energy efficient, and that may include turning to renewable energy sources, such as wind power, or solar panels.

Clarvoe says "we'd like to see more people getting solar panels and saving energy, and there are some basic things I think people aren't, it's not on their radar screen and we brought it."

Those who showed up found out if they install renewable energy sources, in many cases there are plenty of state and federal incentives to help out. Mary Jo Cronin of Doherty & Brush Electric in Roseboom says, "the incentives take care of about 50 percent of the cost by the time you, by the time you are done, they do fluctuate depending on how much money is in the program and how many people are applying for it."

But how about if you can't afford these $15,000+ upgrades to renewable energy? Norm Farwell of Equity Energy out of Fly Creek says, "the best place to spend your money usually is in the home assessment, because we can go in and we can look at where a house is losing heat, and once we know that, it can be as simple as some cans of spray foam, weather stripping, things like that."

Attendees were introduced to the "Low Carbon Diet Book", where you can find tips on how to save energy without any added cost to you, like hanging laundry up on a clothes line instead of using your dryer, also getting a programmable thermostat, so you use less heat when you are not at home.

If you missed Saturday's workshop, all of the information about what went on, and how to contact the experts who were in attendance, just log on to the Otsego County Conservation Association's website at : www.occainfo.org.

By Gary Liberatore
News Channel 2 - wktv.com - Utica, New York
http://www.wktv.com/close2home/82521922.html

Building an energy efficient home

2009-05-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

Join Ethan Eberly as he walks through an energy effecient home under construction by Best Built Construction.

Going Greener and Helping the Economy

2009-05-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Federal Stimulus pakcage includes lots of incentives for communities and businesses to make energy-efficient choices in building projects. The idea is that the full range of people involved in environmentally responsible building - from researchers to manufacturers to builders and installers - will benefit from increased activity.

But homeowners can benefit, too. The stimulus includes tax credits for energy efficient home improvements.

You can read more about it at the Energy Star website.

Best Built is an Energy Star partner, and we've seen what a difference a few green improvements can make.

Edmeston, NY Project Moves Forward

2009-05-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

For the past two years, we've been working closely with a client in Edmeston to create an energy efficient addition to their home. The work is now well underway, and we wanted to share some photos with our readers.

The family had a great view from the front of their home, and wanted to add a large great room to capitalize on it. They also wanted a two-car garage underneath the addition.

Best Built dug the foundation and went with a traditional poured wall foundation, which saved the family a few thousand dollars over using styrofoam forms, which would be our normal procedure.

Check back frequently to watch as the project develops.

Welcome to Best Built's New Blog

2009-05-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

Everyone at Best Built is very excited about the launch of our new blog. We will use it to share project updates, announce open houses and, most importantly, help share information you can use to make your home more energy efficient, whether you're building a new home, remodeling your existing home or just want to make your home a little greener.

You can read more about Best Built on our website, and see some photos of work we've done throughout the Northeast. We serve New York, Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland with two regional offices.