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RECENT ADDITIONS
McCar Homes Raises More than $300,000 at Eighth Annual Golf Tournament
McCar Homes far surpassed their goal of $250,000 at their Eighth Annual Charity Spring Classic golf tournament held in May.

Howard Perry & Walston Team up for a Cure
On June 14, 2008, Howard Perry & Walston (HPW) teamed up to take part in the 2008 Komen NC Triangle Race for the Cure®.

Pulte Homes to Tee up for N.C. Children’s Promise
Pulte Homes of Raleigh will host its first ever Pulte Homes Charity Golf Classic benefiting the N.C. Children’s Promise, a nonprofit organization supporting the N.C. Children’s Hospital on September 15, 2008 held at Devils Ridge Country Club in Holly Springs.

Insulating Your Home for Winter
As the chilly winter months approach and the gas prices are up, it is important to think about keeping your family nice and warm in your home – without emptying your wallet. The insulation that you use can keep you warm in your house in the winter.

Chapel Hill: A town that has it all
As a public administration graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the early 1980s, Roger Stancil thought working for the town would be the ideal job. Today, as Chapel Hill’s town manager, Stancil helps run the town that many consider the “Southern Part of Heaven.” For university students and residents alike, it is the town they never want to leave. “Chapel Hill has it all – an atmosphere of learning, energetic residents, major cultural events, sports, & good restaurants,” Stancil says. “And, as the song goes, these are just a few of my favorite things.”

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Go Green!


By Karen A. Rhodes

WhisperGreen
The Product: WhisperGreen™ 80 CFM Premium Ceiling-Mounted Continuous and Spot Ventilation Fan with SmartAction™ Motion Sensor

 

Why It’s Green: The WhisperGreen™ Ventilation Fan is the flagship product of Panasonic’s newly formed independent group, the Panasonic Home and Environment Company. The Energy Star®-qualified fans are designed to make indoor air healthier by providing whole-house ventilation.

Approximate Cost (with and without Installation): Premium Ceiling-Mounted Fan with SmartAction™ Motion Sensor (FV-08VKM1) list price $279.00; Premium Ceiling-Mounted Ventilation Fan (FV-08VKS) list price $253.00.


Where to Find: Ferguson locations throughout the Triangle; Wilkinson Supply Company, C. C. Dickson, and House of Lights Raleigh, all in Raleigh; House of Lights of Cary, Inc., in Cary; Hunt Electric Supply and Eck Supply, both in Durham; The Lighting Place, Inc., and City Electric Supply, both in Chapel Hill. Visit www.panasonic.com/ventfans to learn about proper ventilation and find a dealer near you.

 

About the Product: Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency lists poor indoor air quality as the fourth-largest environmental threat in the United States, or that EPA studies show that air pollution levels inside the home are often two to five times higher than outdoor levels?
The WhisperGreenTM ventilation fans exhaust stale air to improve air quality with quiet and continuous whole-house ventilation—with 360 to 450 percent more energy efficiency than the minimum Energy Star requirements. The fan runs continuously at 30 to 70 CFM (cubic feet/minute) and bumps up to 80 CFM with the flip of a switch or when activated by an integrated motion sensor. A delay feature keeps the fan running at 80 CFM after a person leaves the bathroom, to evacuate moisture and odors. Totally enclosed motors, galvanized housings, and thermal fuse protection add up to ultra-quiet operation and durability for years to come. User-friendly installation makes it easy to enjoy the benefits right away.

 

 

Totally Bamboo
The Product: Totally Bamboo solid-bamboo kitchen countertops

 

Why It’s Green: Bamboo isn’t just beautiful and durable—it’s also an easily renewable resource. Plus, Totally Bamboo countertops use all-natural materials and are laminated with an adhesive that’s completely non-toxic, food-grade, and most importantly, formaldehyde-free.

 

Approximate Cost (with and without Installation): $30 per square foot, uninstalled; approximately $50 installed, depending on the installer.

Where to Find: Other Totally Bamboo products, such as cutting boards, bowls and utensils, can be found at Earth Fare in Chapel Hill and Raleigh; A Southern Season and Details, both in Chapel Hill; Accipiter in Raleigh; and Morgan Imports in Durham. To order unfinished countertop slabs, visit www.TotallyBamboo.com or call (818) 765-9000.

 

About the Product: A green alternative to traditional wood butcher-block tops, bamboo countertops are 16 percent harder than maple. Bamboo is constructed into 1.5-and 2-inch-thick planks using cross-band laminates called Multilam, which keeps the plank flat and true and reduces its tendency to twist or warp. The glue used contains no formaldehyde—a good thing, since 2004 the World Health Organization re-designated formaldehyde-based glue as a proven human carcinogen. The lamination and construction process provides a striking edge profile, and edges can be routed to suit any kitchen style. There’s also a distinctive patent-pending edge trim that can make a 1.5-inch-thick countertop look 3 inches thick. Countertops are offered in four grain patterns: Caramelized Flat Grain, Caramelized Vertical Grain, and an exclusive Caramelized and Natural Parquet End Grain, in varying thicknesses. Inlaid and solid bamboo backsplashes are available as well. Planks come unfinished and sanded to 180 grit; the company recommends installation by a qualified woodworking professional, but it can be installed by advanced do-it-yourself types as well.