As we head into our busy season, some of the improvements we’ve been able to make over this winter are bearing fruit. We were able to upgrade saw machinery in both Oakfield and our sawmill in Ashland, Me., to produce higher quality logs faster. Our Ashland fence product production increased by 10%. We’ve noted a 20-25% increase in productivity in the upgraded sawmills in Oakfield. This helps us to keep our unit costs down.
This month we tackle some interesting topics in the newsletter.
- Multigenerational households are increasing in the U.S. In response to a question posed by one of the January survey respondents, we talk about some design factors and tips when considering building a log home with more than one family in mind.
- LEED certification is becoming a hot topic and as you may know, Katahdin’s cedar is certified for LEED use. But there can be factors to consider when tallying up points to go for the gold.
- After many parts of the country experienced record-breaking weather and power outages, it made sense to examine some new standby generators that offer some size and power benefits.
- Location, location, location is the mantra of many smart realtors. We also think it’s a smart factor to consider when trying to build green and we review location in this month’s Green Tip.
- The Eddie Montgomery Steakhouse Home Buyers Seminar offers our friends in the center of the country the chance to experience one of our famous seminars.
Designing for Generations-Tips for the New Family
Today’s economy is leading many families to regroup and to rediscover some of the joys of living with multiple generations under one roof. We provide some tips to consider when designing for multi-generational homes. Click here to learn more.
New technology makes standby generators a better option
With an increasingly challenged power grid and increased response times to emergency outages, many homeowners are looking for cleaner, quieter and reliable ways to maintain power in their homes. Read More.
LEED Reconsidered-The Greening of Southie
A recent documentary captured both the heady idealism of environmental approaches to building and some of the less-than-perfect realities of LEED building parameters. We offer some tips for home buyers considering building green. Learn more Learn More.
Green Tip: Location, Location, Location!
Most people have become avid water consumers, but environmentalists are now bemoaning the effect of millions of empty water bottles in the waste stream. The solution? Click here.