Hello,
BRRRR! It’s frosty Maine mornings like today that make us thankful for our industrial biomass boiler, which took over heating our mill buildings about a decade ago. It’s fueled by our cedar sawdust and waste, and has reduced our previous consumption of heating oil by 95%. It’s been a truly worthwhile investment!
This month we take a look at windows in our ongoing series, Katahdin Form+Function. New labeling from the National Fenestration Rating Council and Energy Star identify the essentials to understanding the performance of windows in your Katahdin home.
As a big fan of large machinery-we’ve got a lot of them here at the mill-we walk you through a list of the types of equipment you might expect onsite, as well as their function in constructing a log home. We also discover the resources and ideas for using native and non-invasive non-native plantings in your landscaping. There are multiple benefits, including wildlife habitat and lower costs, that incorporating native plants provide.
The end of the 2014 tax year provides an opportunity to review the tax credits and rebates available for efficient and alternative energy in residential housing. We provide some good resources to consult before and after adding these options to your log home.
Our expanded show schedule gives you the chance to see what log homes are all about. Check out our schedule below for a show near you this winter/spring.
Last month, you may recall we opened a survey to find out what you think about log homes, and the economy in general. Well, many have responded, but with the busy holiday season, we thought we’d leave it open through then end of January to give folks a chance to be heard. If you haven’t taken the survey, please take a moment to help us understand your views. Click here to take the survey. We’ll be sharing the results of the survey in February!
If you have any ideas you’d like to see explored in this newsletter, we’d love to hear from you. Just click here to reach us.
Sincerely,
David Gordon
President
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Katahdin Form+Function: Windows
Windows are an essential part of a Katahdin Cedar Log Home. They provide light and an opportunity to bring the beautiful setting outside into the home. We take a look at new ratings and what them mean for window performance. Learn more.
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Construction Notes: Heavy Equipment
One of the fun and exciting parts of building are the big pieces of equipment used for log home construction. With a little foreknowledge, you and your builder can coordinate these workhorses to maximize their time and efficiency. Learn more.
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Going Native: Landscaping Locally
One way to keep green in your yard-and keep costs down-is to landscape using native plants, trees and shrubs. This supports a natural habitat for wildlife, and maintains the integrity and balance of the local ecosystem. We found some useful resources for native landscaping in several states. Read more.
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Green Tip: Tax Break or Not?
Tax incentives have changed with the coming of the new year. Learn where you can find out more about getting credit for alternative energy and efficient appliances. Read more.
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Our Biggest Winter/Spring Log Home Show Schedule Ever!
North, south, east and midwest, we’ve got it covered. Get the details here.