I’m very excited to announce that SteveRosenbaum.com has  joined the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin.

This is a community of extremely sharp, talented and proud business people that are fighting the tough fight against a very stubborn economic climate.  I am pleased to contribute to the success of the industry by teaching my fellow members the sales and marketing skills, both online and offline, that I have honed over my career.

I have uploaded the logos of the HBA, as well as the National Association of Realtors and Texas Association of Builders to my website in support of these fine associations.

This is what an NFRC label looks like.  Listen now at http://GetRatedNow.com/radio for why this is important.

We’re talking about insulated concrete form live on Home Energy Solutions Radio.  Here about how we are building a 5-star energy efficient home out of ICF, and what we are putting on the exterior.

This is what ICF, Insulated Concrete Forms look like being installed.

Listen to us live at http://GetRatednow.com/radio.

We continue our series demonstrating how Streetman Homes of Austin, TX builds energy efficient houses that make a difference.  Earlier we demonstrated how Agribalance foam insulation outperforms traditional fiberglass insulation, and we took you into an attic to show you what an open cell foam insulated attic looks like.

In this video, Bob Brock and Craig Bushon tell you exactly why it is so important to properly insulate your attic, and explain how this will help your HVAC system run better, cleaner and more efficiently.

Tell us what you do to make your home more energy efficient.

Streetman Homes in Austin, TX uses Agribalance, an environmentally friendly open cell foam to insulate some of their most energy efficient homes.  Sealed attic systems with foam insulation have many advantages of traditional fiberglass batt systems.

Take a look inside the attic of one of the Streetman Homes in Mueller, as Craig Bushon demonstrates why this is a great way to build your new home.

Tell us what you do to make your home more energy efficient.

Bob Brock from Streetman Homes in Austin, TX explains to Craig Bushon of Home Energy Solutions the advantages of using open cell foam insulation in the attic. Bob uses a machine to demonstrate how the foam not only keeps the attic cooler, but also prevents air drafts that are common in traditional fiberglass insulation systems.

Tell us what you do to make your home more energy efficient.

Craig Bushon from Home Energy Solutions visited with Streetman Homes at Mueller in Austin, TX and reviewed all the ways that Streetman is building quality homes and helping homeowners take a chunk out of the utility bills.

Tell us what you do to make your home more energy efficient.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Lawmakers have their eye on more than cash-for-clunkers and improving the fuel efficiency of the American transportation fleet. 

 
That’s because the built environment, that is, how much energy is consumed by residential and commercial buildings, constitutes the largest source of energy consumption in the U.S. Therefore, if we make our homes and buildings more efficient, we make a create a cleaner, greener America.

 
The current climate bill (Waxman-Markey) which will be debated, discussed, and amended in the Senate floor later this year, has one section which every builder should be aware of: Section 201, covering national building energy codes.

What are these proposed national building codes?
• in  2010, 30% below the baseline energy code (IECC 2006 and ASHRAE 90.1-2004)
• in 2014-2015, 50% below the baseline energy code, and  
• every three years after, out to 2029-2030, an additional 5% reduction

Source: @2009 2030, Inc./ Architecture 2030

What does this mean for the builder? Well, Austin and its surrounding communities should fare better than other locations and states which currently lack statewide commercial and residential building codes. That’s because Texas does have a statewide Building and Energy Codes (IBC 2003 and IECC 200). And many communities already have adopted the IECC 2006 Energy Code. Although Central Texas builders are familiar with Energy Codes, they are going to have to become familiar with energy efficient home building.

If the above codes pass, then every new home constructed in the U.S. will have to be more energy efficient than what the current Energy Star for New Homes label requires.  If you still think that “green building” is a passing fad, think again.

Solar Hot Water class at Green Expo 2009

Austin area homeowners swarmed the Dell Diamond this past Saturday to get their questions answered about solar hot water and other energy saving technologies.

Green Expo 2009, sponsored by the Williamson County Association of Realtors (WCAOR) was a smashing success!

“Homeowners love it!”, said Steve Rosenbaum of BMC West and Home Energy Solutions, a premier sponsor of the event. “Everybody has lots of questions about what they can do right now to save money at home.”

Home Energy Solutions is hands down the leader in bringing consumers, manufacturers and everybody in between together to see, touch, and learn about things they can do. BMC West features Home Energy Solutions products such as solar water system, solar attic fan (part of the Solex Attic System), 3M window film, and the most energy efficient vinyl replacement window and door systems.

“The first step,” says Rosenbaum, “is always the inspection. Make sure to bring in a certified thermographer to shoot your home with an infrared camera so you can see where your home is leaking energy.”

Get all your homeowner energy efficient questions answered at GetRatedNow.com.  Follow us now on Facebook and Twitter.

Could the President have been speaking directly about Home Energy Solutions windows, and our work with Youthbuild from the event we attended with the First Lady this Spring?

You be the judge. Watch this video and read the blog post below.

Remember when Mrs. Obama checked out the Home Energy Solutions efficient vinyl windows at the Youthbuild anniversary this past spring?

Well guess what. In this weeks address, President Obama personally praised the House for passing a bill touting the importance of efficient windows.  He also praised companies like Home Energy Solutions and BMC West that help create new jobs so that America will lead the energy revolution.

Thank you President and Mrs. Obama for recognizing our leadership!

Join us on Twitter and Follow us on Facebook.