Tune in as the Emmy® Award-winning television series This Old House kicks off its first-ever Los Angeles renovation on PBS. With the help of local tradespeople, the expert crew gives a 1933 Spanish Colonial Revival located in the neighborhood of Silver Lake a “Hollywood-style makeover.” In order to accommodate a growing family, homeowners Kurt Albrecht and Mary Blee know they need to expand their home. The This Old House experts are working with Los Angeles-based contractor Steve Pallrand and his design-build firm Home Front on a modest 750-sq.ft. addition, which includes a new second floor, larger kitchen, new family room, two additional baths and two more bedrooms. Throughout the renovation, the series will focus on preserving and replicating the quaint period details that make the property unique, such as the clay roof tiles, arched doorways, tray ceilings, plaster ornamentation, inlaid floors and art deco light fixtures.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/thisoldhouse/48093/
The new Automower® 305 robotic lawnmower represents the third generation of silent, automatic robotic lawnmowers that provide a perfect, trouble-free lawn. The compact and lightweight newcomer targets homeowners with smaller gardens with lawns, up to 500 m2. As with its bigger siblings from Husqvarna, it offers homeowners carefree mowing throughout the season.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/husqvarna/47607/
Blu Homes (www.bluhomes.com), a leading designer and manufacturer of beautiful, green, precision-built homes, based in Boston and San Francisco, announced today the unfolding of two eco-friendly faculty homes at Portsmouth Abbey School, one of the nation’s leading Catholic boarding schools. The two-story Blu “Evolution” homes are Energy Star-rated and LEED certifiable, and will be located on the School’s 500-acre campus on the picturesque shores of Narragansett Bay in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The spacious and highly energy-efficient Blu Evolutions are two of a growing number of Blu homes embraced by Rhode Islanders. A Blu Element was erected in Charlestown last year while a Blu Breezehouse and another Element are currently being prepared for homeowners in Little Compton.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/40401-blu-homes-unfolds-green-faculty-homes-rhode-island-portsmouth-abbey-school
Homeowners in Santa Clara County still can take advantage of a county rebate program that covers 80 percent of the cost of a home energy assessment, up to $800. However, because the program is for a limited time only while funds last, homeowners are urged to contact a participating contractor as soon as possible to schedule a home energy assessment and also qualify for additional incentives up to $6,000 through Energy Upgrade California.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53504-energy-rebates-air-conditioning-repair-hvac-insulation-home-value
Leviton, a leading global manufacturer of electrical devices, today introduced state-of-the-art Universal Dimmers, engineered to provide homeowners optimal control of current and emerging incandescent, dimmable CFL and dimmable LED bulbs without sacrificing performance. Recognizing that newer, energy-efficient bulbs have specific needs for effective dimming, Leviton worked with bulb manufacturers to develop dimmers that are tested and proven effective to function in harmony with the latest bulb innovations. The new devices give retailers, distributors and contractors the ability to offer a single lighting control capable of properly dimming next-generation lighting sources while remaining backwards compatible with current bulbs.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53188-leviton-universal-dimmers-compatible-with-led-cfl-incandescent-bulbs
DIY Network is on a mission to find America’s Most Desperate Landscape. The go-to-destination for home improvement television is asking viewers to share evidence of their desperate landscapes with the Network in hopes of receiving a $25,000 yard makeover. Now through Monday, April 30, 2012, homeowners can upload photos and videos of their ugly front yards to DIYNetwork.com.
In this fifth annual challenge where ugly wins, the prize is a complete landscape makeover, courtesy of DIY Network expert host and licensed contractor Jason Cameron and his Desperate Landscapes crew. The winner will also appear on America’s Most Desperate Landscape, a one-hour special documenting the search and build, which premieres on DIY Network Wednesday, July 18 at 9 p.m. ET.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/53969-diy-network-landscaping/
TruGreen, the nation’s largest professional lawn care service provider, today launched a new webisode series, “Grow Curb Appeal,” to provide simple tips for enhancing your home’s outer charm. Jason Cameron, licensed contractor and TV host, stars in the seasonal webisodes, in which healthy lawns and landscapes play a leading role.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55114-trugreen-grow-curb-appeal-webisodes-jason-cameron-healthy-lawns-homeowners
The Lennox icomfort™ Wi-Fi Thermostat allows homeowners to achieve customized comfort and maximum energy savings – anytime, anywhere.
Thanks to the icomfort Wi-Fi Thermostat’s Cloud connectivity, a homeowner can adjust the temperature from anywhere with a smartphone or other Web-enabled device. One touch on the thermostat, app, or website puts the icomfort Wi-Fi into energy — and money — saving mode, making it an ideal solution for homeowners seeking convenience and energy savings.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56239-lennox-unveils-innovative-icomfort-wi-fi-thermostat
A smoke alarm’s low battery chirp is the number one home fire safety complaint among American homeowners who participated in a recent survey conducted by Kelton on behalf of Kidde, the leading manufacturer of residential fire safety products. In fact, 61 percent of respondents have left their alarm without a working battery. Kidde’s new Worry-Free line of smoke alarms with a 10-year sealed-in lithium battery aims to solve common consumer complaints and pressing fire industry concerns. Kidde is a business of UTC Climate, Controls, & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX)
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59180-kidde-worry-free-smoke-alarms-sealed-in-lithium-battery
From dusting and fluffing to menu planning and decorating, homeowners put a lot of work into planning an at-home gathering, especially around the holidays. But despite all the preparations, the most likely source of trouble is often overlooked.
According to a recent Delta Faucet survey of one thousand homeowners, only one in five homeowners worried about plumbing-related issues when planning a party and just 10 percent consulted a professional plumber to address any potential problems. Interestingly, though, respondents reported a toilet malfunction would have the greatest impact on a party, more significant than running out of food or a major appliance breaking down.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59303-delta-faucet-new-water-efficient-high-performance-toilets-with-smartfit
Standard Pacific Homes, one of the nation’s leaders in homebuilding quality, today announced plans to unveil Shady Oaks, a brand new collection of impressive luxury residences nestled around the natural beauty of Southlake’s oak trees, green belts and open spaces. The 10 new home designs incorporate artistry and advancement in architecture that address the changing lifestyles of today’s homeowners with an emphasis on open spaces and indoor to outdoor connectivity. Tour the stunning model home at the Grand Opening celebration Saturday and Sunday December 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59469-standard-pacific-homes-new-luxury-home-designs-shady-oaks-southlake-tx
Kidde, the world’s largest manufacturer of fire safety products, has expanded its Worry-Free product line to include the first and only UL-listed carbon monoxide (CO) alarms proven to provide a decade of protection – up to twice the lifespan in other available alarms. Like the Kidde Worry-Free smoke alarms, the CO alarms contain a sealed-in lithium battery that powers the alarm and eliminates homeowners’ top fire safety complaint: a low-battery chirp. Kidde is a part of UTC Climate, Controls, & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60977-kidde-worry-free-first-and-only-ul-listed-carbon-monoxide-co-alarms
