September 13, 2011
Whether you are planning a remodel or planning for new construction, the kitchen is such an important room in the home and deserves extra attention. For years the kitchen has been the heartbeat of the home and the place where people congregate. It has become the room where the homework is done, entertaining happens and family time may take place here. It is important to spend a little extra time designing the kitchen so you love every minute you spend there.
As shown in the pictures below of a recent remodel, opening up the kitchen can give the entire home a new feel and energy about it.
After
- Before
When you start thinking about the design of your kitchen, it is important to really concentrate on your needs and how you plan on using the space. Is it open to other rooms? Do you need a desk space for homework or work? Is there a view you would like to capture? Do you have a specific feature in the kitchen you want to highlight? What kinds of natural lighting do you, or will you have in the room? What kind of eating space do you want in the kitchen vs. the dining room, or is the dining room separate? Have you thought about appliances? There are many other questions that need to be answered, but having a general idea of what you are looking for is a great start.
July 26, 2011
There are so many options for recycling in the Flathead, but only recently have we had a place to recycle glass. Thank you to the Target store in Hutton Ranch for providing that service to our Valley.
http://pressroom.target.com/pr/news/target-launches-recycling-stations.aspx
April 16, 2009
Check out one of our top electrical contractors @ www.newcastleelectric.com
More to come. . .
March 17, 2009
Here’s a Mindful breakdown of recycling information for the Whitefish, Montana area. This list is updated and provided to all of our homeowners as part of our Home Information Booklet, provided upon move-in. I hope some of you find this information helpful and encourage you to share this blog with your friends, family and co-workers in an effort to support local recycling.
JOBSITE RECYCLING SERVICES:
Bugges Construction Clean-up: On-site; hand sorted recycling and debris removal services:
253-4836 Brandon
Flathead County has a launched a website for their “Waste Not” project where there is compilation of information relative to recycling in the Flathead County.
http://www.wastenotproject.org/
RECYCLING CENTERS:
There are 3 recycling centers in the flathead county,
1. North Valley Recycling - 5445 Hwy 93 S., Whitefish; 862-4381
2. Pacific Steel and Recycling - Flathead Lane, Kalispell; 755-7128
3. Valley Recycling - 1410 Hwy 2 W., Kalispell; 257-2574
DROP OFFS:
There are currently 6 recycling drop-offs that are in the relative vicinity of your home (look for the blue bins).
1. North Valley Recycling - 5445 Hwy 93 S., Whitefish; 862-4381
2. The City Beach Overflow Parking lot
3. The Business park North of the Alpine Market on Wisconsin Ave.
4. Kalispell Avenue, Between 6th and 7th streets
5. Whitefish City Hall, 418 East 2nd St, back lot
6. The County Landfill located at 4098 Hwy 93 N.; 758-5910
CURBSIDE PICKUP:
New World Recycling offers curbside recycling services for a small fee. 863-9311
FLATHEAD FREECYCLING:
A grassroots organization that you can easily join for no fee. How does it work? One rule: everything posted must be free. Whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano or old door to be given away, it can be posted on the network. You can also look here for items that you may be looking to acquire. Find out more by visiting their website at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecAycleFlathead/
METALS:
Recycling metal helps in conserving our supply of raw materials and reduces the amount of energy used in production. In addition to aluminum and steel cans, most kinds of metals can be locally recycled including steel used in building, bronze and copper. Make sure your metal cans and containers are empty and clean when you put them in the recycling bins. Local recycling firms prefer that aluminum cans not be squashed as they can more easily be made into bales if they have not been pre-squashed. Lids of steel cans should be pushed into the clean can and the open end squashed together to prevent the lid falling out.
Aluminum Cans: Accepted at all drop off sites and recycling centers.
Tin/Steel Cans: Accepted at drop off sites and recycling centers except Whitefish City Drop offs and Valley recycling.
Scrap Iron & Steel, Scrap Aluminum, Scrap Stainless Steel, Brass and Copper: Pacific Steel and Recycling; 755-7128.
PAPER:
Paper is easy to recycle because it is made from wood, and it separates back into fibers when soaked in water. Paper can be recycled seven times and thus reduces the need to harvest timber to make new paper.
North Valley Recycling (862-4381):
- Corrugated cardboard
- Magazines and catalogs
- Newspaper
- White paper with black ink, computer paper, brown paper bags
Pacific Steel and Recycling (755-7128):
- Newspaper
- Magazines and catalogs
- Corrugated cardboard and brown paper bags
- Office paper
- Computer paper
Valley Recycling (257-2574): Valley Recycling recently changed its policy for sorting paper. Instead of dividing products into four or five piles, only two are required now.
- Newspapers, magazines, phone books, all white and colored paper, file folders, mailings, index cards, fax paper, envelopes (with or without windows), notebook paper, carbonless paper, computer paper.
- Cardboard (corrugated and cereal box type paperboard), brown paper bags
PLASTIC:
ALL #1 and #2 plastics: any color any size! Remove the lids and dispose of them in the garbage. Acceptable at all drop off sites and recycling centers.
Plastic Bags: Most grocery stores have return bins for plastic shopping bags, as do libraries. The best thing you can do here, though, is minimize your consumption of plastic bags and use fabric, reusable ones whenever possible.
MAILING MATERIALS:
Recycle bubble wrap and Styrofoam packaging materials at The UPS Store, Whitefish, 862-8300; OR the Whitefish Pottery Store, 862-1417.
AUTO/MOTORIZED REFUSE:
Used Motor Oil: . You can recycle your motor oil at: Dave’s Lube and Oil, Whitefish, 862-0984; The Flathead County Landfill.
Used Oil Filter: contains dirty motor oil. Puncture the filter and drain for 12-24 hours.
Recycle the oil and throw the drained filter in the trash. You can recycle your motor oil at: Dave’s Lube and Oil, Whitefish, 862-0984; The Flathead County Landfill.
Antifreeze: can be recycled and should be disposed of properly. Most antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which is toxic. As antifreeze moves through your engine it picks up heavy metals which are toxic to fish and other water organisms. Drain it into a leak-proof container and take it to the Flathead County Landfill recycling drop-off.
Transmission Fluid: You can recycle this at Dave’s Lube and Oil, Whitefish, 862-0984.
Car Batteries: Generally, when you buy a new battery, the auto parts store or garage wants your old battery in exchange. Batteries are a hazardous waste - they contain acid which is corrosive and they should be disposed of properly. If you have other old batteries, most auto parts stores and garages will take them for recycling and some may pay you for it. They are also accepted at the Flathead County Landfill (758-5910).
March 17, 2009
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS:
- FLATHEAD ELECTRIC
- NW ENERGY
- MONTANA INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLES AND EFFICIENCY
- FEDERAL TAX CREDITS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
This is an outline of incentive programs available that could apply in a renovation. Review the specifics within each of these programs before beginning your project in order to ensure your ability to qualify. For example, some programs require an installer with a special qualification in order for the rebate to apply.
FLATHEAD ELECTRIC http://www.flatheadelectric.com
- Energy Fix Residential Insulation Rebate
Flathead Electric Cooperative will pay rebates for new properly installed insulation in your electrically heated home. This offer is for existing homes only and does not apply to new construction.
- Energy Fix Residential Prime Window Replacement Rebate
Flathead Electric Cooperative is offering rebates for qualifying models of replacement windows in electrically heated homes. In order to qualify:
>Existing windows must be either single pane wood or metal frame (with or without storm windows) or double pane windows with metal frames.
>Prime window replacements must meet Energy Star requirements and have a U-value of .30 or less.
- Air Source Heat Pump Rebate
Flathead Electric Cooperative will pay you a $1,000 rebate if you purchase and install a qualifying model.
- Ground Source Heat Pump Rebate
Flathead Electric Cooperative will pay you a rebate if you purchase and install a qualifying model.
- Energy Star Appliance Rebate
Flathead Electric Cooperative will pay you a rebate if you purchase and install the following Energy Star rated model appliances.
>Clothes Washer - $70.00 with an electric water heater; $25.00 with a gas water heater
>Refrigerator - $25.00
>Dishwasher - $25.00
>Freezer - $25.00
- Electric Water Heater Rebate
Flathead Electric Cooperative will pay you a $60 rebate if you purchase and install a high efficiency model.
Note: Look for a .93 (or higher) energy factor for 60 gallons or less, and a .91 energy factor for 61 gallons or over. Call the Co-op if there are any questions.
Install the tank in our service territory.
Contact: Diane R
Energy Services Administrative Assistant
Flathead Electric Cooperative
(406)-751-1875
NW ENERGY
Rebates for Homeowners : Visit http://www.northwesternenergy.com to review the details
MONTANA INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLES AND EFFICIENCY
A. Residential Geothermal Systems Credit
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Incentive Type:
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Personal Tax Credit
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Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
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Geothermal Heat Pumps
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Applicable Sectors:
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Residential
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Amount:
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100%
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Maximum Incentive:
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$1,500
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Carryover Provisions:
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Credit not used in the year in which the system is installed may be carried forward for the 7 succeeding tax years.
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Website:
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http://www.deq.mt.gov/Energy/renewable/taxincentrenew.mcpx#15-32-115
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Authority 1:
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MCA § 15-32-115
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Date Enacted:
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5/5/2001
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Effective Date:
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1/1/2002
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Expiration Date:
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None
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Summary:
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A resident taxpayer of Montana who installs a geothermal heating or cooling system in their principal dwelling can claim a tax credit based on the installation costs of the system, not to exceed $1,500.
Contact:
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Kathi Montgomery
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Planning, Prevention, and Assistance
1100 North Last Chance Gulch
PO Box 200902
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: (406) 841-5243
Fax: (406) 444-6836
E-Mail: kmontgomery@mt.gov
Web site: http://www.deq.state.mt.us/ppa/ |
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Information Specialist - MT Dept. of Rev.
Montana Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 5805
Helena, MT 59604-5805
Phone: (406) 444-6900
Web site: http://www.state.mt.us/revenue |
Use Montana Department of Revenue Tax Form ENRG-C (you can find this form at: http://mt.gov/revenue/formsandresources/07forms/2007_ENRG-A.pdf) to take this credit.
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B. Energy Conservation Installation Credit
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Incentive Type:
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Personal Tax Credit
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Eligible Efficiency Technologies:
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Water Heaters, Chillers, Furnaces, Boilers, Heat pumps, Air conditioners, Programmable Thermostats, Caulking/Weather-stripping, Building Insulation, Windows, Doors
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Applicable Sectors:
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Residential, Multi-Family Residential
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Amount:
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25% of cost of capital investment
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Maximum Incentive:
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$500 per home owner
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Website:
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http://revenue.mt.gov/forindividuals/ind_tax_incentives/energy_related_tax_relief.mcpx
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Authority 1:
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M.C.A. §15-32-109
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Summary:
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Individual taxpayers may claim a credit against their tax liability for up to 25% of the costs of investment for energy conservation purposes in a building. The maximum credit is $500 for investment in the physical attributes of a building or in a water, heating or cooling system. The credit must be claimed in the year that the expenditure is made. For new construction, only the portion of the work that surpasses any applicable state or federal construction standards may be used.
Use Montana Department of Revenue Tax Form ENRG-C (you can find this form at: http://mt.gov/revenue/formsandresources/07forms/2007_ENRG-A.pdf) to take this credit. |
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Contact:
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Incentive Type:
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Personal Tax Credit
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Eligible Renewable/Other
Technologies:
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Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Low-Emission Wood Stoves, Small
Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
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Applicable Sectors:
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Residential
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Amount:
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100%
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Maximum Incentive:
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$500
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Carryover Provisions:
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Excess credit may be carried forward four years.
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Eligible System Size:
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Hydroelectric systems not to have generation capacity greater than 1 MW
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Equipment/Installation Requirements:
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Systems must be new and in compliance with all applicable performance and safety standards.
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Authority 1:
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MCA § 15-32-201
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Date Enacted:
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2001
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Effective Date:
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1/1/2002
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Expiration Date:
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none
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Website:
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http://www.deq.state.mt.us/
energy/Renewable/TaxIncentRenew.asp#15-32-201 |
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Contact:
Public Information Officer
Montana Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 5805
Helena, MT 59604-5805
Phone: (406) 444-6900
Web site: http://www.state.mt.us/revenue/css/default.asp
C. Residential Alternative Energy System Tax Credit
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Summary:
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Residential taxpayers who install an energy system using a recognized non-fossil form of energy on their home after 12/31/01 are eligible for a tax credit equal to the amount of the cost of the system and installation of the system, not to exceed $500. The tax credit may be carried over for the next four taxable years.
Recognized non-fossil forms of energy generation means:
1. A system that captures energy or converts energy sources into usable sources, including electricity, by using:
solar energy, including passive solar systems;
wind;
solid waste;
the decomposition of organic wastes;
geothermal;
fuel cells that do not require hydrocarbon fuel; or
an alternative energy system;
2. A system that produces electric power from biomass or solid wood wastes; or
3. A small system that uses water power by means of an impoundment that is not over 20 acres in surface area. |
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Contact:
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Kathi Montgomery
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Planning, Prevention, and Assistance
1100 North Last Chance Gulch
PO Box 200902
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: (406) 841-5243
Fax: (406) 444-6836
E-Mail: kmontgomery@mt.gov
Web site: http://www.deq.state.mt.us/ppa/ |
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Information Specialist - MT Dept. of Rev.
Montana Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 5805
Helena, MT 59604-5805
Phone: (406) 444-6900
Web site: http://www.state.mt.us/revenue |
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FEDERAL TAX CREDITS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Tax credits are available for qualified solar water heating and photovoltaic systems. The credits are available for systems “placed in service” from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2016. The tax credit is for 30% of the cost of the system, up to $2,000. After December 31, 2008, this $2,000 cap will be removed for photovoltaic systems (but not solar water heaters). This credit is completely separate from the $500 home improvement credit.
Contact:
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Public Information - IRS
Internal Revenue Service
1111 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20224
Phone: (800) 829-1040
Web site: http://www.irs.gov |
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ENERGY STAR : (Federal $500 Home Improvement Credit)
FOR MORE INFO, visit: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#c1
Home Improvements
Home improvement tax credits are now available for home improvements “placed in service” from
January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.
Home improvement tax credits are available for insulation, replacement windows, water heaters,
certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, and biomass stoves. See chart. The
maximum amount that a taxpayer may claim from all of these tax credits combined is $500
over the lifetime of the tax credit (2006, 2007 & 2009).
If you are building a new home, you can qualify for the tax credit for photovoltaics, solar
water heaters, small wind systems and fuel cells, but not the tax credits for windows, doors,
insulation, roofs, HVAC, or non-solar water heaters. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance
for consumers: IRS Notice 2006-26
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February 5, 2009
~Sarah and Monte Walker, Whitefish home owners~
“At this point we are totally satisfied with the project and impressed with your problem solving abilities. In the past 6 months we have dealt with incredible problems with the service industry, mainly our new appliances, car problems, moving hassles etc, which has made us kind of hypersensitive. You guys have restored our faith and we would highly recommend Mindful Designs to anyone we talk to or know of that is building or needs a project completed.”
Project scope: design and build garage to compliment existing home; complete an extensive finish carpentry punch-list on interior and exterior items of main house;
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~Erik & Kristin Bodeen-Client –MDI~
“Looking back on the process of designing and building a custom home – our initial concerns were considerable. Do we have the time and energy to the progress of our contractor? Will we come in on or near budget? Can we be in the home before the holidays?
Thankfully we made the right choice in contractor to ensure the right answers to all of our questions, as MDI’s detailed and organized processes were instrumental in our success. The ‘PUBA’ details where actual costs relative to estimates, and highlights for client requested changes with associated costs and timelines. Each week we were able to easily understand how we fared against our budget and subsequently plan accordingly - a vital tool when working on a budget of any size. Another routine communication from the MDI team is the WINN list - short for “What I Need Now.”
When people ask us how it was to work with MDI, three questions that come up most often: 1) How much over budget did you go? 2) Did you get to move in on time? and 3) Would you use your contractor again? Our answers are: 1) We were within 2% of budget (without our mid-project change requests), 2) We moved within 10 days of the original completion estimate from MDI, and 3) ABSOLUTELY!
To give an idea of the quality of the home construction, we had a neighbor who is an engineer
comment that “Your home is being built better than most bank buildings!”This comment was just one of many that reinforced to us that we had made the right choice in choosing MDI as our General Contractor.
We are completely satisfied with our new home, and enjoy each day here knowing that we have an attractive, healthy, and quality built home from Mindful Designs.”
~Chance Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Glacier Bank~
“My past experiences on construction projects with the Mindful Design team have been nothing but honest and reliable. They are a group that has demonstrated attention to detail and quality in all of our joint projects. I have and will continue to feel very comfortable with any projects that we work together on due to their past ability to appropriately manage a construction project.”
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~Andy & Shona Potts- Client –MDI~
“My wife and I recently purchased property in Whitefish, dated to the early 80s. Renovations
were needed. We had an idea of what we were looking to achieve, but where do we start? We
required a contractor that would take care of the project and our interests on a daily basis as
we lived out of town. Talking with some friends, Mindful Designs was recommended to us. At
our initial meeting with Mindful Designs ,they listened to what we were trying to achieve with
the budget we had in mind and told us what we could and could not do. A budget costing
spread sheet allowed us to follow the project and the actual costing as it progressed, which
was very helpful. All this being said my wife and I wish to thank Dave, Jason, Marty and all the
team from Mindful Designs for bringing our vision to reality and looking after our interests,
many thanks guys.”
~Nathaniel M. Pulsifer -MDI Client~
“Mindful Designs was great to work with. In the space of a week of meeting them, we arrived at a plan for the extensive renovation of my home, settled on all our materials, and then I left the job up to them on a time and materials basis and returned to Colorado. Exhibiting considerable
creativity and requiring very little direction, MDI crew tackled a tough renovation on an old home, and produced excellent results on time and at a very reasonable cost, and I never once questioned their billing. They operated with integrity and honesty at all times. I was able to move in to a completely updated home with everything complete, just 8 weeks after starting the job. Most importantly, a million small decisions were made well, and made without taxing my time at all, and these decisions were made keeping my bottom line in mind.
I’ve recommended Mindful Designs to friends and will continue to use them on
future projects, and trust them completely.”
~Peggy King- Client –MDI~
“Not only has your company fulfilled my expectations, you also succeeded in giving me the
customer service that many businesses no longer think important…
Last but not least was the incredible attention to detail…You did not stop at the minimum
requirement…but went many steps further in assuring me that safety, longevity and aesthetics
were of utmost importance.”
November 5, 2008
Written by Paul Peters, originally published by the Independent on September 20, 2007
Dr. Kath Williams will tell you right off the bat, “I’m not a tree-hugger. I never cared about the environment, I’m not an architect or an engineer.”
She just happened to be in the right place at the right time to help birth the most respected green building organization in the world: the U.S. Green Building Council.
To her, at the beginning, it seemed more like she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In 1994, when the students at Montana State University in Bozeman wanted to build a first-of-its-kind green building on their campus, no one else in university administration wanted to oversee the project. So Williams, assistant to the university’s vice president, got stuck with it.
Williams grew up on a farm in Ohio where, she says, she washed her hair with rainwater and learned to can food from her grandmother. She came to Bozeman after teaching at Stanford, where she found that urban California was no place for her country roots to sink in.
Her life’s ambition, upon arriving in Montana, was to become the president of a university, and overseeing the building project seemed like a detour.
“‘It’ll be good for you,’” she says MSU president Mike Malone told her.
The building was to be a visionary project, way ahead of its time, and an example of how building should be done in the future. Students wanted to call it the Epicenter Project.
“I took that name to Mike Malone,” Williams says. “He said, ‘Kath, MSU is not the epicenter of anything.’”
But the students demanded it, and they had even voted to tax themselves $25 per semester to pay for the building, so Epicenter Project it was.
The project, Williams says, attracted some of the country’s best architects and developers, who wanted to be a part of the revolutionary building.
As they worked on the Epicenter Project, those architects and developers also founded the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The council’s first meetings were held at Big Sky resort.
The USGBC went on to prominence. It developed an internationally recognized points-based method for certifying green homes known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, and spawned the World Green Building Council (WGBC) in 1998.
Rick Stern discusses green building in front of his Kila home. The home, built by Mindful Designs, will be the first to sell solar energy back to the Flathead Electric Cooperative. Photo by Paul Peters
The Epicenter Project, on the other hand, failed miserably.
Too much space in the building was promised out to too many departments, and the project ballooned and ballooned, from 10,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet, and then it popped. In 1999, MSU president Mike Malone died of a heart attack, and the subsequent administration pulled support for the project.
The architects and developers left Montana and moved on to The University of Texas, Houston, where UT’s School of Nursing ended up building the Epicenter Project.
Williams figured she’d go back into administration, but soon people hoping to develop green buildings of their own began calling on her. They’d all been watching the Epicenter Project, had seen it go down in flames, and wanted to hire her as a consultant, to make sure they avoided the traps that killed her project.
“It was like, ‘Why did you fail?’” she says now, laughing. “‘How can we avoid failing like you did?’”
Williams began serving on the USGBC board, representing education, in 1996. She eventually served as vice chair of USGBC for seven years, became the second U.S. representative on the WGBC in 2004, and was then voted president of that organization. She served in that post for three years until she termed out in February 2007. She continues to serve in various roles with both organizations. More»
November 5, 2008
solar panels giving back energy
An article taken from worldofrenewables.com, titled ‘feeding into the grid by going green’
A pair of Flathead Valley homes designed by a trio of young builders could soon begin making changes in the local energy grid
USA - Marty Beale, Jason Pohlman and Dave Radaiti, through their Evolution Homes business, first designed and headed up construction this summer of a straw-bale home in Pleasant Valley near the Lost Prairie skydiving field.
Now, the walls are going up at a second “green” home they designed to be tucked behind a field and in front of a stand of trees at the junction of Twin Bridges and Lodgepole roads northwest of Whitefish.
More»
