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Hello to All!
Please help us welcome Michael P. Dolce, AIA, to our T.W. Ellis Design/Build family. Mike is an experienced architect who is partnering with Tim Ellis on a cutting-edge green model home project that is scheduled to break ground this fall at Grays Run Overlook in Harford County. More information about that in this issue and on our blog.
With this issue we are announcing our affiliation with Guild Quality, the leading company in the building industry for customer satisfaction surveys. We explain more about that as well.
Water is a precious commodity and getting more precious every year. Fortunately, installing a variety of cutting-edge new products in your home can significantly reduce the amount of water you use. Keep reading below to learn about some of these options. And check out the EPA’s Water Efficiency Resolutions for 2015.
All the best,
Your T.W. Ellis Team
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Meet the Crew: Michael P. Dolce, AIA
Mike is licensed in Maryland for both residential and commercial architecture, but 75% of his work is residential. He considers remodeling projects and addition alterations to be his bread and butter. Mike is particularly accomplished at the thoughtful integration of new and existing spaces, assuring the two merge together as a whole, rather than appearing to be tacked on.
In the past seven years Mike and Tim Ellis have collaborated on a dozen addition alteration projects and have won awards for the Shipley and the Welch residences. One of Mike and Tim’s shared passions is green building. Both of them are very committed to staying up-to-date with the latest in green construction methods through continuing education classes in the industry. Mike is a LEED Green Associate and is taking classes in the National Green Building Standard.
For a couple of years Mike and Tim have discussed developing a green home project unlike anything else in this area. Their dreams have finally come to fruition in the Model One green home highlighted in this issue. “We’re really enthused about this venture,” Mike says. “Our hope is that with our vast resources and our combined expertise, we can make this something really special!”
Read more about Michael
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T. W. Ellis Partners With Guild Quality
By teaming up with Guild Quality, North America's leading provider of customer satisfaction surveying, T.W. Ellis has taken another step in providing you an exceptional customer experience. After the completion of every job, GuildQuality reaches out with a brief questionnaire and gives our homeowners a chance to openly discuss how the process went. Hiring a third party to gather this feedback not only ensures we’re providing the best possible service and quality, it also solidifies our commitment to putting the needs of you, the client, first. We look forward to hearing from you.
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Introducing Model One!
We are excited to offer you this sneak peek into something extraordinary that is happening at T.W. Ellis Design/Build. The development of Model One of our green model home series is almost complete. The home has been designed to exude welcome and comfort with an open concept floor plan that fits perfectly with today’s lifestyle.
Owning a home of this type will mean overall lower utility bills. Model One is being built to the Silver Level of the National Green Building Standard and ENERGY STAR which holds a builder to a much higher level of compliance than the Maryland Building Code in terms of lot development, resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and operation, maintenance and building owner education.
This fall T.W. Ellis will be completing construction of Model One at Grays Run Overlook in Harford County and the home will be open for tours. Several lots at Grays Run Overlook are currently available where this model may be built, but Model One may also be built on other lots if desired. Tim and Mike plan to increase their offerings in the near future by introducing two or three additional styles of green model homes in other locations. Contact T.W. Ellis Design/Build for more information.
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Reduce Water Usage at Home
In years past, water was a relatively inexpensive commodity for homeowners in the U.S. and few people paid attention to the cost and their own usage. However, the price of residential water service in the U.S. is rising. The average monthly cost of water for a family of four using 100 gallons per person per day climbed 6 percent this year. Here are some strategies for conserving water indoors that can help you save money, as well as make sure you have the water you need.
Kitchen
1. Dishwashers
- A dishwasher can use 25 gallons of water per load.
- New ENERGY STAR rated machines can effectively clean dishes using minimal water and energy.
- Other dishwashers should be run only when full, saving 10-20 gallons of water a day. Use the short cycle, if available.
- Soil sensors help keep your dishwasher from using more water than necessary.
2. Kitchen faucets
- Water efficient kitchen faucets can help you conserve water by providing a flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) as compared to the industry standard of 2.2 gpm, which will result in a water savings of up to 30 percent.
- Instead of running water, rinse produce in a tub of clean water, then reuse the water in your yard.
Bathroom
1. Showerheads
- Showering accounts for nearly 17 percent of residential indoor water use, which can add up to nearly 40 gallons per day. Consider reducing time spent in the shower to 5 minutes.
- Install low-flow showerheads with a maximum flow rate of 2.0 gpm, which uses up to 30 percent less water than the standard showerheads of 2.5 gpm. Some showerheads meet performance requirements with a flow as low as l.5 gpm.
2. Bathroom faucets
- Select WaterSense labeled l.5 gpm faucets that use 30 percent less water than standard 2.2 gpm faucets yet still meet strict performance guidelines.
- Turn off the tap while brushing teeth.
3. Toilets
- Toilets account for almost 30 percent of water use in the home, the single largest source of indoor water usage.
- Today’s WaterSense low-flow high-performance toilets can efficiently flush solid waste with only 1.28 gallons of water per flush (gpf). This is 20 percent less water than the current federal standard of 1.6 gpf for new toilets, and up to 60 percent less than older toilets which typically use 3-5 gpf.
- There are also dual-flush toilets that flush liquid waste with 0.8 gpf and solid waste with 1.28 gpf, providing even more water savings.
- The EPA states that by replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense labeled models, the average family could save $110 per year in water costs.
Laundry Room
- Washing machines can use 45 gallons of water per load.
- Choose ENERGY STAR rated front-loading machines or high-efficiency (HE) top-loaders that use 13 gallons of water or less to wash an 8-pound load.
- Top-loaders with agitators are less expensive, but tend to use more water—up to 27 gallons for an 8-pound load.
- Adjust water levels to match the size of the load
- Without variable load control, run a washing machine only when it’s full.
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Contact
2243 Rock Spring Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
410.420.0740
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About Us
Since 2002, we have been a customer service oriented company that is fully committed to communication, industry certification, continuing education, and quality craftsmanship. You can depend on us to exceed your expectations for your project.
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• 2014 NAHB Remodeler of the Year
• 2012 HBAM Builder of the Year
• 2009 HBAM Remodeler of the Year
• 2015 NGBS Advisory Committee
• Certified Master Green Professional
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• Certified Master Deck Professional
• Certified Graduate Master Remodeler
• Certified Graduate Remodeler
• Certified Professional Estimator
• Certified Aging-in-place Specialist
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