Own a Home In Levittown, PA? Want a FREE Home Energy Audit?

MaGrann Associates is currently conducting a study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy that researches and develops a program to improve energy efficiency for the average Levittown home.

The program consists of comprehensive home energy audits of at least 25 Levittown homes. MaGrann’s study will include recommendations for the more than 17,000 homes in the Levittown areas of Bristol Township, Falls, Middletown, and Tullytown.

MaGrann engineers will then identify common characteristics and energy retrofit opportunities for these communities and develop cost effective, easily replicable energy retrofit packages for each standard house model.

The results of the energy audits will demonstrate how simple improvements might result in significant reductions in energy use for the homeowners. 

The homes in the various Levittown communities are all more than 50 years old and most likely have some inefficiencies due to wear and tear the homes incurred during the years.

All home energy audits are conducted at the expense of the federal government. Although homeowners will not receive an audit report specific to their home, all Levittown homeowners will have access to the study findings. The program serves to make Levittown homes more energy efficient and save the homeowners money on their monthly utility bills.

All Levitt homeowners who can supply two years of utility data (electric and oil bills) will receive a free home energy usage report and will be entered into a drawing to win a $250 gift certificate to a home improvement story of their choosing.

For Levittown homeowners interested in participating in the study, contact MaGrann Associates representative, Loretta Campbell, at 856-813-8781 or lorettacampbell@magrann.com.

MaGrann Associates Congratulates Client on Prestigious Award

(Raleigh, NC) --- MaGrann Associates congratulates Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas and Electric Company (E.ON U.S. companies) on receiving the prestigious “Leadership in Market Transformation Award” at the 2010 RESNET Building Performance Conference, February 22-24.

The RESNET “Market Transformation Award” is one of two awards presented annually to recognize leadership in the home energy rating industry.

KU and LG&E won the award for the success of their ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program in its first year of operation. Prior to the introduction of the program in February 2009, E.ON estimates there were only 10 builders, two energy raters and 50 housing units in the company’s service territories who were participating under the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program for new construction. By the end of the year, those numbers grew to 153 builders, 24 energy raters and 750 units. As of June 2010, over 1500 homes have been enrolled with more than 900 homes completed and certified.

The objective of the E.ON U.S. program is “to promote the building of more energy efficient homes within its service territory to reduce its customers’ energy usage and encourage better building practices.”

As administrator for the program, MaGrann Associates has supported E.ON U.S. in establishing a network of independent raters; developing processes for qualifying and enrolling builders, homes and raters; introducing a modest incentive structure to encourage a diversity of participation; implementing quality assurance monitoring, and delivering technical training sessions for raters, providers and the builder community.

E.ON U.S., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a subsidiary of E.ON A.G., the world’s largest investor-owned energy services provider. E.ON U.S. is a diversified energy services company that owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated utility that serves 314,000 natural gas and 389,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., that serves 538,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.

MaGrann Associates Recognized for Contribution to New Jersey Historic Preservation

MaGrann Associates received an award from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Historic Preservation Office, and N.J. Historic Sites Council for its contribution to the rehabilitation of the Market Fair Security and Trust Building in Camden on May 25, 2010.

MaGrann was part of the project team awarded for outstanding achievement in preservation and sustainability, receiving special recognition for their extensive knowledge and support of the LEED® rating system.

The “Annual Historic Preservation Awards” recognize the efforts of individuals, organizations and government agencies in preserving the State’s valuable resources.

Recognition for the project also went to RPM Development, Inglese Architecture, Carlton Design, and the Camden Redevelopment Agency.

The Security Trust Building rehabilitation project consists of new construction and renovation to include residential space mixed with commercial space. It will total 35 affordable senior housing units with commercial space located along the ground floor.

The 122 year-old Security Trust Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

MaGrann Associates Has Become a Supporting Sponsor of Efficiency First

MaGrann adds Efficiency First to its list of sponsored organizations. By supporting the national non-profit organization, MaGrann Associates is helping to unite the Home Performance workforce, building product manufacturers and related businesses and organizations in the escalating fight against global warming and rising energy costs.

Efficiency First represents its members in public policy discussions at the state and national levels, to promote the benefits of efficiency retrofitting and to help our industry grow to meet unprecedented demand for quality residential energy improvements.

For more information on Efficiency First, visit their Web site at http://www.efficiencyfirst.org/about/.

Engineers study energy use in Levittown

When Eric Bown ran his hands along the windowsill of his Levittown home, he could feel hot air — invisible and silent — invading his air-conditioned house.

The family home in Falls’ Lakeside section is 55 years old and most likely has some inefficiencies, Bown confessed Thursday, as energy/building engineers from MaGrann Associates attached a large fan to his front door.

The industrial strength fan lowered and raised air pressure within the one-story Levittowner, drawing air through tiny cracks in doors, walls and windows.

The air leakage calculations were shocking for the homeowner of 18 years.

The tiny openings were the equivalent of a 1.2-square-foot window left open to the outside world. And this is probably common for most houses in Levittown, engineers said.

Bown is one of 25 homeowners participating in a study at the expense of the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Energy has contracted with building sciences firms across the nation.

MaGrann’s study — due back to the Department of Energy in spring — will include recommendations for the more than 17,000 Levittown homes in Bristol Township, Falls, Middletown and Tullytown.

Engineers such as Emma Raymont, project manager for MaGrann, believe results will demonstrate how simple improvements might result in significant reductions in energy use.

For example, the boiler — installed in Bown’s kitchen more than 50 years ago — is in constant combat with the air conditioner in his living room.

Home performance analyst Scott Sidlow pointed his infrared monitor over heating system. The surface temperature was 149 degrees.

Because the boiler also serves as a hot water heater, Bown didn’t turn down the temperature.

“I am surprised. It’s a big surprise,” Bown said of the audit. “I definitely will close off all those tiny spaces before the winter comes, and if the boiler dies, I may replace it.”

Bown and other participants would be responsible for correcting any problems found with the audit, if they decided to do so.

Sometimes, a simple solution can be the careful placement of a tree. A three-story Maple tree rises above Bown’s Laurel Lane home. Trees placed to the east or west of a house will block the sun during the morning and late afternoon hours, Sidlow said.

Deciduous trees are best because their leaves shed during the winter, allowing the sun to warm the home during colder months, he added.

For the most part, energy-wise, Levitt “did a lot of it right” for his era,  Raymont said, noting his use of radiant floor heating on concrete slabs beneath the house as opposed to central air systems.

“It was unusual at the time, but radiant floor heating is making a big comeback right now,” she said. “It’s an efficient distribution system in a lot of ways. Rather than blowing hot air around, radiant floor heating puts heat right where you’re feeling it down on the floor.”

Levittown homeowners interested in participating in the energy study can contact MaGrann Associates representative Loretta Campbell at 856-813-8781 or e-mail lorettacampbell@magrann.com.

Anneliese Khalil Competes In World Kickboxing Association National Mixed Martial Arts Competition

Anneliese Khalil, operations administrator at MaGrann Associates, competed in the North American Amateur Combat Sports Championship in Hampton, Virginia on June 18, 2010.

Khalil competed in the Open Division Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) single elimination tournament at the female featherweight division (135 lbs.), but lost in the second round. Regardless of her loss this past weekend, she remains undefeated in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, and is the 2010 Philadelphia Grappling Champion.

Being her first national MMA competition, Khalil refused to let her dislocated ankle stop her from competing in the tournament and plans to fight for an upcoming New Breed promotion in Atlantic City on July 24.
Khalil competes out of Daddis Fight Camps in Philadelphia.

The World Kickboxing Association is one of the world’s oldest and most recognized governing bodies for various forms of Kickboxing. In 2000, the organization formed the WKA USA to oversee Kickboxing competition in the United States and, in 2004, WKA USA added Mixed Martial Arts and Submission Grappling to the portfolio of combat sports that it regulates.

E.ON U.S.'s ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program earns 2010 "Leadership in Housing Award"

For the second consecutive year, E.ON U.S. has received national recognition for its contribution to the ENERGY STAR® program success.

The ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program provides customers with quality homes that are 15 to 20 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code, and the 2007 Kentucky Residential Code.

The utility program is recognized for contributing 158 completed program homes in 2009, and more than 856 completed homes since the February 2009 program inception. E.ON U.S. generated 868 ENERGY STAR® new home enrollments in 2009 and more than 1,400 enrollments since the program's inception. Approximately 530 homes remain under construction, pending final ENERGY STAR® qualification.

"As in 2009, E.ON U.S. is proud to be recognized for its support of the ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program," said Bill Cooper, Energy Efficiency Program Manager. "The support of KU and LG&E staff, our program contractor MaGrann Associates, and builders in the service territories have worked together to make this effort possible."

ENERGY STAR® qualified homes make use of effective insulation, high-performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and other products. These energy-efficient features provide customers with benefits varying from added confidence, lower ownership cost, better performance and a smart investment.

Click here for more information on the company's ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program.

MaGrann Associates Client Wins 2010 Smart Growth Award for Creative Neighborhood Affordable Housing

The Jersey City Housing Authority, Michaels Development Company and Wallace Roberts & Todd won the 2010 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award for “Creative Neighborhood Affordable Housing.” MaGrann Associates contributed to the project by consulting with the developer and architect regarding participation in, and compliance with, the New Jersey ENERGY STAR® Homes Program. The firm’s role included performing energy modeling – consulting with the team as to energy upgrades, performing field inspections, and testing of units, and finally certifying units as ENERGY STAR compliant.

Both the Jersey City Housing Authority and the Michaels Development Company were early adopters of the New Jersey ENERGY STAR Homes Program.

The winning project, Lafayette Gardens Hope VI Revitalization in Jersey City, N.J. consists of a 450-unit mid-rise public housing site revitalized into a true mixed-income urban community. The site integrates a full range of housing options – low- and moderate-income as well as market-rate. The plan consisted of two principle components: revitalize the Lafayette Gardens public housing project in six phases, and redevelop a former, underutilized industrial property in one phase.

A total of 209 mixed-finance, mixed-income units have been built – 72 stacked townhouses on the former industrial site and 137 stacked one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom townhouses and flats, in the last two phases, on the former public housing site. An additional senior housing community consisting of 59 one- and two-bedroom rental units is now under construction. Future plans are in the works for 127 mixed-income family rental townhouses, along with seven affordable homes for sale on an adjacent parcel.

The New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards honor municipal officials, developers, contractors, architects and other organizations who initiate projects and growth patterns that help strengthen New Jersey’s economic, social, and environmental future.

MaGrann Associates is happy to be part of such a fulfilling and award-worthy project that helps New Jersey achieve its energy efficiency goals under the State’s Energy Master Plan.       

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MaGrann Associates is an energy/building consulting and engineering firm headquartered in Moorestown, New Jersey with affiliate offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Louisville.  Established in 1982, the company is a national leader in the certification of over 30,000 ENERGY STAR Homes.  MaGrann Associates also provides services relating to Green Building Consulting and Energy Auditing.  (www.magrann.com)

MaGrann Associates Senior Technical Consultant Becomes LEED for Homes® Green Rater Faculty™

MOORESTOWN, N.J. June 10, 2010 --- Sam Klein, MaGrann Associates Senior Technical Consultant, was recently certified a USGBC LEED ® Faculty™.

With this certification, Klein will instruct USGBC’s “HOMES 401: Green Rater Training,” which is a critical step in the process of becoming a Green Rater for residential construction. He will also teach pre-requisite workshops for LEED® accreditation.

This invite-only four step process consists of a detailed application, hour and a half long interview, intense three day face-to-face workshop, and finally upon passing, a signed LEED Faculty contract.

The three day workshop has a passing rate of only 70 percent making the entire process very competitive. The select few who are named LEED Faculty at the end of the yearlong process are on the front lines of the green building movement, advancing USGBC’s goal of market transformation through education initiatives.

Upon his certification, Klein became one of the few residentially focused LEED Faculty in the country.

USGBC Faculty are expert practitioners in the green building industry and are the only individuals USGBC officially authorizes to teach USGBC education programs.

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MaGrann Associates is a leading energy consulting and design firm servicing industry leaders in residential and multi-use construction.  For over 25 years, MaGrann has assisted residential, commercial, and light industrial builders as well as architects, utility companies and governmental agencies with innovative and cost-effective engineering services that maximize both energy and cost savings.

MaGrann Associates Recognized at MidWest Energy Star Conference.

At the MidWest Energy Star Conference held in Lexington Kentucky March 24th-26th, the Residential Services Network presented Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas & Electric with the 2010 Rating Industry Leadership Award for Market Transformation for Residential New Construction. As RNC Program Administrator, the MaGrann Associates Program Management team was part of the award ceremony.

See You at the ACI New Jersey Home Performance Conference 2010, March 4-5 in Atlantic City NJ

The ACI New Jersey Home Performance Conference is New Jersey’s premier educational conference for those having anything to do with high performance, energy efficient homes and buildings. Whether you are constructing new homes/buildings to ENERGY STAR© standards, or retrofitting existing homes/buildings to improve energy savings and comfort, you will find the building science know-how you need.  Learn from outstanding building scientists, practitioners, and leaders who specialize in the whole house approach. The conference will include high quality educational sessions, networking events, and exhibits of the latest techniques, materials and tools.

For more information, or to register on-line for the conference, visit  www.affordablecomfort.org

Welcome to the 2010 Midwest Regional ENERGY STAR Conference, March 24-26 in Lexington KY

What is the Midwest Regional ENERGY STAR Conference?
An opportunity to meet with the entire spectrum of individuals, trade associations and industry professionals that have any role in the production and sale of homes, for the purpose of educating Kentuckians and their neighbors from surrounding states about energy efficiency, ENERGY STAR homes, energy efficient home products and financing and marketing of energy efficient homes.

For more information visit:  Midwest Regional ENERGY STAR Conference.

2009 ENERGY STAR® LEADERSHIP IN HOUSING AWARDS PRESENTED TO LOCAL BUILDERS

SPrinceton, New Jersey – MaGrann Associates, Moorestown, NJ, an ENERGY STAR Partner and energy and green building consulting firm, hosted an awards luncheon at which 17 leading builder/developer organizations were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2009 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award.  This award recognizes the important contribution each of the seventeen organizations has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building more than 50 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year.  Collectively, these 3000 homes will save customers approximately $1.3 million on utility bills each year.

Leadership in Housing award winners included: Vesta Seabrook Urban Renewal LLC, RPM Development, Pulte Homes- Delaware Valley Division, Project Freedom, Inc., Pennrose Properties LLC, NJ Hand, Inc., Matzel & Mumford Organization, LTS Builders, K. Hovnanian Homes, J.S. Hovnanian & Sons, Inc., Ingerman Construction Company, Generations Urban Renewal Co. LLC, D.R. Horton-NJ/PA Division, Costanza Residential LLC, Conifer Realty LLC, and Community Investment Strategies, and Brookfield Construction.

The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR qualified homes are equal to the equivalent of:

• Eliminating the emissions from 1470 vehicles;
• Saving 8,892,000 lbs of coal;
• Planting 2430 acres of trees; or
• Saving the environment 17.4 million pounds of CO2 per year.

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

“MaGrann Associates is honored to be affiliated with this distinguished group of building firms who are committed to environmental stewardship,” said Mark MaGrann, CEO and Founder of MaGrann Associates.  “They are truly ahead of the curve in the construction of our next generation of housing in America.”

ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-saving features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly-sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, efficient products, and third-party verification of energy performance.

“Most homebuyers focus on what's outside the walls,” said Sam Rashkin, National Director for EPA's ENERGY STAR Homes Program, “but they also need to look behind the walls for the energy-efficient features found in ENERGY STAR qualified homes that help ensure comfort, quiet, improved indoor air quality, and low utility bills for years to come.”

MaGrann Associates is an energy/building consulting and engineering firm headquartered in Moorestown, New Jersey with affiliate offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Louisville.  Established in 1982, the company is a national leader in the certification of over 30,000 ENERGY STAR Homes.  MaGrann Associates also provides services relating to Green Building Consulting and Energy Auditing.  (www.magrann.com)

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 12,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

The Largest LEED for Homes Silver Community Opens in New Jersey.

MaGrann Associates provides consulting and rating services to Trammel Crow.

September, 2009 …Another first for MaGrann Associates and the LEED for Homes program.  The largest multi-family community in the country is now open and has secured the LEED Silver certification.  Developed by Trammel Crow Residential (TCR), Alexan CityView is a 544 unit luxury rental community in Bayonne, New Jersey. 

In concert with the New Jersey Clean Energy Program and the US Green Building Council, MaGrann Associates consulted with Trammel Crow to coordinate the LEED for Homes program.  MaGrann provided energy modeling of the plans and specifications and developed a list of criteria to achieve ENERGY STAR® and LEED for Homes certifications.  MaGrann then worked with TCR staff throughout the construction process, meeting with crews and contractors and performing inspections and tests to ensure proper program compliance. 

The goal of these measures is to minimize the environmental impact of the community and provide healthy indoor living for residents.  It starts with the efficient use of energy, advanced building practices, and includes equipment specifications, use of building materials, and water conservation. 

LEED is considered a benchmark for energy efficient and sustainable construction and MaGrann Associates is proud to have been one of the initial raters selected nationwide by the USGBC to provide verification services to builders.

MaGrann Associates Certifies the 1st two LEED for Homes™ Platinum projects in Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania.

MaGrann to attend press conference June 16 at City Hall in Philadelphia.

MaGrann Associates is proud to announce it has delivered another “first” in the LEED for Homes™ program - the certification of the 1st Platinum level homes in the City of Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Thin Flats, developed by Onion Flats, is a modern in-fill stacked duplex while Woodward Properties re-developed Springfield Green, a more traditional rental property in Chestnut Hill.  In both cases, the architect and the developer made sure they had MaGrann on the team to consult on the LEED criteria, inspect the project at various stages of construction, then perform the final inspections required for certification. 
MaGrann Associates has been one of the pioneers of the LEED for Homes program since it was selected as one of the twelve original raters nationwide during USGBC’s pilot program began in 2005.  MaGrann certified the first LEED home in Delaware, the first three LEED Platinum homes in New York, the first LEED Platinum home in New Jersey and now adds these twelve homes - the first twelve LEED Platinium homes – in Pennsylvania.  MaGrann has been there from the beginning and has the experience and expertise to see the project through all phases to its successful conclusion.
            DVGBC is hosting a press conference at City Hall on Tuesday, June 16 to announce the achievement.  The event will be followed by press tours of Thin Flats and Springfield Green.  See DVGBC for more information.

About MaGrann Associates.  MaGrann Associates is a leading energy consulting and design firm servicing industry leaders in residential and multi-use construction.  For over 25 years, MaGrann has assisted residential, commercial, and light industrial builders as well as architects, utility companies and governmental agencies with innovative and cost-effective engineering services that maximize both energy and cost savings.