BEAZER HOMES INTRODUCES “GET MORE FOR LESS” SALES EVENT FEB. 14-27

Great Savings on 100 Percent ENERGY STAR Homes

ATLANTA - Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH), one of the nation's top 10 homebuilders, is inviting prospective buyers who want to get more in a home and spend less to maintain it to come out Feb. 14- 27 and see first-hand all the ways that eco-friendly living can save money.

During the “Get More for Less” sales event, Beazer is offering qualified buyers tremendous values in all new home communities across the country.

This is a great time to pile on the savings because every home that Beazer starts after Feb. 14, 2011 will be an ENERGY STAR® home, meeting strict government standards for energy efficiency and comfort.

According to David Byrnes, Division President of Beazer’s Florida division, the combination of savings and value will add up quickly for those who have been waiting for just the right moment to purchase a brand new energy-efficient high-performance eSMART™ home.

“That moment has arrived and this opportunity should not be missed,” said Byrnes. “With great deals to be had right now and interest rates still at a 40-year low, this sales event comes at the perfect time for buyers who want to get more in a home and spend less for it.”

“We also want people to know that our eSMART homes exceed ENERGY STAR qualifications by adding more energy efficiency, more water conservation and more ways to improve indoor air quality.” he said. “Whether you’re just curious or committed to finding the ideal new home and neighborhood, come see our flexible floor plans, many design options and abundant energy-saving features.”

Beazer eSMART homes perform at a higher level because they are designed with a tighter home seal. Extra steps have been taken to insulate each home from the inside out, which keeps costs down, energy in, and preserves the quality of the home’s indoor air.

When measured against existing and new homes built to code, the savings from eSMART homes quickly add up. An online tool on Beazer’s website drills down the savings by state when compared to similar resale homes built 10 to 15 years ago, and can be seen at beazer.com/eSMART.

For more information on incentives available by market, visit http://www.beazer.com

Contacts: David Byrnes, Division President of Beazer Homes/Florida Division 407-339-4114; Theresa Tilton, Vice President of Sales Beazer Homes/Florida Division 407-339-4114

Beazer Homes USA Inc.: Beazer Homes USA Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the country's 10 largest single-family homebuilders, with operations in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Beazer Homes is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BZH."

Ride Green Scooters to Participate in Full Sail University Networking Seminar

WINTER PARK, Fla. Ride Green Scooters, the Winter Park dealership that specializes in low-cost, high mileage gas and electric scooters for commuters, will participate in a Full Sail University networking seminar Feb. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Brian Schwartz, general manager at Ride Green Scooters, said the networking seminar offers his company the opportunity to market its advantages to a large group of potential customers.

“Students and professionals in the creative community are prime customers for energy efficient transportation alternatives,” Schwartz said.

“As a group, they are more aware of the environment and typically they are more cost conscious as well, Schwartz said.

Ride Green Scooters, located on Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park, sells scooters priced from $900 to more than $2,000 that boast average mileage that ranges from 50 miles per battery charge on the electric models to over 85 miles per gallon on the gas powered scooters.

Visit www.ridegreenscooters.com
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For more information, contact: Brian Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407 467-3214; Ron Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407-342-3648

Winter Springs-Based Greensleeves Completed Contract with NASA to Build Geothermal Field at Cleveland Research Center

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. --- Greensleeves LLC, which designs energy efficient air conditioning and heating systems for commercial buildings that reduce energy costs by 30 percent to 50 percent, recently completed a contract by NASA to design, engineer and install a geothermal borefield at NASA’s John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

Sharon K. Keeran, vice president of marketing and operations at Greensleeves LLC, said the contract includes thermal conductivity testing, engineering, and installation of the borefield. The borefield consists of eight 275-foot bore holes.

“Greensleeves’ state-of-the-art systems harvest, store and distribute energy. In addition, they substantially reduce fossil fuel energy needs. Geothermal is one of the components that we often utilize in our solutions,” Keeran explained.

Flexible design requirements and a small footprint make Greensleeves’ systems a good choice for schools, office buildings, government buildings and almost any commercial facility, Keeran added. The savings---in lower operating and maintenance costs, durability, and energy conservation---can exceed the total cost of building construction over the life of a facility.

Greensleeves LLC is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located at the Seminole County/Winter Springs Incubator on E. State Road 434 in Winter Springs.
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For more information, contact: Sharon K. Keeran, Vice President Marketing & Operations, Greensleeves LLC 407-278-7507 x1001 skeeran@greensleevesllc.com; Esther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Incubator-Seminole County, 407-278-4881, evargasd@mail.ucf.edu

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Orlando Weekly Readers vote Ride Green Scooters the best Chinese scooter dealer in Central Florida

ORLANDO - Readers of Orlando Weekly recently voted Ride Green Scooters on W. Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park the Central Florida region’s favorite provider of low-cost, energy-efficient Chinese motor scooters.

Brian Schwartz, general manager at Ride Green Scooters, said he’s delighted with the recognition.

Ride Green Scooters specializes in sales of gas and electric Chinese scooters priced from under $1,000 to more than $2,500, and services all makes and models.

“Most of the world relies on this sort of commuter transportation because of its extreme efficiency and low cost,” Schwartz said. “As we Americans grow more energy conscious, scooters are increasing rapidly in popularity. Now you see them everywhere you go,” he said.

Ride Green Scooters is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 at 671 W. Fairbanks Ave. Visit www.ridegreenscooters.com
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For more information, contact: Brian Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407 467-3214; Ron Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407-342-3648; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida’s Fleet of Green Electric Carts to Chauffeur Tenants to Commercial Property Sites

ORLANDO - Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida has enlisted a fleet of electric carts by O-cart to reduce fuel consumption while chauffeuring prospective tenants through its portfolio of office, warehouse and retail properties in Orlando, Melbourne and Tampa.

Jeff Sweeney, SIOR, president and Anne Deason Spencer, vice president of the office group at Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, said they made arrangements to lease the fleet of electric O-carts as a way to reduce the company’s fuel costs and conserve energy.

“We think every American has an obligation to look for ways to conserve energy resources and this is one small way we can play a role in that effort as a corporation,” Spencer said.

“Most of our clients and most of our landlords want to play an active role in energy conservation. It’s an important duty, and it’s also a sensible business decision,” Sweeney said.
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About Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida: Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida is an affiliated commercial real estate services firm specializing in the leasing and sale of office, industrial, retail, land and investment properties. Currently Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida has 45 brokers divided among its Orlando, Melbourne and Tampa offices to serve the entire mid-Florida marketplace.

About Grubb & Ellis Company: Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies in the world. Our 6,000 professionals in more than 100 company owned and affiliate offices draw from a unique platform of real estate services, practice groups and investment products to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions to real estate owners, tenants and investors. The firm’s transaction, management, consulting and investment services are supported by highly regarded proprietary market research and extensive local expertise. Through its investment subsidiaries, the company is a leading sponsor of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), mutual funds and other real estate investment funds. For more information, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

Beazer Homes Unveils New Energy Efficient eSmart Designer Homes at Victoria Trails in DeLand Priced From the $130s

DELAND - Beazer Homes is unveiling its new three, four and five-bedroom energy efficient designer homes at Victoria Trails in DeLand priced from the $130s and packed with energy saving design features.

Theresa Tilton, vice president of sales at Beazer Homes in the Orlando region, said the new one and two-story homes at Victoria Trails range in size from 1,400 square feet of living space to 3,593 square feet.

Beazer Homes is incorporating its eSmart energy-saving engineering and appliances in all new homes at Victoria Trails, Tilton said, including programmable thermostats, cost-saving CFL light bulbs, water-saving Moen low flow shower heads and faucets, MERV 8 air filters, and low VOC paints and carpets.

Victoria Trails, nestled among parks, lakes and conservation areas is easily accessible to Interstate 4 and historic downtown DeLand. Amenities include a resort style pool, fitness center, tennis courts and playground.

Visit www.Beazer.com.
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For more information, contact: Theresa Tilton, Vice President of Sales Beazer Homes /Florida Division 407-339-4114; ttilton@beazer.com; David Byrnes President Beazer Homes / Florida Division - 407-339-4114 dbyrnes@beazer.com

About Beazer Homes: Beazer Homes is one of the country’s 10 largest single-family homebuilders with operations in 16 states. Headquartered in Atlanta, Beazer Homes is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BZH.”

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida Negotiates New Flex Lease for Solar Panel company at Lee Vista Lakeside in Southeast Orlando

ORLANDO - Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, associated with 130 offices worldwide, recently completed a new lease agreement for 3,635 square feet of flex space at 6457 Hazeltine National Drive in southeast Orlando.

Eric Penaranda, associate in the Industrial Services Group at Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, brokered the transaction representing both the landlord at Lee Vista Lakeside and the tenant, Orlando based Suncor Solar, Inc., a startup company engaged in sales and distribution of solar panels for commercial and residential applications.

Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida: Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida is an affiliated commercial real estate services firm specializing in the leasing and sale of office, industrial, retail, land and investment properties. Currently Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida has 40 brokers divided among its Orlando, Tampa and Melbourne offices to serve the entire mid-Florida marketplace.

About Grubb & Ellis: Named to The Global Outsourcing 100™ in 2009 by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals™, Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies in the world. Our 6,000 professionals in more than 130 company-owned and affiliate offices draw from a unique platform of real estate services, practice groups and investment products to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions to real estate owners, tenants and investors. The firm’s transaction, management, consulting and investment services are supported by highly regarded proprietary market research and extensive local expertise. Through its investment subsidiaries, the company is a leading sponsor of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), tenant-in-common (TIC) investments suitable for tax-deferred 1031 exchanges, mutual funds and other real estate investment funds. For more information, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

With “Kolter ECO-NOMICS™” Your Home’s Energy Footprint Could be Cut in Half

LAKE MARY, Fla. -- Kolter Homes, which is developing Grande Oaks at Heathrow, a private luxury townhome community in Lake Mary, recently unveiled “Kolter ECO-NOMICS™” (www.koltereconomics.com), a company-wide commitment to building smarter, more sustainable homes that offer home owners substantially greater value.

The design and engineering of every Kolter-built home includes 15 valuable features to assure comfort, safety, and environmental responsibility, said Steve Bovio, Kolter Homes senior project manager at Grande Oaks at Heathrow.

“Kolter Homes has more than 50 years of experience in the forefront of Florida home building,” Bovio said. “We’ve always been a technologically advanced home builder. I joined Kolter because I believe we build some of the most energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable homes in Florida,” he said.

Bovio said Kolter’s advanced home building technology includes obvious solutions such as cool tile roofs and foam insulation. But Kolter goes several steps farther to create a sealed attic system that turns the external structure of the home into a thermal and air barrier, HEPA air filters that remove 99.97 percent of the most difficult airborne particles, and air comfort systems that cool the home with maximum efficiency.

“Our commitment is to reduce the average Florida homeowner’s energy bill by half or more over the life of the home by reducing waste, improving the home’s environment, and utilizing materials and techniques that offer us all a sustainable future,” Bovio said.

The Grande Oaks at Heathrow sales and preview center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and Sunday Noon to 6 at 1450 Lake George Drive. From I-4 go west on H.E. Thomas, Jr. Pkwy., (CR 46A), to the community entrance just past International Parkway.

For information, call 407-829-8961.

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For more information contact:
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

Steve Bovio, Senior Project Manager, Kolter Homes/Orlando 407-333-1733 sbovio@kolter.com

About Kolter Homes:
Kolter Homes is part of the Kolter Group, a private investment firm focusing on real estate development, investment and construction. Kolter Homes brings more than a decade of experience in Florida homebuilding to each of its communities in Orlando, South Florida and the Treasure Coast. Visit www.KolterHomes.com for additional information.

Ride Green Scooters a Big Hit at UCF Housing Fair

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Ride Green Scooters of Winter Park---the new venture by Orlando entrepreneur Ron Schwartz that markets fuel-efficient scooters priced from under $1,000 rated at 75-110 miles per gallon---was a big hit at the University of Central Florida Housing Fair on the east Orlando campus recently.

“About 3,000 students attended the Housing Fair and at least 1,000 of them visited our exhibit,” Schwartz said.

Located on Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park, Ride Green Scooters has recently received two new 2010 models adding to its Jonway and Shenke motor scooter inventory. Both are made in China.

“We are one of the first dealers to import these two new models in the Orlando region and they are selling well,” said Brian Schwartz, managing partner. Both scooters offer versions that range from 50-cc to 250-cc and feature upgraded suspensions and disc brakes.

“For more than half the world’s population, these energy-efficient vehicles are the principal means of transportation,” said Schwartz. “Most UCF students see them as an ideal solution to the on-campus parking shortage,” he added.

Ride Green Scooters offers a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week road service program for all participating scooter owners and expert scooter maintenance and repair on all models is available at the Ride Green Scooters Showroom and Garage at 671 W. Fairbanks.

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For more information, contact:
Ron Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407-342-3648 (direct)
Brian Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407 467-3214
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Ride Green Scooters Extends Service Hours to Keep Up With Demand

WINTER PARK, Fla. - Ride Green Scooters, the new Winter Park dealership that specializes on high gas mileage, low cost scooters for cost-conscious commuters, has extended its service hours to seven days a week.

“We have seen a huge surge in maintenance and repair business since we opened,” said Brian Schwartz, a principal of the company. “Scooters are very popular in the Central Florida region, and there aren’t many service and repair resources for the Asian motor scooters,” he said.

“Ride Green Scooters also offers a 24-hour seven-day a week road service through Nation Safe Driver’s Auto Club 800-338-2680 in case of breakdowns,” Schwartz added.

Schwartz said he recently appointed Max Ogden chief mechanic at Ride Green Scooters. Ogden has more than 10 years of experience as a scooter mechanic.

For more information, please contact:

Ron Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407-342-3648 (direct)

Brian Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407 467-3214

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Ashton Woods Homes to Start Construction of 12 New Town Homes at Wickham Park in Windermere

ORLANDO, Fla. - Ashton Woods Homes will start construction of 12 new town homes at Wickham Park, located on Overstreet Rd. north of C.R. 535 in Windermere.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region, said construction will get underway within the next 30 days on three new buildings with three and four units, which have been released for sale.

The new three-bedroom, two-bath town homes at Wickham Park are priced from $164,900.

Wickham Park is an award-winning community that features Ashton Woods Homes’ PowerHouse Green and Environments for Living technology to enhance performance and dramatically lower energy costs by an average of 15 to 25 percent.

Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, a North American real estate conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, and currently has communities under development in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver and Orlando.

For more information contact:
Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa, 407-647-3700
John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa 407-647-3700
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Ashton Woods Homes Introduces Two New Smaller, Smarter Prototype Homes at Palm Cove in Wesley Chapel

TAMPA, Fla. - Ashton Woods Homes is introducing two new prototype homes at Palm Cove, located off Boyette Rd. and S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel in Pasco County.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa region, said the three-bedroom two-bath single-family homes could represent the future of Florida’s home building industry.

“We’re building smaller, smarter homes,” Roche said. “Our PowerHouse Green and Environments for Living technology enhances the performance of the home and dramatically lowers energy costs by an average of 15 to 25 percent,” he said.

Ranging from 1,339 square feet of living space to 1,530 square feet, the new prototype homes are easier to maintain and less expensive to own, Roche said.

For more information, contact:
Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Tampa 407-647-3700
John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes-Tampa/Orlando 407-647-3700
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Ashton Woods Homes:
Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, a North American real estate conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, and currently has communities under development in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver and Orlando.

Only Five Single-Family Home Sites Remain At Sagamore Trace in North Brandon

Only Five Single-Family Home Sites Remain At Sagamore Trace in North Brandon

TAMPA, Fla. - Only five single-family home sites remain for sale at Sagamore Trace, located off S. Kingsway Rd. between I-4 and I-75 in North Brandon.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said new single-family homes at Sagamore Trace range in size from 1,712 square feet of living space to 3,435 square feet, and are priced from $189,900.

New homes at Sagamore Trace feature Ashton Woods Homes’ PowerHouse Green energy-saving design, which meets Environments for Living™ performance standards as well as the EPA's Energy Star™ program standards for new home construction.

For more information, contact:
Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Tampa/Orlando, 407-647-3700;
John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes-Tampa/Orlando, 407-647-3700;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Ashton Woods Homes:
Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, a North American real estate conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, and currently has communities under development in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver and Orlando.

Ashton Woods Homes Acquires Site near Citrus Park Mall, Starts Construction of 34 New Homes Priced from Under $200,000

Ashton Woods Homes Acquires Site near Citrus Park Mall, Starts Construction of 34 New Homes Priced from Under $200,000

TAMPA, Fla. - Ashton Woods Homes acquired 34 home sites at Citrus Park Place, located off Gunn Hwy. north of the Citrus Park Mall in Tampa, and will soon start construction of a single-family model home that will open in November.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said the homebuilder will start presales of single-family homes at Citrus Park Place by Sept. 1.

Roche said the model home under construction---a four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home with 2,506 square feet of living space and a two-car garage---will showcase Ashton Woods Homes’ PowerHouse Green energy-saving features, which meet Environments for Living™ performance standards, as well as the EPA's Energy Star™ program standards for new home construction.

New homes at Citrus Park Place are priced from the high $100s, Roche said.

For more information, contact:
Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Tampa/Orlando, 407-647-3700;
John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes-Tampa/Orlando, 407-647-3700;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Ashton Woods Homes:
Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, a North American real estate conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, and currently has communities under development in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver and Orlando.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects launches new website to promote energy conservation and smart commercial design

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects launches new website to promote energy conservation and smart commercial design

ORLANDO, Fla. — Cuhaci & Peterson Architects LLC, the Baldwin Park-based architectural firm, has launched a new user-friendly website that offers dozens of pages of information about company projects, services and people.

Lonnie Peterson, chairman of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects LLC, said he hopes to utilize the website to promote big changes in the way commercial facilities are designed.

“We are seeing a profound evolution in energy-efficient design that incorporates everything from low-energy lighting to more functional space,” said Peterson.

“Architecture is entering a new era where function, efficiency and durability are on par with exciting design, and that translates to substantially more value for the developer, the user and the customer,” Peterson said.

The company’s new website can be visited at www.c-p.com.

For more information, contact:
Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Ashton Woods Homes Reinvents Green -- Saves New Home Buyers Money

Ashton Woods Homes Reinvents Green -- Saves New Home Buyers Money

ORLANDO, Fla. – Ashton Woods Homes recently released its Power House Green with Environments for Living™ program where new home buyers can realize at least 25 percent savings on their energy bills.

Building green may seem like a new trend to some, but not to Ashton Woods Homes – a national builder which has built more than 10,000 homes meeting Environments for Living™ standards. Environments for Living homes are more energy efficient, comfortable and durable than conventional code-built homes and provide the homeowner energy usage and comfort guarantees.

“Ashton Woods is committed to providing our customers energy-efficiency, luxury, quality and the value you’d expect from one of the nation’s premier new homebuilders – all while keeping the environment in mind,” said John Reny, division president for Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region.

“Our customers can save 25-45 percent on energy costs in an Ashton Woods home. In fact, Ashton Woods’ Environments for Living™ homes meet or exceed the Energy Star guidelines from the federal government,” added Reny.

An Ashton Woods Environments for Living™ home provides benefits both to homeowners and the environment. Besides keeping families comfortable, Ashton Woods’ Environments for Living™ homes have reduced emissions of 5,813 pounds of CO2 per home. This is equivalent to taking almost 5,000 cars off the road per year, or 103 railcars worth or coal. To put this into perspective, it would take almost 700,000 tree seedlings grown for 10 years or more than 6,200 acres of pine or fir forests, to process that amount of carbon.

“We’re proud to be the leader in building Environments for Living™ home,” said Reny.

Every Ashton Woods single-family home and townhome meets Environments for Living performance standards as well as the EPA’s Energy Star™ program standards for home construction. These standards are monitored and inspected throughout the entire building process, resulting in the enhanced performance of your home. As a result, an Environments for Living™ home may qualify for tax credits under various government programs. In addition, Ashton Woods Homes uses Lenox comfort system products that have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal. This results in a cleaner, more efficient HVAC system that requires less energy and maintains a comfortable balance in your home.

The Environments for Living™ program utilizes techniques of building science to help reduce energy loss, including a continuous air barrier, efficient heating and cooling systems and tight ductwork. In addition, the program establishes requirements for tight construction, improved thermal systems, right-sized HVAC systems, fresh air ventilation, balanced air pressure, internal moisture management and combustion safety.

For additional information on Ashton Woods Homes go to www.ashtonwoodshomes.com/home.

For details on the limited comfort guarantee go to www.environmentsforliving.com/index.jsp?actiono=hb_guarantee.

About Ashton Woods Homes:
Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group – a fully-integrated collection of companies that spans the entire real estate spectrum in North America – from land acquisition and development to the design and construction of master-planned communities. For more information, visit www.ashtonwoodshomes.com/powerhouse. (770)998-9663.

Contacts:
Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa, 407-647-3700; mroche@ashtonwoodshomes.com;
John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa 407-647-3700; jreny@ashtonwoodshomes.com;
Tad Serbin, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Ashton Woods Homes 770-998-9663, Tserbin@ashtonwoodshomes.com;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142; lvershelco@aol.com

Ashton Woods Homes Hosts "Green Day" July 18 In All 11 Orlando and Tampa Area Communities

Ashton Woods Homes Hosts "Green Day" July 18 In All 11 Orlando and Tampa Area Communities

ORLANDO, Fla. - Ashton Woods Homes will host Green Day on Saturday, July 18, at all 11 Ashton Woods Homes communities in the Orlando and Tampa areas.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes in the Central Florida region, said the public is invited and refreshments will be provided. Roche said experts will be on hand in all 11 communities to discuss ways to reduce energy bills with energy-efficient design, appliances and materials.

Ashton Woods Homes builds new single-family homes, luxurious condominiums and town homes priced from the $120s in the Windermere area at the Enclave at Berkshire Park; Lakeside Condominiums; The Cove at Lakes of Windermere; Thornhill and Wickham Park Townhomes; and in the Orlando area at Banyan Pointe on Longwood-Lake Mary Rd. in Lake Mary; Savannah Park at Heathrow.

In the Tampa Bay region, priced from the $140s, at Camden Woods, located off S. 78th St. south of Causeway Blvd. in Tampa; Fern Grove at S. Dover Rd. and Durant Rd. in the Brandon area; Palm Cove in Wesley Chapel; Sagamore Trace in Seffner and The Landings in South Tampa.

For more information, contact:
Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa, 407-647-3700;
John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa 407-647-3700
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Ashton Woods Homes:
Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, a North American real estate conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, and currently has communities under development in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver and Orlando.

Ashton Woods Homes Recognized With 2009 Energy Star-Leadership in Housing Award

Ashton Woods Homes Recognized With 2009 Energy Star-Leadership in Housing Award - Ashton Woods Homes Earns Award for Building new Homes that Protect the Environment Through Energy Efficiency

ORLANDO, Fla. – Ashton Woods Homes was recently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2009 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. The award recognizes the important contribution Ashton Woods Homes has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building more than 1,202 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save its customers approximately $537,294 on utility bills each year.

The environmental benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified homes are equal to the equivalent of:
•Eliminating the emissions from 589 vehicles;
•Saving 3,562,728 trees;
•Planting 1,201 acres of trees; or
•Saving the environment 6,987,226 pounds of CO2 per year.

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

“We’ve been building ENERGY STAR compliant homes for eight years now and energy savings continues to be a very successful benefit of owning an Ashton Woods home,” said John Reny, division president of Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region.

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.”

About Ashton Woods Homes:

Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group – a fully-integrated collection of companies that spans the entire real estate spectrum in North America – from land acquisition and development to the design and construction of master-planned communities. For more information, visit www.ashtonwoodshomes.com/powerhouse. (770)998-9663.

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 http://www.energystar.gov/ or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

Contact:

Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa, 407-647-3700; mroche@ashtonwoodshomes.com;

John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa 407-647-3700; jreny@ashtonwoodshomes.com;

Tad Serbin, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Ashton Woods Homes 770-998-9663;Tserbin@ashtonwoodshomes.com;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142; lvershelco@aol.com

Designers at Randall-Paulson Architects Earn LEED-AP Professional Designation for Energy-Efficient Design

Designers at Randall-Paulson Architects Earn LEED-AP Professional Designation for Energy-Efficient Design

ROSWELL, Ga. – David Krogh, Don Buschert, Heather Anderson, Lauren Harper, Marcus Mello and Peter Jamieson, architectural and interior designers at Randall-Paulson Architects, the award winning Roswell-based architectural firm, recently earned their LEED AP accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental design –– promotes the Green Building Rating System developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction and has more than 10,000 membership organizations.

Alex Paulson, AIA, Principal at Randall-Paulson Architects, said LEED accredited building designers and contractors will dominate the industry within the next few years.

“Since its inception in 1998, the LEED program has grown to encompass more than 22,000 projects in 50 states and 91 countries,” Paulson said.

“Most people in the design, construction and lending industries understand the critical importance of reducing carbon emissions and building more energy-efficient environmentally sustainable structures,” Paulson said.

Randall-Paulson established a Sustainability Studio in the last year. It offers a full range of Sustainability Consultation services including existing building analysis,commissioning, company training, high performance design, LEED and Green Globes consultation and administration, and tax credit evaluations.

Headquartered in Roswell, Ga., Randall-Paulson Architects is a 15-year old commercial architectural design firm that specializes in the design of industrial, office, retail, mixed-use, education, religious, childcare, and hospitality facilities.

For more information, contact:
Alex S. Paulson, AIA, Principal, Randall-Paulson Architects 770-650-7558, apaulson@randallpaulson.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Coldwell Banker Commercial sponsors green information session at Chamber of Commerce of West Volusia

Coldwell Banker Commercial sponsors green information session at Chamber of Commerce of West Volusia

ORANGE CITY, Fla. – Nearly two dozen of city, county and state officials, as well as local business types, attended a recent “going green” seminar sponsored by Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group.

The two-hour session – titled “Rebuilding the Local Economy through Sustainable Alternatives” – was intended to create awareness and a dialog between community leaders and elected officials, according to John Wanamaker, Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group broker.

In addition to Wanamaker and CBC’s Stepan Babanin, who talked about the savings their own company has seen since they began using sustainable alternatives, several other speakers offered insight about recycling, water conservation, and electric company rebates available through their agencies.

The speakers were Darlene Keefe and Kathy Lapp, Progress Energy; Lindsey Roberts, WAV (Water Alliance of Volusia); Ann Benedetti, St. Johns River Water Management District; and Laura Raftery, Gel Recycling.

“We had about 20 people who attended and their feedback was fantastic,” Wanamaker said of the session held at the new Chamber of Commerce of West Volusia building in Orange City.

One such attendee was Andy Kelly, Volusia County Councilman for District 1, who also is a member of the Florida Association of Counties’ Energy Independence Work Group.
Kelly said he is excited about the positive results and hopes to see some of the ideas implemented at the county level.

“It was an excellent program with a lot of quality ideas,” he said. “I hope that everyone who attended will apply some of those ideas – even if it’s only changing out light bulbs or turning down the thermostat – in their own homes and businesses.”
Wanamaker said he thinks those attending were impressed by the way the session was all tied together at the end.

“It showed them how much money can actually be saved for a very small investment,” he said.

About Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group:
Owned and operated by commercial real estate veterans John Wanamaker and Chuck Rudis, Coldwell Banker Commercial AIG is a leader in the listing, leasing and selling of properties, as well as a premier developer of community-friendly and LEED-accredited projects for small business owners.

For more information about this release, please contact:
John Wanamaker, broker for Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group, 386-775-8633, john@cbciagroup.com

Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-837-8780, 407-644-4142 or chagervandyke@yahoo.com