BMC West CenTex

by Jenn Rains, Hill Country News

While the “green movement” is fast becoming a craze for people, being energy efficient to help save money is even more of a reason for people to look into environmentally friendly technology. Residents of Cedar Park and the surrounding areas don’t have to look far, as the technology can be found at BMC West in Cedar Park.

BMC West, a building materials supplier, has been operating in Central Texas for seven decades and is heading the movement to be more energy efficient. Steve Rosenbaum, regional sales manager for the Central Texas region, said “We’ve always been at the forefront of bringing quality products.”

With the fast pace at which technology is improving, quality products and technology today are about being environmentally friendly and energy efficient. By teaming with Home Energy Solutions (HES), the two companies provide products such as window film, a solar hot water heater and the Solex Attic Fan. The companies are also designing one of the most energy efficient french doors.

The fan, which can lower attic temperatures by as much as 40 degrees, uses the sun’s energy to drive the fan and draw the heat out, said Craig Bushon, president of HES.

The Solex Attic Fan has been on the market for about 14 years, but not until recently have people been interested, said Bushon. “There hasn’t been a reason for people to pay attention,” he said.

The products are used in both commercial and residential properties and are usually used in conjunction with other technology. In order to determine what technology can help, an energy audit is done on the property, meaning infrared cameras are used to find leaks and other areas where energy is being lost. “About 80 percent of homes need energy upgrades because they have leaks,” said Rosenbaum.

Bushon said the biggest problem with the industry right now is that it’s unregulated. Therefore, people need to be educated so they don’t get scammed or confused by misleading propaganda.

In an effort to help educate, BMC West is offering seminars to groups and homeowners associations on what can be done to save money and have a more energy-friendly household. They also have HES displays with many of the products available at their two locations in Cedar Park - BMC West on Brushy Creek Road and BMC Millworks on RM 1431 - and at their location in Austin at Braker and Metric.

To learn more about the products, set up an energy audit or schedule a seminar, call Benton Reed, BMC West sales manager, at 378-9380 or by e-mail breed@bmcwest.com.

E-mail jenn@hillcountrynews.com

Austin, TX – Home Energy Solutions and BMC West are proud to announce that the Austin Turfcats of the Southern Indoor Football League are their newest corporate partners.

“Powering the Turfcats is very exciting for us,” says Steve Rosenbaum, BMC West’s Central Texas Regional Sales Manager. “We have extremely strong roots in our communities, stretching more than seven decades. We love the Turfcats and SIFL model of promoting local talent and bringing exciting, affordable professional sports to our friends and neighbors.”

Homeowners, builders and remodelers rely on BMC West for the highest quality building materials, lumber, doors, windows, and hardware. Their exclusive partnership with Home Energy Solutions educates homeowners how they can “Slash” their energy usage with the latest technology products.

“The Turfcats are an exciting new SIFL team that is sure to bring great enjoyment to families in the Capital city and beyond,” adds Home Energy Solutions President,
Craig Bushon. “We look forward to bringing high-powered Central Texas football along with the fastest-paced sporting event to the region.”

“We are so excited to have both of these professional companies join our team, their philosophy of community and giving back mirrors the Turfcats mission statement. Their commitment ensures success for our team not just now but also in the future, “added Ronald Oswalt, Turfcats Vice-President/General Manager.”

The public is always welcome to get hands on experience and learn more about Home Energy Solutions at the BMC West showrooms located in Austin, Cedar Park, New Braunfels and Helotes. Bookmark the BMC West Blog at http://bmcwest-centex.com.

Great locations are still available for the 2009 season! Act now to reserve the best seats. Call a Season Sales Representative today at 866-969-8228 (TCAT) to reserve your seats today. The Austin Turfcats are committed to being a premier team in the Southern Indoor Football League and being involved in the community for which we serve.

When it comes to getting a replacement window contractor bid, you may feel like you’re way back in the Wild, Wild West!

Most areas do not regulate companies selling windows.  You are going to meet people that make all kinds of promises about how much they will lower your utility bill, how their double pane window is better than a 366 glass triple pane window, and on and on and on…

The bottom line is: you must do your homework.  Learn the facts that are important to your environment.  If you’re in a warm climate, you want to know about Solar Heat Gain Coefficient.  If you’re in a colder climate, U-Value will be  important to you.  Visible Light Transmission tells you how dark the glass is.

Finally, make sure to pay attention to how much Ultra-Violet Light (UV) the window blocks out.  Keeping UV out will protect your furniture, window coverings, wood floors and more.

Don’t just accept the lowest bid on windows.  Take all these factors into account to measure your true Return on Investment.

Home Energy Solutions windows, exclusively from BMC West, feature Cardinal 366 glass as a standard feature and many other features that make it the most energy efficient window on the market.  Email: jhodge@bmcwest.com for more information.

There is a lot of confusion about what exactly constitutes “Green Building”. Builders and remodelers are faced with choosing between competing certifications such as the National Association of Home Builders’(NAHB) new National Green Building Standard, and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system.

While LEED has been around for longer, it was initially designed for commercial buildings and is being updated to include residential. The NAHB program, however, was designed specifically for residential builders and is better suited for their needs. The Pro Builder website has 2 great articles explaining the programs and summarizing the differences.

Make sure to read Green Goods: What’s in a Key Section of NAHB’s New Green Building Standard and Green Goods: How LEED for Homes Most Affects Dealers.