What is Cogeneration?

I have a friend in central New Hampshire who heats her house all winter long with a wood stove.  What makes this notable is that her wood stove is also set up to meet her hot water demands.

This type of cogeneration is not that unusual, however, the practicality of this type of system is limited.

A more conventional and scalable cogeneration system, takes advantage of natural gas or propane as the fuel source.  As the fuel burns electricity is generated.  The waste heat produced from combustion is captured and used for water heating, space heating, pool and spa heating, and absorption chilling.

This type of combined heat and power system, or (CHP) has major potential commercial and residential applicability.

Currnet manufacturers of cogeneration systems include some well known companies, such as Honda http://world.honda.com/cogenerator/ and Cummins http://www.cumminspower.com/en/solutions/cogeneration/  As with any home energy system, a careful cost-benefit analysis must part of the analysis to determine the right way to meet your homes energy demands.

The home energy options that once were considered to be peripheral are now becoming more mainstream. This can be traced directly to these system's capacity for increased energy efficiency, their reduced environmental impact, and thier long term investment sensibility. 

HOME DESIGN Apps for your

iPhone and Android

If you woke up this morning, smiled and thought, 'I would really love a more technologically saavy way to design and decorate my house', then you may be happy to know that Home Design Applications available for your Iphone, Ipad or Android Device have arrived en masse.

Follow the link below to learn about a some of my favorites using Android technology:

1. Home Design

2. Home Architecture and Design

3. Interior Design Gallery HD

http://www.androidzoom.com/users/wprice/list/favorites

If you are an Iphone and Ipad users I recommend trying http://home3dapp.com/

I have only used this application briefly, but was very impressed with its capabilities.  It is also user friendly. 

Have fun with the design and photo galleries!

DESIGN BUILD

Welcome to Cape Cod Builder's Blog

The importance of utilzing a competent Cape Cod Builder for your construction project cannot be overemphasized.  This will go a long way toward avoiding costly mistakes and unnecessary stress.

A thorough, knowledgeable, thoughtful and skilled Builder., will ensure that your project is designed according to your personal likes and dislikes.  The Builder must be fully licensed and should make certain that each specialty trade is licensed, insured, and well referenced.  References are one of the best ways to assure that you receive the quality and attention to detail that you expect for your project.

Equally as vital as established subcontractor relationships, are the alliances that a G.C. has built with its vendors and suppliers.   These should be long-term relationships characterized by high standards of customer service (including integrity, trustworthiness, and the ability to communicate well), reliability, accessibility, and competitive pricing.

Finally, an above average Cape Cod Builder should:

-be punctual;

-understand the permitting process

-have a mastery of the building code

-ask the right questions;

-listen attentively

-help educuate their clients on products and processes

-And be personable!!

This spring REEF Field Supervisor Wesley Price, was commissioned by the Wequassett Resort, to design and build a Children's Pirate Ship Buffet Table. The project took about six weeks to complete.  The exterior of the boat was built entirely of reclaimed Western Red Cedar.  The floor and countertops are built of reclaimed Antique Heart Pine. 

Follow the link below to watch a brief time lapse video of the entire project from frame to finish.  Shiver me Timbers!

http://youtu.be/Bs3Ypa0hfZI

Thanks to Jim Hagerty, Vice-President at REEF, for providing the intial sketches of the project, as well as the scale drawings.

Thanks to Dave Gilbert of Centerville and his dog Cora, for help during construction.

Thanks to Helen Doane for the decorative painting, www.twodecorativepainters.com 

Thanks to Gatekeepers Property Management for providing the trailer to transport the vessel upon completion.  http://www.gatekeeperspropertymanagement.com/

On Saturday, June 16th, 2012, the second annual Wellfleet HarborFest will celebrate the opening of another summer season. It will be held at the east end of the town pier in front of the bandstand, rain or shine, from 9 AM to 4 PM. The occasion will showcase Wellfleet's aquaculture, shellfishing, fishing and boating communities who contribute to Wellfleet's unique character and vitality, and provides a venue for local vendors and non-profits to market their wares and offer educational opportunities. A nautical flea market will once again be featured guaranteeing a large crowd.

The centerpiece of HarborFest will be a Nautical Flea Market, which was a great success in 2011 as the first of its kind on the outer Cape.

The organizers are looking for nautical items, including small boats, canoes, kayaks, misc. nautical gear, fishing rods, reels, lures, nets, tackle, electronics, scuba gear, dinghies, small motors and boating accessories. Items may be donated outright or consigned for sale with 25% of the sale price going to the HarborFest. All items must be in reasonably good condition. Proceeds will be used to produce an informative Wellfleet Harbor Guide, which details places of interest within walking distance of the pier.

For further information follow the link the below

http://www.discoverwellfleet.com/harborfest-2012/wellfleet-harborfest-2012

Welcome to our monthly installment in our series on Locally Owned Businesses.

This month we are featuring West Bend Music, located at 314 Main Street in West Dennis, about 100 yards from our office at REEF.

"West Bend Music prides itself in its diversity in teaching students of all ages."  The talented and personable instructors/owners (from left to right below) Monica Rizzio, Demetrius Becrelis, Clayton March and Alex Becrelis offer private lessons in over 15 different instruments, including piano, violin, clarinet, banjo, ukulele, saxophone and mandolin. The instructors at West Bend also offer lessons in Music Theory, song-writng and voice.

West Bend Music is also home to Cape Cod's first and only Ukelele Shop. Seen in the picture below is a group of Uke students at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod.

You can visit their website at www.westbendmusic.org or call them at 508 394 8600

They can be reached via email at info@westbendmusic.org and are open Monday-Thursday from 2:00pm - 8:00pm

Enjoy the Music!

We recently completed a garage/breezeway addition on RT 134 in Dennis. The new garage was

designed and built with the intent to match the existing house.  This project took just under eight

 weeks to complete.

BEFORE

AFTER

Welcome to the first monthly installment in our series on Locally Owned Businesses.   

This month we are featuring clients Joe and Theresa Trombetta of Trombetta's Window Boxes. Etc.

   As owners and operators of

Trombetta's Flower Shop and

Greenhouses in Northborough,

Ma., Joe grew a large variety

of cut flowers and potted

plants. Theresa ran the full

service, for all occasions

flower shop, servicing

Northborough and surrounding

towns.

 After over 40 years in

business, Joe & Theresa semi

retired to Cape Cod where they resumed their talents with Trombetta's Windowboxes, Etc. 

Their offerings include plantings and containers for all seasons, and custom orders for both

residential and commercial customers.  Happy Spring

Joseph and Theresa Trombetta

Trombetta's Window Boxes, Etc.

East Dennis, MA

(508) 385-9367

Finishing your Cape Cod basement is one of those easy to justify home decisions that will offer years of use and enjoyment.  Here are our top eight reasons for opting to finish your basement.

8. COMFORT - A well insulated basement is usually the coolest place in your home during the summer months and the warmest in the winter months and can help reduce heating and cooling costs throughout the rest of the house.

7. ENTERTAINMENT - From simple TV rooms to more luxurious rooms, a finished basement is a place where many people will congregrate.  Pool tables, game rooms and lots of space help make a finished basement perfect for entertaining.

6 .INCOME - Finished basement space may be able to be used to produce rental income thereby helping to offset the the cost associated with construction

5.FAMILY - Whether accomodating them for a meal or a month, many people need more space to house extended family.  They can also make great playrooms for the kids and grandkids.

4.SPACE - Large, spacious rooms and ample lighting can make basements very beautiful and inviting.

3. RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT: According to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs Value Report, your basement project typically returns about 70 percent of the original cost. In terms of space and quality of living, you also get a huge return on your investment: If you own a 2000 square foot home and finish your basement, you may get 1000 square feet of extra space. That’s a 50 percent increase in space.  As a result, that extra space increases the market value of your home substantially and makes your home more attractive to potential buyers. A finished basement can improve the marketability of your home.

2.FLEXIBILITY - Unlike your main level, where often you only have a limited floor plan to choose from, the design of your basement allows a greater degree of design autonomy

1. VALUE - A finished basement offers the best value, per square foot of any other remodeling project

adapted from an article by http://www.upscaledownstairs.com

adapted from an article by http://www.integrityhomecontractors.com

If you are interested in finishing your basement, please contact our small project division by clicking below!

From fall whale watches with the family - to quiet, lazy summer days;

From an afternoon on one of the Cape's more than forty golf courses - to an early morning sunrise near one of the Cape's twenty or so Lighthouses;

From a day of deep sea fishing - to a few hours at one our amazing herring runs;

From dining on some of the best seafood in the world, at some of the best restaurants in the world - to enjoying a BBQ with friends in the comfort of your own backyard;

From dunes to dunebirds; From beaches to summer baseball;

Whatever your reasons for loving life here on Cape Cod, however far away you might be,

We look forward to helping you design and build your home, be it for vacation or year round enjoyment.-Request Info