Stunning design and green architecture shouldn’t be reserved just for adults, as showcased by this gorgeous green treehouse built by the architects at Lord, Aeck & Sargent. Constructed as an extension to Camp Twin Lakes, a camp dedicated to kids with special needs, this treehouse is not only beautiful, fun and kid friendly, but green as well!
War and conflict often bring about the destruction of architecture, however these forces can also result in new constructions that define a cultural identity and place. Stressed by China’s growing population, the Hakka people have been confronted with armed warfare for local resources since the 17th century. To remedy their situation the Hakka began building massive structures that could not only stave off intruders, but would also form amazing self-sustaining micro-communities complete with food storage, space for livestock, living quarters, temples, armories and more.
The High Country Association of REALTORS released statistics today for residential homes sold through the end of November. Sales are off from October’s numbers, approaching June’s total residential units sold.
Sales continue to fall below last year’s figures. When comparing year-to-date numbers with the same time period in 2008, the number of residential units sold is down 11.1 percent, and the median sold price for residential property is down 11.3 percent. The total number of new residential listings is down 6.2 percent from 2008.
Mortgage rates are also dropping, which is good news for homebuyers. According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.88 in November, down from 5.06 percent in September. The rate was 6.09 percent in November 2008.
In addition to lower mortgage rates, buyers now have more time to secure big tax savings. On Nov. 6, President Obama signed The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which includes an $8,000 tax credit for qualified first-time buyers and a $6,500 tax credit for qualified existing homeowners. This gives prospective buyers an additional six months to take advantage of the popular tax credits, which have helped boost sagging homes sales.
All of you know Stillwater Dwellings. This new company is indeed very busy these days with an array of orders. They have recently completed their first prefab home in Bend, Oregon. This home was built using the sd231 floor plan and includes 2,950 square feet of space. This house contains three bedrooms, two and halfbathrooms, a laundry room, and 600 square feet of garage space. The cost of construct this house was $175 per square foot which includes the entire site work.
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The Renewable Energy Initiative of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC is holding its official ribbon-cutting event on Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. for the 100KW wind turbine successfully installed at the university-owned Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. The project, installed by Alteris Renewables, was completed this past summer. The turbine is currently the largest wind development in the state of North Carolina.
Story by Celeste von Mangan
Water heating in your home uses a large portion of electricity and is preceded in energy consumption only by air heating and cooling systems. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using a solar water heating system in conjunction with a backup electric heater can cut costs by 50 percent. Though it may take several years to recoup the initial outlay at the time of purchase, recovery of this cost can be facilitated by taking advantage of a $500 rebate from Blue Ridge Electric, along with progressive tax credits from the federal and state government.
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Find a spot in the high country and be the first to have this Ger stilt camper/house for an awesome Appstate Football get away. I guess a kid never really grows up. Editor
Heavenly Mountain to become sustainability center
by: Scott Nicholson— Development of a 2,000-acre property in that once was planned as a spiritual retreat is shifting toward sustainability and affordable renewable technology.
David Kaplan, along with his brother Earl Kaplan, are planning an advanced development that uses latest research to combine solar and wind energy with contemporary green building techniques to offer affordable and sustainable houses. Kaplan said he had the goal of establishing the property as the “Center for Sustainability” in the United States.
Kaplan formerly owned thousands of acres in the southwestern corner of Watauga County, which was planned as Heavenly Mountain Resort and at one time was associated with the Transcendental Meditation movement. Kaplan broke ties with the group about five years ago and eventually sold about 6,000 acres to the Ginn Company for the Laurelmor Development. That property has since been sold again after the Ginn Company faced foreclosure.
Time capsule buried at courthouse Jefferson Post What will future generations of Ashe County citizens remember about the High Country in 100 years? ... |
 TriCities.com | Snow Days: Cold, snowy winter a blessing for ski resorts TriCities.com Without snow machines, Moretz said, there would be no skiing in the mountains of North Carolina's High Country. But, this year, resorts like Ski Beech and ... |
Author Pegram to address High Country Writers Boone Mountain Times He and his wife, Patty, reside in Oak Ridge, NC and he is a grandfather. His wife will be joining him for the meeting on March 11. ... |
Boone resident snags Gov's Award Boone Mountain Times Boone resident and College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) senior associate director of technology Robin Greene was awarded the Governor's Award for ... |
Hell of the High Country coming in April Watauga Democrat By Mark Mitchell The Hell of the High Country is coming! No, this is not a new horror movie set in Boone and starring Andrew Dice Clay and Paris Hilton. ... |
AURA at ASU March 12 Boone Mountain Times TRCS is an expeditionary Learning Outward Bound public school in Boone. As a North Carolina charter school, Two Rivers has adopted an integrated, thematic, ... |
Land coalition on track Winston-Salem Journal BOONE - A coalition of 10 North Carolina land trusts is on track to complete an effort to protect 50000 acres of mountain land by the end ... |
NC mountains experiencing one of worst winters on record CharlotteObserver.com The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning until 6 am Thursday for Avery, Alleghany, Ashe, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties, ... |
Women's Basketball Welcomes UNCG for "Pink Zone" Game and Alumni Day Saturday ASU Appalachian Mountaineers BOONE, NC - Appalachian State University women's basketball returns to the High Country for the first time in a little over 10 days as the Mountaineers host ... |
Wings offers new program to area residents Watauga Democrat Wings, serving the southern Appalachian region for 15 years now, is now offering a special membership program to High Country residents that will help take ... |
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