“It’s easy for me to talk about natural gas—I grew up with gas and still use it today in my homes in Michigan and California,” Carter said, adding, “Building with natural gas provides the competitive edge for all that it delivers—greater efficiency without sacrifice, eco-friendliness, energy security and lower operating costs for continued savings.”

Carter has long been passionate about the environment and focuses much of his work on green building solutions and design alternatives that conserve energy and reduce environmental waste. He is a strong advocate for the energy efficiency efforts we promote in the natural gas industry and has been a fervent supporter of CRE’s efforts. Judging by the many photo ops he posed for, he is quite the crowd pleaser and we could not be more pleased he was able to participate in the show!

We hope you enjoy these photos from Carter’s activities throughout the week, and make sure to keep a look out on the CRE website for further activities with Carter…there’s lots more in store for 2011!

If you decide to stop by the Natural Gas and Propane Industries booth, you may run into Carter Oosterhouse, host of HGTVs Carter Can, a regular contributor to the Rachael RayRay Show and the spokesperson for the Council for Responsible Energy. Carter’s a big fan of natural gas appliances. He was actually on Fox News today (see video below) talking about them and some other great energy saving tips. Here’s what he said about natural gas appliances:

Natural Gas Water Heating:

• Heats water up to twice as fast and ensures comfort even during a power outage.
• More than 50% reduction in carbon emissions.
• Among the many types of water heaters on the market, some models – such as highly efficient gas storage water heaters, heat pumps, solar water heaters and tankless water heaters – are up to 50 percent more efficient than traditional gas storage water heaters.
• Energy Star qualified tankless water heaters will save an average of more than $40 per year for each person in your household, compared to a conventional gas model.Fuel costs will continue to creep up, making it all the more practical to think about a long-term strategy for saving energy and money on your next water heater.
• Tankless water heaters have a 20 year shelf life.

Natural Gas Clothes Drying:

• More than 50% reduction in carbon emissions
• Clothes are dry in nearly half the time

Natural Gas Cooking:

• Style and performance upgrade for heart of your home.
• Precision control preferred by 96% of professional chefs.

Let us know if you’re at the IBS show in the comments.




Carter Oosterhouse talks responsible energy: MyFoxORLANDO.com

City Center is a dazzling array of towering hotels, condos, restaurants and high end shops and boutiques occupying 67 acres with more than a quarter mile of frontage on the Las Vegas Strip. With more than 18 million square feet of development, it is truly a city within a city.

One million tons of concrete were used in its construction, enough to build a four foot wide sidewalk from Las Vegas to New York City and back. The steel that was used would be enough to build ten Eiffel Towers and the fiber optic cable in the project could circle the equator four times! Clearing the site produced more than 300,000 tons of construction debris but 93 percent of it was recycled.

This, plus the fact that natural gas is used throughout the project has enabled City Center to receive LEED Gold certification for energy and environmental excellence.

A ten megawatt natural gas fueled cogeneration plant provides much of the electricity. Every residential condo unit features a top of the line gas cooktop and all of the hotels and restaurants have huge kitchens filled with natural gas cooking equipment. I think the only chef in the project that does not cook with gas is the guy that makes sushi.

The MGM Mirage City Center is an outstanding example of how the direct use on natural gas provides builders with a pathway toward high efficiency, high performance and a low carbon footprint.

The 2010 TNAH, however, has met a different fate and is, in some ways, the poster child for the state of the new home construction industry. The home was about 75 percent complete in November when the builder ran out of money and could not, even after a concerted effort by the NAHB and allies throughout the country, obtain financing to finish the job. The bank foreclosed on the home on December 28 and the builder has gone out of business.

To its credit, the NAHB made  lemonade out of this lemon by producing a very professional “virtual tour” of TNAH, and builders are lining up to view it. Numerous natural gas appliances are in the home, including the “Phoenix” solar/gas water heater from Heat Transfer Products, Inc. That product is in the AGA exhibit booth as is the Ecopower Microcogeneration (CHP) appliance sized for residential and small commercial applications. This unit, made by Marathon Engine Systems and fueled by natural gas, is running full time in our booth, producing all the electricity for the entire exhibit. We are not connected to the electric grid!

Despite the current condition of the housing industry, builder traffic in our exhibit has been excellent and there appears to be a lot of interest in the natural gas technology we are showcasing. The Natural Gas Home is truly a Green Home.

The 2010 National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) International Builders Show (IBS) gets underway today in Las Vegas, Nevada. The expected attendance is around 55,000, nearly half the number that attended the IBS when it was held in Orlando just a few years ago.

This is a reflection of the state of the U.S. housing industry, to be sure, but the good news is that the fall off is almost entirely in the exhibitor category. The number of exhibitors, and the people they have sent to the Show, is off by some 40 percent, but the number of builders has actually held steady from last year.

Still, with over a half million square feet of exhibits, the annual IBS remains the largest light construction trade show in the world. A lot of corporations and organizations have been loyal exhibitors, including the American Gas Association, and the NAHB is expressing its gratitude.

At the Executive Board Meeting held on Saturday, a dozen exhibitors were recognized by name as they have exhibited continuously for over 50 years. The AGA was recognized for its record of 63 straight years, behind only the Kohler Company, the Masonite Corporation and GE, which have each exhibited for 65 years. And these long time exhibitors will be again be recognized on Thursday at the full NAHB Board of Directors Meeting attended by more than 5,000 people.

A large variety of gas equipment and appliances are on display at the IBS, not only in the AGA exhibit but also throughout the convention center in the exhibits of manufacturers of gas products. They point out the tremendous economic, environmental and performance benefits of using natural gas directly in the home. And not just in the home. The giant City Center Complex, a city within a city, just opened in Las Vegas and it is one heck of a natural gas direct use success story! It truly is the talk of the town and I will explain why in my next post.

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom.  Green was the name of the game.  This piece by the Associated Press tells the greens story that was displayed at the show.  And Bobvila.com did a little blurb on our fellow booth mates from the Council for Responsible Energy.

Our booth at the International Builders Show.

Just as the show was getting ready to close for the evening, the AGA booth was visited by NAHB board member Bob Nielson. He visited with Jeff Shaw from Southwest Gas, AGA staff and had a look at all the great products displayed in the American Gas Industry booth.  AGA staff look forward to another great Homebuilders Show in Las Vegas next year!

Tom Moskitis, AGA Managing Director, Jeff Shaw, CEO, Southwest Gas Corporation, and Bob Nielson, second vice chairman, board member, NAHB.

And, being introduced for the first time in the U.S. market, the new AISIN Gas Heat Pump will be in operation in the exhibit. This exciting new technology represents the highest efficiency HVAC system on the planet and is a tremendously green option for builders. The AISIN can use either natural gas or propane, and is so quiet that you have to actually place your hand on the unit and feel its vibration to know that it is running. If you are going to the IBS, you do not want to miss this new product.

If you know anyone who is going to IBS, especially builders, tell them to stop by booth N2617, the American Gas Industry Showroom. They, and you, will not be disappointed.