http://www.sustainablefellwood.com/
http://www.nahbrc.com/
http://www.melaver.com/

(SAVANNAH, GA) The National Association of Home Builders Research Center has given an Energyvalue Housing Award to master developer Melaver, Inc., for the green affordable housing development Sustainable Fellwood. The award is one of 20 given to projects from 15 different states and will be presented at a ceremony on January 18, 2010.

Sustainable Fellwood, which serves as a principal component of the City of Savannah’s Westside Development Revitalization Plan, is considered a national showcase for environmentally-responsible community planning.

Amenities for the environmentally friendly mixed-use, mixed income development include the preservation of trees, on-site recycling, cellulose insulation, high efficiency air conditioning and heating units, and low flow water fixtures. The homes have 30 percent less energy usage and 40 percent less water usage than typical construction.

“Energy efficiency was a primary driver during design,” said Tommy Linstroth, Director of Sustainability for Melaver. “Energy efficiency translates directly into more money saved for our residents, which is doubly important in an affordable housing development.

The energy award is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Building America program, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in addition to the NAHB Research Center.

Finalists were selected from projects in three climate regions (cold, moderate, hot) and five categories (affordable, custom/demonstration, factory-built, multi-family, production). The award will be presented at a ceremony during the International Builders’ Show on January 18, 2010 at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel.

Sustainable Fellwood is Silver certified in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Neighborhood Development pilot program and every unit will achieve LEED for Homes certification. Sustainable Fellwood is also registered in the EarthCraft Coastal Communities through Southface Energy Institute.

The NAHB Research Center promotes innovation in housing technology to improve the quality, durability, affordability, and environmental performance of homes and home building products. Go to National Association of Home Builders Research Center for more information.

Sustainable Fellwood is a mixed use, mixed income Housing Authority of Savannah redevelopment. Master Developer: Melaver, Inc., in partnership with Parallel Housing, Progressive Redevelopment, and Vanguard Developers. In collaboration with: Lott Barber, Architecture and Planning, Catamount Constructors, Inc., City of Savannah, and CHSA Development of Savannah. Sustainable Fellwood

http://www.sustainablefellwood.com

(SAVANNAH, GA) The National Association of Home Builders Research Center has given an Energyvalue Housing Award to master developer Melaver, Inc., for the green affordable housing development Sustainable Fellwood. The award is one of 20 given to projects from 15 different states and will be presented at a ceremony on January 18, 2010.

http://www.melaver.com

Sustainable Fellwood, which serves as a principal component of the City of Savannah’s Westside Development Revitalization Plan, is considered a national showcase for environmentally-responsible community planning.

Amenities for the environmentally friendly mixed-use, mixed income development include the preservation of trees, on-site recycling, cellulose insulation, high efficiency air conditioning and heating units, and low flow water fixtures. The homes have 30 percent less energy usage and 40 percent less water usage than typical construction.

“Energy efficiency was a primary driver during design,” said Tommy Linstroth, Director of Sustainability for Melaver. “Energy efficiency translates directly into more money saved for our residents, which is doubly important in an affordable housing development.

The energy award is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Building America program, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in addition to the NAHB Research Center.

Finalists were selected from projects in three climate regions (cold, moderate, hot) and five categories (affordable, custom/demonstration, factory-built, multi-family, production). The award will be presented at a ceremony during the International Builders’ Show on January 18, 2010 at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel.

Sustainable Fellwood is Silver certified in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Neighborhood Development pilot program and every unit will achieve LEED for Homes certification. Sustainable Fellwood is also registered in the EarthCraft Coastal Communities through Southface Energy Institute.

The NAHB Research Center promotes innovation in housing technology to improve the quality, durability, affordability, and environmental performance of homes and home building products. Go to National Association of Home Builders Research Center for more information.

Sustainable Fellwood is a mixed use, mixed income Housing Authority of Savannah redevelopment. Master Developer: Melaver, Inc., in partnership with Parallel Housing, Progressive Redevelopment, and Vanguard Developers. In collaboration with: Lott Barber, Architecture and Planning, Catamount Constructors, Inc., City of Savannah, and CHSA Development of Savannah.

A Bold New Water Challenge for US:
RehydrateUS Aims to Conserve 1 Billion Gallons a Day with 3 easy steps

(USA) A bold — yet simple — water challenge is being launched at Greenbuild.  The RehydrateUS initiative, founded by sustainability guru Tommy Linstroth of Savannah based Melaver, Inc., calls for home and business owners to reduce their water consumption through three easy steps:

1) Replace existing toilets with ultra-high efficiency toilets
2) Switch out standard faucet aerators to ultra-low flow aerators
3) Swap existing shower heads with water efficient models.

These three steps can reduce household or business water consumption by 30-60%, and will result in saving 1 billion gallons of water per day.  The RehydrateUS Initiative is supported by a website, www.rehydrateus.org, which provides an easy to use calculator and a pledge form for you to use in making your commitment.

Tommy Linstroth is available for interviews on the billion gallon challenge.  For more information on The RehydrateUS Initiative, visit:

Contact Tommy Linstroth:
tlinstroth@melaver.com

http://www.melaver.com

http://www.athensdowntownhotel.com

(SAVANNAH / ATHENS, GA) – Hotel Indigo Athens has achieved LEED Gold certification for its cutting-edge green development strategies, including an energy conserving regenerative elevator, a high efficiency heating and air conditioning system and a water efficiency program, which cut water use almost 40 percent.

Co-developed by Savannah-based Melaver, Inc, and Atlanta based Rialto Partners, the unique hotel located at 500 College Avenue is among the first six hotels in the world to achieve LEED Gold status given by the U.S. Green Building Council. The hotel is also the first privately owned development in Athens to achieve LEED certification.

Melaver Sustainability Consulting provided the guidance on green strategies and oversaw the LEED certification process.

“Our starting goal was LEED Silver. Being one of only a handful of LEED Gold hotels in the country is a testament to the owner’s and our entire team’s commitment to sustainability” said Tommy Linstroth, the Director of Sustainability for Melaver, Inc.

The design of the 80,0000-square-foot Hotel Indigo incorporates green technology such as a regenerative elevator from Otis Elevators, keycard activated room lighting, and a variable-refrigerant-flow-zoning heating and air conditioning system from Mitsubishi Electric. Improved indoor air quality is achieved through the use of low VOC paints, adhesives, and sealants, as well as filtered fresh air provided through an energy recovery ventilator. Low flow plumbing fixtures are used throughout the building, which reduce consumption by nearly 40 percent and an outdoor water cistern collects condensation from air conditioning and supplies the exterior water feature. Priority parking is available for hybrids and carpool vehicles.

Each of the 130 guest rooms features hardwood floors, oversized beds, plush furniture, and spa-inspired showers. Locally printed and framed concert posters featuring bands and musicians from Athens appear in each room with frames constructed from reclaimed barn wood.

About Melaver Inc.
Melaver, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned business based in Savannah, Georgia. The sustainable real estate developer currently has ten LEED certified projects in their portfolio and is developing Sustainable Fellwood, one of the largest green affordable housing projects in the country.
Contact: 912-236-0781

Melaver, Inc.
Melaver Consulting

About LEED

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a feature-oriented rating system that awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria. The six major environmental categories of review include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category. LEED can be applied to all building types including new construction, commercial interiors, core & shell developments, existing buildings, homes, neighborhood developments, schools and retail facilities.  Incentives for LEED are available at the state and local level and LEED has also been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED

www.savannahchallenger.com

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Landings on Skidaway Island will once again welcome tennis professionals from around the world when the 2010 $50,000 Savannah Challenger returns to the Franklin Creek Tennis Center May 1-9. A portion of the proceeds from the 2010 tournament will be donated to The Savannah Community Foundation to be distributed among local charities. The 2009 tournament, which was held May 2-10, attracted more than 3,200 fans and featured 64 world-ranked tennis professionals vying to win highly coveted ATP ranking points in addition to prize money.

“We are pleased that after the success of last year’s tournament, the USTA has awarded the Challenger to Savannah for 2010,” says Robin Gold, chairperson of the Savannah Challenger. “The players and USTA staff all raved about how much they enjoyed their stay in Savannah, from the tournament hospitality to the nightlife downtown. It will be fun to host the USTA again and be able to see more world-class tennis.”

The Savannah Challenger is not only a great opportunity for tennis fans around the Savannah area to watch world-class tennis players in action, it is also a good warm-up for the players themselves, who go on to compete in some of the world’s top tennis tournaments.

Following the 2009 Savannah Challenger, 28 percent of tournament players went on to participate in the qualifying rounds or better of the French Open, while 21 percent of the players participated in the qualifying rounds or better of Wimbledon. Forty-three percent of 2009 Savannah Challenger players went on to participate in the qualifying rounds or better of the U.S. Open.

Among the noteworthy individual achievements of 2009 Savannah Challenger participants was quarterfinalist Jesse Levine, who went on to defeat 24th-ranked Marat Safinon at Wimbledon. Another Savannah Challenger quarterfinalist, University of Georgia graduate John Isner, made headlines when he defeated 5th-ranked Andy Roddick in the U.S. Open.

For more information on the 2010 $50,000 Savannah Challenger and to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please visit Savannah Challenger

www.celiadunnsir.com

(SAVANNAH, GA , BLUFFTON, SC)  Real estate expert Margaret Pearl has joined Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty.  With more than nine years of experience, Pearl has the designation of SRES, Senior Real Estate Specialist

Pearl is an accomplished real estate professional who began her real estate career in the Atlanta area, selling high-end residential real estate for the premiere real estate broker there. She has worked in the Savannah area market for several years and has learned the nuances of the many neighborhoods and lifestyles here.
“Living on the coast is an incredible experience,” Pearl said. “Now I can ask my clients which kind of lifestyle they prefer. It’s amazing the variety of ways there are to ‘live the coast.’”

A dedicated volunteer, Pearl has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations. She was a founder of the nonprofit Chattahoochee Cotillion Club in Atlanta, which is dedicated to charitable giving and volunteerism, and volunteered with the Phoenix Society of Atlanta. She also served in the Junior League of Atlanta and Greensboro, N.C. She is a member of Savannah Philharmonic and Georgia Historical Society.

Pearl is a member of Savannah Board of Realtors, Georgia Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors.

Known for its tradition of integrity, Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty specializes in residential and commercial properties in Savannah and the Low Country of Georgia and South Carolina. Founded in 1981, Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty is noted for outstanding service to its clients, thorough knowledge of Savannah and the South Carolina Low Country, and excellent staff, in addition to having one of the region’s top property management departments. The owners are natives of Savannah who have more than 60 years’ combined experience in real estate. The offices are located at 9, 13, and 17 West Charlton Street on Madison Square in Savannah and 6 Bruin Street in Bluffton, S.C.

For more information, call Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty at (912) 234-3323 or visit www.celiadunnsir.com. To contact the Bluffton office, call (843) 836-3900.

(SAVANNAH, GA) This year, the Telfair Art Fair marks fifteen years of art promotion throughout the city of Savannah.

Local artists are invited to share in the celebration of the Art Fair’s fifteenth anniversary. Bring your canvases, easels, pencils, and paints. Create original pieces, along with other artists.

The Telfair Art Fair is Saturday, November 14th, 2009 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Outdoor artists are invited to paint during these hours.

Outdoor painting got popular during the impressionist movement, which included the work of Monet, Renoir, and Cezanne. At the time, outdoor painters defined innovation. Each artist captures a “fleeting moment” as they work, never really grasping the exact replica of what they are observing.

Outdoor painting in Paris is one of the top tourist attractions in their city.

Artist’s Square at Telfair Square in Savannah, Georgia will officially kick off the first day of spring 2010, where artists will be invited to paint original art 7 days a week, as a way to show case Savannah’s talent and beauty.

For more info visit our blog at www.artistsquare.blogspot.com or email artsquaresavannah@gmail.com.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah Friends of Music will present Milano Classica, one of Italy’s most highly regarded chamber orchestras, during their 2009 USA tour in two different programs, Sunday afternoon, 4:00 p.m., November 1st, and Monday evening, 7:00 p.m., November 2nd, in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church, 223 Bull Street, on Chippewa Square.

In Sunday’s program, “Mostly Milano,” Mr. Philip Greenberg, former conductor of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, will be one of eight soloists.  Sunday’s performance features Vivaldi’s double violin concerto and the concerto for four violins. Monday’s performance features works by Italian masters of the 17th and 18th centuries with solo performances by Marcello Scandelli, principal cellist and founder of the group.

Tickets are $35.00 for one concert, or $50.00 for both concerts.  Students with ID admitted for $5.00.  Children twelve and under free with adult ticket holders.  Purchase tickets at the door, or reserve  them by calling 912-355-4252 or 912-598-8112.

http://www.smeraldina.us/

http://www.tastingsnewyorkcity.com/

http://www.ihmrs.com/attendee/
(New York, NY) Acqua Smeraldina will participate in two exciting and high-profile trade shows in New York City in November as part of a campaign to introduce its premium pure artesian water to New Yorkers. In addition, the company will reach out to New York restaurants to promote its renowned sparkling and still waters.

Acqua Smeraldina will participate in Cook. Eat. Drink. Live. November 6-8 at the Tunnel/La.Venue, 608 W. 28th St., in New York City. The show, which is open to the public, is a foodie’s paradise. This tasty three-day event will feature a large sampling of gourmet food and beverages, as well as appearances from world-renowned chefs and industry experts including Chef Jean-Louis Dumonet, television personality Ted Allen and Epicurious.com Editor-in-Chief Tanya Wenman Steel.

Visitors to Cook. Eat. Drink. Live. will not only indulge their senses with delectable food and the world’s finest beverages, they will also learn what goes into a great meal, discover the ingredients that help create delicious dishes, and learn tips and trends to make the most of the upcoming holiday season.

Acqua Smeraldina’s pure premium artesian water will be featured at Cook. Eat. Drink. Live. at a pavilion sponsored by Gruppo Ristoratori Italiani (GRI), a nonprofit association that promotes an awareness of fine, authentic Italian cuisine.

Acqua Smeraldina will also participate in the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show November 8-10 at the Javits Center, 655 W. 34th Street, in New York City. The industry trade show will feature the latest products and industry trends and will include seminars and networking events for participants. This exciting and informative event, which is expected to draw 35,000 industry professionals, will feature exhibitors from all sectors of the hospitality industry including food and beverage, equipment, furnishings, linens, technology, amenities and tableware, among others. In addition, the show will feature product launches from more than 1,000 exhibitors.

Among the 35,000 attendees at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show will be lodging and restaurant owners and operators, as well as catering and specialty food service establishments, owner groups, purchasing companies, design firms, equipment dealerships, resorts, casinos and more. These attendees represent the most influential buyers in the industry.

At both the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show and Cook. Eat. Drink. Live., Acqua Smeraldina will showcase its elegant and sophisticated glass and plastic bottles, which were recently redesigned. Acqua Smeraldina’s president, Mauro Solinas, who is based in Sardinia, will attend both shows.

As part of Acqua Smeraldina’s New York campaign, the company plans to send letters to more than 100 New York restaurants promoting its pure artesian water. Ten restaurants have also been designated to receive bottles of Acqua Smeraldina.

“Acqua Smeraldina is growing, and presenting ourselves to the New York market is a priority,” says Giuseppe Pinna, vice president of the Smeraldina Corporation. “The State of New York Department of Health recently granted Acqua Smeraldina a Certificate of Approval to Operate a Bottled Water Facility. Only about five Italian bottled water companies are Certified with the State of New York, and we are proud to be among them.”

Acqua Smeraldina natural artesian water is available in the United States through the recently opened distribution centers in Chicago and New Jersey. Additional centers will open soon in Miami and Los Angeles. Smeraldina bottled water comes from Sardinia, a small Italian island located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea. Sardinia is considered a “blue zone” because of the number of residents who live active lives past the age of 100. Smeraldina water is filtered for 200 years through the granite rocks of Gallura in an underground aquifer 1,000 feet under the Mountain of God. Numerous doctors and experts recommend Smeraldina Natural Artesian water for its perfect balance of sodium, chlorides and bicarbonates, which help to correctly maintain arterial blood pressure, and for its diuretic properties. For more information, please contact Giuseppe Pinna, vice president of the Smeraldina Corporation, at 414-732-6501 or visit Acqua Smeraldina.

Smeraldina Corporation, The Empire State Building, 350 Fifth Avenue, 59th Floor, New York, NY 10118.

Acqua Smeraldina
Cook. Eat. Drink. Live.
International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show

www.celiadunnsir.com

(SAVANNAH) – A year ago, Helen Williams Johnson started a new career – in real estate. Some might question her timing, but not her results. Despite the odds, she’s succeeding in perhaps the most challenging time ever in real estate.

“I started when the market had already bottomed out and I don’t know any different,” Johnson said. “I think this is to my advantage because I don’t know anything other than to work for the business. I was not around for the boom when agents were turning calls away.”

Since December 2008, Johnson has had five closings and has one more in the works. She’s had a busy Fall, with eight listings ranging from $190,000 to $950,000.

She credits her success to hard work, professional education, support from her agency, tenacity, and becoming close to her clients. She’s also found an unexpected networking benefit from her longstanding commitment to volunteerism – she’s chairing the Telfair Art Fair in November and serves on boards of several nonprofits.

For years many friends and family members, including her aunt, Celia Dunn, kept telling her she would be great at real estate and love it. Johnson is now a real estate sales associate at Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty. In addition to being successful, Johnson’s found she loves the career as much as everyone thought she would.

“I really enjoy meeting new people that are moving to town and trying to help them get acclimated,” Johnson explained. “I also enjoy helping old friends find the perfect home and neighborhood that best suits their needs and wants. You learn a lot about person’s tastes and personality when you are helping them search for a home.”

Kesha Gibson Carter and her husband recently closed on a home thanks to Johnson, who explained that the family had received “horrible” mortgage advice that tripped them up in the purchasing process. Carter appreciates that Johnson went above and beyond to make sure they got everything ironed out and could buy their new home.

“Persistent, tenacious and relentless are all words that come to mind when I think of Helen Williams Johnson and the experience we had with Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty,” Carter said. “She showed herself friendly, expressed genuine concern, and supported us as we worked to attain our goal. What we imagined would be a typical traditional real estate transaction, through no fault of our own, turned out to be ‘mortgage misery.’ However, because of the belief Helen had in our family and our ability, she did not shy away from working with us and continued her commitment to help get us through the crisis we found ourselves in.”

Johnson definitely goes way out of her way to make things work for her clients.

“It’s not about the sale – it’s about getting to know the client, their family, their goals in life. Some may think it is getting too close to the client, but I just want to make sure they are taken care of and that in the end we are all on the same page and trying to achieve the same goal.”

“The only other advice I would have for new agents is education,” Johnson said. The more courses you can take the better, she said, whether on marketing, networking, how to use MLS, contracts, or anything else. “You’ll be better off the more educated you are, and the more proactive you are about the market and its daily changes.”

“Celia’s office is also very special – the more I talk to agents at other offices, the more I realize how lucky we are,” Johnson said. “We have a wonderful support in the staff and the agents, and everyone just gets along, which is not always the case.”

Once Johnson’s youngest was old enough to start pre-school, she took the real estate class for new agents. With small children it was tough to be gone two nights out of the week from 6 to 10 p.m. for four months, she admits, but says it was well worth it.

Many people think real estate is a great career for mothers because you can make your own hours, but Johnson explains that’s not really the case. Many times you are working around the schedules of clients and customers.

“It is nice to have my parents in town, because my mother is great about keeping the kids for an hour here and there,” Johnson said. “Childcare of course is always tough in the summer time, but it’s been easier now that school is back in session.”

Johnson is chairing the Telfair Art Fair this year. She sits on the Savannah Technical College Community Council Board, helps with the tour of Homes every year and was a day chair for the Saturday tour last year. She is on the flower Altar Guild for Christ Church and teaches Sunday School.  She is a member of the William Jay Society at the Telfair and the 13th colony society at HSF. She’s about to join the board of another local nonprofit as well.

“It can be tough juggling work, volunteer work, and children, but it somehow always seems to work itself out,” Johnson said. “My mother is great, and my husband is very supportive, as well as a very hands-on dad. Between the three of us, the kids always get to after-school programs and sports on time. And the great thing about all of the volunteer activities is that you can be as active as you want in all of them, so when you’re super busy in one you can slack off a little in another. It just works that way, which is nice.”

“Volunteering is just something I believe in,” Johnson said. “My mother has always been so involved my entire life in so many different things that I don’t really know any different. I can’t imagine not giving back to the community.”

“I am from Savannah and have a lot of contacts anyway, but there are so many neat people out there that do so much for the community that you would never know unless you volunteer,” she said. “I just believe so strongly in giving back to one’s community.”

Known for its tradition of integrity, Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty specializes in residential and commercial properties in Savannah and the Low Country of Georgia and South Carolina. Founded in 1981, Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty is noted for outstanding service to its clients, thorough knowledge of Savannah and the South Carolina Low Country, and excellent staff, in addition to having one of the region’s top property management departments. The owners are natives of Savannah who have more than 60 years’ combined experience in real estate. The offices are located at 9, 13, and 17 West Charlton Street on Madison Square in Savannah and 6 Bruin Street in Bluffton, S.C.

For more information, call Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty at (912) 234-3323 or visit www.celiadunnsir.com. To contact the Bluffton office, call (843) 836-3900.