THE SHIELD August 2013
ECO AT THE HOME DEPOT HD PILOTING ECO RED SHIELD™ AROUND THE SANDY REBUILD
SPECIAL FIRE SEASON 2013 IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL?
THE PARADIGM SHIFT
AMERICA BEGINS TO BUILD DEFENSIVELY
THE SHIELD
A PUBLICATION OF THE RED SHIELD FOUNDATION
CONTENTS NEWS 3 THE HOME DEPOT PILOTING ECO 5 ECO’S REPUTATION ON THE RISE 13 INTERVIEW W/FDNY’S STEVE CASSIDY 21 EAST COAST INSURANCE HIKES 29 D-FENCE™ DEMONSTRATION 35 FEATURES 41 FIRE SEASON 2013 43 1
August 2013
MULTI-FAMILY FRAMING LUMBER 55 SANDY REBUILD: MOLD ISSUES 65 BUILDER SPOTLIGHT 83 THE PARADIGM SHIFT 85 ECO’S NEW JERSEY FACILITY 99 DOING IT RIGHT 105 OUTREACH 115 FIRST ECO SANDY REBUILD 119 TOMMY BALL LETTER 127 SANDY YELLOW TAPE 131 www.ecob.net
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News: Eco Piloting at The Home Depot
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ECO RED SHIELD™ LUMBER PILOTING AT THE HOME DEPOT ECO RED SHIELD™ IS IN STOCK IN SELECT NY/NJ STORES AROUND THE SANDY REBUILD REGION www.ecob.net
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News: Eco Piloting at The Home Depot
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News After months of selling directly to consumers and creating primary demand for protected lumber, as well as ramping up an extensive campaign to serve families affected by disasters in Colorado, New York City and elsewhere, Eco Red Shield™ technology is now on the shelves of the largest home improvement retailer in the North East - The Home Depot. As Eco continues to push to educate builders and homeowners about the advantages of protection coated lumber, visibility at a major national retailer has been a top priority - and with The Home Depot on board, consumers will finally have a chance to see the affordability and performance first hand, giving them a much-needed choice in lumber. “We are delighted to finally have our product on the shelf at The Home Depot, giving those that are rebuilding a choice to build more defensively rather than just replacing with the same wood that was destroyed during the storm,” said Eco President and CEO Steve Conboy. “We’ve worked long and hard to ensure that our product reaches the most customers possible in and around the Sandy Rebuild, and The Home Depot will be an integral part of that vision.” Eco Building Products has teamed up with The Home in the www.ecob.net
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News: Eco Piloting at The Home
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News past, notably through funding sponsored by the Home Depot Foundation for Eco’s Pledge2Vets campaign early in the Sandy rebuild. The HD Foundation donated more than $10,000 to help Hurricane Sandy victims, part of more than hundreds of millions in funding towards providing homes for veterans and deserving families, community renovation projects and more. In NY, NJ and PA, Eco Red Shield™ is now in stock and selling off the shelf. With all the added value, Eco Red Shield™ is only fractionally higher than the raw lumber it now sits next to in the stores - only $3.79 for a 2x4 versus $3.59, making the choice easy for those who understand the added value of protected lumber. With more special order stores being added now in the west in California, Conboy is confident that retailers like The Home Depot will help seal Eco Red Shield™’s www.ecob.net
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News: Eco Piloting at The Home Depot
place as the future pro framing lumber. “Customers are going this new red wood on th - and we’ll have the d said Conboy. “The ind a change, and Home D in making those chan innovation to their c chance to build defensiv take an active stance ag
fire, and better defend natural disasters - and among the first to provid product on a national sc Eco Red Shield™ is Sandy rebuild region in Check out the store loc special order stores.
To see an up-to-date lis 11
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oduct of choice for all
g to want to know what he shelves is all about data ready for them,� dustry was in need of Depot are the leaders nges and introducing customers. With the ively, homeowners can against mold, wood rot,
d their homes against d The Home Depot is ide the knowledge and cale.� s in stock around the n select NY/NJ stores cator for in stock and
st of stores, click here. www.ecob.net
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News: Awards and Accolades
ECO’S REPUTATIO ON THE RISE ECO RED SHIELD™ DRAWS AWARDS FOR INNOVATION AT HOME AND ABROAD
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ON
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News: Awards and Accolades
San Diego is a globally recognized hub for science, innovation, and technology, and Eco Building Products couldn’t feel more at home in the city. Over the past year, Eco has been selected amongst hundreds of competing companies to receive both local and international acclaim for its Eco Red Shield™ product, which is poised to revolutionize the framing industry and help prevent fires, mold problems, structural degradation, and ease deforestation. Here are some previous awards that show how 15
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Eco’s reputation is growing across the country and around the world. HOBI Award 2012 In November of 2012, Eco Red Shield™ received a HOBI Award presented by the Connecticut Homebuilder’s Association for the ‘Best New Product of the Year.’ The HOBI Awards is Connecticut’s most prestigious housing industry program, www.ecob.net
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News: Awards and Accolades recognizing excellence in new construction, land development, remodeling, sales and marketing, and home financing. CONNECT Most Innovative Product (MIP) Finalist: 2012 Eco was recognized as a finalist in the 25th Annual CONNECT Most Innovative Product of the Year (MIP) Awards. “Over the past 25 years, MIP has been a leader in talent-spotting, recognizing promising emerging technologies that have gone on to have global impact,” said CONNECT CEO Duane Roth. “Today once again we have celebrated San Diego’s strong tradition of developing and successfully launching groundbreaking innovation across a virtually every innovation sector.” Edison Awards: Gold Winner 2013 Eco Red Shield™ was honored with Gold recognition at the Edison Awards in Chicago for innovative excellence in the field of materials science. The Edison Awards are among the most prestigious accolades honoring excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation.
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News Vista, CA Chamber of Commerce Most Innovative Company: 2013 Eco Building Products, Inc. was selected by Vista’s Chamber of Commerce as the Most Innovative Business of the Year (2013). In addition to these achievements, Eco Red Shield™ earned several certifications that solidify its place as the upcoming industry standard. They include: ICC-ES (Engineering Services Report) ESR 3255: The ICC code report for Eco Red Shield™ protection states that the protection is to be used in above ground applications that are required by code to be protected against decay and termites. The issuance of this ESR means that Eco Red Shield™, in code, is equal to pressure-treated (PT) lumber that has long been used as the treatment method for lumber required by code to be treated. GREENGUARD Certification for Indoor Air Quality: The GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification Program requires products meet strict criteria for emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). Selecting products that have achieved www.ecob.net
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News: Awards and Accolades this certification helps ensure the creation of healthier indoor environments, in which people will not be exposed to high-levels of potentially harmful chemicals through the air they breathe. Quality Auditing Institute (QAI) Fire Listing: Eco Red Shield™ lumber resists fire and is backed by the Class-A fire rating on solid sawn lumber. Recently the Company has engaged with QAI Laboratories, a similar consumer rating and product monitoring agency as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), to certify the coating process and provide a listing for the fire efficacy of Eco Red Shield™ treated lumber products. With industry certifications and innovation awards, Eco is well on its way to being one of the formative building products suppliers in the market, helping contractors build defensively to protect against natural disasters and working to make the construction industry more sustainable. To learn more, visit ecob.net.
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News: Interview with FDNY’s Steve Cassidy
A FIREMAN’S CALL F PROTECT
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FOR
TED LUMBER AN INTERVIEW WITH STEVE CASSIDY, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER NEW YORK
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News: Interview with FDNY’s Steve Cassidy THE SHIELD: How did you first hear about Eco’s President and CEO, Steve Conboy? STEVE CASSIDY: Steve and I met during a Town Hall meeting for victims of Hurricane Sandy. His company was hosting free public events to help educate residents on how to rebuild defensively to be better prepared for future storms. We lost hundreds of homes in Breezy and elsewhere to fires after Sandy came through, and after hearing Steve and his team talk about protected lumber, I knew I had find out more. TS: What prompted you to join efforts with Conboy to help rebuild the East Coast? SC: Steve is a great businessman, but he’s also a humanitarian. The work his team is doing reinforcing homes in Breezy is not only helping families get back into safer, stronger homes, but it’s also getting protected lumber recognized in the market. Steve’s been working to expedite the permit process for 23
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News: Interview with FDNY’s Steve Cassidy
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News defensively built homes, so we can help get these victims back under their roofs as soon as possible. TS: Why did Eco Building Products interest you specifically? SC: Over the last year, I had the opportunity to tour Eco’s headquarters and factories, meeting with local fire departments and builders along the way. Seeing is believing. The trip convinced me there is a better way to build. TS: When did you first decide the industry needs to adopt protected lumber? SC: Steve helped open my eyes to the need for protected lumber. The wood we’re using to build homes today is different than what we used in the early housing boom, and is more susceptible to fire, wood rot, and termite damage. When our firefighters head into contain a residential blaze, they deserve the latest technology to give them as much time and structural stability that the www.ecob.net
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News: Interview with FDNY’s Steve Cassidy market can deliver. With a lower smoke index, slower ignition times and enhanced integrity, protected lumber is a no-brainer. TS: What will it take for more builders to embrace defensive practices? SC: I think the industry is ripe for massive shift. I talked with the VP of Lumber for The Home Depot to see what he thought about Steve and his company, and he told me about the excitement over the recent pilot program Eco Red Shield™ in their stores. They think - and I agree - that this could be the start of a major shake-up in the lumber industry. Look, I’m not here to pitch Steve’s products for him, but I do want to publicly state my support for protected lumber. I have yet to find a product that combines the levels of protection that Eco Red Shield™ does, and I think Steve and his team will be instrumental in getting the lumber industry to embrace defensive technologies. Sometimes change just happens too slowly. It’s my hope in the wake of Sandy and so many other recent weather related disasters that builders and consumers will embrace treated lumber and other technologies that make wood frame homes stronger and safer. 27
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News: Flood Insurance Hikes
EAST COAST INSURANC
NEW FLOOD MAPS AND CHANGING POLICIES M 29
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NCE RATES SKYROCKET
MEAN HIGHER PREMIUMS FOR HOMEOWNERS www.ecob.net
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News: Flood Insurance Hikes
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News Hurricane Sandy’s impact continues to be felt throughout the New York region, especially as insurance companies begin a sweeping round of corrections meant to offset costs fromHurricane Sandy and future super-storms. Updated flood maps from FEMA have placed hundreds of thousands of residents in flood zones and high risk areas, which will result in steep rises in insurance premiums. In some instances, annual rates of less than $500 may jump to more than $15,000 over the next decade as these changes take place and federal protection of homeowners runs out. “Someone has to listen - not everyone can afford these new premiums,” says Steve Conboy, President and CEO of Eco Building Products. “It’s time for insurance companies to get behind the latest defensive building technologies to help prevent losses and allow homeowners to retain insurance for less.” Eco offers a variety of products aimed at waterproofing a home against super storms, and has taken to educating the public about how to prepare for future natural disasters. “We are offering free home evaluations to residents to ensure that www.ecob.net
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News: Flood Insurance Hikes they are aware of all the available options, and don’t get strong-armed by these new insurance policies,” adds Conboy. Outrage over these drastically increased premiums is spreading as more homeowners are becoming aware of the changes, and the time is ripe for alternatives to lowering risk for floodprone housing areas. “You can waterproof your own home with a few simple tools and the right product,” says Conboy. “At Eco, we’re committed to helping Sandy’s victims recover fully from the flood waters, and enabling them to weather future storms -without paying an arm and a leg.” Contact Eco today to set up your free home evaluation rebuild plan at info@ecob.net.
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News: D-Fence™ Demonstration
STOPPING A WILDF
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FIRE IN ITS TRACKS
ECO’S INNOVATIVE D-FENCE™
PROPERTY-LINE SOLUTION MAY HELP
PREVENT RESIDENTIAL LOSSES www.ecob.net
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News: D-Fence™ Demonstration With Fire Season 2013 shaping up to be one of the worst on record, Eco is looking for more ways to protect homeowners and their properties from wildfire threats. One solution is Eco D-Fence™, a protection-coated property-line barrier that can stop wildfires before they reach the home. In a demonstration test at a fire training center in Oceanside, California, Eco and the Oceanside Fire Department simulated brush fire conditions against a section of Eco D-Fence™ to test its fire resistance capabilities. More than 2 feet of dry straw was piled up against the barrier, which was ignited by a roadside flare. A large industrial fan simulated high wind conditions, with gusts up to 20 mph. After more than 10 minutes of burn time at maximum temperatures, the only damage to the Eco D-Fence™ structure was some exterior charring, which could easily be painted over. “This demonstration shows the fire-retarding capabilities of Eco D-Fence™,” said Eco President and CEO Steve Conboy. “With a barrier of protection like this around your property, your home will have a greater chance at surviving unpredictable wildfires by keeping the flames away from your home.” Eco D-Fence™ is ideal for homeowners looking to increase 37
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News: D-Fence™ Demonstration the odds of keeping their property safe during wildfire events, but also adds the benefit of mold, wood rot, and termite protection to property-line fencing with its coating technology, meaning longer life-spans and fewer replacements. In addition, the fence posts are dipped in recycled rubber, providing an extra layer of protection against the elements.
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News Click the play button below to see a video of the demonstration, along with commentary from the local fire department.
PLAY
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Features: Fire Season 2013
BIGGER, HOTT
FIRE SEASO
THE 43
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TER, FASTER
ON HAS BEGUN, AND IS ALREADY ON TRACK TO BE
E WORST ON RECORD - IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL? www.ecob.net
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Features: Fire Season 2013 Across the United States, fire season 2013 is well underway with a series of dramatic fires that have brought a sobering reminder of the costs of climate change and shifting weather patterns. Long droughts, hotter summers and stronger wind systems have combined to create a record-breaking year - with much of the season left to go. The Black Forest fire in Colorado, which began on June 11th, burned more than 14,000 acres, ravaged 509 homes and claimed the lives of two residents, becoming the most destructive fire in the state’s history. The wildfire came on the heels of last year’s Waldo Canyon Fire, which had previously broken the state record. Colorado’s unprecedented drought and record heat indexes continue to put firefighters on high alert across the region. In Arizona, an entire crew of 19-member
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Features: Fire Season 2013 elite firefighting squad were lost as sudden wind changes in an 8,500 acre fire brought flames and smoke bearing down on their position, marking the deadliest day for firefighters since the 9/11 attacks. “Twenty years ago, I would have said
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Features this was a highly unusual, fast-moving, dangerous fire,” said fire history expert Don Falk at the University of Arizona at Tucson in an interview with the Washington Post. “Now, unfortunately, it’s not unusual at all.”
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Features: Fire Season 2013
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Features A federal report released earlier this year states that higher temperatures are stressing existing forests, making them more vulnerable to fire storms. The traditional fire season has been extended by nearly two months over the last few decades, meaning crews are often battling flames well into winter. Droughts across the United States are exacerbating the dangers. “Even a degree or so warmer, day in day out, evaporates water faster and that desiccates the system more,” fire ecologist Steve Running of the University of Montana told the Post. “We keep seeing more and more amazing fire dynamics, and there’s just no reason to believe overall that this is going to go back. We better be ready for more of it.” What does this mean for homeowners? It could mean that residents typically not threatened by wildfire zones may soon
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Features: Fire Season 2013
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Features have to start prepping their properties during fire season, as potential burn sites rapidly expand and multiply. With hundreds of structure losses this year alone, it also is becoming clear that homeowners in fire-prone areas need to start building defensively, and utilize the latest building technologies to help reduce the chance of ignition on their home. In a recent article entitled Economics of a Wildfire on Yahoo! Finance, Tully Lehman of the Insurance Information Network of California warned that homeowners unwilling to invest in defensive technologies may not be able to get proper fire insurance in the near future. “Up until a couple of years ago, we didn’t have that mega-destructive type of fire out here,” she says. “Now what were seeing play out in Colorado, unfortunately, is multimillion-dollar wildfires destroying hundreds of homes. Customers who are not willing to take steps to protect their homes are having a harder and harder time getting coverage.” Because of recent strings of major, destructive firestorms, insurance companies are beginning to increase scrutiny on the types of structures they are willing to insure, requiring a large, defensible space around the home, as well as fire-retardant building materials for residences in high-risk areas. www.ecob.net
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Features “Here at Eco, we are constantly looking for ways to help mitigate fire risk for homeowners and insurance companies,” says Eco President and CEO Steve Conboy. “Our products have won the support of fire departments and industry specialists for increasing ignition time and temperature, meaning Eco protected structures have a better chance at surviving a wildfire.” Eco’s flagship product, Eco Red Shield™, can dramatically reduce the probability of ignition temperatures being reached on a home framed with the protected wood. In tandem with other Eco products, like Eco Fire Break and Eco D-Fence™, homeowners stand a better chance of helping their properties survive major fire events. As larger fire storms become the new normal, these will be important public tools to help keep people and property safe, and also spare the economy of rising costs. With insurance companies looking to reduce their losses, defensive building products like Eco Red Shield™ may soon become a mandatory industry standard for consumers and builders alike.
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Features: Multi-Family Framing
NEW MULTIFAMILY FRAMING LUMBER PROTECTION COATED LUMBER IS GOING VERTICAL IN A BIG WAY 55
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Features: Multi-Family Framing
On job sites across the country, it’s becoming more common
to spot Eco’s unmistakable red lumber standing against the sky. In disaster areas like the Hurricane Sandy rebuild and fire affected areas in Colorado and elsewhere, builders and homeowners alike are choosing protection coated lumber for their projects, with Eco Red Shield™’s distinctive coloring stirring up interest in communities across the United States. 57
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In a recent report released by global independent safety
science firm UL, over 1200 consumers and 1100 manufacturers were surveyed in China, India, Germany, and the United States to determine trends with the building products industry, and the results showed significant increases in consumer interest in the health and safety records of current and upcoming products in the industry. www.ecob.net
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Features: Multi-Family Framing Lumber The study found that 38 percent of consumers were most concerned about toxic emissions in building materials. More than 23 percent of consumers listed structural safety as their number one priority, followed by 15 percent for flammability, 13 percent for ability to withstand the elements, and 11 percent for mold. In every category, Eco Red Shield™ has set itself apart from competitors by being the only wood building product to boast mold, wood rot, and fire inhibition, collecting an impressive array of awards, accolades and certifications that exemplify the product’s revolutionary potential to transform the framing industry. Earlier last year, Eco Red Shield™ achieved equivalency to pressure treated lumber with an ICC-ES report (ESR #3255), making it the only mold, wood rot, and fire resistant product available for vertical in-home construction. In addition to Eco Red Shield’s notable physical 59
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Features: Multi-Family Framing Lumber
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Features attributes, and as an alternative to pressuretreated lumber, Eco Red Shield™ has been shown to reduce off-gassing even in raw lumber, and recently achieved GREENGUARD® Children and Schools certification - the highest industry standard for indoor air quality. Also earlier this year, Eco Red Shield™ earned QAI listing B1053-1, making it the first topical coating ever to achieve a Class “A” rating for structural performance. Higher ignition times and reduced smoke indexes means that protection coated lumber gives residents a better chance to escape a fire event, and helps keep emergency personnel who arrive on the scene safe. Protected lumber also maintains wood fiber strength throughout the lifetime of the structure, unlike raw lumber which is susceptible to wood rot and termite damage that can reduce wood integrity by 80 percent or more. With wood fiber strength closer to engineered www.ecob.net
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Features: Multi-Family Framing Lumber
“Eco isn specifications, more buildings will survive the lateral loads of severe weather and earthquakes. With unprecedented fire inhibition, mold and wood rot protection, and extended structural integrity - all while surpassing the industry’s highest standards for indoor air quality - Eco Red 63
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n’t just for high-end anymore.” - Steve Conboy Shield™ is beginning to make its mark on the framing industry, especially with multi-family structures. As more homeowners and builders learn of the benefits of protection coated lumber, communities across the United States will see many more red buildings rising up in their neighborhoods. www.ecob.net
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Features: Getting Defensive Against Mold
SANDY REBUILD GETTING DEFEN AGAINST MOLD NINE MONTHS AFTER THE SUPER STORM, HOMEOWNERS ARE STILL DEALING WITH MOISTURE PROBLEMS 65
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D: NSIVE D
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Features: Getting Defensive Against Mold
As the Hurricane Sandy rebuild efforts in New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere begin to ramp up, one of the most contested areas of litigation is sure to be property damage and personal injury resulting from mold claims, as seen in Hurricane Katrina and other major storm events. Homeowners, builders, and insurance agencies who fail 67
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to take mold issues seriously are likely to face steep economic costs down the road and potential court battles, as mold can devastate the retail value of a home and cause major health concerns for occupants. While FEMA and government agencies have lagged behind on rebuild requirements for some of the hardest hit areas, www.ecob.net
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Features: Getting Defensive Against
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Features residences have been left to develop major mold problems, often having to be torn down completely. “Our team has surveyed dozens of homes affected by the storm, and found mold problems in almost every single one - whether the homeowner was aware, or not,” says Steve Conboy, President and CEO of Eco Building Products. “Third party builders that came in and attacked the rebuild too eagerly didn’t perform the proper cleanup and mold prevention, meaning homeowners are stuck with mold problems long after they have left town. To make sure there are no future issues, Eco is offering free home evaluations to get rebuilds off on the right foot.” Eco has hosted numerous Town Hall meetings in affected regions in an effort to educate homeowners about how to rebuild defensively and control mold growth. “Our process is simple,” says Conboy. “First, we www.ecob.net
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Features: Getting Defensive Against recommend you use a certified mold remediation company for cleaning purposes only. Next, coat all the remaining lumber with Disaster Break to protect against mold and fire. After that, insulate the whole wall cavity, and finally sheet over the existing floor with 1/2” treated plywood, tight against the wall sheeting and glued and nailed.” By creating a moisture-sealed barrier and using products resistant to mold growth, homeowners can rebuild with confidence and prevent future problems that might result in another round of demolition and rebuilding. “Eco is committed to helping solve this crisis by providing a superior product and changing the way America builds,” adds Conboy.
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Features: From Boots to Business
FROM BOOTS
NATHANIEL BRUCE, FORMER MARINE TU
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TO BUSINESS
URNED ECO EMPLOYEE, TELLS HIS STORY
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Features: From Boots to Business
Written by – Nathanie In the world of big bu any business, the lu demands placed upon of individuals can b overwhelming at time succumb to this pressure lives, others turn that pre I feel like I am most a I used to toss around a 2002 when working as Department of Defense
Angelo, Texas; it went so “Most look up at the A champion climbs a mo - Unknown My days back in good countless hours with civilians all in pursuit of professionals; most we were even older. I had 75
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el J. Bruce usiness, small business, umber business‌ the an individual or group be quite consuming; es. While some folks e letting it overtake their essure it into motivation; aligned with the latter. a quote I found back in a Fire Instructor at the e Fire Academy in San
omething like this: stars and admire them. ountain and grabs one.�
d ole West Texas I spent service members and f becoming Fire Service ere my age while some the honor of teaching www.ecob.net
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Features: From Boots to Business
these fine men and w skill of firefighting. In th to both clubs - we spe mentoring, and somet As a young Marine I and had plenty of “com moments with spit fly consider inside voices, hindering me from bec that I possess the skil I’ve got the Lord to tha
seem to come full circ nominal effort. It is th hoping, and wanting, th dreams. What’s your d security, happiness an Gone are the days deployments. My twelv a serious impact on m Products while attendin degree in Structural E 9
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women something I truly love and have a passion for; the art and he Marine Corps and Fire Service – I had the privilege of belonging end a good amount of energy looking after, inspiring, motivating, times punishing those under our charge. I learned some tough lessons, received my fair share of discipline, me to Jesus talks” with those whom I worked for. And it was in those ying, veins popping and voices raised well beyond what civilians , I realized something very important; I’m the only person in my way coming the very best I can be. I’m not saying that it’s because of me lls and abilities rounding out my “tool belt”; I’ve been blessed and ank for that! The point is, what I used to quote back in the day has
cle. Ordinary people are so easily captivated by feats that require he extraordinary human, those folks that don’t sit idly by wishing, hat put in the hard work and sweat equity in an effort to seize their dream? Mine has a lot to do with giving my family a life full of love, nd opportunity. of “left, right, left”, camouflage utilities, formations and combat ve years spent as a United States Marine have most definitely had my life. About a year ago, I joined the ranks here at Eco Building ng school at the University of California – San Diego, working on my Engineering. And like a good student with a thirst for knowledge of www.ecob.net
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my future profession, I applied for an internship at Eco. Well my internship wasn’t really an internship; it was more like getting thrown to the wolves. I was hired by Mr. Goodwood (a.k.a Steve Conboy) through a new program called Pledge2Vets. This program was designed to connect Veterans that served our Country with great American companies offering real jobs. All too often do we hear “Thank you for your service” only to be turned away for employment. It’s easy to say kind words, but put those words to action; that’s more meaningful. America owes a debt of gratitude to our service members, and the opportunity of a job is a great place to start showing that gratitude. I didn’t say handouts; it’s called 79
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Features opportunity. Plug a hard-charging Veteran into your organization and see what happens. I am thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given here at Eco, and the only way I know how to say thank you is to simply shut up and take care of business. With this being my first stint in the civilian workplace fresh out of the Corps, I had no idea what I was in for. And for those that don’t have any insight into the inner-workings of Eco or small businesses like Eco; we wear about six to ten different hats at any given time. “Operations, check.” “Marketing, check.” “Technical writing, check.” So on and so forth. So in all reality, working at Eco is a lot like the Marine Corps. Underfunded, undermanned, and constantly against insurmountable odds; we’ve learned to make the most with the least. We may not be getting shot at, but we’re most definitely engaged in combat. Prior to working here at Eco, I had no prior experience with lumber, building materials, construction, and certainly not the folks that work in the beloved Building Departments across America. My background as a Marine was primarily in the realm of emergency services, command and control, and professional instruction [a formal instructor]. But as a Marine, we’re expected to do a lot more than our primary job. We do whatever it takes to www.ecob.net
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Features: From Boots to Business succeed and accomplish the mission. I did a lot of volunteering in my days as a Marine. It was either volunteer or be “voluntold”. I wasn’t too keen on someone else deciding my future, so I took it upon myself to seek out those special assignments. Often times I found myself immersed in an entirely new world, where I was required to learn an entirely new job, in the least amount of time possible, and expected by my superiors to lead that group of Marines to accomplish the given mission. I found strength in chaos, and had a real zeal for knowledge; so I was always primed for the challenge of the unknown. Knowledge is power and I was on a mission to learn as much as possible. Today at Eco, I find myself as the Home Depot National Accounts Manager. Not in a million years would I have thought that Eco, lumber and The Home Depot were in the books for me. How did it happen? Am I deserving of this position? Am I capable of executing the duties required of this notable billet? I don’t get to answer my own questions, but I do have the opportunity to demonstrate to the world what a motivated Marine is capable of doing. And by the way, it takes a team to make any of this possible, and we have a solid group of multi-talented people here at Eco. I take pride in all that I do each and every day for 81
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Features the team, and I do it because I love it. My transition into the civilian world certainly wasn’t smooth, and I certainly had no clue what the future held. But from where I sit today, the future looks awful bright. So here’s to red lumber, a visionary carpenter from Brooklyn, a former semi-conductor guru turned mad scientist, and all the great people that makeup the family here at Eco Building Products.
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Builder Spotlight
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Builder Spotlight
BUILDER SPOTLIGHT www.ecob.net
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Builder Spotlight: Paradigm Shift
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Builder Spotlight
THE PARADIGM SHIFT ECO’S ‘DAVID AND GOLIATH’ FIGHT AGAINST BIG LUMBER HAS REACHED ITS SLINGSHOT MOMENT www.ecob.net
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Builder Spotlight: The Paradigm Shift
The lumber industry hasn’t changed much over the last few decades, while the quality of the wood has deteriorated. With old growth forests consumed or protected, the industry has turned to more efficient reforestation methods to supply evergrowing markets. With faster growth times, however, came wider sapwood intervals between growth rings, meaning current timber is moisture-rich and much softer than old growth equivalents. 87
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Builder Spotlight
Also, the industry has been forced to adopt engineered wood and light gauge roof trusses because today’s lumber has less veneers and bending strength due to faster harvesting. But the giants of the lumber industry, with the help of special interest groups and product monopolies, maintained a hold on the market for generations, despite advances in defensive building technologies. Even as super-storms, harsher www.ecob.net
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Builder Spotlight: The Paradigm Shift wildfire seasons and earthquakes exposed the deadly and economically catastrophic consequences of naked lumber, the shelves of retailers around the world remained unchanged. For years, Eco Building Products has been waging a growing offensive against the stranglehold of big lumber, winning awards and certifications from the industry’s leading accreditation institutions and attracting some of the nation’s top builders. In natural disasters the world over, Eco teams were on the ground, educating communities on the latest technologies and sponsoring pilot projects to show residents how to rebuild defensively. Now, with a major deal with the nation’s largest lumber retailer underway, the small but capable team at Eco is letting the final stone fly. The paradigm shift towards protected lumber is happening now. We asked a few major lumber handlers across the United States to share some examples of the shift towards Eco’s defensive products. Here are some of the responses:
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Builder Spotlight: The Paradigm Shift
Interstate Lumber Shelly Kahan, President: “This custom home is situated on a site that is directly on Long Island Sound in in Westchester County, New York. Besides the engineered floors, the architect specified that all exterior and interior walls were to be framed with LSL material, engineered by The Weyerhaeuser Corporation. The builder and homeowner were concerned about swelling with the plates and bottom of the studs. We made a presentation to them about the benefits of using the Eco Red Shield™ product. With its termite and wood rot ESR 91
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report, combined with its flame and mold inhibitor, the clients immediately embraced this technology and believed that the value of what they are getting for their framing was well worth the price differential, over and above what they would have paid for a non-Red Shield product. Since the completion of this project, the builder is now framing a new custom house with the same Eco Red Shield™ product in upper Westchester County. Interstate’s next big Eco project is a large custom home located on Long Island sound in Fairfield County CT. Once again, based on the homes proximity to the water, the builder and his www.ecob.net
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Builder Spotlight: The Paradigm Shift clients thought that the Eco Red Shield™ product was a perfect solution for their framing. We are starting to see, that for those clients who want and demand nothing but the best, Eco Red Shield™ lumber is their first choice for their framing to ensure their peace of mind. Guthrie Lumber Greg Guthrie, Owner/Operator: “The Stars at night are big and bright…. deep in the Heart of Texas.” Folk songs, cowboy hats and delicious BBQ have long been staples of Texas. These days, an up and coming star has entered the Lone Star scene. Austinbased Eco Affiliate, Guthrie Lumber, has been gaining steam since day one of signing on as the first official affiliate. Having joined the protected lumber movement early on, our Eco Red Shield™ coating operation is now buried to the gills supporting six multifamily jobs across the great state of Texas. With over $4 million in inventory awaiting the luxurious ‘red bath’, our third generation lumber company stands at the ready like a lone gunslinger, six-shooters drawn, prepared to wage war on Texas builders still using raw lumber. In the battle for the long haul, our lumber operation continues to pump out truckloads of red 93
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Builder Spotlight: The Paradigm Shift
lumber, signaling a shift toward the acceptance and wide spread use of this technically advanced building material.� Rocky Mountain Wood Protection Pat Bischel, President: “Rocky Mountain Wood Protection is experiencing strong growth in its first year in Colorado, as wild fires continue to destroy hundreds of millions of dollars in homes for the 3 year in the past 4 years. In 2010 it was the Four Mile Canyon fire that destroyed 168 homes. Last year, it was the Waldo Canyon fire. This year it was the Black Forest fire. The three fires destroyed hundreds of homes and resulted 95
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in nearly a billion dollars in property damage. As a result, homeowners, builders, insurance companies, and fire departments are taking hard looks at ways to lessen their exposure to fire. With the realization that these fires are getting larger and more destructive, everyone involved is looking for ways to minimize risk and protect the inhabitants and the first responders. Eco Red Shield™ can provide many of the answers these groups are searching for. Eco Red Shield™ offers wood resistance to fire. As a coating for wood building materials, it can provide www.ecob.net
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Builder Spotlight: The Paradigm Shift the structure protection from rot, decay, mold, insects, and fire. Protecting the structure of the home from all of these natural enemies provides the home owner the comfort of knowing that their home is built with the best protection available. It can also lessen the insurance companies’ exposure to fire losses and protect the lives of first responders. During the past year, dozens of homes have been built using Eco Red Shield™ technology, including homes being built by DR Horton and Saddle Tree Homes. Rocky Mountain Wood Protection has also been busy supplying AMLI, material for their River Front multi story residential structure in downtown Denver. As the demand for fire resistant building materials explode in residential construction, Rocky Mountain Wood Protection is looking to compound this growth through the addition of the new D-Fence™ product. This revolutionary coating will offer home owners the ability to protect their property from ground fires by turning their wood fence into a fire line rather than a fire source. The recent Black Forest fire was an example where this product would have saved countless homes from complete devastation. It looks to be a busy second year for Rocky Mountain Wood Protection.” 97
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Builder Spotlight: Eco’s New Jersey Facility
NEW ECO FACILITY IN NEW JERSEY ECO RED SHIELD™ IS GETTING AN EAST COAST COATING CENTER 99
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Builder Spotlight: Eco’s NJ Facility The Garden State will soon host Eco’s newest Eco Red Shield protected lumber coating operation. Come August 16th, red lumber will begin to roll through the streets of Fairlawn, New Jersey; providing consumers with a superior product in comparison to raw lumber. Teaming up with an established eighty year old family-owned Lumber and Hardware Company, the doors will soon open to this 6,000 ft2 coating operation, equipped with rail service and a 25,000 ft2 lumber yard. The timely news of Eco’s newest facility arrives on the heels of the fledgling Sandy Rebuild, further fueled by the Governor of New Jersey’s administration issuing mold mitigation guidance targeting residential recovery from last year’s storm. Also supportive of regional rebuild efforts in the Tri-State area, the Company’s Eco Red Shield flagship protected lumber is now on the shelf and available for purchase 101
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Builder Spotlight: Eco’s New Jersey Facility
in select retail stores throughout the New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia metro areas. With an established coating facility pumping out truckloads of red lumber in the heart of this market, Eco will have the capacity to produce the large volumes of product required by Eco’s Big Box customer that is now piloting Eco’s defensive line of products. At the helm of this new operation will be Christian Tirone, Eco’s newest 103
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addition (pictured above). “I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to cultivate and develop a relationship with Steve Conboy and Eco Building Products,” says Tirone. “Eco’s innovation and life changing products are revolutionizing the way homes are being built today. It is an honor to be involved in such a humanitarian effort.” www.ecob.net
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Builder Spotlight: Doing It Right
DOING IT RI
CHIEF DALTON AND OTHERS HELP SAND
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IGHT
DY RESIDENTS REBUILD DEFENSIVELY
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Builder Spotlight: Doing It Right
SENATOR CHARLES SCHUMER (CENTER) AND CHIEF DALTON (RIGHT)
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Builder Spotlight Setting the example for how to rebuild defensively in the wake of last October’s super storm, Eco and crew first set out to educate residents on how to properly rebuild, ultimately raising the bar on established residential building code minimums. Now with the rebuild underway, Eco has changed gears from a teaching perspective and is now actively coaching and participating in the rebuild effort in the making. Concrete examples resultant of Eco’s tireless efforts is now underway in Breezy Point, NY. Of the rebuild obstacles being combatted daily, the prevalence of mold infestation has become quite an issue, and one that represents potentially serious threats to the health and livelihood of affected residents. Also of great concern is structural stability; rebuilding these homes defensively to withstand the harsh reality of Mother Nature. Local Breezy Point residents Thomas Ball and FDNY Deputy Chief Jimmy Dalton are among the first residents to begin using defensive rebuilding techniques in their rebuild. Guided by Eco’s recently published white paper, Rebuilding After a Super Storm, and in association with the Institute of Defensive Building Practices (IDBP); Dalton and Ball charge www.ecob.net
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Builder Spotlight: Doing It Right
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Builder Builder Spotlight Spotlight into their rebuild bounded by confidence and unparalleled technical rebuilding support. In addition to the residents employing defensive building practices, local contractor and retired FDNY Lieutenant John Nolan is also now onboard. Each of these three New Yorkers have in one way or another taken the time in their respective projects to… “do it right.” Whether applying waterproof coatings, reframing homes with Eco Red Shield™ protected lumber, or employing other defensive building techniques, these newly renovated homes will serve as examples during the next super storm. Examples of what “doing it right” truly means. “Thanks to the Eco team for educating my community on post-super storm Sandy defensive building practices, and developing the innovative Eco Disaster Break product. As I apply the Disaster Break, I know my home will now be protected from mold, wood rot, termites, flood waters and the fires that I experienced during the October 2012 storm. Steve Conboy and the Eco team have been a God-send to my family and neighborhood, and we thank you for providing a forward-thinking product that is easy to apply, nontoxic, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective,” stated Thomas Ball, Breezy Point resident. www.ecob.net
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Builder Spotlight: Doing It Right
“There are a lot of components inclusive of planning and organization that effectively set the stage for what we’d like to label a proper rebuild. Eco’s defensive products and our refined ability to teach the world how to build using new methods have come together in the wake of the recent storms. It’s important for us as a community to understand that old methods of building are not going to protect anyone when it comes to taking a stand against these fire storms and hurricanes. Nonetheless, it is these events that catalyze change and promote new methods of building, indicative of 111
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innovation and technology. You can find this information on our www.idbp.org website,” stated Steve Conboy, President & CEO, Eco Building Products, Inc. “We are focused on teaching the Specifying Community first, as this will relieve the contractors from making vital decisions that have the tenacity to affect the health and safety of so many. Doing otherwise creates a massive breeding ground for construction defects lawsuits revolving around the implications of not mitigating mold, which is certain to make its appearance long after the homeowners move back in their homes,” added Conboy. www.ecob.net
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Outreach
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Outreach: Breezy Point House
FIRST SANDY HOME REBUILD COMPLETE ECO GIFTS A HOME TO A BREEZY POINT, NJ RESIDENT TO SET THE REBUILD STANDARD 119
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Outreach: Breezy Point House Eco Building Products has finished its renovation of Kim Leib’s home that was destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Using cutting edge defensive building products and designs, Eco hopes to set the bar for other homeowners and contracts in the region to help prepare the East Coast for the next super storm event. The super storm left more than four feet of water inundating Leib’s property. As owner and operator of the Breezy Point Hardware Store, Leib knew what this kind of damage meant for her home - it would have to be torn down. Hundreds of homes throughout the New Jersey region were red tagged in the coming days, requiring a full demolition by federal authorities before the rebuild process could even begin. “I was paralyzed with anxiety and uncertainty. We were all trying to fight to see what we can get, and then they’re doing deadlines - it was just too much,” says Leib. That’s when Leib was contacted by Steve Conboy, CEO and President of Eco Building Products. As part of an effort to educate victims of Hurricane Sandy on advanced defensive building practices and technologies, 121
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Outreach: Breezy Point House Conboy offered to rebuild Leib’s house free of charge, with donations and labor from his building products company. “We built this house for her for free, because we want to show homeowners and builders in the community how to build defensively with the latest building products to help protect against future storms,” says Conboy. Eco Building Products design arm, E-Build and Truss, soon submitted drawings to the Breezy Point Cooperative, and were granted approval in January. A full set of schematics have been sent to the New York Building Department with the
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Outreach help of local architect Greg Cox of Aquatecture. Eco is pushing forward with an aggressive set of defensive plans showcasing their Breakaway technology, which allows storm surges and floodwaters to pass harmlessly beneath the pillar-supported residence, much like waves beneath a pier. As Conboy’s team moved through the permit process, they received guidance and support from Steve Cassidy, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York. Cassidy has helped tailor plans for the home to new city standards, as well as expediting the demolition process for
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Outreach: Breezy Point House
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Outreach Leib’s home by the Federal Emergency Management Association. As Conboy’s company ramps up efforts to build their showcase home for residents, builders, and architects, he has been on the road in Breezy Point and elsewhere presenting Town Hall style community forums to help spread the word about the latest available building practices and products. “We’re going to help people rebuild defensively to help mitigate damage from future super storms,” says Conboy. “We cannot allow history to repeat itself.” For Leib, the project has been an incredible blessing. “It’s more than I can comprehend at this time,” says Leib. “I mean, I’m so grateful.”
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Outreach: Tommy Ball Letter
A LETTER FRO BREEZY POIN TOMMY BALL, NY RESIDENT AND 127
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OM NT SANDY VICTIM, WRITES TO ECO www.ecob.net
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Outreach: Tommy Ball Letter Hi Everyone, I have been working with Steve Conboy and his Eco Team and they promised to help us out in Breezy and unlike some others, Steve and his guys actually delivered on promises. I’m here today to tell you they are guys that deliver as they have been working in my home for the last two weeks even in this ungodly heat. Take a look at the pictures of my home and see what they accomplished in a very short period of time. My home is now stronger and safer than it has ever been. The Eco team has taken a well-deserved break and is coming back in a week to help me finish my rebuild. These guys are not only here to help my family get back in our house but they are busy 24/7 setting up inventory in Home Depot stores in and around NY/NJ so everyone will have the opportunity to build with this red lumber that has Mold, Insect and Fire protection. Eco also generously donated a house to Kim Lieb in Breezy and last week Steve and his crew sent in two 48’ tractor trailers with Kim’s pre built home on it. They are trying to get a permit so they can get Kim’s home built as quickly as possible. I also need to thank the Pro Services Desk (Chantell 129
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and Tara) at Home Depot in Starrett City for providing great customer service as they processed multiple telephone and email orders, helped me with revising orders and scheduling delivery dates. Home Depot delivered complete orders on the day they promised. Thanks you Team Eco for not forgetting about us. Tom, Eileen and Alana Ball www.ecob.net
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Outreach: Sandy Yellow Tape
SANDY OUTREACH EFFORT RUNS INTO YELLOW TAPE A FULL LOAD OF ECO RED SHIELD™ IS DIVERTED TO CT, AWAY FROM FAMILIES IN NEED Homeruns, hotdogs and MLB’s 2013 All-Stars took center stage the week of July 15th in the Big Apple. But more important to the City than baseball itself are the fans; New Yorkers. With so many still recovering from the October pummeling issued by Super Storm Sandy, Breezy Point residents hosted a more 131
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relevant All-Star; one that has the potential to standup to the next Super Storm. Pictured above, this 48’ tractor trailer loaded with Eco Red Shield™ lumber, represents the most defensive home to be built in the history of Breezy Point, the Rockaways, and Major League Baseball. www.ecob.net
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Outreach: Sandy Yellow Tape
PLAY
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Outreach Outreach While Eco came prepared to frame this house in record time, the NYC Building Department’s “yellow tape” had other ideas. Rather than making headway on this long awaited project, Eco’s massive red load had to be re-routed to CT while permits get pulled and other unnecessary requirements fulfilled. “It is our hope to get this family back into their home before winter, but who knows what will happen and on what timeline we will wait for the permits to be issued,” stated Steve Conboy, Eco Pres/CEO. With this defensive, fire-resistant Red Shield house just a stone’s throw from the fire rebuild sector of Breezy Point, one would have to believe that residents would find comfort in the fact they too can rebuild with something other than raw lumber, a.k.a. firewood. “If you’re a resident that lost your house to fire in Breezy, or anywhere for that matter, take a minute to watch this link; then make your choice about how you’d like to rebuild your home,” added Conboy. www.ecob.net
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