Page 39 - Flathead Beacon // 9.30.15

ENERGIZING THOUGHTS DAVID BOPP UP IN SMOKE
BUILDING PERMITS
BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED IN KALISPELL AND WHITEFISH IN AUGUST
IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, OUR prolonged hot and then very smoky summer left you feeling a little like an overcooked chicken. However, I am one of the fortunate ones in the valley to have an air conditioner. I installed a ductless heat pump over three years ago and have been reaping the benefits ever since. Until this summer I never fully realized the benefits of my heat pump, which are many. How many benefits does your heating system provide?
Up until this summer I counted the comfort my heat pump added to my house as the biggest benefit. No longer did I have warmer areas and colder areas throughout my living room, kitchen, and dining room. I also no longer had any noticeable drafts. Everywhere was comfortable.
I also valued the efficiency. I was pay- ing half as much for electric heat as I was before. This was good for my economic security and peace of mind. I knew in advance I would be able to afford my winter heating bills no matter what the winter threw at us. I could even afford to keep my home a little warmer, which added to our comfort.
On top of comfort and low cost it is also so easy. I have always used a com- bination of electric heat and wood. Now I have no collecting, hauling, splitting, moving, or cleaning up after the wood. Sure I still use some wood for ambiance or if the power is out but virtually none. Much easier. My wife likes this too; she dusts less. It gets even better; my kids’ doctor likes that there is less wood smoke around the house and dust inside the house. Less chance of health issues for my little boys.
Seriously, I got rid of almost all my wood use, increased my comfort, re- duced my heating costs, it is easy to use, there are some winter health benefits, and it involves less cleaning around the house. The crazy thing is that until this summer I didn’t know there was an even greater benefit. Air conditioning. Prior to this summer I didn’t value this benefit very much; sure it was nice but not essential.
As we went through this very hot summer with warm nights I appreciated
the AC more and more. Still I wouldn’t have counted it as a very large bene- fit until we got to the smoke. During our hazardous smoke conditions I was able to keep my young boys inside; play- ing, happy and comfortable. No risk of breathing issues, doctor’s visits, or worries about long-term health issues. Sure a little wood smoke in the winter brought a small potential for health is- sues but hazardous air quality was in a different world.
I never thought my heat pump would provide this level of safety to my fam- ily, but it has. Do I get this extra safety benefit every summer? Hopefully not. Maybe next summer won’t be a big fire year, but I would guess it won’t be very many years until we see hazardous air conditions again. Almost 9 million acres have burned in the U.S. this year (Inter- agency Fire Center). Only six years have seen over 8 million acres burn since 1960 and they are from 2004 on (Interagency Fire Center). My money is that we will be breathing the smoke again much sooner than any of us would like. At that time I will once again be very thankful to have my heat pump.
Until then as we enter a new heating season I will enjoy my comfort, conve- nience, low heating costs, and myriad of other benefits. Are you preparing your- self for this winter and future summers by installing a new heat pump? Flathead Electric has been helping families like yours and mine install heat pumps in their homes for many years. Since 2010 we have provided rebates to almost 1,700 members for their heat pumps. We have also loaned out more than $800,000 to help people upgrade their homes. Do you know if you are eligible for some help? Don’t let this opportunity pass you by and go up in smoke.
For a limited time, several of the ductless heat pump manufacturers are offering extra instant rebates. Prepare yourself for winter and summer with the installation of a heat pump. Sav- ing energy is nice, being comfortable is better, but even more important is your family’s health. Are you prepared to take care of your family for the future?
KALISPELL
RECIPIENT: Burlage Family Properties; 242 Stillwater Rd.
CONTRACTOR: CJ Construction
FOR: Nursing home
VALUE: $1,044,000
RECIPIENT: Dave Hedeman; 154 Greenbriar Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Stafford Home Improvement FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $7,850
RECIPIENT: WAV Draper LLC; 115 Hutton Ranch Rd.
CONTRACTOR: Systems Northwest
FOR: Fire alarm
VALUE: $6,505
RECIPIENT: Bryan and Laura O’Connor; 795
Fifth Ave. WN
CONTRACTOR: Robert W. Ross Bldg Const. FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $26,370
RECIPIENT: DCP Kalispell, LLC; 165 Schoolhouse Loop
CONTRACTOR: Automatic Fire
FOR: Sprinkler
VALUE: $12,520
RECIPIENT: David and Alice Fortenberry; 605
Seventh Ave. E CONTRACTOR: Thiel FOR: Remodel VALUE: $11,600
RECIPIENT: Beverly McGuire; 129 Fourth Ave. E CONTRACTOR: Morken Construction
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $8,500
RECIPIENT: Aaron Schelling; 134 Triple Creek Dr. CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $179,010
RECIPIENT: Serengeti Properties; 105 North Riding Rd.
CONTRACTOR: AMI Construction
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $145,985
RECIPIENT: Serengeti Propertie; 107 North
Riding Rd.
CONTRACTOR: AMI Construction FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $145,985
RECIPIENT: Jeremy Peterson; 431 College Ave. CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $1,500
RECIPIENT: J&F Construction; 79 Glacier Cir. CONTRACTOR: J&F Construction
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $220,000
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 160 Short Pine Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Ron Terry Construction
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $111,153
RECIPIENT: Bridgeland Properties; 259
Northland Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Westcraft Homes FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $335,000
RECIPIENT: WAV Draper LLC; 115 Hutton Ranch Rd.
CONTRACTOR: Mahugh Fire & Safety
FOR: Installation
VALUE: $1,500
RECIPIENT: WAV Draper LLC; 115 Hutton Ranch
Rd.
CONTRACTOR: IT & M Division, Inc. FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $17,983
RECIPIENT: Big Sky Properties, LLC; 201 18th St. E CONTRACTOR: Kramer Enterprises
FOR: New restaurant
VALUE: $594,520
WHITEFISH
RECIPIENT: Whitefish Theatre Co.; 1 Central Ave. CONTRACTOR: TBD
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $650,000
RECIPIENT: Emerald Casino; 6426 Hwy 93 S CONTRACTOR: General Sheet Metal
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $500
RECIPIENT: Amazing Crepes; 123 Central Ave. CONTRACTOR: Rocky Mtn Builders
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $47,000
RECIPIENT: David Tiet; 704 E 13th St. CONTRACTOR: Silver Creek Construction FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $50,000
RECIPIENT: WF Handcrafted Spirits; 204 Wisconsin Ave.
CONTRACTOR: TBD
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $120,000
RECIPIENT: Enna LLC; 919 Columbia Ave. CONTRACTOR: Right Angle Builders FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $242,500
RECIPIENT: Enna LLC; 919 Columbia Ave. CONTRACTOR: Right Angle Builders FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $242,500
RECIPIENT: Marcus and Audrey Duffey; 326 Somers Ave.
CONTRACTOR: Randy Scott
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $160,000
RECIPIENT: Michael and Barbara Jenson; 435 Glenwood Rd.
CONTRACTOR: Mark Roy
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $40,000
RECIPIENT: Dud and Jo Mahler; 335 Fairway
Close
CONTRACTOR: RJC Designs FOR: Addition
VALUE: $50,000
RECIPIENT: Kris Gianos; 246 W Third CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $35,000
RECIPIENT: David and Tory Brandt; 107 Yampah Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Brandt Construction
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $980,000
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 5060 Tumblehome Ave.
CONTRACTOR: Ron Terry Construction FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $157,000
RECIPIENT: David and Mary Jochim; 719
Clearwater Dr. CONTRACTOR: Robbie Shreve FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $593,320
RECIPIENT: Pat Van Eimeren and Colleen Owen; 905 Preserve Pkwy
CONTRACTOR: Great Bear Builders
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $325,000
RECIPIENT: Amber and Roger Rudd; 702 Aspen
Grove
CONTRACTOR: Haskill Millworks FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $180,000
RECIPIENT: Adam Gardner; 992 Preserve Pkwy CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $236,000
RECIPIENT: Tracy Roberts; 619 Somers Ave. CONTRACTOR: Seven Hills Construction FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $2,000
RECIPIENT: Walter Stanley; 742 First St. CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $3,000
David Bopp is energy services representative at Flathead Electric Co-op
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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