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Single-family Home Sales
Rose 5.7 Percent in September
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 5.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 389,000 units in September, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the fastest sales pace recorded since April of 2010.
"Combined with consistent, positive reports on housing starts, permits, prices and builder confidence in recent months, today's data provides further confirmation that a gradual but steady housing recovery is underway across much of the nation," said Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. "Consumers who have been on the sidelines during the past few years are deciding now is the time to go forward with a new-home purchase, assuming they can qualify for a good mortgage under today's exceedingly stringent guidelines."
"New-home sales this year have consistently and significantly out-paced their year-ago levels as favorable interest rates, rising prices and improving consumer confidence have driven demand higher," noted NAHB chief economist David Crowe. "Meanwhile, despite a small increase in the inventory of new homes on the market in September, the number of completed new homes for sale is now at an all-time low and the month's supply is at its tightest since October 2005. This is an indication that builders continue to have a tough time obtaining construction credit, even as demand for new homes increases."
Three out of four regions registered substantial gains in new-home sales this September, including the Northeast's 16.7 percent increase, the South's 16.8 percent increase and the West's 3.9 percent increase. The Midwest was the exception to the rule, with a 37.3 percent decline.
Meanwhile, the inventory of new homes for sale inched slightly upward to a still-low 145,000 units in September, which is a 4.5-month supply at the current sales pace. |
Duraflame Introduces New Bio-Ethanol Fireplace Technology
STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA
Duraflame has introduced illuma, fireplace and outdoor firepit units that utilize a patent-pending bio-ethanol burner system that is safe, simple and emits no smoke. This is the first bio-ethanol fireplace product developed by the Stockton-based company. Duraflame has long been the leader in the manufactured fire log category, and the company's commitment to research and development has created opportunities for the introduction of new, innovative and environmentally conscious fire products.
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Duraflame firepit.
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Unlike other ethanol appliances, illuma uses a unique, sealed, no-pour illuma-fuel canister to ensure the safe handling of liquid bio-ethanol. The single-use canister is made of damage-resistant, recyclable plastic. The opening is foil sealed and protected by a screw-on child safety cap. The seal is broken after the canister is inserted into the unit, allowing fuel to safely flow into the fuel burner.
"The illuma burner system is a significant fireplace technology milestone," said Chris Caron, vice president of Brand Development for the fire log leader. "Not only is illuma an extremely Green and simple fireplace option, it's much safer than the manual-pour systems offered by its liquid and gel predecessors.
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Duraflame no-pour illuma-fuel canister.
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Duraflame Illuma log set burning.
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"The canister switch is as simple as lifting the fuel chamber door, hidden in one of the ceramic logs, and swapping out the fuel container," said Caron. "This is the first product of its kind that was designed to allow users to safely switch out the fuel while the fire is still burning." A one-liter canister produces up to two hours of flames. The fuel canisters are available in a six-count case.
Bio-ethanol is a renewable energy source made from fermented agricultural biomass, such as grain, corn, sugar cane, potatoes or other by-products, into alcohol. The combustion of bio-ethanol produces minimal emissions of steam and carbon dioxide, which plants re-absorb during photosynthesis. This combination of actions results in a carbon-neutral fuel. Bio-ethanol has grown in popularity as an alternative to wood because it produces almost no particulate emissions and can be burned on days when wood-burning restrictions are imposed by local air quality agencies.
The illuma indoor log set lights with a one-touch electronic igniter, included with the product. The size and burn time of the fire is adjustable. The patent-pending fuel burner is a key feature of the illuma log set and firepit. When the fuel level is low, flames automatically shift to one side indicating it is time to refuel.
Aesthetically, the illuma indoor fireplace model features a realistic oak log stack. It is designed to fit directly into an existing open hearth fireplace, and be used either vented with the chimney damper open, or in an unvented mode with the chimney damper closed to radiate heat into the room. The outdoor firepit model is a standalone unit and features an oak log stack surrounded by a multicolored slate tile top, accented with brushed copper trim.
Duraflame illuma products are more affordable than the high-end ethanol appliances typically sold in specialty stores or online, and will be available in mass-market retailers making bio-ethanol appliances more accessible to consumers.
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