Exhausted but happy, Steve Linton, President of Deltec Homes and and Joe Schlenk, Director of Marketing at Deltec, are making their way back to North Carolina from Seven Springs, Pennsylvania after Deltec’s first-time participation in that phenomenon known as The Mother Earth News Fair.
“It was well worth the effort,” said Linton. “There was an incredible response by fair-goers to Deltec Homes, all of whom are familiar with Deltec’s signature round home.” Added Linton, “The fair far exceeded our expectations.”
Left, center: Visitors at the Deltec Homes booth at Mother Earth News Fair. Right: Steve Linton, President of Deltec Homes, talks zero energy with a visitor.
Visitors to the Mother Earth News Fair are well educated about building sustainably. They are passionate about working with a company that not only sells, but also manufactures, homes in a sustainable manner. “Devotees of Mother Earth News are working towards the goal of reducing their impact on the environment, and reducing the ongoing energy costs associated with owning a home. We were thrilled at the interest shown in our zero energy round home,” stated Linton.
There was also considerable interest in Deltec’s newest offering: the Solar Homestead, a solar powered, net-zero energy home designed by students from Appalachian State University (ASU). The home was ASU’s entry in the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy’s international Solar Decathlon home design and construction competition featuring 20 teams from around the world. The Solar Homestead received the competition’s People’s Choice Award. Deltec has licensed with ASU to market and produce the Solar Homestead.
Through the agreement with ASU, Deltec Homes will pay royalties that support the Department of Technology and Environmental Design’s next large-scale, sustainable design-build project and other research and creative activities at the university.
Says Schlenk, “The response to Deltec Homes at the fair has been overwhelming. Visitors showed incredible knowledge and passion about building sustainably. We have given away several thousand booklets and brochures, and almost as many DVDs. It’s been a memorable experience.”
Deltec’s drawing for a free ‘TED® The Energy Detective Give-Away,’ a $200 value, garnered lively participation. TED® is an in-home electricity monitor that provides real-time data and gives you instant feedback on your electricity usage. Congratulations to ‘Miss Nancy’ in Hardy, Virginia, who won this coveted tool!
Left: The calm before the storm—waiting the arrival of the fair visitors. Right: filled to capacity for Steve Linton's presentation "Building the Home of Tomorrow, Today."
During the fair, Linton took time away from the Deltec Homes booth to present “Building the Home of Tomorrow, Today” twice to enthusiastic, full-capacity crowds—well over 400 people total—at the Renewable Energy Stage. Said Linton with a smile, “Mother Earth News Fair in 2013? We’ll be there.”
