News

What is Green Construction?

• Green homes pay close attention to energy efficiency
• Green homes practice water and resource conservation
• Green homes use sustainable or recycled products
• Green homes use precise measures protecting indoor air quality

The National Green Building Standard was recently approved by American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The National Green Building Standard is now the first and only ANSI-approved green building rating system, making it the benchmark for green homes. AAA Homes of MS, LLC was certified as a National Green Builder in June of 2009.

What can Homebuyers look for?

Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency to minimize environmental impact. Many “Green” processes and technologies are built out of clear site and behind the walls.

• Energy Efficient Features – Improved insulation materials for increased heat resistance, use of special roof deckings to reduce radiant and convection heat, water heater efficiency, efficient HVAC equipment, digital thermostats, use of ceiling fans, efficient appliances, and motion sensor outdoor lighting.
• Water Efficient Features – Fixtures and appliances such as low-flow showerheads, faucets and commodes, plus dishwashers and washers that all conserve water.
• Resource Efficient Features – From home size, to orientation on lot, to floor plan layout and window placement… all are important Green design decisions. House design and orientation should take advantage of natural light to reduce lighting needs, aid in heating home in winter and reduce heat gain in summer. Home should contain renewable materials and recycled materials.
• Indoor Air Quality Features – The HVAC system must be correctly sized to operate efficiently and properly ventilate the home. Special use of foam sealants or caulks to reduce air infiltration at windows, doors, base plates, switches and plugs. Exhaust fans in Kitchen and Baths should remove warm moist air to outside of temperature controlled interior space. Passive attic ventilation to remove hot air with most cost efficient method.
• Exterior of Home – Care should be taken to preserve trees and other vegetation native to the area. All efforts should be taken to minimize soil erosion from runoff. Landscaping should contain plants appropriate to the climate and grouped according to watering needs.

“EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION” REBUILDS THE HOME OF A NATIONAL GUARD HERO WHO GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR HIS COUNTRY, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS COMMUNITY

On December 3, 2009, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” travels to Hattiesburg, Mississippi to meet Sherman Heathcock, a devoted husband and father who re-enlisted in the Army National Guard following 9/11. In that time, he has served two tours of duty in Iraq where he leads squads in combat missions. When he is fortunate to spend time at home, Sherman works several jobs, which leave little time to repair the devastating damage to their home left by Hurricane Katrina. In just seven days, team leader Ty Pennington, the design team, and the entire community will have the opportunity to give back to this soldier who has given so much to his country and his community.

Sherman Heathcock, 39, and his wife Gina, 40, are working themselves to the bone in order to afford the best education for their children Annie, 12, Gary, 10, and Tessa, 7. In addition to his work for the Army National Guard, Sherman works as a sheriff’s deputy, a SWAT team leader, a grocery store security guard, a neighborhood watch group organizer, and volunteers his time to provide security for his kids’ school and coach his son’s football and baseball teams while Gina works part-time as a paralegal. During Sherman’s first tour in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina sent several large trees crashing through their property and onto their home. Adding insult to injury, while beginning to tackle the long list of repairs, Gina fell victim to a re-roofing scam. The rotting ceilings and damaged foundation are crumbling beneath them and with Sherman currently serving in Iraq, his wife and kids are worried about losing the battle in their own home. Now it is up to the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team and hundreds of local volunteers to rebuild the house of this hometown hero.

The Heathcock family will go on vacation to Disney World while “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team leader Ty Pennington, designers Michael Moloney, John Littlefield, and Paige Hemmis, local builder AAA Homes of Mississippi, and community volunteers rebuild their home.

The location address is: The Heathcock Family 618 S. 18th Avenue, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.

The series is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It is executive-produced by Anthony Dominici. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

ABC Media Relations:
(Los Angeles) Jonathan Hogan (818) 460-7016
(New York) Lisa Scalzo (212) 456-7109

Photography is available at www.abcmedianet.com or at (818) 460-6611

“EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION” COMING TO HATTIESBURG

• AAA Homes of MS, LLC Selected as Key Builder
• Citizens National Bank named as Major Sponsor
• Mississippi Power named as Major Sponsor
• Anderson Design Center named as Major Sponsor
• Sean Hancock – MSH General Contractor as Major Sponsor

Hattiesburg, MS November 19, 2009 – “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the Emmy-award winning hit TV show on ABC Television is coming to Hattiesburg to surprise a family with an extreme home makeover. This season’s theme is “The Spirit that Builds.” With a goal of constructing a new house in one week, AAA Homes of MS is gearing up to build Hattiesburg’s first green certified home and help a very deserving family make their dream come true.

“It’s a blessing and privilege to be asked to help a real hero in our community,” says builder David Thompson of AAA Homes of MS. “The people of Hattiesburg are stepping up to help a family that needs a new home and the nation will have a chance to see what makes Hattiesburg such a special place to live.” Thompson said in the midst of a difficult economy, “taking part in ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ will energize the city.”

Five very deserving families are being considered from the greater Hattiesburg area. And, on Thursday, December 3rd, one of the families will be given a surprise wake-up call when Ty Pennington and his design team knock on their door and their hopes and dream come true. You can keep up day by day, with the excitement, events of the day, and pictures of the construction by going to www.extremehattiesburg.com.

Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree says, “The City of Hattiesburg is honored to be a part of such a life changing moment for this family. My desire is, as people experience volunteering on such an Extreme level, that the citizens of Hattiesburg will be spurred on to continue the effort to give back. I hope that everyone will come away with a new appreciation for working together and volunteering that doesn’t end when we “move that bus.”

Thompson thanked Citizen’s National Bank for being a major sponsor and helping spread the word. Citizen’s National Bank will be airing commercials and making South Mississippi aware of the opportunity to be involved, from volunteering to donating and sponsoring events.

A Pep Rally will be held at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg Thursday, November 23, 8 a.m. All volunteers, trades and sponsors are invited. This will be a time for volunteers to sign up and help make the dream come true.

The Emmy award winning reality program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” now in its 7th season, is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It’s executive-producer is Anthony Dominici. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America. The show airs Sundays from 7-8 p.m., Central Time on ABC.

About AAA Homes of MS, LLC

AAA Homes of MS, LLC has a reputation in the Hattiesburg, Petal and Oak Grove areas of Mississippi as a quality new custom home builder by building in new home communities and subdivisions with luxurious features while stressing quality, high value, affordable prices and energy savings. Our commitment to unparalleled service, ease of construction process and high quality has made our name synonymous with fine homes. Our commitment of “Treat the homeowner as you would want to be treated”, has allowed us to become the fastest growing and most sought after builder in South Mississippi. We believe that home builders should infuse the homes they build with the personalities of their owners. So AAA Homes also offers buyers the ability to customize their new home by choosing from hundreds of extraordinary options easily viewed in each showroom – from decorative, environmental andstructural elements. As a renowned home builder, AAA Homes goes beyond exceptional value, quality, and customer service to create a lifestyle that is rich in beauty, comfort, security and luxury.

Now watch “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and see AAA Homes of MS and our volunteers construct a quality, new home for a local hero in less than a week. Watch ABC for date of the program.

About Citizens National Bank

Citizens National Bank, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi, has assets in excess of $1 billion, and has branch locations in Ridgeland, Madison, Flowood, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Waynesboro, Quitman, Carthage, Kosciusko, Philadelphia, Macon, Columbus, Southaven, and Olive Branch. In the midst of challenging economic times, the Bank continues to be strong, stable, and secure, and is rated highly among the safest banks in the nation. Since 2000, the Bank has grown from approximately $500 million in assets to more than $1 billion. The Bank’s vision is to become Mississippi’s community bank by encouraging personal, business and community economic development that finances the dreams of Mississippians. That commitment to their home state includes an emphasis on non-profit organizations and entities that improve the overall qualify of life for the people of the state. The Bank’s logo includes a statement that “It’s a matter of caring…,” and they show this by investing hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to support a variety of charitable causes within the state of Mississippi. The Bank also utilizes their website, www.YourCNB.com, to raise awareness for local charities in their communities.

About Mississippi Power

Mississippi Power provides retail and wholesale electric service to approximately 200,000 customers in 23 counties from the Gulf Coast to Meridian. The company owns or has significant ownership interests in six generating facilities with a net dependable generating capacity of 3,166 megawatts. Electricity is sent across 8,371 miles of transmission and distribution lines to retail customers principally in Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Pascagoula, Columbia, Laurel, Waveland, Lucedale and Picayune.

Large wholesale customers include six electric cooperatives — Coast EPA, Singing River EPA, Southern Pine EPA, Dixie EPA, Pearl River EPA and East Mississippi EPA — the City of Collins and South Mississippi EPA. Large retail customers include the following: the region’s United States military installations — Keesler Air Force Base and Naval Construction Battalion Center (Seabee Base); the University of Southern Mississippi; NASA Stennis Space Center; oil and gas infrastructure, including a refinery; multiple foundries and shipbuilders; the Mississippi National Guard’s Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center near Hattiesburg and the Mississippi Air National Guard in Meridian.

Mississippi Power, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO), employs 1,300 Mississippi residents. In 2008, Mississippi Power paid $115 million in federal, state and local taxes. Southern Company stock is held by nearly 3,000 Mississippi residents.

About Anderson Design Center

Since 1982, Anderson’s has been a leader in South Mississippi’s home decorating industry. Originally established by Allen Anderson as Hattiesburg Paint and Decorating, the company has evolved from a hometown paint and flooring retailer with five employees to a regional industry leader with four retail stores and two commercial divisions, employing approximately 50 individuals.

The company is now comprised of Anderson Carpet One Floor & Home, Anderson Lighting One, Anderson Rug Market & Furniture Gallery, Anderson Outlet Store, Anderson Commercial Flooring, Anderson Commercial Furniture and Anderson Floor Prep Specialists. The company celebrated its 25^th year in business by expanding once again to meet the ever-changing demands of the population.

Anderson Design Center opened in late 2007 as South Mississippi’s premiere home interior destination. AndersonDesign Center in west Hattiesburg is home to Anderson Carpet One Floor & Home, Anderson Rug Market & Furniture Gallery and Anderson Lighting One. The Design Center, located on Office Park Drive behind Petro Automotive Group, offers a full-spectrum of design services and home interior products, available to fit any taste and budget.

The westward move is merely an expansion of Anderson’s retail offerings. The original location on Scooba Street off ofBroadway Drive continues to house Anderson Outlet Store, Anderson Commercial Flooring and Anderson Commercial Furniture.

For more than 25 years, our design and reputation for quality service have enhanced the beauty of South Mississippi’s homes and more. As always, the Anderson name speaks to your superb taste and individuality.

About MSH General Contractors, LLC

MSH General Contractors LLC is a licensed general contractor for residential and commercial construction. Based in Petal, Mississippi, the company has over 15 years of experience in custom and “spec” home construction. “Design is my passion,” stated Sean Hancock, Company President. “I started designing homes in the 6th grade. Still have those designs today!”

MSH has developed three subdivisons in Forrest County and is active in commercial construction too completing projects for the City of Petal, City of Hattiesburg, Jones County, AT&T, Ferguson Enterprises, and more. MSH has even designed many of the new buildings for the City of Petal including City Hall, Petal Police Department, Petal Fire Department and several recreation buildings. The company is also licensed for asbestos abatement and lead paint removal.

MSH General Contractors is insured and bonded, and is a member of the National Association of Home Builders, Home Builders Association of Mississippi, the Greater Hattiesburg Home Builders Association and a number of other organizations.

Tara Picou the District Manager for Lennox said that she didn’t think twice when approached about involvement in the project. “During peak daytime hours, the solar panel will offset the regular utilities and help heat and cool the home. We will feature this Extreme Makeover event in the coming edition of The Lennox News, our corporate newsletter publication mailed to over 7,000 dedicated Lennox dealerships nationwide.”

Sponsor and Donation Information:
An account is being set up with PayPal to ensure safe, direct donations. This will be available soon, so please check back. To become a sponsor, please contact the David Thompson at dvdthmpson@aol.com