Alternative Energy Metal Roofing and Green Home Improvement

Let’s take a look at the elements of green home design, and how we can build a zero energy home on a budget. If you are looking to make your existing home greener and more energy efficient, you should be able to extrapolate the main points and apply them to your existing home.

Renewable Energy Systems do not have to cost a fortune

Unlike what many people may think, designing and building a green home does not involve a fortune, and can be done on a budget that is comparable with what it would normally cost to build a traditionally constructed home. Further, if you would like to outfit your new home with PV solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, or a solar hot water system, it does not have to cost a fortune if you keep these factors in mind; many states provide generous solar rebates to homeowners as an incentive to invest into green technology and renewable energy systems. In addition to solar rebates, many states require utility companies to buy back the electricity that your solar system generates at the rates that are often higher than what you would normally pay for a kilowatt hour.

Solar Payback Period

You may be able to make back the money you would pay for a professional installation of a solar power system in five to ten years. With an average life of solar power system being 20 years and longer, you would actually be earning money from your PV solar power system. Not a bad way to make a buck, appraise the value of your home, support the growth of renewable energy technology and support the environment.

If you are planning to put up solar panels on your existing home, I would recommend replacing your old roof with an energy efficient standing seam metal roof, which would make it easy for solar installers to attach PV solar panels to the seams of a metal roof with the help of a special mounting system. This method does not require any penetrations made to your roof.

By combining solar panels with a green metal roof, you will get a” penetration-free” roof, which will lessen any chances of a roof leak in your home, and will not require replacing at some point in the future. Factor in extra energy savings from reduced cooling costs, home appreciation, and looks to see why it is a no brainier!

If you live in the northern geographic zone, having a metal roof will also help prevent ice dams. It can be really messy when you have to deal with ice dams on a roof that happens to have solar panels, or a solar hot water system installed. Trust me, you do not want to be in that situation.

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design is one of the least costly green home design solutions for new construction homes, and home additions. Passive solar design involves the use of longer roof overhangs to provide a shadow over the walls and windowsof a house. Further, you can design your home to have rooms with glass walls and glass ceilings facing south for solar exposure. Inside the rooms you would have solar thermal mass floors, walls that can be made of bricks similar to the brick fireplace, or walls made from poured concrete. You can also use concrete blocks for easier assembly instead of mixing, pouring and forming concrete walls by yourself. Concrete is a good material of choice because it is reasonable inexpensive and has high thermal mass (HTM), which is what you want to have for effective passive solar design.

You can also integrate thermal shutters around your windows. You can close your thermal shutters at night to reduce the heat loss.

References:

https://www.thenaturalhome.com/passivesolar.html

Commercial Modular Construction can be a great sustainable alternative to conventionally  constructed buildings for educational facilities, commercial office spaces, healthcare, real estate development projects, and many other industries that may require custom design, speed of construction, structural integrity, compliance with the local building codes and US Green Building Council’s LEED accreditation.

Two Types of Modular Buildings:

There are two types of modular buildings that organizations can consider in order to best meet their needs for temporary and permanent spaces, in a timely and cost effective ways;

Relocatable buildings are designed for ease of transportation, deployment, and multiple relocation to different sites on as needed basis.
Temporary modular buildings can be partially or fully prefabricated using modular construction process in accordance with client specifications and state and local building codes. Relocatable buildings do not have the same status as permanent real estate, and can, therefore, be depreciated as equipment. Relocatable buildings can serve well as temporary office spaces, or temporary classrooms for schools that require additional classroom space to meet their growing enrollment needs.

Temporary relocatable buildings can also be leased, which provides flexibility and affordability to companies that require extra space, but are not ready to meet the expense to permanent building structures.

Permanent Modular Construction

PMC is a permanent modular construction method based on an offsite, lean manufacturing techniques to prefabricate single or multistory buildings using sections/modules that are delivered to the construction site, and then, put together to construct a whole building. Permanent Modular Buildings can be custom designed and built of wood, steel, or concrete materials. PMC buildings can serve as stand alone building solutions, or can be integrated into conventional site built projects.

Benefits and Advantages of Modular Construction

Permanent modular buildings can be delivered with integrated fixtures including lighting, plumbing, high efficiency HVAC systems, appliances, custom interior finishes, doors and windows, and other components that help make the building fully functioning in less time, with less waste, and a significantly higher quality control compared to projects utilizing conventional site construction methods.

Green Building, Sustainability, Custom Design and Flexibility

Modular Buildings are designed and build to meet the specific needs of a client, state and local building compliance codes, and can also meet green building LEED accreditation standards. For instance Triumph Modular, a modular construction company based in Massachusetts, provides custom modular classroom solutions that can contain integrated science labs, and restrooms to meet the specific needs of schools and daycare facilities requiring healthy, eco-friendly and energy efficient green buildings.

Triumph Modular custom designs and builds green classroom spaces that make use of green building materials designed for human health, comfort, and sustainability.

References

http://modular.org/

Learning how to install crown molding do it yourself way can help you save money and take advantage of your skills to improve your home. By knowing the exact sequence of installation steps, you will not have to hire a home improvement contractor, or a crown molding specialist to do the job for you.

Why Install a crown molding yourself?

Contractors usually charge a high price, and this will be added to the total cost of installation. Before you can actually start installing your crown molding, you should take these necessary steps to prepare for the job at hand, first.

Preparations

1. Take the measurements, and then, add 10 percent to the figures for when you make mistakes.

2. Choose the style and finish that you want. Many sizes and shapes are available for you to choose from. Make sure that they match with your personal preferences, the decorations in the room, and the overall color scheme. The finish that you choose should be applied first before you begin cutting and fitting the crown molding.

3. Buy the size that will need the least amount of splices. Splices may be unavoidable in some cases, but the fewer splices there are, the more appealing the end results will be.

Cutting The Corners

1. The first and most difficult part in learning how to install crown molding is cutting the corners. The easiest way to trim the corners is by using a coping saw, since a mitered joint is less tight than a coped joint. If there is any gap in a coped cut, this can be concealed with some caulk.

2. Another tool that you can choose to cut the corners is a power miter saw. Not only is it accurate, it also provides a cleaner cut.

Measuring and Marking The Wall

Take the measurements of the wall for the length of the very first piece of molding. You have to mark the wall so that it shows the bottom edge of the molding.

Cutting The Pieces

1. After determining the length of the molding, cut it in a straight line at a ninety degree angle. This will make both ends hit against the side walls.

2. Cut the next piece so it fits an inside corner. You can do this by moving the miter saw guide to the forty-five degree angle point and then setting the molding into place.

3. Know how the pieces fit together. The edge against the vertical fence is the bottom part of the molding while the edge against the table is the top. Imagine that your table is the ceiling.

4. Cut the molding at a perfect forty-five degree angle using a ten inch saw blade. For an inside corner, the bottom should be longer than the top. For an outside corner, the top should be longer than the bottom.

Coping The Joint

When you cope a joint, you have to scribe the end of one molding to the face of another. Mark the front edge using a pencil, and then with the help of a coping saw, cut as close to the line as possible. Be sure to cut at a slight angle.

Checking For Gaps

Any gaps that have to be trimmed will be revealed if the fit is checked against a scrap piece of molding. To get rid of these gaps, cut off the high points using the coping saw.

Attaching The Molding

The last part on how to install crown molding is attaching the molding. Take the molding to the wall once the fit is perfect. You will need some help holding a long piece. Attach it to the wall by pushing the end into the corner. Ensure that the fit is as tight as possible. If there are any gaps, cover them using a caulk gun. Use optional blocks to cover the spot where the outside corners should meet.

References:
Crown Molding Installation DIY

Aleksandr Biyevetskiy – Boston SEO Consultant Resume

Full Resume PDF: Boston-SEO-Consultant-in-Search-Engine-Marketing

Brief Overview:

Internet Marketing Manager & Senior SEM/SEO Specialist in Boston area

Aleksandr@Tampile.com

Experience

SEM/SEO Strategy Consultant      May 2011 – Present

Boston SEO Consulting Inc.

SEM Manager – Senior SEO Specialist     Feb 2006 – April, 2011

LA Metal Roofs LLC.

 Scope of Work

• SEO/SEM analysis, strategy planning, and implementation
• Managed multiple simultaneous SEO campaigns in various verticals
• Established and maintained successful working relationships with clients and SEO partners
• Managed multiple Local Search and PPC Campaigns
• Conceptualized and Implemented successful link baits
• Implemented successful business blogs with select SEO Campaigns

Main Focus

• Organic SEO Strategy, Keyword Research, Competitive Analysis, Google Analytics Data Interpretation and Decision Making, PPC, Organic Search Rankings Monitoring and Improvement
• Google AdWords PPC, Creative Link Baits, Link Building, Social Media and Topical Directory Research and Submissions

Related SEM/SEO Experience

• Conceptualized and developed a highly successful www.AllConstructionDirectory.com, Construction Industry Directory ranked First in its vertical
• Conceived and developed Industry Leading consumer-information website www.RoofingCalculator.org, a successful link-bait for prospective lead acquisitions, and industry recognition/buzz.
• Collaborated in designing and launching a successful Mobile-App

Relevant Skills

• Thorough Knowledge of SE Algorithms, Google Analytics, Keyword Research, Competitive Analysis, Organic Search, PPC, Local Search, HTML, MS Office, Sitemaps, Robots.txt, Content Management Systems, General Marketing and Sales Skills, CJ Affiliate Program Knowledge, Link Building, Social Media, and Link Baits.

Education

• Rhode Island College, B.S. in International Management

If you own a real estate company, then you are most likely interested in various ways to promote your real estate company online. My recommendation is to use directories that fall under the real estate niche in order to gain trustworthy and relevant links to help improve your website rankings.

I have looked over at various real estate directories on the internet, and after a careful assessment I came to realize that most of them are either of questionable quality, or over-priced in terms of value that they provide for the cost

Here is the list of handpicked real estate directories that provide good value for submitters.

Real Estate Directories

http://www.homeimprovementdir.org/real-estate/ – Real Estate and Home Improvement Construction Directory.

http://www.allconstructiondirectory.com/real-estate/ – All Construction Directory offers International Real Estate Listings to companies in The US, Canada, UK, Australia, Italy, Spain, and real estate development companies around the globe.

http://www.newenglandmetalroof.com/construction_directory/real-estate-links.html – Real Estate and Home Services Directory by New England Metal Roof. You have to use their Add URL / contact form for your submissions.

http://www.reals.com/ – I also recommend a basic listing here, I would not go for their big package, as most of those directories seem to be hosted on the same IP address. I still think, you can get a good value with the basic submission here.

http://www.buildingtradesuk.com/real-estate-directory/ – A strong real estate directory for real estate agents and property solicitors in the United Kingdom.

http://www.ukconstructiondir.com/real-estate/ – Quality real estate directory for UK based real estate firms and independent agents. Also lists property conveyancing solicitors in the UK.

http://www.ukhomeimprovementdirectory.com/home-and-garden/ – This is a directory of home services in the UK. It is not a real estate directory per say, but you can still add your real estate website here, and the appropriate real estate category at the top-level will surely be created to accommodate your submission.

Once again, succeeding in real estate business involves getting real estate leads, and the internet provides is the easiest way to get your real estate leads via your own website. You will need to use relevant directories to promote your real estate website to get noticed. I hope you find this list helpful.

If a large chunk of your SEO strategy is based on submitting your website to a bunch of General Directories with high PR, then you are just wasting your money!

Yes indeed, a very long time ago, you could actually optimize your website to a top of Google search results with just using numerous general web directories, but the times of low hanging fruits and easy rankings are long gone. Nowadays, you would be wasting your hard earned money by submitting your website to as many general directories as you can find, including ones with strong/high page rank.

I lough long and hard at the people who are so impressed by a sky-high page rank of some general web directory that they hand their hard earned money on the plate to some professional hack who hacked into, and placed an invisible link on some unrelated, or non-profit/European agency website to get a huge temporary boost in its Google Page Rank.

I hope you are not one of those people who can be easily impressed, moved, shaken up, shocked, and stunned by the “mighty” page rank so much that they happily hand over in excess of $150 for a premium listing on a highly-revered, strong PR page of the page rank-infused, yet useless PR7-PR8 General Web Monstrosity that will do next to nothing to improve their rankings neither in the short nor long run.

Take a look at the list of these monster web-directories who milk the misguided website owners for their hard-earned money:

http://dirbull.com/ – PR8 – It does pay off to hack into other peoples’ websites.

http://www.cuedirectory.com/ – PR8 Notice the similarity in terms of colors and pricing…

Quality General Directories that help improve ranking

Do not be one of the those people who hands their money to get very little in return, as well as risk getting their website penalized. Do not get me wrong, there are general directories that actually exercise editorial judgement and charge a reasonable amount for review:

Consider: JoeAnt.com – pr5 (it floats between a PR5 and PR6) a Strong PR5 web directory that earned its page rank on its own merit, not through hacking into other people websites, and buying links left and right.

There is also www.Botw.org PR6, it is a good directory, but too expensive for my taste, and hardly worth the money in terms of ranking boost, unless you can get one of the top categories.

So, how do I use a Web Directories to Improve the rankings of my website?

I recommend to use niche web directories that are relevant to the theme of your website.
For instance if you want to promote a home improvement construction company’s website you can submit your website to
These leading directories:

Construction and Home Improvement Industries Directories:

www.AllConstructionDirectory.com – Thematically relevant place to promote a construction company website, or a real estate agent’s website in the US, and anywhere else in the world.

www.HomeImprovementDir.org – Home Improvement, Construction, Home and Garden, and real estate websites can be promoted using this strong home improvement directory. Accepts websites from anywhere in the world.

www.greatpossibilities.com – this is another construction industry directory that accepts free, reciprocal, and paid submissions.

buildingtradesdir.com – Accepts home improvement and construction companies for free. Manufacturers and suppliers can submit their website via paid submission.

www.newenglandmetalroof.com/construction_directory – Construction Directory with emphasis on green building and Eco-friendly construction.

www.buyezrip.com/Links.htm – Home Improvement Directory offering reciprocal and paid links.

www.thermalpipeinsulation.com/construction-links.html – Construction Directory offering reciprocal and paid links.

There are specialty niche directories in virtually any niche you can imagine.
You can find a directory in your niche by searching for “niche-name/variation of a niche name” directory
For example to find a construction directory you would type in “Construction Directory” in search.

How Do I promote my website?

If you are accustomed to promoting your website using general directories as a main source of your incoming links, then you better re-think your strategy as doing so could easily raise a Red Flag with Search Engines and get your website penalized.

Use it as a Spice not as a main Ingredient

Without a doubt, there is still some usefulness in General Directories, but only if you obtain these links only every once in a while, and mix it up with links from relevant blogs, articles, and Niche Directories.

Actionable Tips

Stop Chasing High Page Rank Directories.
Are you still chasing High PR general web directories? This is a recipe for disaster! There are many niche directories where you can submit your website and get better results.

Keep in mind that over-submitting your website to general directories can result in search engine penalties, especially if you move too quickly. Instead, use your resources to do guest blog posts on relevant blogs, original article submission, and posting compelling content on your own blogs.

Good Luck, and remember and it is not the quantity and page rank of general directories, but rather it is relevance, use of different anchors along with brand names, and having a highly diversified link profile that leads to better rankings.

Aleksandr Biyevetskiy is an experienced SEO/SEM Specialist with Boston SEO Consulting Inc.

Without a doubt, there is still some usefulness in General Directories, but only if you obtain these links only every once in a while, and mix it up with links from relevant blogs, articles, and Niche Directories.

Stop Chasing High Page Rank Directories

Are you still chasing High PR general web directories? This is a recipe for disaster! There are many

Designing a bathroom, and going green? You can save a lot of money in the long run by designing a bathroom for long-term functionality. A well-designed bathroom will result in fewer repairs and replacements. It will also keep your energy and water bills low, with the advent of new earth-friendly bathroom materials technology.

Let’s start with the most important part of the bathroom: the toilet.

Older toilets can waste literally thousands of gallons per year. At five gallons per flush, you’re literally flushing your money down the drain. A high-efficiency toilet will use just over a gallon per flush. The even newer model of toilet, the dual-flush model, uses even less.

Faucets and shower heads are also now designed in low-flow models, saving even more water, and money. If your appliances were installed before 1994, chances are they are not a low-flow design.

How else can you design a green bathroom, other than the obvious water-saving appliances?

And How about saving energy on heat?

Invest in a solar-powered water heater. It’s a green solution that is getting more affordable to install, now that the technology behind solar powered appliances has continued to develop. Another design idea for a shower stall is to install a waste-heat recovery system. The system uses the water that goes down the drain to preheat the shower water itself.

The shower stall itself is a water-saving part of the bathroom, when you compare it to a bathtub. Using a separate shower stall, even a traditional one, limits baths and saves seven times the amount of energy.
Look at your typical bathroom cabinet, usually under your sink. It’s probably made of particleboard, which contains formaldehyde. Go with bamboo instead, which is a rapidly renewable natural source, and makes beautiful cabinetry.

What about the vanity top itself? Recycled glass countertops are sparkly, easy to clean, and can be continuously used throughout the bathroom on the walls as well, with recycled glass tiles.

You don’t have to be entirely new-fangled though – traditional ceramic and porcelain tiles are still OK.

This article was brought to you by Budget Bath, found here: Bathroom Remodeling MD

Carefully, consider these 10 factors before you commit to buy a solar water heater collector system.

1. Certification – The Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) reviews and certifies both solar collectors (OG-100) as well as the entire solar water heating system (OG-300). This certification provides a minimum standard of quality for the industry as well as providing a basis for comparison between different products. Don’t consider buying a solar water heater without both OG-100 and OG-300 certification.

2. Collector frame materials – Solar hot water panels come primarily with either aluminum or steel frames and backs. The aluminum products will come with either raw, painted or anodized frames. The steel only come in painted versions. Generally speaking if you are in an area away from the coast any of these styles will do as long as you can handle the aesthetics (generally painted or anodized will be preferred for appearance). If you are within proximity of the coast the anodized surfaces will provide you the long term corrosion protection that the other materials won’t.

3. Fluid path materials – a solar collector can come with aluminum, steel or copper tubing for the fluid to flow through . The most common material in north America is copper although the other materials are available. Be aware that the aluminum may suffer from galvanic corrosion as a result of the other copper, brass and bronze that are likely to be in the system and therefore prematurely degrade. The solar collector (s) that have steel fluid paths are only appropriate for glycol systems.

4. Warranty – while the SRCC certification mentioned above covers the minimums there are differences in both the length of the warranty as well as if they warrant labor. It isn’t much good if a collector goes out after 6 months, and then the contractor can’t get paid to replace the one on your roof.

5. Installed base – It is a perfectly fair question to ask for references or what other solar heating project the installer may have done. As a homeowner you need to be patient because depending on the area where you are located you might not have any choice of contractors.

6. Absorber connection method – solar water heaters come with four main styles of producing the absorber

ultrasonic welding – this method is probably the most common method for attaching the absorber fin to the tubes but it leaves a line down the absorber that some homeowners find objectionable The advantage is you can see the quality of the weld.

Soldering – this has diminished in popularity over the years since it is difficult to maintain the quality of the process although some companies still use it to great effect.

Mechanical bonding – the absorber is crimped around the tube that holds the water. This can be an effective means to attach the tubes to the sheet but there is a risk of poor mechanical sealing and then the thermal performance of the collector is greatly diminished with the buyer being none the wiser.

Laser welding – this process is very capital intensive but provides an excellent seal between the absorber and the tubes without having the witness line associated with ultrasonic welding above.

7. Pre-engineered – solar heating installations are technically complicated and require the greatest of care to insure that the system will function properly for years to come. Either go with a pre-engineered system from a manufacture or stick with a very experienced installer. Having an installer cut there teeth on your house isn’t the way to go with solar heating.

8. Aesthetics – Congratulations you are leading the green revolution by going with a solar water heater. Keep the positive vibes going by making sure the installation is good looking. Nothing will turn off future solar customers more than an unattractive installation.

9. Maintainability – Murphy’s Law usually to many situations including in your solar heating installation. Make sure the system is designed and installed so any of the components can be replaced should they fail while providing the minimum disruption to the system. Insist that the components are isolated from the balance of the system to allow easy change out. This also plays a part in the system design that you go with. If you have easy access to internal heat exchange tanks then they become a reasonable option. If you live in parts of the country where you local plumbing supply house doesn’t stock them, then stick with an external heat exchange system so the tank can be replaced when it fails (and it will).

10. Mounting hardware – How solar hot water panels tie into your roof is as important as the other components. You don’t want you system to create problems with your roof. The manufacturer should have had engineering done on the hardware to insure it can withstand any wind you might see in your area. In addition, you should look to be sure that you only use materials on the roof that can stand the test of time, aluminum, and stainless. Avoid using steel, galvanized steel or zinc plated hardware as part of the mounting system unless you live in the desert.

I wanted to share this new calculator that roofing and green building companies can use to let their perspective customers understand projected energy savings and roof pricing based on the size of the roof, and roofing materials used. Energy savings are calculated based on average summer temperatures of 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which converts as 29 degrees Celsius. You can see this for yourself by using our helpful temperature converter in the right column.

This roofing calculator will estimate annual cool roof energy savings and roof prices for such green roofing including Metal Roofing and Cool White flat roofs.

If you want to put this Roofing Materials Calculator on your website, use the simple code here.

Roof Energy Savings and Prices Calculator:

Roof Calculator allows you to estimate roof installation prices for different roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, metal roofing and EPDM rubber roof, as well as calculate roof pitch and the size of your roof.

Also, if you want to integrate Temperature Conversion Calculator into your blog, we have developed a WordPress Temperature Converter Plug-in.

If you use a Google Chrome browser, we also developed a Temperature Converter extension for Chrome.

Green Building and Environmental Responsibility

Fuel hungry cars, airplanes, and manufacturing plants are not the only CO 2 / carbon footprint contributors. Residential, commercial, and industrial buildings are also contributing a great deal to overall carbon footprint. Poorly insulated buildings consume vast amounts of energy, natural resources, and contribute to greenhouse gases affect. One of the ways to combat environmental degradation associated with poorly constructed buildings, is to use green building technology in retrofitting of existing buildings and constructing new buildings using green building practices.

Green building practices encourage environmental responsibility through the use of sustainable building materials in residential and commercial retrofit and new construction projects. The roof structure of the building is not an exception when it comes to in green building design. In fact, roof constructed according to green building practices can earn green building credits with the U.S. green building council based in Washington, DC.

Whole Foods Market place, one of the U.S. top organic food retailers has embraced green building technology by building a state of the art store made of aluminum and green building materials. The roof design incorporates vegetated roofing technology by using easy to integrate green roofing containers containing local vegetation. Green roofing design provides energy savings, insulation, and combats urban heat island affect.

In order for a roofing system to qualify for green building credits it must meet solar reflectivity index of a minimum of 78 percents for flat roofs and 29 percents for sloped roofs. Solar reflectivity index is assigned by cool-roof rating council. SRI incorporates solar reflectivity and thermal emissivity.

Metal roofs provide a wide variety of sustainable roofing options including standing-seam roofs made with long lasting and environmentally friendly metals such as aluminum, zinc, steel and copper. Metal roofs contain up to 50% post consumer content and are fully recyclable. Painted metal roofing panels are coated with solar reflective paint finishes that help keep the roof cooler in warm seasons.

The use of metal in a residential, commercial and industrial roofing aides in reducing building’s carbon footprint, and provides long lasting and reliable roofing solution that is also U.S green building council accredited.

In a typical residential re-roofing situation, the cool-roof rated galvanized steel metal roofing system can offer longevity, durability, energy savings, and earn green building credits for existing buildings and new construction. Modern steel shingle metal roofing systems are available in wide variety of cool-roof rated metal roofing colors that literally reflect solar radiant heat, reduce air conditioning load and provide energy savings.

For homeowners whose roof is covered with a flat roof, installing PVC based cool flat roof membrane similar to IB roofs in performance will provide significant energy savings, reliability, and long lasting roofing solution. Yes, PVC and green combination may seem counter intuitive, but PVC roofs can last three times longer than EPDM Rubber roofs and can be recycled when the roof has served its purpose. Certain PVC roofing systems are designed to withstand standing / ponds of water, which means that they can be used for vegetated green roofing systems.

No matter what type of metal / cool roofing system you choose, be sure to pay special attention to longevity and Cool Roof ratings of the roofing system in question.

References:

Metal Roofing Materials

Green Roofing

Metal roofing and green building

The web technology has brought out many innovations including web based Calculators.

The free library has released the ultimate list of Calculators:

Here are some more Calculators for Environmentally friendly Building Products, nature, temperature and the environment:

Energy Efficient Roofing Calculators :

Roofing Calculator for Metal Roofing

Residential Roof – Cool roofing Calculator

Green Building Construction Calculators :

Reducing Carbon footprint for Construction Calculator

Solar Hot Water System Calculator

Temperature Conversions Calculators :

Temperature Conversions Project

Co2 Foot Print Calculators :

Carbon Calculator

Carbon Footprint Calculator Development Project – Tampile project.

Solar Energy Conversion Calculators :

Solar Calculator

If you know of more calculators for environmental sciences, chemistry, math, physics, green building, energy efficiency, temperature, alternative and solar energy, let me know and I will add them to this list.

How to make proper conversions from Fahrenheit to Celsius and vice-versa

As means for measuring temperatures, there are two separate scales that are used, which are called Celsius and Fahrenheit. These scales are named after their respective inventors. The Fahrenheit scale is the one that is mostly used in the US, while Celsius, which is a component of the metric system, is mostly used in Europe and the rest of the world. Both use a different scale to show temperatures, which we will illustrate with an example:

On the Fahrenheit scale, regular water reaches its boiling point at approximately 212 degrees, for which the equivalent in Celsius would be 100 degrees.

In order to convert Celsius degrees to Fahrenheit, and Fahrenheit to Celsius, some simple math is required, but this is easy to do, and anyone can do this, following a few simple steps.

There are only two steps involved for Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion:

1. Take the temperature in Fahrenheit and subtract 32 from it
2. The outcome of step 1 is then multiplied by 0.55 ( 5 divided by 9)

For example, if in New York the temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the same temperature, when converted to Celsius would be (80 – 32) x 0.55 = 26

Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion:

1. Take the temperature in Celsius and multiply it by 1.8
2. Take the outcome of step 1 and add 32 to it.

For Example, if the temperature in Barcelona, Spain would be 21 degrees Celsius , the same temperature when converted to Fahrenheit would be 21 x 1.8  + 32 = 37.8 + 32 =  69.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

As shown in the examples above it is quite simple to make temperature conversions from Fahrenheit to Celsius and vice-versa.

However, conditions may arise, when a fast result is needed, or when there is no calculator at hand. In such an event the use of an online temperature converter, may be just what you need, in order to quickly determine the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Temperature Converters are freely available on the Internet, and there are several web sites that provide them at no charge. Simply do a search on one of the popular search for the term “Temperature Converter” and you will have several free ones at your disposal.

When using an online temperature converter, all you have to do is fill out the measured temperature and select the proper scale. Clicking the submit button of the converter will immediately display the matching temperature on the scale desired.

While most English speaking countries still use the Fahrenheit scale for measuring temperature, the current trend is that more and more countries are switching over the Celsius system as a means to measure temperatures, which means that especially for residents of the United States and to a lesser extend the United Kingdom, conversions from Fahrenheit to Celsius and the other way around are becoming more and more common, which makes the ability to convert these temperatures a necessity, in order to be able to measure the correct temperature for both scales.

Is there ever any sort of healthy co-existence between making money and preserving the environment? It is true that everybody always cares about money, but it does not mean that the environment has to suffer. Oftentimes, unfortunately it seems to be the case, but it does not have to be that way. One is not mutually exclusive of the other.

My point of contention is that we can combine the economic prosperity with the betterment of our environment?

I am going to illustrate my point with two examples that are very concurrent and relevant to understanding the current state of affairs in the U.S and learning from the mistakes of the not so distant past.

Death of the electric vehicle or GM kills the electric vehicle… Why?

Whose fault was it that GM was to busy worrying about the price of its stock, and making money by producing fuel hungry cars and SUVs, and suing the state of California, while Toyota and Honda were developing energy efficient hybrids vehicles.

And what happened when the electric vehicle program, although expensive at the time proved to be a success? What did GM do? They decided to kill the electric vehicle program altogether, although there were many people willing to buy those electric cars in the state of California. That was wrong on the part of GM, and displays a clear lock of corporate social responsibility. Not to mention, their greed and obsession with price of the stock is responsible for the current state of affairs of auto-making industry in the U.S today. I am not even going to mention their current stock situation, and the governmental bailouts that we are paying for?

So what was it, excessive corporate greed, lack of foresight, or a little bit of both?

Now GM is losing all the money because of its greed and lack of foresight, in the past. Toyota and Honda on the other hand, are ripping the benefits for investing and building the hybrid vehicles. Toyota and Honda are making money, but also helping the environment by propagating the idea of clean air, ultra low emissions, reduced carbon footprint, low fuel consumption and energy efficiency. It is a win win example of money working to better the environment.

Connection between crude oil, environment and our roofs.

It is not just about ultra low emission cars. In fact, it is about something as mundane as residential building materials that go into the houses we live in. For instance, asphalt shingle roofs are petroleum based products that are heavily marketed by money hungry asphalt shingle roofing manufacturers. Asphalt shingle roof averages a lifespan of only 17 years, then comes the inevitable demise when it gets torn off and dumped into our landfills.

So what is the alternative you may ask, or is there any alternative? Yes there is, and it has been here all along!

Using the types of roofing materials that are environmentally friendly. Tamko a heavy weight asphalt shingle roofing manufacturer has made a switch by purchasing Metal Works metal shingles roofing manufacturer that makes Metal roofing that is an energy efficient and environmentally safe building material. Metal roofing is fully recyclable, and lasts three times as long as asphalt shingle roofs.

Certainteed roofing, another heavy weight of the roofing industry, on the other hand keeps pushing its line of asphalt shingle roofing products despite the fact that they are bad for the environment. And who is there to rebuke them? Who is doing public education and spreading sustainable building awareness?

The U.S green building council is the responsible body for promoting green building practices, but how come their scope of influence so limited? Why do not we hear more about it? What about EPA, and Energy Star? Why are not they doing public education campaigns to influence the corporate giants? Somebody has to do it. A lot of it is about awareness, and PR pressures, so spread the awareness, do not buy asphalt shingle roofs, nor fuel hungry SUVs. Think green and act upon it!  Somebody’s quote comes to mind here… Yes we can! …. So can we?

Written by Aleksandr Biyevetskiy

Why even consider metal roofing in the first place?

Before we look at pros and cons of metal roofing, let’s first figure out what is wrong with roofing shingles…

The problem with asphalt shingles roofing is that it is a petroleum based product, which means that it is inherently ecologically and environmentally unfriendly choice. There is no easy and effective way to dispose off all the asphalt shingle roofs that require replacement other than to tear off the old shingles, and send it into the landfill where it will be buried in the ground and left there to decompose for many decades to come.

Petroleum based Products should be Eliminated as much as possible, not recycled.

One does not need to be a hardcore environmentalist to see how detrimental asphalt shingles roofing products are to the nature and the environment. So, the big question comes up, what is an environmentally friendly and practical roofing alternative to an asphalt shingle roof? The answer is simple, for the last few years metal roofing has been gaining market share and popularity as a green roofing material of choice.

Metal roofing can last much longer than an asphalt shingle roof, which only averages 10 to 20 years of service life. Metal roofing on the other hand, can last well over 35 years when properly installed.
The key to a long lasting metal roof is strict adherence to the metal roofing manufacturers installation guidelines.

Metal Roofing Installation Video

Installing metal roofing correctly involves preparation of the roof deck, proper application of roofing underlayment, and correct installation of metal roofing system. Whether or not you hire a professional metal roofing contractor, or choose to go do it yourself way, be sure to follow the installation instructions thoroughly. This way your metal roof will last for decades providing energy savings, maintenance free roof protection, and durable and long lasting beauty.

Here are a few reasons to consider metal roofing for your home

Metal roofing is reliable and long lasting green building material, which means that you can earn green building credits for the installation of the energy efficient metal roof that is rated by Cool-Roof council and by Energy Star for its solar reflective properties.

Metal roofing can help lower your homeowner’s insurance by as much as 35%. Metal roofs are fire retardant, which means they do not support fire, which can be a significant factor if you live in a heavily wooded area. Metal roofs can withstand powerful storms and category four hurricane winds. This may be very helpful if you live in a hurricane prone area.

Metal roofs provide excellent protection in the cold climates. Coated with specialty coatings, metal roofs shed snow and ice, which may help you prevent ice dams from forming on your roof.

As far as aesthetics go, modern metal roofs may add a unique touch of modern architecture to your home. You can choose from than traditional metal shingles and shakes profiles available in beautiful metal roofing colors, to the vertically oriented lines of standing-seam metal roofing panels that can easily be enhanced with roof integrated solar roofing panels. This combination will make your house not only energy efficient, but also capable of generating electricity from the sun.

Do not let the initially higher metal roofing costs to deter you from considering installing metal roofing for your home. Metal roofing will help you lower your cooling costs, appraise the value of your property, and provide many years of reliable and worry free service to you.

So, your old asphalt shingles roof is leaking again and you want to find a good replacement that won’t leave you drenched from roof leaks. Metal roofing is a green roof alternative that is energy efficient, environmentally safe, and can last for well over half a century.

Unfortunately, and all too often, our good old cheap asphalt roofs fails on us when we least expect it! And we used to think that, it could never happen to us… I have been in those shoes myself!

Let’s face it, a roof that is leaking is not a kind or problem that can be ignored. A leaky roof could cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home, and the sooner you take care of your roofing problem, the better off you will be. I know this is not the most exciting moment of your life, but you will have to make some decisions as to what roofing materials you will choose for your house. There are many different roofing options available, and I am going to suggest that asphalt roof is not the option you will want to pick, because they are becoming obsolete. Yes, I said obsolete!

Like it or not, but we live in the 21st century and it seems as though the good old cheap asphalt roof no longer cuts it. Unless, of course, you plan to sell your house in a few years and move out so that the new owner will get stock with the inferior roof. It is estimated that an average lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof is only 15 years. Add a few years in a temperate / good climate, and subtract a few years for Northern and extreme Southern climate such as Florida, Arizona, and Texas. This is not a very lucrative option to know that your roof is bound to fail and you will have to spend your money on re roofing your home all over again. So what is the solution you may ask…

In the last decade, there has been a quite sizable increase in the popularity of metal roofing installations, and I am not talking about the old barn style naked roof that makes the rain drops sound like a machine gun rattle. No, that is not the case, and in fact, modern metal roofing choices have become very sophisticated. They come in a variety of metal roofing colors from white snow to Vermont slate blue, and shapes that will blow your mind. For example, there are metal roofs that look just like wooden shake with unique texture and coloring. If you like the look of slate roofing, then you can get a metal roof that looks like slates.

Whatever your style and color preferences are, metal roofing seems to provide a solution to satisfy those unique needs and desires, from red Spanish tile – stone coated steel roof, to  aluminum shakes reminiscent of traditional Cedar Shakes. But, here is the best part, unlike asphalt roofing that is bound to fail soon, quality metal roofing installations are known to last as long as 100 years. As for the material manufacturer warranty, many modern metal roofing products come with up to 50 years non-prorated warranty.

And by the way, metal roofing can save as much as 25% on the air-conditioning costs. If you choose a white colored, sun reflective metal roof, than your energy savings could be as high as 50%. And did I mention, there is also a 2010 $1500 tax credit available from the government if buy a metal roof.

Finally, as far as cost goes; metal roofing prices, may initially seem as high vs asphalt shingle roofing, but if you stay in your house long enough it will more than pay for itself. Best of luck with your roofing project.

Original Metal Roofing Articles source:

21st Century Roofing Technology

Normally, to convert a temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit and backwards, you would use instant online  converter that performs instant conversions for various temperatures scales.

Unfortunately, the luxury of having access to online temperature converter is not always feasible. You can learn how to easily convert the temperature by using a simple formula.  We will also cover a modified / simplified formula that is easy to remember.

Thus, if you would like to convert 80°Fahrenheit to the temperature in degrees Celsius, you’ll have to use the following formula:

(° F – 32) / 1.8. For instance, (80° F – 32) / 1.8 = ° C

(80° F – 32) / 1.8 = ° C = 26.6° C

You can actually simplify this temperature conversion formula by replacing 1.8 with 2. Of course, your results will be slightly different, but only slightly. This is a convenient approximation and gives you a ball park conversion of temperature. For instance, by going back to the example above, you will find that

(80° F – 32) / 2 = 24° C , which is pretty close to 26.6 degree Celsius.

So just remember to subtract 32 and divide the results by two to get an approximate result in the temperature of different scale.

If you would like to convert a temperature in degree Celsius back into Fahrenheit, then just reverse the order. For instance if you would like to convert 31° Celsius in Paris to approximate temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, you would, then 31 times 2, and add 32.

You will get 31 X 2 + 32 = 96 degrees Fahrenheit. This is approximated result of temperature conversion done using simplified formula of multiplying by two and adding 32.

The more precise results would be slightly less than 96° F, because we would multiply 31 by 1.8 instead of 2, which would give us;

55.8 + 32 = 87.8 Vs. approximated 31 * 2 + 32 = 96
Hopefully this simplified way of converting temperature will help you to perform quick, and relatively precise conversions from one scale to another, wherever you are.

Have you ever considered getting a rainwater collection system for
your home? A standing-seam metal roof with its smooth surface provides
an ideal platform for harvesting rainwater using a sloped metal roof.
Englert Inc. a metal roofing and leafless gutter manufacturing
company committed to the environmental cause is now offering a 3 in 1
fully integrated standing seam metal roofing system combined with a
leafless gutter, and enhanced with a rainwater collection system that
collects rainwater for non-potable use.

The way that the rainwater collection system works is very simple; It
starts with the rainwater running down the slope of a standing seam metal
roofing system. Once the water gets into the gutter system, it flows down
the drain until it reaches the connecting point to a water storage
tank. It than flows through an initial filter that removes large
debris like leaves and twigs.

The rainwater is then collected in a water storage tank. Englert Inc.
offers the following water collection tank capacities: 225 gallons,
400 gallons, and 1700 gallons. Custom water collection systems can be
ordered as well for commercial, and institutional use.

Once in the water storage tank, the harvested rainwater passes through
more filters to remove any debris from it. The collected water is
then available for use through the use of a controller providing
pressurized water supply for use such as landscape irrigation, toilet
flushing and laundry needs.

Water is a finite commodity that needs to be preserved. The water
collected from rain is water saved. That is the water you do not have
to pay for. It’s good for you and it’s good for the environment.
Water collection system may be a good solution for the areas where the
water is scarce.

Areas that are prone to flooding can also benefit from the water
collection systems.

Architects and builders working on building green homes can integrate
an environmentally correct standing-seam
metal roofing system with a water collection system.

If you’re a homeowner considering investing in an Energy Star rated,
and a green building accredited standing-seam metal roof coupled with
the Englert leafless gutter system, and water collection system, then
contact Englert Inc. and they will put you in touch with a local
roofing company.

If you are considering several green roofing options, then a
comprehensive overview of seven popular roofing
materials will offer some great tips and information on pros and
cons of major roofs.

Although corrugated steel roofing dates back to the 19th century, it was not until the 1930s that a first aesthetically pleasing and durable standing-seam metal roof has been manufactured in the United States. Nowadays, standing-seam metal roofs are being manufactured by many prominent metal roofing manufacturers who have been producing metal wall and metal roof panels for industrial, commercial and residential markets for a long time.

Most metal roofing manufacturers sell their products for the distributors such as beacon sales and ABC Supply. If you’re working with a metal roofing contractor, or a sheet metal shop, then they can order a custom standing-seam metal roofing system for you. You can select from either Kynar coated aluminum or a 24 gauge galvalume steel panels for your standing-seam metal roof. Most sheet roofing panels are available in 12, 16 and 19 inches wide panels.

There are two types of standing-seam metal roofs; architectural and structural. The architectural standing seam metal roof is intended for residential and light commercial applications. It requires solid substrate that is at least ½ inch. Structural standing-seam metal roofing panels are used for commercial and industrial applications. They do not require a solid substrate and can be installed over the metal frame.
Most architectural standing-seam metal roofing panels require a minimum of 3 to 12 roof pitch and a roof underlayment in place.

While a steel standing-seam metal roof costs less than an aluminum one and is appropriate for use in most areas, you will want to use the aluminum panels if you live near the coast or in the place with a high concentration of salt in the environment.

Most standing-seam metal roofing panels average in cost from $400 to $500 per square of roofing material plus the necessary trim. You may reduce the material costs when your standing-seam metal roof is formed in the field rather than in the metal shop. If you’re roof is relatively large in size, then it will also bring down your costs.

Metal shingles roof is a less expensive alternative. Metal shingles are pre-manufactured in standard size panels, which reduces its cost. While some metal shingles roofs are available from dealers only, there are others systems that anybody can buy through a roofing supplier. Metal shingles roof is appropriate for homes where the traditional look of shingle is preferred.

Although, metal roofs costs more than asphalt shingles, it may be worth it to pay higher metal roofing prices for a system that will provide many years of reliable service and energy savings.

LED lighting isn’t new. In fact, it has been around for decades. LED stands for light emitting diode and until recently, were only used for specialty purposes such as indicator lamps, traffic signals, and exit signs. Over the years, changes have been made to the technology, making it an efficient replacement to incandescent and fluorescent lighting in the residential arena as well.

Light output of an LED lamp is considerably smaller than an incandescent bulb, but can be grouped together to improve the output, and high power LEDs are now available to completely replace the use of incandescent and fluorescent. Since LED uses DC electric power instead of AC, the lamps are equipped with conversion circuits. LED lights also require a driver, which is like a ballast for fluorescent lighting. Most are built into the light. Unlike fluorescent ballasts, the driver for the LED light will not interfere with television or radio signals.

LED lights have many advantages over incandescent and fluorescent. The singular directional output of light from an LED lamp make them a good choice for strip lighting, reading light, ceiling light, artwork lighting, and path lighting. Durable LED lighting comes in a waterproof variety as well, making them a nice choice for outdoor use in gardens and on patios. LED doesn’t attract bugs either! They can handle more wear and tear than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs as they can deal with vibration and they don’t mind being turned off and on repeatedly.

LED lights are sturdy, but they are also sensitive to heat, so the lamps typically include heat sink or some type of cooling mechanism, so be mindful of where you will be using the LED bulbs to ensure they do not become overheated. Using LED in an excessively warm spot can decrease the bulb’s lifespan. On a positive note, they don’t emit heat as incandescent bulbs do. Incandescent bulbs emit about 98% of their energy as heat. Another benefit to LED lighting is that they do not contain any mercury, which means they are non-toxic.

Unlike fluorescent, LED lights do not flicker. LED lights last a long time and unlike other light bulbs, they do not burn out, but rather dim over time. In areas where it is difficult to change the bulb, LED makes sense, as you will not have to replace them nearly as often as their counterparts.

The cost of LED lighting is initially more expensive than other lighting options. As demand grows, the LED lighting manufacturers will produce more and the price will decrease. In addition, there are not a lot of lighting fixtures made for LED lamps. There are retrofit LED bulbs for use in traditional light fixtures, but they are costly. Because LED lasts longer than other types of bulbs, the initial cost can eventually catch up with the cost and operation of incandescent and fluorescent.

The low energy use makes LED lighting an environmentally wise choice and the long life of somewhere between 25 to 30 years, or roughly 40,000 hours of typical operation. When used in warmer climates, LED lamps can reduce the cost of cooling since they do not emit any heat, but when used in cooler climates there is no noticeable change.

Many pilot projects around the world are using LED lighting in different types of applications to increase public knowledge and interest. There are studies that have shown LED bulb manufacturers sometimes overstate the efficiency of their products, but overall, LED technology is a viable replacement for incandescent and fluorescent lighting. In fact, LED lamps last so long and save so much energy, it’s hard to imagine how the manufacturers will get any repeat business!

Resources:

Lighting Directory

What is geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a sustainable source of renewable energy that can be extracted from the heat derived from the earth. The natural heat of the earth creates geothermal energy that can be used by geothermal power plants to create electricity. The geothermal heat comes from molten rock called magma located at the earth core, deep below the geothermal resource.

As the rain water seeps through the cracks in the earth surface over hundreds and thousands of years, it accumulates and collects into underground water reservoirs forming underground springs and bodies of water. The magma heats this underground water until it becomes a super-heated fluid. These super-heated fluid reservoirs and springs exist all over the world. To reach the super-heated fluid wells are drilled 5000 – 10000 feet below the surface of the earth. These wells called production wells bring the superheated fluid to the earth surface where it can be used to generate electricity for homes and businesses.

The superheated fluid flows up the production wells under its own pressure, this is an essentially important aspect, because it requires no energy to bring the superheated fluid up to the surface. The steam is then obtained from the superheated fluid, and delivered to the steam turbines that spin under the pressure and force of the steam. The steam turbines rotate the shaft of the electrical generator which produces electricity that is then delivered to the homes and businesses.

Ground Source heating and Cooling

Many people often call it geothermal heating and cooling, but this is not correct because there is no geothermal energy that is being derived from the depth of the earth. What it is a just a ground source heat that is stored underground. This heat is not generated by the earth, but rather it is the heat that is absorbed by the surface of the earth from the sun.

Still it is often referred to as Geothermal heating and cooling, but in reality it is just a ground source heating and cooling. This residential application is also commonly referred to as a ground source heat pump. Ground source heat technology uses ground temperature to increase the efficiency of the home heating and cooling systems and to lower the cost of operation. A geothermal heat pump transfers heat from the heat collector in the ground through the insulated pipes to the thermal storage collector in our home. This heat is then distributed to our home heating systems, baseboards, and floor heating.

The operation of the ground source heat pump requires electricity, but it only requires 1 unit of the electricity for every 4 units of heat generated. Thus, the ground source heat is very cost effective, and efficient in terms of energy expanded and the heat obtained. The principle of cost effectiveness comes from the fact that ground temperatures are always more stable than air temperatures, so the exchange of heat with the ground is more efficient.

How does Ground source Heat Pump work?

Once again, it must be stated that the ground source heat pump is not the same as the geothermal energy. It does not use the super heated underground fluid that is used to power geothermal power plants. The ground source heat works in a very simple way. In a typical system, the ground source horizontal heat collector, which is a network of pipes forming a continuous loop are laid out one meter below the earth surface. The warmth obtained from the heat collectors gets transferred by means of ground source heat pump that uses insulated pipes to deliver warm fluid inside the thermal storage collection inside the house. This heat is then available to heat the home.

There are also vertically oriented trench collectors, and bore drill up to 200 meters heat collection methods for homes with limited ground area. a Typical home will require about two and half times floor space ground area for the horizontal collectors. Less ground area is needed for trench or, bore heat collection method.

Benefits of using ground source heat pump

Air pollution is also reduced when using a ground source heat pump. According to the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), geothermal heating and cooling systems are clean as well as energy and cost efficient. Ground source heat pumps themselves produce no emissions, but unless the electricity is from renewable resources, the electricity source normally does.

Greenhouse gas emissions are less than most other options of heating and cooling; natural gas is the only one that might be in the same league if the local electric supply is environmentally friendly. One of the downsides to the eco-responsible geothermal heat pump used to be the use of ozone depleting refrigerant. Ozone-friendly refrigerant is replacing the old type of refrigerant.

Ground source heat pumps work by taking ground heat out of the ground in the winter and putting heat into the ground during the summer. Geothermal heating and cooling systems can be designed to work as a singular heating or cooling system depending upon the climate of the area.

The difference in efficiency when compared to an air-source heat pumps is dramatic. A ground source can reach an efficiency of up to 600% in contrast to the air-source, which can only reach up to 250% efficiency.

The initial cost of a ground source heat pump is more than other types of heating and cooling systems, but the return on investment is usually seen within the first 10 years of service. Most ground source heat pumps will last 25 years or more. Geothermal heating and cooling options such as the ground source heat pump work will with radiator heating and under-floor systems and are, therefore, good for open interior spaces found in offices and such.

Installing a ground source heat pump system will call for a licensed professional. Technical knowledge of the system is essential as well as the skill at designing a properly sized system that will provide for adequate heating and cooling benefits. Ask for references while shopping for a reputable company. Dealers and installers should be more than willing to discuss their qualifications with you to make sure you are comfortable.

A common concern is whether or not the underground loop of a ground source heat pump will damage the lawn or landscaping. While there might be a few bare areas from the digging of small trenches might occur, there is no lasting damage from the installation or operation of geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Be sure to get an inclusive estimate of installation cost as you will not only be paying for the system, but also the electrical work, water hook-up and duct work necessary to install all of the components. While every job is different, it is typical for the installation of this type of system to take about two days. There are tax credits associated with geothermal heat pumps and some utility companies will even offer a rebate to customers who purchase a ground source heat pump.

Resources:

Learn more about geothermal energy applications.

Learn How geothermal heating and cooling works

Related Posts and Alternative Energy Resources:

Alternative Energy Guide

Alternative Energy Directory

The technology dealing with Energy Storage materials and devices such as advanced electric batteries, supper capacitors and hydrogen fuel cells.

Many world conflicts and tensions are the results of competition for finite resources. Fossil fuels and Oil are the primary sources of energy and the U.S. and in the world in general.

From the geopolitical standpoint, the United States have become increasingly dependent on the use of foreign oil, which is not only bad for the environment, but also threatens our National Security.

The development of Energy Storage Materials Technology could eventually reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help us make a transition towards using electric batteries, supper capacitors and hydrogen fuel cells as energy sources for automobiles, buses, trains, and transportation system in general.

Integrating Energy Storage Materials Technology would strengthen are military by allowing our military vehicles, and weaponry technology devices to operate in a more remote areas with decreased dependence on fuel sources.

The use of super capacitors could also lead to the development of new and improved military weaponry systems.

The advanced electric batteries could make our electric vehicles run further and faster, and help protect the environment by reducing the carbon for print.

The use of hydrogen fuel cells could reduce / and eventually diminish the need to use petroleum products to operate cars, buses, trucks and trains.

The hydrogen fuel cell research is well underway and there is some possibility of developing a technology that would allow split the water molecules to obtain hydrogen in an energy efficient way.

If these technologies are developed and implemented in the near future, then the U.S. will not only benefit in terms off geopolitical independence, but could also assume the leadership in providing this technologies to the rapidly developing countries of Brazil, China, India and Russia.

Although it’s hard to make any sort of accurate prediction as to how the development of these technology will progress, it is clear that it could benefit the U.S. and many other industrialized nations in the world as well as have a positive impact on the world climate.

Countries of the European Union, and Japan are also engaged in the rapid development of Energy Storage Materials. Toyota motor company, a Japanese auto manufacturing Company is planning to introduce a hydrogen fuel cell car by 2015. This a new development from Toyota concept cars that has made its debut during the negative publicity of Toyota Prius Hybrid Vehicle.

Many companies are engaged in the development of advanced batteries that could store a significant amount of Electric Energy to make these batteries viable as a source of energy for the electric vehicles.

Solar Energy, Wind Turbine Farms, and geothermal energy technologies are also being developed, which will help further reduce the dependence on foreign oil, and help the conservation effort. Further development of these technologies and their implementation with green buildings, and energy production plants could mark a gradual shift from fossil fuels to alternative and renewable energy sources.

Biofuels have the potential to lead to a near-term paradigm shift from the use of crude oil and petroleum products to a crop-grown biofuels as a source of energy.

Biofuels refer to a wide range of fuels derived from organic materials such as grass and wood (cellulosic biomass), and crops such as sugar cane, corn, starch crops (potato and fruit waste), soybeans, vegetable oils, bio-gases e.t.c. These organic based alternative energy material sources are referred to as biomass.

The term biomass can be defined as a source of alternative energy that can be used for the production of biofuels such as ethanol fuel, and biodiesel using the conventional technology.

There is a significant public and scientific interest in advancing the biofuel production technology, driven by the factors such as rapidly rising prices of crude oil, the need for increased Energy Security (lessen the dependence on the use of foreign oil), and increased concerns over greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels.

Ethanol fuel is the most widely used biofuel in the world. It is widely integrated as a transportation fuel in Brazil. Ethanol fuel, like many other biofuels, is made from biodegradable materials and products, which makes it an environmentally safe alternative to fossil fuels.

If the United States invests its resources into the development of the cost effective ethanol fuel production technologies, then it could decrease its dependence on the use of foreign oil, strengthen its national energy security, decrease a chance of conflict due to crude oil shortages, and reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.

The United States is already involved in a marginal production and use of ethanol fuel as the alternative to gasoline. A wider integration of ethanol fuel is quite plausible if it receives some solid governmental support. There is a good chance of resistance from corporate oil giants.

There is also another promising biofuel technology called Algae fuel also known as oilgae. Based on laboratory experiments, it is claimed that algae can produce up to 30 times more energy per acre than land crops such as soybeans. If this technology becomes commercially integrated, then the United States could fulfill and replace its petroleum needs by allocating the amount of land that is roughly equivalent to the size of Maryland for algaculture (farming algae).

Prediction:

My prediction is that biofuel energy sources will continue to be further developed in the U.S, but not enough to make the U.S. Independent on the use of foreign oil by 2025. It is highly unlikely that the U.S. we’ll actually be able to fully integrate the use of biofuels as the alternative energy source of energy mainly due to the resistance and vested interest in the continuation of petroleum use by the corporate oil giants.

In the United States, coal which is primarily used for electricity generation is the second largest contributor of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming, and sulfur dioxide responsible for causing acid rains.

Clean coal technology aims to reduce the environmental impact of coal energy generation by making the coal burn clean.

The importance of clean coal technology is that it could greatly reduce the US dependence on the use of foreign oil thereby providing energy security, and making a positive environmental impact.

If clean burning coal were to become a primary and environmentally clean source for generating electricity, then this technology could be combined with energy storage materials such as high capacity batteries that could be used in the electric vehicles, and other industries.

Although, there is a clean burning coal testing plant that was built in Germany in 2008 by the Swedish firm, it is not clear how economically feasible this technology is today. Another implication is that there is no clear way to dispose off carbon dioxide that is collected from the use of clean coal burning technology.

If the clean coal burning technology does not reach the level of economic feasibility, then there will be a potential for great disruptions due to the limited amounts of crude oil. There’s also a risk that countries that have a lot of coal to burn continue doing so without addressing the problem of greenhouse gas emissions.

Research and development to overcome CCS challenges

The biggest challenge in the clean coal burning technology lies in carbon dioxide capture and storage process (CCS). There are three principal ways to capture CO2 produced in power plants: Oxyfuel combustion, post-combustion and precombustion. There is currently a test plant in operation built by vattenfall in Germany. The tests are performed to evaluate the technology of Oxyfuel combustion before building a larger scale demonstration plant.

Prediction:

It seems likely that there will be more clean burning coal plants built and implemented throughout the world and potentially in the U.S through the governmental push, but it is hard to say if this technology will actually reach the level of economic feasibility, and if a solution can be found to dispose of the collected carbon dioxide gases.

My prediction is that clean burning coal technology may become more advanced, but I do not believe that that will be fully integrated as a viable source of clean electricity generation by 2025. Yet, I think that scientific advances made during this period will make this technology more feasible in the future. Further, just as the ongoing research and development can potentially make clean coal burning technology more feasible in the future, so will the advances in the wind farms, geothermal energy, solar technology, and nuclear power generation.

Other Alternatives to Hedge against potential Coal Technology Failure:

I think wind farms in particular have a strong potential to become a viable source of alternative energy. My belief is supported by the fact that wind power has become the second largest source of alternative energy after biomass derived energy in the United Kingdom. There is no reason why this technology could not become more integrated in the United States.

Also, I believe that nuclear power plants which accounted for 19.6% of the total electric energy consumption in the U.S in 2008, will become even more integrated thereby providing a solid hedge in case the clean coal technology never reaches the level of economic feasibility.

References:

http://www.newenglandmetalroof.com/construction_directory/alternative-energy.html

Are you confused about the difference of Tin Roofing Vs. metal?

Some metal roofs are still referred to as tin roofing. The term dates back to the period of time when roofers used tin sheets to handcraft and install tin roofing panels that looked similar to modern standing seam panels. Back then, a roof that was made purely out of tin, would require a special coating applied to the surface of the roof every few years in order to prevent corrosion.

If the special tin coating was not being re-applied every few years, then the tin would begin to deteriorate and ultimately become corroded with rust. Nowadays, pure tin is no longer used for roofing applications. Galvanized steel, and galvalume steel became synonymous with what was previously referred to as a tin roof. Steel roofs coated with a layer of zinc and aluminum provide a reliable solution for residential and commercial roofs that have a slope.

Modern steel roof is designed to last for a minimum of 35 years, which is at least a double the amount of lifespan you would ordinarily get from an asphalt shingle roof. A rise in popularity of metal roofing has given consumers a wide variety of choices in terms of colors, and styles of metal roofs.

Consumers find that modern metal roofs coated with a Kynar paint can provide energy savings of up to 35%. Consumers in the southern region of the United States report the greatest gains in terms of energy efficiency, and a far superior longevity of the metal vs. asphalt. Consumers in the north of the U.S. benefit from strength and durability of metal which performs far better than asphalt shingles in places with heavy snowfall. A specially coated metal roof helps prevent the heavy accumulation of snow on top of the roof, which causes the snow to slide off the roof before it has the chance to form an ice dam.

Architectural standing-seam roofing panels have become a most popular choice for residential metal roofing. Standing-seam panels are usually made out of galvalume steel, which provides excellent degree of protection and long lasting performance. Thin film photovoltaic solar laminates have been designed to be integrated with standing-seam metal roofing panels.

Thus, homeowners who want to take the energy efficiency of their home to the next level can choose to outfit their home with solar roofing panels that can be seamlessly integrated with a standing-seam roof system. The U.S. government has provided tax credit incentives to homeowners who choose to invest in a cool roof systems such as energy star rated metal roof in year 2010.

Additional federal and state solar energy rebates are also available to the building owners who invest in solar roofing panels for the purposes of generating electricity for their home, or commercial building.

The original roofs made out of tin, are no longer being installed in the U.S, at least not by the majority of roofers. However, a more durable and longer lasting type of metal that is still sometimes referred to as tin roofing systems, which is really made out of zinc and aluminum coated steel, can now prove to be a superb energy efficient alternative to the old fashioned tin roofs that used to be installed by handy craftsmen in the 19th and early 20th century.

Edward Stern is a guest writer for Online Universities and online courses

In-spite all the rage amongst eco-friendly architects, solar panels have become increasingly more popular with the average homeowner over the last decade. In the past, solar panels have often been used to make a statement of innovation and sustainability for an organization to which it mattered, rather than being a true utilitarian measure employed for obtaining a cost-effective electricity in a clean and sustainable way.

Nowadays, we are witnessing a turn around trend, and with solar panels becoming more affordable, we are starting to see far more companies and individuals investing in solar panels for their private uses. This change is by and large motivated by the actual cost savings that individuals and companies can derive through the use of solar panels that generate electricity.

How do Solar Panels work?

The solar panels can often be mounted on top of the roof of a building, where they are angled towards the sun so that they can get the maximum exposure to collect solar UV rays and transform the solar energy into electricity. Here is how the process works; Solar energy gets collected by the Solar panels that generate electricity, which passes through the inverter after which it can be used to power home appliances, and supply electricity for the building. The excess electricity can be stored in the accumulator type batteries, or it can be sold back to the Electric grid for electric credits.

Why are solar panels considered sustainable and green form of energy?

Solar panels generate electricity from solar energy, which constitutes a sustainable energy source, one that is carbon and emissions free. Thus, electricity derived through harnessing of solar energy is considered green and environmentally friendly.

Do solar panels require direct sunlight?

One common misconception of solar panels – that you need direct sunlight, and lots of it, to collect enough energy to make the investment worth it. The simple answer: absolutely not. Solar panels are not just for the sunny states, and work almost anywhere in the United States, even in the typically windy, gloomy cities of the Midwest. Solar energy involves UV rays much more than actual sunlight, and these rays are transmitted and captured even on cloudy days. With further technological advancements, solar panels should have no problem collecting solar UV rays and generating electricity even when it is cloudy, rainy, or cold.

Homeowners in the Midwest and North East need not cite a lack of sunlight outside of summer as a reason not to invest in solar panels. Another reason to consider investing in solar panels is the fact that they are rapidly becoming much more cost effective, and worth a long-term investment due to rapidly improving technology.

In the 1980s, the cost of capturing energy from the Sun was about $100 per watt, or literally one hundred times more expensive than the going rate of electricity. By the 1999, technology had reduced that figure to $4 per watt, and it has been declining steadily since, at an average rate of 5% a year.

Using solar panel derived electricity, can help reduce your regular electricity bill. In order for solar panels to pay for themselves, they need to be in operation for some 10-15 years, while solar hot water panels require some 8 to 12 of operation to cover the initial cost of investment. Thus solar panels are a long-term investment, which can be a great opportunity for the homeowners not looking to change their place of residence anytime soon. Over time, solar panels can really prove to be a solid investment in your home, and a cool one too.

Warranty

Most solar panels come with a 20-25 year warranty, so you will see a return on your investment before they needs to be replaced again.

Solar Incentives and State rebates

Many states, especially California, are investing heavily in solar energy and see it as a means to harness sustainable, and affordable energy. Currently, some 35 US states offer rebates for home and small business owners who invest in solar panels, which helps make them even more cost effective. The government also provides tax breaks and other benefits for those who want to use solar energy and other types of alternative energy sources for their home or business.

Solar energy is the way of the future, but it can also be an affordable and solid investment today. You do not have to live in a sunny state to reap the benefits of solar energy. Solar UV rays can be harvested in gloomier states, and still provide a significant benefit to the environment, and to your utility bill.

Joy Paley is a science and technology writer based in Berkeley, California. Check out her musings as a guest writer for online college degrees or as a writer for Online Schools.

There’s no place near the “normal” American home that doesn’t reek of conspicuous consumption, and our backyards are certainly no exception. As post-WWII suburbs sprawled across the nation, so did the idea that a happy home was one in which the front and back yards were covered in emerald green turf. Not only does keeping a carefully maintained lawn use up an incredible amount of water (and money!), it also keeps rainwater from making its way through the soil to the ground-water, and causes pesticides and fertilizers to flow into nearby streams and rivers. Here are a few tips to green up your backyard and save a little dough in the process.

With no further delay, here are 6 easy ways to make your backyard more eco-friendly!

1 – Get Rid of the Lawn

What is the alternative to a cushioning green pillow extending from your doorstep to the curb? How about a garden of native shrubs, flowers, and trees? It’ll need to be watered and troubled over much less than a lawn, while allowing water to percolate through the soil, and it will also help attract native wildlife.

2 – Collect Rainwater

Having the sprinklers or the hose running all the time zaps money from your pocket and uses up precious resources. Consider putting barrels in your yard, or under your gutters to catch rainwater to be used for watering your plants, instead.

3 – Mulch Those Plants

Even if you get rid of your water-sucking exotic plants and make the switch to native species, you can still preserve energy by mulching around what you do have. Mulching keeps the sun from sucking up water out of the soil.

4 – Compost

Composting is a low-cost way to generate nutritious soil for your garden and cut down on the amount of household waste you send to a landfill. A tumbler or regular barrel is a great way to start. Check out this Cornell University website for the basics of composting.

5 – Use Earth Friendly Yard Products

Most people maintain their yards to actively enjoy them, by picnicking, letting their kids play outside, etc. But would you really want your kids playing on a lawn that had been cared for with toxic pesticides and fertilizers? Check out organic lawn care options that are safer and easier on mother nature.

6 – Upgrade Your Mower

Some old gas lawnmowers emit an incredible amount of pollution. Switching to a push mower is best, as they use less energy than ride-alongs. If you can’t stand the idea of pushing a mower across your lawn, an electric ride-along is your next best bet.

This eco-friendly “no mow” lawn made of native grasses and plants is more attractive than any suburban turf I’ve ever seen!

Home and Garden Resources

Home and Garden Directory

Landscaping Directory

The combination of cold winter weather and the heat escaping through the roof of a building can result in an ice dam. If an ice dam forms on your home it can cause serious problems, so it is important to learn how to prevent these ice formations if you live in an area that experiences snow and ice during the winter.

What Is An Ice Dam?

Ice dams are ridges of ice that form along the edges of a roof when snow has melted and then refrozen. Water can then build up behind this ice dam as more of the snow melts. If enough water builds up, it can seep between the roof shingles and cause damage inside your home.

Ice dams can occur when snow builds up on a roof. Normally, the snow will remain frozen until the weather begins to improve. As the temperature rises, the snow will either evaporate harmlessly into the air or melt and run away into the gutters, leaving the roof unharmed. However, under certain conditions, the snow can melt and refreeze. This can cause problems.

If the heat is rising up into your attic and escaping through the roof, it can melt the snow, particularly at the apex. Hot air rises, so it will heat the highest parts, in the roof’s center more than the edges. The melted snow runs down towards the cooler roof edges, where it refreezes into ice. This ice can accumulate along the roof edges, forming an ice dam, behind which water will accumulate as more snow melts. Once the ice dam has reached a certain height and enough melted snow has built up behind it, water can begin to leak through the roof shingles.

Causes and Effects

Ice dams are most likely to occur during extended periods of cold weather, when there is a lot of snow and ice. This means that ice dams are more likely to occur in some areas than in others, although it is important not to ignore the problem just because you have experienced a series of mild winters. If cold weather is likely to occur at some point in the future, you should make sure that your home is protected against the snow and ice. Spending money on prevention now could protect you against serious damage and repair costs for many years to come.

Other factors can also affect the likelihood that an ice dam will develop on your roof. Poorly insulated or ventilated roofs are at a higher risk. Ice dams are more likely to cause problems on roofs with smaller slopes since it will take less ice to start blocking the path of the melted snow. Although an ice dam can sometimes extend into the gutters, the belief that guttering can cause ice dam formation is false.

It is the difference between the temperature outside your house and the temperature inside that causes the formation of an ice dam. If the temperature difference is reduced, by milder weather, or if the heat inside the house is prevented from rising up to the attic or affecting the roof, then an ice dam will not form. The attic needs to be warm enough to melt the snow on the roof, but the exterior temperature must be cold enough for the melted snow to refreeze as it reaches the roof’s edges.

You can usually see an ice dam forming. You may be able to locate the warmer parts on the roof as they may be completely clear of snow, while snow and ice are still lying on the roof’s cooler areas. Another common sign of an ice dam is the development of icicles along the roof’s edges. These icicles can grow very large.

An ice dam can cause extensive damage that can be very expensive to repair. When an ice dam results in a backup of melted snow that begins to seep through the roof, it can result in water damage, damp and mildew problems in your home.

How to Prevent Ice Dams

Keeping the roof cool to reduce the temperature difference between it and the air outside is the best way to prevent ice dam formation. This will prevent the snow from melting, leaving it to dissipate gradually as the temperature outside rises.

The two main ways in which you can prevent ice dams formation are by making a proper use of insulation and ventilation in your attic. Insulation can help reduce the amount of heat that rises up into your attic, which can prevent the snow from being melted. Ventilation helps to drive warm air out of the attic onto the street. Thus, having a well ventilated attic can help prevent the heat that does reach your attic from building up and causing a problem.

If you want to prevent ice dam formation, you should consider investing in laying some additional insulation in the attic. This can simply be laid on the attic floor or blown in, depending on the type of insulation you are using. You should not push the insulation into the corners where the roof and the attic floor meet, as this will result in the roof’s lower parts becoming colder than the rest of it, which will encourage the formation of ice dams. There is a limit to how much insulation you can use before the law of diminishing returns comes into effect. At a certain point, adding more insulation will not result in any appreciable benefits. As well as adding more insulation to the attic floor, you can add weatherstripping and insulation on the attic stairs or hatch.

If you have a furnace in your attic then it will be more difficult to prevent ice dams. However, you can still achieve an improvement using insulation. First, you will need to install some polystyrene air channels in the rafters. These will enable the flow of cold air up under the roof. You should then install insulation in the areas between the rafters, allowing enough space for air between it and the roof deck to prevent the formation of condensation. Insulation blankets or batts can then be installed over the heating ducts of the furnace to reduce the amount of heat escaping into the surrounding attic space.

Even if your attic has been well insulated, a certain amount of heat will still be able to enter it, from your furnace or the house below. If there is not enough ventilation, this heat will not be able to escape and it will gradually build up under the roof, where it can start to cause problems. Ideally, there should be approximately 1 square foot of vent per 150 square feet of attic space. However, if you have an older home, it can be difficult to accomplish this ratio. You can increase the ventilation in your attic by adding vents into the overhangs, adding a ridge vent along the roof peak, or converting small gable vents into larger ones. When you have both overhang and ridge vents, cold air can enter through the side vents, rise up through the attic, and exit through the ridge vent. This will help to keep the air circulating. An additional benefit of ventilation in the attic is that it will help to remove moisture as well as heat, which can help to prevent problems such as rot. If you cannot generate enough air movement using vents alone, then you may want to consider installing a motorized vent.

Heating cables mounted on the roof are another possible solution for ice dams. These cables are intended to create a path along which melted snow can flow to escape an ice dam. You need to turn the heating cables on in order to prevent ice dams from forming, but you cannot just leave them running as they will burn out. You will also need to have a source of energy, so you cannot rely on heating cables if you are in an area that is prone to blackouts. Another problem with heating cables is that if the ice dam forms above them, they cannot help.

Getting Rid Of an Ice Dam

Preventing ice dam formation will be an easier and longer term solution to the problem than removing ice after it has formed, but there are ways you can deal with an ice dam and repair the damage if you have failed to take preventative measures and you find an ice dam developing on your roof. However, this will not stop the problem from returning, so you will also need to take preventative measures in order to protect your home in the future.

If you suspect that an ice dam may be forming on your roof, there are a few simple techniques you can use to prevent it from becoming a serious problem. You can clear snow from your roof to help slow the formation of an ice dam. If ice is already forming, you can chisel grooves into it in order to allow the melted snow to drain away from behind the ice dam. This can be a good option in an emergency when you need to stop water leaking into your home. Another option is to fill a pair of old pantyhose with snow melt made from calcium chloride and then to lay this on the ice dam, which it will melt. You should avoid using rock salt as this could stain the roof. This technique is most effective with small ice dams.

If you are suffering from the effects of an ice dam, then you may need to perform some repairs on your house. The effects of an ice dam can be reduced by ensuring that your roof has been installed properly, as this will make it more difficult for water to seep through. If you have experienced leaks, due to ice dams or other weather conditions, then you should consider repairing or replacing your roof in order to stop the problems returning. Once water has found its way through your roof, it will be able to enter again, unless you block its path. If you live in an area that is prone to cold weather, then you should make sure that a roofing underlayment is installed across the entire roof. You should also ensure that high quality roofing shingles are used, with the proper amount of overlap. Flashing and ice and water barriers around the roof edges and valleys should also be installed.

Mildew is a common problem resulting from ice dams. It often appears in parallel lines across the ceiling, where the trusses in the attic above have generated cold strips. This happens because the trusses themselves are not insulated, even if the attic floor is covered with insulation. The trusses therefore act as a thermal bridge between the cold attic and the ceiling below. The resulting cold strips on the ceiling lead to the formation of condensation. This moisture can then cause the growth of mildew, which will appear as shadowy, parallel lines on the ceiling. In order to get rid of mildew, you should prepare a solution of one part bleach to three parts warm water. Use this solution to clean the affected areas, rinse with water and then allow the clean ceiling to dry. If the area remains stained or discolored, it will need to be repainted, but you should apply a primer to stop the stains from showing through before the topcoat.

Ice dams can also cause cracks in the joints of the walls and ceilings. These occur because the trusses can be lifted during the cold weather. It is possible to prevent uplift from causing cracks be using special brackets that will allow some movement without damaging the drywall. If your home was not built with these types of brackets, then you may need to cope with these types of cracks after the formation of an ice dam. You can do this by nailing a piece of molding that is large enough to cover the cracks to the truss, in such a way that it will be free to move up and down.

LED lights were first developed in the early 1960s, but it wasn’t until recently that bright white LED lights became affordable for home and business consumption. Although still pricey compared to fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs, LEDs are gaining market share and popularity as a high-end energy efficient lighting product.

LED stands for light emitting diodes. LED light bulbs are attractive to consumers because they consume only 1/4 of electric energy that fluorescent light bulbs would consume to produce equivalent amount of lighting. Despite it’s higher initial cost, LEDs are considered very cost effective because they help safe electric energy, and because LED light bulbs can last anywhere from 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours.

Every day consumers shopping for replacement light bulbs consider LEDs as an energy efficient and green alternative to fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs. LEDs are also highly sought after by the consumers because they do not produce heat, which helps save energy on cooling costs.

There are many established companies manufacturing LEDs in USA and worldwide. There are also many online retailers selling LED lighting products through their online stores. You can browse our directory of LED lighting manufacturers in USA. Companies listed below manufacture energy efficient home LED light bulbs, commercial and industrial LED lighting products, and opto-electronic semiconductor components for commercial and industrial uses.

LED Lighting Manufacturers in USA

AlbEO Technologies – Manufactures industrial, commercial, and residential LED lighting products. AlbEO Technologies is located in Boulder, Colorado.

Holly Solar Products – Manufactures home and business LED lighting products, low voltage controllers, and solar powered cooling products. Holly Solar Products is located in Petaluma, California.

ITC Incorporated – Manufactures LED light retail displays, Hi CRI Linear Lighting, Hi Lumen Linear Lighting, Track Lighting: Low Voltage Shelf Lighting Track, and replacement LED bulbs. ITC Incorporated is located in Holland, in Michigan.

Lighting Components LED Corp. – Manufactures residential and commercial LED lights, energy efficient LED light bulbs, super bright white LEDs, and opto-electronic semiconductor components. Lighting Components LED Corporate office is located in Brooklyn, New York.

LEDtronics – Manufactures LED Street Lights, LED replacement bulbs, and LED panel indicators. LEDtronics is located in Torrance, California.

Permlight Products – Designs and Manufactures
LED based light engines for general illumination. Permlight Products is located in Tustin, California.

Sylvania – Manufactures LED lightbulbs for home and office. Sylvania is located in Danvers, Massachusetts.

Sylvania Online Retail Store – Sells LED lighting products directly to consumers.

Toshiba Corp. – Manufactures a wide range of LED lamps and fixtures. Toshiba is located in Houston, Texas.

To add your company to the list of LED lighting manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers contact us.

LED Lighting Resources

www.GreenLEDlights.Org

http://www.greenledlights.org/led-lighting-manufacturers-usa.html

http://www.homeimprovementdir.org/manufacturers/led-lighting/

http://www.newenglandmetalroof.com/construction_directory/lighting-links.html

http://www.allconstructiondirectory.com/lighting/

From the point of view of construction and remodeling industry the biggest irony of the housing bubble collapse and economic downturn that followed it, is that both commercial construction and residential remodeling companies which used to rip great profits during the housing boom, suffered immensely once the housing market collapsed. “The recent remodeling downturn was the most severe in the last 25 years, with a 12.5% decline in remodeling spending from 2007 to 2009″. (Citation: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/economic-conditions/state-of-the-nations-housing-remodeling-industry-poised-for-growth.aspx)

While it is true that every segment of the industry has suffered the consequences of the economic recession, commercial construction companies and businesses that are dependent upon the overall health of the construction and remodeling industry (Building material suppliers, and manufacturers) were among the ones most affected by the turmoil of global recession and global economic downturn.

Cost-to-Value, Remodeling Costs Recouped as a percentage of resale value

.. continue reading ..

Measurements of temperature are often used in everyday life, most commonly in reference to the weather or when following a recipe. However, temperature can also be important in other fields, such as science and medicine. If you need to use measurements of temperature for any reason, then you are likely to need to convert from one form of measurement into another at some point. For example, you may be cooking using an oven, which is set using one form of measurement, but with a recipe that provides temperatures in another form. Alternatively, you may be watching a weather report that uses a form of measurement with which you are not familiar, so if you want to know how warm it will be you will need to convert the temperatures into a form that you understand.

The most common scales between which you may need to convert temperatures are Fahrenheit and Celsius. The names Fahrenheit and Celsius are used to refer both to the relevant scales of measurement and to the individual units that are used on this scale. Thus, it is possible to both to the Fahrenheit scale and to a measurement, such as 1 degree Fahrenheit.

Fahrenheit

The Fahrenheit scale of temperature was created in 1724 by the physicist after whom it was named. This scale has been largely replaced by the Celsius scale in most of the world, but it is still used in some countries, such as Belize and the United States, and it is sometimes used alongside the Celsius scale, as in the United Kingdom.

The Fahrenheit scale was based upon experimentation. Fahrenheit determined the zero point for his scale by placing a thermometer in a mixture of brine. He determined the 100 degrees point using the level that the liquid in the thermometer reached when it was placed inside the mouth (i.e. the temperature of the human body). The scale was later refined by other scientists, who had noticed that the points at which water froze and boiled on this scale were almost 180 degrees apart. They adjusted to scale to make this difference exactly 180 degrees. This shifted the body temperature of a human from 100 degrees on the original scale to 98.6 degrees on the refined scale.

The Fahrenheit scale became the standard form for measurements of temperature in many countries, particularly in the English-speaking world, until the 1960s. It is still used in some countries such as the US, Liberia and Jamaica as the most common scale for temperature. However, it is less commonly used by scientists, even in those countries that continue to rely upon Fahrenheit for everyday use.

On the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. This means that the freezing and boiling points are separated by exactly 180 degrees.

Celsius

The Celsius scale is named after a Swedish astronomer who created a very similar scale of temperature in 1742. On Celsius’ original scale, the boiling point of water was set as 0 degrees, with the freezing point being 100 degrees, and the scale working in reverse to the modern one. A higher value indicated a colder temperature.

The scale was reversed by Linnaeus in 1744, although other scientists are also believed to have independently decided to reverse the scale. Dealing with temperature values that increase as the temperature rises comes more naturally to the human mind. On these newer versions of the Celsius scale, 0 degrees is the freezing point of water, while 100 degrees is the temperature at which water boils.

The name centigrade was used for this temperature scale for more than two centuries. However, in some languages, particularly in French and Spanish, the word centigrade was already used in the measurement of angles, so its use as a measurement of temperature could become confusing. The term centigrade is still sometimes used in reference to temperature, but since 1948 the scientific community has adopted the use of Celsius in order to prevent confusion.

The Celsius scale of temperature is now the most commonly used scale in the world, even though some countries have been reluctant to adopt it.

The Celsius scale was originally defined by the freezing and boiling points of water, at 0 and 100 degrees Celsius, but the scientific community now uses another means of defining the scale, based upon the points of absolute zero and what is known as the triple point of a specially prepared type of water called VSMOW. It is this newer definition of the scale that is used to relate it precisely to the scale of temperature that is commonly used in science, the Kelvin. Absolute zero is -273.15 degrees Celsius, while the triple point for water is at 0.01 degrees Celsius.

On the Celsius scale, water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees. This means that the freezing and boiling points are separated by exactly 100 degrees.

Kelvin

The Kelvin scale is not commonly used in everyday life, but it has become the standard international scale for measuring temperature in science. The Kelvin scale is related very closely to the Celsius scale. A single degree on either scale has the same size, so a change in temperature of 1 degree is the same whether it is being measured on the Celsius or Kelvin scales.

The Kelvin scale, like the modern Celsius scale, is based around the temperatures of absolute zero and the triple point for water. Absolute zero is 0K or Kelvin (-273.15 degrees Celsius). The triple point for water is 273.16K (0.01 degrees Celsius). To convert a temperature measurement between the Celsius and Kelvin scales in very easy. To convert from Celsius to Kelvin, you add 273.15. To convert from Kelvin to Celsius, you subtract 373.15.

Both the Celsius and the Kelvin scales of temperature are used by scientists. Since conversion between the two forms is easy and the size of a degree is the same on both scales, this does not lead to confusion, as long as the scale that is being used is made clear.

Conversion

The difference between the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales can be understood by comparing the intervals between the freezing (or melting) and boiling points of water. The difference is 180 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale and 100 degrees on the Celsius scale. This means that a single degree on the Fahrenheit scale is 1/180th of the interval between the freezing and boiling points of water. On the Celsius scale, a single degree is 1/100th of the interval between the freezing and boiling points.

A single degree of Fahrenheit is, therefore, equivalent to 5/9 of a degree on the Celsius scale. A degree on the Celsius scale is larger than one on the Fahrenheit scale.

The difference in the size of a degree on either scale is not the only difference between the two scales. They also start at different temperatures, with zero degrees being colder on the Celsius scale than on the Fahrenheit. The difference between the starting points of the two scales is 32 degrees. 0 degrees Celsius, the freezing point of water, is 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Fahrenheit and Celsius scales actually converge at one point. A temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit is the same as a temperature of -40 degrees Celsius.

In order to convert between these two temperature scales, it is necessary to account both for the difference in the size of the degree in each scale and for the different starting points around which the scales are based. The Celsius scale uses a larger degree interval than the Fahrenheit scale, with one degree Fahrenheit being equivalent to 5/9 of a degree Celsius. The Fahrenheit scale is also based upon a colder zero point and a hotter 100 degree point. In the Fahrenheit scale, 0 degrees is the temperature of a brine solution. In the Celsius scale, 0 degrees is the point at which water freezes. In the Fahrenheit sale, 100 degrees is slightly higher than the temperature of the human body. In the Celsius scale, 100 degrees is the point at which water boils.

Taking these two differences into account, it is possible to convert between the two scales of temperature. You can perform the conversion in your head, on paper or using a calculator, depending on your mathematical ability and preferences. You need to multiply by 5/9 or 9/5 to deal with the difference in the sizes of the degrees in either scale and to add or subtract 32 to deal with the different starting points of the two scales.

Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius

To convert a temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius, it is necessary to multiply by 5/9 and subtract 32. If you prefer to use decimals rather than fractions, then 5/9 is equivalent to about 0.55.

Examples

To convert 350 degrees Fahrenheit into Celsius

350 x 5/9 -32

or

350 x 0.55 -32

= 162.4

350 degrees Fahrenheit is 162.4 degrees Celsius.

You can also divide by 9/5 or by 1.8 rather than multiplying, if you prefer.

For example:

To convert 30 degrees Fahrenheit into Celsius

30 / 9/5 -32

or

30 / 1.8 – 32

= -15.3

30 degrees Fahrenheit is -15.3 degrees Celsius.

Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit

To convert a temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit, it is necessary to multiply by 9/5 and add 32. If you prefer to use decimals rather than fractions, then 9/5 is equivalent to 1.8.

For example:

To convert 30 degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit

30 x 9/5 + 32

or

30 x1.8 + 32

= 86

30 degrees Celsius is 86 degrees Fahrenheit

You can also divide by 5/9 or by 0.55 rather than multiplying, if you find it easier.

For example:

To convert 150 degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit

150 / 5/9 + 32

or

150 / 0.55 + 32

= 302

150 degrees Celsius is 302 degrees Fahrenheit

Other methods

Rather than performing the conversion yourself, you can use one of the many tools that are available online in order to convert one type of temperature measurement into another. All you will need to do is to enter the temperature you want to convert and the computer will convert it for you.

Another option is to estimate the conversion rather than to calculate it exactly. Although this is not a good idea when precision is important, for example when you are dealing with temperatures in a scientific or medical setting, it can be a quick and easy way of converting between Fahrenheit and Celsius when you are cooking, or when you do not need to be accurate.

If you are not worried about accuracy, then you can simply convert a temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius by halving it. To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit, you can just double the temperature.

For example, if a recipe instructs you to turn your oven on at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, then you can estimate that your oven needs to be set at 200 degrees Celsius.

If you were to perform and accurate conversion, then you would have taken 400 degrees Fahrenheit, deducted 32 to make it 368 and multiplied it by 5/9 to end up with 204.44 degrees. The difference between the estimated and calculated results will not be significant when you are cooking, although it could make a big difference to a scientific experiment.

Top 5 metal roofing myths to promote metal roofing awareness.

Not too long ago, I had the old rusty barn roof image in my mind. But now, after having been involved with metal roofing for nearly 10 years I have developed a true appreciation for this roofing material, and I would like to share some of the insights dealing with unexpected benefits and advantages of metal roofs, with you.

After reading these tips you will gain a better understanding, and appreciation of metal roofing technology.

Myth 1:
Metal roof has a higher risk of getting struck by a lightning.

Reality; No, metal roofing does not increase chances of your home getting struck by a lightning. But, if your house does get hit by a lightning, metal roof will help to dissipate the charge. Because metal is a non combustible material, your roof will not catch fire.

Myth 2: Metal roof makes a lot of noise when it rains.

Reality; You probably envision the old and rusty corrugated metal roofs that you can see covering old barns. You probably also think that modern metal roofs will sound like a machine gun burst when it is raining, but this is far from the truth.

Modern metal roofing is typically installed over solid sheathing such as plywood or solid wooden boards that comprise your roof deck. With the solid sheathing and roofing underlayment, your new metal roof will make no more noise than a regular asphalt shingle roof.

Myth 3: Metal roofing costs a lot of money.

Reality; It may seem like metal roofing costs a lot, but if you look at the cost of metal roofing over a long enough period of time, you will realize that it is actually the best remodeling investment a homeowner can make.

You may be surprised to find this out, but a metal roof will actually costs less than an asphalt shingle roof if you stay in your house long enough. A metal roof, which is an energy efficient roofing retrofit will increase the resale value of your home in terms of remodeling costs vs. value, but it will also help you save significantly on your cooling costs. Metal roofing can result in up to 35 percent savings in energy costs during summer months.

Metal Roof installed right is a very long lasting roofing system, and it may well be the last roof you will ever have to install on your home, provided that you get a quality installation from a qualified metal roofing contractor.

Metal Roofing Costs Vs. Shingles Example

Learn from this hypothetical example of the cost of metal roofing vs the asphalt shingle roof, from a homeowner’s stand point.

Myth 4: Metal Roof is susceptible to rust and corrosion.

Reality; Modern metal roofing is built to last for decades. Steel metal roofing has a metal coating protection layer made with zinc or aluminum, which is bonded to the steel and then painted with a high quality paint designed to withstand the toughest abuse from bad weather, and provide the desirable color and looks that homeowners want.

Myth 5: Metal Roof is susceptible to dents.

Reality; Modern metal roofs are built to withstand years of abuse from severe weather such as hail, extreme winds, and snow. Hail will not dent a metal roof, and extremely high winds are not a threat either, as many modern metal roofing systems are rated for 120mph winds. In fact, metal roofs perform extremely well in the hurricane. It is not unusual to see the metal roof with no damage, next to naked regular roofs that have lost all its shingles and plywood in hurricane.

As I was writing these 5 metal roofing myths, yet another metal roof myth came to my mind! This one in a bonus! Please enjoy!

Bonus Myth: You cannot walk on metal roof without damaging it.

Reality; While you should definitely take all the necessary precautions before venturing out for a walk on your roof, metal roofs are completely walkable. I would recommend using sport shoes with rubber soles, because they will provide good traction for your feet when on the roof. Avoid walking on your roof when its raining as you could easily slip and fall. Rule of thumb is to stay off the roof whenever its surface is wet. Contact your roofing contractor for special techniques on how to walk on the metal roof they have installed.

I hope that you enjoyed reading my metal roofing tips, and that you have learned something new about metal roofing.

I would love to get your comments and feedback on this article, as well as your request for another metal roofing article. If you have something to contribute, please feel free to offer your perspective at the bottom of this page.

New England Metal Roofing Company www.newenglandmetalroof.com – Learn about the true cost of metal roofing features useful information about metal roofing, providing facts, answering questions and dispelling metal roofing myths. Provides always current metal roofing prices, and explains advantages and benefits of the metal roofs.

References:

Cost of metal roof vs shingles

Having a warm and comfortable bathroom is incredibly important. Stepping out of a hot bath or shower into freezing air is an unpleasant experience that can be avoided by proper heating of your bathroom. Once you have chosen and installed your heating system, you won’t have to worry about crossing cold floors in the morning, or shivering in the cold as you dry yourself off after your shower. Keeping your bathroom warm can also help to prevent problems with mold and mildew.

It is important to choose your bathroom heater carefully because the bathroom is a unique environment in your home. The most important thing to remember is that your bathroom will need to be able to cope with exposure to a lot of steam and moisture in order to provide a good source of warmth for your bathroom. You may also want to consider what types of heaters will be able to provide the type of warmth that you want. If you suffer from frozen bathroom floors, then you might want to think about under floor heating, for example, while if you are more interested in having a warm towel ready to wrap around yourself when you step out of the bath, you might want to consider buying a heated towel rack.

You should also think about the ventilation in your bathroom before you choose your bathroom heater. Although many bathrooms have excellent ventilation, some will require additional help. It is possible to find bathroom heaters which have incorporated fans for ventilation, so it will be worthwhile considering these if you have a small or poorly ventilated bathroom.

You will need to decide how much heat you need in your bathroom. This will depend largely upon the size of the room. A larger bathroom will need a more powerful heater in order to warm it up. If you have more than one source of heat in your bathroom, for example if you are adding a new bathroom heater to a room that already has central heating, then each heater can be less powerful. If you are only using one source of heat, then it will need to be powerful. A more powerful heater will also be able to attain the desired temperature more quickly. Many people like to keep their bathroom warmer than other parts of their home since they will be undressing in there and they will need to feel warm even after coming out of a hot bath. As a general rule, you should aim to buy a bathroom heater that will provide 10 watts of power for every square foot of your bathroom, although if there is no other source of heating, it is better to aim for about 15 watts per foot square.

The times of day when you require heat in your bathroom will also be important considerations when you are choosing a bathroom heater. You may want to think about how quickly a particular heater will be able to warm up the room. Heaters that are more powerful and heaters which have fans to move the warm air around the room tends to work faster.

You should also think about how the heater can be operated. You might want a heater that can be left on all day if your bathroom needs to be kept warm at all times. Alternatively, you may want a heater that can just be turned on when it is needed. You should also think about buying a bathroom heater that has a timer feature, so you can set it to come on automatically, for example in order to ensure that the bathroom will be pleasantly warm by the time you get up in the morning.

Some simple bathroom heaters can only be turned on and off, while others have multiple heat settings, and some are controlled very precisely by thermostats. You will need to pay more for a thermostat controlled heater, but it can be a good choice if you want to keep your bathroom at a steady temperature over an extended period.

Once you have spent some time thinking about your heating needs, you should consider the different types of bathroom heaters which are available. You should try to find the bathroom heater that will best match your needs. Different heaters will warm the room in different ways.

Overhead heaters are a popular option for bathrooms. They often combine a light, a fan and a radiant heater in a single unit. Overhead heaters are ideal for a small bathroom since they do not take up any floor space. Bulb heaters are a common type of ceiling heaters. A bulb heater is fitted into the ceiling. It warms the room using one or more heated bulbs. The more bulbs there are, the more powerful the heater will be. Bulb heaters are usually fairly cheap, but there are some more expensive and more effective ceiling heaters.

Wall mounted or panel heaters are another option. They can be very slim and compact, which means that they do not need to take up much room in your bathroom, although you will need to have sufficient wall space available on which to mount them.

It is also possible to bring a freestanding heater into your bathroom in order to add some extra heat. This can be a cheap option and it can be sensible if you only occasionally need any extra heat in your bathroom. As a long-term solution, it is less useful since a freestanding heater can get in the way. However, a portable, freestanding heater can be a good choice if you want to be able to use it elsewhere in your home. Another benefit of choosing a freestanding heater is that there is no installation required.

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This handy tool helps estimate the monthly energy savings from the installation of a solar system.

Resources:

http://www.solarinsure.com/solar-energy-calculator

http://www.solar-calculator.org/

A proper lighting in your home can make an enormous difference in your home’s ambiance and overall comfort of your home.

LEDs which have been used for decades in many opto-electronic components, are now making a strong move into household light bulb market. Can these more expensive, energy efficient, greener and longer lasting light bulbs replace the current King – CFLs in the near future as a lighting bulb product of choice for the environmentally conscious consumers?

Proponents of LED light bulbs claim that LEDs are not only energy efficient and environmentally friendly, but can also last 10 times longer than CFLs. One fact that is not often mentioned though, is that similarly to the early CFLs, modern (early) household LEDs provide only a limited amount of brightness that usually does not exceed the level provided by a 35-watt incandescent light bulb. This is considered to0 little for focused tasks like reading and writing for most people.

The higher price of LEDs and limited brightness is what makes choosing between CFLs vs. LEDs rather difficult. At any rate, it helps to know what each of these “green lighting alternatives” to incandescent light bulbs has to offer.

In a nutshell

You have surely seen many CFLs, or Compact Fluorescent Lamps. They have spiral shapes and are primarily used in homes as an affordable and greener (more energy efficient) alternative to incandescent light bulbs. Unlike their predecessor, incandescent light bulbs, CFLs do not contain any filament that produces a lot of heat and some light when the electricity passes through it. Only a small proportion of electricity goes towards light generation in incandescent light bulbs, while a great amount of electricity is wasted as heat. This renders incandescent light bulbs energy inefficient and is the reason why CFLs became a popular replacement option.

Further, frequent Ons and Offs can dramatically reduce a lifespan of incandescent light bulbs because of rapid expansion and contraction of the filament, which leads to a premature failure of incandescent light bulbs.

LEDs or light emitting diodes, produce light whenever an electric current passes through them. LED light bulbs are far more energy efficient and longer lasting than CFLs, but they also cost more, and have a rather limited brightness and narrowly focused light distribution range.

LEDs are illuminated by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material, there is no filament to burn out. Thus LEDs can last as long as a standard transistor, in theory. In practice, LEDs generate some amount of heat, and frequent Ons and Offs can lead to cracking of the epoxy and the circuit board, which can lead to a shorter lifespan than 50,000 hours (10 years) claimed by many LED Lighting manufacturers.

Viable – Brighter LED Light Bulbs Alternatives

13 Watt EvoLux LED Light Bulb - 100 Watt Incandescent Replacement

EvoLux S 13 Watt LED Medium Base Light Bulb producing Warm White Light equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent light bulb (According to Manufacturer). It uses use multiple LEDs in a single casing to generate light. This bulb can be purchased for about $60 per bulb as of the date of this post May 1st, 2011. The price tag may still be too high for many homeowners to swallow.

Further, many people who have purchased LEDs for their home, report that the amount of light produced by EvoLux LED light bulb is no where near to what the manufacturer claims, and is roughly equivalent to the amount of light produced by the 60-75 watt incandescent light bulb. The narrow focus of the bulb is also a concern for many homeowners.

Concerns about Chemicals in CFLs

CFL Light Bulb with a Characteristic spiral

LED light bulbs do not have any significant chemical content, while CFLs contain mercury and thus require a proper recycling. Recycling of old CFLs does not have to be difficult, though. You can simply return them to the hardware store where you originally bought them for a proper recycling. If the CFL light bulb breakage occurs, you and your family can be exposed to to the risks posed by the small amount of mercury it contains. Be sure to open the windows and properly clean and ventilate the space where the breakage occurred.

Heat Production is Minimal in LEDs

LED light bulbs generate a very small amount of heat compared to CFLs and incandescent light bulbs. Naturally, the risk of fire hazards is reduced. In fact, you can even touch the lamp itself without getting hurt. Most electricity goes directly towards producing the light in LEDs.

More savings for everyone

There is no denying that nowadays many people are making extra efforts to make ends meet. Thus, every opportunity wherein you will be able to earn bigger energy savings will come as a welcome thought especially to people who are environmentally conscious and green oriented, right? With LEDs many people can recoup the higher initial cost of LEDs in a few years. Thus LEDs, can actually be a cost effective alternative to CFLs event today!.

Benefits of LED Light Bulbs Vs. CFLs

LEDs get bright as soon as they are turned on. CFLs do not work that way. Instead, they need to be warmed up for about a minute in order to achieve their brightest.

CFLs are made of materials that break easily such as its glass tubing that is extremely thin. Thus, once dropped, they break into pieces making it useless. LED lamps are more durable because of their solid materials that are far less susceptible to breakage caused by the impacts like accidentally dropping the bulb.

Advantages of CFLs

Looking at the other side of the fence, CFLs also have their own share of benefits and advantages. Apart from its cost, CFLs can provide brighter lightning than LEDs. For those who prefer dimmer shades, newly released CFLs have available dim lights already. On top of it, LED technology is still new and therefore expensive and not yet fully developed.

Conclusion and Forecast

While immediate energy-cost savings from using LEDs are dubious at this point it time, the green benefits of using LEDs are quite clear. Cost-wise, LEDs will become more affordable and are likely to replace CFLs altogether at some point in the near future.

In this guide we will cover steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient by performing a whole home energy audit, replacing your old appliances with energy saving models, installing energy efficient doors and windows, correcting home insulation inadequacies, and exploring a possibility of upgrading your existing HVAC equipment with a geothermal heating and cooling system.

What is a whole Home Energy Audit / Assessment?

Consider performing a whole home energy audit in order to increase overall energy efficiency of your home. Performing a thorough home energy assessment will help identify sources of energy loss in your home. Your home energy audit contractor will suggest any necessary corrections and energy efficient improvements to your home.

Home Energy Audit

It may be recommended to you to replace your old air conditioners with an integrated energy efficient heating and cooling system, potentially you may even be offered a renewable energy alternative such as geothermal heating and cooling system, which can cut your utility costs by well over a 50% margin, and doing so may eventually even pay for itself.

geothermal heating and cooling

Installing energy efficient windows, doors, and additional insulation in your home’s walls and attic can be another great way to increase overall energy efficiency of your home.

How to Reduce Your Utility Costs with Energy Efficient Appliances?

Did you know that replacing your old appliances can be an effective way to lower the overall cost of your household utilities? Lowering the cost of the utilities by replacing the washer and dryer with newer energy efficient models can help to reduce the wasted water and power that are used within the model and can therefore reduce the expenses for your household.

What should you consider when choosing new appliances?

The first thing that should be considered is the energy star rating of the new appliances that are being purchased. It is important to take into account the usage and overall energy efficiency, in comparison with the usage and energy efficiency of your existing appliances.

There are many ways to save even more while shopping for appliances that are going to be used to replace energy inefficient models in the home. For instance, using grants that may be available through your state, or federal government, manufacturer rebates that are available through your local home improvement store, and incentives offered by your local utility companies.

There are many options that are available for changing the appliances in the home. From the energy efficient laundry machine systems to the dishwashers and other kitchen appliances that can be used to make your home more energy friendly. This way, you are not only going to update a look and feel of your home, but you are also going to decrease the overall costs of running your home.

As an added bonus, replacing old appliances in your home can be an effective way to increase the overall value of your home. This is a great selling point for people who are considering to sell their house in the near future.

Think of energy saving appliances as building blocks on the road to reducing your operating costs of living in your home.

I loved the place, the beach, and the fancy Mediterranean-style suit we stayed at for five days at Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort & Spa in Dominican Republic. It is a lovely place 1 hour drive from Puerto Plata, Air Port in Dominican Republic.

Overall, my girlfriend and I loved the place, but the service was poor/forced.

Our Assessment:
Nice beach, with a great bar close by the beach, and a so-so service.

Many bartenders were full of attitude, which tends to go away only after you give them good tips. Some were friendly, but many treat you like you are a some sort of a poor relative, or like you owe something to them.

Many people who are supposed to be helpful including front desk personnel were quite complacent and acted like they do not care about your comfort. When we got there, we had no idea where we could go get some food, after a long flight, and a tedious check in process. Turns out there was an open bar with snacks and coffee around the corner, but they did not tell us about it. It was 4:30 local time, and they told us we have to wait till 6:30 for the “Casablanca Restaurant/buffet” to open. We were hungry and thirsty, after an hour long ride on a bus and the whole check in ordeal, but they just did not seem to care about our comfort all that much.

I got a sense of a lazy complacency on their part.

They also got a trick of trying to get you to attend their “welcome session” where they try to sell you their “VIP” time shares. They reinforce this by not allowing you to use the “VIP only” parts of the resort.

You do not really have to attend this “welcome session”, but they are really pushy about it, and use every trick they have to get you to go.

The “welcome session” is pretty much a prelude to a sales presentation leading you up to their hard sell tactics to get you to buy their time shares.

I really did not appreciate that it was deceptively presented as a “welcome session” that you “have-to” attend.

Verdict: Get a bunch of 50 pesos ($1.25) bills to tip the bartenders.

Do not over eat at the buffet, or you will get sick…

Enjoy the place, avoid the “Welcome Session” if you do not want to be forced to buy some time shares and become a “VIP”, do not buy the real Cuban cigars at the beach, because they are definitely counterfeited/fake.

Glass Block Installation is a home improvement project that almost anyone can do even a beginner. Glass Blocks make a beautiful scene anywhere they are placed. They give off a serene yet elegant atmosphere about them, and they also provide privacy.

The first part of glass block installation is to get all of your measurements together so when you go into the home store you know exactly what or how many you need. The next part is to get all the necessary tools and supplies together so you can do your job correctly to avoid any time consuming trips back to the hardware or home store.

Now that you have all of the necessary tools and supplies it is time to get to work; install a 1 x 2 board along as the frame so that when your blocks are set they will cover the board in the back and front. Now, coat the board with sealer so that moisture doesn’t rot the wood. Now after both of these steps have been done you are ready for the mortar.

Bend the panel anchors into an L shape, nail the panel anchors to the frame and from here on add a new anchor every third row. You are now ready for a set of row blocks and their spacers once this is done you can mix the glass block mortar and using a mortar knife place a layer of mortar in the sill of the block, if you place a block onto this and mortar oozes out then you have done it correctly.

The next step is to place the spacer into place and add your first block, then put another layer of mortar like you did the first and repeat until for the rest of the row then you need to use a level and make sure it is all level. If mortar gets onto any glass blocks wipe it off immediately with a damp rag or sponge to avoid it drying.

The best rule of thumb to follow for installing glass blocks is to complete 3 rows add a line of mortar then place a wire stabilizer on top to reinforce the wall, now you can continue your process until the wall is complete. After your blocks are installed let the mortar dry for 24-36 hours and caulk the edges to block out moisture. You are almost done, if you are installing a wall or panel you will want to lay a bead of silicone caulk around the opening and center the panel keeping it level and now it is ready to be set tap the roofing nails around the panel to keep it in place. Now you can set a trim around the glass and it is ready for you to enjoy.

Installation of glass blocks are very simple and step by step if you allow yourself time and take time then you will have a glass wall installed in no time.