Bury Magistrates' Court imposed fines of 24,000 on Frames Conservatories Direct Ltd

Matthew Symington Saturday, February 15, 2014 9:09 AM

A window replacement company from Bury St Edmunds will have to pay out nearly 35,000 after it exposed workers to potentially fatal asbestos.

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Workers at Frames Conservatories Direct Ltd (FCDL) were replacing window units at Westley Middle School over the summer of 2012. The company told the school that asbestos panels would be removed by registered contractors and disposed of in the correct way.

However Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court was told the company was not licensed to work with asbestos and employees undertaking the work werent told they would be handling the substance. No control measures were used to prevent the spread of fibres.

The health and safety breach also meant the school had to pay over 110,000 in cleaning and replacing contaminated items.

The matter was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after being alerted by the schools headteacher as well as employees at FCDL.

Concerns were first raised when other contractors noticed suspect material in a floor void and consulted a licensed asbestos contractor who then visited the school. The contractor saw window panels being removed and notified FCDL employees that they were handling materials likely to contain asbestos. The work was immediately stopped and the area sealed off.

A licensed contractor undertook a programme of cleaning under strictly controlled conditions in all affected areas of the school. Once completed, air tests were carried out and the areas certified safe for re-occupation.

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Bury: Window replacement firm to pay out 35,000 after exposing workers to asbestos

Nuns at a historic St. Johns convent will test windows that are easy to open and meet heritage guidelines.

Presentation Convent in St. Johns. Photo by Keith Gosse/The Telegram

Last month, Coun. Jonathan Galgay announced that nuns at the 161-year-old Presentation Sisters Mother House had requested replacement windows that open horizontally to replace ones that open vertically, which are harder for the nuns all of whom are older than 70 to open.

Coun. Dave Lane, co-chairman of the citys heritage advisory committee, said Tuesday the committee long ago gave the green light to replacing the windows.

They had specifically requested horizontal sliders because, of all the windows they have in the building many are old, and many were installed improperly the only ones that open easily are horizontal sliders.

The committee rejected the type of replacement window requested because it didnt match the heritage style of the building, but suggested another type, such as an awning-style window that opens with a crank at the bottom, that would still meet the guidelines.

What we were going to do anyway, and (what) weve done since, is met with the Presentation Sisters. We looked at all the windows and we actually went out to two local manufacturers and brought in examples of awning windows to show that the newer technology is actually very easy to open, said Lane.

The latches are down low, and theres very little effort required to open and close them.

A couple of windows will be installed in the building for testing, said Lane.

If it works, then theyll install the rest of them, he said.

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Convent to test replacement windows that match heritage guidelines

By Johnny Tubbs / Energy Saving Tips

A geothermal heat pump system is a great way to manage your homes interior climate. However, like any HVAC system, a geothermal climate control solution has both advantages and drawbacks. To help you determine whether or not geothermal is the best solution for you, we will compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal.

The overall cost of a geothermal system is usually seen as the biggest disadvantage when compared to other heating and cooling systems. It requires expensive parts that cause it to cost more than double the amount of other HVAC systems.

Fortunately, geothermal heating and cooling is a sustainable renewable energy resource, so state and federal governments offer tax credits that will offset the cost of the system itself.

The initial installation of a geothermal heat pump system requires experienced installers to lay tubing deep underground. This, among other things, makes geothermal expensive to install.

Due to the fact that geothermal systems alter interior temperatures using the constant temperature of the ground, they dont need to consume energy to alter the temperature of the air that they pump. The long-term savings that result from this go a long way toward counterbalancing the cost of installation. You can expect to make back the cost of initial installation within a few years.

Geothermal heat pumps also last about twice as long as most other HVAC systems.

This benefit alone negates the expense of the initial installation.

Because geothermal is a newer system that requires complicated installation, finding an installer can be difficult. When considering an HVAC company for installation, ask about their experience, as well as references to check before you commit.

Concerned the disadvantages of geothermal outweigh the pros for your home? Let the experts at Conroe Air help you decide. We proudly serve the HVAC and home comfort needs of Montgomery County homeowners. Visit http://www.conroeair.com for more.

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Weighing the disadvantages of geothermal against the benefits

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By JACK MURTHA

Staff Writer

MARLBORO The Route 9 corridor is slated to continue to grow as a stronghold for business in Marlboro.

During its Jan. 15 meeting, the Marlboro Planning Board granted preliminary and final approval for the construction of a 3,409-square-foot bank at 133 Route 9 South, near the Route 520 intersection. The board also granted preliminary approval for a one-story, 6,750-square-foot office building on the 1.6-acre site.

The site is clearly in a state of disrepair. It was developed some time ago and is in need of rehabilitation, said engineer and planner John Palus, who testified on behalf of the applicant, Garibo LLC.

The property is in the vicinity of the location where a Whole Foods supermarket is under construction, and near the Marlboro Motor Lodge, a spa and wooded land, he said.

The first phase of the project includes the construction of a Columbia Bank with two drive-up lanes, Palus said. He said the site plan calls for additional sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, a freestanding sign, and the establishment of 25 parking spaces.

As of now, the parcels access point from Route 9 is not up to par with state Department of Transportation (DOT) standards, he said.

It creates a very unsafe condition when you are entering the site, Palus said.

Garibo obtained a permit from the DOT that will permit upgrades to the driveway to be made, he said.

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Bank, office building OKd

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) Myrtle Beach is one of the most popular vacation spots for Pittsburghers.

If youre thinking of taking your family there this summer, you may want to begin planning now to get the best deals.

We see tons of folks from Pittsburgh down here, said Susan Phillips, from VisitMyrtleBeach.com, as she sat with KDKAs David Highfield on a sun-soaked beach.

Getting There When it comes to getting to Myrtle Beach, its a nine-and-a-half hour drive.

But if you want to fly, check out what we found for a random week we picked in July.

There are no non-stop flights from Pittsburgh International to Myrtle Beach. However, you can fly US Airways for $366 a person or fly Delta for $368.

But youll save money by flying out of Arnold Palmer Airport in Latrobe. Spirit Airlines does offer a direct flight during the summer, and the cost is $263, roughly a hundred dollars less. Plus, parking at the airport in Latrobe is free.

Where to Stay There are numerous hotels along the beach, and some of them offer deals if you book early.

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How To Vacation In Myrtle Beach For Less

Window Replacement Northampton MA. Call 1-888-269-9275 10am - 6pm M-F | Home Windows
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DETROIT (AP) -- Crews in one eastside Detroit neighborhood on Wednesday installed the first of about 50,000 new LED street lights that eventually will illuminate the city.

The 150-watt LED lights are more than twice as bright as standard 70-watt, high-pressure sodium lights, according to Detroit's Public Lighting Authority.

The authority began installing new high pressure sodium lights in November in demonstration areas, but switched gears and decided to go with LED lamps while rebuilding the city's street lighting system.

A corner at Greiner and Hamburg streets got the first LED light.

"Today marks a milestone in providing modern, reliable public lighting for the citizens of Detroit," Mayor Mike Duggan said. "With the decision to install all LED lights, the Public Lighting Authority is ensuring that we are providing our citizens with up-to-date technology that will serve our city well for the foreseeable future."

The city's lighting system has been plagued by broken bulbs, antiquated wiring and thefts of copper wires from light posts.

Fewer than half of the city's 88,000 streetlights are believed to work.

In September, crews began a block-by-block review of streetlights in two demonstration areas. Construction in the two areas is scheduled to be completed by the end of May.

The authority said its goal is to have working street lights in all city neighborhoods by the end of 2015.

The authority's board is "determined to provide the citizens of Detroit with the lighting they deserve," said Odis Jones, the authority's executive director. "Clearly we are on our way to reversing decades of disinvestment in the city's street lights."

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LED street light installation begins in Detroit

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