SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -

The Sioux City Police and Fire Headquarters are facing continuing issues with water coming through walls and roofing and HVAC failures.

It has already had $1.9 million approved for the 2015 fiscal year and is now asking for an additional $1 million from the city.

"We have very little ventilation in there," said Sioux City Police Chief Doug Young. "There's pressure differences between the inside and outside and that's because the equipment is not functioning properly. So we have to find a means of replacing that to make sure that we don't have the water leak problems."

The one million would be used to replace or upgrade the HVAC system within the department.

A HVAC system has to do with heating, air conditioning and ventilation of a building.

"We have to get that building in compliance, said City Council member Rhonda Capron. "We have to- we're talking about health issues here too so you know when it rains and water comes in, it makes mold. So this is a huge priority for us to get that taken care of."

Chief Young says the initial money that has been allotted will be used for replacement on the outside of the building, as well as replacement of the roof and windows.

Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott says steps are already being taken to improve the situation.

"Presently seeking help from a consultant who will probably have a number for us within the next couple weeks and that number will have a reflection on this budget before we finalize it," said Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott.

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Sioux City Police and Fire seeking $1 million extra from city to fix headquarters

Belleville, New Jersey (PRWEB) January 16, 2015

GREENCROWN Energy and LVR Energy & Mechanical have announced a strategic joint partnership, which will apply the experience and expertise of both organizations to deliver a full array of emerging energy solutions to properties nationwide, while bridging the gap between Energy and Mechanical Services.

Were very proud that LVR Energy & Mechanical has chosen to partner with us, said Paul Errigo, director of energy projects at GREENCROWN Energy. Its a fantastic fit that complements each of our companies strengths in offering nationwide end-to-end energy solutions including turnkey energy conservation measures (ECMs), emerging energy technologies, energy procurement, mechanical and electrical, and cogeneration systems.

GREENCROWN is a leading full-service energy advisory firm specializing in energy supply cost-reduction and energy conservation measures, including the development of turnkey cogeneration systems. LVR Energy & Mechanical is known nationally for its patented, market-tested Emerging Technologies providing critical data in the building energy assessment and audit processes, which brings to light energy waste and savings opportunity for a fraction of the time.

The overriding objective for both organizations, Errigo added, is to give their rapidly growing national clientele every conceivable tool and technological advance theyll need to enjoy a competitive edge in todays rapidly changing energy landscape.

Tom Bennett, president of Energy Services for LVR Energy & Mechanical, also said the coupling couldnt be better: Together, we are uniquely positioned to provide the market with the most comprehensive set of vetted emerging technology solutions available, and to make sure they carry the best return on investment for our clients."

Errigo observed that a great many companies fall behind the energy curve, which is costing them time and money. When we are commissioned to examine and analyze an organizations energy usage and needs, we often find that an alarming number of properties are overspending for electricity and gas without realizing it. Many of them can take advantage of the generous federal and state grants and incentives. All of this results in significant, immediate and long term financial and environmental benefits.

Very often these businesses are either getting bad advice or are attempting to navigate the intricate energy markets on their own. Both can be very costly, he continued. The truth is that businesses actually have more ability to lower their energy costs than they may know.

The secret, Errigo said, is to make sure their interests are properly represented by true experts in all facets of the energy industry such as GREENCROWN Energy and LVR Energy & Mechanical.

Errigo said the partnership brings a new level of enhanced client services to GREENCROWN. Thanks to LVR Energy & Mechanicals leadership role in the industry, we now have the ability to offer additional benefits through emerging energy technologies.

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GREENCROWN Energy and LVR Energy & Mechanical Announce Important New Strategic Partnership.

To buck migration, the Barefoot College has turned to mothers and grandmothers to light up villages

Satabhaya village, in Kendrapada district of Odisha, is barely 65 km from the district headquarters, but it can be called remote by any yardstick. Located inside the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary, it remains deprived of basic facilities such as roads and electricity.

Abutted by the Bay of Bengal, the village is the only one left standing after the constant ingress by an aggressive sea swallowed up six other nearby villages over the past 40 years. Each time a cyclone comes around, villagers cower behind sand dunes before going back to pick up the pieces in their devastated homesteads. When Phailin struck in October 2013, the villagers managed to scramble to safety, but were far unluckier during the Hudhuds rampage in October 2014.

Eking a living in such harsh conditions, the villagers now see a ray of hope solar lanterns promise to light their path to development.

In Rajasthan, at the opposite end of the country, is yet another remote village, Tilonia, located far from its district headquarters. Here the solar lamp not only lights lives but also fetches an income, as the inhabitants of this desert village manufacture them.

Barefoot engineers

The Barefoot College in Tilonia, established nearly 30 years ago by Bunker Roy, is busy training new batches of the solar mothers and grandmothers, also popularly known as the solar mamas. These barefoot solar engineers rarely have formal education, but the dedication to work for their village is a must in them. So the college narrows its choice of trainees to women who are middle-aged and older, as they are least likely to move out of the village. A young woman, on the other hand, often leaves her village after marriage. So also the men, who are likely to scout for better opportunities outside the village after receiving the training.

In fact, the Barefoot College stresses on the importance of common sense. Common sense is in short supply and people are accustomed to believe that only a paper degree means education, development and empowerment, says Roy. The Barefoot College has proved that urban trained experts and professionals can easily be replaced by paraprofessionals from villages who have never been to college or have technical training of any kind. They learn on the job, through trial and error.

From solar energy to health, and from rural water supply to education, the Barefoot College taps the potential of local villagers to find solutions to a range of needs. Having a better understanding of local problems, they are better able to help fellow villagers and are accountable to their community.

After a six-month training, the solar mamas are adept at assembling solar lamps, relying on colour codes and symbols to guide them. The hands-on practical training equips them with skills that include fabrication of charge controllers and inverters, core winding, printed circuit boards, testing, wiring, installation of solar panels, and repair and maintenance of the lamps. These barefoot engineers have lighted up villages using solar energy not only in the remote areas of Ladakh, Barmer and Sikkim in India but also in Bhutan, Afghanistan and about 20 countries in Africa, says Roy.

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Solar mamas engineer energy security

Prime Shine Ltd Milton Keynes
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Good news: You no longer have to leave home to get key items such as groceries, booze and pet food. New "get it now" services allow you to have them delivered right to your door, often the same day (if not the same hour).

"You don't have to go shopping; somebody does all that work for you and schlepps it to your house," said Sucharita Mulpuru, a retail analyst at Forrester Research. "There are pros for the customer."

The catch? You may be stuck at home for a fixed window of time, waiting for it to be delivered. And you may be charged a membership fee or a premium for the service.

We ran the numbers on more than a dozen services, offering door-to-door delivery of everything from laundry to liquor, to see which ones are worth it.

By Lucy Maher, special to CNBC.com.

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From dog food to dry cleaning--apps that deliver

Total Installation Cost Range: $850 - $2,000 Average Materials Cost: Average Labor Cost: Avg. Time to Complete: 6-8 Hours, 2 Installers

Usually Includes: Tankless Water Heater, Labor, Tools & Supplies

When you want to have instant hot water or want to use the water in their home more efficiently, the installation of a tankless water heater may be the right answer.

If you have a tankless water heater installed in your home you can also save space by removing your bulky tank water heater that is constantly losing heat. With a tankless model, the water stays hot all the time and your utility bills may be lowered as much as 24% to 34% less, according to the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.

Most often,tankless water heater installation is done by a plumber or HVAC contractor and most of the cost is based on what tankless water heater you want installed, as well as the complexity of the installation. On average, a tankless water heater can be installed in under 8 hours by a plumber and their apprentice. This job may take longer and additional fees will most likely be involved if there is extensive prep work that is needed or if there is a need for additional plumbing or pipes.

In this guide, youll learn about the tankless water heater installation processes and any special skills or tools you may need. The cost to install a tankless water heater could be affected by many different factors and we will help you understand more about those items and how to get cost savings.

Tankless water heater installation estimates will usually include:

A plumbing contractor will most likely use the table of supplies and tools listed below to install a tankless water heater. This list is fairly extensive, but to be completely prepared you should probably have all of these on-hand if you want to try out a tankless water heater installation on your own. You or your helper should have quite a bit of knowledge in plumbing and wiring before you try to do the job yourself.

Your total tankless water heater cost can be effected by many factors. If any modifications are needed in either the wiring or plumbing, there will be additional costs. As an example, if you currently have a tank water heater in your utility closet where the pipes come in at the bottom of the wall, there may be a need to re-route piping so that the tankless can be installed where the water temperature is at its prime. Installing the tankless in the correct location helps with the flow and speed of the water.

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Compare Tankless Water Heater Installation Costs

News

Friday, January 16, 2015

By KATHY CLEVELAND

Staff Writer

A couple of weeks ago, someone living in the outskirts of Brookline got very lucky.

A passerby noticed smoke coming from the front porch and called for help, and fire damage was confined to a small area of the porch.

The problem was wood ashes a common cause of winter fires when they arent disposed of properly, Brookline Assistant Fire Chief Scott Knowles said.

January is a peak month for house fires, and local fire officials have some tips for avoiding the devastation of a winter fire.

These fires are usually caused by heating equipment, and on average, wood stoves, fireplaces and other forms of alternate heat are involved in more than 60,000 reported U.S. home structure fires a year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

While these numbers are frightening, nearly all of these fires are preventable, J. William Degnan, state fire marshal, said in one of his recent newsletters.

Read more from the original source:
Fire officials warn of winter dangers

Provided by Networx.com

1. Rustic Backyard Pond with Watering Can

A gorgeous water feature installation completes the picture of Jamie D's charming rural home. Powered by a pond pump, water filters into the spacious pond through a galvanized watering can for a uniquely rustic effect.

2. Pond in a Box

If you're not blessed with a big backyard or are not able to dig on your property, try the Empress of Dirt's ingenious pond in a box. That's right -- container ponds are the natural successors to container gardens. Add some bright flowers for a splash of color.

3. Bubbling Rock Water Feature

Kid-friendly pondless water features are safe and low-maintenance. Theresa Farrell Hathaway drilled natural rocks with a masonry bit and threaded them with flexible tubing to create this simple and inexpensive fountain with an authentic bubbling sound.

4. DIY Clacking Bamboo Pond Embellishment

Another soft-sounding water feature is this Zen-inspired garden decoration. The clacking bamboo is delightful to us humans, but is rumored to be an effective deer deterrent. The Garden Frog Boutique cut and dried her own bamboo to add to an existing pond on her land.

5. Rain Waterfall from a Storage Bin

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Water features add charm to your house and garden

Winter-related slips and falls have a significant negative impact on American businesses each year, resulting in time off work, temporary employee costs, overtime for existing employees and increased insurance costs, said Mike Britt, president of Accident Fund Insurance Company of America. To avoid these costs this winter, employers need to be extra vigilant, and employees should exercise extreme caution in the months ahead, Britt states, adding that in the Midwest states last winter, one-third (29 percent) of workers compensation claims resulted from slips and falls.

As temperatures drop and winter hazards increase, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and the Michigan Workers Compensation Agency (WCA) are reminding employers and employees to exercise caution when working in the cold and snow.

Every employer should have an effective safety and health management system in place to protect its most valuable asset: its employees, said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. As part of this program, they should prepare for winter conditions and provide helpful information to their employees on how to avoid injury and illness.

Worker injuries can negatively affect a businesss bottom line, resulting in increased workers compensation and insurance costs, overtime, and lost work days for employees, said WCA Director Kevin Elsenheimer. By taking the proper safety precautions this winter, job providers can avoid nasty slips and falls that will cost them in the future.

Lower workers' comp costs save employers on overhead expenses and give them additional resources to grow their business, hire new workers, and increase their employees salaries says a press release.

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Winter slips and falls have negative impact on American businesses

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Call (562) 450-5332 for Tree Removal, Tree stump removal, palm tree removal at low cost. We are the best tree removal service company in Long Beach ,CA. Contact us to day for a free quote.

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