Bedford County Public Schools will be getting additional aid from the second round of CARES Act that was designated to them by the Board of Supervisors at their latest meeting on September 14. $1.5 million was designated to the school division in round 2 of the CARES Act to help out with the HVAC systems that need replacing at Huddleston and Moneta Elementary Schools.

Im most appreciative of the supervisors for prioritizing these two projects. Theyre much needed and theyve been on our CIP for a while, District 2 representative Jason Johnson said.

Their potentially could be a third round coming to the school board according to the Bedford County schools chief operations officer, Mac Duis, who said the board was open for providing additional CARES Act money for other projects that the school system may need that qualify under the CARES Act funding.

In response to that, the school board organized a list of their top five capital improvement projects. The list includes:

Replace HVAC system at Big Island Elementary - $600,000

Replace HVAC system at Forest Elementary - $800,000

Duct cleaning for all schools - $810,000

Air filters - $250,000

Replacing 20-30 year old carpet with vinyl tile - $450,000

Find out more in the upcoming edition of the Smith Mountain Eagle newspaper. Pick up a copy or subscribe atwww.smithmountaineagle.com/subscriber_servicesto view articles in the print and/or e-edition version.

More here:
Bedford County School Board list their capital improvements at meeting, will present to BCBOS - Smith Mountain Eagle

Cleaning air ducts can improve air quality, experts say

Keeping coronavirus out of your home might be as easy as cleaning the air in your house and servicing air ducts. However, experts warn there is still a risk the virus can be present.

OCALA, Fla. - Experts are weighingin on whether air duct cleaning can prevent coronavirus.

Its unfortunate that it takes a pandemic for everybody to get to the awareness level, the consumer level up to where it shouldve been anyway, Steve Mores, with Dynamic Air Quality Solutions, said.

Mores works in the clean air business. So does Jerry Cook, who owns Cooks Air Conditioning and Heating Specialists in Ocala.

Weve had people concerned about air quality, duct cleaning, and asking about the UVC and air cleaners like that, Cook said.

Cook shared photographs with FOX 35 News showing what a dirty system looks like.

A clean air conditioning unit, meaning the equipmentand clean ductwork, help you breathe cleaner air in your home, Cook said.

He said cleaning your air ducts and using preventative products, such as UV lights, does not guarantee coronavirus won't get into your home, but it will make the air inside cleaner.

Air quality products work very well on keeping those things from coming back in and then also the UVC can kill the germs, flu virus, and bacteria, along with SARS, Cook said.

He saidall customers should do their research before calling a company to do work.

By having air quality products installed in the home, the UVC, the UVV, the duct cleaning, we can help curb some of these viruses, and we can also help improve some of that air quality in the home, Cook said.

Link:
Experts weigh in on the benefits of air duct cleaning - FOX 35 Orlando

Due to the pandemic, we have included a special section on the Impact of COVID 19 on the Air Duct Cleaning ChemicalsMarket which would mention How the Covid-19 is Affecting the Industry, Market Trends and Potential Opportunities in the COVID-19 Landscape, Key Regions and Proposal for Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals Market Players to battle Covid-19 Impact.

The Air Duct Cleaning ChemicalsMarket report is one of the most comprehensive and important data about business strategies, qualitative and quantitative analysis of Global Market. It offers detailed research and analysis of key aspects of the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market. The market analysts authoring this report have provided in-depth information on leading growth drivers, restraints, challenges, trends, and opportunities to offer a complete analysis of the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market.

Top Leading players covered in the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market report: Water Treatment Products, Heat Seal Equipment, Bio-Cide International, Abatement Technologies, ComStar International, OdorX and More

Get PDF Sample Report With Impact of COVID-19 on Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals [emailprotected] https://www.marketinforeports.com/Market-Reports/Request-Sample/69576

The report offers clear guidelines for players to cement a position of strength in the global Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market. It prepares them to face future challenges and take advantage of lucrative opportunities by providing a broad analysis of market conditions. the global Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market will showcase a steadyCAGR in the forecast year 2020 to 2026.

Market Segment by Type covers:FungicidesBactericidesAlgaecidesDeodorizersMarket Segment by Application covers:ResidentialCommercialIndustrial

Our Complimentary Sample Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market Report Accommodate a Brief Introduction of the research report, TOC, List of Tables and Figures, Competitive Landscape and Geographic Segmentation, Innovation and Future Developments Based on Research Methodology.

Inquire and Get Up to 30% DiscountBy Clicking Here!https://www.marketinforeports.com/Market-Reports/Request_discount/69576

Regions Covered in the Global Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals Market: The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt) North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada) South America (Brazil etc.) Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)

Years Considered to Estimate the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals Market Size:History Year: 2015-2019Base Year: 2019Estimated Year: 2020Forecast Year: 2020-2026

Highlights of the Report: Accurate market size and CAGR forecasts for the period 2019-2026 Identification and in-depth assessment of growth opportunities in key segments and regions Detailed company profiling of top players of the global Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market Exhaustive research on innovation and other trends of the global Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market Reliable industry value chain and supply chain analysis Comprehensive analysis of important growth drivers, restraints, challenges, and growth prospects

For More Information:https://www.marketinforeports.com/Market-Reports/69576/Air-Duct-Cleaning-Chemicals-market

Customization of the Report:Market Info Reports provides customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.

Get Customization of the [emailprotected]:https://www.marketinforeports.com/Market-Reports/Request-Customization/69576/Air-Duct-Cleaning-Chemicals-market

Contact Us:Mr. Marcus KelCall: +1 415 658 9988 (International)+91 84 839 65921 (IND)Email: [emailprotected]Website: http://www.marketinforeports.com

Read more:
Global Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals Market with Covid-19 Effect Analysis | likewise Industry is Booming Globaly with Key Players Water Treatment...

Share this idea!

This is the third in a series of five articles that help you find ways to reduce your carbon footprint by looking at the main carbon culprits in the average Americans lifestyle.

If owning a big house in the suburbs is part of the American dream, a lot of people are living the dream. The average American single-family home built in 2018 was 2,551 square feet. Second, only to Australia, the U.S. has the largest houses in the world you could fit 11.2 Chinese homes in the average American house. Thats got to be a good thing, right?

But it comes with a high environmental price tag, increasing transportation emissions through long commutes and encouraging the accumulation of lots of stuff. And it takes a lot of energy to heat and cool big homes. Home heating and cooling comprises 17 percent of Americans carbon footprint.

Because carbon dioxide emissions are a leading cause of climate change, measuring the amount of carbon dioxide released by a particular activity is a useful shorthand for environmental impact. This measurement is called a carbon footprint.

There are many ways to calculate your familys carbon footprint. On average, each American generates 18.55 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. This is 3.5 times the global average of 5.3 tons. And for most Americans, home heating and cooling is the third-largest source of those emissions.

Your familys heating and cooling footprint could be much different from the average. A household in Idaho may not even have air conditioning. But they might run the heater up to 10 months of the year. Two such houses may have very different emissions depending on their heat source. A home in Arizona may spend hundreds of dollars per month on air conditioning most of the year.

Unless your only form of climate control is opening or shutting the windows, you can improve your heating and cooling footprint.

A good place to start is by looking at your habits. Do you set your air conditioner to a lower temperature in summer than you set your heater in winter? Do you turn on the heater on the first chilly day or wait until it is actually too cold? Try dressing for the season and setting your thermostat as close to the outside temperature as is comfortable. Setting the thermostat back 7-10 degrees Fahrenheitwhile you are at work can reduce your heating or cooling load by up to 10 percent. Installing a smart thermostat can help you save energy, too.

Tap into energy-efficiency programs through your local utility. Keeping on top of home maintenance tasks like duct cleaning, servicing your furnace and air conditioner, and sealing windows will improve home efficiency. Even your choice of window treatments can make a difference in both cold weather and to combat the heat island effect.

Sealing air leaks will make your home perform better, saving 15 to 25 percent of the heat furnaces generate in winter and blocking the same amount of unwanted heat gain in summer. For most homes, insulating floors, walls, and ceilings can cut this leakage by about a third. Doors and windows are popular upgrades and at a combined one-fifth of leakage are not irrelevant. But ducts and fireplaces are still bigger culprits.

When upgrading your older furnace, choose a highly efficient model and consider the source of your electricity when you decide between gas or electric. If you live in a warm climate, fans use a fraction of the energy of an air conditioner. They also do not require chemical coolants, which are greenhouse gases. If you really need air conditioning, consider whether you can get by with a window unit, which uses a third as much energy as central air conditioning. Whatever air conditioner you end up buying, choose the most efficient model.

To really slash your home emissions, cut your square footage: Convert your house to a duplex or move into an efficient multifamily building or tiny home.

Whatever your square footage, if youre building a home, use passive design and other green building strategies like earth-sheltered construction to achieve net-zero energy use. And if you choose to move to a milder climate to avoid the need for heating and air conditioning entirely, just make sure you plan a low-waste move and recycle those moving boxes.

Original post:
Good, Better, Best: Cutting Carbon From Home Heating and Cooling - Earth911.com

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS EXTENDEDTHE* FLOOD ADVISORY FOR...EAST CENTRAL MCDOWELL COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...WEST CENTRAL BURKE COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...* UNTIL 1215 PM EDT SUNDAY.* AT 1159 AM EDT, LAKE JAMES REMAINED ABOVE FULL POOL AT 101.25FEET. THE WATER LEVEL WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY FALL, BUT REMAINABOVE FULL POOL THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THEREFORE, A FLOODADVISORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR NUISANCE FLOODING AND WILL REMAININ EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING OR UNTIL THE FLOODWAVE HASPASSED.* ACTION/ADVISORY STAGE: 101.00 FEETMINOR FLOOD STAGE: 102.00 FEETFORECAST: DUKE ENERGY PROJECTS THE POOL TO CONTINUE TO FALL SLOWLYTHROUGH TONIGHT. EXPECT LAKE JAMES TO REMAIN ABOVE FULL POOLTHROUGH AT LEAST TONIGHT.IMPACTS: BETWEEN 101 AND 102 FEET...NUISANCE FLOODING OF LOW-LYINGAREAS ADJACENT TO THE SHORELINE INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL YARDS,CAMPGROUNDS, DOCKS, AND BOAT-LAUNCH AREAS IS ONGOING. LAKEWATERSMAY BE FLOODING MOOSE LODGE CAMPGROUND, MOOSE LODGE CAMPGROUND RD,AND HOUSEBOAT LANE.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...BOATERS, FISHERMEN, KAYAKERS, AND OTHER LAKE USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TOEXERCISE CAUTION DURING ELEVATED LAKE LEVELS AND DOWNSTREAMRELEASES. AVOID AREAS ALONG THE STREAM BELOW DAMS RELEASING WATER.CAMPERS AND OTHER RESIDENTS ALONG THE LAKESHORE MUST BE PREPARED TORETREAT TO HIGHER GROUND IF LAKE LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE.STAY WEATHER AWARE AND MONITOR LAKE LEVELS CLOSELY.&&

Read more here:
Watch Now: Keeping safe from COVID-19 at the pool this summer, and more virus stories - McDowell News

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS EXTENDEDTHE* FLOOD ADVISORY FOR...SOUTH CENTRAL CALDWELL COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...EAST CENTRAL BURKE COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...* UNTIL NOON EDT SUNDAY.* AT 1152 AM EDT, LAKE RHODHISS REMAINED ABOVE FULL POOL AT 101.2FEET. THE WATER LEVEL WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY FALL, BUT REMAINABOVE FULL POOL THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THEREFORE, A FLOODADVISORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR NUISANCE FLOODING AND WILL REMAININ EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING OR UNTIL THE FLOODWAVE HAS PASSED.* ACTION/ADVISORY STAGE: 102.00 FEET.MINOR FLOOD STAGE: 104.00 FEET.FORECAST: DUKE ENERGY PROJECTS THE POOL TO GRADUALLY DECLINETHROUGH TONIGHT.IMPACTS: AT 103.0 FEET...ACTION/ADVISORY STAGE. NUISANCE FLOODINGOF LOW-LYING AREAS INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL YARDS, DOCKS, AND BOAT-LAUNCH AREAS IS ONGOING. WATER MAY APPROACH STRUCTURES OFF OFCATAWBA AVE BELOW THE DAM AND OTHER AREAS UPSTREAM OF THE DAM.* FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LAKE LEVELS, PROJECTIONS, OR DAM RELEASES,PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT http://LAKES.DUKE-ENERGY.COM ORCALL 1-800-829-5253.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...BOATERS, FISHERMEN, KAYAKERS, AND OTHER LAKE USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TOEXERCISE CAUTION DURING ELEVATED LAKE LEVELS AND DOWNSTREAMRELEASES. AVOID AREAS ALONG THE STREAM BELOW DAMS RELEASING WATER.CAMPERS AND OTHER RESIDENTS ALONG THE LAKESHORE MUST BE PREPARED TORETREAT TO HIGHER GROUND IF LAKE LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE.STAY WEATHER AWARE, MONITOR LAKE LEVELS CLOSELY, AND HEED GUIDANCEFROM LOCAL OFFICIALS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.&&

Visit link:
A colorful corner of the city - Morganton News Herald

What happens when it gets really hot and the AC is blasting on full?

In much of the United States, the malls and restaurants are reopening to the public. Some of those states get really hot in the summertime. Sarah Goodyear, a writer and host on The War On Cars, posted an interesting tweet:

Recent research indicates that large droplets from sneezing can travel much further than 2 meters, even if there are no air movements. Small particles (

They have been studying the problem in Canada too. Professor Brian Fleck told the National Post that "this has been on peoples radar for quite a while. Somebody on a different floor sneezes The particle can stay airborne long enough to go all the way through the system and then pop out in somebody elses office."

There are various ways that the risk can be lessened, including use of filters that catch a greater number of those particles, and drawing more fresh air into a system... But each of those changes carries a cost. Adding more fresh air can require additional heat or air conditioning. Heavier filters means more energy is needed to push the air through them.

But it doesn't get as hot in Canada as it does in Arizona. Engineer and Professor Ted Kesik told TreeHugger that "we shall be greatly challenged retrofitting our existing buildings to eliminate dilution ventilation systems." This is especially a challenge in the heat of a southern summer, where the difference between inside and outside air can be 40F in Arizona or Texas. In the Southeast, there is also a lot of humidity with the heat. That's why the air is recirculated; the amount of energy needed to condition a mall's worth of outside air would be ridiculously high.

ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, had a look at the issue of the coronavirus and issued a statement in late April:

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures.

They issued technical guidelines in a position document on infectious aerosols:

Infectious aerosols can be disseminated through buildings by pathways that include air distribution systems and interzone airflows. Various strategies have been found to be effective at controlling transmission, including optimized airflow patterns, directional airflow, zone pressurization, dilution ventilation, in-room air-cleaning systems, general exhaust ventilation, personalized ventilation, local exhaust ventilation at the source, central system filtration, UVGI, and controlling indoor temperature and relative humidity. Design engineers can make an essential contribution to reducing infectious aerosol transmission through the application of these strategies.

That's fine, the engineers know what to do with new buildings. But what about existing ones? Here, they make some recommendations, and I try to add an explanation in italics.

All of these modifications are expensive, either in equipment or operating costs. All of these building owners and tenants have been bleeding money in the last few months. All of the companies making this equipment are going through the crisis, too. In short, it is probably safe to say it's not gonna happen, at least in the short term.

I have tried to get comments from engineers and experts, but the only one I have received so far is, "Yikes, I think that is a problem." I will add more comments as I receive them.

But I do believe that Sarah Goodyear has raised an interesting point. In my limited experience in Arizona in summer (two weeks in Scottsdale in July), I rarely saw anyone outside. And it's not even summer yet, but as one shopper in Arizona told NBC News after the mall opened, "We hit all the museums and this place because its hot."

See the original post here:
Coronavirus and the air conditioned nightmare - Treehugger

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT So ... what does it takes to re-open a international business in Connecticut that has already been trying to keep its work force of about 500 employed? South Windsor-based TicketNetwork Chief Executive Officer Donald Vaccaro was not shy about sharing the details Friday.

On Tuesday, Vaccaro said, TicketNetwork will begin the reopening process, and the number of employees returning to the South Windsor headquarters will continue to expand "as is prudent."

"TicketNetwork has taken the appropriate steps to control the access to the building to make sure that everyone who enters the building is safe," Vaccaro said.

The building is "ready," Vaccaro said, and here are the highlights of the changes:

(TicketNetwork/Sean Burns)

(TicketNetwork/Sean Burns)

Said Vaccaro, "TicketNetwork is preparing to reopen for its valued staff, most of whom have been working from home since late March, doing their part to help flatten the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of its reopening plan, company management and its facilities team reviewed a variety of best practices and developed a multi-tiered approach to bringing workers back in the safest fashion possible."

The rest is here:
TicketNetwork Outlines What It Takes To Reopen Larger Office - South Windsor, CT Patch

Have you ever experienced having the worst allergies inside your home than outside? It might be that your home has accumulated enough dust that the allergens have surfaced. There are several ways to make sure your home in California or Utah is free of any allergen.Professional duct cleaningis a popular choice for those who have larger homes but dont have the time to clean regularly. Here are other options you can do to control indoor allergens.

If you have pets that regularly shed their fur, vacuum your carpet and floors at least once a day. Depending on the size of your house, you can opt for lint rollers to manage the fur on couches, rugs, and clothes. But if your pet can access any part of your house, then you mustvacuum pet hairat least daily or every other day.

Not everyone may be allergic to pets, but once your house accumulates enough fur, it can be a cause for dust accumulation, as well. Dust can easily get stuck on a ball of pet hair and reach hard-to-see places.

When vacuuming, make sure you dont miss out on other parts of the house where dust can pile up as well. These include your window screens and curtains. If you cant wash your curtains frequently, be sure to at least vacuum it from time to time to help lessen the dust particles on the fabric.

Ever switched on your air conditioner and then found yourself sneezing uncontrollably? This is a clear indication you may need to have your filters and air ducts cleaned. Clean filters will also help you save on electricity, as your air conditioner wont be exerting too much effort to get your room cold in the shortest time possible.

If you clean indoors regularly and still find yourself getting the sniffles, then your filters and air ducts may need some deep cleaning. You can hire a professional technician to do the job. As for maintenance, you can keep air humidifiers or diffusers on for a few hours each day to keep the air clean as much as possible.

Lastly, there are times when you neglect to take a shower before going to bed, and youve managed to take home a lot of dust and dirt youve collected the entire day. Imagine doing this regularly and not changing your sheets and beddings consistently.

Apart from observing proper hygiene before going to bed, make sure to keep your bed clean by having it checked for dust mites or bed bugs and by washing your sheets regularly. Sometimes, its your pillows that cause the worst allergies without you realizing it. So be sure to replace and wash your pillowcases as frequently as possible.

Its highly important to keep every area of your house clean, whether or not it can be seen by the naked eye. Have a cleaning routine scheduled, so you never forget it and keep your home allergy-free.

See the original post here:
Minimize the Sneeze: What You Can Do to Reduce Allergens in Your Home - Fife Free Press

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems must be allowed to play their important role in helping essential services deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the UKs F Gas register REFCOM.

Speaking on a webinar hosted by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Head of REFCOM, Graeme Fox, refuted rumours that air conditioning and ventilation could help to spread the virus stating that these were completely unfounded and not backed up by any scientific evidence, adding cooling and ventilation systems were not the problem, but rather they were part of the solution.

For example, by switching air handling units to full fresh air mode and temporarily disabling recirculation with heat recovery, facilities managers could ensure contaminated air was not recirculated in occupied spaces.

Health is more important than energy efficiency right now, said Fox. It is also important to keep up air change rates even in partially occupied buildings to minimise the risk of moisture, which could contain the virus, settling on internal surfaces.

Public Health England stated that transmission of the virus is thought to occur mainly through respiratory droplets generated by coughing and sneezing, and through contact with contaminated surfaces. It has not recommended any special cleaning measures for ventilation and cooling systems.

Fox said scaremongering was unhelpful to those trying to understand the threat.

The truth is that HVAC systems perform a crucial role in keeping essential services like hospitals, supermarkets, care homes and schools operating this is going to be more important than ever over the coming weeks and months, he said.

REFCOMs position is also supported by guidance fromREHVA, the European Federation of HVAC associations, which said humidification, air conditioning and duct cleaning had no practical effect on the transmission of the coronavirus.

It said: Covid-19, unlike some other viruses, is largely resistant to environmental changes and is susceptible only to high relative humidities above 80 per cent and temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.

It is recommending that heating and cooling systems are operated normally to ensure buildings can continue to support critical activities and maintain the health and wellbeing of occupants.

Join 12,000+ of your FM peers from across the world at ExCeL London on 08-10 September. Bring the team and boost your CPD, your skills and your career with seminars and workshops at the only IWFM- supported exhibition. Test, trial and source smart solutions across technology, cleaning, FM services, waste and energy management; and meet a host of suppliers for new business collaborations. Your ticket also gives you free access to co-located shows to boost your specialisms across wellbeing, smart buildings, fire, security and health & safety.

Get your free ticket for Facilities Show.

See the article here:
HVAC is part of the solution in helping essential services deal with Covid-19 - FMJ