A fateful night in 2016 led to the start of a beautiful love story for Tiffany Brown and Wesley Ervin. While they thought they were simply enjoying Cinco de Mayo festivities with their friends, destiny had something else in mind. On their first date, the pair enjoyed dinner at Jacksons Bistro in SoHo, followed by a fun and laidback night of bowling and video games. It was a memorable night, and our companionship took off from there, says Wesley. As they say, the rest is history.

Fast forward to July 6, 2019, when Wesley executed a dreamy proposal. Following a date-night cooking class at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Wesley guided his bride-to-be to the rooftop terrace where their friends and family awaited their arrival. As we were looking for a table, I noticed a private area with balloons. I then saw my fathers face, and I immediately knew what was about to happen, says Tiffany. I began to cry, Wes grabbed my hand, and he walked me over to the area. He handed me a bouquet of flowers, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was perfect.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Ervin!

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To kick off their wedding planning journey, Wesley and Tiffany turned to the planning extraordinaires at Valia Rose Events Joanna Sheppard and Jeneshia Abrams. [They] executed the vision with perfection. In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, they helped us reschedule an entire wedding that Im convinced turned out far better than what the original date wouldve been, says Tiffany. Their talent, vision, knowledge, patience and dedication to their clients is unmatched.

The grand, gorgeous wedding design was the culmination of Tiffanys impeccable style and the knowledge Joanna and Jeneshia brought to the table. Throughout the planning process, Tiffany only had four requests. I knew I wanted a venue with separate spaces for the ceremony and the reception, and a plated dinner was a must-have, explains Tiffany. It was also a must-have to have gorgeous flowers and a DJ that would make sure the reception felt like one big party for us and our guests. From every thoughtful, intentional detail to the explosion of colors and flowers seen throughout the wedding day, this Birmingham wedding was a timeless, awe-inspiring celebration fit for an equally incredible couple.

How stunning are these rings?!

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The grooms details were on point for a COVID wedding day.

Have you ever seen a more beautiful bridal party?

So many parts our day stand out, and there were so many special moments that we will truly never forget, says Tiffany of her wedding day.

Due to COVID-19, Wesley and Tiffany decided to postpone their May 16 wedding to July 24. It was important to us that our guests felt safe, and we felt like pushing the date back was the safest thing to do, says Tiffany. In addition to changing the date, the couple made the tough call to decrease their guest list by over 100 guests. To make their loved ones that couldnt attend still feel connected to their special day, the Ervins livestreamed their ceremony on their wedding website. Additionally, masks were required throughout the night, hand sanitizer was abundant and tables were spaced apart from one another. With help from their amazing vendor team, even these added precautions were carefully curated and fit right into a beautifully cohesive design.

RELATED: What Is A Micro Wedding?

A welcome sign fit for 2020!

The Ervins took several safety precautions to ensure their family, friends and vendors stayed healthy.

Tiffany and Wesley had a heartfelt ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends.

After a sentimental and emotional exchange of vows, guests were invited downstairs for dinner, dancing and lots of celebration. The reception was absolutely stunning and meant more to Tiffany and Wesley than they could have ever imagined. I think we can both agree that the reception was absolutely beautiful, and we had the time of our lives. We danced all night and celebrated with those that mean the most to us, says Tiffany. After so much stress due to COVID, the reception allowed us to take a sigh of relief, sit back and fully enjoy what the day meant for us. And celebrate they did! Friends and family enjoyed a beautiful night full of great music, amazing food and, of course, delicious cake.

RELATED:Planning a 2020 Wedding? Heres What to Expect

Guests were invited to unmask their seat at the reception with this creative seating chart.

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Created by Barbs Cakes, Tiffany and Wesleys cake looks almost too gorgeous to eat.

Sparks were flying literally and figuratively during the couples first dance.

No Southern wedding is complete without a vintage getaway car, and this red droptop Packard from Rob Conrads Classic Cars is absolute perfection.

Tiffanys best piece of wedding planning advice? It is an exciting time, but it can also be a stressful time, she says. Pray together, openly communicate, do what works best for you and your significant other, and cherish each moment.

Thankfully, in the year of cancellations and postponements, love is not canceled. Thanks for taking us through your gorgeous wedding day, Tiffany and Wesley! And thanks to Haley and Tony Minifield of YNOT iMages for the beautiful photos. Cheers to the newlyweds!

Ceremony venue, reception venue & catering: Park Crest Event FacilityPlanner, linens & place settings: Valia Rose EventsPhotographer: YNOT iMagesVideography: AWyattProductionFlowers: Forever Wild Floral CompanyLighting & drapery: Design ProductionsMake-up artist: Sylvia Pro MakeupHair stylist: Plush by Elace MinnifieldTransportation: Rob Conrads Classic CarsEntertainment: B. Brian INCCake: Barbs CakesStationery: Shine Wedding InvitationsBridal salon: Bellas BridalGrooms attire: Miguel Wilson Collection

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Explore more dreamy wedding inspiration in our archives!

Originally posted here:
BHAM's Most Creative COVID Wedding to Date - StyleBlueprint

Timo and Christina Luotonen started building their second house at retirement age. Now they share what they have learned from a project that many acquaintances have wondered about.

White the sturdy red exterior door of the stone house opens into the hallway, from where stairs lead upstairs to the spacious living room. Both the east and west walls of the house are bordered by a large balcony.

We are in Mankka, where Timo, 67, and Christina Luotonen, 69, the house project started in 2018 is nearing completion.

As the entrant steps onto either of the balconies, the eyes are nailed to the house next door. Luoto also feels like his own pockets: the couple built it and managed to live in it for 27 years.

They are often asked: why on earth do you start building a new house in retirement?

The couple has come across skeptics and wonderers many times over the years. Now the question is already a bit amusing.

Thought a new house was born five years ago. The old detached house, completed in 1988, had raised two daughters, but the large house with its yards began to feel laborious. The couple decided to put the house up for sale.

The detached house in Mankka was of interest to many, but there were 78 square meters of building rights left on the plot and an opportunity to take advantage of the old town plan opportunity in the above-ground basement. According to the couples estimates, they would have been sold in the store at a trail price.

Why the building right could not be exploited by themselves, they wonder.

This was done: a buyer was found for the old house, and Luotoet temporarily moved into a terraced house in Laajalahti. They then did the floor design of the new house using a program found online.

When the end result seemed as desired, a qualified architect was hired to help.

Timo Luotonen looks at an old checkered window, behind which he peeks at a teddy bear. Installing the window was a suggested insight from the city.Picture: Kimmo Penttinen

Decision to give up ready-made house packages gave the opportunity to fulfill their own wishes.

These include a Caribbean-inspired high-ceilinged living room ceiling and a sliding door-built pantry built into the kitchen. Loosets use the English name for the closet pantry.

You can conveniently hide the microwave and other small kitchen appliances here, as well as all dry food and canned food, says Timo Luotonen.

Above the pantry is a hundred-year-old checkered window to the attic. From there, the kitchen is guarded by a huge plush. It expects to be able to meet the couples Toronto-based daughters family, which grandparents last saw due to the pandemic at the turn of the year.

The idea of an attic space actually came from the citys building permit handlers vacation substitute. He suggested that the space above the pantry and bathroom could be used as storage space without being out of the living quarters.

Urakan at the beginning, the couple set goals for the project, such as a budget of 250,000 to 300,000 euros and a condition that the house be completed by the end of 2018.

Neither came true. The trip came to bends.

With the permit plans, we had to row and felt with the citys building authorities on both sides.

The contractors were able to start their work almost three months late. Then the summer vacation season began. Some of the contractors stayed on summer vacation, and renting an excavator in July, for example, proved difficult. In addition, the couple found that even though their second house was already under construction, many things had become complicated in 30 years.

At one time, there was a corresponding master on the construction site who was responsible for everything and made sure the building complied with the necessary regulations. In addition, there must now be separate people responsible for air conditioning, sewerage and electricity, says Timo Luotonen.

All of this has its advantages, Luotes thought: More is required of buildings and they make them safe and durable.

Timo and Christina Luotonen were amazed by the confusing pile of electrical wires waiting in the basement of the house when the electrical work had been installed.Picture: Kimmo Penttinen

Then the situation became even more complicated.

The bullets marveled at the electrical wiring pulled into some rooms, where the wires cruising over, under, and around each other resembled a tangled wire basket.

Looking at the installation commissioning inspection papers, Luotoet noticed that the report was signed by a person who had not been seen on site.

According to the credits, this is strange, as the building regulations oblige the person building the detached house to hire separate foremen to supervise the installation of water and sewerage works as well as heating and ventilation. Alongside this, checking the electrical work seemed like a sneak to them.

The creatively drawn electrical wires have amazed Luoto.Picture: Kimmo Penttinen

If there is a fault in the air conditioning installation, the air will stop. If a mistake is made in the drainage, the house will stink. If a fault is made in the electrical work, the fault can be life-threatening at worst.

Eventually, they asked another electrician to inspect the electrical installations.

Building blogs as they read, Luoto was excited about smart homes. Everyday life would be made easier if, for example, lighting and heating could be adjusted with a mobile phone. However, the electrical contractor forgot to install the right parts.

Another strange case was when Luoto found that the Plastic Covers of LED strips mounted on the ceiling of a living room more than five meters high began to fall. According to them, the contractor who installed the LEDs no longer responded to the contacts.

One of the bends is reminiscent of Timo Luotonens second knee, on which an artificial joint was installed last winter. The knee was already worn out, but the last rivet was when Luotonen was injured in an accident at a construction site.

One of the block walls built in violation of the contractors regulations collapsed while Luotonen was working on the site. He dodged narrowly, but hurt his knee badly.

Originally, the intention was to do as much as possible myself. It was made more difficult by the knee and it still hurts.

The new house of the credits is being built next to their old house.Picture: Kimmo Penttinen

House is due to be completed by the turn of the year. The final inspection is not expected until next summer.

A buyer candidate for the house has already appeared, but for now, the couple plans to live in the house themselves. If they sell the house, the couple estimates the sale price to cover the cost of the project well.

This is a good solution for investment, if you do it on a hobby basis, says Timo Luotonen.

But it would be easier to weave socks even if you want to see the trace of your work faster, Christina Luotonen answers with a smile.

Luotoet maintains a construction blog called Pension Pension Espoo on ET magazines website. ET and Helsingin Sanomat belong to the same Sanoma Group.

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View original post here:
HS Espoo | Timo Luotonen dodged a collapsing wall on the site of his dream home It was the tip of the iceberg for the nasty surprises that began to...

Much of the time, the experience of looking at Vincent van Goghs The Starry Night, which hangs in pride of place at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art, involves squinting at it from afar while being jostled by school trips and tourists. Youd be lucky to glimpse the information label let alone tune in to the paintings mysterious mood.

A newfor Americasolution to this frustrating gallery experience is coming to the Indianapolis Museum of Art in June next year. The museum is permanently dedicating the entirety of its 30,000 square-foot fourth floor to immersive digital art exhibitions, of the sort that are increasingly popular in Europe and Asia, but still a rarity in the US.

The first show will be dedicated to van Gogh. Visitors will be engulfed in mesmerizing close-ups of the Dutch masters brushstrokes as 3,000 ultra-high-resolution moving images of his lushest paintings flood the floors, ceilings and walls. The effect is for visitors to feel like they are physically immersed in three-dimensional paintings. The experience will be multi-sensory, explains the director, Charles Venable, who is also CEO of the multi-disciplinary Newfields art site, home to the IMA.

This will be an entirely new experience for most Americans, he told Robb Report. As well as 30-foot tall images where you can see van Goghs individual brushstrokes, we are commissioning a music score, and considering aroma experimentation, so when you walk through a wheat-field painting you can smell the South of France. Were not just talking about putting someones work up on a monitor. One hundered fifty high-definition projectors will beam the images into the space, part of a major investment by Lilly Endowment, the philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical business.

Experiential digital art shows have taken off as popular attractions overseas, notably in Tokyo, where an immersive museum by digital art collective teamLab became the worlds most visited single-artist museum last year, its 2.3 million visitor total exceeding that of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona or Amsterdams van Gogh Museum. TeamLabs work typically involves interactive technicolor displays of kinetic digital images, using LEDs, lasers and projections of original work mixed with details from traditional Japanese paintings. The trippy effect is part nightclub, part conceptual art installation, part childrens party.

The IMA digital galleries, known as The Lume, will be Americas first major gamble on electronic art by an established non-profit museum. I truly do not know of another US museum that is committing a permanent space in their main galleries to the future of digital art, said Venable. Most digital installations are short-lived and funded by private companies, he said. There have been some digital shows in the US in science museums and commercial spaces but generally they have been small and temporary.

This is expected to change as galleries capitalize on the new trend for experiential shows that appeal to younger audiences. A plan to establish a permanent teamLab base in Brooklyns Industry City fell through last year, but the group will exhibit at Superblue, a new commercial art center opening in December in Miami, with accompanying digital installations by James Turrell and Es Devlin.

The Lume will be operated by Grande Experiences, an Australian digital experience company which plans to open a second permanent branch in Melbourne next year, after a long Covid-related delay.

Venable strongly believes that the US, with its quite conservative museum system, needs to innovate to reach diverse audiences. The goal is to reach non-traditional museum goers, he said, pointing out that more than three-quarters of Americans do not visit art museums, and those who do are aging.

We very frequently hear that people dont come to museums with kids because they worry about them being loud, he said. Here, kids can run around and roll on the floor while parents take it all in from a beanbag with a glass of wine. Most galleries dont let you even bring in a bottle of water. Here youll be able to walk around with a van Gogh cocktail.

The choice to open with van Gogh is part of the business strategy, Venable said. Most digital art shows focus on new work, which is also the aim of the IMA. But for an investment of this scale to pay off in the Mid-West, The Lume needs a big-name opener. I am betting on going a bit traditional to start with and eventually growing an audience, Venable said. Eventually the IMA will become a center for commissioning digital art.

Displaying digital versions of analog paintings in an engagingly immersive way could become a popular choice for museums, most of which, according to Venable, have already captured their best art in high-resolution photos, with extremely high captures of pixels that work in huge format projections. So all the digital curator has to do is negotiate rights usage. Valuable paintings need not be taken down and sent on touring exhibitions, with all the concomitant risk and expense.

As an institution, I could not afford to stage a big van Gogh show, said Venable. I cant bring Michelangelos Sistine ceiling to Indiana. But I can give you a better, close-up view of it than you would get from the floor of the Sistine Chapel.

View post:
This Immersive New Van Gogh Exhibition Aims to Bring You Inside the Dutch Masters Works - Robb Report

Protect the health of returning students and staff with these tips and lessons learned regarding HVAC strategies in higher education facilities.

In preparation for reopening higher education facilities, much of the scrutiny in preventing the spread of the coronavirus has fallen on housekeeping and sanitation. How many hand-sanitizing stations does a facility have? Where are they located? What is the new cleaning schedule? How do housekeeping personnel deal with high-touch surfaces?

Increasingly, however, maintenance and engineering managers are going beyond the human interaction aspect of transmitting COVID-19. As instructors and students return to the campus, they are looking more closely at components of HVAC systems that directly and indirectly affect their health and safety. How can HVAC systems prevent the spread of the coronavirus?

Components in the spotlight

It is easiest to view the transmission problems and solutions in the eyes of the occupants: Youre a student returning to school after a long summer. You walk into the classroom and eye the back of the room where you prefer to sit. You make your way to the second last row and take a seat on the aisle. You take a deep breath and start another semester.

Lets focus on that deep breath. As occupants begin filling classrooms, dormitories and conference rooms, the concentration of germs transmitted via the air can increase. As a result, managers need to make sure building HVAC systems and components provide the healthiest building air.

According to ASHRAEs most recent statement regarding the impact of HVAC equipment on the spread of the coronavirus, Ventilation and filtration provided by heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems can reduce the airborne concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and thus the risk of transmission through the air. Here are some components of HVAC systems that have impacts on reducing the spread of the coronavirus.

Filtration. The first and easiest upgrade to HVAC systems is ensuring airstreams use the proper filtration. ASHRAE has recommended upgrading systems with filter media with a filter with a MERV 13-16 rating.

Depending on the types of filters the systems had been using, technicians might need to make a few adjustments to keep the system working properly. If there is an added pressure drop due to the increased filtration, they need to make sure the fans are capable of overcoming this and adjust setpoints as needed. They also might need to adjust the filter-alarm differential- pressure setpoint to prevent nuisance alarms resulting from the added pressure drop.

It is also important to make sure filters are the correct size and are installed without gaps or breaks in the filter area. It is all too common to see air bypass filters through improper installation due to the installation of incorrectly sized filters or the pressure drop high enough that it buckles the filters and causes a break in the filter wall.

Ventilation. When it comes to providing healthy indoor air, the next upgrade to an existing system involves adjusting the outside air rate or volume for each system. ASHRAE suggests increasing outdoor air ventilation by disabling demand-controlled ventilation and opening outdoor air dampers to 100 percent as indoor and outdoor conditions permit.

This upgrade might involve adjusting the sequence of operation and controls programming for these units. Or if the sequence permits, technicians can make a few setpoint adjustments to an economizer mode of operation to allow the damper to open fully. Making the adjustments through the program or front end is always more appealing than overriding the dampers in the field.

Managers need to keep in mind that these units should be able to handle the heating and cooling loads with the added amount of unconditioned air, but technicians need to be sure to trend the temperature setpoints as a double check. As a simple last check, they need to make sure dampers actually open. Some older systems and dampers get used to being at a certain position and will not move if commanded to do so. This check is simple but critical.

Air changes. The third suggested upgrade to an existing system is reviewing the amount of air changes in each space. Air-change rates are typically designed for one to two air changes per hour (ACH) for a typical space. ASHRAE now recommends increasing these rates to four to eight times.

A quick calculation to find the current ACH for a space is: (room CFM x 60 minutes) / volume of the room in cubic feet = ACH. If technicians can make adjustments, they need to keep in mind this requires the system to be rebalanced with the updated airflows. Also, they need to further investigate to ensure the system can handle the added airflow for example, by targeting high-traffic areas or spaces with high turnover rates or multiple occupancies, such as conference rooms, if the system only has a small capacity for increased airflow.

UV-C systems. Another upgrade recommendation includes installing UV-C systems to disinfect the conditioned building air. Managers have many types of these systems from which to select. In-duct systems are popular retrofit options if the correct materials and air characteristics are available in the existing system. The air velocity and temperature are key design factors.

Some UV-C systems integrate in air-handling units with options for placement either upstream and downstream of the cooling coils. Degradation can be a problem for retrofitting projects because many components, such as access door glass and filters, might not be UV-C resistant. ASHRAE has a list of material photo degradation types in standard ASHRAE RP1509.

Humidification. Studies show that air humidity levels influence the spread of airborne viruses, impact the severity of certain respiratory diseases and impact the life or activity of viruses. Low humidity levels increase the survival for viruses that cause respiratory infections, so it is imperative to keep space humidity levels to at least 40-60 percent RH for health, wellness and comfort.

Some humidification systems can be installed in a space and start adding moisture to rooms. Larger humidification systems can be incorporated into a facilitys HVAC system and can keep an entire building properly humidified.

Managers also must make key design considerations when implementing humidification systems in an existing or new building. If the system is installed in ductwork, managers need to ensure the system has minimum straight lengths of duct known as the wetting distance downstream of the humidifier. Room air conditioners might need to be more precisely measured, possibly adding a temperature compensation transmitter, because condensation could form on the inside of windows with the higher humidity levels.

As a cautionary item, managers should avoid the use of ceiling fans, personal fans and space heaters with internal fans. This equipment can push unfiltered air around the space, which is not ideal. Also, ASHRAE recommends running the systems for extended periods of time to keep the air moving in the buildings to provide the opportunity for more filtration.

Read the original post:
HVAC Strategies for Higher Education During the Pandemic - FacilitiesNet

With the advancements of the Internet of Things and whole-home automation, it is surprising that easy management of energy storage systems isnt included in the equation. When a homeowner hooks up a battery, typically only a few circuits are rewired for energy backup. The bedroom lights may not get that emergency power, but at least the refrigerator and air conditioner are still running.

This tends to be the biggest education hurdle for installation companies explaining that the lithium batteries on the market cant actually provide whole-home backup. Morgan Brawner, VP of business development at SunPower by esaSolar, said this conversation is often challenging for the Central Florida installer. Many customers are interested in storage for hurricane-induced grid outages, and they believe one Tesla Powerwall will provide power for the whole home.

Energy storage is not a commodity that can just be quickly added as a line item and forgotten about, he said. It takes some real conversations about how much you can power with one battery. We use a final configuration document when we complete our engineering package that our customers sign that clearly states which circuits we are backing up to ensure there are no surprises on the day of installation.

New generation electrical panels and smart circuits can change that conversation. Instead of only backing up a few loads through a protected loads panel, smart circuits and energy management software allow for load toggling someone can stop supporting the air conditioner for a little while to instead turn on some lights.

A Lumin system with a Tesla Powerwall on a ReVision Energy installed project

That ability to choose or automate which circuits to support with energy storage is a major selling point of the hardware/software combo of Lumin. A physical box installed next to a homes electrical panel, Lumin allows for whole-home backup (on varying schedules) by making all circuits smart. Through an app, system owners can manage their energy usage and protect their batteries from prematurely running out of juice.

SunPower by esaSolar has installed Lumin on about one-quarter of its battery projects and expects that number to climb as the storage market continues to grow. Brawner described Lumin as a game changer for homeowners to better connect the monitoring experience with real-time usage behavior. Rather than just monitoring the battery, Lumin can actually manage use.

I think the future of PV and energy storage will involve a lot more innovations in smart energy management to provide better transparency to energy behavior trends and home energy use, he said.

Lumin launched in 2016 as a way to advance the adoption of green energy by improving the technology of tried-and-true breaker panels. Instead of replacing the homes breaker panel with a brand new configuration, Lumin is a simple add-on that works with any battery brand and electrical panel, said company co-founder and CCO Kevin OShea.

Replacing an existing breaker panel with an entirely new one is very costly in terms of time and labor before you even add on the cost of the product itself, he said. Our approach allows us to meet the market demand for smart and responsive load control without that large upfront cost.

Span Smart Panel

Another product in the nascent smart circuit market is Spans electrical panel. Unlike Lumin, the Span Smart Panel replaces the traditional circuit breaker panel to become the primary energy and control hub for a home. Instead of juggling the upkeep of two boxes, Span makes all circuits smart at their source.

Launched in select markets in 2019, Span provides smart customization for 32 circuits. When power goes out, the Span Smart Panel isolates the house and allows the customer to control important loads via a smartphone app. Span, which is led by executives and engineers previously with Tesla, Amazon and Sunrun, has established relationships with LG Chem and Panasonic, with the battery companies offering Span as a packaged deal. The panel is currently available in California and Hawaii, with new markets coming soon.

Self-sufficiency and control within the home are top of mind for many homeowners with power outage concerns now compounded by coronavirus shelter-in-place orders, said Span founder and CEO Arch Rao in a press release. Last fall, power outages affected millions in California, and shutoffs are starting again as utilities perform precautionary maintenance in fire-risk areas. We developed the Span smart panel to give homeowners greater energy independence in the face of these growing challenges. With Span, they have greater control over their home energy, especially when they need it most.

While its true that battery companies offer monitoring through their own apps, they dont give the user any control. A smart circuit setup can monitor charging levels while also providing load control. OShea said the Lumin system remains on watch mode to automatically govern loads. It makes sure the homes microgrid doesnt prematurely run out of backup power or exceed the batterys output rating something that many end-users dont give a second thought.

A Lumin installation with a SimpliPhi energy storage system by Sigora Solar

Imagine driving a car without a fuel gauge. Whats more, the car starts driving itself whenever the power goes out, regardless of how much gas is in the tank, OShea said. You just spent [upwards of] $20,000 on a battery backup system to make sure the car doesnt run out of gas. It really isnt acceptable to leave it up to chance whether or not that car runs out of gas, especially given that it starts itself and runs automatically when the power goes out.

OShea said its the responsibility of energy management technology like Lumins to protect customers from running out of gas unexpectedly or too quickly.

Both Lumin and Span have met the UL standard for energy management equipment (UL 916), while Span also passes UL 67 as a regular electrical panel. The next hurdle for these smart circuit companies is wider market adoption. Brawner with esaSolar thinks thats only a matter of time.

For PV monitoring, homeowners want to see insights on if their system is producing power and if there are any issues. After a few months, it becomes like watching paint dry. For storage, the monitoring applications are very much the same, Brawner said. That is the problem that Lumin solves. For a homeowner, the Lumin is providing real-time engaging information to bridge the gap between technical monitoring and home energy use.

Here is the original post:
Smart circuits hold the key to true whole-home backup - Solar Power World

life-style, life,

As summers become hotter, and weather events become more unpredictable, Australians need to change the way they keep homes cool. Installing insulation is one of the most valuable investments as it will keep homes cool in summer and warm in winter helping to save money on energy bills. Insulation creates a barrier that resists the transfer of heat energy coming in and out of the home through the floor, walls and ceiling, known as the "R-value." The higher the "R-value" the more effective the insulation. Earthwool insulation is also sustainable made using up to 80 per cent recycled glass, providing inherent thermal, acoustic and fire performance. Importantly, the insulation is made with ECOSE Technology, which is a renewable, bio-based binding material with no added formaldehyde or petro-based chemicals. Keeping the home cool is the most important benefit of insulation. A council initiative in Birdsville, Queensland, where summer temperatures regularly soar to 40 degrees, put Earthwool insulation to the test. The following year the average participating homes in Birdsville saved more than 20 per cent on energy bills and were less reliant on cooling appliances. While installing insulation is often undertaken by professionals, the super soft, low-itch qualities of Earthwool make it a suitable product for capable DIYers. Earthwool Ceiling insulation can be a good place to start, coming in a range of R-values to suit different energy requirements. It's available in pre-cut rectangles at either 430mm or 580mm widths to suit most ceiling joist centres. Knauf Insulation technical product manager, Guy Manthel, offers the following advice: For more information go to http://www.earthwool.com.au.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/hAYf5uV8h5f2xWYCvhVdDZ/9b9ba1b0-bd53-4632-b030-ba1418b3b4db.jpg/r5_219_2394_1569_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

September 30 2020 - 9:30AM

As summers become hotter, and weather events become more unpredictable, Australians need to change the way they keep homes cool.

Installing insulation is one of the most valuable investments as it will keep homes cool in summer and warm in winter helping to save money on energy bills.

Insulation creates a barrier that resists the transfer of heat energy coming in and out of the home through the floor, walls and ceiling, known as the "R-value."

The higher the "R-value" the more effective the insulation. Earthwool insulation is also sustainable made using up to 80 per cent recycled glass, providing inherent thermal, acoustic and fire performance. Importantly, the insulation is made with ECOSE Technology, which is a renewable, bio-based binding material with no added formaldehyde or petro-based chemicals.

Keeping the home cool is the most important benefit of insulation. A council initiative in Birdsville, Queensland, where summer temperatures regularly soar to 40 degrees, put Earthwool insulation to the test. The following year the average participating homes in Birdsville saved more than 20 per cent on energy bills and were less reliant on cooling appliances.

While installing insulation is often undertaken by professionals, the super soft, low-itch qualities of Earthwool make it a suitable product for capable DIYers. Earthwool Ceiling insulation can be a good place to start, coming in a range of R-values to suit different energy requirements. It's available in pre-cut rectangles at either 430mm or 580mm widths to suit most ceiling joist centres.

Knauf Insulation technical product manager, Guy Manthel, offers the following advice:

More:
Prepare the home for every summer to come with insulation - The Canberra Times

Youngsters visiting the Fairbanks Childrens Museum will be able to scramble as high as the ceiling after a newly-designed giant climbing exhibit is installed.

Its like an indoor treehouse, said museum director Meredith Maple-Gitter. It is going to be a super exciting project.

The exhibit was made possible by a $75,000 donation from Usibelli Coal Mine in 2018. A $7,500 grant from the Alaska State Museum Grant-in-Aid program paid for design of the exhibit.

Lots of museums in the Lower 48 have exhibits very similar to this, Maple-Gitter said. We see them when we visit other museums.

Former museum director Brenda Riley got the ball rolling back in 2018.

She started working with a guy named Leon Smith, Maples said. He designs playground equipment down in Portland.

An added benefit Smith is from Fairbanks originally and now operates Puddletown Playworks in Portland, Ore. He specializes in creating play environments for children.

The delay in installation of the project was caused by the uncertainty, for a period of time, of whether the museum would stay at its current location or move to a new spot. Once the decision was made to remain at 302 Cushman St., Suite 101, the climbing project moved forward.

The climbing exhibit yet to be named will be 18-feet wide and 181/2-feet tall.

Its two stories high and extends into the ceiling a little bit, Maple-Gitter said.

The structure will be made out of locally-sourced wood - spruce logs from Fairbanks. The exhibit includes a little log cabin playhouse and a nest made out of willows that serves as a small sensory room. Rope netting is in place for easy climbing, including a spiral net climb. The exhibit also includes spiral stairs, a spruce post forest and a tree traverse with a net floor.

Theres lots of room for kids to play underneath the structure, which helps to limit its footprint, Maple-Gitter added.

The climbing wall, currently at the museum, will be incorporated into the structure.

Before this, the newest exhibit was the child-version of a veterinarian clinic, which debuted last year.

There was so much excitement over that, Maple-Gitter said. It really pushed us forward because we knew we had funding on deck. Seeing our community engage in something totally fresh and new made us eager to actually make this happen.

Building will begin in early December and covid-permitting, with safety measures in place, the museum plans to reopen in January 2021.

The museum closed its doors on March 13, due to the coronavirus. It also paused all family memberships, so families can pick right up where they left off in January 2021.

Its the right time, she said. Its going to be really exciting.

Reach columnist/community editor Kris Capps at kcapps@newsminer.com. Follow her on Twitter @FDNMKris.

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New climbing exhibit to be installed at children's museum; museum plans to reopen its doors in January 2021 - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Los Gatos Town Plaza Park, which holds a regular farmers market as well as outdoor concerts and plays, is two blocks away, while the highly ranked Los Gatos High School is about half a mile away. Downtown San Jose is a 20-minute drive, and San Francisco is about an hour north.

Size: 2,525 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,182

Indoors: A white picket fence separates the front yard from the street. Like many Victorian houses, this one was originally painted in bright colors and trimmed with gold leaf; a previous owner painted the facade white with black trim.

The front door opens into the main living room, which has windows facing the front and side of the house, refinished hardwood floors and original crown moldings. A wall originally separated this space from the parlor, which has a separate entrance, but the current owners shifted the floor plan so the rooms face each other.

A doorway in the main living room leads to a dining room with intricate crown molding, slate-gray wainscoting and gray-and-white botanical wallpaper. Beyond the dining room is an airy kitchen with a pressed-metal ceiling, a silver-and-red-enamel range and a center island.

A winding staircase leads from the kitchen down to the lower level, where there is a family room with doors out to the backyard. Two guest rooms are on this level, plus two bathrooms (one is a powder room; the other has a claw-foot tub).

Off the parlor is a hall that leads to the kitchen and has a staircase up to the second floor. Turning left at the top of the stairs leads to the primary bedroom, which has a peaked ceiling and windows facing the side and rear of the house. Across the landing are two guest rooms; one is currently in use as a home office, while the other has space for two single beds and a play area. The bedrooms on this level share a bathroom at the end of the hallway. An update by the owners included the installation of a large walk-in shower with glass walls, a black marble-tile floor and a wooden vanity.

Outdoor space: Mature trees are planted along the sidewalk in front of the house, creating shade in the front yard. More line the backyard, which is landscaped in grass. Across from the main house is a guest cottage painted in the deep greens and bright pinks of the Victorian era. Inside are a bedroom and a bathroom, plus a small kitchen with a pressed-metal ceiling. The driveway has space for two cars, and additional street parking permits can be bought from the city.

Taxes: $35,820 (estimated)

Contact: Matthew Paulo, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 408-396-9875; mattpaulo.cbintouch.com

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.

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$3 Million Homes for Sale in California - The New York Times

For 60 years now, a tropical forest has lived in St. Louis, capped off by a botanical bubble that serves as a beacon for the Missouri Botanical Garden.

A thousand guests gathered on Oct. 1, 1960, for the dedication ceremony of the Climatron, the worlds first geodesic greenhouse.

"Our life will remain endurable and desirable only so long as we remain in contact with nature," Detlev W. Bronk, president of the National Academy of Science, told the crowd.

The 70-foot tall dome, 175 feet in diameter, covers more than half an acre with 2,425 panels of heat-strengthened glass. It has no interior support or columns that go floor to ceiling. With an average temperature of 64 degrees at night and 85 degrees during the day, its favorite year-round attraction. LED lights were installed in the Climatron in 2018 for the nighttime event Flora Borealis, and now the beacon can beckon in a rainbow of colors. It will be glowing Wednesday and Thursday night this week for the 60th.

The Climatron closed for three months this spring and summer as staffers worked inside to make it navigable during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened in August.

As the weather cools during its birthday week, visitors will once again seek out the Climatron for an escape to the tropics, right here in St. Louis.

Excerpt from:
Happy birthday to the Climatron! Take a look through 60 years of pictures. - STLtoday.com

This post is part of a series sponsored by The Detection Group.

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Read more:
Gravity is NOT Your Friend. But the Chase for Water Leaks is Over! - Claims Journal