In the home of the future, refrigerators tweet and coffee pots let you know when grandma missed her morning cup. But people willing to pay a price can already live in this sci-fi reality.

Companies are quickly introducing an array of smart home appliances that let you use your smartphone to open your blinds or turn off your lights, and, yes, tweet from your fridge. (Thank you Samsung.)

At Fortune, we waded through the piles of gadgets and gizmos, comparing user reviews and product descriptions, to list seven of the most useful smart home devices on the market. We skipped over some popular products like locks (you can open and close them with your smartphone) and light bulbs (you can turn them on or off or dim them with your phone), because we couldnt find anything hitting the sweet spot in combining automation with simplicity. Heres what did make our wish list.

Image credit: Canary

A consumer survey by research firm IHS found that most desired smarthome device is is something that detects intruders. The second is for a device that detect hazards like fires, water leaks, and carbon monoxide. Start-up Canary kills two birds with one machine by packaging an HD video camera, microphone, motion detector, and a temperature and humidity sensor into a sleek cylinder. When the machine, also called Canary, senses something out of the ordinary happening when youre away from home, you get an alert with video footage and options for responding. Canary, also automatically changes its settings when you get home so the motion detector doesnt go off when you want some late night milk and cookies.

Image credit: Honeywell

Both of these thermostats let you control your home's temperature from anywhere in the world using your smartphone. Furthermore, these two products automatically learn your temperature preferences based on your behavior and adjust your thermostat accordingly. Were not going to take sides on the Honeywell vs. Google Nest debate. Nest fanatics rave about the ease of installation and minimalistic design, while Honeywell fans like the more nuanced control of Honeywell's Smart Thermostat. Honeywell just introduced a new product, the Lyric ($279), which piggybacks off of Nests design, with the additional ability use your smartphones location to adjust the temperature as you come and go in real-time. However, users are saying its still riddled with bugs and to stick to the more useable (but clunkier) Honeywell Smart Thermostat.

Image credit: Nest Labs

Nest Protect is a home fire alarm that will tell you if theres smoke or CO in your house and where its coming from. You can get phone alerts whenever it goes off or when the battery needs to be changed. Better yet, the phone app lets you create an emergency plan ahead of time (because, be honest now, who among us has gotten around to creating an emergency plan?). In the event of an emergency the app will send you a customized list of useful tips. And for those who care about design, it has the sweet minimalism thats characteristic of all of Nest's products.

Image credit: Rainmachine

More:
The 7 Most Useful Smart Home Devices

AMPINDOOROUTDOOR
http://ampindooroutdoor.com is a Painting Company in Concord, NC. Call us at 704-737-5011. We do painting, Trim Carpentry, Ceiling Texture Repair,Carpentry Repairs, Wall Paper Removal #39; Drywall...

By: AMPIndoorOutdoor

Read the original here:
AMPINDOOROUTDOOR - Video

New Holland, PA (PRWEB) September 29, 2014

During October's annual national Energy Awareness Month, experts at Superior Walls recommend focusing on the basement of the home to lay the groundwork for years of savings on energy bills.

"For builders and consumers starting the new home construction process, one of the most important decisions they can make is what type of foundation to have for a home," says Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls. "Building an energy efficient structure starts with the foundation. Choosing a precast Xi or Xi Plus concrete foundation provides 'bottom up' energy savings that can have long-term financial benefits for a homeowner.

Precast concrete panels by Superior Walls are steel-reinforced and created in the manufacturing process with DOW Styrofoam boards, which provide excellent rigid foam insulation. The resulting wall panels provide a dry, warm, damp-resistant and exceptionally energy-efficient foundation for a home.

"Having a dampproof basement does more than just help homeowners save on energy bills, it provides added living space in a home," says Costello. "People with Superior Walls foundations use their comfortable, finished basement space for home offices, family rooms, hobby activities and exercise areas in the home."

Superior Walls insulated precast concrete wall systems have earned the Green Approved Product designation by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center.

For homeowners and facility operators, the benefits of Superior Walls foundations systems are substantial. The energy-efficient walls help lower energy costs and reduce energy leakage while providing increased living and storage space in a comfortable setting. Builders also benefit from saved job site time and labor when certified Superior Walls installation crews set the walls in place in less than one day, so that construction can immediately begin the following day.

Each Superior Walls panel is custom made to the specifications of an individual home, including built-in openings for windows and doors. Pre-engineered access for wiring or small plumbing elements along with smart stud facing for easy drywall installation are included and help speed up the installation process.

For more information visit http://www.superiorwalls.com.

###

Read the original:
2014 Energy Awareness Month: Bottom's Up Energy Savings in the Home

By Mardi Suhs

TUSTIN The quiet museum just off Main Street in Tustin is about to get noisy.

Glen Van Antwerp, president of the Pine River Area Historical Society, wants to shake things up at the museum. The group wants to improve the building and display its contents so they tell the story of Tustin's history.

A mystery donor wants to help. Someone pledged a $10,000 matching gift with a $2,000 bonus if they reach the $10,000 goal within the next nine months.

"We want to do a major upgrade to our building and our displays," said Van Antwerp, a woodcarving artist. "So we are having fundraisers and applying for grants to raise $50,000."

The museum is housed is an old potato warehouse with 5,500 square feet of space.

Right now, it's full of amazing stuff like a 1901 bicycle, a 1945 Dodge fire truck, an old river boat and more.

"We have 5,500 square feet of stuff but hardly any stories," he said. "I want to extract the stories."

Van Antwerp has two friends willing to advise him, both museum curators.

"I want to tell how farm families lived in this area, what kind of work they did," he said. "I want to tell the story of our immigrants...all of these stories. And my target age is 13."

Follow this link:
Mystery donor offers matching funds

A number of 9/11 commemorative events will take place this week around the Susquehanna Valley.

Photos: Unforgettable images from 9/11

1. Patriot Day Sept. 11, 2014, 8:30 a.m., Root Hall at Carlisle Barracks

Sen Pat Vance will join the Army War College to remember the victims and first responders of the terror events of 9/11 and acknowledge the national security professionals, U.S. military, U.S. federal civilians and international officers, who have committed much of their careers to counter terrorism globally. Guest speaker Pat Vance has dedicated a career of service as a nursing professional, a Pennsylvania. House member and, now, a member of the Pennsylvania Senate.

2.American Flags on 8-foot poles West Manheim Elementary School, 2000 Baltimore Pike, Hanover

The Exchange Club of Hanover will display over 450, 3-by-5-foot, American flags on 8-foot poles at West Manheim Elementary School, 2000 Baltimore Pike, Hanover, to remember those that lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001. The flags were put up at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and will remain up until 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 14th.

3. Lancaster Catholic High School Blue Mass Sept. 11, 2014, 10 a.m., Lancaster Catholic High School Chapel, 650 Juliette Ave., Lancaster

Lancaster Catholic will mark September 11th by celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as a LCHS family. We are inviting members of our community, who are first responders or military and their families to join us as we pray in thanksgiving for your service, for your safety and protection, for peace in our world and for the souls of the faithful departed, especially Dennis Cook, on this significant anniversary. While families are always welcome to join us for Mass, if you will be joining us as a first responder or member of the military please inform the Advancement Office at knolt@lchsyes.org or call717-509-0313, ext. 169.

4. York Habitat Gives Tribute on Construction Site Sept. 11, 2014, Windsor

York Habitat for Humanity supporters and veterans will grab their hammers and put on their work boots to help a local, lower-income family realize their dream of home ownership. In honor of those who were lost and those who have served in our military efforts, York Habitat will be dedicating a special build for this year's 9/11 Day of Remembrance. York Habitat will dedicate this special build day to honor those who bravely served and are currently serving our country. The public is invited to share in the ceremony and build a home for a family in need. Two shifts with 10 volunteers each are being offered at York Habitat's Red Lion Area School District project at 101 Schoolhouse Lane. Construction work on this property will continue with the installation of drywall during this Remembrance Day. In the end, this house will be a home for the Moffitt family. Volunteers will work from 8 a.m. to noon and noon to 4 p.m. Ten volunteers are needed for each shift and spots are still available. The build is on rain or shine. Volunteers may register at http://www.yorkhabitat.org.

Read the rest here:
9/11 memorial events in the Susquehanna Valley

When Mark Wermuth first went to the nonprofit Community Food & Outreach Center in Orlando, he was homeless, on food stamps and just starting a 12-step program for alcoholism.

A little more than a year later, the 55-year-old is sober, renting an apartment and working as an information-services technician at the Community Food & Outreach Center. There, he found a paycheck and a purpose.

"When they hired me," he says, "I realized I no longer felt hopeless."

The outreach center, like a growing number of Central Florida charities, has discovered that of all the services it provides emergency assistance, subsidized groceries, a clothing bank, help in applying for government aid nothing has the transformative power of a job.

"It gives them hope and self-esteem and motivation to move forward," says founder Scott George, a pastor. "We've moved from helping with job searches and skills classes to partnering with a food-service company that hires some of our clients. And we're always looking for people who are a good fit here on our own campus."

Pushed in part by the dearth of jobs during the Great Recession, nonprofits have turned to their own version of welfare to work. They are hiring from the pool of people who come to them for help, launching job partnerships with for-profit companies and even creating their own business ventures, staffed with clientele.

The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, for instance, started a mattress-recycling business in 2010 to raise money for its furniture and clothing bank. This year, the charity expects to deconstruct 20,000 mattresses and box springs, selling the various materials to generate $156,000 in profit a quarter of its revenue and providing jobs to people living near the poverty line.

"We hire those that have what we like to call 'undesirable credentials in the corporate world,'" says Executive Director Kathy Baldwin. "They may have something like a misdemeanor drug arrest that can stop them from getting a job."

The charity doesn't hire anyone with convictions for theft or violent crimes, and workers have to show up on time and meet productivity quotas. But the experience can be enough to propel them into a better-paying position elsewhere. All they needed, Baldwin says, was that initial opportunity.

The alternative is staying dependent on others.

Read more here:
Employment becomes Job 1 for local nonprofits

When Mark Wermuth first went to the nonprofit Community Food & Outreach Center in Orlando, he was homeless, on food stamps and just starting a 12-step program for alcoholism.

A little more than a year later, the 55-year-old is sober, renting an apartment and working as an information-services technician at the Community Food & Outreach Center. There, he found a paycheck and a purpose.

"When they hired me," he says, "I realized I no longer felt hopeless."

The outreach center, like a growing number of Central Florida charities, has discovered that of all the services it provides emergency assistance, subsidized groceries, a clothing bank, help in applying for government aid nothing has the transformative power of a job.

"It gives them hope and self-esteem and motivation to move forward," says founder Scott George, a pastor. "We've moved from helping with job searches and skills classes to partnering with a food-service company that hires some of our clients. And we're always looking for people who are a good fit here on our own campus."

Pushed in part by the dearth of jobs during the Great Recession, nonprofits have turned to their own version of welfare to work. They are hiring from the pool of people who come to them for help, launching job partnerships with for-profit companies and even creating their own business ventures, staffed with clientele.

The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, for instance, started a mattress-recycling business in 2010 to raise money for its furniture and clothing bank. This year, the charity expects to deconstruct 20,000 mattresses and box springs, selling the various materials to generate $156,000 in profit a quarter of its revenue and providing jobs to people living near the poverty line.

"We hire those that have what we like to call 'undesirable credentials in the corporate world,'" says Executive Director Kathy Baldwin. "They may have something like a misdemeanor drug arrest that can stop them from getting a job."

The charity doesn't hire anyone with convictions for theft or violent crimes, and workers have to show up on time and meet productivity quotas. But the experience can be enough to propel them into a better-paying position elsewhere. All they needed, Baldwin says, was that initial opportunity.

The alternative is staying dependent on others.

See the article here:
Employment becomes Job 1 for Central Florida nonprofits

Barn Door Drywall Installation
Description.

By: Inez Heglund

View original post here:
Barn Door Drywall Installation - Video

Drywall Installation - How to install drywall - CCG DIY
Ready to learn how to install drywall? Here is a simple video showing you the steps to make you a master just like us here at CCG - Construction Coatings Group. For more videos and information,...

By: Construction Coatings Group

Read more from the original source:
Drywall Installation - How to install drywall - CCG DIY - Video

The Wall-Mounted Standing Desk (at left) offers a simple yet elegant solution to the problem of sitting all day

We've seen lots of standing desks here at Gizmag, including cheap and cheerful cardboard efforts, expensive automatic affairs, and even one that turns any office chair into a temporary compromise. And now we have a standing desk that doubles as a piece of modern art.

The standing desk in question is the descriptively titled Wall-Mounted Standing Desk. It's comprised of a wooden spine which is permanently attached to the wall, with grooves set into it at regular intervals. These grooves are used for the two shelves which turn it into a standing desk; a small shelf is set at head height for a laptop or tablet, with a larger shelf set at chest height for keyboard, mouse, and a beverage of your choice.

The shelves can be placed in whichever groove best suits the individual user, being temporary locked in place using a carriage bolt. When the standing desk is not being used, the shelves can be removed and stored out of sight. This leaves just the spine visible as a conversation starter, that the more creative among us would be able to describe as a piece of modern art.

The wooden spine measures 24 x 3 x 2.25 inches (61 x 7.6 x 5.7 cm), with the lower shelf measuring 23.5 x 15.5 in (59.7 x 39.4 cm) and the upper shelf measuring 11.5 x 15.5 in (29.2 x 39.4 cm).

The Wall-Mounted Standing Desk is available in light or dark wood, and is priced at $245. Drywall anchors and wood screws are provided for easy installation on a range of wall materials.

Source: Gereghty Desk Co.

See the article here:
Wall-Mounted Standing Desk has the spine to stop you sitting