CINCINNATI, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Integrator, Kuecker Logistics Group (www.kuecker.com) recently completed the design and installation of a new 655,000-square-foot distribution center including full case pick modules featuring ResinDek with MetaGard steel flooring from Cornerstone Specialty Wood Products, LLC (www.resindek.com; MODEX Booth 6623). The facility is used by a large retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory for replenishment of its stores.

The four-level pick modules are equipped with a central conveyor on each level to transport picked cases to a centralized merge point. Associates on each level pick a variety of case sizes from pallets during a single shift. When empty pallets are removed from the pick positions, the associates slide them on their ends to designated pallet drop zones.

To save time, money and provide a durable warranted product, Kuecker Logistics Group designed the pick modules with a combination of ResinDek flooring panels; ResinDek with the Gray Diamond Seal 2 finish and ResinDek with the MetaGard galvanized steel finish.

"We've worked with Cornerstone and their ResinDek flooring panels for many years; it's the best flooring product we've installed in pick modules, with high durability and fast installation time, and the best engineering services," said Chase Watt, Site Foreman and Project Manager for Kuecker Logistics Group.

"Before Cornerstone developed the MetaGard finish, we would specify a second layer of steel to be applied on top of the flooring to protect it from the pallets as they're dragged across the surface. It's a common technique in the industry for extreme wear applications," Watt noted. "The disadvantage of that is it's essentially a second installation, which takes more time and adds to the materials and contractor costs. When we saw the new MetaGard finish on the ResinDek panels at a trade show, we knew we wanted to use it in our next project."

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ResinDek flooring panels are designed and engineered specifically for mezzanines, industrial work platforms and pick modules. Backed by a 10-year product warranty, ResinDek panels have the proven structural integrity that supports live and dead load limits from 2,000 8,000 lbs. The MetaGard's steel surface is fused to the ResinDek panel with a proprietary bonding agent. To prevent sharp edges that could cut or snag, as well as providing further protection against delamination, the steel surface encapsulates the perimeter of each panel.

Hard-wearing and skid resistant, MetaGard's finish on ResinDek flooring panels delivers an even more robust surface than concrete. In testing, it's been shown to resist five times more scratches and gouges than concrete in heavily trafficked areas where dirt and debris are not routinely removed, such as 24/7 operations, drop zones, or where heavy loads are dragged across the floor. In both pilot installations and testing the MetaGard dark stainless-steel surface has been proven to withstand more than 2 million passes by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) annually. That equates to more than 20 million passes during its standard, 10-year product warranty period.

Additionally, there is no difference in ResinDek panel thickness, whether the MetaGard finish is specified or not. This ensures a smooth, level flooring surface unlike floors that have an additional layer of steel applied to high traffic areas, which can cause a trip hazard. They are also easy to clean and maintain, as well as reflect ambient light, contributing to a brighter, safer work environment. Unlike concrete, ResinDek panels do not crack, produce dust or require sealing; they are also lighter than concrete, making them faster, easier and less expensive to install. Finally, ResinDek with MetaGard costs less than other metal flooring, including diamond plate and bar grate.

As a system integrator, Watt particularly appreciated the free engineering services and support Cornerstone Specialty Wood Products provides: "Cornerstone gives you an exact drawing of your pick module and your floor layout showing precisely which ResinDek panel goes where. Panels that need to be field cut are clearly marked with instructions about which end should be trimmed. It's essentially a turnkey design that is very easy for a contractor to install quickly; they know the installation is not going to be a headache, and that saves both time and cost."

Further, because the installers Watt used to install the ResinDek panels had not worked with the MetaGard finish before, Cornerstone sent a team to train the contractors for two days to ensure the flooring was installed properly. "That's unbelievable satisfaction from a customer service standpoint. I think it's the best flooring product in the industry," Watt concluded.

For more information, visit Cornerstone Specialty Wood Products' MODEX 2020 exhibit in Booth 6623, or visit http://www.resindek.com.

CONTACT: Sandy BallCornerstone Specialty Wood Products, LLC 234688@email4pr.com513.996.4882MODEX Booth 6623

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/system-integrator-saved-time-and-money-installing-resindek-with-metagard-steel-flooring-in-full-case-pick-module-301009447.html

SOURCE Cornerstone Specialty Wood Products, LLC

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System Integrator Saved Time and Money Installing ResinDek with MetaGard Steel Flooring in Full Case Pick Module - Yahoo Finance

WednesdayFeb26,2020at2:10PMFeb26,2020at2:10PM

NEW BEDFORD Gulf Coast Floor Covering is moving to Popes Island in New Bedford.

The company is relocating its business and home office from Framingham to a leased space in the Bridge Shoppes, according to a press release from Coastal Commercial Real Estate.

The lease is for a ,600 square-foot retail/showroom space located at 191 Popes Island, the release states.

Established in 2015, Gulf Coast Floor Coverings is a family-owned and operated business and offers generations of expertise and years of experience of expert installation and top-quality products sourced from the best brands in the industry, the press release from Coastal Commercial Real Estate states. They look forward to continuing to provide customers with outstanding service at their new location overlooking the New Bedford Harbor.

Neighboring businesses are Popes Island Marina, Niemiec Marine, and Fathoms Bar & Grille.

The lessor, Popes Island Harbor Development Corporation was represented by Richard Stang of Coastal Commercial Real Estate.

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Floor covering company moving to Popes Island - SouthCoastToday.com

Instead of a culinary dream their experience turned into their worst nightmare.

They lost faith in the company soon after the work was completed when they insisted the firms installer just wasnt up to the job.

The units were all out of alignment, the replacement oak flooring hadnt been laid correctly, the dishwasher had been installed with one leg missing, and the worktops hadnt been treated with protective oil before they were fitted.

Maria Cross, 48, and her partner Gary signed up with the Havant branch of Wickes last February, when they decided to enlarge their small kitchen by extending it into their lounge.

Theyd used Wickes to upgrade a bathroom in their previous home and agreed to settle for the firms installer do the work rather than employ an independent tradesman.

Initially they were proposing to spend around 6,000 on the project paid for by an interest-free loan, but they were told to qualify for it theyd have to spend a minimum of 12,000.

After visiting the branch and consulting with the kitchen designers they decided it might be prudent to go for a kitchen improvement plan which would enable them to pay an interest-free loan back over a period of four years.

Maria said: The work was scheduled to start on February 11 last year but the promised two weeks turned into three.

The installer who did the work was a lovely guy but it went into three weeks because he was working alone.

I was in tears after two weeks. The house was in such a mess with dust sheets all over the place and what with me having to go into hospital for surgery it was all just too much and so unprofessional.

He broke utensils in our kitchen and didnt even apologise for it, my partner had to help him carry four solid 600 walnut worktops upstairs that were something like 70kg each and needed preservation oil to be applied.

He said he hadnt oiled them and asked us to do it, but when we pointed out it wasnt our responsibility he agreed to get it done.

We took photographs of them the very next day which clearly showed theyd been oiled post installation which would not get to the joints and potentially invalidate the guarantee.

We were so concerned about the situation we took time out to discuss it with the Havant branch kitchen designer and the store manager.

They expressed disgust that wed been asked to do the work, so we then spoke to the regional manager who took an entirely different line.

He was adamant theyd been treated to specification prior to installation and queried why we were questioning the installers work.

From then on the discussion got rather heated and he refused point blank to talk to my partner because his name wasnt on the contract.

Relations having already significantly soured with the companys regional manager, they were about to get a whole lot worse when just three months later the oak wall-to-wall flooring developed a mind of its own and started separating and moving underfoot.

Initially, hedge fund administrator Maria was assured it was nothing to worry about, because it was simply the wood temporarily expanding and contracting.

Another war of words quickly gained momentum when Wickes concluded the problem was down to a manufacturing fault, but the manufacturer denied any product defect and it subsequently transpired it had been incorrectly laid.

Three further months down the line despite the wood being re-ordered the flooring still hadnt been replaced and in exasperation Maria called in the Dispute Resolutions ombudsman for assistance.

In the meantime more installation faults came to light.

Some of the kitchen unit doors had dropped, and when Gary decided to give the entire project the once-over, to his fury and astonishment discovered their 500 dishwasher had one leg missing and had simply been propped up with wood.

The couples hackles started to rise further when the firms customer relations team expressed ongoing concern about their dissatisfaction but failed come up with solutions when they complained.

Installation management appeared to take a dismissive contradictory tack, leaving their complaints falling on deaf ears and efforts to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution going around in ever-decreasing circles.

Maria decided after the ombudsman wasnt getting anywhere with their complaint it was high time to call in Streetwise to see if we could break the deadlock.

When we got onto Wickes things quickly started to move.

We reminded them theyd a statutory duty to deliver kitchen installation services with appropriate care and skill in a reasonable time.

The response to the couples complaints was atrocious, leaving them in the lurch for months on end with no one taking control of the situation to ensure the bodged job was sorted.

Maria accepted that following negotiations with a Wickes company service specialist, a series of steps were in hand to fix the installation problems.

An apologetic company spokesperson said: Ensuring customers are happy with their installed kitchens is important to us here at Wickes.

Were sorry to hear that the customer was unhappy with the service provided and we are in conversations to ensure that the situation is resolved as soon as possible.

Maria was grateful that there was now light at the end of the tunnel, and the year-long stand-off with the company was nearing closure.

We just didnt know what to do, she said. Wed never come across such a situation before and didnt know how to proceed without your guidance.

For example wed been storing the replacement wood for the floor for six months but no one would come to install it.

Thank you so much for your all your help and assistance.

Read more here:
Portsmouth couple have year-long battle with Wickes to fix wonky kitchen - Portsmouth News

Flooring Domain is a platform that lists flooring service providers in Australia. They match flooring companies with potential clients seeking reliable installation, repair, and maintenance.

(Newswire.net -- invalid date) -- Southport. QLD -- Flooring Domain is a platform that lists flooring service providers in Australia. They match flooring companies with potential clients seeking reliable installation, repair, and maintenance services.

Southport, QLDFlooring Domain has established a new online platform that creates a direct connection between flooring companies and potential clients. The platform offers a space where flooring companies can advertise their services to potential clients. The website also serves as a resource where people seeking reliable flooring companies can shop and compare services and providers through a secure platform.

The website acts as a directory of flooring specialists. Instead of browsing through multiple links searching for the right company, customers can compare different professionals listed on flooringdomain.com.au. Once a customer posts a project on the website, interested service providers generate quotes for the client to consider and approve.

Customers can select the quote that suits their budget and expectations. Flooring Domain seeks to eradicate the uncertainty that people face when looking for repair, maintenance, and installation services. Its extensive database provides a wide range of flooring service contacts. Customers can review various maintenance experts and material suppliers.

The platform has quickly become attractive for many businesses since they each have a fair opportunity to post their services and gain an influx of clients. The platform also reduces the costs that companies incur when marketing and advertising their services. Customers can find flooring experts by checking the companies listed on the website.

The website has a user-friendly interface. Its easy-to-use settings provide convenience for companies forwarding their quotes. This set-up makes it possible for experts to communicate with prospective clients. They dont have to waste a lot of time looking for leads.

This platform has proven beneficial to small businesses operating on minimal budgets because there is no joining or continuous fee required. Its an obligation-free service that new and established companies can use for marketing their services.

Customers have the chance to ask questions and obtain advice from qualified professionals. The contacts of various experts are on the directory, so there are no intermediaries whenever someone wants to communicate with flooring experts.

Flooringdomain.com.au is transforming the way people search for flooring services in Australia. Instead of searching for professionals, customers merely need to post the job and wait for experts to present their quotes. This platform is making service delivery more accessible and more convenient for businesses and customers.

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Flooring Domain Creates Direct Connection Between Flooring Companies and Clients - Newswire

Q: I do all my own home improvements, and Im thinking about installing a new skirted-style toilet in place of my old toilet. Can a skirted toilet replace a standard toilet without changing the rough plumbing setup?

A: Lets bring everyone up to speed on skirted toilets.

Simply put, a skirted toilet means the toilet has a skirted trapway. A skirted trapway covers up all the bends and curves you see on a standard toilet bowl, creating a smooth, sleek side thats easier to clean.

In most cases, skirted toilets can be installed using the same rough plumbing setup as a standard toilet. However, installation can require some drilling and extra mounting work. Some skirted toilets now use new mounting systems that anchor the bowl directly to the toilet flange for an easier install.

Finally, having information like water-line measurements, the type of flooring in the bathroom, and even photos of the old toilet can help you find a skirted toilet that fits you best.

Ed Del Grande:eadelg@cs.com. Ed Del Grande is a master plumber and contractor and is the author of the book Ed Del Grandes House Call.

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Dress up your bathroom with a skirted toilet - Seattle Times

Quartz Construction San Jose, one of the prime providers of home remodeling services, has bettered their bathroom remodeling services and has aimed to beautify the bathrooms in every San Jose household.

Quartz Construction San Jose, one of the major remodeling contractor San Josebusinesses, has taken its bathroom remodeling services a level up and is now aiming to bridge the gap between aesthetics and practicality. The company has been a key player in this sector and considering the feedbacks it has been receiving over the years have been quite encouraging for the management. The bathroom remodeling services that the entity has been rendering has of course been at par with its competitors. Whether its objective to better the services gives them an upper hand or not, that remains to be seen.

Ohad Malul, the chief architect of the bathroom remodeling San Jose CAcompany, is of the opinion that that the kitchen remodeling San Jose CA has had to encounter many a challenge in its long journey so far. "With huge support and affection from our clients, we have been able to cross each and every hurdle. Its never easy to cope with the cut-throat competition that has always tried to dethrone us. With the loyal client base by our side, we have sailed above troubled waters and surged ahead. The management will always remain indebted to the San Jose community for that."

He decided to put some light on how the general contractor San Jose is planning to move ahead as far as its objectives are concerned, Malul stated. "Our customers have no doubt whatsoever in their minds regarding the top-notch bathroom remodeling services that we have been delivering so far. Going by the reports that we have with us, each and every household in San Jose is mighty pleased with our work. Our team of professionals is one of the best in this industry in the recent times and the expertise they have is simply unbeatable. That has made our work easy and thereby, we have captured the hearts of the homeowners."

A senior executive echoed his views and added, We have kept the budget intact and the architecture that we have included would give our clients a feeling of aestheticism, keeping all things practical. Aside from that, our bathroom remodelcompany is also updating plumbing fixtures, installing new flooring, installing lighting fixtures, and replacing countertops, etc.

About the Company

Quartz Construction San Jose is a leading bathroom remodeling San Jose, CA.

To know more, visit: https://quartzconstructionremodeling.com/

Full Address: 1777 Hamilton Ave #1080, San Jose, CA 95125

Media ContactCompany Name: Quartz Construction San JoseContact Person: Media RelationsEmail: Send EmailPhone: 4089662704City: San JoseState: CACountry: United StatesWebsite: https://quartzconstructionremodeling.com/

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Quartz Construction San Jose Bathroom Remodeling Services Are Aimed At Bridging The Gap Between Aesthetics And Practicality - Press Release - Digital...

Toronto made headlines back in 2009 when the City adopted a bylaw requiring the inclusion of green roofs on all new commercial, residential or institutional developments or additions with gross floor areas exceeding 2000 m2. Exceptions or green roof area reductions are permitted with a fee of $200/m2. Other cities Denver, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon have followed suit. New York City is thinking about it.

Regulations notwithstanding, green roofs offer compelling, passive solutions to several environmental concerns. The insulation provided by the soil delivers year-round energy savings and interior noise reduction. The vegetation absorbs carbon dioxides in the atmosphere while offering wildlife biodiversity and habitat. The soils water absorption reduces downstream loads placed on storm water systems. Supporters also point to green roofs as attractive outdoor relaxation spaces for occupants.

On the other hand, buildings owners in some jurisdictions are hesitant due to concerns over the higher costs for installation and maintenance associated with green roofs. They prefer PV (photovoltaics) solar arrays on their rooftops instead. Arrays are a one-time investment with a 25-year lifespan that requires minimal maintenance while contributing positively to the propertys bottom line by creating electricity. Proponents also point to the benefits of the shade provided by the arrays to the rooftop surface in summer, claiming a reduction of the suns heat up to 20 per cent, thus reducing the demand for air conditioning.

However, the choice between a green roof or a PV solar array system does not have to be an either-or decision. There is the BioSolar solution.

Sam C M Hiu of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong has studied integrated green and solar rooftop systems. He says that overall building energy demands are reduced when the two are installed in tandem rather than as stand-alone systems. Furthermore, Hui says that, when installed as a duo, green roofs and PV arrays, can enhance their functions and effectiveness by cooling and shading effects, to the point that PV array systems can deliver more electricity in conjunction with a green roof than when installed singly.

How is this possible? First, the protective shading provided by the arrays reduces soil dryness, which in turn can reduce irrigation requirements for the vegetation. In cold climates like Canada, protection from the arrays significantly reduces plant loss over the winter.

In turn, green roofs add to the installation integrity of the solar arrays. Jelle Vonk, Business Manager for green roof manufacturer ZinCo Canada Inc., says, the green roof can be used to ballast the solar array against wind uplift. Traditional systems are ballasted with heavy concrete blocks (resulting in high point loads) or are fastened to the roof deck (resulting in penetrations through the waterproofing membrane with a higher risk of leakage).

From a performance standpoint, Vonk points to a study comparing surface temperature differences measured on solar panels installed on an exposed bitumen waterproof membrane versus those installed on a green roof. The efficiency of photovoltaic panels depends on their temperature. The greater the temperature of the panel, the lower the level of efficiency, he says. The three-year research test has shown that the temperature of solar PV panels installed on the green roof remained closest to the air temperature, while the solar PV panels on the bitumen membrane were considerably warmer. The result is a difference of four per cent higher efficiency annually.

Theres another matter. As forward-thinking as Torontos green roof bylaw may be, the growing popularity of mass timber construction (MTC) pits the City against Ontario Building Code requirements for non-combustible rooftops that protect roof decks from fire exposure. Green roof vegetation is, after all, flammable.

Practical experience has demonstrated, however, that project-specific design accommodations for MTC are possible, making good use of the otherwise wasted space on roof tops across major cities. Nevertheless, cities with green roof bylaws that also wish to embrace mass timber construction may have to consider reviewing their current regulations.

John Bleasby is a Coldwater, Ont. based freelance writer. Send comments and Inside Innovation column ideas to editor@dailycommercialnews.com.

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Inside Innovation: Is it just a choice between a green roof or PV array? - Daily Commercial News

Massachusetts drivers may want to practice pumping the brakes.

A bill to allow communities to install traffic enforcement cameras ones that would snag shots of a driver running a red light, for instance is heading to the state Senate floor for a debate next week.

If passed, An Act Relative to Automated Enforcement would pave the way for cameras to automatically fine drivers snapped speeding, blocking the box, making illegal right turns, breezing past school bus stop signs, or failing to stop on red.

An amended version has been put forth by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The legislation is slated to go before the Senate on Feb. 27.

In many municipalities today, the crush of traffic makes it impossible for local police to adequately enforce the traffic laws, state Sen. Will Brownsberger, who filed the original bill, wrote on his website. Road safety is deteriorating as too many motorists push red lights, exceed speed limits on residential streets and block congested intersections. Automated enforcement using traffic cameras can help.

The Belmont Democrat says the bill addresses two main concerns that stem from automated traffic enforcement: that violations recorded by cameras would risk individual privacy and that cities and towns would use the system in unreasonable ways to make money.

Heres how the law would work in practice:

The law would grant each city and town the ability to decide whether to install a camera or cameras based off its respective population (more on that later).

Locations could include roads owned by municipalities or those owned by the state, in which case officials would need to obtain permission from state agencies, according to the bill. Local governments can also affix the gadgets to school buses.

Regardless, road signs must let drivers know theyre on camera.

So what exactly constitutes a ticket-able offense?

There are, however, a number of exceptions.

According to Brownsberger, instances that would not be a fineable offense include:

If a rental vehicle is involved in a violation, the company that owns the vehicle is required to provide officials with the information of the person who was renting it at the time so that he or she can be sent the ticket, according to the bill.

Fines generated by cameras would be capped at $25 per violation, according to the legislation even for speeding.

Since cameras would identify alleged violators by license plates, tickets would be sent to the owner of each vehicle. Notices would be required to be sent within two weeks of the violation and must include a photo of the incident and all relative information, including date, time, and location.

Ticketed drivers could either pay the fine or appeal it. They would have 60 days to contest the ticket.

If an owner acquires five unpaid or unresolved violations, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles cannot renew the vehicles registration, Brownsberger wrote.

Not every city or town would be able to install a camera in their community.

The bill mandates that municipalities could only install one camera per every 2,500 residents, which means that, in the states smallest towns, cameras would not be allowed at all. School bus cameras are not included in the limit.

Furthermore, the law would require local leaders to approve each camera and its location only after theyve held a public hearing. Cities and towns must also roll out a public awareness campaign at least 30 days before a camera is installed, according to the bill.

Brownsberger writes that cameras can only charge drivers for the violations outlined in the law, and municipalities must transfer any net profits from the use of cameras to the state and submit an annual report to the Department of Transportation on the use of cameras in their respective communities.

The bill very tightly limits the exposure of motorists and includes other provisions to assure that municipalities will not overuse the new tool, he wrote.

According to Brownsberger, violations cannot create surcharges on a vehicle owners insurance, and also cannot become part of the owners Registry of Motor Vehicles record.

He also says the legislation is crafted to protect individual privacy through several mechanisms.

Cameras, for example, can only take photos of the rear of a vehicle and, to the extent practicable, additional efforts will be made to avoid capturing identifiable images of the occupants or contents of the vehicle, Brownsberger wrote.

Information derived from the camera may not be used by the camera vendor for any purpose other than enforcing violations, he added.

Photographs cannot be used in any court proceeding outside of a related ticket hearing without a court order. The images would also not be considered public record and, within 48 hours after a ticket is disposed, the snapshots would be destroyed.

Pictures could only be taken when a violation occurs.

When Brownsberger was pushing for automated traffic enforcement in 2018, he wrote that the concept could reduce vehicle crashes, but said it also faced legal and political barriers.

Implementation of automated enforcement requires state legislation to define a new procedure for attaching fines to violations, he wrote on his website at the time. The legal problem is that, in the absence of an officer pulling someone over, it is impossible to know who was driving the vehicle. So, we would have to hold the vehicle owner responsible, but there is no current mechanism to do that for moving violations.

Still, Brownsberger recently pointed to the fact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention see these mechanisms as a public health intervention.

He also contended that with limited police resources millions of traffic violations go undetected or ignored every day on the roads of the Commonwealth.

People concerned about over-enforcement and the big brother accumulation of data often also raise questions about how effective the tools are in changing behavior, Brownsberger wrote in 2018. In my mind, the effectiveness depends on practical decisions made in the roll-out. Where are the cameras placed? To what extent do drivers have advance warning? It seems beyond reasonable dispute that a good implementation with fair enforcement goals could change behavior in positive ways.

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A bill to allow red light cameras is heading to the Mass. Senate floor. Heres how the system would work. - Boston.com

Two students, juniors Meg Davis and Rhada Dave, have developed a device to measure water usage in dorm showers. They used an $1,800 grant from the Sustainability, Innovation and Engagement Fund (SIEF) to create a prototype for their project.

The two began envisioning their creation back in spring 2018. After brainstorming ideas for an assignment in their Global Challenges, Scientific Solutions class, Davis, a biology major, jokingly suggested they measure water usage and shower times. Two years later, after countless hours of observation, research and tracking the water flow through shower pipes, the students are soon debuting their product in the Commonwealth Honors College dorm showers. The preliminary data collected suggests that they should be able to reduce water usage in the dorms by about 42 percent.

The testing will take place on three floors, using one floor as a control with no form of intervention in the showers, a second floor with 10 passive intervention posters and a third with 10 active intervention devices. The passive intervention poster is visible to studentsand displays how much water the average shower uses. The active intervention device has a button that students push to start a visual timer tracking the length of the shower and how much water is being used. All 30 showers (passive, active and control) have sensors that are discrete, logging how much water runs throughout the shower onto a microSD card.

Dave, a student on the neuroscience track, says, I thought it was pretty interesting to see if one device could actually have some degree of behavioral change and have that impact a third part, like water consumption.

Over the next couple of weeks, Davis and Dave hope to begin installing the devices in the bathrooms, where they will remain until the end of the Spring 2020 semester. The students hope to continue this project their senior year as a part of their iCons senior thesis.

Editors note: This is part of a series of items about the latest green idea projects around campus to receive grants from the Sustainability, Innovation and Engagement (SIEF) Fund. Launched in 2013, the SIEF program aims to foster sustainability by financially supporting students, faculty and staff who propose projects to promote a greener campus.

The rest is here:
Saving Water, One Shower at a Time | Office of News & Media Relations - UMass News and Media Relations

Like many couples renting in highly desirable and increasingly expensive parts of Brooklyn, Eric Mailaender and Emily Lowe Mailaender waited too long to buy. But with their children, Stella, 9, and Bo, 6, in school in their Cobble Hill neighborhood, they felt tethered to the area.

It was their search for something affordable that landed them in South Slope, uncomfortably close to the Prospect Expressway, which Mr. Mailaender sometimes refers to as my nemesis.

But the circa-1890 house they bought for $1.48 million in 2018 was a gem, a shockingly intact brownstone the likes of which you dont often find these days, he said.

So what if it was near the junction of the Prospect and Gowanus Expressways? Unlike many houses in the area, it hadnt been repeatedly updated and modernized. And as the principal of Resistance Design, a Brooklyn architecture and design firm that emphasizes affordability, Mr. Mailaender, 55, welcomed a chance to do a project on his own terms.

Ms. Lowe Mailaender, 41, a senior vice president at the public-relations agency Rogers & Cowan PMK, was happy to give him free rein. My main request was for something that was fun and not so serious, she said. I didnt want to feel like I was living in my parents house.

Mr. Mailaenders idea was to preserve where it was possible and update where it was essential all on a budget of about $300,000, which for any brownstone would present a challenge.

He embraced the quirkiness of the narrow, 16-foot lot. Most people would have taken the middle wall out, he said, referring to the wall dividing the center hall from the living spaces. But I didnt want to open it up partially for money, but also because I really wanted to retain the original layout.

So instead of large, multifunctional spaces, they wound up with a series of smaller, more intimate rooms. To keep costs down further, the work was done to high standards but not too high.

What I basically told the contractors was I wanted them to correct the big offenses, Mr. Mailaender said. So the boards in the parlor floor that had exposed nails or gaps were replaced by others salvaged from the second floor, which got new flooring.

Repairing millwork and plasterwork can be costly, but Mr. Mailaender found ways to save money there, too. Instead of stripping the wood, an expensive process, he repaired wood surfaces by working a filler into cracks with a trowel, to smooth out some of the age without making them look brand-new. And original plaster details were rescued without replastering entire surfaces: The ceiling medallion on the main floor, for example, was cut out of the plaster ceiling, remounted onto Sheetrock and replaced (along with a custom light fixture he designed).

The upstairs received some updates, including new door hardware and bedroom doors, and a slight reconfiguration that involved moving the bathroom inside the master suite.

Downstairs, modern touches include unexpectedly bold floor tiles in the kitchen and wallpaper in the parlor-floor bathroom, which Ms. Lowe Mailaender chose from options her husband presented.

But much of the budget went toward things no one can see, like work on the foundation, concealing new plumbing inside cleverly designed soffits, and installing modern heating and cooling systems. Mr. Mailaender also replaced the old windows with heavily laminated, double-paned ones, to dampen sound from the highway, and injected foam insulation into gaps around windows and doors. He installed shutters to block the world outside, leaving a view of only the sky.

The result is a home that is intentionally less modern, less open and less perfect, Mr. Mailaender said, than what many designers are doing these days. And thats fine with him. His concept of space has come a long way from his bachelor days, when he lived in a big loft in Midtown Manhattan a ridiculous amount of space for one person, he said.

There is something to the intimacy and scale of being squished in, he said. This is the right scale for a four-person family. All the spaces work just right. Weve enjoyed rediscovering this traditional scale of house. Its something that works very, very well.

And his relationship with the highway? Im at relative peace with it.

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

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Little House on the Highway - The New York Times