Onions: To Eveleth-Gilbert school board chair for her bias in letting people or other board members tack at meetings. It sure seems that she and the clerk have an agenda and no other board members are allowed to have another opinion. This is clearly shown at the Athletic Committee meeting where she scolded one member for getting off topic. Must be a board of two. Everyone else must not oppose.

Onions: Why in the world is there still a stop sign where Parkville Road meets 102 by the C.N. tracks? No traffic can come from the west because of a rock blockade and striped barricades. Take that stop sign down already!

Onions: To the Minnesota D.M.V. and their high license plate fees. To add insult to injury, when you buy a new vehicle you dont get a full year out of your new plates. I bought a new vehicle on March 31. When my new plates came Feb. was the expiration month. They charged me almost $400 for 11 months. They cheated me out of one full month. That is wrong.

Orchids: And Easter Lilies to Make it Mondays after school program at Messiah Lutheran Church. The Holy week booklets the students made are awesome. What a good opportunity for kids! (Submitted by a Grateful Grandma)

Orchids: To all of the staff at the Virginia Hospital especially the Doctors and Nurses in the ER. Thank you. (Submitted by Helen Pulkinen and Maria Kinler)

Orchids: To Sundell Eye Associates for their expert cataract removal and eyeglass fitting. (Submitted by Miriam Jones)

Orchids: Much thanks to the person who left an Easter Lily in my front porch with no name. May the Lord Bless you especially during this Easter Season. (Submitted by Joan Schaefbauer)

Onions: To the Gilbertans crying over the city councils decision against donating to the third of July celebration. Councilors are only as bright as the people who elected them. Residents slept while past and present councils irreverently squandered tax payers money, bankrupting the coffers. You cant get blood out of a turnip.

Orchids: To the IRRRB for finally replacing Troon with a hopefully better management company Bill Casper Golf. It was a much-needed change. I hope you continue to make changes and look hard at the staff you have running the facility. Onions for not drug testing all employees who run state owned equipment.

Orchids: Here is some information the Gilbert City Council can use. A friend told me, that because of Minntac. Mountain Iron receives about an extra $300,000 in grants every year for the IRRRB to spend on city improvements. Gilbert has an Arcelor-Mittal taconite mine to the northeast. Gilbert should also get a large amount of extra yearly grant money for the IRRRB. The Gilbert City Council should do some inquiring real soon to receive its share of extra taconite grant money.

Orchids: A colorful palette of Orchids to Marion DeLage for opening up Art Expressions art studio in Biwabik. She has created a beautiful place for everyone to come to and try their hand at creating personal treasures. Everyone is welcome and even if you dont think you have any artistic abilities, Marion will be there to help you create a memorable piece to share with friends and family. There are no judgements there, no malicious gossiping or back-biting. People are there to have fun. Her encouragement and instruction help everyone who comes in the door. She has classes for all ages, genders and walks of life. I have watched her interact with both adults and children to a degree that is heartwarming. Marion is offering an outlet for warmth and laughter for all ages. I truly believe she is providing therapy for the everyday person so bogged down with todays issues and personal struggles. Great job Marion!! We love you and what you are providing to the area.......Everyone, go to her Facebook site, Art Expressions and see what is being offered and come to the studio for laughter, fun, creation, relaxation and therapy!! (Submitted by a Grateful Client)

Onions: To Mayor Cuffe and the Virginia City Council; a 19 percent increase in property taxes, a proposed $20 a month surcharge on our utility bills for the relocation of utility lines because of the Highway 53 bridge, main street looks like an abandoned ship wreck, biggest concern of the city is the Miners Memorial Building renovation, all this while streets and infrastructure falls apart. What is going on folks? (Submitted by a Virginia Resident longing for the days of Mayor Carolyn Luoma Gentilini, When We Had a Real Leader!)

Orchids: To all the Eveleth Elks Members who volunteered their time to cook and serve Tuesday Burgers during the past year. If many volunteer a little time, the work doesnt fall on the shoulders of just a few. The kitchen committee appreciates all those who have given their time and worked in the kitchen. (Submitted by Eveleth Elks Kitchen Committee)

Orchids: A giant batch of red, white, and blue orchids to Tracy LaBarge of Tracys Sewing and Alterations for her patriotic assistance to the Mesabi Range Post of the VFW. Tracy has stitched edged of U.S. Flags to preserve their longevity. She has provided assistance in preparing Color Guard Uniforms for V.F.W. members. The members of VFW Post 1172 salute her for her spirit of Americanism. (Submitted by Members of VFW Post 1172)

Orchids: A sincere thank you to E and T Landscaping and Plowing Inc. for keeping our parking lot plowed all winter. It was a long winter with a great deal of snow and knowing we would be taken care of was a great relief. We knew how busy they were but every time it snowed someone was here to help us out! Your thoughtfulness is so greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support. From the entire staff at the Mesabi Humane Society.

Orchids: Thank you to Brian Pazzelli of North Country Heating and Cooling for donating the installation of new duct work in our dog kennel area. Also, thank you to Rick and Dave for working so hard and getting the job done rather quickly. This is the second time that we were fortunate enough to receive help from this great group of guys! Your generosity is sincerely appreciated. (Submitted by all of us at the Mesabi Humane Society, Especially the Dogs!)

Orchids: Bags and bags full of orchids to Miners, Inc., and their Super One stores in Biwabik and Virginia for collecting plastic bags and then shipping them to a center where they are recycled and processed. Not just collected and thrown into the local landfill.

Orchids: What a wonderful show!! The Country show at Mountain Iron School on the 2nd Saturday of every month for $7. 2 1/2 hours of great local entertainment. The Band (40 Below) and Bittersweet were great. Mark your calenders for this entertainment every month. To visit with friends and neighbors and listen to great music. The Saturday night live gives monies to our local music departments at the schools. (Submitted by Donna Perrault).

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Orchids to Easter Lily, Super One, North Country Heating - Mesabi Daily News

Renovation efforts are moving along on the old fire house that a Glynn County Commissioner is leasing from the city of Brunswick as headquarters for his and other local nonprofits.

The old Brunswick fire station on Albany Street has been vacant and untouched for years. A circa 1920s firetruck currently located at the facility will remain in one of the bays.

"We got the heating and cooling replaced," said Glynn County Commissioner Allen Booker about the space he's preparing for his Rebuilding Together of Glynn County. "Volunteers from the Well, (a homeless ministry) and the Salvation Army, helped with our cleanup in March and did a great job. We didn't have to do much with the electrical."

Booker added that one of the bay doors will be walled-off and the other one replaced in about 10 days.

He's also looking for a plumber to replace the hot water heater, install a couple of new toilets and a kitchen sink. Booker is looking for plumbers and can be contacted at (912) 398-9923.

The Brunswick City Commission, in March, approved a lease for $1 per year that will allow Booker to use the old fire station on Albany Street as headquarters for his nonprofit, Rebuilding Together of Glynn County. The lease payment is in consideration with the renovations that need to be made to the property at 2129 Albany Street.

Booker is the executive director and founder of the local Rebuilding chapter, which uses volunteers and donations to make home repairs for people in need. The group is already making home repairs for qualifying low-income, elderly and veteran homeowners in Glynn County. A new apprenticeship program designed to offer youth hands-on experience will also be part of the programs offered.

The Environmental Justice Advisory Board will also occupy the space.

Booker said Friday that Lowe's provided the organization a $15,000 grant to make repairs on a local disabled veteran's home.

"We'll be moving forward on his home repairs and weatherization in the next 60 days," Booker said. "We'll be doing weatherization in partnership with the Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority. We also received a $3,500 grant from Hello Goodbuy, (a local thrift store)."

June 3 is the final rehab day. Honeywell and volunteers will be on hand. Anyone who would like to volunteer their skills with painting and other tasks can contact Booker or Pastor Darrell Dawson, Bright Star Baptist Church, 263 Sweet Gum Drive and rehab specialist with Rebuilding Together.

Booker said the organization is also in need of building materials.

"We're also planning to launch a safe and healthy homes initiative for local seniors," Booker said. "Through that initiative, we'll be putting in grab bars and wheel chair ramps and we're in need of donations for those projects as well."

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Fire house renovations underway for nonprofit residency - The News (subscription)

Rogue River Elementary School's East Campus only has a boiler room providing heat to the school. With a new bond, the school district hopes to install a new HVAC system so the classrooms get adequate heating and air conditioning. (KTVL/Mike Marut)

Rogue River, Ore. - Rogue River Elementary School's East Campus has a heating ventilation and air conditioning system built back in the 1960s.

"At this point, there's no cooling," Janel Reed, principal of the elementary school, says. "In the summer months or in the spring when it starts to get really warm, our building holds in the heat."

Students notice the huge temperature fluctuations throughout the year.

"When you're cold, at first you feel 'I'm so cold!' and then when you go to hot I'm like 'haaa' but then it's too hot! I don't really like it," Amberlea Kramer, a 2nd grade student at the school, says.

One long-time teacher says she takes precautions in the warmer months.

"Usually I get to school between 6:00 and 6:30 [in the morning] and I put fans in all my windows," Donna Olympius, a 2nd grade teacher, says. "I put a fan in the door. I start sucking all the hot air out. It's like a sauna in here - it's very unbearable."

Olympius has been teaching at Rogue River Elementary for 25 years. Every year, she battles the room temperatures to keep her students focused on learning.

"The students have a really hard time coming in and diving into math where you really want them to be concentrating so we have to try and mix it up," Olympius says. "I buy Popsicles, bring Popsicles in. We take Popsicle breaks."

This bond could create a longer-term solution than the Popsicle breaks. A majority of the bond's funds would go towards installing a new HVAC system in the school.

"At the time the system was built, there wasn't as much attention paid to cooling the air or circulating the air," Paul Young, the superintendent for the Rogue River School District, says.

To replace the system, residents can vote for Measure 15-169 on May 16th's ballot. The bond is worth $3.335 million dollars over the next seven years if passed.

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Rogue River School District hopes residents vote for $3.335 million ... - KTVL

ALPHARETTA, Ga. On the heels of brand-new air conditioning product launches, LG Electronics is reinforcing its deep commitment to the future of the HVAC industry by introducing the LG Technology Roadshow a unique LG mobile showroom on wheels providing customers across the U.S. an opportunity for a hands-on experience with LGs latest air conditioning technologies.

Last month, LG unveiled the future of the connected building with the launches its new controls platform, LG MultiSITE, with the goal of supplying building owners the tools they need to make the best operational choices for their businesses and bottom lines. LG also launched the Multi V 5, the new flagship product in LGs air-source variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, which not only has reduced space and weight requirements, but also helps to reduce installation costs.

Both innovations will be featured in the LG Technology Roadshow, which will be touring the U.S. throughout 2017, starting in California. The 30-foot-long mobile showroom, which displays more than a dozen air conditioning innovations, is designed to help educate engineers, contractors, architects, and building owners across the country about advances in commercial and residential comfort systems.

The LG Technology Roadshow demonstrates our unparalleled commitment to both our customers and the future of the HVAC industry. We look forward to enabling potential customers to experience our technologies firsthand and understand how they can improve every installation, from retrofits to new builds, said Kevin McNamara, senior vice president, Air Conditioning Technologies, LG Electronics USA.

Kicking off last month in Los Angeles, the roadshow is scheduled to make stops this spring in Bakersfield, Fresno, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, and Sacramento, California; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Reno, Nevada; and Irving, Texas. It will move east for the remainder of the year.

The roadshow features 15 of LGs most sought-after technologies, including outdoor units, indoor units and controls:

LG MultiSITETM Controls Suite

The LG MultiSITE Controls Suite represents the future of controls for the HVAC industry. Launched at AHR Expo 2017, the LG MultiSITE Remote Controller, LG MultiSITE Communications Manager, and LG MultiSITE VM3 Building Management Solution empower operators to take control of their buildings in ways that were not previously possible.

The LG MultiSITE Remote Controller features a highly intuitive, customizable user interface that allows system managers to configure functionality and home screen appearance to meet the needs of a specific zone. The LG MultiSITE Communications Manager integrates the power of LG VRF technology into an existing third-party building management system, directly integrating with a VRF system and eliminating the need for a gateway. The LG MultiSITE VM3 building management solution maximizes the sophistication of control in each building system for cohesive building operation and synergistic performance.

LG Multi V 5

The new flagship product in LGs air-source VRF systems, Multi V 5, represents the next generation in the popular LG Multi V family. The LG Multi V 5 is available from 6- to 42-tons, with a choice of three-phase 208V, 230V, or 460V electrical power as heat recovery/heat pump outdoor units. New to the Multi V line-up are the single frame 16-, 18-, and 20-ton units. The 20-ton unit represents the largest tonnage single frame on the market today. As a smaller and lighter solution, the Multi V 5 20-ton not only reduces footprint requirements, but also helps to reduce installation costs.

While the footprint of the Multi V 5 has been reduced, its performance has increased. Building upon Smart Load Control of the Multi V IV, the Multi V 5 features Advanced Smart Load Control which proactively addresses the impact of pending weather changes ensuring optimal comfort for all of the building occupants. The Multi V 5 also features LG Intelligent Heating technology that defrosts as needed rather than responding once frost has reached a preset point. On top of active response capabilities, the Multi V 5 also features a new biomimetic fan design that draws from natures design and enables the unit to operate more efficiently and increase airflow while reducing the perceived noise level by approximately 20 percent.

Art CoolTM Premier

LGs Art Cool Premier wall-mount duct-free split system is a quiet outdoor unit that features an inverter compressor, which consumes less energy than conventional air conditioners. The inverter compressor ramps up or down to match the outdoor temperature load and provides precise control based on the each rooms set point. When the selected temperature is reached, the inverter compressor operates at a low speed to maintain comfort level instead of continuing to cycle on and off, using less energy.

Earning the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2016 designation, the LG Art Cool Premier system also features LGRED High Performance Heating with low ambient heating operations down to -13 Fahrenheit, ensuring continuous operation and efficient performance during even the coldest winter months. It boasts one of the highest SEER ratings in its class and works seamlessly with the LG Smart AC, allowing the end-user to wirelessly connect, control, and monitor the indoor units full array of functions and features through an intuitive smart phone app.

Art Cool Gallery

LG provides owners the opportunity to express an individual sense of style while cooling or heating their space with the duct-free Art Cool Gallery. This innovative indoor model allows the user to display an image in the customizable frame. The Art Cool Gallery is compatible with single and multiple zone outdoor units.

Key features of the Art Cool Gallery include remote control operation, quick and easy installation, natural air flow, and auto operation modes. It maintains a quiet sound for both indoor and outdoor units. The LG Art Cool Gallery Inverter duct-free split system provides both comfort and a stylish aesthetic for all-season comfort.

Art Cool Mirror

The Art Cool Mirror indoor units have a flat panel with a charcoal mirror finish to complement any design aesthetic. It integrates a motorized guide vane that allows the control of airflow from side to side, as well as a motorized louver that can automatically change airflow by directing the air up and down for a uniform air distribution.

For more information, visit http://www.lghvac.com.

Publication date: 4/14/2017

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LG Roadshow Brings Advanced Air Conditioning Technologies to Customers - ACHR NEWS

The construction on Mac Field will culminate in the installing of geothermal wells, which will allow for eco-friendly heating of the new HSCC. Photo by Mayu Sakae.

By Kate Irwin irwinkat@grinnell.edu

Grinnell students returned from spring break to find the perimeter of Mac Field surrounded by a fence and covered in mechanical equipment. To many students, this new construction site was a surprise.

To compensate for the loss of Mac Field for intramural sports, such as Ultimate Frisbee, Facilities Management has been working with the Athletic Department to find a new place for teams to practice. The area they found is east of the softball fields, making it accessible for student use. Unfortunately, Mac Field will not be usable as an intramural field until the fall of 2018, due to the growing season of the grass.

Currently, Mac Field is under construction for a geothermal well field for the Humanities and Social Studies Complex (HSSC). The new HSSC will be heated by these geothermal wells, as will several other buildings on campus. Mac Field was selected, as this is the only area of land on campus that is large enough to install the necessary amount of geothermal wells in order to properly heat the HSSC.

The whole idea is to make the HSSC as environmentally friendly as possible, so were using geothermal technology, Rick Whitney, Vice President of Facilities Management, said.

Geothermal technology is incredibly environmentally friendly. It allows for heating and cooling to happen simultaneously, making the process extremely efficient. It uses around half the amount of energy as a traditional system.

The project is already underway, as several wells have currently been placed in Mac Field. There will be underground lines between the HSSC and the well field and this construction will begin towards the end of this April. There will also be an underground vault that will be finished during the later months of summer.

Soon after the construction finishes, the restoration of Mac Field will begin. In addition to the standard restoration process, a grade will also be established, making water drainage more efficient.

The idea to use geothermal technology is one example of the College enacting its commitment towards sustainability.

[The idea to use geothermal technology started due to] the design of the building and our pursuit of being as ecologically friendly as we could with this large facility being almost 200,000 square feet, Whitney said. We wanted to be sure we were doing as little to the environment as we could.

Facilities Management has also partnered with Alliant Energy. Alliant Energy calculated that the amount of geothermal energy would save the College at least $250,000 a year.

According to Whitney, a lot of input went into the creation of this project. A building committee that consisted of administrators, faculty and students worked with the architect to make sure that the plan lined up with the goals and mission of the College.

But while the project has generated a lot of buzz, geothermal technology is not new to Grinnells campus. The Colleges natatorium also utilizes this technology, but for a different purpose. There, geothermal technology is employed to dehumidify the air, which takes a considerable amount of energy.

This [geothermal technology] has been working really well and this is what gave us the confidence to take this bold step, Whitney said.

Excerpt from:
Geothermal wells to provide energy to new HSSC - Scarlet and Black

The Indiana Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill Thursday aimed at shielding from child neglect charges people who anonymously surrender babies in newborn safety devices at hospitals.

The bill, now on its way to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature, also provides civil immunity to hospitals that install the boxes and receive a baby, and it allows two existing boxes at fire stations near Michigan City and Woodburn to continue operating.

I'm super excited ecstatic, said Monica Kelsey, a firefighter and medic, and founder of Woodburn, Ind.-based Safe Haven Baby Boxes. This has been a long fight for us, but I've never given up hope, and legislators have agreed this has to happen in Indiana.

The bill expands Indiana's existing Safe Haven Law, which enables a person to anonymously give up an unwanted infant without fear of arrest or prosecution, in a face-to-face interaction with an emergency medical services provider.

Indiana child welfare and health experts have opposed the boxes, saying people should abandon babies only directly to care providers. Kelsey said she agrees that's preferable but it's naive not to realize that some mothers can't bear the shame of that, especially in small rural communities where they are more likely to know the provider.

Kelsey said her biological mother, who had been raped, abandoned her two hours after she was born at a small hospital in Williams County, Ohio, in 1972. Authorities later found her mother and agreed not to prosecute her if she signed adoption papers, which she did.

The boxes, which install into an exterior wall, have heating and cooling elements, depending on the temperature outside, and weight and motion sensors that notify emergency responders when an infant has been placed inside.

The bill does not specify that fire stations are immune from civil liability, and Kelsey said she will not install more boxes at fire stations until the law is again changed to include them.

Kelsey said she already has contracted with a Michiana hospital to install a box, expected within 90 days, but she declined to identify the hospital yet.

Last year she had planned to install a box at The Life Center, 2018 Ironwood Circle, in South Bend, but the center changed its mind and withdrew from their contract in the face of opposition from the Indiana State Department of Health, said Shawn Sullivan, a South Bend attorney, anti-abortion activist and founder of the Catholic-based center.

The ISDH said they were going to fight it legally, Sullivan said. That caused a number of people to get cold feet, including the Knights of Columbus, which had planned to buy the boxes.

Sullivan said he was confident his center will eventually install a box, but how fast that happens will depend on the state health department's reaction to the new law, assuming Holcomb signs it.

The bill passed the Senate 47-3, receiving support from all Michiana area legislators. Voting against it were Sens. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville; Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis and Jean Breaux, D-Indianapolis.

Breaux said she voted against the bill because of the Indiana Department of Child Services' continued opposition to the boxes, the lack of regulated standards on their design and construction, and the uncertainty over how quickly someone would retrieve a baby left in one.

Breaux said women should know that they can surrender babies face-to-face, without giving any information, in no judgment zones.

We certainly shouldn't make it easier for them to circumvent what is in the best interest of that child and not handing it over to a responsible adult is not in the best interest of that child, Breaux said.

The bill also cleared the House 92-4. Breaux said that emotion often times rules where rationality should.

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Despite concerns of child health experts, baby box bill clears Indiana legistlature - South Bend Tribune

By Philip Qvarnstrom

When the University of Massachusetts Medical School unveiled its $400 million, state-of-the-art Albert Sherman Center in early 2013 on its Worcester, MA, campus, it was said that it would allow the school to enter a new era of biomedical research, medical education and campus collaboration. That final word collaboration would also play a prominent role in how the 11-story, 512,000 square foot building would be cooled during the warm and humid summer months that are quite common in the state.

That collaborative effort was driven by the needs of the University of Massachusetts Building Authority, which was responsible for the operation of the buildings cooling system, and the ability of Konvekta AG, a St. Gallen, Switzerland-based developer and provider of high performance, energy recovery systems, to meet those needs.

When we opened the Sherman Center, we knew we would have to add cooling capacity and someone recommended Konvekta, recalled David MacNeil, senior mechanical project manager for the Department of Facilities Management at the UMass Medical School. We looked at their system and we liked what we saw.

In order to ensure that the Sherman Center was properly cooled when temperatures and humidities would inevitably reach summer extremes, Konvekta determined that it would need to install two dedicated air handling units for use by the facility. After reaching that determination, the next step for Konvekta was to decide which type of heat exchanger to use to properly recover the heat that would be generated during the periodic operation of the two air handling units.

In the end, Konvekta chose to outfit the units with brazed plate heat exchanger (BPHE) technology.

The design of BPHEs is what helps set them apart when compared to the performance of competitive technologies, such as gasket plate heat exchangers (GPHE). BPHEs are constructed as a plate package of corrugated channel plates that have a filler material between each plate. During the plates vacuum-brazing process, the filler material forms a brazed joint at every contact point between the plates, creating channels through which the media will flow. This also allows media at different temperatures to come into close proximity and enables heat or cold from one media to be transferred to the other in a highly efficient manner.

The concept is similar to other plate-and-frame heat-exchanger technologies, but without the need for gaskets and frame parts that can fail and leak, leading to potentially high cleanup, maintenance, and replacement costs.

Other advantages that BPHEs can offer in cooling applications include compact size; more efficient operation; installation flexibility; self-cleaning operation; lower life cycle cost; and the ability to be customized for the needs of an installation.

Simon Buehler, sales manager for Konvekta, recommended BPHEs for the air handling units, and specifically suggested BPHEs from SWEP, a Sweden-based supplier of BPHEs for use in the HVAC and industrial markets.

Our business relationship with SWEP began many years ago in Germany, said Buehler. Today, SWEP is our main supplier of BPHEs. SWEP has an excellent SWEP Software Package (SSP) calculation platform that makes it very easy for out engineers to select the right BPHE for the project.

In the case of the air handing units at the Sherman Center, Buehler and Konvekta recommended a pair of B50H BPHEs be installed. The B50H models were the best choice because SWEP has designed them to be used in demanding applications. With three different plate combinations and 2.5 (63.5 mm) connections, they are an ideal solution for high-volume applications that can require flow rates of as much as 56 m3/hr (246 gpm).

SWEP B-type heat exchangers are able to optimize the use of energy, material, and space in cooling systems, said Buehler. They are compact, cheap when compared to other solutions, durable and have high heat-transfer performance. The B50H model is also perfect for operations with low pressure drops, high flows and where the temperature difference between the two media is typically very small. At the Sherman Center, the temperature difference between the cooling-water inlet and water/glycol outlet is only 4F.

The SWEP BPHEs began operating in conjunction with the air handling units for the Albert Sherman Center on the UMass Medical Schools campus in mid-2015 and, according to MacNeil, have performed without a hitch in the ensuing 16 months.

We really only need them when its really hot out, those days when its 97 and humid, thats when we get the supplemental cooling we need from the BPHEs, said MacNeil. Theyre so simple and work well; you just install them and you very rarely have any issues. They definitely meet our needs.

Qvarnstrom is the project development manager for SWEP North America, Inc., located in Tulsa, OK. Founded in 1983 and acquired by the Dover Corporation in 1994, SWEP is a supplier of brazed plate heat exchangers (BPHEs) for use in HVAC and industrial applications. SWEPs North American sales network is headquartered in Duluth, GA, with the manufacturing center located in Tulsa.

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Heat Recovery Helps Cool UMass Med School Facility - Facility Executive Magazine

Post-war consumerism has engulfed us to the point that weve been conditioned to buy rather than make. Planned obsolescence means having to buy the latest version of a product even the old ones still serving its purpose well. Repairs are practically impossible to do because of the way products are designed. Almost every big brand features proprietary technology, too, so you always have to involve companies even for service and after-sales concerns.

It is, therefore, refreshing to see movements that have deconstructed technologies and products in favor of the so-called maker culture. As much as previous generations are criticizing Millennials for being too glued to their smartphones and the internet, its not as if all Gen Xers and Boomers actually spent their youth apprenticing under skilled tradesmen toiling around in workshops to feel that they are a generation of creators who relied on brawn and lived by the sweat of their brows.

In fact, the available technology today encourages a certain level of involvement through a maker culture, which has spawned a new generation of do-it-yourselfers. This means that millennials might even be more involved in the maker culture than previous generations.

So, its actually great that technology today is creating a new age of do-it-yourself (DIY). Connected devices for home use are now being built for ease-of-use with DIY installation and configuration. The Nest thermostat is designed to be self-installed (complete with the tools and guides) and is made to work with most standard heating and cooling systems.

Even home security products like SimpliSafe come in DIY kits that do not require professional installation compared to other popular subscriber-based home security systems. The sensors and alarms are all designed to be self-installed within minutes, and the system can likewise be self-managed through the users smartphone, and it also through a centralized contact center when an alarm is activated.

While some may argue that these kinds of DIY activities arent exactly producing creations, these product designs encourage an active participation from users. One may even think of these as gateway activities to engaging in more creative DIY projects. Just like in cooking you dont attempt complex dishes without knowing how to boil the water first.

For those keen in more creative pursuits, developments in personal electronics and connectivity have allowed computing enthusiasts to foster the maker culture. We can think of this movement as people revisiting the creative space of workshops, garages, and sheds. People are out to change the world through inventions not too different in pursuit as the inventors of the industrial revolution.

Microcontroller kits Arduino and Raspberry Pi are probably heaven-sent technologies for tinkerers. These have paved the way for a multitude of personal and mobile computing projects. While these essentially function as barebones pocket computers, their functionalities can be expanded through a variety of peripherals such as sensors and servos. Users can even explore robotics with these kits. Weve seen people integrate synthesizers, voice activation, and even health sensors for a variety of projects.

The emergence of 3D printing is also pushing this DIY maker culture to new heights. Components can easily be printed from open source diagrams using a variety of materials including ceramic, plastic, metal, and now even biological materials. This allows for quick and easy fabrication of any conceivable part for any project.

Wi-Fi and Ethernet modules can also be integrated into these kits to allow devices to come online. These pave the way for data collection, access, and control, from virtually any device, which can result in purposeful integration among different devices.

In Gartners latest estimates, the firm says 2017 will see 8.4 billion connected devices this year. In three years time, that number is expected to explode to more than 20 billion. The maker movement is helping push those numbers.

The maker movement has also made its way into our schools, which aim to inspire students to express creativity through technology projects. The new levels of creativity that we see from various projects are absolutely fascinating as hobbyists and tinkerers can now even outpace companies in rapidly building prototypes of potentially life-changing devices. These may come soon enough for the older and aging generations to enjoy and benefit.

These developments at least hint at a shift in the mindset wherein people simply just have to pay for everything. Maker culture is all about bringing back creation and activeness. This may even spell the disruption of planned obsolescence models on which many companies have built their product life cycles on and forced into our lives.

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The maker culture: The Rise Digital DIY Gadgets - Techworm

WATE 6 On Your Side

Heating and air contractor takes Morgan County veteran's money, doesn't install unit WATE 6 On Your Side DEER LODGE (WATE) A retired Air Force sergeant says he regrets answering a Facebook ad for a heating and air contractor. The contractor and his partner traveled from Oak Ridge to rural Morgan County where they were supposed to install the unit.

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Heating and air contractor takes Morgan County veteran's money, doesn't install unit - WATE 6 On Your Side

Hector Uriarte wants locals to conserve water one toilet flush at a time.

Through a program from the Community Service and Development, Proteus Inc. is offering free replacement of water inefficient toilets.

Uriarte, energy division community development liaison, said homeowners or renters can have toilets with a 1.28-gallon or bigger tank replace with ones that are water efficient.

The swap, given the homeowners or renters qualify, is free.

People reduce water conservation and see a reduction in their water bill, Uriarte said.

The toilet replacement program is just one initiative Proteus, Inc. is offering, including weather-striping, door replacement, glass repair and heating and cooling.

Additional water-saving programs Proteus, Inc. offers include the installation of low-flow shower heads, replacement of high-energy consuming washers and fitting of faucet aerators.

Already in place for nearly a year, the toilet replacing program has meant 7,065 water inefficient toilets are no cost. The cost can add up to $250, with parts running up to $150.

We want people to conserve water, Uriarte said.

There are three ways to qualify for the program: income, reside in a disadvantaged community or live in a city with a water basin or drought stricken area. The program is offered in Tulare, Fresno, Kings, Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino.

It takes up to four weeks to complete the process, Uriarte said. Those interested are encouraged to call Proteus, Inc. and provide initial information.

Uriarte said state officials have already determined the locations where the program is in effect. County residents are likely to qualify.

After the initial step, an assessor responds to the address and ensures the toilet is one thats water inefficient, Uriarte said. Then, all the information is sent to state officials for final approval.

Once the paperwork is in proper order, an installation appointment is set and the replacement occurs.

On Wednesday, thats exactly what happened at Arsenia Espindolas Visalia home.

After completing the paperwork process, which started late last month, the water-saving toilet was installed. She said she waited on calling about the program. She had received a letter from Southern California Edison, telling her she had a good chance to qualify.

It took me longer to make the phone call than for them to have the installation done, Espindola said. They know what they are doing.

Espindola said she welcome the installation of the water-saving toilet.

Its a good program, she said. Residents need to conserve and save water.

During her home survey, the accessor took photos and told Espindola she could also qualify for a replacement refrigerator, washer, heater and the cooler.

Espindola said power bill get high during the hot summer months.

Uriarte said residents have until May 31 to apply for the toilet replacement program.

The sooner they can get in, the better it is, he said.

Information: 888-255-2142.

Waterwise is a news and notes column Reporter Luis Hernandez compiles. Send waterwise ideas and suggestions to the reporter on twitter @lfhernanvtd.

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Waterwise: Conservation by the toilet flush - Visalia Times-Delta