Used vehicles are parked on the sales lot at a CarMax store on Sept. 24 in Colma, Calif. CarMax reported a surge in earnings after used-car prices climbed steadily and surprisingly for months. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

Used vehicles are parked on the sales lot at a CarMax store on Sept. 24 in Colma, Calif. CarMax reported a surge in earnings after used-car prices climbed steadily and surprisingly for months.

Aaron Springer of Odenton, Md., wasn't looking to sell his 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, which he bought used a couple of years ago.

"I love this car," he says.

But Springer heard the used-car market was hot, so he decided he might as well check. To his astonishment, used-car site Carvana offered him $1,500 more than he paid for the vehicle in 2018.

"I mean, it's just too good of a price to not sell it," he says.

Add used-car values to the list of things turned topsy-turvy in 2020. Springer's experience is exceptional, but it's also a sign of the times: Prices for used cars, trucks and SUVs rose remarkably all summer long as demand far outstripped supply.

According to Cox Automotive, as of September, wholesale used-vehicle values were up 15% compared with last year. And listings on CarGurus are now averaging $22,470, which is over $1,800 more than at the start of 2020.

The rate of growth appears to have calmed down, but prices remain remarkably high.

"Anybody who tracks them ... would be shocked, I think. Almost flabbergasted," says Ivan Drury, the senior director of insights at Edmunds, the automotive information company.

Drury, like Springer, felt the benefit firsthand. He bought two cars last year and sold them both a couple of months ago.

He broke even on one vehicle and made money off the other, which Drury calls "remarkable, to say the least."

This spring, when the coronavirus pandemic started to spread, auto plants temporarily shut down operations for safety. That has created a shortage of new-car inventory, pushing more people onto the used-car market.

Meanwhile, plenty of people are looking for cars. Partly that's because of concerns over the safety of carpooling or riding public transit (although transit systems are taking steps to promote safety).

There was a policy-based boost in demand as well, as buyers put their coronavirus relief checks toward new vehicles.

"People were able to come up with a little bit more money down," says used-car salesman Orby Galarza of Harrisonburg, Va., who saw a direct connection between relief checks and sales.

In short, the pandemic reduced the supply of cars at the same time it increased demand for them. It's Econ 101 the result was prices went up. And up. And up.

For those who have good-condition cars to sell or trade in, this is a big boost. Some drivers are putting that extra money toward even pricier brand-new cars.

Drivers who lease vehicles can also benefit from these rising prices if their leases are ending soon. The buyout price that was set at the start of the lease, based on projected value, might now be thousands of dollars less than the vehicle's actual value.

That means drivers can buy out their leases, then turn around to trade that vehicle in or sell it for cash and immediately turn a tidy profit.

But for buyers looking for affordable used vehicles, the spiking prices are bad news, and the shortage of inventory can lead to frustration.

It's another sign of how the pandemic and the economic upheaval it created are hitting the haves and the have-nots very differently.

Some drivers are stuck with older, less reliable vehicles that they are driving into the ground, waiting for the market to calm down enough so that they can afford to buy a replacement. Others don't have that choice.

Danielle Jennings of Baltimore needed a new vehicle this summer after her 17-year-old car finally gave up the ghost. But she scoured the used-car market for a reliable vehicle in her price range, with no luck.

"I just wanted to be able to get to work and be able to take care of my family," she says. "My back was against the wall."

Jennings, much to her relief, wound up getting a 2013 Chrysler 200 through a nonprofit called Vehicles for Change, which takes donated cars and gives them at a discount to people who need transportation.

Vehicles for Change says it has seen an increase in need because of the pandemic, but because the program requires participants to have a job, it's also finding that many applicants are disqualified.

Vehicle affordability is not a new issue. Even if car prices were dropping instead of rising, many low-income Americans would still struggle with transportation costs.

But this surprising spike in prices certainly isn't helping would-be car buyers on tight budgets. And until prices return to normal, bargains will be few and far between.

View original post here:
Sticker Shock: Why Used-Car Prices Are So High - NPR

A new green patch has recently been planted in Downtown Binghamton, only its not on the ground. Its on the roof of Binghamton City Hall and the City Council Chambers.

The completed green roof was unveiled on Sept. 22, after construction began this past March. In a statement on March 11, Mayor Richard David said the vegetated 22,500 square-foot roof will catch approximately 325,000 gallons of stormwater runoff annually, with eight stormwater catchers and water intake from plants.

Binghamtons green roof will be a symbol of ongoing progress in sustainability, resiliency and innovation, David said. We continue to lead the region by embracing and securing funding for smart green [projects] as we face the environmental challenges of the 21st century.

$1.6 million of the $2.1 million project was funded by the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), a New York state company which provides financial assistance to infrastructure projects related to water quality. The funding came through its Green Innovation Grant Program, a grant from the EFC for regional stormwater infrastructure.

The project, which was originally announced in Davids 2017 State of the City address, is expected to decrease the strain on the sewage system which catches water runoff, oftentimes polluted from substances on the street. According to Robert Holahan, associate professor of environmental studies and political science at Binghamton University, the roof will put rain into more productive use.

In the combined sewer system areas of the city, this means less volumetric flow during heavy rain events that would otherwise trigger a combined sewer overflow into the Susquehanna River, in the municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) areas of the city, Holahan wrote in an email. This means less volumetric flow picking up garbage and petroleum residue flowing directly into the river.

In addition, green roofs help alleviate the urban heat island effect, a human-caused phenomenon that shows warmer temperatures in urban areas compared to their nearby rural areas. Because of the positive effect green roofs can have on urban heat, Gabriella Vallario, a junior majoring in geography, supports the green roof initiative.

This project will reduce urban heat, thus contributing to aid [the fight against] global warming, Vallario wrote. Any projects that help reduce human interference with the environment is valid and should be promoted.

The green roof can also provide a habitat for birds, bees and other animals, according to Holahan. Saheel Raut, a second-year graduate student studying computer science, said he believes green roofs are a good move by the city and advocates for more solar projects.

[For] buildings where green roofs are difficult to implement, solar roofs would be a perfect replacement, Raut wrote. I heavily support the green roof [initiative], as it clearly shows how it would not only have financial benefits over time but also environmental benefits. Green roofs would be a stride in the right direction.

Although green roofs provide benefits, they are not without their potential downsides, Holahan wrote.

Because these are designed to store water, there is a lot of engineering that goes into making sure that water doesnt seep into the roofs [and] leak into the building, Holahan wrote. To maintain that over time requires regular, costly maintenance. Unfortunately, quite often a green roof is built, and, then, everyone moves on without spending the resources to make sure it is still effective in the long term.

As the city continues to push for ways to become sustainable and cooperative with the environment, Holahan wrote that flooding should be the main issue on the table when it comes to considering green infrastructure projects. In 2005, 2006 and 2011, the city experienced catastrophic floods that damaged already dilapidated buildings. The 2011 flood displaced nearly 20,000 Binghamton residents. In response to the flood, there were many buyback programs which has increased the green space in the floodplains, Holahan wrote.

The most important thing in Binghamtons case is simply to recognize that we are at the confluence of two rivers and that the floodplain zones of the city should not be rebuilt up, Holahan wrote. Leaving the floodplain zones as unconstructed areas is the single, simplest and best thing we can do to prevent future flooding.

Raut wrote that the city should be producing more sustainable projects similar to the green roof.

Climate change is not a hoax, whether or not people acknowledge it, Raut wrote. Project like these will reap rich dividends over time.

Vallario shared similar sentiments about the environment.

Our world [and our environment] is what we rely on and right now it is being compromised, Vallario wrote. Global warming is an immediate threat, and any project that helps reverse its effects should be in motion.

The rest is here:
Green roof project completed at Binghamton City Hall - Binghamton University Pipe Dream

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Fire Station No. 9 is almost always mentioned in haunted places and ghost stories of El Paso. Mysterious events have been credited to the ghost of Woodard Bloxom, the captain of Fire Station No. 9, who died after battling a fire Feb. 13, 1934. Firefighters who have worked at the station give accounts of feeling a presence behind them as they climb the stairs, feeling a cold sensation as if the ghost passed through their bodies, finding furniture randomly scattered, and seeing the big bay door open by itself.

I decided to look up the fire and circumstances surrounding Bloxom's death and found this article from the Times datedFeb. 14, 1934:

Woodard Bloxom standing in front of old Fire Station No. 3 in 1920.(Photo: Times file photo)

Firefighters Trapped By Flames In Furniture Company Warehouse

Crowds At Scene

Officials Unable To Trace Source Of Conflagration At 1700 Magoffin

Trapped by a wall of fire in the blazing American Furniture company warehouse at 1700 Magoffin avenue yesterday afternoon, three El Paso firemen suffered severe burns in rushing to safety through the flames.

Capt. Woodward F. Bloxom, 41, of fire station No. 9, was burned seriously on the back and shoulders when enveloped by the flames. Firemen Loften L. Jones, 24, and Louis Eisenbruch, 44, suffered severe burns on the hands and face at the same time.

The warehouse was destroyed.

Other firefighters injured were Victor H. Lawton, John Drew and Jack Dungan. All sustained minor injuries.

Feb. 15, 1934 American Furniture company fire.(Photo: Times file photo)

One of the brick walls of the one-story, barn-like structure was left standing last night. Fire chief John T. Cullivan estimated the building loss at $5000.

The blaze destroyed some $60,000 worth of furniture stored within the building, said Mannie Blaugrund, the American Furniture company secretary.

The loss was covered by insurance as to what it cost us, said Blaugrund, but the insurance will not cover the replacement cost. Were going to make arrangements tomorrow for another warehouse, and continue on in business just the same.

Mrs. Blanche Cunningham owned the building. The eastern third of the structure, which is vacant and is not rented by the furniture company, was saved by firemen who climbed on the roof and played water over the flames.

Fire officials were unable to determine the origin of the blaze.

The blaze started at 5:30 p.m. and the flames quickly shot high into the air. The fire company in station No. 9, across the street from the warehouse, immediately swung into action as a general alarm was sounded.

More: Old El Paso brand launched in the Upper Valley

The flames spread quickly, and a second alarm was sounded. Soon six crews of firemen were playing streams of water on the fire, apparently with little effect. The blaze shot 50 feet into the still air, and a column of smoke rose hundreds of feet higher.

Hundreds of persons homeward bound from the downtown district soon gathered at the scene, drawn by the smoke and flames which could be seen plainly for miles around.

Many of the younger persons in the crowd climbed on neighboring roofs and the 75-foot firemans training tower in the city compound just across the street from the warehouse.

Crowds edging closer to the burning building as the flames died down were doused repeatedly with water from the streams operated by firemen, who went inside the building when the heat became less intense.

Flames continued shooting high from the western end of the building for more than an hour after the fire was discovered.

Sections of the tin roof fell in from time to time during the fire's progress with loud reports resembling explosions.

The charred mass of furniture within the building smoldered for several hours after the fire had been extinguished.

An almost total absence of wind-aided fireman in keeping the blaze from spreading to neighboring warehouses. Telephone and electric light poles near the burning building caught fire and had to be kept wet, and all wires in the vicinity were down.

Woodard Bloxom(Photo: Times file photo)

More: Tumultuous aftermath of 1889 mayor's election

The following day, Feb. 15, the Times reported the death of Capt. Bloxom:

Bloxom Expires After Being Trapped In $65,000 Warehouse Blaze

Burns received late Tuesday while fighting a warehouse blaze t 1700 Magoffin avenue proved fatal to Capt. W.F. Bloxom, 41, 1909 Alabama street. He died at 12:50 p.m. yesterday at Masonic hospital.

Trapped in the building, Capt. Bloxom probably inhaled flames in an attempt to escape, doctors said.

Funeral services are pending at Peak-Hagedon mortuary. Fire Chief John Sullivan said yesterday firefighters would serve as a guard of honor at the services.

Capt. Bloxom joined the fire department in 1916, was made a lieutenant in 1918, and a captain in 1924. He was assigned to the warehouse district, considered by firemen, one of the department's most dangerous posts.

His record as a fireman was perfect, Chief Sullivan said.

He is survived by his widow and an eight-year-old daughter, Dovie Mae; and a sister, Mrs. R.C. Pickens, and brother, Wilton Bloxom, both of Shreveport, La.

More: 1948 Heaton, MacNeil murder remains unsolved

Fire Marshall B.J. Zabriskle said yesterday an investigation of the fire which took Capt. Bloxoms life and damaged the warehouse, leased by the American Furniture company, to the extent of $65,000, will probably be completed today.

Employes denied they had been smoking in the corner of the warehouse where the fire started. They testified they tried to put the fire out with their hands before calling the fire department.

Two other firemen, Lofton Jones, 24k and Louis Eisenbruch, 44, were being treated at Masonic hospital last night for serious burns. Doctors believe they will recover.

Trish Long may be reached at tlong@elpasotimes.com or at 915-546-6179.

Read or Share this story: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2020/10/29/capt-woodrow-bloxom-ghost-fire-station-no-9-furniture-company/6046759002/

Continue reading here:
Capt. Woodrow Bloxom, the ghost of Fire Station No. 9 - El Paso Times

The Shawnee Mission School District will ask patrons to approve a property tax increase this January in order to pay for $264 million in bonds that, district leaders say, would fund a slate of major renovation projects while also helping alleviate teacher workload concerns.

Why it matters: District leaders say that by using revenue raised with new bonds for major building projects, they would be able to reallocate money for other expenses to allow for the hiring of dozens of additional secondary teachers.

Thats seen as key to lessening the workload of current middle and high school teachers, who have chafed at having to teach more daily periods than their peers in other Johnson County districts.

To make those new personnel expenditures possible, Superintendent Mike Fulton has suggested moving $4.5 million in custodial/maintenance expenses out of the districts operating budget where teacher salaries are drawn from and into its capital outlay budget over the next two years. The move is permitted under Kansas law, but would require the injection of additional funding into the capital outlay pool that could only be generated from local property taxes.

We cant do that unless we pass a bond issue, Fulton said at Mondays Board of Education meeting.

The details: To fund the bonds, the district will ask voters to approve a property tax increase that would raise the districts local property tax rate from its current 52.115 mills to 52.823 mills. For the average homeowner, that would mean roughly an additional $8 of property taxes per year on every $100,000 of assessed value.

If approved, the bonds would fund nearly two dozen projects. Most prominently, five elementary schools would be completely rebuilt: Diemer, Pawnee, Rushton, Tomahawk and Westwood View.

Among other things, bond funds would also be earmarked for:

The bigger picture: This will be the first bond issue put before SMSD voters since patrons overwhelmingly approved a bond measure in 2015. That raised more than $230 million which went towards building six new elementary schools, installing districtwide security upgrades and constructing the districts new aquatic center, among other things.

What was said: SM South Area Board Member Jessica Hembree expressed concern that the issue of teacher workload may not be clearly linked to the proposed bond measure in voters minds:

Hembree joined her colleagues on the board in voting unanimously to put the bond issue before voters in a special mail-in election in January.

See the original post:
SMSD officials propose $264 million bond issue as way to address teacher workload concerns - Shawnee Mission Post

The Dewey Beach Lifesaving Station is set to get a much-needed new roof, as commissioners voted Oct. 9 to accept a $13,624 proposal from low bidder Spicer Bros. to install architectural shingles.

Interim Town Manager Jim Dedes said he obtained six bids from contractors on cedar, metal or asphalt shingles. He said metal was ruled out because it wouldn't match aesthetically, leaving the best choice between asphalt and cedar, which currently covers the roof.

Dedes said some bidders didnt recommend cedar because the building sits next to the ocean, and other bids for cedar shingles were cost-prohibitive.

Dedes said he was told the current roofs cedar shingles were installed incorrectly; roofers used too many nails, which split the shingles. The current roof was installed before his time, and there is likely no warranty at this point, he said.

The price will likely go up a bit if roofers need to replace plywood underneath the shingles, Dedes said. The town could get a 40-year manufacturer warranty, or pay extra for a 50-year warranty. Spicer Bros. will install the roof, and the shingle manufacturer will inspect it to ensure installation was done correctly, he said.

Dewey Beach Building Official Daune Hinks said the building is in a wind-borne debris zone right next to the ocean, and that architectural asphalt shingles have a greater protection rating.

Commissioner Gary Persinger said he had 15 years of experience with a cedar shake roof in Dewey Beach.

It was not a pleasant experience, Persinger said, noting that repair issues always arose regarding the correct kind of nails and contractor qualifications. He said he favored architectural-grade asphalt shingles, some of which have the appearance of cedar.

Commissioner David Jasinski abstained from voting on the type of shingles. He said the building is supposed to be a historic replica, and that shingles will make a significant difference in its appearance.

Commissioners agreed that if Spicer Bros. cant install the roof within 60 days, the next-lowest bidder will be approached. Commissioners voted unanimously to pay for the roof from the general fund.

The station overlooks the ocean at the end of Dagsworthy Avenue, and it is a 1988 replica of the original building that was commissioned as the Rehoboth Beach Lifesaving Station in 1878. The original station was decommissioned in 1947, and was moved firstto the Forgotten Mile, where it was converted into a private home, and latermoved to Shipcarpenter Square in Lewes, where it was restored as a home and still stands today.

The rest is here:
Dewey Lifesaving Station roof to be replaced - CapeGazette.com

For most householders the idea of garden ornamentation goes no further than a few gnomes or some hanging baskets.

But things were a little different at Wentworth Woodhouse, created in an era when outdoor fashion was influenced by the likes of Capability Brown rather than television makeover shows.

The stately home - with the longest frontage of any house in the country - was a byword for lavish oppulence when it was created by the Fitzwilliam family on the back of profits from coal mining in the 18th Century and was built in the Rotherham village of Wentworth.

And now it is undergoing the biggest current restoration project after the Houses of Parliament, details of the level of extravagance have emerged.

A year-long project to replace the roof has now come to an end and in addition to making the building watertight, it has involved restoring a series of 20 giant stone urns and imposing statues which decorate the roof.

The design of the building means they are out of bounds for close inspection and can be seen - at best - by staring skywards from the ground.

That did not stop the Fitzwilliams demanding the best, however, regardless of the engineering feats which must have been needed to hoist them into place.

Today, modern cranes have been employed to take the urns down for restoration but the statues are so large they were left in position as work was done to preserve them for the future.

Despite the challenges of replacing a stately home's roof, the project was opened up for public viewings with walkways suitable for disabled access, which gave a rare glimpse of the house from a unique viewpoint.

The restoration is being conducted by the Wentworth Woodhouse Consveration Trust, which took over the house recently. It has been in private ownership for decades wit public access severely limited and was in a state of decay, needing a hugely expensive package of work, largely being financed by grants.

Woodhead Construction were called in for the roofing job, a project which quantity surveyor Amy Stamford does not expect to be bettered during her career.

Even constructing the scaffolding which allowed access to the roof, under a plastic tent, was a logistical challenge as it had to be a free-standing structure unsupported by the house.

Amy said: "The scaffolding was one of the biggest problems, just to make it work, because it is not tied into the building.

"The roof and structural repairs are one of the biggest risks because until we undid it, we did not know what it would be like.

"We thought it would be nasty, but in fact it was in good condition.

"Building sites are generally not open to the public, but then they came up with the public walkways and the guys on site have been able to show their families what we have done. That is something the don't generally get to do," she said.

The stone urns were pinned together and had deteriorated, with some needing total replacement.

It appears the house had been hit by lightning at some point, due to damage to two urns and a statue.

While the Fitzwilliams may have been sticklers for the finest in decorative terms, not everything was done to perfection.

Leaks in the roof were blamed on insufficent drainage capacity, leaving water standing for too long, rather than serious faults with the roof itself. That flaw has been corrected as part of the restoration.

Link:
Secrets of a stately home's hidden indulgence revealed as roof is replaced - Yorkshire Live

Author Irene Richardson - October 24, 2020October 24, 2020UMAMI, a new sushi and Thai restaurant, will occupy the space previously housed by Babalu. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

Lakeview has the drinks, the dancing and now the area will have a staple weve all been missing. The owners of Nori Thai and Sushi and Shikiare moving into the 29Seven mixed-use development with plans to open a new Asian restaurant, UMAMI.

The restauranteurs partnered withRetail Specialists Lyndsy Yim to find the ideal spot for UMAMI. Its new home is the former space of Babalu. The Mexican restaurant. which specialized in tapas and small plates, closed in March of this year.

While we were sad to wave goodbye, we cant help but be excited to hear the news something delicious is filling the space (and our stomachs).

The Lakeview area has been missing an Asian concept and UMAMI fits perfect into our overall strategy to bring unique concepts to the development.

The joint Thai and sushi restaurant is set to be a hit and were already texting the group chat for dinner plans. Have you eaten at Nori or Shikki before? I think its safe to say we can trust the talent from those kitchens will be carry over to Lakeview.

But, its just the beginning for what Retail Specialists, the local real estate firm who owns the property, envisions for the growing neighborhood. The team recognizes Lakeview as a unique part of Birmingham that welcomes families and young professionals alike. So, their focus aims to cater to both sets of people.

Our focus is on bringing concepts that will bring consumers to 29-7 during the day and after work during the weekwe want it to be a destination seven days a week

Lakeview is in such a great part of Birmingham positioned closed to Avondale and Downtown. Its perfect for families during the day to have lunch, but poised for happy hours and nightlife as well for young professionals.

Lakeview has been on a roll lately and it doesnt seem like thats going to stop any time soon. The Purple Onion brought its Mediterranean eats to the area just this month. Also, Magic City Wellness moved into space previously occupied by Baptist Health Systems.

Not every addition has been accompanied by a roof and four walls. Crosstown scooters made Lakeview go mobile with its motorized scooters that are now available at Nails Convenience Store.

While we not-so-patiently wait for UMAMI to open, swing by Nori Thai and Sushi or Shiki for takeout or dine-in and get a preview of what we might see on the menu. If theres one thing Im sure can solve anything, its a bowl of Panang curry.

Related

Excerpt from:
Former Babalu space to be replaced by new Asian restaurant in Lakeview - Bham Now

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- We should've known all along that Nick Saban wasn't going to miss a day's work. He has always appeared more machine than man during his time in the public eye -- a creature of routine and process who'd barely done worse than sniffle during his six national championship runs. He had hip replacement surgery last year, and the day after he went under the knife, his wife found him standing in the driveway, eager to get back to the office.

No, Nicholas Lou Saban wasn't going to miss a football game, and especially not one the magnitude of Saturday night's. At home, against No. 3 Georgia and its coach, Kirby Smart, Saban would find a way to get to Bryant-Denny Stadium. He tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, and three days later he had the three negative tests he needed to return to action. He grabbed a state trooper right after that third test came in, and in less than 30 minutes he was at the team hotel for pregame meetings.

And later that night, after Saban led his team onto the field to a raucous applause, he did what he has always done, besting a former assistant for the 22nd consecutive time in his career. After a so-so start in which his defense struggled with a number of uncharacteristic mistakes, Alabama found its footing and wound up beating Georgia convincingly, 41-24, to remain the only undefeated team in the SEC.

It didn't take long to know Saban was feeling like himself again as he tore into freshman linebacker Will Anderson after a touchdown in the first quarter and screamed bloody murder at a referee after a call for intentional grounding a few minutes later. When a defensive lineman jumped offside on fourth-and-1, triggering an automatic first down, Saban was absolutely beside himself, putting both hands out as if to ask why.

2 Related

The perfectionist was back in all his glory.

At halftime, whatever adjustments Saban and his assistants made worked, because the defense went from looking lost to being in total control. After forcing back-to-back punts, freshman nickel back Malachi Moore picked off Stetson Bennett, and running back Najee Harris gladly exchanged the turnover for seven points and a double-digit lead. Then, moments later, safety Daniel Wright picked off Bennett again. And, again, the offense did the rest, as Mac Jones furthered his Heisman Trophy campaign with a fourth touchdown pass, truly putting the game to bed.

Safety DeMarcco Hellams said the defense wanted to make a statement in the second half. He said Saban stressed this was going to be a 15-round fight and to finish the game. And they did, surrendering zero points in the third and fourth quarters.

No, it wasn't Saban pulling Jalen Hurts in favor of Tua Tagovailoa, but it was a heck of a halftime turnaround nonetheless. And if Saban wasn't there, if he hadn't cleared COVID-19 protocol with hours to spare and was watching on TV like the rest the country, who knows if Alabama figures things out?

No disrespect to Steve Sarkisian, who called a brilliant game as offensive coordinator, but he's not Nick Saban. No one can fill those shoes.

Afterward, when Saban spoke to reporters, he didn't dwell on a shaky first half or whatever imperfections there might have been. Instead, he said it was an "obvious great win" and that he was proud of his team's fight.

Mostly, he was proud of how his players handled the distraction of his absence. When he wasn't on the practice field Friday, when his straw hat was so noticeably missing, a source told ESPN it was bizarre and that it felt like an episode of "The Twilight Zone."

Saban appeared healthy during his Wednesday news conference and his radio show the following night, but for three days, the college football world obsessed over Saban's condition and whether he could return.

Saban tried to prepare his players for either eventuality. He told them he hadn't caught a pass or made a tackle in 40 years, so what good was he to them during a game anyway? From afar, he tried to keep them focused on the task at hand.

When Saban showed up at the team hotel before kickoff, the players weren't prepared. Jones said the reaction "was pretty crazy" when Saban stepped into the quarterback room unannounced.

Senior linebacker Dylan Moses said Saban being there for walk-throughs brought an added energy to everyone. Seeing Saban walk through the door, he said, "Our confidence went through the roof."

And that, maybe more than any in-game adjustment or halftime speech, is the real value of having Saban on the sideline: the confidence his presence brings. For 14 seasons now, he has been a fixture at Alabama. As it turns out, not even a positive COVID-19 test can stop him from showing up.

Read more from the original source:
'Our confidence went through the roof' - Nick Saban returns and Bama keeps rolling - ESPN

In April 2016, the Tesla company revealed that they were working on something new. Up until that point, their focus had always been on electric vehicles, which had earned them quite a reputation among environmentalists and financial experts. They rose success and worldwide fame, and started looking to make use of the worlds greatest renewable resource by creating Tesla-brand solar panels.

Article continues below advertisement

Tesla hyped the panels up significantly but two years later, people still werent convinced. They had claimed that their solar roof panels were designed to be durable and effective, but thus far, very few of them had been installed. It was hard to gauge how durable or how effective they really were. After nearly four years of development, however, it seems Teslas Solar Roof V3 is finally beginning to meet expectations.

Article continues below advertisement

Tesla and its subsidiary, SolarCity, designed their solar roof product to look like a traditional roof. The only difference is the shingles, which are photovoltaic, which means they generate solar power in the same way that traditional solar panels do. The idea was to make a solar roof that was not only effective but aesthetically pleasing. Installing one of these solar roofs replaces an existing roof with a combination of active and inactive shingles.

Active shingles contain solar cells that absorb solar energy to produce energy for your home. The inactive ones function just like regular shingles. They do not produce any energy but keep out water, hail, rain, and other inclement weather in the same way that normal shingles do. Teslas solar roof V3 shingles come with a 150-year weatherization warranty. They can withstand 166-mile-per-hour winds and 1,75-inch hail. While it sounds impressive, though, the Tesla roof tiles do have weaknesses.

Article continues below advertisement

Many of Teslas downsides are shared by other solar companies of the like. For instance, because Tesla panels usually need to be connected to a power grid, they will stop producing electricity during a power outage. This limits who and where a Tesla roof can be installed. If you live far off the grid and wish to install a Tesla roof, you may be out of luck.

Article continues below advertisement

Tesla also has a history of being unreliable when it comes to installing their solar roof products. Many who have ordered Tesla panels at the onset, still have not had them installed; some orders have even been canceled on Teslas end. Whether that is an effect of slow production or their struggles to invent a product that stands out from the competition, is not known.

Article continues below advertisement

Teslas official pricing structure says that the active solar roof tiles cost about $2.85 per watt. Inactive shingles cost around $5.60 per square foot. However, these are not the only metrics to consider when determining the cost of installation. The actual total cost of a Tesla solar roof depends on several factors including the size of your home, needed energy output, location, and roof size.

For a 1,200 square foot home with an electric bill of about $150 per month, the estimated cost for a Tesla roof installation would come to approximately $24,412, with other factors potentially altering the final cost. Replacing roofing materials can amount to thousands of dollars, while federal tax credits for investing in solar power can bring the overall price down. Tesla predicts that a 6.2 KW roof can save upwards of $45,000 on electric bills over the course of a lifetime.

Article continues below advertisement

Traditional 6.2 kW solar systems produce roughly around 10,180 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. This means that the average 25-year savings for a traditional solar system comes out to approximately $48,356.90 in a lifetime. That costs almost $4,000 more than Tesla will save you.

Article continues below advertisement

Not only that, traditional solar panels are far less invasive and do not necessitate an entire restructuring of ones roof. Add to that the proven track record of many solar manufacturers as compared to the uncertainty of Teslas unproven system, and you have a bit of a quandary on your hands.

Unless you are already planning on replacing your roof and investing in solar, it may be prudent to consider alternatives to Tesla solar roof. In the end, the best way to enter into any serious investment is to do your research. Getting quotes from multiple solar providers will allow you to compare installation prices, energy outputs, lifetime savings, and in many cases, monthly costs.

Read the original post:
How Do Tesla Solar Roofs Work? Behind the Car Company's New Innovation - Green Matters

Allplastics Engineering supplied 4.5mm thick polycarbonate panels for a roof replacement project in Barton in the Australian Capital Territory.

The client chose matt polycarbonate, which was cut to 4.1-metre lengths from spools. Installed by Glaziers Pty Ltd, the final result is stunning, and the material has definitely maximised the durability and aesthetics of the structure.

Allplastics polycarbonate UV grade sheets offer excellent light transmittance, outstanding weatherability and long life expectancy. Widely used in roofing, balustrades and glazing applications, the material can stand up to hailstorms or vandalism. Polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable against all kinds of objects, with 250 times higher impact strength than normal glass. A highly flexible material, polycarbonate can also be cut up to 20 metres long and curved without cracking.

For the Barton project, a continuous spool of polycarbonate was utilised to eliminate joints. These spools are available for projects up to 50m long and 2540mm wide, making them ideal for long lightboxes and warehouse roofs where standard sheets may need joints.

In addition to flat polycarbonate sheets, materials for roofing and awnings come in a multitude of options that can be adapted to any architectural design. Allplastics can offer a selection of materials accommodating varying tastes and budgets. These include Multiwall polycarbonate lightweight panels; PEP Core translucent composite panels; STAGE 40 translucent, trafficable, scratch-resistant, anti-slip surface; and Opal polycarbonate.

Choosing the right materials and joining bars for the roof determines the quality of the entire building. Let Allplastics help your buildings get ready to withstand the scorching sun, pouring rain or heavy hail.

See the article here:
Polycarbonate panels selected for roof replacement in Barton ACT - Architecture and Design