Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) October 03, 2014

Pittsburgh-based Busy Beaver opens its Lawrenceville location at 4743 Plummer Street., Pittsburgh, PA 15201 with a Grand Opening event on Saturday, October 11, from 10 am until 7 pm. The new 23,000 sf location is the 15th store for the home improvement center chain, which was founded in 1962. It is also the first new Busy Beaver store to open in eight years. The Lawrenceville location will employ 15 full-time, with additional part-time seasonal positions.

Store Opening Marks a New Chapter for Busy Beaver Lawrenceville is such a vibrant, exciting neighborhood, and we are thrilled to become a neighbor in this community, said Joe Kallen, chief executive officer, Busy Beaver. Opening this store marks the start of a new chapter for Busy Beaver. First and foremost, we are putting our renewed customer service pledge into action here, and at all our stores. Were also making in-store changes so customers can count on easily finding what they want and getting expert help, every time they visit.

The new store reflects the companys unwavering approach to delivering a customer-friendly store experience that solves problems for DIYers and supports local contractors. This includes stocking merchandise specific to local residents unique neighborhood needs. For instance, the Lawrenceville store includes a full selection of bicycle accessories and carries above-door awnings that fit the architectural style of neighborhood homes. Tool rental is also available.

The Lawrenceville store is also presenting new or expanded product lines, which will roll out to Busy Beavers additional locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. In addition to the lawn and garden, paint, hardware, plumbing and bath, electrical and building materials departments, customers will find a new line of luxury vinyl plank flooring, for example.

Lawrenceville Oct. 11 Grand Opening Event Busy Beaver Lawrenceville will host a Grand Opening event on Saturday, October 11th from 10 am to 7 pm. The festivities start with a 10 am board-cutting ceremony featuring the Honorable Mayor of Pittsburgh William Peduto and PA State Senator Jim Ferlo; with Lawrenceville community leaders and Joe Kallen, CEO, Busy Beaver.

The first fifty Grand Opening guests arriving at 10 a.m. will receive a $10 Busy Beaver gift card. Visitors have the chance to win more gift cards by touring the new store and participating in a Hidden Treasures scavenger hunt.

At noon, kids and community activities begin, including refreshments, games, face painting and a WDVE-FM remote, featuring Val Porter and the DVE Prize Wheel. Guests will also meet adoptable animals from the Animal Rescue League and other neighborhood groups. Entertainment includes DJ Zombo, throughout the day; 5 pm music performance by Broke Stranded & Ugly (Bluegrass/Jamgrass); and a 6 pm music performance by Chrome Moses (Rock & Roll).

Home improvement experts will conduct the following Do-It-Yourself (DIY) seminars* through the day: 12:00 pm: Choose the Best Furnace Filter for Your Home 12:20 pm: Overview of Ortho and Miracle Gro Products 12:40 pm: Learn more about Tomcat Rodent Control Products 1:00 pm: Pavestone Patio Stone Installation 1:20 pm: How to Use Stormblaster Extreme Weather Caulking; Benefits of Ceiling Solutions Paint; How to Choose an Applicator 1:40 pm: How to Repair and Prevent Leaks with Rustoleum Leak Seal 2:00 pm: Water Heater Basics 2:20 pm: How to Install an Exterior Door 2:40 pm: How to Install a Storm Door 3:00 pm: How to Use Rustoleum Neverwet Liquid Repelling Treatment 3:20 pm: How to Use Minwax Wood Finish Stain & Fast Drying Polyurethane 3:40 pm: How to Use Stormblaster Extreme Weather Caulking; Benefits of Ceiling Solutions Paint; How to Choose an Applicator

*Schedule subject to change. Visit http://www.busybeaver.com for Grand Opening schedule details.

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Busy Beaver Opens Lawrenceville Home Improvement Center

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NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- National Grid officials picked a home in suburban North Syracuse to talk about what lies ahead this winter, and the basic news was good.

"Based on last year's prices and, certainly, assuming normal weather, a typical residential customer, who would ordinarily use about 711 therms during heating season a normal -- and our heating season is roughly November through March -- would have paid about $619 last winter. At this winter's projected commodity price, the same amount of usage would cost about $554," said Melanie Littlejohn, a National Grid regional executive.

National Grid is applauding homeowners like Brendan Whalen, who bought his own refrigerator. People they say have take steps to reduce their energy costs by reducing usage. National Grid is offering rebates when aging home equipment is replaced.

"High-efficiency furnaces and boilers, programmable thermostats, high-efficiency hot water heaters, including tankless water heaters. Water heater insulation and pipe insulation. And the recycling of refrigerators and freezers," said Tom Baron, a senior program manager with National Grid.

And even as prices have fallen, National Grid says some consumers may be able to cut an even better deal.

"Customers do have an option. And they have an option to choose from a variety of energy suppliers, some of whom now offer fixed price contracts," Littlejohn said.

So, the general outlook for homeowners like Whalen is positive. But, there is still one major question mark.

That is just how severe the winter will be and that could force us all to toss the more optimistic forecasts.

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Optimistic Winter Forecast Has National Grid Predicting Lower Heating Bills

The Noida college where a spy cam was discovered in a girls washroom on Thursday started strengthening security on Friday, with officials scanning hostel rooms for surveillance devices.

JSS Academy of Technical Education has set up two committees one to probe the incident and the other to suggest improved security measures. The second committee will comprise students, parents, faculty members and one police officer, said college principal T.N. Nagabhushan.

Students of the Sector-62 college held a protest demanding action against the guilty.

A small hidden camera was found by a student inside a girls hostel washroom on Thursday morning. According to the Noida Police, the student spotted a red light blinking near a wash basin and spotted the camera. They took it out and discovered that the camera was a recording device and was unable to transmit data. Before handing it over to the police, the students also destroyed the chip inside it.

The police are questioning four suspects in connection with the incident. One of the suspects is a plumber who visited the hostel recently to carry out some repair work. Another suspect had visited the premises to install a water heater. A security guard posted outside the hostel is also being questioned by the police.

Dr. Nagabhushan said the college was returning to normal on Friday. Students have gone back to classes including the girl who discovered the camera. We want to focus on education and hope the police make sure that the guilty are caught, said the college principal.

The hostel warden has also been changed and if the committee finds any laxity on her part, there will be action against her, said Dr. Nagabhushan.

He added that the college will be installing CCTV cameras in the hostel lobby. Currently, security cameras are only installed at the college main gate. Men entering the girls hostel will be frisked and workers, like the plumber, will be accompanied by a hostel superintendent, said the principal.

This unsavoury incident has opened everyones eyes. Through the committee and the meetings with the students, we will hear from all on how to strengthen security measures, Dr. Nagabhushan said.

Meanwhile, about a dozen workers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad protested outside the college on Friday and demanded action against those involved.

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Noida college ups security after spy cam found in girls washroom

Question:

What should I be doing now to prepare my house for winter?

A: Historically, the first frost in Colorado comes by mid-September. And the first hard freeze typically arrives in early October. Now is the right time to take some simple steps to make your home comfortable and energy conserving during the cold months ahead.

1. INSULATE Heating your home can be expensive. By improving the home's insulation and making sure windows and doors are sealed properly you can save money and energy. Since heat rises, start in your attic to see if more insulation would help keep the home warmer at lower costs. You may want to consider replacing older windows with energy efficient versions available today.

All windows and doors need to be sealed around the edges to prevent cold air from entering and warmer air from escaping. You can check if air is leaking around doors and windows by loosely holding a tissue up to the edges and checking for air movement,

2. UPGRADE THERMOSTATS Consider installing a set-back thermostat for each heating zone which makes it easy to have your home's heating system come on automatically and only when you need it.

3. TEST YOUR FURNACE Turn your furnace or boiler on now and run it for a while to make sure that it's working properly. Boiler systems, which circulate heated water, are subject to leaks. Having your heating system professionally examined and tested annually is a good idea both for efficiency and safety.

4. CHANGE AIR FILTERS If your heating system uses an air filter, it should be changed at the start of the season and checked monthly during the cold months. A dirty filter restricts air flow and is potentially a fire hazard in the worst case. Having the heating ducts inspected and cleaned every few years will help improve air flow and may also help improve the air quality.

5. INSTALL CO DETECTORS Today having Carbon Monoxide detectors in your home, near the furnace and near bedrooms, is essential. These inexpensive devices, which look like a smoke detector, will warn you if dangerous and often odorless fumes are escaping from your furnace.

6. WRAP WATER HEATERS AND PIPES Consider adding insulated wrap around the hot water heater in your home and enjoy additional energy savings. If you have exposed water pipes close to outside walls you may want to wrap them to protect them from freezing. Most of these insulation products are available at your local home improvement store.

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Winterizing your home

RICHMOND -- Betsy Hardy of Richmond owns a two-story home built more than a century ago. Over the past three years, she has insulated her attic and basement, installed a solar array on her roof and placed a solar hot water heater in her basement.

Now, she is working with an electrician to install two heat pumps to be her primary heating source this winter.

"I really want to reduce my carbon footprint," Hardy said. And, she said, "I think it's a good investment because it will make my home a lot more affordable for me after I retire if I don't have to spend lots of money on fuel oil."

Heat pumps have been available in the U.S. for decades, but it was not until recently that the technology could be used to heat homes in Vermont, where temperatures frequently dip below freezing.

Heat pump exterior unit. (Photo courtesy of SunCommon)

Like a refrigerator or air conditioner in reverse, electric air source heat pumps use a refrigerant to extract heat from the cold outside air and pump it inside. Even in sub-zero temperatures, there is heat in the air. But as the temperature drops, the technology must work harder to extract the heat from the air. Eventually, the system becomes less efficient and stops producing heat.

Hardy is a member of the Richmond Climate Action Committee, a town energy group that tells residents about heat pumps. As she prepares to test the technology herself, renewable energy advocates and businesses are pushing to put heat pumps into homes before winter hits.

Proponents of the technology say heat pumps can warm homes in temperatures as low as minus-8 Fahrenheit, generating average savings similar to natural gas compared to heating fuels like oil or propane.

Hardy said she is installing a large heat pump on her first floor and a smaller one in a second-floor bedroom. This year, she said she will keep her oil furnace as a back-up for colder days, but will consider replacing it with a wood stove if the heat pumps work well enough.

She said she will capitalize on the net-metering energy credits her utility gives her for the solar power her panels produce in the summer. In the winter, she will use the credits to power the heat pumps, effectively heating her home with energy from the sun year-round.

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Heat pumps seen as another tool in energy efficiency kit

Unprecedented demand for propane for grain drying and home heating led to temporary price surges and strained the nations transportation infrastructure last winter, even as U.S. propane production reached all-time highs.

This fall, the Propane Education & Research Council and propane industry are taking proactive steps to ensure that residential propane heating customers and agribusiness operators, among others, fill up early and make arrangements with propane providers to keep their tanks full.

America makes more than enough propane to meet U.S. demand, yet the transportation challenges we faced last winter stressed many propane providers and customers, said Roy Willis, PERC president and CEO. The best thing propane customers can do to avoid any weather-related difficulties this winter is fill their tanks now.

A multimedia safety campaign, featuring TV and online advertising in states hit hardest last winter by temporary price surges and deliverability challenges, begins today. The campaign directs customers to propanecomfort.com where they can take a quiz to determine if they are adequately prepared. For those who havent already made arrangements, the quiz encourages users to consider early fills, automatic refills, and payment programs.

According to Willis, the most important step customers can take this winter is a simple one: to start a conversation with their local propane provider.

By filling tanks early, customers and propane retailers, many of whom are small businesses, can better plan for supply needs and work together to ensure that everyone has a comfortable and safe winter. Because delivery and payment programs vary by company, its important that customers have a conversation with their provider to start making plans for winter today.

At propanecomfort.com, customers can also review top safety and efficiency tips, including:

1 Make sure that you have an adequate propane supply. Ask your propane provider about payment programs and scheduling regular visits so that theres always enough propane in your tank. This will help avoid ever running empty if inaccessible roads delay deliveries.

2.Confirm that your heating system and appliances are running efficiently. Before the start of each heating season, have a qualified service technician inspect and service your appliances and propane system. When appliances are running as efficiently as possible, you conserve fuel and save money.

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Propane industry to residential customers: Plan for winter now

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) --

Parts of Farmersville, Terra Bella and east Porterville are some of the worst areas in Tulare County affected by the drought. Thursday, some people who've been without water for months-finally got a little relief.

After going four months without this precious resource, water is finally coming out of the kitchen faucet at the Lopez home in Farmersville.

No, their well doesn't magically have water in it again. The H2O is coming from this large 1,500 gallon tank parked in their driveway.

Paul Boyer with Self-Help Enterprises said, "This way you can have water in your home like normal would be and have your hot water heater working, too."

The pilot system is expensive, $1,100 to install. PVC pipes connect the tank to a pump, which links directly to the house. For a normal family of four, they could blow through all the water in about a week and it can cost more than $100 to refill but it's a temporary solution that's helping families feel a little bit back to normal.

"The communities have been good to us," said Kevin McPhail with the Bank of the Sierra. "We've been here since 1977 so this is a way for us to give back and help our community."

At the same time, Bank of the Sierra gave a surprise $50,000 donation to Self-Help Enterprises to aid in the nonprofit's helping of people suffering from the drought. The money will help install systems like this temporary water tank, and more.

Tom Collishaw with Self-Help Enterprises added, "Sometimes it may be drilling a new well or lowering the pumps in an existing well."

"It takes about two and a half gallons to barely flush a toilet," said Farmersville resident, Mary Shafer. "Three to really get it to flush."

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Drought-stricken communities slowly getting help

BOGOTA - Bogota Board of Education trustees approved a change order to its field house and board office projects after unforeseen circumstances arose, requiring additional work on the two buildings before they can be completed.

The board authorized a withdrawal of an additional $96,278 from its general capital fund account to be transferred to the capital projects fund account from which the money for its two current projects the board office and the field house at Fiegel Field. The majority of the money will go towards the installation of a new water line for the field house, which is approximately $88,000.

Some time during the summer, it was discovered that the existing water line at the field house was galvanized pipe and was 18 inches below grade. The excavation of a test pit revealed that the water line was too shallow and United Water subsequently required an upgrade to the service line before water would be provided.

Tara Dehoney, a construction administrator for USA Architects, made a presentation to the board at a special meeting on Sept. 2, in which she outlined the plan for bringing water to the field house.

A water heater inside a hot box would be installed adjacent to the baseball field and running two separate lines in case one freezes. The cost of the project includes 500 feet of piping, excavation, an electric line running to the hot box, concrete padding and the hot box itself.

The current water pit, which houses the water heater for nearby streets, was deemed unsafe in November of last year as it is located in the middle of the street. The new plan would move the water heater to a safe place, out of the street.

The need for a large amount of piping stems from the fact that homes on Feller Place, where Fiegel Field is located, do not have their own dedicated water line as most streets do. Instead, the water line from River Road has pipes that run underneath its houses and feed into the dwellings on Feller Place.

"This is a highly unusual circumstance," said Superintendent Dr. Letizia Pantoliano. "In almost any other situation, we would only have to install pipe running from the field house to the street and wed only be going about 30 feet."

A portion of the remaining $13,000 being moved to the capital projects fund will go towards the repair of the sidewalk in front of the board office on Henry Luthin Place.

Dehoney explained that the boroughs building department has requested that the asphalt and curb in front of the board office be ripped out and repaired. Approximately 50 linear feet of asphalt is needed to complete that segment of the project.

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Additional funds for Field House, office projects OKd

While almost everyone in California is talking about the drought, East Bay residents are doing something about it.

Sustainable Contra Costa co-founder and President Tina Neuhausel is using her Walnut Creek home as a proving ground for energy- and water-conservation. Clayton homeowner Linda Cruz recently installed a greywater system. And Oakland-based Greywater Action is leading workshops, presentations and community forums on sustainable water-use practices throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Greywater systems capture household water from sinks, washing machines, showers and baths and redirect the resource to irrigate ornamental plants and fruit trees instead of discharging it into storm sewers. Using simple plumbing materials, water that contains no toxic substances (like bleach, sodium, boron or shampoos) can also supply essential nutrients to vegetables, as long as it doesn't touch edible parts of the plants.

Laura Allen, Greywater Action co-founder, noted, "Water conservation and reusing greywater is critical this dry year: we must all find ways to use less water in our homes and communities so that we can live in balance with our water supply and restore and protect our natural water ecosystems."

Now living in Southern California, but still active in the East Bay organization, Allen has conducted a study of 83 residential greywater systems in the greater Bay Area and is finishing a book about drought-proofing landscapes, with expected publication by Storey Publishing in January.

For the simplest laundry-to-landscape systems, materials are about $200. Depending on how much digging a homeowner is willing to do to prepare mulch basins and trenches for burying pipes, labor for installation of low-tech systems is less than $500.

Or, it's entirely free, as it was for Cruz. The 34-year resident agreed to have her home be the site of a Sustainable Contra Costa workshop operated by GWA, after another home presented cement deck problems.

"I was signed up for the workshop, and they asked if we'd do it," Cruz recalls.

"My husband ... was impressed that there were people who really want to learn. We had people from Sacramento, Half Moon Bay, Salinas -- all over Northern California."

Cruz says she recycled household water during droughts in the '70s and '80s, but back then it was through a hose her husband hooked up to to the washing machine.

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'Greywater' helps East Bay residents cope with parched landscape

BURLINGTON -- Efficiency Vermont is partnering with Sunward Systems and Sunnovations to launch a new effort to help Vermonters install affordable solar water heating systems in their homes. The average U.S. household spends up to $600 per year on water heating costs. Solar water heating technology can reduce those costs by up to 80 percent. This pilot offering from Efficiency Vermont will reduce the upfront cost of solar water heating systems by $1,600, for systems installed before November 30.

"Efficiency Vermont staff members are always looking for new ways to help Vermonters reduce their energy usage and costs," said Jim Merriam, Director of Efficiency Vermont. "We are really excited to partner with a Vermont-based company to make it easier for our customers to install clean, renewable solar technology that will dramatically reduce their water heating costs."

Manufactured by Canadian company Thermo Dynamics Ltd., the systems available through this pilot offering use rooftop or ground-mounted solar collectors to gather heat from the sun -- a free energy source, and transmit it to hot water storage tanks inside the home. In addition to the $1,600 instant discount, participating customers will receive a free energy data monitoring package made by Sunnovations. The monitoring systems allows users to remotely track the energy usage of their water heating system in real time, receive alerts about pending maintenance issues, and calculate the dollar value of their energy savings as they accumulate over time.

"This pilot offering is a great opportunity to partner with Efficiency Vermont in bringing the benefits of solar hot water to more Vermont homeowners," said Tom Hughes, CEO of Sunward Systems. "These systems are an excellent option for Vermonters who want to use clean, free, renewable energy rather than more expensive fuels."

Matt Carlson, CEO of Sunnovations, highlighted the innovative features of the data monitoring system included in the solar water heater offer. "Sunnovations Ohm Monitoring System gives homeowners the information they need to take control of their solar hot water systems and ensure that they are delivering as much value as possible," he said. "This limited time offer is a great deal -- and a great opportunity for Vermonters to start reducing their energy costs from day one."

Those interested in participating in this initiative should contact Sunward Systems toll-free at 877-803-2480 or visit http://www.gosunward.com to learn whether a solar water heating system is right for their home. Customers of Washington Electric Co-op and the Energy Co-op of Vermont may be able to take advantage of additional discounts and savings and should contact their co-op's main office for more details.

Note: This partnership discount is available to all Vermonters who use an energy source other than natural gas for hot water heating.

Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy, and protect Vermont's environment. For more information, contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit http://www.efficiencyvermont.com.

Sunward makes solar hot water simple. Headquartered at 6221 Shelburne Road in Shelburne, Sunward is Vermont's leading supplier of solar hot water equipment. Its systems include Vermont-made components and are completely solar powered. For more information visit http://www.gosunward.com.

Sunnavations' mission is that "solar-powered hot water should be an obvious, affordable alternative for all American homes and businesses." The Ohm system and all of the Sunnovations' products are designed to further that mission by making solar water heating less expensive, easier to install and more reliable. Visit http://ohm.sunnovations.com.

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Efficiency Vermont, Sunward Systems, to launch new solar water heating initiative