Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Designed to an exceptionally high standard to achieve LEED & Wiredscore Platinum Certification, this development will comprise 177,000 sq ft of Grade A office space across eight storeys over double-basement, featuring gym and changing facilities, as well as ample bike and car parking spaces. The ground floor will consist of the developments lobby and reception and offer 5,700 sq ft of retail space.

The adjacent Protected Structure, formerly home of the British and Irish Steam Packet company will be restored, with the ground floor being repurposed as a caf, contributing to the growing sense of public realm between the Campshire buildings on the Quays, while the upper floors and rear atrium will be converted into office space.

Construction of the development is underway, with piling for the building foundations already completed and works commencing this month on the double basement structure. The erection of the tower cranes as well as the basement floor slab of the central core, will be completed by Christmas.

The Shipping Office and neighbouring development One Lime Street another Marlet scheme which will deliver 216 high-end apartments are both due to be completed by Q3 2022.

The Shipping Office, like every other Marlet development, has been carefully designed to guarantee the health and safety of its occupants and will incorporate features such as a large entrance court and reception to avoid congestion at peak times, larger lifts to allow for social distancing as well as microbicidal paint applied on washroom and shared area walls, antibacterial door hardware, touch-free building access, and a top-of-the-range ventilation throughout the building.

Occupants will have access to multiple landscaped areas and green roofs populated by native vegetation and sustainably designed to be a natural habitat for flora and fauna within the city.

Pat Crean, Marlet CEO said: We are delighted to begin the delivery of this state-of the art office development with BAM. The Shipping Office was designed with high-expectations occupiers in mind and its exceptional location will undoubtedly make it a new Dublin landmark.

Since the acquisition of its first site in 2014, Marlet has grown to become one of Irelands largest independently owned property development companies. Over the last 6 years Marlet has sourced and acquired over 1bn of assets and built up an impressive and extremely diverse portfolio in Ireland for its investors. The portfolio includes major mixed-use developments, Build to Rent apartment schemes, student accommodation, hotels and aparthotels. With over 1.6 million sq. ft already built, the companys goal is to be at the forefront of the industry and reshape Dublins urban landscape.

Theo Cullinane, BAM Ireland CEO said: We are delighted to be entrusted by Marlet yet again to deliver a high-profile project on what is the last remaining undeveloped riverside site in the South Docklands. The Shipping Office will utilise a lot of the same off-site prefabrication techniques being used to deliver Lime Street. Utilizing off-site construction will shorten the construction period and reduce the numbers on site to aid social distancing. The health and safety of our staff is our number one priority at BAM.

Established in 1958, BAM Ireland is one of the countrys largest construction businesses. We employ 2,000 people directly and indirectly with a forecast turnover for 2019 of 603m. We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal BAM Group of the Netherlands, which has a turnover of 7.2 Billion and employs 19,500 people worldwide. BAM Ireland is the holding company for all BAMs operating companies in Ireland. These include: BAM Building; BAM Civil; BAM Fit-out; BAM Property; BAM Housing; BAM PPP; BAM Facilities Management and BAM Rail. Together, these operating companies rank in the top 2 of major Irish construction companies. BAM Building has carried out projects of the largest scale for the most prestigious of clients. BAM Civil is the largest civil engineering contractor in Ireland. Projects include PPP motorway schemes, transportation, water & wastewater, marine, energy and rail projects.

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Marlet appoints BAM Ireland as main contractor for commercial development the Shipping Office on Sir John Rogerson's Quay - Irish Building Magazine

Ten years ago, Nest introduced its first smart thermostat, the Nest Learning Thermostat, and showed the world what a smart thermostat is capable of. You can use it to automatically program your thermostats schedule, control it with your smartphone or a voice assistant, integrate it with other smart devices in your home like smoke detectors, and have it adjust itself for when youve left the house.

The companys latest model, the simply named $129.99 Nest Thermostat, does away with a lot of the more advanced features in favor of a simpler, more basic design and feature set. But while Googles goal is to appeal to those who havent yet upgraded their ancient programmable thermostat, its stripped out a lot of what makes a connected thermostat smart to begin with.

The most obvious thing Google did was change the design and functionality of the thermostat itself. The Nest Thermostat doesnt have the signature rotating ring of Nests prior models. Instead, you use a touch strip on the right side to adjust temperature and navigate the interface. The touch strip works fine, and the thermostat will emit an audible click as you swipe up or down, but its far less satisfying to use than the dampened ring on the Nest Learning Thermostat. I do prefer it to Ecobees clumsy touchscreen, however.

Also different are the materials: the Nest Thermostat is made entirely of plastic that you can get in four different colors, as opposed to the metal finishes of the older models. Aesthetics are certainly a personal preference, but I like the look of the brushed metal of the older Nest models much better. Its clear that Googles changes here were to bring the price down and make it more accessible than the flagship model that retails for $250 (though it can be found on sale quite regularly).

The front of the Nest Thermostat has a mirrored finish, with a display that shines through it when you are in front of the thermostat or interacting with it. This is not a touchscreen all interaction on the thermostat is done through the touch strip and most of the time, it just sits there on the wall not displaying anything. I was concerned that this mirrored finish would get quite dusty, but in the few weeks Ive been testing the Nest Thermostat, its stayed clean.

When the screen is on, it looks like information is just floating on the mirrored front, a neat effect. It will tell you what the thermostat is currently set to, what temp its reading, and whether it is running the heating or cooling systems to adjust the climate in your home. Tap the side, and you can scroll through the menus to adjust modes, set a hold temperature, and view other settings, though most of the adjustments to scheduling and such are handled through the Google Home app on your smartphone.

The mirrored finish is unbroken, thanks to Googles use of radar-based Soli technology to detect your presence instead of a more traditional motion sensor. But if you look at it from the right angle, mostly from the left side, you can see where the square display is centered under the mirrored panel, breaking the illusion a bit.

The Nest Thermostat doesnt support a number of advanced features found on the higher-end model, including FarSight, which lets you see the current temp or other info from across the room. In practice, this wasnt a problem in my home. The Nest was still able to detect my presence and light up even when I was 10 or more feet away from it.

Installing the Nest Thermostat is very similar to prior models, and Google does a good job of walking you through the process with video tutorials in the app. Certain creature comforts, such as the included screwdriver, have been dropped for this model, and most frustrating of all, it doesnt come with a backing plate to cover up the holes in the wall from your old thermostat. To get one of those, youll need to shell out another $15. (Older models always included it in the box.)

The Nest Thermostat doesnt use the rechargeable lithium battery as other models, instead relying on two AAA batteries that Google says will last up to two years. Google also says it does use the same trickle power feature to draw energy from the HVAC system as the older model, which likely helps extend the life of those two batteries.

In all, it takes about 15 minutes to install and set up the Nest Thermostat, though you can also pay a professional to do it for you.

Set up and control of the Nest Thermostat is handled entirely through the Google Home app; you cant do anything with it in the old Nest app. That may be frustrating for existing Nest customers looking for a single place to monitor all of their devices, but for most new owners, it doesnt matter.

Scheduling the Nest Thermostat is significantly different than how older Nest models work. Instead of relying on the thermostat to determine your patterns and automatically schedule itself, you are prompted to choose temperatures and time blocks when you set it up. This is very similar to how a traditional programmable thermostat works: you put in what times youre home, what times you arent, and when you go to bed, and then set temps for each respective mode. You can also add custom time blocks for more granular controls.

This method will be very familiar to those coming from an old programmable thermostat, but it makes the Nest Thermostat feel quite limited and dumb compared to other smart thermostats. For example, it will not adapt itself if your schedule happens to deviate from your programming because youre home at a different time than usual. Right now, we are home a lot more than we typically are, thanks to pandemic-related lockdowns, but the Nest Thermostat sticks to its programmed schedule no matter what.

The Nest Thermostat does have the ability to go into its energy-saving Eco mode when you arent home by using its own presence detection, geolocation on your phone, or a combination of the two. If the system doesnt see any activity for an hour and your phone location is reporting that youre not home, it will automatically switch to the Eco preset to save energy. Its odd that it cant do the opposite for when you are home unexpectedly.

Another area where the Nest Thermostat is inferior to other models is in support for remote sensors. It just doesnt support them; the only temperature it will set itself to is what it reads from its wall-mounted position. Both the Nest Learning Thermostat and Ecobee line of thermostats can adjust the system based on sensors elsewhere in the home, which provides much more flexibility and control over the climate.

The Nest Thermostat isnt completely dumb. In addition to the smartphone control, you can use either the Google Assistant or Amazons Alexa to adjust the thermostat via voice. It also has built-in energy-saving and comfort features from the other Nest models, including the ability to preheat or cool the home before a scheduled time block starts or circulating the air with the fan to more efficiently use air conditioning. It will also tell you how long it will take the system to reach your selected temperature and will award leaf icons when you program it efficiently though in my home, the only way to get a leaf was to set it uncomfortably cool or warm. It will also prompt you to change filters and do other maintenance to keep the system running efficiently.

In all, the Nest Thermostat is a fine connected thermostat that lets you program and control it with your phone easily. It also can save you money on your heating and cooling bills, thanks to its Eco modes.

But it also feels like a smart thermostat from years ago and isnt as helpful or flexible as other options, even within Nests own lineup. The main appeal for the Nest Thermostat is its price: at $130 and even less if you have a rebate available from your local power company, its a much easier pill to swallow than Nests fancier models or even Ecobees options.

Photography by Dan Seifert / The Verge

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Nest Thermostat review: more simple than smart - The Verge

A new Safe Haven baby box has been installed at Westfield Fire Dept. station No. 83, 17944 Grassy Branch Rd., Nov. 13.

Safe Haven Baby Boxs mission is to end infant abandonment by raising awareness of the Safe Haven Law and providing resources for legal infant surrender. The baby box at WFD is an example of a legal infant surrender.

The new Westfield box is the 51st location in the nation.

I am pleased to see Westfield have a Safe Haven Baby Box, Westfield Mayor Andy Cook stated. While I hope it is never used, it is important that we have this available for a parent in crisis. Every baby deserves a chance, and this program is one way to make that possible.

Cooks wife, Barb, was led the fundraising efforts for the baby box. Safe Haven Baby Boxes cost approximately $15,000 to install. They are equipped with alarm systems to immediately notify staff at the fire station if the box is used. The boxes also have heating and cooling features and are made to lock as soon as a baby is placed inside.

We are always looking for innovative ways to serve our community, Westfield Fire Dept. Chief Marcus Reed stated. Adding a Safe Haven Baby Box to one of our stations is just another way we can proactively protect our most vulnerable.

Indiana is one of five states with an updated Safe Haven Law to include additional infant surrender options, such as the Safe Haven Baby Box.

For more, visit shbb.org.

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Baby box installed at Station 83 Current Publishing - Current in Carmel

Dec. 1, 2020 / PRZen / DE PERE, Wis. -- Whole house filtration removes particles and odors from the air in your home

Homeowners in northeastern Wisconsin already understand the value that whole house filtration systems bring during the six months or more that we have our windows shut. Now home filter systems make more sense than ever as families spend additional time at home.

Robinson Heating & Cooling's experts assist with selecting the appropriate whole house filtration system for your needs so you can eliminate pollutants and other contaminants from the air you breathe every day. Cleaner air also minimizes asthma, allergies and other breathing issues that can affect sleep quality.

In addition to the obvious health benefits, research suggests that enhanced air quality encourages better productivity for working at home and learning at home. Pair whole house filtration and zone heating systems for maximum home comfort.

Whole house filtration relies on high-quality filters

You may have heard of HEPA filters and their role in capturing exceptionally small particulates from the air as part of a whole house filtration system. These high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters serve a crucial role in the effectiveness of your system and its ability to provide clean air for your household.

Your Robinson Heating & Cooling certified specialist will ensure your whole house filtration system has the appropriate filter and power capacity to handle the entire square footage of your entire home. We install purifiers into your home's ductwork that are compatible with your existing ventilation system.

The best filter system for your home depends on a variety of factors. Contact us for a free analysis and learn how a whole house filtration system can provide worry-free clean air for you and your family.

Robinson Heating & Cooling; 45 years of HVAC experience

Robinson Heating & Cooling has been serving the Green Bay, Wisconsin, and surrounding areas since 1975. As the region's trusted source for residential, commercial and industrial HVAC services, Robinson Heating & Cooling repairs most makes and models of heating and cooling equipment in addition to installing new equipment from leading brands.

Visit https://www.robinsonheatingcooling.com/ or call (920) 490-3394 for a consultation or to schedule an appointment.

View the original post on whole house filtration here.

ContactRobinson Heating & Cooling920) 490-3394

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Protect your health with a whole house filtration system - Press Release - Digital Journal

An initiative to shine a light on neighborhoods in need and help them diminish crime while building a sense of community is making progress up and down the First State.

Its called Lights On and comes from a group called the Delaware Help Initiative

Contributor Larry Nagengast takes a closer look at this group and what its doing.

Delaware Public Media's Tom Byrne and contributor Larry Nagengast discuss the Delaware Help Initiative and its "Lights On" program.

From Laurel to Claymont, struggling communities are getting brighter, and feeling a little safer, thanks to the work of a 4-year-old Dover-based nonprofit, the Delaware Help Initiative.

Starting in Dover in 2017 as part of the citys Restoring Central Dover campaign, the Help Initiative created Lights On Dover Strong, a program to install energy-efficient LED bulbs on the front porches and solar-powered motion-detected lighting in the rear of more than 350 homes in targeted neighborhoods.

Theyre dedicated folks, Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen said of Help Initiative leaders Charles Kistler and Harold Stafford. They understand that an important part of community revitalization is making the community safe and building trust.

Chanda Jackson, community engagement coordinator for NCALL, a nonprofit that Christiansen credits with pulling together the funding to get the revitalization started, recalls meeting Kistler and Stafford at a Restoring Central Dover committee meeting in early 2017. They asked, what can we do? not only for lighting up the community but building relationships as well.

"They're dedicated folks. They understand that an important part of community revitalization is making the community safe and building trust." - Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen

Stafford and Kistler then pitched their plan to the mayor: replace incandescent bulbs on outdoor fixtures with LED lights and install solar-powered motion detectors in the rear of each home. It was a relatively simple, straightforward approach: no electrical work required, just swapping bulbs and attaching motion detectors.

But the offer would require residents to make a commitment, Stafford said. They had to promise to keep the motion detectors on, tell their neighbors about the program, call police if they noticed suspicious activity and attend a workshop on energy efficiency.

The project targeted a onetime working-class neighborhood south of Division Street between Governors Avenue and the railroad tracks that had been in decline and was experiencing increases in crime and drug traffic, Christiansen said.

When we got started, it took residents a couple of weeks to warm up to us, Stafford says. Then they started coming up to us, asking when we were going to work on their street.

Crime rates have dropped in the neighborhood, but not as much as the city might have liked. However, the projects overall impact was positive enough to spur the city to install new streetlights and security cameras in the area, the mayor said.

Coupled with new affordable housing and other improvements in the Restoring Central Dover campaign, Lights On has been a positive factor in helping promote the citys overall economic development prospects, Christiansen said.

The projects success drew the attention of officials in Seaford, who organized their own Lights On campaign and brought in the Help Initiative to handle installations at nearly 450 residences.

Help Initiative targeted underserved, challenged areas on the citys east side and the lighting improvements made a huge difference, City Manager Charles Anderson said. We hope to do the west side in the future.

After Seaford came Milford, then Laurel and Georgetown.

"Installing lights on and around a property can help dissuade incidents like trespassing, package thefts or burglaries. It can also contribute to an increased sense of comfort for residents and visitors." says Wilm. Police Communications Dir. David Karas

Now the Help Initiative is shining its light upstate on Wilmingtons West Side and in two communities north of the city, Edgemoor Gardens and Knollwood.

While perhaps a simple step, installing lights on and around a property can help dissuade incidents like trespassing, package thefts or burglaries. It can also contribute to an increased sense of comfort for residents and visitors, and can support overall neighborhood safety, says David Karas, policy and communications director for the Wilmington Police Department.

With the programs relatively short history and its geographic limitation to targeted areas, its too soon to make broad conclusions about its impact on crime, but Edward Huey, administrative lieutenant with the Milford Police Department, says there are fewer thefts and criminal mischief incidents in the areas where lights have been installed. At the same time, there have been more reports of found property, and more calls from residents who observe suspicious activity.

Lights help residents see more in the neighborhood. They help residents identify things that are suspicious, Huey says.

West Side Grows Together, the community redevelopment organization that focuses on the section of Wilmington bordered by Interstate 95, Pennsylvania Avenue, the B&O railroad tracks and Lancaster Avenue, brought the Help Initiative to the city a little more than a year ago, according to Sarah Lester, whose role as president and CEO of the Cornerstone West Community Development Corporation, puts her at the center of the areas redevelopment projects.

A lot of our work is focused on clean and safe strategies, Lester says, and residents of the area between Lancaster Avenue and Fourth Street, especially near Judy Johnson Park, frequently mentioned that their neighborhood seemed quite dark.

Lester connected with the Help Initiative through NCALL, whose activities in the Dover area mirror what Cornerstone West tries to accomplish on Wilmingtons West Side.

The Help Initiative began the Lights On campaign in Wilmington late last year, but the COVID-19 state of emergency brought the effort to a halt in mid-March. Help Initiative teams returned to the neighborhood this week and expect to wrap up their work by the end of the month. LED bulbs have replaced incandescent lighting at more than 700 housing units already, Lester said.

A separate program funding the installation of 26 security cameras outside area businesses, primarily along Fourth Street, has given both businesses and residents an increased sense of security, says Gabrielle Lantieri, Cornerstone Wests economic development manager.

The lights and cameras empower residents. Lantieri mentioned a woman who lives in an apartment above her business who spotted suspicious activity when she looked out her window to the alleyway below. She shouted out to him, I can see you now, youve got to get out of here.

In part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilmington police havent been able to assess the projects impact on crime in the area, Karas said, but Lester believes residents feel safer than they did before.

In the suburbs, New Castle County police have worked with the Help Initiative in distributing the LED lights and motion detectors in Edgemoor Gardens and Knollwood.

Edgemoor Gardens is a community in need that is trying to reestablish itself, says Lt. Gerald Tatum, special operations executive officer with the county police. Knollwood, a three-street community cut off from the rest of Claymont by Interstate 495, has struggled with vandalism and drug dealing issues for years.

When Help Initiative teams began visiting these communities in September, county police officers accompanied them, Tatum said. The idea behind this approach was to do more than talk about safety, but also to try to establish stronger police-community relationships, just like what has occurred in other areas where Help Initiative has worked. We had an opportunity to interact with the youth, and with the adults as well, he said.

"We should have an impact on crime, residents feel safer and save on their utility bills. And communities build a stronger relationship with the local police." Cornerstone West Community Development Corporation CEO Sara Lester

While the Help Initiatives most visible work brightens neighborhoods, it provides other free services to residents. Stafford says team members will replace old aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets and install energy-efficient shower heads as well. They will also check water heaters to make sure the temperature is set for 120 to 125 degrees, the level recommended for safe and efficient operation, and provide LED bulbs for interior lighting.

The Help Initiative also has a subcontractor available to do energy audits and arrangements with other subcontractors licensed to repair or replace home heating systems. If improvements to improve efficiency are suggested, the agency can guide residents in finding contractors to do the work and in accessing funding either low-interest loans or grants to pay for the projects.

The Help Initiative relies on a variety of grant programs to perform its work. The Dover project was funded largely through the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation grant that helped underwrite the overall Restoring Central Dover campaign. Subsequent Lights On projects have received much of their funding through Energize Delaware, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide access to low-cost innovative technologies in heating, cooling, ventilation and insulation. Stafford estimates the cost of LED bulbs, motion detectors and related supplies at $100 per residence.

For the energy audits, the Help Initiative is paid as a subcontractor for another business, FranklinEnergy Delaware, which is also funded by Energize Delaware. Federal funds funneled through state agencies cover other costs, Stafford says. Weatherization funds come through the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and heating system repair and replacement funds come through the Department of Health and Social Services.

With its broadened range of services, the Help Initiative serves communities and residents in multiple ways, Stafford says.

At West Side Grows Together, Lester concurs.

We should have an impact on crime, residents feel safer and save on their utility bills, she says, and communities build a stronger relationship with the local police."

Link:
Local nonprofit works to light the way to safer, stronger communities - Delaware First Media

During the colder, winter months, small animals will likely try and sneak into your home for shelter and warmth. If there's a way in, rest assured these intrepid, unwanted guests will find it. Once they do, you may not know they're there for several weeks or months. Critters like mice, rats and bats are very good at staying hidden, especially in houses with attics and basements, aka lots of dark places for them to hunker down.

More often than not, the ways you'll learn that critters have taken up residence in your home is by hearing them scuffle about, smelling them in your heating and cooling vents, or seeing their dirty work chewed wires, water damage (especially in the attic) and droppings. So what should you do once it's clear you've got some wild animal tenants? That all depends on what they are. Here's a list of the main culprits you'll find squatting in your home and what you can do to escort them out.

Rodents (mice, rats and squirrels)

Mice, rats and squirrels are the most common critter home invaders you'll come across, because they're small and very capable of squeezing through tiny crevices. In fact, entry holes need not be larger than 1/4 inch for one of these tenacious rodents to make their way through them. The best way to keep them out is by scouring your home for small openings, sealing all cracks and holes, and adding weather stripping to all windows and doors. However, if they've already made their way indoors, things get a bit more complicated.

How to humanely evict rodents

You don't have to use poison or traditional mouse traps to take care of your rodent problem. Instead, you can place cotton balls soaked in peppermint or eucalyptus oil, scents rodents don't like, in areas where you've seen evidence of them to drive them out of your home. You should also make sure to secure all open food and food contained in cardboard, as well as all garbage containers. While this is a temporary deterrent, once the rodents have vacated, plug up the holes and cracks they appear to have entered from so they can't return.

If you find any stragglers remaining after you've plugged up the holes, you can set catch and release traps which are available at most hardware stores.

That said, mice infestations can get out of hand rather quickly, especially if left unchecked for some time. If you feel like your efforts aren't making a dent, call a pest control professional.

In the case of squirrels, it's important to locate their nest, which will likely be in the rafters of your attic. If you find baby squirrels in the nest, it's best to wait a few weeks until their old enough to be on their own. In the meantime, seal off all the openings in your attic so there's only one exit point. Install a one-way cage door on the outside of that exit point so when the squirrels try to leave, they'll go right into the cage. Make sure to check the cage daily so that no one starves inside.

Once you believe all the squirrels have been caught, release them at least five miles away from your house as long as your state's wildlife catch and release laws designate allow that.

Bats in the attic

Brown bats like to roost in attics, so that's the variety people often happen upon. They can enter through tiny openings around windows, air vents and gaps in roofs. Bats can actually be quite useful because they have a voracious appetite for bugs, but that doesn't mean you necessarily want them taking up permanent residence in your home.

It's important to note, however, that you can't simply remove bats any old way. Bat extermination is actually illegal in the US, so they must be evicted via "exclusion" which basically means sealing up all exits except for one or two where a trap is placed, just like with squirrels. Exclusions can also only be down in the early spring, before bat babies are born, or early fall, once the babies are old enough to be away from their mother.

A bat removal expert can install bat check valves over any openings which allow bats to leave but not return to their roosting spot.

If a bat starts flying around a more common area, like a bedroom or living room, clear out young children and pets, wait for it to land, and either capture it using heavy duty gloves, or by putting a plastic container over it and sliding a piece of cardboard underneath, like you would a large insect. Release outside away from your home, either in midair or onto a vertical space, like a tree.

How to handle larger pests

Raccoons, skunks and possums may also frequent your attic, basement or garage to escape the punishing cold weather, but they can be harder to trap without professional help. Once captured and released, the best way to keep them from coming back is to always keep garage and basement doors and windows closed, secure outdoor trash cans with wildlife-proof lids and or bungee cords, and cap your chimney.

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What to Do if You Find Critters Living in Your Home | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com - The Weather Channel

According to a report by Savills, undertaken in collaboration with the Cold Chain Federation (CCF), cold storage in the UK accounts for an estimated 12% of total warehouse space. A further 1.6 million m2is currently under construction to cater for growing occupier demand.

Netherlands-based NewCold is one advanced cold logistics supplier contributing significantly to efforts to boost UK capacity.Preparations for its second UK deep freeze storage facility, in addition to its existing Wakefield site, are on course, says the company and after construction began in October, it is expected to go live just one year later.

Based in Corby, the facility sits on a 23-acre plot. Country director Jon Miles says it's a prime location in the logistics golden triangle, with proximity to frozen distribution centres of large retail and foodservice customers and perfectly located to help customers reduce food miles and cut costs.

Corby ideally situated

Even though its Wakefield hub can store 143,000 pallets and is only just over five years old, NewCold was already making plans early in 2019 to establish an additional site further south, says Miles.We needed to enhance our national service, particularly for customers wishing to benefit from a closer facility than the Wakefield site. To this end, Corby is ideally situated to support UK frozen food manufacturers and importers looking to enhance their supply chain value.

Miles further explains that in keeping with NewColds focus on sustainability and as demonstrated at their uniquely designed Wakefield site, the new facility will use half the energy of an equivalent conventional cold storage operation.This, coupled with our ability to reduce food miles by using high-volume trailers will greatly reduce CO2 emissions and energy use.

The company has been speaking to high-volume potential customers about using the site, including McCain Foods (GB), Nomad Foods, Froneri International, Finsbury Foods and Grupo Bimbo.

Announcing the Corby project initially, Miles said:The decision to build a second facility has been driven by an increasing wide-scale demand for storage and handling, while the number of deep-frozen storage facilities has reduced. This has seen cold stores at capacity during certain times over the last 2 years and the trend appears to be continuing, so we feel this is the right time to invest.

Artist's impression of NewCold's Rennes facility

Automated cold store near Rennes

The announcement of the Corby facility came just six months afterNewCold broke ground on its NewColds automated cold store in Montauban-de-Bretagne, near Rennes, France. That facility, which also serves customers such as Froneri usesautomated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) to automatically move and store products in the dark high-bay warehouse.

The equipment and operators will be directed by advanced software systems, while products are kept in optimal conditions with all coldstore areas cooled down to temperatures as low as 23C.The facility will be one of the largest in France with a storage capacity of over 700.000 m3 comparable to the volume of one million household refrigerators.

At present, Savills calculates that there are 678 warehouse units with cold storage space over 4,645m2 in the UK, equating to 12.4 million m2, 29% of which are located in Yorkshire and north west England. A further 22 units, currently under construction or being fitted out by occupiers, are also set to contain cold storage.

However, there remains a lack of supply. On a per capita basis, each UK household requires 0.46m2 of cold storage. Taking the country's current housing requirement of 337,235 new homes every year into consideration, an extra 785,030m2 of cold storage space over the next five years should be required, Savill's research claims. That's even before a potential increase in demand from structural changes associated with both Brexit and COVID-19.

Energy-efficient infrastructure

No wonder the sector's climate impact is keeping a lot of people up at night. Thankfully, the CCF states that as well as boosting cold storage capacity, the addition of new energy-efficient infrastructure under construction will help the industry towards its net zero future in line with the Governments 2050 target.

Ahead of its Towards a net zero cold chain report, which is expected in early 2021, it released a preliminary paper Shaping the cold chain of the future: the road to net zero.In it, it maps the supply chain for New Zealand lamb headed for UK consumers' tables to break down all the cold chain processes involved and highlight two priority areas to target for greenhouse gas reduction.

It details eight main stages:

Considering first how to improve energy management in cold stores, the report asks two questions.

How can the UK maximise efficiency in buildings and refrigeration systems?

How can smarter ways of generating and reusing energy offset emissions associated with refrigeration?

It then highlights consequent research priorities to grapple with these issues.

Understanding the issue

Future energy management models

Future regulation

Turning to temperature controlled distribution, the research takes the same approach.

Fuels: Transitioning away from diesel as the primary fuel for mobile refrigeration;

Refrigerants: The use of high GWP refrigerants in mobile refrigeration;

Industry standards:

Understanding the issue: Gaps in our understanding of TRUs present a major risk to effective policy making. Data requirements requiring research include:

Industry:

Technological:

The paper concludes by outlining five likely stages on the pathway to net zero:

1. Reducing the energy required for cooling: i.e, energy efficiency measures in cold stores, better building design;

2. Technological advances to reduce direct emissions: e.g. low GWP refrigerants and emission free methods for mobile refrigeration;

3. Supply-chain wide collaboration: to improve visibility, maximise efficiency in distribution and work in partnership to tackle chainwide issues;

4. Developing better ways to manage energy and waste heat: e.g. demand management, district heating and utilising cold stores as virtual batteries;

5. Powering remaining cooling load from sustainable sources.

Mackie's produces more than ten million litres of ice cream a year

Global specialist in industrial cooling, heating and sustainable energy solutions GEA Refrigeration Technologies is one company supplying refrigeration systems using the low GWP refrigerant ammonia reference in point 2 above. It's one of the refrigerants of choice as the EU F-Gas regulations, which will transfer into UK law from 1 January 2021, phase out fluorinated greenhouse gas alternatives in the coming years.

In October, the company signed an order to install a 4.5m low carbon, energy efficient cooling system running on ammonia with absorption chiller for premium ice cream manufacturer Mackie's of Scotland.

The systemwill replace the existing freezing plant at the business's Aberdeenshire plant.It will be the first large-scale ice cream production plant in Scotland to combine biomass heating and absorption cooling, supporting Mackie's aim to cut CO2emissions by 90% and deliver savings in energy costs of 70%-80%.

Mackie's produces more than ten million litres of ice cream annually. The new cooling system will be one of the most advanced in Europe and will use ammonia to replace the high-GWP partially halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) gases used in its refrigeration systems. Ammonia is a natural, environmentally friendly refrigerant that has no impact on global warming or ozone depletion.

Renewable energy

"Our corporate vision includes the goal of being the most environmentally friendly company in the UK," says Mackie's finance director Gerry Stephens. "Over the years we have invested locally in renewable energy, including four wind turbines and the largest solar farm in Scotland.

"As our energy needs grow with us, we are excited about this innovative combination of technology and environmentally friendly refrigeration. It represents the final step in our efforts to become self-sufficient in renewable energy."

Malcolm Coates, safety and environmental manager at J&E Hall, which designs, makes and installs ammonia-based refrigeration systems, sums up some of the benefits of ammonia: "Primarily, it is a natural refrigerant which does not deplete the ozone layer and has excellent thermodynamic qualities which give it a wide temperature range.

"Ammonia has fantastic thermodynamic properties, is widely available and can be employed at very low temperatures as low as -40C in some instances. It is cheap to buy and use which means it can make a significant impact on energy bills. This can make a big difference to the bottom line at a large scale food processing operation."

Originally posted here:
Carbon footprints in the snow: refrigeration and climate change - FoodManufacture.co.uk

Tile floors are low maintenance, durable, and easily customized to your personal style. However, they can show dust and dirt, making finding the best vacuum for tile floors a vital step in long-term tile floor maintenance. Vacuums come in several types, from cordless to canister and upright to wet/dry. The right one for you will depend on your homes flooring types, how much of the flooring is tile, and the amount and type of daily foot traffic. Pets and children, for example, create more messes than a house of adults.

This shopping guide includes recommendations for some of the best vacuums for tile floors along with information to narrow down the options. The range of vacuum types included can accommodate varying home, family, and cleaning types and situations.

Every home is different; likewise, users have different likes and dislikes when it comes to vacuum cleaners. All of these personal preferences come into play when deciding on the right vacuum. Weve listed some of the top considerations to factor in as you choose a vacuum.

A homes size acts as a starting point for vacuum size and powerthe larger the house, the larger the vacuum. A stick or cordless vacuum may be enough to clean a small home or apartment. However, it could run out of battery power cleaning a space larger than 1,000 square feet.

The vacuum size will also determine how often you empty it. A small stick vacuum could fill up every time its used in a spacious home, whereas a large, bagged upright may only fill every few weeks. Its a balancing act between the vacuum size and power along with the available storage space.

It comes down to thisthe vacuum size and power should complement the home size.

Corded vs. cordlessthe ongoing debate about which is better isnt likely to end soon. Thats because one or the other is better in certain situations and for different users. The choice comes down to what kind of user you are and how you want to use the vacuum.

Corded vacuums never run out of power, meaning you get full suction no matter how long you run the vacuum. However, the cords length affects how you clean. Once you reach the end of the cord, youll have to stop vacuuming and move to a different outlet. Some people dislike maneuvering around a cord.

Larger vacuums, like full-size uprights and canister vacuums, have the longest cords, with some reaching nearly 30 feet. Stick vacuums have shorter cords in the range of 15 to 20 feet. Retractable cords add convenience. Otherwise, most corded models have an on-board cord storage system built into the vacuums body.

Cordless vacuums arent limited by cord length. You can carry them for use almost anywhere in your house without tripping over a cord. In the past, cordless vacuums could be heavy due to the weight of their lead-acid batteries. However, most modern models now have relatively lightweight lithium-ion or lithium-ion polymer batteries.

These two types of batteries dont have issues with memory effect, wherein the battery loses its ability to hold a full charge if its not completely discharged with each use. Theyre also more eco-friendly than past lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or nickel-metal hydride batteries, which you may find on older cordless vacuums.

Vacuum cleaners have a universal motor that operates on both direct current and alternating currents. A good indication of motor power is amps, although this can be somewhat deceiving in that a vacuums total amps include power used in other parts of the vacuum. But in general, vacuums with higher amps have more power and, consequently, more suction power.

Keep in mind that high suction power uses more electricity. If youre cleaning a small home or apartment, you may not need a high power vacuum. Usually, a stronger suction power is needed in a house with a larger square footage.

Vacuum airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm), with the best vacuums having an airflow of over 125 cfm. However, airflow should be balanced with the vacuums suction, also called the water lift or static pressure. A vacuum can have good airflow but low suction, leaving you with a model that underperforms for its power. Good suction powermeasured in inches of water lift, or how many inches the motor will lift 1 inch of water verticallystarts at 80 inches.n Balanced vacuum specs should have more than 125 cfm and over 80 inches of suction.

All that airflow also needs good filtration. High-efficiency air particulate (HEPA) filters remove particles as small as .3 microns. Allergy sufferers benefit from this filtration level, removing pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and other common allergens.

Lugging around a clunky vacuum builds extra work into cleaning. Thats where maneuverability comes into play. Stick and cordless vacuums offer the best maneuverability, especially if they have a swivel head that pivots around furniture and everyday household obstacles.

As far as full-size models go, uprights have a leg up on canister vacuums, which can be cumbersome to drag. However, canisters tend to perform better on tile floors due to the vacuum head design. These designs make them one of the best vacuums for tile floors.

The average vacuum cleaner produces 75 decibels (dB) of noise. To give you an idea of how loud that is, the average homes noise levels stay around 40 dB. Vacuums that run at 71 to 75 dB will sound fairly loud. A quiet vacuum runs between 65 to 70 dB.

Vacuum capacities vary widely, from robot vacuums and stick models accommodating around .5 liters (L) to full-size uprights and canister models holding around 4.5 liters. More considerable volumes allow you to empty the bag, dust bin, or canister less often. Make sure the vacuums capacity fits your homes size. If you have a large household, more than 1,000 square feet, you may need to empty a small bin before youve finished vacuuming the house. Small containers work best for small spill clean up rather than whole-house vacuuming.

Accessories expand a vacuums usefulness. Standard accessories typically include a crevice tool, upholstery brush, and extension wands. However, a few other extras worth considering are additional hoses (for canister vacuums), motorized brush heads, and pet brush heads.

Onboard storage keeps accessories at your fingertips. However, it also adds weight. Other designs have a storage bag or a case for extra accessories, which keep the vacuums weight to a minimum. A downside to this is that a separate bag or a case can also be misplaced.

The following vacuums offer features tailored to tile floors. Canister vacuums with powerful automatic suction adjustment, cordless models, and wet/dry vacs that pull double duty made the list. Your unique circumstances and preferences will help you decide which is the right choice for you.

Photo: amazon.com

The Miele Complete C3 Alize provides premium features like six suction settings and a sensor to automatically adjust them. In part, the suction settings work so well on tile floors because of the AirTeq floor head that stays in almost constant contact while in use. The design optimizes suction while decreasing overall energy use.

The Complete C3 Miele also includes an impressive 4.5 liters canister capacity, reducing the number of times youll need to empty it. A telescoping handle makes vacuuming more comfortable and adds another 6 feet to the vacuums 30-foot cord reach. This model features a silence motor to maintain a quiet environment.

This model includes onboard storage for its three accessoriesa crevice nozzle, dusting brush, and upholstery nozzle. For those with allergies, a HEPA filter and an AirClean 3D filter bag remove and contain common allergens. The price stands as one of the few downsides to this model. It weighs 16 pounds and requires three AAA batteries to operate.

Photo: amazon.com

This convertible vacuum offers the convenience of a stick and hand vacuum with the suction power for hard floors.

The Bissell Featherweight offers three configurations and good suction for a vacuum at this price. The vacuum head stays in close contact with the floor to better remove dirt and dust from tile floors.

This model has a dirt cup capacity of .67 liters and also converts to a hand vacuum with a built-in crevice tool for use on furniture or stairs. The diverse configurations add versatility to this vacuums general use. A 15-foot power cord keeps the suction consistent no matter where its used, but it does limit the vacuums reach. At 2.6 pounds, its ultra lightweight and compact.

Photo: amazon.com

An easily maneuvered swivel head helps the vacuum glide over low-pile carpets and hard floors. However, it has a detachable cleaner head for stairs, windowsills, and other hard-to-reach places so that it can do far more than tile. With a dirt cup capacity of 1.58 liters, this vacuum weighs 17.1 pounds and has a 30-foot cord.

Shark also incorporates noise reduction technology that cuts decibels and softens the vacuums overall pitch. A HEPA filter removes common allergens. While the APEX works well for tile, the brushes do not turn off and could scratch hardwoods. Finally, this top pick features LED lights on the floor nozzle and handle to reveal hidden debris in dark areas.

Photo: amazon.com

The Hoover Floormate uses water and scrub brushes to remove dirt, dust, and other messes. This model features dual tanks to keep the dirty and clean water separate, reducing the risk of dirty water coming into contact with your floors.

The Floormate also features two modes: wash and dry. In wash mode, the vacuum uses both brushes and suction to pull up water and remove dirt. In dry mode, the brushes disengage so the suction can fully remove excess water. Modes are controlled with easily accessed buttons on the handle, where you can also activate a clean boost that adds extra detergent. Like other wet/dry vacuums designed for hard floors, theres a low percentage of these types of vacuums having sensor issues or early breakdowns. It weighs less than 14 pounds, it has a 20-foot-long cord and a dirt cup capacity of 1.58 liters.

Photo: amazon.com

With a dirt cup capacity of 3.5 liters, this model is smaller than Mieles full-size canister vacuums but doesnt lack suction power. A combination of the 1200-watt vortex motor and vacuum head design creates uninterrupted suction that pulls in more dirt and dust while enhancing energy efficiency. It features an 18-foot cord and weights less than 15 pounds.

This model includes six suction powers you can manually adjust using a dial on the canister body. Despite its compact size, it holds three accessoriesa crevice tool, a dusting brush, and an upholstery tooldirectly on the hose. It also has a HEPA filter to remove common allergens. Like other Miele vacuums, this model comes in at the high end of the price range. However, this compact model is one of their more affordable designs.

Photo: amazon.com

The Eureka RapidClean offers a lightweight but efficient cleaning experience on tile floors. At just over 5 pounds, this vacuum is an ideal choice for multitaskers. It has an easy rest feature if you need to temporarily prop the vacuum against a counter, a chair, or another piece of furniture.

A rechargeable 25.2-volt lithium-ion battery provides excellent power with a maximum 40-minute run time cleans larger spaces with the convenience of a cordless model. The runtime goes down if the extra features such as max power boost, are used.

With the dust bin at the top of the handle, this model can reach underneath deep furniture pieces and collect debris with its .7 liter canister. Additionally, the LED headlights help illuminate dark spaces while cleaning. Finally, the RapidClean converts into a handheld vacuum for use on stairs and other hard-to-reach places for versatile cleaning options.

Photo: amazon.com

The RoboVac 30C keeps cleaning simple. The vacuum connects to an app through which you can set the cleaning schedule on your phone or device. Set RoboVac to vacuum once, twice, or three times per day, so you can do something else while the floors get clean. If you dont want to use your smartphone, you can operate this feature with the included remote control. A sensor automatically adjusts the suction setting to the floor surface with low-powered suction on tile floors and higher suction on carpet to use the battery life more efficiently. However, you can also set it to run at max, which picks up more debris from tile floors than the standard suction setting. It has a dust bag capacity of .6 liters and runs off of one lithium-ion battery.

Two brushes pull debris into the vacuum. The bristles reach baseboards, which works well when on the perimeter setting. While this model doesnt feature some of the higher-end settings like GPS tracking, you get highly effective cleaning at an affordable price for a robotic vacuum. Additionally, its height of 2.85 inches makes it ideal for cleaning underneath furniture easily.

Thankfully, vacuums that work for tile floors often work well on other types of flooring, too. Some models have automatic sensors that change the vacuum height or suction based on the flooring type. This feature allows you to seamlessly move from tile to carpet and back again. Weve provided a few more tidbits and tips for vacuuming those tile floors.

Todays cordless vacuums generally have good suction that works well on small areas (less than 1,000 square feet) of tile flooring. Theyre great for spot cleaning in large homes, but the battery life could limit their use as a whole-house vacuum in homes over 1,000 square feet. However, for a tiny space or a home with a small tile area, a cordless vacuum provides maneuverability and portability to accommodate these areas of the home.

Many robot vacuums work well on tile floors. Those with multiple suction settings and automatic sensors that adjust the suction setting based on the flooring type perform the best. Models with numerous suction settings let you adjust the suction based on the amount of debris in the home. For example, pet hair typically requires extra suction, so a model with a suction boost setting or mode will probably work best.

Make sure the floor is clear of objects that could get sucked into the vacuum. If the vacuum head height is adjustable, lower it to the bare floor setting or the lowest setting available. Finally, follow a vacuuming pattern to keep track of where youve vacuumed.

Go here to see the original:
The Best Vacuums for Tile Floors in the Home in 2020 - BobVila.com

This time last year, I would not have guessed that facemasks and UNC sanitizers would become stables on out kit in 2020. But here we are, almost made it to 2021, and while we don't know what that year will bring, I think it's a good idea to get technology to work for us and allow us to get more done, have more downtime, and feel less stressed.

Here is a small list of my top tech items to kick-off 2021. I have tested everything on this list under real-world conditions, and nothing has found its way on this list based on a snazzy press release. Everything featured here is the tech that I use and rely on daily.

Must read: Paying money to make Google Chrome faster and use less RAM

The Zendure SuperTank was previously my favorite power bank, and it traveled with me across many countries at the end of last year. This year, the SuperTank Pro takes its place.

The power bank is robust and delivers the promised power.

This is a monster power bank capable of a maximum output of 138W through the four USB-C ports.

The OLED display is clear and displays what's going on for each of the ports. Like the SuperTank, the SuperTank Pro offers a UPS/pass-through feature that allows you to charge the power bank and use the power bank to charge or power other devices, so it acts as a power distribution hub.

The power bank comes with a 1-meter USB-C-to-USB-C cable and a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter.

Everything is high quality, well-made, and oozes exceptional design and engineering.

Grab a massive 25% off the SuperTank Pro on the Zendure website with the code ZSTP25. Preorder now for shipping starting December 9.

As much as I like my iPhone, the Ulefone Armor 9 is fast becoming my favorite smartphone when I need to venture into the outdoors or need to carry out diagnostics using the thermal camera and borescope.

Not only is the Armor 9 fast, tough, exceptionally well-made, I keep finding more and more uses for the built-in FLIR thermal camera. The other day I used it to find a leaking sink, and high resistance in an extension cord.

Combined with the optional borescope that clamps onto the side (leaving the USB-C port free), this is like having a go-anywhere toolbox in your pocket.

This is the perfect Android smartphone for the engineer.

The days of using SMS for 2FA are coming to an end, and about time too.

There are a lot of YubiKey hardware authentication keys out there, but the two I use the most are the USB-C/Lightning version, and the USB-C/NFC version. I've added both to all my online accounts that support hardware 2FA, and they're both performed flawlessly.

Yubico YubiKeys are compatible with a huge list of services and apps -- from password managers such as LastPass and 1Password, to services such as Twitter, Login.gov, GitHub, Bitbucket, CloudFlare, AWS, Dropbox, andmore.

Don't have one? Get one!

An encrypted flash drive that you unlock using your smartphone. It's a great way to secure data when on the move, and I'm finding myself using mine more and more for those times when cloud storage isn't convenient or practical.

Everything on the drive is protected by a 7-15-character password or a biometric unlock such as Face ID/Facial recognition, Touch ID/Fingerprint or IRIS scanning from a smartphone or tablet. The comms between the device and drive is handled by a secure Bluetooth authentication communication using any smartphone/tablet (iOS/Android) or Apple Watch. The Bluetooth channel is secured by a FIPS validated encryption layer and is only used for connection purposes.

The drive itself is completely host independent, so it will work with Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome and so on, VDIs such as Citrix and VMWare, and also with embedded systems such as medical devices, TVs, drones, printers, scanners, or pretty much anything with a USB port.

It looks like the working from home thing might be around for a while, so if you are relying on your old router to deliver Wi-Fi, then you really need to upgrade your network setup.

The Meshforce M3s Mesh Wi-Fi router kit is everything you need to bring your home Wi-Fi setup into the 21 century!

The rest is here:
Must-have tech gadgets to start 2021 the right way - ZDNet

Creative arts. When Baby Shark meets Crayola, they create a Color Wonder Mess Free coloring book and markers. While this set keeps kids entertained, especially if Baby Shark is their background music, parents can relax knowing the markers only work on the magic paper, not skin, clothing or carpets. Best for ages 3 and up. $7.99. Toddlers like to touch things so this Christmas give them free rein with the EasyClean Finger Paint Station, which allows them to paint on a paper locked in place. In the happenstance a little (or a lot) of paint gets outside the station, cleanup is easy since the paint is washable. Best for ages 1 and up. $19.99, shop.crayola.com.

Make play time mess-free with a Baby Shark-themed coloring book and markers that only work with the booknot clothes or any other surface.Courtesy of Crayola

Credit: Handout

Credit: Handout

Mold and shape. Kids can get creative with all-natural plant-based colorful jars of dough from The Dough Projects. Each batch is made with organic wheat flour, sea salt, cream of tartar and vegetable oil; color comes from a variety of sources, including beets, purple carrots and turmeric, making it chemical-free. As yummy as the ingredients may sound and the life-like food items that kiddos may make, its best they wait for edible food during snack time. Best for ages 3 and up. Available as a three, six or nine pack. $19.99-$59.97, thedoughproject.com.

Kids can get creative with all-natural plant-based colorful jars of dough.Courtesy of The Dough Project

Credit: Handout

Credit: Handout

Bedtime buddy. Little ones can feel safe and sound snuggling up with a soft Bedtime Elmo, who wears his favorite glow in the dark pajamas. And, in case your toddler hears something bump in the night, Elmos friendly face flashlight makes things bright. Best for ages 1 and up. $34.99. walmart.com.

Melody making. Babies love to be stimulated, and an interactive grow-with-me mat does the trick for years. Opt for the Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick and Play Piano Gym to keep baby engrossed in activities such as lay and play or tummy time; during the toddler stage, they can explore songs, colors, shapes and numbers. The piano features real notes, so kids can play Christmas jingles or just bang on the toy to make their own version of music. Best for newborns to 36 months. $39.99, target.com.

Rock with it. Hop up and hang on to a plush elephant rocker from Pottery Barn, which features wood handles and runners for a secure yet gentle rocking motion. Plan to keep this, and pass it down for a rocking good time for generations to come. Customize by adding the childs name on the bottom wooden panel. Best for ages 18 to 36 months. Rocker, $149; with personalization, $161, potterybarnkids.com.

Excerpt from:
2020 Gift Guide: Ideas for babies and toddlers - Atlanta Journal Constitution