If you need to make concrete blocks in far larger quantities you will need a concrete block machine. Again you can buy an expensive commercial machine which will do an excellent job for you. It will turn out enough blocks to pay for itself in time and makes the manufacturing process fairly easy. The alternative is to build your own concrete block machine. You can build a very good machine from used auto parts which will cost a fraction of the price of a commercially made machine. It will do the job just as well and you can build several for less than the cost of one purchased machine.

You can buy ready mixed concrete in bags or save money by mixing your own. Concrete is composed of sand, gravel and water mixed in the right proportions with Portland cement. Depending on the job to be done the proportions of the various components in the mix will vary. Concrete does not just dry and harden. There is actually a chemical reaction between the cement and water which causes it to harden into a crystalline mass which binds the other components together. If there is too little cement the concrete will be weak and if too much water is used it will not be good either. You need to measure the various components accurately before mixing them. A recipe for a concrete mix is given as three numbers for example 1:3:4. This means one part Portland cement mixed with three parts sand and four parts gravel. Sometimes cinders or other light “aggregates” are used instead of gravel to make light weight blocks.

You can mix the concrete by hand on a concrete floor or plywood sheet. Do not mix it on the ground where contamination by extraneous material will result in weaker concrete. For modest amounts of concrete hand mixing is appropriate but if you are in production and need large quantities to manufacture concrete blocks or other products it is necessary to have a cement mixer or mixers to do the job. A mixer also ensures that the concrete is thoroughly mixed and even throughout.

A concrete block making machine or machines will enable you to turn out hundreds or even thousands of cement blocks daily. If you are in business to supply builders or other buyers in quantity you will require machines to produce enough blocks to fill large orders. Building a machine yourself is a great way to get a low cost start when you want to move up from making blocks from hand molds. Later you may want to acquire a high production commercial machine but that is unnecessary till you need a lot more production.

John Mowatt is a former concrete block business owner. He passes on his knowledge of making cement blocks,garden ornaments and molds. see his website at: concrete blocks

Need a new gas furnace at a great price?Check this out: gas furnace prices

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With all of the resources available to you, you may well ask yourself, “Why do I need a computer expert to maintain my computer?” The short answer is, you don’t. Just like you don’t need a technician to fix your car, repair your furnace, or do any other maintenance or repairs. If you have the knowledge and the time, you can easily repair and maintain your own computer.

But be warned, there are several potential “gotchas” involved in maintaining your own computer. If you decide to repair your own automobile, a company won’t sell you a carburetor what will break your car. Unfortunately, that’s not true of computer maintenance. There are many programs out there that either don’t do what they purport to do, perform unnecessary functions, or are just plain dangerous to install. It’s up to you, the computer maintenance technician, to determine what programs you can safely use in what manner.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the programs out there and what the do-it-yourselfer needs to watch out for.

Registry Cleaners Websites such as Finally Fast.com and Double My Speed.com have been promoting themselves heavily of late. These (and other) sites offer products to download and install that purport to improve your computer’s performance. These programs are mostly registry cleaners. The Windows registry is simply a database that the operating system uses to store everything it needs to know to run as per your specifications. In addition, it’s available to any other program to write their information in there as well. Since Windows 95, the registry has been the recommended repository for user preferences, settings, and any other variables a program has to remember.

Over time the Windows registry will become cluttered with unneeded information, most frequently caused by uninstallation programs not removing all of the data they should. The concept of a registry cleaner is that it will detect and remove these orphan settings, frequently improving computer performance.

The problem with registry cleaners is that they will often incorrectly detect a setting as unneeded and delete it, causing problems with either installed programs or the Windows operating system itself. Registry cleaners are good, but you should never blindly take their advice as to what to delete. You should always review each entry to verify that it can be deleted safely.

And keep in mind there are freeware applications that do an excellent job of cleaning your Windows registry. Ccleaner is the one recommended by The Computer Psychic. (Go to Google and search for ccleaner.)

Anti-Malware Applications Malware (spyware and virus) cleanup and prevention is one of the most important aspects of computer maintenance. If you catch a virus on your system, you leave yourself open to all sorts of mischief – including having files deleted, getting your address book scammed and spam e-mails being sent in your name, and even having your credit card and banking information stolen! Spyware can be just as bad – it typically “watches” what you do on your computer, down to even logging keystrokes, and thus stealing your passwords. In addition to these problems, spyware and viruses are often poorly written, causing performance problems in your system.

There are dozens of applications on the market that claim to remove malware from your system. And many of them do a good job. But here’s the rub – many programs that present themselves as anti-virus or anti-spyware are, themselves, viruses and spyware! The Computer Psychic has seen all too many systems where the owner has – with the best of intentions – installed an anti-malware app into their system, only to see the floodgates opened; they find themselves with more popup ads and performance problems than they’ve ever seen before.

So how do you make sure you don’t install one of these #$%& programs? First of all, if you get a pop-up message telling you that your computer is infected with viruses and click here to download a virus cleaner, don’t do it! Without exception, these programs are scams. Downloading one of these apps will introduce your system to more viruses than you thought existed. In fact, when you see this window, you’ll be presented with an OK and Cancel button. Don’t click either one! If you click Cancel, it will still install a virus. Instead, click on the little X in the upper right-hand corner to close the window.

Secondly, if you use a search engine looking for anti-malware programs, be careful what links you follow. Malware creators will name their applications very similar to – or even exactly the same as – legitimate programs, hoping to confuse you into downloading theirs instead of the good one. For example, if you wanted to download Spybot Search and Destroy (an excellent anti-spyware program) and searched for it in Yahoo, the very first result you’ll find purports itself to be Spybot. Clicking their link takes you to a page that says it’s Spybot Search and Destroy, but is actually an application that acts as a gateway to allow viruses into your system.

So, again, you need to take the time to learn what is and what isn’t safe to install. The Computer Psychic has a very easy recommendation. Microsoft has a vested interest in keeping your computer malware-free. If they do a good job of preventing viruses from getting into your system, then that’s one less thing that Apple can beat them up over. Towards that end, in September of 2009, Microsoft released an excellent free anti-malware program named Microsoft Security Essentials (www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials). In the past, The Computer Psychic has recommended against all-in-one solutions, arguing that no one application can catch everything. But Microsoft Security Essentials is just that good. It does as good a job as – or better than – any other application, or combination of apps, in blocking any type of spyware or virus.

Startup Monitors While not as popular as the other system maintenance programs, proper use of a startup monitor can dramatically speed up your computer. A startup monitor will tell you just what programs, drivers and processes load when you start your computer.

When you boot up your computer, the operating system will also auto-start many other components – possibly a fax application, printer elements, video or mouse drivers, to name a few. These are good – they are essential for the proper operation of your computer. However, many applications add themselves to the auto-run settings for their own convenience – not yours.

For example, programs such as Adobe Reader and Microsoft Office will tell the operating system to pre-load some of their components as Windows starts up. This allows their software to open more quickly when needed. The downside of this is, even if you aren’t actively using their software, your computer is using memory running those components. Better to not pre-load those components; let the software take a second or two longer to load, and speed up your entire system.

Another popular use for the startup is for auto-update programs. These apps will periodically check the internet looking for updates. If one is found, the program will present you with a window telling you an update is available. Not only do these apps consume computer resources, they can be an annoyance.

In order to easily prevent unwanted software from running automatically, The Computer Psychic recommends a Microsoft application called AutoRuns (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx). Using Autoruns you can decide just what apps you want to run when starting your computer. Once again, though, don’t blindly turn of all apps. Make sure you know what you’re disabling.

Summary As you can see, using the tools recommended in this article makes it quite possible for anyone to maintain their computer’s health. But as with anything technical, make sure you know what you’re doing before just tinkering away.

With over 20 years industry experience, Steven O Smith is the owner of The Computer Psychic, providing affordable on-site computer repair to residences and business in the Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR area. Visit http://www.thecomputerpsychic.com for more valuable information and free software.

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The things you want to be most aware of are the more common problems of cooling units. These will be most of the troubleshooting items that you can take care of on your own with out the aid of Provo cooling and air professionals. Most will tell you that dirt is the most common cause of air conditioning problems.

For air conditioning units that do not cool a room down as it should, look towards the air ducts. The cooling unit cannot work properly if there are things causing blocks. When you start to notice you are not producing cool air check the filter to make sure it is not dirty.

There could also be a chance of a dirty evaporator causing the problem. The dirt on the evaporator will affect how well it works. Another cause could be that the blower wheel is not working.

Since dirt tends to be the most common problem with troubleshooting make it a point to check on that first. Keep up with keeping your unit clean on a regular basis. It is best to do it monthly when using the unit consistently.

Dirt can also cause your cooling unit to short out, or turn off and on with out warning. This can happen because the condensing coils get too dirty, which puts too much pressure of the compressor. If your unit is low on Freon, this could also cause a short with the compressor.

Be on the lookout for any leaks with your unit. Leaks can cause a lot of water damage if not taken care of quickly. If your unit is malfunctioning a leak could be the problem.

Provo cooling and air professionals can take care of broken parts or leaks. Be sure to regularly check up on your air conditioning unit to keep it in top form. When a problem does start, see how clean the unit is first to see if any major repairs need to be taken.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating

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Do you reside in a warm and moist location? A warm and damp atmosphere just isn’t something you want to go through month in month out. Much of the USA however suffers from just a few days from the warm season. The summer time is a very much good season.

All of us feared the lengthy winter months and embraces summer time with wide open hands. Nevertheless, in the event that winter season is cursed with the hassle such as extreme cool, summer time also has its own share of associating inconvenience- severe warmth.

Severe heat may cause contamination and also dying in the event of heat stroke. Precisely what is the simplest way to fight this? Taking plenty of drinking water as well as remaining cool can easily overcome warmth problems. Therefore, it is useful that each house must have Main Air conditioning Systems.

A home Central Air Conditioner is really a home air cooling system that functions from a convenient location. This type of systems blows cooled air through the entire house that is dispersed using a duct work system. In contrast to other types of air cooling devices such as the casement air conditioner which usually cools merely a smaller place or perhaps a single room, a Central Air Conditioner distributes air in most places of the home.

You will find various sorts and dimensions of Central Air Conditioning Systems. Therefore, it makes buying a central air conditioner a challenging task. Main Air Conditioner Set up just isn’t as simple as setting up a casement air conditioning equipment. It often needs the service of a competent Heating system technician.

Prior to purchasing a Central Air Conditioner Unit, you need to think about a few important question.

1. Exactly what device dimension would you like to own for the house? The larger the air conditioner unit the greater electrical power it utilizes, This means larger electrical energy bill for you. You really don’t wish to purchase a model which can be larger than anything you absolutely need because this is only going to increase your household expenses unnecessary.

2. Simply how much coverage you would like your new central heat and air unit will include? Do you want to leave out several areas in your house from the cool air distribution? There has to be places in your house that are seldom frequented and disbursing cool air to those areas are only useless and increase electricity expenses.

3. Are you in a position to spend the money for expense that accompany your new device? Considering the very high cost power these days, it is usually vital that you select sensibly the system you’ll need for your house. Pick a unit which provides the most energy-efficient capacity. Evaluate brands and functions. You could probably preserve hundreds out of your utility bill over time.

You need to be smart in finding the right Central Air Conditioner unit for your house. Manufacturer is usually the basis in selecting a quality unit. It might be ridiculous to believe which you base your decision on brand names only.

But popular brands have previously proven their effectiveness and toughness. Because of this, exactly why they have remained robust and turn out to be renowned in the market.

Getting a suitable home air conditioning systems for your house could be a difficult task if you don’t know how to choose one. You can check out more about air conditioning systems at http://www.buyminisplit.com for more tips.

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Hydraulic Lime Mortar On a Chimney Cap?

As a company, we are committed to the challenge of using sustainable building methods in our historic restoration projects. Sometimes we are asked specific technical questions as to how these two objectives are reconcilable-how can we use historic methods over modern techniques to stand the test of time? Recently, we received just such a question: “I am committed to using the sustainable and historically accurate natural hydraulic lime mortar on my chimney cap, but how will the natural lime mortar hold up in the long run?”

This is a valid question. After all, Portland is harder than natural lime mortar, right? So although it is historically accurate, how is it sustainable to use a softer material on a chimney, one of the hardest to reach places and one of the most vulnerable spots on your historic house?  Shouldn’t your chimney, of all places have a durable and water proof cap? Beautiful homes, that have been meticulously maintained, have often been found to have small plants growing out of the chimney.

First let’s consider a few of the attacks a chimney has to endure. The most obvious is the extreme exposure to all forms of moisture: rain, snow, dew and frost. Constantly varying temperatures throughout the year, from cold winter nights to scorching hot summer days add an additional assault on the chimney-the constant expansion and contraction takes its toll.  In the dead of winter, when the furnace kicks on and 400 plus degree air suddenly hits a 15 degree chimney flue, then what happens? The resulting pressure has an effect much like putting an untempered glass into a hot oven: it cracks. This expanding and contracting phenomenon has another destructive effect; the clay liner which your chimney is built with will expand upward as it heats up then contract back down as it cools. This effect may further compromise your chimney’s structural integrity. As if this was not enough, a surprising attack comes from another part of nature. A chimney is a natural resting place for birds. We have seen the corrosive effect that bird droppings have on the integrity of a chimney cap. While we won’t attempt to address all of these issues here, we will address the basic way that we apply a chimney cap.

Needless to say, the chimney has a very difficult and challenging life and it would be advisable for the responsible homeowner to inspect a chimney for integrity-much as he would inspect his gutters for leaks. Just as a leaky gutter will ultimately wreak havoc on any masonry construction, a leaky chimney will do the same. Add the chimney cap to the schedule of five year maintenance checks. Eventually, you may have to repair it, or even replace it completely. As I like to say, a chimney cap replaced in time can save nine.

So, now let’s go back to the historical use of hydraulic lime mortar on the chimney cap instead of Portland. Portland is harder and water proof right? Doesn’t that mean it will last longer, and need fewer repairs? It’s a good theory. But there are more destructive forces at work on a chimney cap than just moisture.

Recall our description of one of the most destructive attacks: thermal expansion and contraction from the flue gasses as they heat a very cold chimney. Portland may be harder, but hardness doesn’t handle that kind of expansion very well, it cracks easily and once it cracks it doesn’t heal. Earlier, we raised a concern that natural lime mortar is softer, right? But now we see that the softness  is a positive thing because it will permit more movement than Portland. If it does crack, it heals itself! This is how it works chemically: the content of natural free lime actually attracts to itself and thus it self-heals, sealing the crack.

The tried and true method we use to apply a chimney cap is as follows:

We apply three coats of mortar. The first two coats consist of two parts course concrete sand, one part 3.5 natural hydraulic lime mortar, and one handful of natural hair or fiberglass. The third and final coat we apply is proportioned as follows: two and one half parts sand, one part 3.5 natural lime mortar, this final coat has a bit more sand; no fiberglass or hair. This method will allow the first two coats to act as a stronger mixture-the fiberglass acts as a rebar of sorts-and the final layer seals the fibrous ends so they won’t act as a wick for water absorption; we don’t want a conduit for moisture. For a few weeks after the new chimney cap has been applied, it should be covered from moisture-depending on the temperatures-and should be kept damp in hot temperatures.

While the exact method of applying a new chimney cap may vary extensively, we have found that our method works quite well and lasts for many years. It is our commitment to balance the use of natural and sustainable products, while enabling the use of historically accurate products and procedures.

Jonathan Owens owner of Brookline Builders Inc in Lancaster County Pa, is a Lancaster County native, started Brookline Builders 21 years ago when he was 19. Although Brookline Builders will complete all your residential and commercial construction needs in Lancaster County as well as surrounding counties, Jonathan personally enjoys all types of historic restoration. Check out the website of Brookline Builders here http://www.brooklinebuilder.com

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Technorati Tags: air conditioning, furnace repair portland

Buying a good cooling unit is never easy. You need to consider various important things in this process. Well, I would like to tell you that you should always opt for a reputed brand when it comes to air conditioners. One such popular brand in this industry is McQuay. This is one of the oldest and most popular companies that offer air conditioning solutions to clients from all over the world. They have gained a decent amount of experience in this industry. They manufacture absolutely reliable products for their customers.

You must consider the brand value of the air conditioner. In order to buy an effective air cooler for your home you need to take several things in to consideration. Given below are some of them.

1. The types of air conditioners

The first thing that you need to understand is that what type of air cooler you exactly want to purchase. For this purpose, you need to properly consider the cooling needs of your house. If the room is huge then purchasing a split air cooler is a good option for you. The capacity of such an AC is huge and it can provide cool air to a large room or area. However, if you have a small room then you got to purchase a window AC with smaller capacity, say around 1.5 ton.

2. Overall budget

Well, it is of utmost importance to consider your overall budget. You really need to plan your budget well before purchasing an air conditioner. Otherwise it might hamper your entire financial budget.

3. Cooling needs

You need to properly assess your cooling needs. It is of utmost importance to do so. You must work hard in this entire process.

So, these are a few crucial things to consider in the process of buying an efficient AC. You really need to keep all your options open in this regard. Go ahead and purchase an air conditioner to stay cool in this hot weather.

Know the benefits of mcquay air con and advantages of these air con on the health of the individuals who use them.

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A recent visitor to my website asked if there was such a thing as a portable air conditioner with no vent. I wrote back that I had never heard of one, but would check it out just in case some new advance in portable air conditioning had slipped by me.

What I found was the Haier Commercial Cool 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. In the product description it states there’s no need to install a vent, but then goes on to say a “window exhaust kit” is included with the purchase.

I think what they’re trying to do is persuade you and me that the term “vent” should be applied to permanent installations only like those for clothes dryers, and temporary installations, such as those used for portable air conditioners, aren’t really vents at all – they’re “window exhaust kits.”

Call it what you will, one way or another the hot air generated by the compressor needs to be exhausted from the room. So I guess if you buy a Haier you’ll be “window kitting” the hot air out the window instead of having to vent it like everyone else.

The fact of the matter is there is no such thing as a portable air conditioner with no vent.

So if you’re looking for a portable cooling unit that doesn’t require venting, (and once again the term “portable” is subject to interpretation) you have three choices: A fan, a small window air conditioner, or a portable swamp cooler – also known as a portable evaporative cooler.

If you’re interested in learning more about portable cooling devices, and my suggestions for the best selling, highest rated products, please read “Portable Room Air Cooling Units – Top 5 Choices at Alternative-Heating-Info.com

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Were you aware the right home air conditioning temperature can save money every month? Most people do not know this, but it is true. You need to understand how you can use the temperature of your air conditioning to save the most money possible.

The first thing to know is when you keep your air conditioning thermostat at a higher temperature you can significantly cut the costs on your bill each month. If you can keep your temperature level at 80 to 85 degrees and use ceiling fans or room fans to help circulate the air then this will help save money each month.

It will save you up to 5% on your home cooling costs for each degree that you are able to raise your thermostat. When you are at home it may not always be possible to keep your temperature set that high, but when you leave home for a vacation definitely set the temperature higher.

Move the temperature to a higher setting right before you leave and this will help save money while you are gone. Once you get back home you can set it to a more comfortable temperature and your home will cool off quickly.

Because you will be blocking out a lot of the sunlight having shades on your windows will also help you save money. Most people don’t realize that over 20% of your air conditioning bill can be caused by the sunlight that comes in through windows that don’t have shades.

The more you can block the sunlight from coming into your home the less the air conditioner will have to work to keep your home cool.

Because it could end up costing you more money it is always a good idea to be sure your air conditioner is cooling efficiently. Calling a professional and having them test is is the best way to be sure your air conditioner is working efficiently.

That way if there are any problems with it the professional can get it fixed for you right away.

Now that you know how the right home air conditioning temperature can help to save you money; all that remains is for you to start using these tips so you can save as much money as possible each month on your cooling costs.

You do want to use your air conditioner to stay cool, but saving money is also important, and now you know how to do both.

If you enjoyed this article by Jeff Schuman on getting the right home air conditioning temperature please visit our website today. You will find useful Fort Collins air conditioning and Fort Collins air conditioning service information.

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In the past, bringing environmentalism to the workplace has been framed as a choice between saving the planet and accepting higher cost.  No longer. Sustainability today means not having to choose between profit and principles. Here are three ways that greening up your business practices can immediately improve your business results.

Reduced energy costs drop to the bottom line. As the price of energy continues to rise, it makes good business sense to think hard about improving energy efficiency inside your organization.  What could your company do with the savings produced by reducing the fuel bill for your truck fleet by even 10 or 15 percent? As the price of fuel creeps ever upward, the cost to heat and cool your buildings will only continue to grow. Improving the efficiency of your heating, cooling and lighting systems can you save you money today and for years to come. A free energy audit, often offered by your local utility company, is a good place to start.

Less waste means more cash. Reduction of waste usually reduces costs, since waste is a sign of inefficiency in a business process. Savings from waste reduction can be significant. According to the Zero Waste Alliance, for example, Hewlett Packard in Roseville, CA reduced its waste by 95% and saved $870,564 in 1998.  Epson in Portland, OR has reduced its waste to zero and has saved $300,000.  Interface, Inc. in Atlanta, GA has eliminated over $90M in waste.

Even small companies can get aboard the re-use bandwagon. Lumen Essence Lighting of Portland, OR reclaims and restores original lighting fixtures from other eras and ships them to customers in reused packaging materials and cartons. Customers like this so much that many return all boxes and packing materials to Lumen Essence to be reused again.

A lean, innovate operation increases efficiencies. As the economy slowly improves, now is a great time for companies to help their employees work smarter. People that are already working hard often appreciate the little things that a company can do to improve their workplace. Upgrading workplace conditions with things like better lighting and air quality can help improve employee morale and performance. Rebates and grants for such improvements are available in most locations. Engaging employees in discussions about how to improve efficiencies among all the vendors in your supply chain can often reveal an entire new set of opportunities to help make your operation run greener and more efficiently.

A growing segment of customers is beginning to decide whether or not to do business with a company based on the sustainability of its business practices. Don’t be left behind as this trend gains momentum. Getting started today can pay immediate benefits to your organization, and can help make your future that much more secure.

Ray Berardinelli is a principal and founder of Kalpa Consulting in Portland, Oregon, which provides sustainable solutions that deliver financial results to businesses, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities nationwide. Visit http://kalpaconsulting.com/ for more resources and information about how to bring sustainability to your workplace.

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It’s the beginning of summer: Have you had your air conditioning unit serviced yet? If not, it’s not too late. “Better late than never,” is a great philosophy to live by when it comes to servicing your a/c unit.

Air conditioning in the home definitely becomes a necessity rather than a luxury once the temperature begins reaching 90 degrees consistently. That is not the time to realize your air conditioning system is not working correctly.

There are some things you can do and some things that will require a professional. To become more educated on the subject, I contacted Tim Swan of Swan Heating and Air Conditioning in Fort Collins, CO and picked his brain. He said there are some things you can do before calling in a professional and paying a service charge.

If your air conditioner was working fine at the end of last summer then you probably just have a minor problem that’s preventing it from working this year. For example, the filter may need cleaned or replaced. Or sometimes people forget that they switched the a/c breaker to “off” last fall, so just need to turn it back on.

Checking the filter should be a regular duty throughout the hot season. Once a month you should open the door to the unit where the filter is and clean it or replace it.

Measure the opening and buy filters that fit the space exactly. You insert them according to the arrows on the filter, similar to replacing a furnace filter.

A word of caution- always disconnect the power to the a/c unit before working on it. Also, if you’re uncomfortable or unsure of what to do with circuit breakers or fuses, don’t touch them. This is a good time to bring in someone familiar with them to check your system.

If the unit is making noise then you should check the fan. Different kinds of debris, like leaves or weeds, can get clogged up in there and cause some damage to the fan. If the fan blade isn’t fixed or replaced timely, it can result in expensive repairs needing done to the unit.

The fan motor should also be lubricated if necessary. You’ll need to remove the fans to do this on some models (don’t forget to first turn off the power!).

Here’s an easy one- clean the outside of the unit. Vacuum and blow away all the leaves, animal hair, dirt, etc. that are clogging the outer fins on the machine. Remove weeds or other vegetation growing too close to the a/c unit.

Concerning the fins- straighten any that are bent. If the fins are bent, it can restrict proper air flow. Most home supply stores, such as Lowe’s, Ace Hardware or The Home Depot, sell fin combs.

You should also check to make sure the a/c unit is still level. The movement of the air conditioner can cause it to become un-level. This can cause it to run less efficiently.

Many air conditioners that are over 10 years old use R-22 Refrigerant as its cooling agent. The federal government is soon eliminating production of R-22 completely, meaning that an A/C that uses it will be useless without it.

This is the time to contact and consult a professional. For example, a Widget 72 Degrees System Rejuvenation is conducted by many HVAC companies, including Swan’s.

This is a multi-point inspection of the a/c system. It includes a system cleaning, adjustment, lubrication AND adding R-22 if needed. This is crucial to take care of now before the price of R-22 skyrockets and before it is discontinued all-together.

These tips should all be considered when you’re considering air conditioning service. Even though it’s already the beginning of summer, it’s never too late to get them taken care of- either by yourself or an air conditioning service professional.

If you enjoyed this article by Terry Schuman on air conditioning service tips, please visit our Fort Collins air conditioning [http://www.swanhomecomfort.com/index.html] website today. Find out more about our off-season pricing to save money on your purchase. Get a free Fort Collins air conditioning estimate today. http://www.swanhomecomfort.com

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There are many different ways to cut the costs of air conditioner repair, and a lot really depends on how much you can do yourself, and the type of unit you have. It also depends on how much money you are willing to spend in preventative measures. There are several different options when it comes to cutting down on these costs.

The first thing is preventing the need for air conditioner repair in the first place. You need to do routine maintenance on the unit, and there are many things you can do yourself. Changing filters, cleaning areas that you have easy access to, are all things that will help keep you air conditioner running smoothly. If you have a window or outside unit, you can often replace simple things, depending on your skill level. You have to realize your limitations, and know what you can do, and what you should call in a professional for. No matter what, a professional should come in at least twice a year, and do a thorough inspection of you appliance.

If you have an old model unit, you can cut down on the costs of air conditioner repair by buying a new unit. Old products are not that energy efficient, have a tendency to break down more often, and in some cases have parts that are no longer made. While there may be some higher initial costs to replace your old unit, there are many tax credits available to help you get a more energy efficient model. Having a newer model will not only cut these cost down, but also reduce your electricity bill as well.

The next way you can cut the cost of repairs down it to buy extended warranties when available, and get appliance insurance in addition to your homeowner’s insurance. Standard warranties for air conditioners are usually under ten years, sometimes as low as two or three. You need to find a unit with the longest warranty possible, because the longer the warranty, the better it is made. You also need to spend the extra money on the extended warranty, because it seems that everything breaks down a few weeks or month after the first warranty expires.

Home appliance insurance can also help lower air conditioner repair costs. What this kind of insurance is is and additional insurance policy for the major appliances in your home against break down. In addition to your air conditioning unit, it can cover the dishwasher, refrigerator, and even your washer and dryer. Homeowner’s insurance only covers these if they were damaged or destroyed as a result of flooding, fires, or other covered disasters. You can get as little or as large of a policy you want, depending on how much out of pocket expenses you want to pay.

So as you can see, there are many different ways that you can save money on air conditioner repair costs. You can find an abundance more information available online. It is also important that you always read your appliance owners manual, they include other valuable tips and information you can use.

Doc Savage Air Conditioning Repair Augusta offers the most reliable HVAC Contractor Augusta and Repair services. We proudly serve all of the CSRA and offer our services at prices you can afford. Visit our website to find out about our latest specials pricing.

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Technorati Tags: air conditioning, Portland heating

Now is a great time to get a local Vancouver, Wa air conditioning company to come out and do an inspection of your home.

Every major heating and AC business in the in the area has some sort of inspection home inspection program that is very inexpensive and takes less than an hour to do.

Many people do not realize it but there are many “energy hogs” in your typical American household. It could be from one or several of your appliances or it could be coming from somewhere outside.

Many residential air conditioning units could appear to be working fine while in reality they are working at 60% potential efficiency. As these units age they need to be checked and tested to make sure all of their components are in good order. Many times its something as small as changing the air filter out of it but other times it could be major like the actual motor going bad.

You would be surprised by what some of these technicians can find. They are specially trained to to spot items that could be causing your home to use more energy than it really needs and will give you a full write up when they are done.

How much does an air conditioning (cooling system) inspection cost.

Each company sets their own rates but the average cost is not high. They want to inspect your home, find problems, and the hope is that you will use THEM to fix it.

All the technicians recommendations will be in his final report for you to take a look at and see what you can and cannot afford.

Wait! Need an Portland air conditioning company to come out and do this work for you? Please call Advantage Heating and Cooling.

Also, click here if you wish to learn ways on the subject of decreasing air conditioning bills during the summer.

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The most valuable kilowatt hour is the one you never use. That’s a great way to think about the pay-off of making your office more energy efficient. Remember that every dollar you save on your utility bill drops straight to your bottom line. The money you save can be kept as profit, shared with employees, or reinvested in your business to make it even more competitive and appealing to your customers.

Lighting, space heating and office equipment account for more than 70 percent of all energy used in a typical office setting, according to survey information released by the Energy Information Administration. As energy prices steadily increase year after year, with no end to these increasing costs in sight, the savings you realize by reducing your energy consumption now will only become more valuable in the future.

Here are 10 quick tips to reduce the energy consumed by the lighting, heating system and office equipment in your office, which are the top three categories that consume the bulk of energy in a typical office environment:

1. Switch to compact fluorescent lighting when possible. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs use about 75 percent less energy and last about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb that gives the same amount of visible light. In the United States, a compact fluorescent light bulb costs more initially but can save about $30 USD over its lifetime and pays for itself in about 6 months.

2. Turn off the lights if no one is in the room for more than 5 minutes. Why light a room at all if no one is there to use it? It’s a good idea to install automatic dimming switches or motion sensor switches in all the rooms of your office or shop.

3. Install reflectors in your lighting fixtures. Get the most out of the lighting equipment you already have by installing reflectors in your lighting fixtures. You can reduce your lighting needs up to 50 percent by making this simple modification to your existing system.

4. Control the temperature of your office. In the winter, set your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night, and 75 degrees in the summer, with a relative humidity of 55 percent or less. Be sure to install programmable thermostats in each heating and cooling zone. Cover and lock all thermostats to prevent tampering. The hassle of occasional grousing by employees who may want to make adjustments will be more than offset by lower utility bills and the good you are doing for the planet in the long run.

5. Maintain good air flow. Don’t make your heating and cooling system work any harder than it must to keep everyone comfortable. Walk around your facility and unblock all heating and cooling registers. Have your maintenance crew check for and repair any leaky ductwork. At the beginning and end of every season, make sure condenser coils are clean.

6. Put your office computers and copy machines in sleep mode or shut them off after hours. By properly adjusting the power management settings built into computers and monitors, you can save approximately $60 in electricity costs per machine each year, according to the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. A free, downloadable energy-monitoring application from Verdiem called Edison allows you to control the energy used by your PC and shows you the results by calculating your estimated savings based on the settings you choose.

7. Turn off peripherals such as printers, scanners and speakers when not in use. Automatically turn off your accessories when you shut down your computer by using smart power strips that detect when the main switched equipment, like your PC, is shut down. You can also plug all your electronics into one power strip and turn the strip off when you are finished using your computer. For added convenience, some power strips work with a remote control.

8. Don’t use a screensaver. Screen savers, originally developed to prevent etching of patterns on older monochrome monitors, are not necessary on modern monitors, but they are still used for aesthetics and entertainment. They actually consume more energy than allowing the monitor to dim or go into sleep mode when it’s not in use. Bottom line, don’t use them at all, or at least set the screen saver “wait time” to less than the period of time after which the monitor enters sleep mode.

9. Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer. A desktop computer typically consumes twice the power that a laptop uses. That’s because energy consumption is a critical factor in the design of a laptop computer, since extended battery life is key to keeping the laptop user happy. As a result, laptops use more energy efficient CPUs, hard disks, displays and other components. So buy a machine that sips watts when it’s plugged in, instead of one that guzzles power from the wall socket.

10. Buy Energy Star qualified products for your office. Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, provides a label on thousands of models of products for the office and home that have met Energy Star energy efficiency criteria. These products deliver the same or better performance as comparable models while using less energy and saving money. A new Energy Star compliant PC or laptop, for example, uses 15 to 25 percent less energy on average than a standard new computer.

So where to begin in your quest to save dollars by reducing energy consumption in your office? It’s always a good idea to start with an inventory of what you are spending now on energy. Audit current practices then put a plan in place to improve your operations in a systematic fashion. Measure the results of your efforts so you can track progress along the way in order to make any necessary adjustments to you plan. You’ll likely be surprised at how quickly your savings start to grow as you tighten up the use of energy throughout your organization.

Ray Berardinelli is a principal and founder of Kalpa Consulting in Portland, Oregon, which provides sustainable solutions that deliver financial results to businesses, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities nationwide. Visit http://kalpaconsulting.com/ for more resources and information about how to bring sustainability to your workplace.

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For a person who is interested in building an energy efficient home in these times of rising costs, including energy costs, the amount of information is daunting if not downright scary.  We’ll try to pare the information down to something manageable by looking at some of the ways we can build and keep our energy demands under control.  Our solar energy facts give us a number of options:

-Conventional structure-stick and wood

-Earth bermed-using earth for a moderator

-Rammed earth

-Rammed earth blocks

-Adobe

-Straw

-Earthbag

-Cordwood construction

An energy efficient conventional house can cost anywhere from around sixty thousand to more than two hundred thousand dollars, depending on how much energy you, yourself are willing to invest.  One thing to bear in mind-how much skill do you have for this kind of project?  To build a successful energy saving house of this sort would require super insulation, photovoltaic or wind power, and solar hot water, as well as some form of space heating.

A well designed earth bermed structure has only minimal needs for space heating.  I’ve seen many options for this including wood stove, baseboard heating, and European tile stoves.  Combined with solar hot water and either photovoltaic or wind energy, this is an excellent way to go, and is adaptable to any climate.  I’ve seen costs for this type of construction from the seventy thousands to over two hundred thousand.

Rammed earth is a viable concept probably only if you are prepared to do a tremendous amount of physical labor, or you have laborers available.  This method involves using forms between which dirt is compacted layer after layer until reaching the desired height.  If you are really interested in this process, I recommend two books, Comfort in Any Climate, by Michael Reynolds-Solar Survival Press; and The Rammed Earth House, by David Easton-Real Goods Press.

One of my favorite choices is rammed earth blocks.  This concept was developed several decades ago in Columbia with the invention of the cinva block ram.  This is a mechanical device with a long handle with which one can compress soil to about half its former volume.  With the right mixture of soil, water, and about 3% Portland cement, we can make earthen blocks that are very tough, strong, and cheap-really excellent building materials.  These blocks are a product that can be pretty much used anywhere in the world.

Adobe is another of our prime choices, according to our solar energy facts.  Some people might think adobe construction might be limited to our southwest, but for a slightly higher cost adobe bricks can be stabilised using either 3 to 6% asphalt emulsion or 5 to 10% Portland cement.  There is a strong customer demand for adobe.  In New Mexico half of all new homes selling for more than $300,000. incorporate some form of earthen construction.  Most are adobe, but some of them are using new earthen technology.

In the last few years, building with straw bales has become very popular as a means of keeping costs down and providing a great deal of insulation.  There are many good designs to choose from and this is another method of construction that is usable anywhere in the country, as long as one can locate the straw at a good price.  This method of construction either uses the structural integrity of the stacked bales, themselves, or a post and beam construction with the bales just used as walls and insulation.  Either scheme requires that the bales be stuccoed inside and out.  This type of housing can be very cost effective with the proper design.

One method of construction that has gained a certain popularity in recent years is called earthbag construction.  Basically it consists of polyester bags, filled with soil and stacked according to the design.  The bags are nearly always stacked in circular patterns so as to achieve a certain rigidity.  Barbed wire is laid between the courses to give strength to the structure.  Plaster is applied to the outside to provide waterproofing.  Solar energy facts assure us that this is a legitimate form of construction and seriously to be considered.

These are some of the main options we have when considering building with energy efficiency in mind.  Before any kind of choice is made, the prospective builder needs to consider climate and land considerations.  Size is another thing to think about because the smaller a structure is, the less energy it will require.  The proper preparation for a venture of this sort will certainly make the outcome more satisfying; so, the more research, the better.

Harry Faris has been involved in alternative energy for the past three decades. He generated his own electricity for some twenty years using solar and diesel. “12 volt is great!” solar energy, solar hot water http://www.solaradvocate.blogspot.com.

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Technorati Tags: Portland heating

To capitalize on this environmentally friendly movement, the city of Portland is offering incentives to promote eco-friendly roofing. Builders and Home Owners can receive cash incentives of up to $5 per square foot for the installation of an eco-friendly roof. With an average installation cost of up to $5-$20 per square foot for a new ecoroof, many homeowners are expected to take advantage of this opportunity and opt for a new, sustainable roof.

Once you make the decision to invest in eco-friendly roofing, what are the options? The use of solar paneling is known as black roofing. In contrast, a green roof uses vegetation, grasses, shrubs and trees as an alternative to conventional roofing. An excellent example is an ecoroof project completed by Gresham Roofing in Portland,Or. The Sacramento Roof Project is a luxury condominium project with six 300-square-foot eco-roofs designed to grow plants.

Regardless of which direction you go, an ecoroof will likely increase the life of your roof two or three fold, adding insulation and reducing storm water runoff. The long term benefits of sustainable roofing include reduced energy consumption, fewer pollutants, improvements in air quality and lower heating and cooling costs.

The recent economic incentives make the future look bright for eco-friendly roofing and the industries that support them in Portland.

Jessica Rosales
Http://www.networxwebsolutions.net/

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As we see more eco-developments and retrofits popping up in our towns and cities; making offices, homes and all other buildings more environmentally friendly and energy efficient is ever more prominent. But which cities around the world have and continue do it the best?

Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark’s capital Copenhagen largely has its residents to thank for being one of the greenest cities on the globe. Compared to other populations they really do some extremely environmentally conscious with 36% cycling to work and school making Copenhagen Europe’s second largest cycling city. Carbon emissions have been reduced by 20 per cent since 1990, mainly due to the enormous wind farm off the city’s harbour that supplies it with energy equivalent to the amount needed to supply 32,000 homes. Copenhagen is also home to the world’s biggest district heating system that supplies 97 per cent of the city’s homes. On top of this, Copenhagen’s advanced waste management system allows for 90 per cent of building waste to be recycled. Sound like a lot? Well, the city plans to reduce its carbon emissions by another 20 per cent by 2015!

Reykjavik, Iceland

Using what the environment supplies us is the essence of green living and Reykjavik does exactly that! This city is history’s largest and most complicated geothermal heating user and has been forward thinking on this front from as early as 1930. Even back then hot water was drawn from natural springs to the city’s buildings and since then the use of this natural resource has only increased as technology has developed. The city has the ability to be powered solely by geothermal energy and its electricity network draws in 750 megawatts of power from natural steam as well as utilising a hot water distribution system generating 60 million cubic metres of hot water a year! Estimates show that this use of geothermal power saved the environment from around 110 million tons of CO2 emissions between 1944 and 1996 alone!

Portland, USA

Consistently ranked as the most sustainable city in the USA, Portland in Oregon has been thinking about its impact on the environment since the 1970s. Long before anyone else the city had enacted strict land-use regulations, an urban growth boundary and began plans for sustainable development. Even 30 years ago Portland was thinking green, the fact they demolished a huge highway in order to build a waterfront park proves it! Portland’s forward thinking is renowned worldwide and the city have produced the ’20 Minute City’ plan aiming to provide residents with everything including school, shops and work within a 20 minute walk of home. Through such initiatives, Portland plans to fulfill all its energy requirements with renewable sources by the end of this year!

Help make your home more energy efficient and your city greener with double glazing from Safestyle UK.

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Architects, Interior Designers, Property Managers or Owners usually ask this question – How decorative concrete floors contribute to LEED points. How can a concrete floor be considered environmentally friendly? Please find information below that will substantiate that specifying concrete floors is a smart choice.

Thermal mass: Concrete takes a while to heat up – and also a while to cool down. That’s because it has what’s called thermal mass – heat storage capacity. A concrete floor has lots of thermal mass, which allows concrete to dampen out the highs and lows of temperature fluctuations in a room, reducing the overall heating of cooling load. That saves energy and also allows a size reduction in heating or cooling systems. Properly designed, concrete floors can also contribute to passive solar heating and cooling. Energy performance in LEED for Homes is worth as much as 34 points (Credit EA 1), so this is potentially a huge contribution. In the NAHB Guidelines, this would qualify for points under Section 3.2.1.

Radiant heating: Concrete floors, whether elevated floors or slabs on grade, are the perfect medium for radiant heating. Utilizing embedding plastic tubing in the concrete, radiant floors provide quiet and comfortable heating and cooling that can result in energy savings of 10 percent to 30 percent, according to the Portland Cement Association. Another advantage of radiant heat is that it easily integrates into solar heating systems. Again, the added energy efficiency contributes to credit EA 1 in LEED or Section 3.2.1 in NAHB.

Recycled content: Both LEED and NAHB encourage the use of recycled content and award points for doing so. Concrete can easily incorporate fly ash and slag as supplementary cementitious materials. Using fly ash and locally produced aggregates yields LEED credits for environmentally preferable products (Credit MR2.2). NAHB Section 2.4 provides points for using recycled materials without being specific about what that means.

Indoor air quality: Concrete floors make a huge contribution to indoor environmental quality, simply because of the fact that cured concrete is completely inert and implies the absence of carpeting or vinyl that can release volatile chemicals into the air. In LEED, points can be claimed under Credit EQ 1 by complying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Indoor Air Package. In the NAHB Guidelines, claiming this credit is more difficult, although a case can be made under Section 5.4, Innovative Options for Indoor Environmental Quality.

Credit could be claimed for a durable structure that requires little maintenance; termite and mold resistance and waste reduction. Concrete floors are no longer dull and boring. With the advent of latest polymer technology in Concrete and various methods of coloring concrete, they exhibit modern, contemporary and artistic.

http://www.duraamen.com

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Technorati Tags: Portland heating

Housing affordability in the Portland, OR real estate market has improved notably in the recent years. Traditionally, Portland, OR has been one of the local U.S. real estate markets with lower housing affordability than that for the nation as a whole. However, bolstered by affordable mortgage rates and declining housing prices, housing affordability in Portland, OR has improved significantly. As of the second quarter 2009, a family making on average $70,000 per year, can afford to buy about 60% of homes listed for sale in the region.This is the highest percentage since the first quarter 2005. Housing affordability will continue to improve in the year ahead, allowing an increasing number of Portland, OR families to purchase their dream home.

Buying property in the Portland, OR real estate market has also become more attractive because of large corrections in local housing prices in recent years. Historically low mortgage rates, which are hovering near their record lows, also support buying a home in Portland, OR today. An average interest rate on conventional 30-year fixed-rate mortgages is currently 5.52% p.a. This is the lowest rate in a year, or about 1.5 percentage points below the rate recorded in August 2008. Given that mortgage rates are expected to rise from the currently low levels, buying a home in Portland, OR in the current market, with highly affordable mortgage-financing terms, could help prospective buyers save money.

In addition, Portland, OR first-time homebuyers may have a special incentive to buy a home. The recently extended first-time homebuyer tax credit of $8,000 would significantly reduce the cost of buying a house. When this tax incentive is combined with substantially discounted prices of homes in Portland, OR and historically low mortgage rates, buying a home today could prove to be not only a financially sound decision but also an investment choice that promises to produce high returns over the long-term period.

The real estate market in Portland, OR has become more attractive for prospective homebuyers and investors. Lower housing prices, favorable mortgage rates, and first-time homebuyer credit have improved housing affordability, luring many homebuyers by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy a piece of the American dream in Portland, OR.

Phil Anderson, the owner of New Portland Home, Portland’s largest RMLS site. he specializes in listing and selling single family homes, condominiums and multi-family properties (1031 and 1033 Tax Exchange Specialist) in Portland metro.

Phil is involved at the city hall level, serving on various committees usually created to review and enhance livability of neighborhoods. He also provides consultation services to prominent engineering firms in Portland, as well as various public and private entities in the metropolitan area, assisting all with the real estate contingent of major projects, e.g., airport development, transportation expansion and communications facilities. If you would like more information about Phil and his services, you may contact him at http://www.newportlandhome.com or phil@newportlandhome.com

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In a landmark survey by Cahners Residential Group in 2004, ninety-one percent of homebuyers said that energy-efficient features in a home were extremely or very important to them. The demand for old and new homes that use less energy continues to grow from a niche market into an emerging segment of the mainstream residential building and remodeling industry.

Now traditional contractors and builders can apply scientific techniques to create more energy efficient homes that provide greater comfort, durability, health and safety. Best of all, they can do it in a practical and affordable way using building performance technologies and techniques. This means looking at how all the components of the house work together including the thermal shell, heating and cooling equipment, ventilation, windows and doors, and appliances.

For those contractors who have already embraced the building science philosophy, there’s always more to learn. The industry is constantly evolving with more technologies and best practices shared among building science professionals. Thanks to ACI’s national and regional conferences and an expanding range of training and education initiatives, contractors and builders across the country are being trained to employ a “whole-house” systems approach to new construction and home improvement. That means more customers are getting a better overall home environment when builders and contractors incorporate comprehensive measures to address comfort, health and safety, durability, and energy efficiency.

Improving the performance of existing homes

Contractors nationwide are being trained and accredited in building performance, the systematic approach to improving the indoor environment by applying improvements to the whole house, not just a part of it. These contractors use performance diagnostics to evaluate the condition of a home and verify the impact of improvements. Blower door tests for building shell leakage, combustion safety tests, duct leakage diagnostics, and infrared thermal imaging are examples of diagnostic tests provided by building performance contractors to help ensure the health, safety, comfort, and durability of a home before and after improvements. Once the initial assessment is complete, the contractor will recommend how to remedy any problems they found, and can complete the recommended work for the homeowner. The end result for customers is lower energy bills and improved comfort and safety.

Building performance techniques benefit contractors as well by differentiating themselves in the marketplace. Contractors who use these comprehensive testing and installation techniques to treat the house as a system can distinguish their businesses from traditional contractors by providing their customers better, more informed solutions to common house problems, including high energy costs, uneven temperatures from room to room, moisture and air quality issues, as well as maintenance and durability. Some contractors may have access to energy efficiency programs, including Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® and ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes sponsored by local utilities and state agencies that offer technical training, certification assistance, marketing support and even financial incentives including low-interest financing, cash back, and tax credits for customers investing in recommended, eligible energy efficiency improvements.

Exceeding minimum building standards

For new construction, builders can achieve substantial energy savings through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and ENERGY STAR Qualified Home standards.

The LEED Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.

Newly built homes that earn the ENERGY STAR must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of energy-efficient features, such as effective insulation, high performance windows and doors, well-sealed and insulated duct systems, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and appliances. These features contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution.

In addition to offering a high quality product to consumers, builders of energy efficient homes are eligible for a $2,000 federal tax credit under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. A new energy efficient home must achieve 50 percent energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). At least one-fifth of the energy savings must come from building envelope improvements.

A bright future

As the demand for high quality, efficient homes gains momentum, more contractors and builders will look to building performance to add value to conventional homes, setting a new standard in the residential new construction and home improvement industries and empowering their customers to make better choices for themselves, the economy and the environment.

Visit http://www.affordablecomfort.org or call 1-800-344-4866 x 26 to register for an upcoming webcast series or conference:

“Duct Camp” Webcast – September 12-December 19, 2006

ACI New England – Westford, MA – October 4-5, 2006

New Jersey Home Performance Conference – Atlantic City, NJ – January 24-25, 2007

ACI Northwest – Portland, OR – February 21-22, 2007

ACI Home Performance Conference 2007 – Cleveland, OH – April 23-27, 2007

ACI, a nonprofit organization supported by utility companies, state agencies and building science leaders and trade organizations, has 20 years experience elevating the building science industry, to affect change and building practices to address and improve performance issues of comfort, efficiency, and affordability in new and existing housing.

Helen Perrine is the executive director of ACI, Inc. and has worked in the field of energy and environmental education since 1978.

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Although sweating is seen as problematic most of the time when you don’t want to sweat, there are significant health benefits of sweating. But why would someone want to sweat and stink?

Sweating is the body’s natural process of cooling down the body. It’s just like putting water on your skin and letting air blow across it which is a cooling sensation. Without the ability to sweat it would be extremely difficult to cool down.

But what other benefits is there to sweating besides cooling down?

It helps the body rid itself of old cells.

It helps cleanse bacteria off the skin cleaning it by opening the pores.

Sweating improves circulation of blood vessels.

It’s beneficial to the immune system.

It’s a system in place to help release toxins from the body as well as excess salt.

Some people actually sweat on purpose outside of normal work or exercise. They go to saunas to sweat and get these benefits on a regular basis and swear to the health benefits. This process of purposely raising the body temperature is said to be similar to having a fever in the body thus fighting off viruses and sickness in the body. If one is unable to sweat, something like a sauna can help.

Sometimes sweating can become too much of a problem. Some people excessively perspire and can’t seem to do anything about which becomes an increasingly embarrassing problem. Sweating too much for them might be related to a more serious health issue or might be hyperhidrosis which is excessive sweating of the face, hands, feet, and underarms. This is a complicated social problem as one has to constantly change clothes, wipe the underarms, bring along antiperspirants, change socks, and hope there isn’t any wetness or odor when around others.

Do you need a home remedy to dealing with sweat problems?

Learn how to Prevent Excessive Sweating to get rid of annoying odors and moisture issues.

If you are looking for a sweat block product, read about Drysol Antiperspirant.

Click to visit our site and get the Free Beat Sweating PDF Guide as well as read other helpful, related articles.

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Technorati Tags: Portland cooling

Thermal mass: Concrete takes a while to heat up – and also a while to cool down. That’s because it has what’s called thermal mass – heat storage capacity. A concrete floor has lots of thermal mass, which allows concrete to dampen out the highs and lows of temperature fluctuations in a room, reducing the overall heating of cooling load. That saves energy and also allows a size reduction in heating or cooling systems. Properly designed, concrete floors can also contribute to passive solar heating and cooling. Energy performance in LEED for Homes is worth as much as 34 points (Credit EA 1), so this is potentially a huge contribution. In the NAHB Guidelines, this would qualify for points under Section 3.2.1.

Radiant heating: Concrete floors, whether elevated floors or slabs on grade, are the perfect medium for radiant heating. Utilizing embedding plastic tubing in the concrete, radiant floors provide quiet and comfortable heating and cooling that can result in energy savings of 10 percent to 30 percent, according to the Portland Cement Association. Another advantage of radiant heat is that it easily integrates into solar heating systems. Again, the added energy efficiency contributes to credit EA 1 in LEED or Section 3.2.1 in NAHB.

Recycled content: Both LEED and NAHB encourage the use of recycled content and award points for doing so. Concrete can easily incorporate fly ash and slag as supplementary cementitious materials. Using fly ash and locally produced aggregates yields LEED credits for environmentally preferable products (Credit MR2.2). NAHB Section 2.4 provides points for using recycled materials without being specific about what that means.

Indoor air quality: Concrete floors make a huge contribution to indoor environmental quality, simply because of the fact that cured concrete is completely inert and implies the absence of carpeting or vinyl that can release volatile chemicals into the air. In LEED, points can be claimed under Credit EQ 1 by complying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Indoor Air Package. In the NAHB Guidelines, claiming this credit is more difficult, although a case can be made under Section 5.4, Innovative Options for Indoor Environmental Quality.

Credit could be claimed for a durable structure that requires little maintenance; termite and mold resistance and waste reduction. Concrete floors are no longer dull and boring. With the advent of latest polymer technology in Concrete and various methods of coloring concrete, they exhibit modern, contemporary and artistic.

http://www.duraamen.com

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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Pachade

Smart companies worldwide are not waiting for the economic recovery to green up their business practices. The steps they are taking now to improve the sustainability of their operations often help to accelerate their recovery from tough economic times that much more quickly.

In the past, bringing environmentalism to the workplace has been framed as a choice between saving the planet and accepting higher cost.  No longer. Sustainability today means not having to choose between profit and principles. Here are three ways that greening up your business practices can immediately improve your business results.

Reduced energy costs drop to the bottom line. As the price of energy continues to rise, it makes good business sense to think hard about improving energy efficiency inside your organization.  What could your company do with the savings produced by reducing the fuel bill for your truck fleet by even 10 or 15 percent? As the price of fuel creeps ever upward, the cost to heat and cool your buildings will only continue to grow. Improving the efficiency of your heating, cooling and lighting systems can you save you money today and for years to come. A free energy audit, often offered by your local utility company, is a good place to start.

Less waste means more cash. Reduction of waste usually reduces costs, since waste is a sign of inefficiency in a business process. Savings from waste reduction can be significant. According to the Zero Waste Alliance, for example, Hewlett Packard in Roseville, CA reduced its waste by 95% and saved $870,564 in 1998.  Epson in Portland, OR has reduced its waste to zero and has saved $300,000.  Interface, Inc. in Atlanta, GA has eliminated over $90M in waste.

Even small companies can get aboard the re-use bandwagon. Lumen Essence Lighting of Portland, OR reclaims and restores original lighting fixtures from other eras and ships them to customers in reused packaging materials and cartons. Customers like this so much that many return all boxes and packing materials to Lumen Essence to be reused again.

A lean, innovate operation increases efficiencies. As the economy slowly improves, now is a great time for companies to help their employees work smarter. People that are already working hard often appreciate the little things that a company can do to improve their workplace. Upgrading workplace conditions with things like better lighting and air quality can help improve employee morale and performance. Rebates and grants for such improvements are available in most locations. Engaging employees in discussions about how to improve efficiencies among all the vendors in your supply chain can often reveal an entire new set of opportunities to help make your operation run greener and more efficiently.

A growing segment of customers is beginning to decide whether or not to do business with a company based on the sustainability of its business practices. Don’t be left behind as this trend gains momentum. Getting started today can pay immediate benefits to your organization, and can help make your future that much more secure.

Ray Berardinelli is a principal and founder of Kalpa Consulting in Portland, Oregon, which provides sustainable solutions that deliver financial results to businesses, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities nationwide. Visit http://kalpaconsulting.com/ for more resources and information about how to bring sustainability to your workplace.

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The most valuable kilowatt hour is the one you never use. That’s a great way to think about the pay-off of making your office more energy efficient. Remember that every dollar you save on your utility bill drops straight to your bottom line. The money you save can be kept as profit, shared with employees, or reinvested in your business to make it even more competitive and appealing to your customers.

Lighting, space heating and office equipment account for more than 70 percent of all energy used in a typical office setting, according to survey information released by the Energy Information Administration. As energy prices steadily increase year after year, with no end to these increasing costs in sight, the savings you realize by reducing your energy consumption now will only become more valuable in the future.

Here are 10 quick tips to reduce the energy consumed by the lighting, heating system and office equipment in your office, which are the top three categories that consume the bulk of energy in a typical office environment:

1. Switch to compact fluorescent lighting when possible. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs use about 75 percent less energy and last about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb that gives the same amount of visible light. In the United States, a compact fluorescent light bulb costs more initially but can save about $30 USD over its lifetime and pays for itself in about 6 months.

2. Turn off the lights if no one is in the room for more than 5 minutes. Why light a room at all if no one is there to use it? It’s a good idea to install automatic dimming switches or motion sensor switches in all the rooms of your office or shop.

3. Install reflectors in your lighting fixtures. Get the most out of the lighting equipment you already have by installing reflectors in your lighting fixtures. You can reduce your lighting needs up to 50 percent by making this simple modification to your existing system.

4. Control the temperature of your office. In the winter, set your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night, and 75 degrees in the summer, with a relative humidity of 55 percent or less. Be sure to install programmable thermostats in each heating and cooling zone. Cover and lock all thermostats to prevent tampering. The hassle of occasional grousing by employees who may want to make adjustments will be more than offset by lower utility bills and the good you are doing for the planet in the long run.

5. Maintain good air flow. Don’t make your heating and cooling system work any harder than it must to keep everyone comfortable. Walk around your facility and unblock all heating and cooling registers. Have your maintenance crew check for and repair any leaky ductwork. At the beginning and end of every season, make sure condenser coils are clean.

6. Put your office computers and copy machines in sleep mode or shut them off after hours. By properly adjusting the power management settings built into computers and monitors, you can save approximately $60 in electricity costs per machine each year, according to the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. A free, downloadable energy-monitoring application from Verdiem called Edison allows you to control the energy used by your PC and shows you the results by calculating your estimated savings based on the settings you choose.

7. Turn off peripherals such as printers, scanners and speakers when not in use. Automatically turn off your accessories when you shut down your computer by using smart power strips that detect when the main switched equipment, like your PC, is shut down. You can also plug all your electronics into one power strip and turn the strip off when you are finished using your computer. For added convenience, some power strips work with a remote control.

8. Don’t use a screensaver. Screen savers, originally developed to prevent etching of patterns on older monochrome monitors, are not necessary on modern monitors, but they are still used for aesthetics and entertainment. They actually consume more energy than allowing the monitor to dim or go into sleep mode when it’s not in use. Bottom line, don’t use them at all, or at least set the screen saver “wait time” to less than the period of time after which the monitor enters sleep mode.

9. Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer. A desktop computer typically consumes twice the power that a laptop uses. That’s because energy consumption is a critical factor in the design of a laptop computer, since extended battery life is key to keeping the laptop user happy. As a result, laptops use more energy efficient CPUs, hard disks, displays and other components. So buy a machine that sips watts when it’s plugged in, instead of one that guzzles power from the wall socket.

10. Buy Energy Star qualified products for your office. Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, provides a label on thousands of models of products for the office and home that have met Energy Star energy efficiency criteria. These products deliver the same or better performance as comparable models while using less energy and saving money. A new Energy Star compliant PC or laptop, for example, uses 15 to 25 percent less energy on average than a standard new computer.

So where to begin in your quest to save dollars by reducing energy consumption in your office? It’s always a good idea to start with an inventory of what you are spending now on energy. Audit current practices then put a plan in place to improve your operations in a systematic fashion. Measure the results of your efforts so you can track progress along the way in order to make any necessary adjustments to you plan. You’ll likely be surprised at how quickly your savings start to grow as you tighten up the use of energy throughout your organization.

Ray Berardinelli is a principal and founder of Kalpa Consulting in Portland, Oregon, which provides sustainable solutions that deliver financial results to businesses, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities nationwide. Visit http://kalpaconsulting.com/ for more resources and information about how to bring sustainability to your workplace.

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Technorati Tags: Portland cooling

Now is a great time to get a local Vancouver, Wa air conditioning company to come out and do an inspection of your home.

Every major heating and AC business in the in the area has some sort of inspection home inspection program that is very inexpensive and takes less than an hour to do.

Many people do not realize it but there are many “energy hogs” in your typical American household. It could be from one or several of your appliances or it could be coming from somewhere outside.

Many residential air conditioning units could appear to be working fine while in reality they are working at 60% potential efficiency. As these units age they need to be checked and tested to make sure all of their components are in good order. Many times its something as small as changing the air filter out of it but other times it could be major like the actual motor going bad.

You would be surprised by what some of these technicians can find. They are specially trained to to spot items that could be causing your home to use more energy than it really needs and will give you a full write up when they are done.

How much does an air conditioning (cooling system) inspection cost.

Each company sets their own rates but the average cost is not high. They want to inspect your home, find problems, and the hope is that you will use THEM to fix it.

All the technicians recommendations will be in his final report for you to take a look at and see what you can and cannot afford.

Wait! Need an Portland air conditioning company to come out and do this work for you? Please call Advantage Heating and Cooling.

Also, click here if you wish to learn ways on the subject of decreasing air conditioning bills during the summer.

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When it comes to Saturday morning projects, few rival garage door repair in its combination of simplicity and importance. Many have attached garages, and those that have unattached garages often find use in them beyond storing cars. As a workspace or extra barrier between the living room and harsh winter weather, every garage should be insulated just as the rest of the house. Thankfully, garage door insulation is a quick, easy and cost-effective project.

Garage door insulation comes in several types, sizes and kits, so there should be no problem matching the products available to the uninsulated door. But, whether a door is insulated with the foil-type rolls or the foam/fiberglass sheets, a shopper should look for the difference in R-values per material. The R-value is a measure of a material’s resistance to change in temperatures. The greater an R-value, the better job done keeping hot on one side and cold on the other (as a bonus, this often translates into stopping noise as well). Some of the highest R-values can be found in the foam/fiberglass sheets, but some of the highest prices can be found there as well. Insulating a garage door will save on heating and cooling costs, but a keen shopper will consider how much those costs currently are and compare them to the cost of insulation. Bear in mind that an R-value between 4 and 5 is already significantly better than the layer of sheet metal making up an uninsulated door. Insulation kits typically come with enough material to cover a standard 9-foot garage door.

Before leaving the hardware store, however, it would pay to look at weather stripping. The sheet metal currently protecting the garage from the elements is not the only thing that needs insulation: the edges around it allow air to pass through. Garage doors often have stripping along the sides and even top of the sliding door, but rarely along the bottom. Special garage weather stripping is available in two parts: one U-shaped rubber strip for the floor and another strip that fits along the bottom of a garage door and into the U-strip. This not only keeps air from passing through the space but also dirt and water.

Once the insulation has been purchased, Saturday-morning’s project manager will be happy that it requires little more than a measure, straightedge and utility knife to install. Both types mentioned come with complete instructions informing the garage door repair crew that the material simply fits in the grooves and channels already found on most doors. Whatever material is chosen, however, ensure that it fits snugly in place by measuring and cutting it to fit the space as perfectly as possible. This not only removes a need for adhesives, it also means the insulation is so tightly assembled that air can not easily pass through.

Once this is done, all that is left to do is measure and cut the weather stripping for the bottom of the door, open and close the door to ensure everything fits, apply a little colored tape to the seams between insulation strips/panels (if looks are important), and enjoy the majority of this fine Saturday.

PDS of Portland provides installation and garage door services in Portland as well as garage door repair in Gresham, OR and surrounding areas.

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From large industries to the average homeowner, gasoline powered small engines are widely used to complete major and minor tasks all over the world. Lawn mowers, air compressors and pumps are among the most the popular equipment that utilizes this machinery. They also power ATVs, motorcycles, scooters and certain light aircraft. For household mechanics, knowing the basics of a gasoline powered engine can help better maintain your equipment and help you trouble shoot potential issues that may arise.

What is a Gasoline Powered Small Engine?

These systems are also known as an internal combustion engine. To run these engines, a spark created when the ignition is switched on creates an explosion as it comes into contact with the gasoline in the combustion chamber. Gasoline is a slow burning combustible liquid that becomes explosive when it mixes with air. This explosion is what gives the engine its power. There are a number of parts within these engines that make this entire process work efficiently.

Small Engine Components

1. Fuel System

The fuel system is made up of several other components. The fuel tank stores the gasoline until it enters the carburetor. A fuel pump removes the gasoline through a fuel line into the carburetor. The carburetor then mixes the required volume of air and gas in proper proportion to create the necessary energy. Inside the carburetor, a small filter collects small particles of dirt and sediment that may clog or dirty the fuel.

A primer is used to inject a small amount of extra gasoline into the carburetor to create a higher fuel intensity and stronger spark. This is usually used when weather conditions are cold or the small engine vehicle has been sitting for a long period of time.

2. The Ignition System

Combustion cannot take place if the spark needed to create the condition is not ignited. The ignition produces a high voltage spark that sets off the combustion needed to start the engine. A battery is used to activate this and a spark plug provides the catalyst in which current can flow.

3. The Cylinder Block

Combustion takes place in the cylinder block. Within the combustion chamber, the heat released by the chemical reaction creates a high-pressured gas environment. As this pressure force is pushed to the pistons of the engine, it causes the crankshaft to rotate.

4. The Cooling System

Because of the large amount of pressure and fuel reactions, gasoline small engines produce a large amount of heat. To keep them running efficiently, a cooling system must be in place. These engines are usually cooled using metal fins that push cool air across the system. Bearings are also used to bring down the amount of friction on the engine, thus reducing the amount of heat generated when it is running. Additionally, regular maintenance that includes oiling and cleaning filters will keep the engine heat down and the machine’s efficiency up.

There is a lot more that can be learned about the inner workings of a gasoline-powered small engine. However, the basic mechanics of these machines can be broken down to some basic fundamentals in vehicle engine construction. What everyone should remember about small engines is this: Take the time to understand the basic workings of your lawn mower, golf cart, motorcycle, snow mobile or other small engine vehicle so that you can better maintain and prevent breakdowns in the future.

- Ben Anton, 2008

Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR and writes for Repower Specialists, LTD.

Learn about gasoline small engine components by visiting the Repower Specialists site specializing in Jacobsen GK IV repower kits for small engine vehicles.

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Technorati Tags: Portland cooling

At Spokane, I-90 turns left to the southwest and to our relief, away from the gloomy gray. If fact, with every tick of the odometer, the heavens were returning to the royal blue, sun drenched skies we’d become accustomed to. While we loved the return of fairer weather, we soon became aware of boiling heat. Even with our flip-face helmets wide open, we felt wave after wave of hot scorching air reflecting from the pavement – occasionally bolstered by a torrid surge from our ‘air-cooled’ V-twin. However, this discomfort paled in comparison with the joyful satisfaction of riding, and smelling and feeling the rolling-hill resplendence of Central Washington. Mile after mile, we coursed through flowing golden-grained wheat fields, occasionally interrupted by an aluminum-bladed windmill or grain mill.

Roughly 1 hour southwest of Spokane, I-90 turns due west and Seattle. We stayed on WA-395 in a southwesterly direction for another hour and arrived at the Tri-Cities of Pasco, Richland and Kennewick. We found a truck stop just outside of Pasco a welcome break from the heat, and took the opportunity to refuel us and the bike. We found the highway through this area a bit confusing. WA-395 intersects I-182 so we traveled east for a few miles, then WA-395 turns south again, crosses the Columbia River and then drops into Kennewick. Just follow the signs for WA-395 and you should be good. We didn’t stop in Kennewick, but it’s a nice community and there are lots of shops, restaurants, or anything else you might need. From Kennewick, the junction with WA-14 is 22 miles. As I mentioned in Leg 1 of this trilogy plus one, WA-14 is by far the most interesting of the highways paralleling the Columbia, but if speed and saving time is your priority, you can save about 3/4 hour traveling toward Portland on I-84.

The trip to Washougal is simply the reverse of Leg 1′s itinerary, and brings us back to our humble abode. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about our BEST first ride to Montana. Better yet, we hope you’ll take this ride and then let us know how you enjoyed it. We sure did. In fact, we’ve made the trip several times since. Stop by our website soon for another great ride.

Craig Rollins is a senior marketing communications professional. He and his wife are motorcycle advocates and love touring the US. Craig’s website is http://CraigsFavoritesList.com which fouses on motorcycing and products or services Craig has experienced that deliver excellence.

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Stucco is an ambiguous term, sometimes referring to portland-cement stucco, but more often than not referring to “Synthetic Stucco” or EIFS, which is what we will be dealing with. EIFS stands for “Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems” – the exterior insulating portion being the topic of this article.

Building a new home with, or renovating with stucco, reduces heating bills in 2 ways. The first is by reducing air infiltration into your walls, and the second is by reducing heating transferred through walls by adding insulation to their exterior.

Air infiltration occurs whenever there is a gap. This gap occurs on the siding as well as between studs. On most homes, the siding is not air tight, allowing air to pass through loosely connected vinyl, or on brick weeping vents. The second layer of defense is the weather barrier, which is typically a building wrap usually 8 foot in height, and overlapped at the seams. These seams are rarely sealed, resulting in a gap the entire length of the home where ever the building wrap is overlapped. Once air passes through the weather barrier, it encounters the sheathing next. This is usually some sort of composite wood (plywood, particle board) or exterior drywall, which is butted up against one another and again, rarely sealed. Finally, the invading air reaches the studs with loose-fill insulation, which still provides little to no resistance to air flow. Now take into consideration that a 1% air leak in your walls can reduce the effectiveness of insulation by as much as 60%, and you understand why air leakage is such a large problem.

EIFS solves this problem by using a trowel-applied, continuous weather barrier over the sheathing. The plywood or exterior drywall is entirely covered, including joints, completely sealing your walls from any possible air infiltration. The material used is one that adheres to the material around it as it cures, creating a single, monolithic barrier to the air.

This continuous barrier also serves as a surface to allow water and moisture to run off the wall, ensuring it never comes into contact with your sheathing and studs to form rot and mold.

Heat is constantly transferred through walls as well. Whether it is heat leaving your interior in the winter, or heating infiltration your interior during the summer. Materials such as insulation transfer heat less effectively than other materials, such as wood or metal, and as such as valued for their ability to separate your interior and the exterior climate. The problem with traditional between-the-stud insulation is that insulation is only effective where it is present.

That means that if your walls are composed of 80% insulation and 20% framing, you are really only get 80% of the possible insulating value. Again, EIFS blows traditional construction methods out of the water by covering 100% of the wall surface with insulation, by adhering it to the exterior of the building. This insulation is protected from the elements (and people) by mesh, a cement coating and the beautiful acrylic finish coat you see on stucco homes.

You can see that far from simply adding exterior wall insulation, EIFS plays a much larger role in making your home comfortable by reducing air infiltration. No other cladding product on the market today solves both problems so well, and at a price that anyone can afford to it.

Jim Schwarznoff has taken courses in green building and practical construction methods as a part of his Bachelor of Applied Technology in Construction Science and Management.
If you have an existing home that you would like to renovate with EIFS or have moldings added to, visit http://TorontoStuccoContractor.com/

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With the warmer, Spring-like temperatures approaching, higher cooling costs are a fact of life. Today, heating and cooling costs account for more than 40% of your home’s energy bill, with much of your heating and cooling costs unfortunately escaping through your roof. To offset the increasing cost of energy, energy efficient roofing, such as solar panel roofing, live roof systems, or the so-called “ecoroof” are gaining popularity. Many local Portland roofing contractors are now specializing in these eco-friendly roofing systems.

To capitalize on this environmentally friendly movement, the city of Portland is offering incentives to promote eco-friendly roofing. Builders and Home Owners can receive cash incentives of up to $5 per square foot for the installation of an eco-friendly roof. With an average installation cost of up to $5-$20 per square foot for a new ecoroof, many homeowners are expected to take advantage of this opportunity and opt for a new, sustainable roof.

Once you make the decision to invest in eco-friendly roofing, what are the options? The use of solar paneling is known as black roofing. In contrast, a green roof uses vegetation, grasses, shrubs and trees as an alternative to conventional roofing. An excellent example is an ecoroof project completed by Gresham Roofing in Portland,Or. The Sacramento Roof Project is a luxury condominium project with six 300-square-foot eco-roofs designed to grow plants.

Regardless of which direction you go, an ecoroof will likely increase the life of your roof two or three fold, adding insulation and reducing storm water runoff. The long term benefits of sustainable roofing include reduced energy consumption, fewer pollutants, improvements in air quality and lower heating and cooling costs.

The recent economic incentives make the future look bright for eco-friendly roofing and the industries that support them in Portland.

Jessica Rosales
Http://www.networxwebsolutions.net/

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Technorati Tags: Portland central air, Portland cooling, Portland heating