MANKATO — Running an auto repair shop can be a messy job, but Joe Miller will tell you it doesn’t have to be a dirty business.
Most of the waste that flows through Miller’s Modern Garage, the Madison Avenue shop Miller owns and operates, finds a green destination. Old tires and drained antifreeze are recycled. The black gunk left over after oil changes is poured into a burner and used to heat the building.
“The amount of garbage we haul out of this business is less than the average household,” he said.
Business has been decent this year. After Miller balanced the books, there was more than enough left over to fund a trip to Las Vegas. He decided there was a better use for his money.
As he thought about it, Miller’s answer came from above.
“I have this bunch of flat empty roof that wasn’t doing anything so I thought I should get solar panels,” he said. “I have kids. I’m doing it for them because I believe we should stop using so much energy.
“It’s just the way I think and this fits in with that.”
With his skills as a mechanic, Miller could have easily purchased a few panels and installed them himself. But he was concerned about buying “the Yugo” of
solar panel systems so he looked for professional guidance.
That paid off. He learned there were enough incentives available to fill his roof with panels. They should provide enough power to fill his shop’s electrical needs, which include power lifts, power tools and bright lighting.
“I intended to go in just wasting the money, but the incentives will cover two-thirds of the cost,” Miller said.
Those incentives include a 30 percent tax credit and a rebate paid through Xcel Energy’s Minnesota Solar Rewards program, said Jamie Borell, sales manager for Innovative Power Systems in St. Paul. That’s the business Miller hired to install his solar panels and the other equipment used to convert the sun’s energy into electricity.
“People want clean power and the cost of things have come down tremendously over the past few years,” Borell said. “Solar equipment costs have come down about 50 percent.”
The incentives are available for commercial and residential buildings, but Borell is seeing more interest for business owners than homeowners right now. That’s likely due to the struggling economy and the added incentive businesses have with being able to depreciate the equipment for tax purposes, he said.
Borell estimated that it will take less than 5 years for Miller to recoup his equipment costs. The pay back time is much longer for equipment installed in homes.
As electricity rates continue to rise, Borell expects more homeowners will start looking at solar power.
John Wold, Minnesota Solar Rewards portfolio manager, said about 160 solar systems qualified for Xcel’s rebate this year. He expects that number to double next year, which would use the $4.6 million that is budgeted for the program. The rebate is paid up front by Xcel after the system is installed, inspected and approved.
“We’re seeing more commercial customers using the program, but we encourage everyone to look at it — both residential and commercial,” Wold said.
Another incentive, called the Minnesota Bonus Rebate program, was passed by the Minnesota Legislature last spring. It provides additional funding for solar projects that use panels and components manufactured in Minnesota. Only one business, tenKsolar in Bloomington, currently fits that requirement, Wold said. The panels manufactured by that business work best on flat roofs, so more businesses are also able to take advantage of that incentive.
Xcel is encouraging anyone considering the Minnesota Solar Rewards program to first invest in an energy audit at their home or business. It’s quicker and easier to save money by replacing an old furnace or adding insulation, Wold said.
“We also encourage customers to get multiple installation bids,” he added. “That keeps everybody honest and helps drive down the cost of these systems all the more.”
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Women Mechanics
As a pneumatic wrench grunted nearby, three students labored over a brake rotor in Norfolk Technical Center's auto shop. One boy maneuvered pliers; another tugged on the caliper.
The third student strained a ratchet wrench against a bolt. Slim hands and long nails grimed, her brunette hair in a bun, Ilene Baker concentrated on the job.
Working on cars is quintessentially a guy thing - think Fonzie on "Happy Days" or the hot-rod boys of "The Dukes of Hazzard." Ilene and the other two girls in the technical center's automotive program know this. They work alongside 60 guys. And none of them cares.
"Every time my mom gave me a Barbie doll, I'd rip it apart," said Baker, 17. "Every time she gave me a toy car, I'd keep it forever."
The two-year auto technology course plunges students into the guts of motors and complex repair jobs, on the shop floor and the classroom.
This recent morning, Pierre Howard, one of the two shop instructors, had some students breaking down engines. Crankshafts, pistons and alternators were strewn across workbenches. A scent of motor oil hung in the air.
Howard said the typical first reaction from his male students is, "Why is she in here?"
"But by week two," he said, "the ladies are digging into those books, learning the intricate parts of the engine, and they're answering the questions the guys can't answer. I shake my head and say, 'That's why they're here.' "
Tony Molla, communications vice president of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, said that for years, about 1 percent of the country's auto mechanics have been women.
Many are particularly adept at diagnostics, and some own repair shops, often with a spouse, he said. Car dealers also are posting women at service write-up counters. "They listen better and are less threatening to women, who are 50 percent of people bringing cars in for service," Molla said.
At Norfolk Technical Center, all three of the auto shop girls have at least two things in common: They like working with their hands, and they don't mind getting dirty.
Brittney Muse, 16, may have motor oil in her blood. The high school junior was 5 when she helped her father put a new engine into a 1968 Mustang. To this day, she loves Fords.
At the technical center, she's learned a lot about engines and is masterful with brakes and tires.
"When you have a car that's not working and you work on it for a week, when it starts up it's such an exciting moment," she said.
Looking at her nails, Muse added, "sometimes you get grease and oil under them. The tips turn black. It's pretty cool!"
Baker's mother, a nail care professional, wanted the same manicuring career for her daughter, but Baker had different plans.
"You know how Bill Gates is big with computers? I want to be big with cars. I want to learn about everything with cars," Baker said.
Baker previously took auto shop at a U.S. military base school in Japan, where her father was deployed. Transplanted to Norfolk a year ago, she's changed the spark plugs, swapped out wiring, put in a thermostat and repainted much of her own car, a 2002 Hyundai Accent.
To Baker, the joy of auto mechanics is problem-solving with her mind and hands.
"I like doing it all manually, where you have to get on your hands and knees and take it apart without using computer diagnostics," she said "That's what makes it more fun."
Like Baker's mother, Kristiana Barnard's dad has warmed up to the idea of a grease monkey daughter. Initially, he was concerned about the cultural bias that claims only men make good mechanics, but he ultimately gave her his backing.
These days, "I'll come home and say, 'Dad, we took our pistons out of our engine and cleaned it,' and he'll say 'I remember when I did that!' " said Barnard, whose favorite car is the muscular Challenger. "He's happy, because none of my siblings have an interest in cars."
Of the three girls in Norfolk Technical Center's class, Barnard, 16, had the least experience in mechanics or the jargon. "He'll say certain things all the guys know about in a car and I'm like, 'Hold on, what's that?' "
That's why she hits the textbooks, sometimes reading ahead, as Howard has noticed in class.
"Instead of just giving me what I ask, she can elaborate on it," he said. In fact, Barnard's average score on written tests and hands-on assignments is 100.
Barnard, though, is the only one of the shop girl trio who isn't committed to an automotives career. She likes art, playing the guitar, reading history and writing.
Classmate Tyree Pugh said he never believed girls could work on cars until Barnard joined the class. He's since changed his mind.
"They can all do a great job on what they do - better than half the guys in the class," he said. "I give them the most respect."
The third student strained a ratchet wrench against a bolt. Slim hands and long nails grimed, her brunette hair in a bun, Ilene Baker concentrated on the job.
Working on cars is quintessentially a guy thing - think Fonzie on "Happy Days" or the hot-rod boys of "The Dukes of Hazzard." Ilene and the other two girls in the technical center's automotive program know this. They work alongside 60 guys. And none of them cares.
"Every time my mom gave me a Barbie doll, I'd rip it apart," said Baker, 17. "Every time she gave me a toy car, I'd keep it forever."
The two-year auto technology course plunges students into the guts of motors and complex repair jobs, on the shop floor and the classroom.
This recent morning, Pierre Howard, one of the two shop instructors, had some students breaking down engines. Crankshafts, pistons and alternators were strewn across workbenches. A scent of motor oil hung in the air.
Howard said the typical first reaction from his male students is, "Why is she in here?"
"But by week two," he said, "the ladies are digging into those books, learning the intricate parts of the engine, and they're answering the questions the guys can't answer. I shake my head and say, 'That's why they're here.' "
Tony Molla, communications vice president of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, said that for years, about 1 percent of the country's auto mechanics have been women.
Many are particularly adept at diagnostics, and some own repair shops, often with a spouse, he said. Car dealers also are posting women at service write-up counters. "They listen better and are less threatening to women, who are 50 percent of people bringing cars in for service," Molla said.
At Norfolk Technical Center, all three of the auto shop girls have at least two things in common: They like working with their hands, and they don't mind getting dirty.
Brittney Muse, 16, may have motor oil in her blood. The high school junior was 5 when she helped her father put a new engine into a 1968 Mustang. To this day, she loves Fords.
At the technical center, she's learned a lot about engines and is masterful with brakes and tires.
"When you have a car that's not working and you work on it for a week, when it starts up it's such an exciting moment," she said.
Looking at her nails, Muse added, "sometimes you get grease and oil under them. The tips turn black. It's pretty cool!"
Baker's mother, a nail care professional, wanted the same manicuring career for her daughter, but Baker had different plans.
"You know how Bill Gates is big with computers? I want to be big with cars. I want to learn about everything with cars," Baker said.
Baker previously took auto shop at a U.S. military base school in Japan, where her father was deployed. Transplanted to Norfolk a year ago, she's changed the spark plugs, swapped out wiring, put in a thermostat and repainted much of her own car, a 2002 Hyundai Accent.
To Baker, the joy of auto mechanics is problem-solving with her mind and hands.
"I like doing it all manually, where you have to get on your hands and knees and take it apart without using computer diagnostics," she said "That's what makes it more fun."
Like Baker's mother, Kristiana Barnard's dad has warmed up to the idea of a grease monkey daughter. Initially, he was concerned about the cultural bias that claims only men make good mechanics, but he ultimately gave her his backing.
These days, "I'll come home and say, 'Dad, we took our pistons out of our engine and cleaned it,' and he'll say 'I remember when I did that!' " said Barnard, whose favorite car is the muscular Challenger. "He's happy, because none of my siblings have an interest in cars."
Of the three girls in Norfolk Technical Center's class, Barnard, 16, had the least experience in mechanics or the jargon. "He'll say certain things all the guys know about in a car and I'm like, 'Hold on, what's that?' "
That's why she hits the textbooks, sometimes reading ahead, as Howard has noticed in class.
"Instead of just giving me what I ask, she can elaborate on it," he said. In fact, Barnard's average score on written tests and hands-on assignments is 100.
Barnard, though, is the only one of the shop girl trio who isn't committed to an automotives career. She likes art, playing the guitar, reading history and writing.
Classmate Tyree Pugh said he never believed girls could work on cars until Barnard joined the class. He's since changed his mind.
"They can all do a great job on what they do - better than half the guys in the class," he said. "I give them the most respect."
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Elk and Elk Top Attorneys
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio, Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine has selected Jay Kelley, Steve Crandall, Gary Cowan, Egan P. Kilbane, R. Craig McLaughlin and William J. Price to be included in its prominent annual ranking of top attorneys.
The personal injury attorneys of Elk & Elk are featured in Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Edition 2011. Only five percent of the lawyers in the state are named by Super Lawyers.
Jay Kelley and Steve Crandall have the largest verdicts in numerous counties throughout Ohio and have each been named to the top 100 Super Lawyers list the last three years. Jay Kelley is the only personal injury lawyer to be named to the top 10 Super Lawyers' list in Ohio. In addition, no other firm has more attorneys named to Super Lawyers.
For several years, the Ohio attorneys at Elk & Elk have continued to meet Super Lawyers' meticulous selection criteria. With expertise in all aspects of injury law, Elk & Elk has achieved for clients some of the largest verdicts, including a $10 million medical malpractice verdict in Toledo for a young man who suffered paralysis from a surgical error, a $9.88 million medical malpractice verdict in Ravenna for a child injured at birth and a $6.3 million medical malpractice verdict in Dayton for a woman who suffered brain damage following routine surgery.
In recent years, Super Lawyers also recognized the following Elk & Elk attorneys: R. Craig McLaughlin, Ohio Rising Stars 2009, 2010; William J. Price, Ohio Rising Stars 2010; Amy L. Papesh, Ohio Rising Stars 2010; Egan Kilbane, Ohio Rising Stars 2010; Jay Kelley, Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers 2010, Top 50 Cleveland Area Super Lawyers 2009; and Steve Crandall, Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers 2010, Top 50 Cleveland Area Super Lawyers 2009.
The selections for this esteemed list are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters, Legal division based in Eagan, MN. Each year, the research team at Super Lawyers undertakes a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area and a good-standing and disciplinary check.
Toll Free: (800) ELK-OHIO
Local: (440) 442-6677
Toll Free Fax: (877) 355-1355
Local Fax: (440) 442-7944
www.elkandelk.com
The personal injury attorneys of Elk & Elk are featured in Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Edition 2011. Only five percent of the lawyers in the state are named by Super Lawyers.
Jay Kelley and Steve Crandall have the largest verdicts in numerous counties throughout Ohio and have each been named to the top 100 Super Lawyers list the last three years. Jay Kelley is the only personal injury lawyer to be named to the top 10 Super Lawyers' list in Ohio. In addition, no other firm has more attorneys named to Super Lawyers.
For several years, the Ohio attorneys at Elk & Elk have continued to meet Super Lawyers' meticulous selection criteria. With expertise in all aspects of injury law, Elk & Elk has achieved for clients some of the largest verdicts, including a $10 million medical malpractice verdict in Toledo for a young man who suffered paralysis from a surgical error, a $9.88 million medical malpractice verdict in Ravenna for a child injured at birth and a $6.3 million medical malpractice verdict in Dayton for a woman who suffered brain damage following routine surgery.
In recent years, Super Lawyers also recognized the following Elk & Elk attorneys: R. Craig McLaughlin, Ohio Rising Stars 2009, 2010; William J. Price, Ohio Rising Stars 2010; Amy L. Papesh, Ohio Rising Stars 2010; Egan Kilbane, Ohio Rising Stars 2010; Jay Kelley, Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers 2010, Top 50 Cleveland Area Super Lawyers 2009; and Steve Crandall, Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers 2010, Top 50 Cleveland Area Super Lawyers 2009.
The selections for this esteemed list are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters, Legal division based in Eagan, MN. Each year, the research team at Super Lawyers undertakes a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area and a good-standing and disciplinary check.
Toll Free: (800) ELK-OHIO
Local: (440) 442-6677
Toll Free Fax: (877) 355-1355
Local Fax: (440) 442-7944
www.elkandelk.com
Monday, December 20, 2010
www.the-service-pros.com
Online PR News – 17-December-2010 –Service Pros Heating & Cooling today announced the launch of www.the-service-pros.com as an information portal for Southern New Jersey home owners and businesses to find information about heating and air conditioning projects, problems and solutions. With articles being added almost every day and an online monthly newsletter of heating and air conditioning tips, the website is anticipated to quickly become New Jersey’s primary resource for residential heating and air conditioning tips.
Future plans include educational guides on selecting a heating and air conditioning company and professional advice from experts in the field.
The web site will be an invaluable resource for New Jersey area homeowners and businesses in finding accessible information to address their heating and air conditioning, repair and replacement needs. Information will be efficiently categorized for easy navigation.
The owner of Service Pros Heating & Cooling stated, “Our main objective is to be the premier heating and air conditioning resource guide for assisting everyone in the New Jersey area with their heating and air conditioning needs. The depth of knowledge and resources at www.the-service-pros.com is simple, concise and offers every homeowner some information about their home.”
Future plans include educational guides on selecting a heating and air conditioning company and professional advice from experts in the field.
The web site will be an invaluable resource for New Jersey area homeowners and businesses in finding accessible information to address their heating and air conditioning, repair and replacement needs. Information will be efficiently categorized for easy navigation.
The owner of Service Pros Heating & Cooling stated, “Our main objective is to be the premier heating and air conditioning resource guide for assisting everyone in the New Jersey area with their heating and air conditioning needs. The depth of knowledge and resources at www.the-service-pros.com is simple, concise and offers every homeowner some information about their home.”
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Neighbors Help a Neighbor in Trouble
The temperature was in the mid-40s recently outside 71-year-old Effie Theus' home on County Road 225, just south of the Gator Nationals Raceway. But inside the square blue home, it was a cozy 72 degrees.
For the first time since she bought the house with her late first husband, Dallas Bell, in 1961, Theus has central heating and air conditioning, thanks to the help of some concerned Alachua County officials and Habitat for Humanity. She also has a new roof, electrical wiring, plumbing, septic system and a fresh coat of exterior paint.
"There's not enough words for me to describe how I feel about it — it's so wonderful," Theus said, petting her Chihuahua, Dora.
Their help came in the nick of time, when officials thought they might have to declare the structure unsafe for living and ask Theus to leave the only home she has known for the past 50 years.
Home Repair
Workmen were rolling on a coat of primer paint in the home's front room recently as Theus gave a tour of what has been done so far, pointing to the new central air unit and a new hot water heater in a room off the kitchen.
Her youngest child, Kimberly, said that she is happy for her mother.
"She used a wood heater," Kimberly said, about heating the home in the past. "But several years ago, it caught fire in the living room."
A singed ceramic cat sits on a shelf in a nearby room — a reminder of the tragedy that could have happened.
After the fire, she switched to kerosene heaters and also to turning on the burners on the stove. In the summer, windows had to be opened to keep the hot air circulating.
For the first time since she bought the house with her late first husband, Dallas Bell, in 1961, Theus has central heating and air conditioning, thanks to the help of some concerned Alachua County officials and Habitat for Humanity. She also has a new roof, electrical wiring, plumbing, septic system and a fresh coat of exterior paint.
"There's not enough words for me to describe how I feel about it — it's so wonderful," Theus said, petting her Chihuahua, Dora.
Their help came in the nick of time, when officials thought they might have to declare the structure unsafe for living and ask Theus to leave the only home she has known for the past 50 years.
Home Repair
Workmen were rolling on a coat of primer paint in the home's front room recently as Theus gave a tour of what has been done so far, pointing to the new central air unit and a new hot water heater in a room off the kitchen.
Her youngest child, Kimberly, said that she is happy for her mother.
"She used a wood heater," Kimberly said, about heating the home in the past. "But several years ago, it caught fire in the living room."
A singed ceramic cat sits on a shelf in a nearby room — a reminder of the tragedy that could have happened.
After the fire, she switched to kerosene heaters and also to turning on the burners on the stove. In the summer, windows had to be opened to keep the hot air circulating.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Invention Helps House Painters
Miami, FL, December 16, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Greg G., a California resident and inventor, has contracted South Florida invention assistance leader NewProductHelp.com to represent his Door Caps concept to industry. A simple yet effective new product sure to save time on paint jobs, the Door Caps boasts a unique design that provides its users with an easy and efficient method of protecting the areas surrounding an upcoming paint job.
The Door Caps will be quick to set up and begin using, and will provide peace of mind to painters that they will not damage other property in the area of the job they are completing. It will also save considerable amounts of time when preparing a room before a paint job, as compared to the conventional method of using tape to protect items. With its collection of redeeming qualities, the Door Caps should have no trouble finding success through outlets and catalogs selling home improvement accessories.
This original idea is now being made available for licensing to manufacturers interested in new product development, especially in the home improvement accessories industry. Greg G. is hoping to have the Door Caps in full production and available to the public within the very near future.
Greg G.'s journey towards the attempted commercialization of his invention began when he opted to contact Miami, Florida-based NewProductHelp.com recently to explore the possibility of having the invention assistance company further research and document his concept, as well as facilitate the presentation of information and materials about it to potentially relevant manufacturers in industry, with the ultimate goal being to secure a licensing agreement.
NewProductHelp.com assists inventors who are seeking to bring their inventions to the consumer market via established third party manufacturers and marketers by providing them expertise designed to guide them from the earliest stages of invention development to the point where there are professionally produced promotional materials regarding the concept. New Product Help.com's New Product Publicity and Marketing Program is designed and targeted to provide maximum exposure through promotional materials such as press releases, product brochures, digital renditions, a password-protected website, and other visual mediums such as a New Product DVD and potentially, an interactive virtual reality presentation.
NewProductHelp.com will represent the Door Caps invention for 2 years utilizing the aforementioned vehicles of exposure, as well as garnering additional leads for the concept through the participation of their industry partner Licensing Direct™ in industry-leading trade shows. Licensing Direct™, which serves as the exclusive licensing agent for NewProductHelp.com inventor clients, will follow up with any leads stemming from these trade show events and will also manage any advanced levels of interest displayed by manufacturers, marketers or distributors in the Door Caps .
For more information on how you can get your idea to NewProductHelp.com, visit: www.newproducthelp.com
Contact: 1-877-445-0494
About NewProductHelp.com: NewProductHelp.com is a Miami, Florida-based invention assistance firm that represents independent inventors who typically lack the resources and experience to pursue the commercialization of their product concepts on their own. NewProductHelp.com utilizes dynamic promotional materials such as digital renditions, press releases, invention websites, and interactive virtual reality presentations, as well as representation at industry-leading trade shows, to achieve valuable exposure for the inventions it represents.
The Door Caps will be quick to set up and begin using, and will provide peace of mind to painters that they will not damage other property in the area of the job they are completing. It will also save considerable amounts of time when preparing a room before a paint job, as compared to the conventional method of using tape to protect items. With its collection of redeeming qualities, the Door Caps should have no trouble finding success through outlets and catalogs selling home improvement accessories.
This original idea is now being made available for licensing to manufacturers interested in new product development, especially in the home improvement accessories industry. Greg G. is hoping to have the Door Caps in full production and available to the public within the very near future.
Greg G.'s journey towards the attempted commercialization of his invention began when he opted to contact Miami, Florida-based NewProductHelp.com recently to explore the possibility of having the invention assistance company further research and document his concept, as well as facilitate the presentation of information and materials about it to potentially relevant manufacturers in industry, with the ultimate goal being to secure a licensing agreement.
NewProductHelp.com assists inventors who are seeking to bring their inventions to the consumer market via established third party manufacturers and marketers by providing them expertise designed to guide them from the earliest stages of invention development to the point where there are professionally produced promotional materials regarding the concept. New Product Help.com's New Product Publicity and Marketing Program is designed and targeted to provide maximum exposure through promotional materials such as press releases, product brochures, digital renditions, a password-protected website, and other visual mediums such as a New Product DVD and potentially, an interactive virtual reality presentation.
NewProductHelp.com will represent the Door Caps invention for 2 years utilizing the aforementioned vehicles of exposure, as well as garnering additional leads for the concept through the participation of their industry partner Licensing Direct™ in industry-leading trade shows. Licensing Direct™, which serves as the exclusive licensing agent for NewProductHelp.com inventor clients, will follow up with any leads stemming from these trade show events and will also manage any advanced levels of interest displayed by manufacturers, marketers or distributors in the Door Caps .
For more information on how you can get your idea to NewProductHelp.com, visit: www.newproducthelp.com
Contact: 1-877-445-0494
About NewProductHelp.com: NewProductHelp.com is a Miami, Florida-based invention assistance firm that represents independent inventors who typically lack the resources and experience to pursue the commercialization of their product concepts on their own. NewProductHelp.com utilizes dynamic promotional materials such as digital renditions, press releases, invention websites, and interactive virtual reality presentations, as well as representation at industry-leading trade shows, to achieve valuable exposure for the inventions it represents.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
AutoMD Winter Check List
CARSON, Calif., Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanksgiving 2010 was one of the busiest road travel holidays in years, and Christmas 2010 road travel is expected to peak as well. For those sunbirds in southern climates who are preparing to drive into colder weather, AutoMD.com offers a reminder to winterize that vehicle, along with a ten point check list and how-to guides.
"People who drive north for the holidays often forget that their vehicle needs special preparation for the winter road ahead, and can end up with chilly regrets on a snowy roadside," said AutoMD.com President Shane Evangelist. "Whether you are an Angeleno headed for Big Bear, a Floridian headed for the Blue Ridge Mountains, or the average holiday traveler readying your vehicle for that trip to grandma's house, take the time to put your ride through AutoMD.com's ten point winter travel vehicle checklist. We provide step-by-step How-to's to do it yourself (or an easy-to-use local repair shop or dealership finder) so you can have a smooth and safe road trip to your winter holiday destination."
AutoMD.com's Holiday Travel Winterizing Check List
Check the antifreeze (coolant). The engine cooling system should be filled with a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and distilled water to prevent freezing and boiling over. Antifreeze testers are available at your local auto parts store to test the mixture. To keep the cooling system operating at peak performance, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for changing the antifreeze (flush and fill).
Change the engine oil. Use the recommended oil viscosity range for winter. 5W-30 motor oil flows quicker in cold weather than 20W-50. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend 5W-30 oil for year round protection.
Check the tires. Tires should be properly inflated, and the tread depth should be at least 4/32”. Using snow tires can improve traction over all-season tires.
Check the battery. Cold temperatures can reduce the battery’s power. If the battery is older than four years, it may be time to replace it.
Check the belts and hoses. Cold weather can reduce the life expectancy of belts and hoses, so make sure yours are in good shape before getting on the road.
Check the wipers and wiper fluid. Replace wipers that are old or worn, and (to prevent freezing) use windshield washer fluid instead of water.
Check the emergency kit. Make sure your kit is well stocked and add an ice scraper, tire chains, jumper cables, and warm clothes for winter weather emergencies. Remember to include a candle and matches, as well as some bottled water and energy bars. You can use a candle for light and warmth inside the vehicle if you get stranded.
Check 4WD operation if equipped. Since you may not have used 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) all year, make sure the 4WD is activated (review your manual on "how to activate") when you switch it on. Using 4WD improves traction in slippery conditions.
Change your driving habits. Slow down and increase your following distance when driving in harsh weather. All vehicles lose traction in rain, snow and ice.
Wash and wax your car. It is a good idea to get a good car wash and wax before you head north to protect your paint from road salt, and be sure to wash your car as soon as you return home, to remove any lingering road salt.
"People who drive north for the holidays often forget that their vehicle needs special preparation for the winter road ahead, and can end up with chilly regrets on a snowy roadside," said AutoMD.com President Shane Evangelist. "Whether you are an Angeleno headed for Big Bear, a Floridian headed for the Blue Ridge Mountains, or the average holiday traveler readying your vehicle for that trip to grandma's house, take the time to put your ride through AutoMD.com's ten point winter travel vehicle checklist. We provide step-by-step How-to's to do it yourself (or an easy-to-use local repair shop or dealership finder) so you can have a smooth and safe road trip to your winter holiday destination."
AutoMD.com's Holiday Travel Winterizing Check List
Check the antifreeze (coolant). The engine cooling system should be filled with a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and distilled water to prevent freezing and boiling over. Antifreeze testers are available at your local auto parts store to test the mixture. To keep the cooling system operating at peak performance, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for changing the antifreeze (flush and fill).
Change the engine oil. Use the recommended oil viscosity range for winter. 5W-30 motor oil flows quicker in cold weather than 20W-50. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend 5W-30 oil for year round protection.
Check the tires. Tires should be properly inflated, and the tread depth should be at least 4/32”. Using snow tires can improve traction over all-season tires.
Check the battery. Cold temperatures can reduce the battery’s power. If the battery is older than four years, it may be time to replace it.
Check the belts and hoses. Cold weather can reduce the life expectancy of belts and hoses, so make sure yours are in good shape before getting on the road.
Check the wipers and wiper fluid. Replace wipers that are old or worn, and (to prevent freezing) use windshield washer fluid instead of water.
Check the emergency kit. Make sure your kit is well stocked and add an ice scraper, tire chains, jumper cables, and warm clothes for winter weather emergencies. Remember to include a candle and matches, as well as some bottled water and energy bars. You can use a candle for light and warmth inside the vehicle if you get stranded.
Check 4WD operation if equipped. Since you may not have used 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) all year, make sure the 4WD is activated (review your manual on "how to activate") when you switch it on. Using 4WD improves traction in slippery conditions.
Change your driving habits. Slow down and increase your following distance when driving in harsh weather. All vehicles lose traction in rain, snow and ice.
Wash and wax your car. It is a good idea to get a good car wash and wax before you head north to protect your paint from road salt, and be sure to wash your car as soon as you return home, to remove any lingering road salt.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Air Innovations Air Purifier
Syracuse, NY (PRWEB) December 12, 2010
Air Innovations, Inc. (AI) was recognized in October as an "Economic Champion," by the CenterState CEO, a business leadership and economic development organization that serves 12 counties in Upstate New York. AI was acknowledged for contributing to the region's growth by adding employees, increasing capital expenditures and receiving state and national recognition.
According to AI President and CEO Michael Wetzel, P.E., Air Innovations increased employment 10% in the past two years and posted a 51% increase in revenues during the past three years. "This year, the company made significant investments in staff development, production equipment and test cell laboratories to accommodate higher volume orders for larger environmental control systems," Wetzel said.
In addition, Air Innovations is a recipient of almost a million dollars of federal and state grants for the development of a new ventilating room air purifier, trademarked HEPAiRx®, which recently received a U.S. patent.
Furthermore, AI was ranked No. 3466 on Inc. magazine's 2010 list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America. Among manufacturers on the list, Air Innovations was positioned as the 113th fastest growing.
Air Innovations was established in 1986 and is a leader in specialty air conditioning, refrigeration and environmental control solutions for original equipment manufacturers around the world. The company's systems are custom designs that feature close tolerance control of temperature (to 0.01°C), humidity control (to 0.5% stability), filtration, and pressurization, and can be configured into a variety of spaces. AI's capabilities range from concept development to prototyping, from small runs to mass production. Products are design/built for customers in such industries as: aerospace, military; homeland security; pharmaceutical; medical devices; R&D; and, electronics. Among the company's branded products, Floratech® floral coolers are used in supermarkets and Wine Guardian® wine cellar cooling systems are designed for residential, restaurant and commercial applications.
For more information, visit http://www.airinnovations.com, email info(at)airinnovations(dot)com or call toll free 800-835-3268 (international +1 315 452 7400).
Air Innovations, Inc. (AI) was recognized in October as an "Economic Champion," by the CenterState CEO, a business leadership and economic development organization that serves 12 counties in Upstate New York. AI was acknowledged for contributing to the region's growth by adding employees, increasing capital expenditures and receiving state and national recognition.
According to AI President and CEO Michael Wetzel, P.E., Air Innovations increased employment 10% in the past two years and posted a 51% increase in revenues during the past three years. "This year, the company made significant investments in staff development, production equipment and test cell laboratories to accommodate higher volume orders for larger environmental control systems," Wetzel said.
In addition, Air Innovations is a recipient of almost a million dollars of federal and state grants for the development of a new ventilating room air purifier, trademarked HEPAiRx®, which recently received a U.S. patent.
Furthermore, AI was ranked No. 3466 on Inc. magazine's 2010 list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America. Among manufacturers on the list, Air Innovations was positioned as the 113th fastest growing.
Air Innovations was established in 1986 and is a leader in specialty air conditioning, refrigeration and environmental control solutions for original equipment manufacturers around the world. The company's systems are custom designs that feature close tolerance control of temperature (to 0.01°C), humidity control (to 0.5% stability), filtration, and pressurization, and can be configured into a variety of spaces. AI's capabilities range from concept development to prototyping, from small runs to mass production. Products are design/built for customers in such industries as: aerospace, military; homeland security; pharmaceutical; medical devices; R&D; and, electronics. Among the company's branded products, Floratech® floral coolers are used in supermarkets and Wine Guardian® wine cellar cooling systems are designed for residential, restaurant and commercial applications.
For more information, visit http://www.airinnovations.com, email info(at)airinnovations(dot)com or call toll free 800-835-3268 (international +1 315 452 7400).
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Volunteers Needed for Christmas
Volunteers are needed to help with a community dinner for more than 300 people on Christmas Day at the First Church of Christ, 190 Court St., Middletown, from noon to 2 p.m.
Help is needed to bake breads and desserts, assist with set-up and cleanup. Donations of pre-cooked turkeys are also needed. The dinner tables will be set with linen and china.
Of the 300 meals, 60 will be delievered to the Eddy Shelter on the Connecticut Valley Hospital grounds which serves those who are homeless. Another 75 meals will be delivered to the meals on wheels program, which serves seniors and shut-ins.
Help is needed to bake breads and desserts, assist with set-up and cleanup. Donations of pre-cooked turkeys are also needed. The dinner tables will be set with linen and china.
Of the 300 meals, 60 will be delievered to the Eddy Shelter on the Connecticut Valley Hospital grounds which serves those who are homeless. Another 75 meals will be delivered to the meals on wheels program, which serves seniors and shut-ins.
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
China Businessman Talks Environment
Zhang Yue has grounded his three private jets and personal helicopter. He has stored the midnight blue Rolls-Royce stretch limousine and canary-yellow Ferrari behind the conference center he built here as a reproduction of a French palace. This past summer, he kept the thermostat in his office at a steamy 81 degrees.
Mr. Zhang has embraced frugalities like working in heat rather than turning on an air-conditioner not because of any financial setback. He still shows up on lists of China’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, with a personal fortune estimated at $850 million. But Mr. Zhang, 51, has also emerged as China’s most outspoken tycoon on environmental issues.
It is a notable distinction, now that China has passed the United States as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases — and as Chinese officials vow to resist any binding limits on their country’s emissions at the United Nations’ international climate talks under way in Cancún, Mexico.
When a Chinese vice minister and the Hong Kong secretary of the environment spoke enthusiastically at a conference in Hong Kong about their energy efficiency efforts, Mr. Zhang interrupted and disagreed in a sharp tone that Chinese entrepreneurs seldom take with government officials.
“There are laws on everything, but I do not think there are enough laws on energy consumption,” he said. “We need more laws.”
All this is not simply green altruism on Mr. Zhang’s part. He has a financial stake in environmentalism. His company, Broad Air Conditioning, is a world leader in the manufacture of central air-conditioning systems that use diesel or natural gas instead of electricity to cool office buildings, shopping malls and factories.
The systems, known as absorption chillers, cost much more to install but are less expensive to operate, with the number of years needed to break even dependent on local electricity rates. Absorption chillers are particularly popular in China because many factories already have diesel generators and diesel fuel storage tanks.
As electricity demand in China grew 11.5 percent a year over the last decade, provincial governments periodically had to impose blackouts in industrial zones for up to three days a week to make sure that residential areas almost always had power. Factories buy diesel generators to maintain operations during blackouts.
Absorption chillers occupy an estimated one-fifth of China’s $2.5 billion annual market for central air-conditioning systems, according to Charles Oliver, a co-founder of GCiS, a market research company based in Beijing. Broad Air Conditioning is the absorption chiller market leader by revenue in China, and exports to markets around the world. The company is privately held, mostly by Mr. Zhang and his family, and does not release financial data.
Absorption chillers have less than 1 percent of the American market, said Karim Amrane, the vice president for regulatory affairs and research at the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, a trade group in Arlington, Va. “It’s simply too expensive,” he said.
The equipment tends to be more attractive in places with high electricity prices, and especially places with high prices during the afternoon, when power grids are already under stress and when air-conditioning systems need to work hardest. That gives Broad Air Conditioning a financial incentive to press for climate change policies that make it more expensive for electric utilities to burn coal, an inexpensive fuel in much of the world but also the dirtiest in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
One obstacle for the company is that many developers build and sell commercial office projects, instead of holding on to them and renting them. So minimizing initial costs may be more important to them than reducing long-term electricity costs.
“How do you convince a developer to spend more money on a building that he’s just going to sell?” said Tom McCawley, a general manager of Evergreen Sustainable Development, a company based in Shanghai that plans air-conditioning and heating systems for large complexes.
In exporting to the United States and 67 other countries, Broad has marketed its products for corporate headquarters and other buildings that tend to be held for a long time by a single owner.
Mr. Zhang’s company is now branching out into the manufacture of heavily insulated, energy-efficient segments of buildings that can be quickly bolted together at a construction site. All of Broad’s buildings have insulation with a thickness of 15 centimeters, or 6 inches, to minimize the energy needed to cool or heat them.
As a demonstration project, Broad shipped to Cancún this autumn the components for a two-story building with floor space of 1,000 square meters, or 11,400 square feet. The components are designed for quick assembly at a site near the climate negotiations (the building was assembled in less than two days at the end of last week, and is scheduled to open on Wednesday after interior decorations are completed).
The project has the support of Rajendra K. Pachauri, the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an advisory group to the United Nations climate talks. He said it was a way to draw attention to the need for energy-efficient construction around the world.
Mainland Chinese tycoons are known for keeping extremely low profiles and seldom speaking in public, for fear of antagonizing political leaders or attracting the attention of tax investigators. But Mr. Zhang, who insists that his commitment to environmentalism is genuine and separate from his business interests, may have more political protection than most Chinese tycoons.
He is an outspoken defender of the government’s unpopular one-child policy, for example, saying that humanity needs to reduce its population to protect the environment. Perhaps most important, he is a longtime apostle of energy efficiency at a time when China’s leadership has become deeply worried about energy security and eager to reduce the country’s ever-rising reliance on imported energy.
And while Mr. Zhang wants China to address global warming more directly, he reserves some of his bluntest criticisms for foreign governments.
“The United States is not limiting emissions,” he said, “so why should you ask China to do so?”
Mr. Zhang has embraced frugalities like working in heat rather than turning on an air-conditioner not because of any financial setback. He still shows up on lists of China’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, with a personal fortune estimated at $850 million. But Mr. Zhang, 51, has also emerged as China’s most outspoken tycoon on environmental issues.
It is a notable distinction, now that China has passed the United States as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases — and as Chinese officials vow to resist any binding limits on their country’s emissions at the United Nations’ international climate talks under way in Cancún, Mexico.
When a Chinese vice minister and the Hong Kong secretary of the environment spoke enthusiastically at a conference in Hong Kong about their energy efficiency efforts, Mr. Zhang interrupted and disagreed in a sharp tone that Chinese entrepreneurs seldom take with government officials.
“There are laws on everything, but I do not think there are enough laws on energy consumption,” he said. “We need more laws.”
All this is not simply green altruism on Mr. Zhang’s part. He has a financial stake in environmentalism. His company, Broad Air Conditioning, is a world leader in the manufacture of central air-conditioning systems that use diesel or natural gas instead of electricity to cool office buildings, shopping malls and factories.
The systems, known as absorption chillers, cost much more to install but are less expensive to operate, with the number of years needed to break even dependent on local electricity rates. Absorption chillers are particularly popular in China because many factories already have diesel generators and diesel fuel storage tanks.
As electricity demand in China grew 11.5 percent a year over the last decade, provincial governments periodically had to impose blackouts in industrial zones for up to three days a week to make sure that residential areas almost always had power. Factories buy diesel generators to maintain operations during blackouts.
Absorption chillers occupy an estimated one-fifth of China’s $2.5 billion annual market for central air-conditioning systems, according to Charles Oliver, a co-founder of GCiS, a market research company based in Beijing. Broad Air Conditioning is the absorption chiller market leader by revenue in China, and exports to markets around the world. The company is privately held, mostly by Mr. Zhang and his family, and does not release financial data.
Absorption chillers have less than 1 percent of the American market, said Karim Amrane, the vice president for regulatory affairs and research at the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, a trade group in Arlington, Va. “It’s simply too expensive,” he said.
The equipment tends to be more attractive in places with high electricity prices, and especially places with high prices during the afternoon, when power grids are already under stress and when air-conditioning systems need to work hardest. That gives Broad Air Conditioning a financial incentive to press for climate change policies that make it more expensive for electric utilities to burn coal, an inexpensive fuel in much of the world but also the dirtiest in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
One obstacle for the company is that many developers build and sell commercial office projects, instead of holding on to them and renting them. So minimizing initial costs may be more important to them than reducing long-term electricity costs.
“How do you convince a developer to spend more money on a building that he’s just going to sell?” said Tom McCawley, a general manager of Evergreen Sustainable Development, a company based in Shanghai that plans air-conditioning and heating systems for large complexes.
In exporting to the United States and 67 other countries, Broad has marketed its products for corporate headquarters and other buildings that tend to be held for a long time by a single owner.
Mr. Zhang’s company is now branching out into the manufacture of heavily insulated, energy-efficient segments of buildings that can be quickly bolted together at a construction site. All of Broad’s buildings have insulation with a thickness of 15 centimeters, or 6 inches, to minimize the energy needed to cool or heat them.
As a demonstration project, Broad shipped to Cancún this autumn the components for a two-story building with floor space of 1,000 square meters, or 11,400 square feet. The components are designed for quick assembly at a site near the climate negotiations (the building was assembled in less than two days at the end of last week, and is scheduled to open on Wednesday after interior decorations are completed).
The project has the support of Rajendra K. Pachauri, the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an advisory group to the United Nations climate talks. He said it was a way to draw attention to the need for energy-efficient construction around the world.
Mainland Chinese tycoons are known for keeping extremely low profiles and seldom speaking in public, for fear of antagonizing political leaders or attracting the attention of tax investigators. But Mr. Zhang, who insists that his commitment to environmentalism is genuine and separate from his business interests, may have more political protection than most Chinese tycoons.
He is an outspoken defender of the government’s unpopular one-child policy, for example, saying that humanity needs to reduce its population to protect the environment. Perhaps most important, he is a longtime apostle of energy efficiency at a time when China’s leadership has become deeply worried about energy security and eager to reduce the country’s ever-rising reliance on imported energy.
And while Mr. Zhang wants China to address global warming more directly, he reserves some of his bluntest criticisms for foreign governments.
“The United States is not limiting emissions,” he said, “so why should you ask China to do so?”
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Singers Sing for Charity
They were performing to raise money for a children's charity, but Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony put on a strictly adult performance.
The couple who have been married since 2004, stood in a near embrace during their performance.
Staring into one another's eyes, they were full of smiles and joyously showed off their close relationship as they embraced.
Draped in a gorgeous, silver Kaufman Franco gown, Jennifer, 41, dazzled the crowd alongside Marc as they did back to back duets.
The couple were performing onstage at a charity telethon in Mexico City, in aid of disabled children.
Their performance was warmly received, but their public display of affection is what everyone is still talking about.
The couple who have been married since 2004, stood in a near embrace during their performance.
Staring into one another's eyes, they were full of smiles and joyously showed off their close relationship as they embraced.
Draped in a gorgeous, silver Kaufman Franco gown, Jennifer, 41, dazzled the crowd alongside Marc as they did back to back duets.
The couple were performing onstage at a charity telethon in Mexico City, in aid of disabled children.
Their performance was warmly received, but their public display of affection is what everyone is still talking about.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Bud Industries
Bud Industries, Inc., the leading manufacturer of electronics enclosures, announced the expansion of its electronics enclosures product catalog with new plastic boxes, cabinet rack, and sheet-metal box and NEMA-box products. The 80-page color catalog is the most up-to-date and comprehensive enclosure reference guide in the industry. Bud’s extensive product offerings consist of over 2,500 products of which 90 percent are available for same-day shipment.
Bud has added 141 new part numbers of electronics enclosures. The new products include:
SNB Stainless-Steel NEMA Sheet-Metal Boxes
The SNB Series has continuous welded seams and a hinged cover that that has a water-tight seal. Bud sheet-metal boxes are suitable for use in a broad range of applications, including power supplies and industrial controls in wash-down, marine, outdoor or dirty environments.
New Fan Tray Assembly with Digital Temperature Controller
Completely assembled and ready to use, this new Fan Tray Assembly has a unique digital temperature controller. Just position the fan tray, plug it in, and set the desired temperature setting. Provides 540 CFM.
Bud has added 141 new part numbers of electronics enclosures. The new products include:
SNB Stainless-Steel NEMA Sheet-Metal Boxes
The SNB Series has continuous welded seams and a hinged cover that that has a water-tight seal. Bud sheet-metal boxes are suitable for use in a broad range of applications, including power supplies and industrial controls in wash-down, marine, outdoor or dirty environments.
New Fan Tray Assembly with Digital Temperature Controller
Completely assembled and ready to use, this new Fan Tray Assembly has a unique digital temperature controller. Just position the fan tray, plug it in, and set the desired temperature setting. Provides 540 CFM.
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