The Importance of HVAC Repair and Service

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The term HVAC refers to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in your home. If you think about it, it really is one of the most important pieces of equipment you own. Keeping your HVAC system properly serviced and repaired is essential to ensure that it runs properly and efficiently all year long.

The industry typically recommends that you service your HVAC system twice a year, usually in spring and fall. They specify these two particular times of year because they mark the transition from using air conditioning to heating and vice versa. During these routine service calls, the HVAC specialist will inspect the system for any problems. He will clean out the unit and lubricate all moving parts. Once this is complete, he may make recommendations for system improvements or repairs.

Having your HVAC system break down is not only an inconvenience, it can be dangerous when the temperatures drop below freezing. Staying in a home without working heat can put your life at risk if it is extremely cold. It can also cause your pipes to freeze, which could result in water damage and expensive repairs to your plumbing system. The heat can be just as dangerous as the cold if you live in areas where the temperatures soar during the summer months. The young and the elderly are especially vulnerable to the effects of overheating.

One of the main concerns when your HVAC is not operating correctly is energy efficiency. Heating and cooling your home is a large percentage of your utility bill each month. When your system is not running correctly, it may require more energy. This means higher bills for you. A certified HVAC service professional will be able to check all systems and make recommendations for repairs. Having your system assessed by a professional twice a year will ensure that it is running efficiently and you are not wasting money.

Many expensive repairs could be avoided if homeowners did not neglect routine preventative maintenance. Just like a vehicle, your HVAC needs to be routinely inspected and serviced to prevent small problems from turning into big issues. It is much easier and less expensive to keep up with maintenance than it is to repair or replace a neglected unit. It is an investment in your home and will last longer and perform better if it is properly maintained and serviced by an HVAC service professional.

Many companies offer service contracts to homeowners. With this plan, the homeowner pays a fee and the company comes out twice a year to inspect, clean and service the unit. Often these customers enjoy discounts on repairs as well as receive top priority for service calls. It is a good way to guarantee that professionals you know and trust will properly maintain your system each year.

Don’t put off HVAC maintenance until your system malfunctions or stops working completely. The last thing you want is to end up with no heat on the coldest day of the year. Protect your system and ensure that it is working efficiently all year long.

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Source by Matt Hord

Temperature Chamber Price and Climate Chamber Price

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A temperature chamber is the most basic type of research facility test chamber. A huge variety of advances and equipment are accessible in a temperature test unit. The temperature might be balanced by electric curls, gravity convection, fan-driven convection, or a flowing water shower. Let’s find out more about the temperature chamber price and the climate chamber price. Read on.

One distinctive element of a temperature chamber is the expansive temperature range accessible: a few models go as low as – 80°C, while the greatest temperatures can be 300°C or higher. Exactness and precision in temperature settings are quite significant.

The real temperature inside the stove should coordinate as intently as conceivable ideal temperature. And most broilers are inside a couple of tenths of a degree.

Another significant element in a temperature test unit is the temperature change rate. In some cases, it is required to test an item at various temperatures. Temperature test chambers with programmable change rates enable users to plan gradient tests.

On average, the price bracket for a new unit can be between $10000 and $30000. Plus, the prices can be even higher. However, there are no standard prices for these units as it all depends on your requirement.

The price of unit depends on the given factors:

Given below are some of the factors that solely depend upon your specific requirement:

  • Size of the Chamber
  • Temperature range
  • Internal Dimension of the Chamber
  • Nature of the Item/Product to be placed in the Chamber
  • Cooling Method

Climate Chamber

Climate Test Chambers combine temperature and humidity controls for more thorough testing conditions. A vast and extended temperature range like a temperature chamber, plus the addition of a humidity control system, make the temperature-humidity unit a specialized piece of equipment for advanced applications.

These types of units are utilized widely in testing semiconductors, where a limited amount of corrosion can cause a major fault and failure of an electronic device. They are on sale in various sizes going from 20 to 400,000 liters. They can take up the space of a small room or you can go for a much more compact unit that can be placed inside a universal testing machine or other test equipment.Regardless of its innovative and complex technology, these devices come in wide price ranges, from low-priced climatic chambers to the ones that have the cost of a luxurious high-end item. Deciding on the amount of money to be spent on this product isn’t simple and numerous factors should be considered.

Factors that the price of a product depends on:

  • Type of Test to be conducted
  • Technical accuracy and specification required in the project
  • Type of Controller
  • Humidity Measurement Range

The Takeaway

In short, various sorts of test chambers are available out there. They come with numerous features. To figure out which sort of chamber you need, you must be clear about your application. Properly preparing and analyzing your need ahead of time will make you easily select a test chamber according to your budget and requirements.

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Source by Shalini M

What is Design Psychology and How Will it Help Me?

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In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the most basic aspects of Design Psychology, first asking a question, and then addressing the various concepts, in abbreviated form.

“I wish I had learned all this before we bought our first house 25 years ago, and before we had our children. Not only would our homes be more harmonious, but so would our lives together. It’s amazing to learn how colors, lighting, sounds, and patterns affect us so deeply.”

-Angela Pederson, Palm Desert, California

What are the basic fundamentals of Design Psychology?

  • Lighting & our psychological responses to light
  • Color & psychology
  • Patterns & reactions
  • Textures & the sense of touch
  • Scale & human response
  • Styles, themes & desirable effects
  • Ethnic traditions & the importance of heritage
  • Furniture & arrangement for human comfort
  • Sounds & repercussions
  • Scents & sentiments
  • Embellishments & emotional undercurrents

How can Design Psychology help me?

It can help you:

  • Select from the mass confusion of home furnishings.
  • Decorate your home right the FIRST time.
  • Save time, effort, and money.
  • Find out which colors, patterns, furniture, and accessories support happy feelings.
  • Learn about lighting and color psychology, and the underlying emotional effects of your home’s design details.

Discover how Mother Nature can guide your home decorating, to create an environment that’s perfect for your emotional needs.

What Design Psychology ideas could I use to best create an environment that would support my emotions?

Lighting is the crucial design element for happiness.

Using Color Psychology without fear supports joyful living.

Happy warm colors need cooling balance, in order to maintain harmony.

Color, when used as a background, needs to flatter individuals.

All of your senses should be considered when creating your Overall Design Plan.

There you have it; Design Psychology in a nutshell. The concepts are unique and powerful, and can help you create a home that’s perfect for joyful living.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

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Source by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Bike Riding for Weight Loss – Tips for Beginning A Bicycling Plan

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If you are one of those people who leisurely pedal around the block or over a flat stretch of scenic road, you’ve probably been riding for sheer pleasure. Riding bikes for pleasure is a good form of aerobic exercise. But unless you map out a plan to “push yourself,” you probably won’t lose much weight.

I really get sick of hearing people say, “No pain, no gain!” But the old adage is true when it comes to riding bikes to lose weight. By pushing your cycling distance or speed, you are sure to feel some pain in your leg muscles, your hands, wrists, and your derriere– even some pain in your throat and lungs as your body tries to accommodate your increased demand for oxygen.

HEALTH TIP: Stretching exercises prior to exercising are helpful in preventing injury!

GETTING YOUR BICYCLE READY…TO ROLL OFF THE WEIGHT

Your first concern will be outfitting your bicycle. If you need an excuse to purchase a new bike, this is an excellent opportunity! I went from a 3-speed bicycle for leisure riding, to a 24-speed bicycle for more committed exercising. Once I learned how the different gears worked, I was very thankful for the extra speeds. They make my ride faster and the hills a lot easier to handle.

We’ve found the guys at the bicycle shop to be very helpful, and concerned for our unique cycling needs. Rather than simply steering us toward the most expensive bicycle available (as I had expected), they asked how much riding we would be doing, whether we were trying for speed or leisure, and whether we would be riding on paved roads or dirt trails. When you honestly share your goals and level of experience, the sales clerks can match you with exactly what you need. They want you to be successful in your biking venture!

Some state laws require bicycle lights. But if you will be riding anytime from dusk to dawn, common sense demands that you have lights on your bicycle. These little accessories are battery-operated and last a long time. There are a variety of lights to choose from. My tail light has different blinking speeds, and is designed to make my bike visible to cars approaching from both the rear and the sides. Check for brightness before you buy one. Install the light where it makes the most sense.

We held off on buying a speedometer and odometer unit for our bikes, but once we got serious about losing weight and getting in shape, this feature became a “must have.” You simply cannot track your progress without knowing how far and how fast you’re riding.

If you already have a bicycle, take it to the bike shop for a safety inspection each season. They should check the gears, tires and brakes to make sure everything is working properly. They can adjust your seat to fit your height and adjust the handlebars to fit your reach, making your ride more comfortable. If you’re lucky, they might even clean and polish your bike!

If you want to save money in the long run, you can find books and videos that teach you how to care for your own bicycle. It’s always a great idea to know how to change your own flat tire and adjust a loose chain.

Another must have is a bicycle pump. Ask your bike dealer how many pounds of air pressure to put in your bicycle tires. Check the tires each time you get ready to ride! We guessed at the air pressure one summer day, and lived to regret it. We rode the bikes to the swimming pool, not realizing that one tire was too full. While we were cooling off in the water, the hot sun was rapidly expanding the air in the tires-one tire blew as it sat in the parking lot. The day in the sun was not so fun, once the pool closed and we had to wait for a truck to haul us home!

HEALTH TIP: Talk with your doctor first, and get his or her blessing before you increase your rate of physical activity!

STAYING COMFORTABLE ON YOUR BIKE

Sitting for long periods of time on a bicycle seat can cause pain, discomfort, and even serious blood circulation problems in avid bicyclists. At your local bike shop, you’ll find a variety of bicycle seats made specifically for your comfort and health. The salespeople at our local bike shop encouraged us to try out new seats on our bikes for a few days. My husband found the split seat to be more comfortable for himself, while I opted to keep my old gel seat. Someone has even invented seats that look more like a bird perch than a bicycle seat!

HEALTH TIP: Get off your bicycle seat and walk around every 25 minutes or so to get the blood flow to important unmentionable parts of your body.

Think about your clothing…you don’t have to have padded biker shorts and special clothing to start riding bikes. There are actually scientifically engineered fabrics designed to pull sweat away from your body in the summer and to keep you from getting hypothermia in the winter. But for now, just wear layers of comfortable sports clothes.

Make sure your clothes aren’t so tight that you are miserable trying to pedal. But they shouldn’t be loose enough to become entangled in the bicycle chain, either! If you become overheated, strip off a layer. If you get cold, add a layer. Wear light or bright colors to allow drivers to see you easily.

It really helps to have a small cargo rack on the back of your bike. Mine looks like a little shelf over the back tire. It has two bungee cords to keep any cargo securely fastened to the bike. I’ve used it to tote a small picnic cooler, a shopping bag or extra clothes.

I had the bike shop attach a water bottle holder to the bike under my seat. I can grab a quick swig as I ride or pour some water over my pulse points to cool off a bit. Take small sips of water when needed during your bike ride, rather than chugging huge gulps.

A helmet is almost a must. Life is filled with hazards-and biking has its share. Be smart. Wear a helmet. You can buy a cool rear-view mirror for your helmet. The mirror helps you see when it’s safe to turn and lets you observe traffic coming up from behind.

I recommend wearing sunglasses-both for the sun and for bugs! At certain times of the year, the air is thick with flying insects. Getting a tiny bug in your eye is a painful event. For contact wearers, carry a contact case and lens cleaner on bike rides for just that reason. Some day you’ll be glad you did!

HEALTH TIP: Shake your hands downward frequently to get the blood flowing and to prevent pain or numbness in your arms and hands.

MAPPING OUT A WEIGHT LOSS PLAN

You will want to keep a record of your daily diet and food intake, your weekly body measurements and weight, as well as your bicycling miles and time.

The web site http://www.OpenFitness.net is an excellent way to track your progress. It is very easy to use-simply type in your information you wish to track. As the only community fitness web site of its kind, you’ll find it to be a fantastic motivation tool that will print out charts and graphs to show how much progress you’ve made in a few days, a week, or a month!

It keeps track of your food, vitamin, and supplement intake. Thousands of foods have already been analyzed by experts for number of calories, fat, carbs, and protein. You simply select the foods you ate from a pull down feature, and the daily total is tallied for you. Make sure you don’t exercise when you’ve just eaten, or when it’s almost meal time. Both times will slow you down.

No matter how humiliating it is, measure your arms, legs, chest, waist, neck, hips and thighs once a week. The software keeps track of your weight and body measurements. The thrill of seeing those same inches melt away in the coming weeks will be worth the effort. It’s especially impressive seen as a graph!

Consider investing in an instrument that actually measures body fat-there are inexpensive pincer-type instruments that measure fat by pinching you, or buy a set of bathroom scales that cost more but calculate body fat quite painlessly.

Try to ride 4-6 days per week. When you map out your weight loss plan, your short-term goals will change as you change. You’ll quickly develop stamina for longer distance. As fat turns to muscle, your speed will increase. Each week, try to increase either your mileage or your speed.

You know how far you’ve been able to ride, thus far. Start keeping track of the exact route you are taking, the total mileage, and the length of time it took you. Make notes in your records for special circumstances. Did it get dark outside so you were forced to cut your ride short? Did the road crews dump a layer of gravel on your normally paved road?

What was the weather like? Was it dangerously hot? Was it windy? The wind can be your friend or your enemy. When the wind is behind you, your ride is a breeze…but coming from any other direction, be prepared to huff and puff. Accept any length of time as a job well done and simply get the ride accomplished!

Finally, add an upper body workout three times per week. Bicycling works your legs, but to get the rest of your body firm and trim, you’ll need to exercise your upper body, as well. The http://www.openfitness.net web site, created by a certified personal fitness trainer, has excellent features which allow you to design and track this portion of your fitness program, as well.

Bicycle riding is a fun, inexpensive form of aerobic exercise-it’s good for every part of you. But be warned-you will need to buy a whole new wardrobe for the thinner, more beautifully fit body that emerges!

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Source by Sharyl Calhoun

What Would They Say Today?

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Eighteen months after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, America’s healthcare leadership announced that while they had not been ready on September 11, 2001, now they were. On March 13, 2003, in a much ballyhooed statement, still sited to this day, the American College of Healthcare Executives announced:

HOSPITAL CEOs SAY BIOTERRORISM PLANS ARE IN PLACE CHICAGO

Since September 11, 2001, hospitals have faced new challenges protecting and caring for their communities, especially the threat of bioterrorism. According to a new survey conducted by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), 84 percent of hospital CEOs agree that since 9/11, their hospitals have worked more closely with public agencies (e.g. fire, police, and public health departments). Further, 95 percent of the respondents said their hospitals already have, or within six months will have, a bioterrorism disaster plan in place, developed in coordination with local emergency or health agencies.”

Little did they know the sense of false security and the cooling of momentum this assertion would cause from that day forward.

The Clear View of Reality

Since 2003, multiple independent evaluations of hospital preparedness and hospital disaster planning have found the reality in each successive year to be far below that purported in 2003. A brief survey three reports by the Institutes of Medicine in June, 2006 serve as proof that any hint of hospital preparedness is false and that momentum towards preparedness has been lost. These reports, Hospital-Based Emergency Care: At the Breaking Point, Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains, and Emergency Medical Services at the Crossroads found a disparity between self reported preparedness on multiple association and government surveys compared to actual preparedness measured across the five core indicators of hospital preparedness.

“Evaluations of ED disaster preparedness consistently yield the same finding: EDs are better prepared than they used to be, but still fall short of where they should be”

At first blush, this seems to confirm the ACHE assertions, but the report goes on to point out that hospitals lack patient surge capacity due to cost related downsizing, nursing shortages, loss of specialists, physical space constrains and overcrowding. Failures of planning and coordination were also identified and linked to erroneous planning assumptions.

“When a disaster occurs, the normal operating assumptions about patients, responses, and treatments often must be jettisoned. Depending on the type of event, some of the nonroutine things that can happen include the following:

· Victims who are less injured and mobile will often self-transport to the nearest hospitals, quickly overwhelming those facilities.

· Casualties are likely to bypass on-site triage, first aid, and decontamination stations.

· EMS responders will often self-dispatch. Providers from other jurisdictions may appear at the scene and transport patients, sometimes without coordination or communication with local officials.

· In some cases, local facilities are not aware of the event until or just before patients start arriving. Hospitals may receive no advance notice of the extent of the event or the numbers and types of patients they can expect.

· There may be little or no communication among regional hospitals, incident commanders, public safety, and EMS responders to coordinate the response region wide.”

The Institute of Medicine reports goes on to call for improved communications and integration across disaster response services including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), community emergency operations and most importantly the implementation of the standardized Incident Command System.

“To respond effectively, hospitals must interface with incident command at multiple levels and be prepared to deal with transitions between levels, for example, when incident command shifts from the local to the state or federal level. Each hospital should be familiar with the local office of emergency preparedness and know how hospitals are represented at the emergency operations center during an event, whether through the hospital association, the health department, the EMS system, or some other mechanism.”

They Didn’t Think of That Either

Beyond the problems common to all disaster care environments, special needs populations (children, elderly, mentally and physically challenged) have needs and preparedness issues unique to them. Unfortunately, the “one size fits none” approach taken by America’s hospitals has ignored issues highlighted by the Institutes of Medicine Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains report.

“The needs of children have traditionally been overlooked in disaster planning. Historically, the military was considered the only target of potential biological, chemical, and radiological attacks, so the focus for training, equipment, and facilities was on the care of healthy young adults.”

“Younger patients require specialized equipment and different approaches to treatment in the event of a disaster. Children cannot be properly decontaminated in adult decontamination units because they require adjustments to the water temperature and pressure (heated, high-volume, low-pressure water). Rescuers also need to have child-size clothing on-hand for use after the decontamination.”

The problems are compounded for rural hospitals. Despite the fact that many both inside and outside hospital leadership believe that rural hospitals are at lower risk and thus require less commitment to preparedness, the truth is quite the opposite.

“The focus of emergency preparedness has been on urban areas in part because of the perceived increased risk of terrorism in these areas. However, there is a danger associated with neglecting rural areas. Indeed, one might argue that rural areas may be even more vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Many nuclear power facilities, hydroelectric dams, uranium and plutonium storage facilities, and agricultural chemical facilities, as well as all U.S. Air Force missile launch facilities, are located in rural areas and are potential targets for attack. Additionally, if individuals with infectious diseases, such as smallpox, enter the country through Canadian or Mexican borders, rural providers may be the first to identify the threat.”

A Problem of Their Own Making

The greatest indictment of hospitals by the Institute of Medicine Reports however dealt with disaster preparedness training and drills finding great variability in the training of even key healthcare personnel with even less training for non-clinical hospital staff.

“Serious clinical and operational deficiencies, fragmentation, and lack of standardization exist across a broad spectrum of key professional personnel (nurses, physicians, ancillary care providers, administrators, and public health officials) in both individual training and coordination of a team response.”

This failure to provide training not only effects patient care, but hospital employee safety. Despite public statements by hospitals that “safety is worth the cost” and “preparedness is priceless” The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHQR) separately found a very different financial and leadership commitment to preparedness and training.

“Many hospitals report inadequate funding to cover the attendance costs (e.g., time off, tuition, travel) of training (ACEP, 2001). At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a disaster drill in the Emergency Department costs $3,000 per hour in staff salaries alone (AHRQ, 2004).”

“Additionally, the failure of hospital administrators or Emergency Department personnel to recognize the importance of training can result in a lack of support (ACEP, 2001).”

Multiple agencies, including the Institutes of Medicine have called for an increased coordinated financial commitment to preparedness on the part of individual hospitals, hospital corporations, hospital management / holding companies, as well as local, state and federal governments.

“This lack of coordination is reflected in the haphazard funding of preparedness initiatives. EMS and trauma systems have consistently been underfunded relative to their presence and role in the field.”

“States and communities should play an important role in determining how they will prepare for emergencies. To the extent that they are supported in this effort through federal preparedness grants, the critical role and vulnerabilities of hospitals must be more widely acknowledged, and the particular needs of hospitals and hospital personnel must be taken explicitly into account”

Despite this, funding for preparedness has decreased across the board including congressional cuts in healthcare preparedness funding for 2007, 2008 and again for 2009. These cuts have been mirrored in state funding initiatives; meanwhile hospitals continue to believe that they are prepared despite evidence to the contrary.

So What Should They Say Today?

Given these realities leaders in the field of healthcare and hospital management must now confront the fact that self reporting on preparedness is a failed method, no different than asking a 10 year old to grade their own final exam. With the curtain pulled back it is time for healthcare and hospitals to say:

“It is our corporate and personal responsibility to ensure the safety and preparedness of our entire staff, clinical and non-clinical as well as prepare to respond to the needs of the patients we serve every day and the patients we will serve when disaster strikes.”

The problem is that healthcare and hospital leaders have done everything in their power to quietly avoid the need to make this statement much less bring this statement into reality. In the two years since the Institutes of Medicine published their reports, hospitals have lobbied first to delay and forestall the deadlines for both Joint Commission preparedness guidelines and National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance elements. The effect of this has been to make such things as facility beautification a higher financial priority than facility preparedness.

What is Needed?

While the Institutes of Medicine and many other organizations have made recommendations to improve hospital disaster preparedness, the sad fact is that the only way to force hospitals to properly and adequately prepare is to enforce the existing guidelines, mandate meaningful external certification of compliance and engage the public in demanding local hospitals “just do it.” There is an old adage in healthcare law:

“No change in healthcare has ever come without regulation, legislation or litigation.”

Enforcement of existing guidelines will require that the applicable government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Medicare Services mandate full and complete NIMS compliance by the original September 30, 2008 deadline. Further, these agencies must be willing to use the full force of law to induce hospitals to invest in preparedness rather than pianos and fountains. Federal preparedness legislation carries with it implications of Medicare fraud, Sarbanes-Oxley violations and federal false claims issues. It is an unfortunate reality that government must all too often prosecute to create compliance.

The private sector has a responsibility to enforce preparedness guidelines as well. Joint Commission has repeatedly chosen to “partner with hospitals” rather than “punish” the recalcitrant faculties who repeatedly delay and curtail preparedness efforts. Joint Commission accreditation is a powerful force for change in hospital healthcare. The current tendency of hospitals to do as little as possible as slowly as possible necessitates that Joint Commission enforce the original preparedness compliance deadline in January of 2009 rather than permitting yet another extension.

Perhaps the best thing everyone in healthcare oversight and leadership can say to the American people is:

“We’re Sorry and We Will Do Better!

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Source by Maurice Ramirez

Factors of Consideration on Accident Sickness Insurance

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There are many types of insurance in the market with an equal host of insurance providers. These exist because there are many possibilities that can happen in any individual’s life; different impacts on an individual would trigger off different insurance policies that would benefit the insured.

Accidents

Any working consumer should consider the accident sickness insurance which caters to the inability to work due to an accident. This type of insurance policy is known as the accident sickness and unemployment plan or ASU.

The ASU policy benefits the insured against loss of income during the unemployment period. The policy covers all types of accidents that befall the worker that would not allow the worker to carry on with work for some period of time. The main objective of this policy is to protect the worker from a lack of income to meet the regular expenses as well as the addition medical expenses during the sickness and unemployment period.

Benefits

The compensation from the accident sickness insurance allows the injured worker to maintain a sustainable livelihood until employment is possible again. A small premium is worked out for the worker to pay monthly over a period of time; this is usually an affordable amount which would cover the worker when he is affected by an accident. ASU policies normally cover the worker’s inability to generate income for as long as one year.

There are many types of ASU policies which can be generated depending on various factors of consideration.

Factors of consideration

The best Accident Sickness Insurance policy can be generated if the working consumer considers several factors carefully; one of which is the period of initial exclusion. There may be a waiting period or cooling period to certain ASU coverage policies depending on the insurance provider or type of ASU plan purchased. Hence, there would be no coverage or insurance protection if the accident happens during this waiting period.

There must be sufficient evidence to prove the worker’s claim on unemployment to activate the ASU plan. Hence, the wise working consumer must understand the type of acceptable evidence to generate an appropriate ASU insurance policy that would be beneficial. Although severe backache and stress are two acceptable medical evidences for complete rest without employment, insurers may choose to differ on the severity of the evidence unless the insurer’s medical practitioners or relevant specialists confirm the condition. The worker’s GPs’ reports or recommendations would not be deemed acceptable.

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Source by Eadwine Eearle

Air Conditioning Brands – How To Choose The Best One

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It is difficult, especially for someone not within the air conditioning sector, to figure out which is the best air conditioning brand out on the market.

The fact is, each brand of air conditioning has it’s own advantages and disadvantages. Even for an industry expert or specialist, it would be challenging to say exactly which brand is indeed the very best one.

Read on for 5 crucial aspects you must consider when picking the ideal brand to go with in your home construction or upgrading plans.

When Choosing The Best Air Conditioning Brand, Here Are 5 Things To Consider:

1. Lifespan – How Long Can The Air Conditioner Last

This is one of the most crucial considerations when choosing an air conditioner brand. The life-span of an air conditioner, or for how long it lasts, has a strong implication on a home owner’s running costs.

Earlier systems actually have the tendency to last for a longer period– typically approximately 20 years. However, with the development of much more sophisticated electronics being incorporated into today’s air conditioners, this is no longer the case. This holds true for any kind of electrical home appliance– not simply air conditioner systems.

Different brand names differ in quality and durability. Even within the same brand, each unique model of air conditioner has it’s one-of-a-kind “idiosyncracies”.

Some expert installers have in fact provided feedback that the thermostat of particular brands is more susceptible to failing over time than others. We are unable to provide specific brand names in this post to observe the legal rights of each brand.

In addition, a fast search on Google will generate numerous beneficial insights. This might be the best way to determine which brand is more durable – based on the experiences of other customers.

When doing your research, it’s best to research for genuine comments by actual customers as opposed to the info posted by air conditioning companies– which could be biased.

Typically, the more recent models of air conditioners provide at least 5 years service warranty on Parts, Labour and Compressor– with some manufacturers offering a little more.

So what’s the best way to decide on the most effective air conditioning brand name based on durability? A viable approach would certainly be to talk to a specialist. Tradespeople or installers that have actually worked in the air conditioning sector for a long time, will certainly have the field knowledge and experience to offer some great ideas on which brands are last longer.

2. Power Efficiency – How Much Power Does The Air Conditioner Need

While durability may not have improved much for most brands over the years, energy efficiency is one area that every air conditioning brand name has actually strived to improve over the years.

Current day top branded air conditioners have typically obtained the highest energy star score in the market. The leading brand names generally feature a 5-7 star rating– which significantly minimises the amount of power required by the air conditioner.

When picking the best air conditioner brand, it is essential to look for one that has the highest power star rating. Escalating gas prices have actually caused electricity costs to rise considerably in the last few years, therefore picking an air conditioner with the lowest power consumption makes perfect sense.

Inverter designs are generally the good choice. Air Conditioners with the Inverter feature have the ability to power down to a lower consumption mode when the thermostat sense the room has actually been cooled down to a pre-specified temperature.

Depending on what that predetermined temperature is set to, you could certainly conserve A LOT of power.

If you set the thermostat to 16 degrees, the inverter would not be of much benefit, as it takes the air conditioner some effort to even cool the room to that temperature. However, if the thermostat is set to 21-26 degrees, which is easily achieved, the inverter kicks in much sooner, and puts the unit in low power mode.

3. Efficiency – How Effectively The Air Conditioner Cools A Space

Cooling performance of various brands can differ substantially. Even new models of the very brands could have wide ranging degrees of performance.

Generally, most air conditioners would do adequately well for regular sized rooms. If it’s enclosed, especially. The real test happens when you attempt to cool down an open hall, or a large space.

Depending upon the power (BTU) of the fan coil or wall unit & compressor, an air conditioner model’s cooling radius can vary dramatically. The larger the compressor, the bigger the cooling radius.

Check with friends or online customers reviews on which brand delivers the best cooling performance. People who have used different brands– and who have experienced a not so good performing model– KNOW for sure which brand not to go for.

Once more, talking with a market specialist or installer is still a wise choice. They’ve been in the industry for many years and know the ins and outs of many brands and models.

4. Special Features – Extra Functions That Are Unique To Each Brand

This is another essential factor to consider when selecting an air conditioner brand. Modern day technology has enabled the newer air conditioning models to come with flashy new functions. Some of these consist of:

Extensive Timer Controls – Preset on and also off times, and also running durations for each area.

Zoning – Divide your residence into various zones and present environments for every area!

Advanced Climate Control – Precisely regulate the temperatue for each and every room

WiFi/ Remote Access – Turn on your heater or air conditioner 5 minutes prior to you get to home!

When choosing your air conditioner, ensure you compare all the attributes supplied by each brand! It’s quite a fun exercise!

5. Reputation & Support

Of course, this point goes back for years. Solid brand names are established over years of top quality as well as a tested performance history. Once again do your very own research and figure out which brand name matches you a lot more.

The leading air conditioning brands are Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Carrier, Samsung as well as Braemar. Having a strong track record in the industry implies that these brands have actually stood the test of time, as well as have actually consistently delivered on quality, durability and customer satisfaction.

I hope this article has helped highlight the key considerations when choosing the most ideal air conditioning brand for your home. Unfortunately, as with all things “Shopping” related, there’s no definite answer. However, based on these 5 key points, and some careful research, you should be able to pick out a good brand best suited to your needs.

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Source by Paul Leong

Overheating Car – Causes and Short – Term Solutions

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Overheating of the engine not only occurs in the summer, but can also occur in daily driving. In particularly, high-speed running cars, engines, and air-conditioning systems can cause boiling phenomenon when the water temperature is too high. It’s dangerous to overheat the engine. It may hard luck that what can damage the engine. When driving on highways at a higher speed, or when climbing a car, if the pointer of the water temperature gauge enters the red zone and stays high, appropriate measures should be taken at this time. Here’s how to handle the engine overheating.

There are many causes of overheating, including insufficient coolant, cooling fan cooling the coolant has failed, thermostat failure, and coolant temperature sensor failure. If you deal with it improperly, it can lead to an expensive engine failure. Therefore, timely detection and proper disposal of overheating can effectively reduce losses.

What is the effect of engine overheating on the engine?

1. Reduced aeration efficiency, resulting in a drop in engine power.

2. The propensity for pre-ignition and deflagration increases, which disrupts the normal operation of the engine; at the same time, it also causes early damage due to additional impact loads on the parts.

3. The normal gap of the moving parts is destroyed, so that the parts can’t move normally, or even damage.

4. The mechanical properties of the metal material are reduced, causing damage to the part’s deformation.

5. The deterioration of the lubrication condition exacerbates the friction and wear of the parts.

How is the engine overheating caused?

First, poor engine cooling: Poor engine cooling can cause the water temperature in the tank to be too high. When longer the water tank is used, the more internal scale will build up, resulting in poor heat dissipation in the radiator. The water with too high temperature will not release heat, and it will evolve into a “pan”. In addition, the ventilation hole of the radiator is also a common cause of poor heat dissipation. If the external blockage is not ventilated, use a water gun to clean it up. If the inside of the radiator is blocked, then clean it with a cleaning solution.

Second, the cooling system is not working properly, resulting in poor heat dissipation. At this time, check the tightness of the fan belt and whether the fan blades are deformed or broken.

Third, the thermostat automatically adjusts the amount of water entering in to the radiator according to the temperature of the cooling water, so as to ensure that the engine works within a suitable temperature range, which can play a role in saving energy consumption. If the engine is overheated, check that the thermostat is working properly. Starts at 70°C and fully open at 83°C. When the height of the fully opened valve is not less than 9 mm, the thermostat can be put into the water for heating inspection. If the thermostat can’t be opened or the opening degree is not enough, the thermostat needs to be replaced.

Finally, be careful not to shut down the engine when the engine is overheated. If the fan belt and coolant circulation are normal, do not turn off the engine and wait for the engine to cool. Normally, People tend to feel that the engine cools down more easily after the flame out. Actually, after cooling off, the cooling fan and coolant circulation will stop, which will make the engine hotter. There are two spiral fans on the side of the engine compartment bumper. One is a cooling fan that cools the engine while the engine is working, and the other one is an air-conditioning fan that is used when the air conditioner is turned on. Therefore, if the fan belt is not broken when the car is overheated, it is better not to turn off the engine, but also to turn on the air conditioner at the same time, so that the engine cooling rate will be faster.

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Source by Humawan Kabir

The HCFC Refrigerant Ban – Are You Ready?

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Background to the Refrigerant Ban

The HCFC refrigerant ban takes effect at different times but the end of 2009 and 2010 marks important milestones and you may need to take immediate action.

Initial legislation against ozone depleting substances arose from the Montreal Protocol, a globally agreed plan brokered by the industrialised nations. Although the EU is a signatory to the protocol, subsequent EU legislation has been much more vigorous in its approach to the phasing out of these substances.

In most cases, the refrigerants containing CFCs or HCFCs will become controlled waste, which will require appropriate disposal by a licensed contractor. There is a duty of care on behalf of the owner of the equipment from which the refrigerants are extracted.

Strategies for CFC Phase-Out (extract from Office Of Government Commerce)

1) Investigate the identity of your refrigerants; (CAU can assist in this regard and provide details of consultants who can prepare a sampling study and report for your property).

2) Adapt to the phase out by conserving stocks for the next year followed by conversion of machinery to non-CFC refrigerants. Industry recommendations state that conversion would probably not be cost effective in systems with less than 5 years residual life.

3) Buy new CFC-free equipment. An assessment should be undertaken before purchase to ensure that air conditioning is truly necessary, remembering that an air-conditioned building can consume up to three times the energy of a similar non air-conditioned building.

4) Do without air conditioning. If buildings can be ventilated and heated adequately using mechanical or natural ventilation, then this may be a pragmatic approach, which will also have space and cost saving benefits.

Terminology

ODP – Ozone Depleting Potential. Represented as a comparative measurement from the ODP of CFC11, which is taken to have a value of 1.0. CFC – chlorofluorocarbon. Containing chlorine and possessing a large ODP. CFCs are generally found in refrigeration and air conditioning systems eg. Centrifugal Chillers. HCFC – hydrochlorofluorocarbon. Less saturated with chlorine, the hydrogen within these compounds mean that HCFCs have a much shorter atmospheric life span and thus possess a lower ODP.

Important Dates

As from Midnight December 31st 2009 the use of virgin HCFC Refrigerants will be illegal.

The EU Ozone Regulation has already banned the use of CFC refrigerants in existing plants and HCFC refrigerants in new plants.

From 2010 banning the use of HCFC refrigerants in existing plants will commence, meaning that all HCFC refrigerants including R22 will be completely banned.

The use of Virgin HCFC’s will be banned from Midnight 31st December 2009. The use of Recycled HCFC’s will be banned from 31st December

2014. These ‘use’ bans apply to the use of HCFC’s for plant maintenance and you cannot use previously purchased stockpiles.

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Source by Iain Hazell

Energy Management System in India

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For different ranges of industries, we have already seen an improvement in energy efficiency and production.

Energy management systems are commonly used to monitor, measure and control their electrical loads.

Advantages:

  • In-depth and proven knowledge of large-scale utility operations and control
  • Advanced applications for visualization, operation, optimization, and maintenance of transmission and sub-transmission networks
  • Reduction of production costs and elimination of line surcharges

This intelligent power management software is designed to reduce power consumption, improve system utilization, increase reliability, predict power system performance, and optimize power consumption to reduce costs.

Offer a complete steam management system for any size of a project. All energy administration systems are built to customer specifications and ensure compliance with all applicable standards and regulations. An energy control system will improve productivity and reduce electricity costs. Hardware system to be fully integrated with a range of third-party hardware to give a complete overview of the system.

An EMS system monitors and analyzes the electrical flow in a building. EMS provides the data to increase operational efficiency while meeting power saving objectives and reducing costs. EMS is designed for use in utilities, commercial and industrial facilities.

Purpose of an energy management system:

  • Build heat management systems, energy supervision software, energy management software to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and reduce costs.
  • Systems control schemes such as CA Unicenter, IBM Tivoli or HP Openview.
  • However, the focus on energy control systems, which often focuses on the monitoring and performance of applications and the network.

Components of energy management:

  • The company’s service management involves the entire company and can touch any of its systems, from the data center to the front-end PCs.
  • Manufacturers of processors, PCs, laptops, and peripherals have been working to reduce their energy footprint. Most now offer high-performance, low-power business computers with energy-saving features.
  • Energy control can include turning off some systems to save steam; or share resources via virtualization or network technology.
  • It can also involve monitoring and manage the power usage of servers and mainframes.

Power management can involve how individual components are powered, alternative cooling technologies, or servers and storage systems that consume less strength or generate less heat.

The Energy Management System (EMS) is one of the high-level control methods available in EnergyPlus. An EMS system is able to access a wide variety of “sensor” data and use that data to drive different types of control actions. The concept is to emulate, within EnergyPlus, the types of controls possible with digital energy control systems used in real buildings.

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Source by Rani Patil