Tag: <span>Insulation cell</span>

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In a bad economy, what sells? According to the Nielson Company people are buying much more practical items like canned goods, food storage products and spending much less money on entertainment and going out. Less time out of the home has translated to a major increase in wine & liquor sales! People aren’t heading out for alcohol, but they still want to drink at home. Americans are already spending more on wine than any other nation. In 2007, the U.S. invested nearly $22 billion in wine purchases, the report by the London-based wine market research company said. What does this mean? Wine enthusiasts love for the grape brew has not been dampened.

A natural progression in the passion for vino is the idea of creating a home wine cellar. Wine cellars have become stylish and sought-after features in homes. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry has documented that adding a wine cellar to your home will add value to your home and provide a positive return on your investment.

Homeowners are finding under-used spaces in their homes to convert into inviting sipping spots. These spaces could be closets, alcoves or the most popular – basements! Size of the cellar can vary, but usually does not envelop the entire basement. The protection from vibration that a basement offers makes it a popular choice. Many basement cellars include tables for tasting, plumbing lines run to sinks for rinsing, cabinets and drawers for accessory storage and even music for entertaining. How you want to use your wine cellar, besides the obvious storage of wine, is an important fact to consider before you begin your renovation.

Bottles of wine don’t always make for easy housemates, however. To keep them happy, and full of flavor, they can be a little finicky and difficult to care for. For these reasons it may be beneficial to consult with a professional remodeler familiar with wine cellar renovations to construct the best bodega for your bottles! Here are just some specifications I recommend for residential wine cellars:

o Temperature: Often called one of the greatest concerns in wine storage! The ideal temperature is 50ºF to 55ºF, but several degrees either side of this is quite safe. Temperature fluctuation is another great concern. Ask your renovation professional about installing specific temperature controls for your wine cellar.

o Vapor: Wine is very sensitive to moisture; all walls must have a vapor barrier and insulation. The vapor barrier is a 6mil polyethylene plastic sheeting and must be on the “warm side.” The warm side means that the vapor barrier is protect from wine cellar (cold side) by insulation. The vapor barrier put on the wine cellar side will cause the humidity to condensate on the barrier and could cause damage to your walls.

o Walls: The interior walls must have a minimum of R-11 insulation and exterior walls must have a minimum of R-19. Many of the wall space will be covered by a combination of cabinets, individual bottle bins and diamond bins. Consider the size and quantity of bottles you want to store before you or your contractor begins designing your layour.

o Floors: Concrete ground floors, like in a basement, need a vapor barrier only meaning to be sealed with concrete sealant. Any above ground floors need to be R-19 with a vapor barrier. Stone or tile floors are a very popular and traditional choice to lay above the barriers.

o Door: The door should be an exterior grade door with a weather seal to keep the temperature of your home wine cellar regulated at all times.

o Lighting: The light in your wine cellar should exude as little heat as possible, while still adequately lighting the space. If you choose to use any lighting that emits a UV, like halogen, be sure to put a UV filter film to protect the wine.

o Tables & Seating: If your space is large enough you will surely want a table and seating to entertain friends or just enjoy your wine in absolute privacy. Many cellar table options include additional storage below the table top; bar height is a popular choice for cellar tables and countertops.

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Source by Ed Cholfin

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We all have heard about the harmful effects of commercial insecticides. But if faced with cockroaches flying off the walls, those harmful effects don’t seem too harmful and we bomb our houses with it. Then before we know it, we start having headaches. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are alternate solutions from our very own Mother Nature that are cleaner, safer and work better.

This natural alternative is Boric Acid. It is considered as nature’s own home-made bug control. Boric acid is a white powder which is usually mined from California’s Mojave Desert. Although also used as a preservative and fire retardant, it is proven to eradicate almost all the annoying pests of the regular household like cockroaches, water bugs, ants, silverfish, termites and palmetto bugs and keep them away for a very long time. It also works against fire ants, bedbugs, fleas, beetles, centi- and millipedes, crickets, grasshoppers and a whole lot more. One of the best qualities of borate is that the insects don’t develop a resistance to it unlike with chemical pesticides.

Borates were first used as a pesticide in 1922 with the invention of the ‘Roach Tablet’ by P. F. Harris. In 1955, a lumber company in New Newfoundland started treating their wood with borates to control termites. It turned out that all the homes with the treated wood were free from termites and wood decay. This worked so well that by 1985 there were over 200 pesticides containing borate. This later on turned into many products seen today.

Apart from being odorless and non-staining, Boric Acid and its derivatives are inexpensive and deadly to all insects. It works by attacking the bugs’ nervous systems and then dries up their bodies afterwards. Borates, when used with chemical solvents such as propylene glycol, can be used in wood and concrete thus giving long-term protection. Boric Acid products are very safe and can be used with children around (since it has also been used in certain salves and ointments for diaper rash in babies). In addition, it also turns into eyewash when diluted properly. Borate is also used as an effective fire retardant which is used in blown type cellulose insulation which is common in houses.

In use against ants, one tablespoon of Boric Acid is mixed with one teaspoon of sugar ad four ounces of water in a bowl. This is then poured over cotton balls and placed on the path of ants. Pour repeatedly when dried out. For cockroaches, mix together 8 ounces powdered boric acid, half a cup of flour and eighth of a cup of sugar, a chopped half of a small onion and one-fourth cup cooking oil. Blend all these well while adding more oil if needed to make soft dough. Take the dough and roll it into small marble-sized balls. Place the balls in places where the roaches normally stay, like in damp dark corners. The rest of the dough should be placed in opened sandwich bags to retain softness. When the balls dry up and become hard, replace with new dough. Make sure that no pets or children come in contact with the balls because they can be very toxic.

For termites, use boric acid that is mixed with propylene glycol, which is a non-toxic version of anti-freeze. In this solution, the glycol helps the borate penetrate into the wood and thus becoming part of the wood fiber. This has proven to be very successful against termites and is also effective treatment for dry rot in wood.

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Source by Michael Russell

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Soundproofing your home does not have to cost a fortune. If you are under new construction we all know that money it tight. There are many common hardware store items that can be used for soundproofing that won’t break the bank. Most people don’t think of sand as a soundproofing material, but it actually a very good for soundproofing. If your walls are re-enforced, you can use sand in the stud cavities as a soundproofing material. You must be sure that your walls can withstand the weight of the sand. Always use refined or purified sand, not common beach sand that could cause mold or have other bacterial in it that will cause you problems down the line.

Let’s say you are in the middle of new construction on your new home and you know that one of the rooms is going to be your new home theater. You want that room soundproofed but you budget is already stretched to its limits. Did you know that you can use common rolled roofing material from Home Depot or Lowe’s? Rolled roofing is what is generally used on buildings like chicken coops and other roofs where aesthetics is not an issue but stopping leaks is. Rolled roofing generally comes in 30′ long rolls and is 3′ wide. I hear the little wheels in your brain spinning at a hundred miles and hour. What am I going to do with all this rolled roofing material? Well, I’m glad you asked. One of the best soundproofing agents on the market today is mass loaded vinyl, (MLV for short) Mass loaded vinyl is a high grade vinyl material that is impregnated with barium salts and silica to give it the same soundproofing properties as lead sheeting without the hazards associated with lead.

Now MLV can cost from $1.25 to $2.00 per sq ft and when you are building your new dream home that just might be beyond your budget. So now enters the rolled roofing material. I am suggesting that you stretch the rolled roofing material across the studs or the joists if you are soundproofing your ceiling. You will staple or nail the rolled roofing directly to the stud structure like a membrane across the face of the studs. The next section of rolled roofing should overlap the first piece by at least 1″. It is essential to caulk the over lap with an acoustical caulk (hey you have to buy something from the soundproofing guy for giving you all this free advice, right?). The acoustical caulk can be purchased from any reputable soundproofing company like Acoustical Solutions, Sound Isolation Company, or Soundproofing America. Any of these companies will carry a good quality acoustical caulk and can ship it to you. Now back to our soundproofed walls. Once you have the rolled roofing in place and you have caulked the 1″ over lap, you will also need to caulk around the entire perimeter of the newly installed rolled roofing membrane. There is a little saying we have in the soundproofing industry, “Caulk is cheap”. I think you get the pun. The point is, use as much caulk as you need to seal every seam gap or crack in your soundproof membrane. You want this roofing material to be as sealed and air tight as possible. Now seeing as the rolled roofing does not have the same soundproofing horsepower as MLV, I would strongly suggest a second layer of the rolled roofing be applied to each wall and to the ceiling area that you that you are soundproofing. Stagger the seams wherever possible This is a small investment to have a soundproof room for your home theater or simply a quiet place to study.

Once you have your 2 layers of rolled roofing installed on your walls and ceiling and everything is caulked liberally, it is time for the finished layer of drywall. I would suggest installing a layer of 5/8″ fire code drywall to finish off your soundproofing project. Don’t forget to tape mud and paint the finished drywall.

Now finally I would like to say a little bit about the acoustical caulk. Acoustical caulk is a cheap commodity when compared to the cost of other soundproofing agents, but it is one of the most essential parts of any soundproofing endeavor. Buy a good acoustical caulk and not some cheap silicone caulk. We are already being frugal with the soundproofing material; lets not skimp on the caulk. A good acoustical caulk is OSI-175 SC caulk or Tremco Smoke and Sound caulk. Both of these caulking compounds possess superb acoustical properties. If you have questions about acoustical caulk call one of the online soundproofing companies, they will be glad to help you.

Once the drywall is up and the rolled roofing is completely covered, you will discover that you have a well-soundproofed room and you did it a half the cost of using the professional soundproofing agents. That being said, today’s modern soundproofing products are extremely effective and I feel very reasonably priced compared to other specialized building materials. In this article I just wanted to show that there are other ways to soundproof a wall or ceiling with out using the more costly professional soundproofing agents. I hope this narrative has been informative; it was a pleasure writing it, as there is so little information out on the net about soundproofing. Once again, this is Dr. Bob…Out!

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Source by Dr. Bob Orther

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For business travelers like you, staying in comfort at a hotel and having access to the room amenities, while waiting to meet your business deals, is a great thing you expect. During your stay in the hotel, it’s usual that you need to be in connection with businesses outside, so it’s not surprising that you would take advantage of hotel’s facilities or amenities and services. It’s not only relaxing, spacious and well-equipped rooms you look for, but it’s all about the things like computers, in- room high speed internet (we know you love it!), cell phone, cell phone charger, notebook computer batteries, notebook computer batteries, cable TV, good lighting to perform work, and other various business services available that can support and take care of your business work, until you complete the business trip.

Moreover, your business- free time should also be considered. In late afternoon, evening, or nighttime (if you prefer to stay in your hotel), you will definitely want to kick back in the hotel’s 24-hour restaurant or enjoy a beer or cocktail in café or bar (or coffee lounge). In- house restaurant could be the most favorite dining option. Moreover, for business travelers, shuttle service to and from the airport is supposed to be the most important amenity, followed by childcare facilities, swimming pool and fitness center.

Well, all above seem not enough! Why don’t we go together to see more what to consider when to choose the best hotels for business travel.

Key Features of Best Business Hotels and Business Travel

First of all, it’s about what hotel you look for your business trip.

Hotel Features: The question is whether the hotel has the types of features you need. What kind of hotel you look for: the hotel that suits well your need for the quick overnight stay or the hotel for week- long business trip? Check if the hotel has business suites or meeting rooms available if you need them?

Location: Hotels that are situated near an airport or located in a city’s business district usually cater to business travelers because they can perfectly respond business travelers travel style. Airport hotels rarely offer much on scenery, but they make up for it with convenient location. This feature of airport hotels makes it easier to travel to central district to meet contacted business people or to catch up on business work, or to fly out for short break getaway, and fly back in. But you should check if the airport hotel is really close to the airport.

Furthermore, check if the particular hotel you want to stay is located in a safe part of town. Moreover, it would not be good at all if you find after arrival at the hotel that there is major construction going on in the area around your hotel’s location.

Additionally, it’s good if your selected hotel is located in the city center, where you can expect to explore many more things of the city off your business time (such as the nighttime). However, make sure that you already check the hotel’s location that it’s not too near the club and bar areas where music can make too much of loud noise. Although you want to sample the city nightlife, we hope that you would not spend the whole night listening to the club music downstairs, and being awakened every 20 minutes by the group of partygoers making loud noise. Your business trip next day could be a difficult day.

Internet Access: Most hotels offer Internet access. It can be the business center’s computer, high-speed access in the room, or wireless hotspots. International 5- star hotels for business travelers rather focus even much more on this feature. The hotels will facilitate business travelers up to five or six high- speed Internet terminals for easy access and quick response. Imagine how much a hotel is perfect to have Internet access available everywhere for you, to make sure that business travelers like you never lost in businesses and communication outside. It’s business travel lifestyle!

Quick, Customer Service: Professional hoteliers are in the business of providing good customer service or hospitality. Business hotels make the important distinction of offering good customer service quickly and efficiently, rightly to your needs. Your needs must be met quickly so that you can perform your business deals even more quickly and efficiently as well.

Concierge Service: Not all hotels have a concierge, but if they do, a good concierge can be very helpful. They are there to make your hotel stay extra special, especially if you are during your business stay. They can respond your special request. So, check if the concierge offers the types of extra services you need.

But you should be informed that concierge works for tips and since they can provide such a wide variety of services, there aren’t really standard tipping guidelines. Simple requests can be rewarded with small tips, but more complex and difficult requests should be rewarded accordingly.

Easy Transportation: Business travelers need to be places on time and with minimal hassle. Best business hotels usually offer transportation shuttles to major business areas, or assist travelers with securing taxis or private cars.

All Effort to Guest Service: Perfect business hotels must allow business traveler like you to focus on your jobs, to make them the most successful. If a guest is in trouble, whatever that can damage his or her business plan, professional hoteliers will put their most and best effort and extra level of service to help their guest go through the problem efficiently. This service marks an excellent business hotel.

Brief Glance at Business Hotel’s Features

o Internet access, preferably free wireless broadband access

o Table and chairs for performing office work

o Bright full spectrum lighting especially near tables, chairs, and beds.

o Free local calls

o In-house notary services

o Free long distance calling over the Internet

o Room service that can provide hot food or coffee at a specified time

o Nice coffee shop in the lobby

o Quick turnaround dry cleaning, pressing, shoe shine

o Beauty Salon with the ability to provide last minute services for business travelers

o Barber shop with the ability to provide last minute services for business travelers

o Massage services

o Gym services that have accessible treadmills, weights, and aerobic classes

o Quietness. Rooms that sound insulated.

o Concierge desk with staff who know how to get things done and make credible recommendations

o Restaurants that have business traveler tables where business travelers can meet each other when they are dining alone.

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Source by Siripen Yiamjanya

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Lecithin is a naturally occurring lipid produced by the liver and is integral to your health. Lecithin plays a vital role in almost all biological processes including breathing, energy production and nerve transmission.

The word lecithin is derived from the Greek word “lekithos” which means “egg yolk,” particularly apt nomenclature as the egg is considered a symbol of life, strength and fertility.

Why Lecithin Is So Important

• The human brain is approximately 30% lecithin.

• The insulating myelin sheaths that protect the brain, spine and thousands of miles of nerves in your body are composed of almost two thirds lecithin.

• Lecithin is often deficient in those with MS and Parkinson’s.

• Brain function improves with an adequate supply of lecithin, as it provides acetylcholine which helps brain cells communicate more effectively — lecithin therefore boosts memory as we age.

• The heart also contains a high concentration of lecithin.

• Lecithin can reduce blood pressure and promote heart health as it works by moving fat and oxidized cholesterol through the blood stream so it won’t stick to arterial walls.

• And because lecithin acts as an emulsifier and breaks down fat, it may also be beneficial for weight loss.

Getting Enough Lecithin

• Supplementing with lecithin is a wise and inexpensive way to protect your nervous system and your health, and is especially valuable for older adults.

• Two tablespoons of lecithin granules can be sprinkled on cereals or added to smoothies.

• Lecithin also comes in capsule form.

• Taking one 1200 mg. capsule before each meal helps with the digestion of fats, as well as the absorption of any fat-soluble vitamins.

• If you buy lecithin granules make sure they are made from non-GMO (genetically modified) soybeans or eggs.

• Foods rich in lecithin include brewer’s yeast, grains, legumes, fish and wheat germ.

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Source by Tina Marian

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One of the most effective ways for property managers and energy engineers to improve the energy efficiency of a building’s envelope is to install window film. Window film makes glass more energy efficient, at a much more affordable cost than new windows or other glazing improvements.

Of course, there is a wide variety of energy efficiency improvements to choose from, everything from photovoltaic solar power systems to building insulation. One of the best ways, from a financial perspective, to evaluate a particular energy saving technology is to determine the payback period.

The estimated payback calculation is an excellent decision making tool for evaluating competing energy saving technologies. It’s pretty basic – indicating how fast the money spent be returned.

How to calculate payback

There are several ways to calculate the payback of your energy improvements, ranging from the simple up to the relatively complex. The primary difference is between them are the assumptions incorporated into the calculations. Adding assumptions and variables makes the calculations more complex, but sometimes is necessary to get an accurate estimate. The two most useful ways to determine the payback period…

1. Simple Payback

2. Cash Flow Analysis

Both methods provide a reasonable estimate of the payback without getting overly complex

Simple Payback Analysis

The primary benefit of simple payback analysis is that it is simple while still providing useful information. To calculate the simple payback, simply divide the cost of the improvement by the estimated savings to yield the payback period. For example, if you spend $500 to install energy saving measures that save $150/year the payback is a little over three years, $500/$150 = 3.33. Energy savings after this period is pure profit.

Of course, this leaves out a lot of variables that can impact the actual realized savings. Variables like maintenance costs, energy cost increases and inflation are not taken into account, but the method has the advantage of being quick, simple and easy to understand.

Cash Flow Analysis

Cash flow analysis is the next step up in terms of complexity. Taking more variables into consideration, things like maintenance, energy cost increases and inflation, cash flow analysis gives a truer picture of the payback, especially when these costs are high. This type of analysis is best done with a spreadsheet program to simplify the calculations.

To determine payback using cash flow analysis the initial cost of the improvement is combined with the estimated maintenance costs, including an estimate of any increased costs over the expected life of the improvement as well as with an estimate of energy cost increases over the same period.

For example, in examining the costs associated with replacing an HVAC system with a newer, more energy efficient system, using a simple payback would not suffice, as HVAC systems involve regular maintenance that is needed to ensure the life of the system. Because maintenance is critical, and subject to cost increases over time, this needs to be factored into the payback calculation to give a true picture of the potential savings, or lack thereof.

Now let’s look at an example using window film, an energy efficiency improvement with virtually no maintenance costs associated with it. Assume a window film installation requiring an investment of $385,000 that realizes yearly savings of $168,000. With a simple payback equal to 2.29 years and virtually no maintenance costs there are very little that will noticeably impact the payback period. Energy costs will increase over the life of the window film, but these will tend to lessen the payback period as the savings realized will be greater than the initial estimate.

As far as maintenance is concerned, window film doesn’t require any, but over its lifetime some replacement will be needed because of damaged window film and for upgrades associated with tenant improvements. The cost of these replacements should never exceed 0.5% – 1% of the total amount of windows in a building. Again, the impact of this on the realized savings is negligible.

Here’s a story that will illustrate the practicality of using these two methods to figure out the payback period versus other, more complex methods.

A bag of gold was placed on a table in a room. Two people, an engineer and a scientist, were told to enter the room and to try to get the gold. The only rule was that every time they moved towards the gold, they could only traveling half the remaining distance between themselves and the gold. The scientist decided to leave, declaring “if you can only approach half the distance remaining you’ll never get there. It’s impossible.” The engineer on the other hand simply took two steps, said, “Close enough for an engineering approximation,” grabbed the gold and was gone.

Payback calculations are a lot like the example in the story. You can make more and more refinements and assumptions but in the end most of the time you can determine a workable payback using the simple payback method, which can be done on the back of an envelope. If you can however, and especially when there are large variable costs, use the cash flow analysis method to factor in some of these costs.

The Conclusion

We live in a world of financial constraints, requiring solid financial reasoning to make a particular investment, so we need to make some basic calculations to ensure were smart about how we spend our money. For maximum efficiency and effectiveness the focus should be on investments offering a quick payback, which can usually be determined adequately with the simple payback method or, when maintenance costs are high, with the slightly more complex cash flow analysis. Both methods are useful tools for the energy manager.

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Source by Steven D Chambers

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In case you are looking for alternative energy options, you will discover that solar energy is one that is truly reliable and cost-efficient.

If you have never tried using solar energy in your home, then it is about time to enjoy its benefits. With the continuous price hike of electricity these days, solar energy can be a welcome respite. When you switch to solar power, this reduces the consumption of bought electricity, cutting down on your utility expenses. Moreover, this helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thus letting you contribute to the battle against global warming.

Solar power, simply put, is the energy that comes from the continuous source that is the sun. Our homes can make use of the sun’s energy by harnessing its light and heat, then converting them into electricity. This energy can be fully optimized. Solar power is pollution-free. It is, also, renewable. Try to picture the convenience of converting the sun’s light and radiant heat into electricity to power our home’s appliances, gadgets and heating/cooling systems, among others.

To enjoy the advantages of solar energy, you can start with the installation of solar panels. To harness the sun’s light and heat for the needs of your household, there are three tips to consider:

Solar heating

This term refers to using the sun’s energy for heating purposes. This can be used to supply power for heating, for hot water, showers, swimming pools, laundry and cooking, among others.

Solar photovoltaic

This refers to the conversion of the sun’s energy into household electricity. When photovoltaic cells, which are made from semi-conductor materials, are installed and used, they generate electricity.

Passive solar

To improve insulation inside your home, you can directly utilize the sun’s energy to dehumidify or heat the air indoors.

There are a number of reasons why you should choose renewable solar energy. Consider the following benefits.

Cuts down on your utility bills

You can use the sun’s light and heat to your advantage because it is free. The moment you install photovoltaic panels, you will notice that drop in your electricity bills.

Saves the environment

By reducing carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emission, you also reduce the pollution and prevent the release of a great amount of carbon dioxide every year.

Lets you benefit from incentives and subsidies provided by the government

Homeowners are greatly encouraged by the government to convert to using solar energy in the home. As an incentive, for every photovoltaic panel installation, they can get tax rebates, income tax discounts or credits, and property tax deductions or exemptions. To find out more regarding these policies, you can check them out in your respective area.

When it comes to household energy needs, you always have an option. There is no reason to continue using natural gas or electricity, especially if it puts a lot of strain on your finances. Start benefiting from the sun’s light and heat, which provides continuous, pollution-free energy.

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Source by Karina Popa

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Gold recycling is more popular than ever in recent years due to the demand of precious metals. Every bit of gold recycling helps supply that demand and the American public can help recycle and get paid to do so. Even if you don’t have a lot of gold jewelry around your house, there are plenty of other household items that contain gold and can be recycled for a profit. Recycling gold can be very profitable and help you make a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars depending on what you have to recycle.

To get started recycling gold, here are 10 items you can start looking for in your house to start recycling.

1) old laptop and old computers – different brands and models may have different components, but most likely your old computer will have gold in the chip processor, CD drive unit, and adapter extension for a laptop. Before extracting the gold from these items, you should research into the process for removing gold from these items. Often times, it will require using toxic chemicals so it is important to understand the process to remove the gold as well as practicing safety to make sure you aren’t harmed by the chemicals.

2) cell phones – in your cell phone, there are components made of gold or these items can be gold plated.

3) broken and unwanted jewelry – you may have old jewelry from an ex-spouse, ex girlfriend or boyfriend, and even from relatives. You may have items that you haven’t worn in 10 years or items that have broke. The great news is, these items can be turned into cash if you no longer desire them.

4) commemorative pins – you may have pins and buttons around the house that are actual gold. You may have inherited military memorabilia that contains gold.

5) Old fillings and caps – dentists years ago would use gold for fillings and caps. You may have a relative or even yourself that has had a gold filling removed.

6) Old smoke detectors – take down your old smoke detectors and replace them with new ones. Before discarding your old smoke detector, remove any gold

7) Old VCR’s – they have gold in them

8) Old Junker car – there is gold in your old car. Depending on the year, make and model, the gold content will differ. System chips and heat insulation are some places you can look.

9) old TV’s, printers, and cameras – I can’t list every make and model, but there are gold in these items. People discard these items everyday because they become outdated. You can pick these up for free and turn them into cash.

10) glassware and silverware – not all glassware and silverware will have gold, but some items will. Some place settings will have gold in the dish, some glassware will have gold in the glass, and some silverware will have gold within the utensil. Review all of your items carefully. Silverware may also be sterling silver which is also a precious metal that you can sell for instant profit.

As you can see, there are plenty of items that can be recycled and turned into instant cash. Some recycling methods take more time than others so you may have to experiment with the process to determine what method you enjoy best. The great thing about recycling precious metals is that anyone can start recycling today and earn some extra income doing so.

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Source by Dave Barkstedt

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It does not matter what side of the global warming debate you are on, this article will help anyone who wants to save money. By making simple changes in our lives and thinking about particular habits and routines that we have, all of us can take simple actions to improve the quality of our lives, live a more eco friendly life, and save money by going green.

Most blogs that discuss saving money and the environment will include tips such as walk or bike rather than drive, try public transportation and carpool, and think about using an alternative fuel vehicle. Unfortunately these are not an option for everybody. However, there are many different things we can do to become a part of the national movement of “going green.”         

Simple Actions to Save You Money and Save the Planet:

1. Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. If every household in the United States changed only 1 frequently used light bulb to a fluorescent light, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for one year. This is one of the easiest changes to make in order to save money and help save the earth.
2. Expand your batteries life span. It is best to buy rechargeable batteries but if that is not an option here are some tricks to increase the life of a battery.  1. Do not replace all 4 batteries. When your device stops working, it may be because only one battery is dead. Try buying the self-testing batteries and check each one, only replace the dead batteries. 2.  Keep your batteries in the refrigerator to make them last longer. 3. Believe it or not, your laptop computer does not belong on your lap. Laying a notebook on a soft surface restricts air flow and heats up the battery. To prolong the life of the battery, invest $5 to $20 in a “cooling pad.”
3. Get a home energy audit: Check to see if your utility company offers a free home utility audit to help you find air leaks, poor insulation and determine your homes energy efficiency.
4. From the home energy audit, you will likely be told to seal and insulate your home. You can hire a contractor or for the more adventurous try a “Do-It-Yourself-Guide.” This may cost some money up front but will definitely save money in the long run.
5. Keep your water heater warm by wrapping it in an insulation blanket. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, adding insulation to your water heater can reduce heat loss by 25-45%, thereby saving you 4% to 9% in water heating costs. You can buy these at any home improvement store for about $20.
6. Insulate your car’s battery. Check to see if your car’s battery is insulated properly, if not buy a plastic insulated battery blanket for $10 to $30.
7. Charge your batteries with solar power. Pay a onetime fee of $80 to $200 and then charge your batteries for free for years and save money.
8. Unplug unused electrical devices and save money on your electricity bill. This is easier said then done. Start by unplugging your cell phone and iPod chargers. In addition buy a power strip that allows you to turn it on and off easily.
9. Turn off the lights and go green! This may seem like a no-brainer but it is amazing how many people keep their lights on, television running, and computers going. Turning these off will not only save money on your electricity bill but will add in our efforts to save the earth.
10. Keep your thermostat between 68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Use blankets, open windows and take off layers of clothes. For most of us, this is easier said than done. Remember to turn off your thermostat when you go to work and when you go to bed. If you forget, get a programmable thermostat. This can save a considerable amount of money on your heating bill.  Important facts to keep in mind: First it does not require more energy to reheat your home than it does to keep it at the same temperature. Second, turning the temperature up higher does not make the house warm up faster, it only makes the heater stay on longer after turning it off. 
11. Stop using store catalogs and shop online. Most of the time you save money online anyway.
12. Stop receiving junk mail. Millions of trees are lost each year on junk mail alone. You can try to get your name deleted from the junk mail sources or spend a little time and write on each junk mail received, “Return to Sender.” You do not have to pay for the postage and eventually you will stop receiving mail from them.
13. Print less often. Write down directions on small note pads, do not print emails. If you need to print there are free software programs out there that allow you to edit web pages to only print the content that you need.
14. Ways to Save Water: 1. Take shorter showers  2.Turn the water off while shaving or brushing your teeth 3. Repair all toilet and faucet leaks immediately. A leaky toiled can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day, a leaky faucet a little less. 4. Be smart when irrigating your lawn and landscape. Only water when needed, early morning is best. 5. A water saving-energy efficient dish washer used with the right dishwashing soap can save water, energy and save money.
15. Eat out less. Restaurants use more energy to produce your meals.  
16. When staying at a hotel, practice what you do at home. Turn off the lights and television when you leave, don’t waste water, turn off the A/C when you leave the room. Reuse your towels and use your own toiletries. The hotel’s toiletries are cheap and are always over-packaged.
17. Conserve and use less and transition to “living green.” Use less shampoo, cleaning detergent, soap, toothpaste and paper products. It is amazing how much conserving saves you money and how beneficial it is in our fight to save the planet.
18. Buy used: Search online classifieds and newspapers. You can find gently used furniture, appliances, cars, and many other things.
19. These next two items are the easiest, quickest way to start “going green” and living more eco friendly. Invest a little money in reusable shopping bags ($1 to $5). My favorite is the Chico Bag that clips onto your purse or keys and are therefore hard to forget. Use them at the grocery store, the mall, or any other place where you need to pick up a few items. This not only saves plastic but it brings public awareness towards the living green movement. 
20. Avoid using plastic water bottles. Instead buy reusable aluminum or stainless steel bottles at any Target or Sports shop. This truly helps in the effort to save our planet but it is also beneficial for our health. 
21. If you have to use the one time use plastic water bottles, fill some bottles up (not completely full) and put them in the freezer. This increases the energy efficiency of your freezer by allowing it to run less and you can use the frozen water bottles when you need an ice pack. When they melt, it makes for a wonderfully cold drink.
22. Save your left over’s. You can save bread bags, butter containers, and other packages that you can use to store your left over food. Buy cheap labels at the dollar store and label everything.
23. When possible avoid using disposable plates, cups and utensils. These cost a lot of money and take up a lot of space in our landfills.
24. Use cloth diapers not disposable. It is not as difficult or inconvenient as most parents think it is. There are many great articles on the cloth versus disposable debate.

More difficult steps towards “going green.”  Spend a little time and money in the short term, save money and/or save the planet in the long run.

1. Composting your food and yard trimmings lessens the amount of garbage that is sent to landfills and also reduces the amount of pollution to the atmosphere.
2. Efficient Landscaping:  This can save money, save energy and save the earth.
3. Install solar panels. Solar is quickly becoming more affordable and efficient and many states have tax incentives now.
4. To help get you motivated towards “going green” and eco friendly living, research incentives and tax rebates for home improvements at the U.S. Department of Energy
5. Last but not least, PLANT A TREE. One tree, over its life will absorb over one ton of carbon dioxide and put healthy oxygen into the air.

Unfortunately there are a lot of people who believe that the problem is much too big for one person to make a difference. But that is simply not true. Every time you choose to recycle instead of throwing it in the trash, or walk to the store instead of drive, or spend a little extra money on organic and eco friendly products, you alone are making a difference. And if 100,000 people just made simple changes in their daily routine, our efforts will significantly improve our chance to save the earth and save the planet. For more detailed information, links and resources to start living a more eco friendly life, visit GreenGardenEcology [http://www.GreenGardenEcology.com](Article: Save Money). 

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Source by Alicia Thompson

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The technology isn’t a new one though. For years composites or sandwich panels have been used in the manufacture of both civilian and military aircraft and more recently used in racing vehicles, ship building and even specialized architecture. A typical Boeing civil airliner may be comprised of up to 5-15% composite panel, although recently Boeing announced that the new 7E7 would be composed of up to 50% composite, making it ultra light weight while maintaining optimum durability.

The success of composite technology in the aviation field has made it attractive to other industries seeking to apply the benefits. One of the more significant for the trucking profession is that core composite materials measure in much lighter than steel and aluminium with an average weight savings of up to 40% over steel and 20% over aluminium.

At present, composite technology can be applied to body panels and accessories, front-end panels, floor, engine block, cargo liners, vehicle chassis, bumper beams, fuel tank supports, heat-resistant parts such as inlet manifold, cooling modules, and oil pan… Heavy wood or metal decking on trailers may be replaced with sandwich panel to further shed pounds and leverage added payload and longer trailer deck life. Diversity in the materials used and in the manufacturing process enables composite panels to be fashioned into flat or curved forms that possess one of the highest strength to weight ratios of any structural material available on the market.

Replacing just a class 8 sleeper box with custom manufactured composite panel technology can reduce overall vehicle weight by up to 850 pounds, effectively decreasing gross weight and fluid resistance while increasing payload.

In addition to lightweight composition, the sound dampening and insulation properties create a quiet environment inside the sleeper; corrosion resistance, and overall durability are also high on the ratings scale.

The panels are formed when two materials are combined to create a stronger substance than either of the two base materials on their own. The panels themselves are heated and thermo fused to the matrix or core; the matrix binds together the fibres of the stronger material, called the reinforcement. The reinforcement can be engineered from glass fibre, aramid and carbon whereas the matrix can comprise polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, or epoxy resins, as well as many light fibre materials. The separation of the skins by this low-density core increases the moment of inertia of the beam or panel with very little increase in weight, producing a highly efficient structure. Throughout the extensive use of high strength adhesives, composite panels are precisely joined together providing superior enhancements in relationship to conventional riveting or welding processes. Staying ahead from conventional practices allows the industry to perceive tangible savings linked to lower direct labour cost, tooling, equipment but mainly eliminating expensive rust and corrosion issues or claims.

Essentially the strength of the composite panel depends on its overall size, the surface material used, and the density of the cells inside it, the thicker the core, the higher the stiffness and strength of the panel. By careful selection of reinforcement, matrix and production process, manufacturers are able to produce industry specific composite panels. Composites designed for heavy commercial applications such as aircraft manufacturing, aerospace industry, oil exploration and military markets utilize high-strength, continuous fibres such as polyurethane foam or other dynamic materials to ensure a rigid panel that can withstand wear and tear due to loading stresses or mechanical strain. For low strength and stiffness or low stress applications such as automotive, marine, and industrial parts, a matrix composed of non-continuous fibres like paper or card can be used ensuring optimum strength-to-weight ration for the particular application.

By varying composition and thickness, compressive and tensile strength and resistance to deflection keep damage from rocks and debris as well as stress in loading and unloading to a minimum. If damage does occur, panel replacement is relatively easy and affordable and can be repaired at most auto-body repair facilities.

A generic composite panel is generally described as:

Some overall benefits are:

• Lighter (but strong) materials provide lower fuel consumption
• Can be customized to many specific applications
• Relatively fast implementation times
• Noise dampening properties block out ambient noise from outside the interior
• Resistant to harmful chemicals and heat
• They last longer
• Minimized structural noise

From a manufacturing or engineering standpoint:

• When shock and impact loads are an issue the honeycomb cell size can be adjusted to achieve different compression strengths.
• Working prototypes using laminated panels and sandwich panels can be developed to within 4-6 weeks of inception. The manufacturing processes is geared to maximum efficiency and optimum implementation times
• The insulation value (R value) can range from 2.5 to up to 6 depending on the thickness of the panels. Specific customer requirements can be achieved through the use of special honeycomb cores and facings
• The range of materials used to manufacture panels to specification makes it an attractive option for truck manufacturers
• Versatility of design in body and door panels, hoods, roof panels, bonnets, and spoilers allow for drastic reduction in fluid drag and rolling resistance.
  Ongoing research and development is providing continuous advancements in composite performance and expanding the range of applications. The transportation industry is welcoming composite technology which may soon replace wood and metal as the material of choice.

Edison Reis, B.Sc. Eng.

Engineering & Quality Assurance Manager

Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corp.

www.ccvbc.com

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Source by Edison Reis