#columbia furnace

[libraryofva]

Recent Acquisition - Photograph Collection

Students and teacher, Columbia Furnace, VA. 1929

[reasonsforhope]

"The man who has called climate change a “hoax” also can be expected to wreak havoc on federal agencies central to understanding, and combating, climate change. But plenty of climate action would be very difficult for a second Trump administration to unravel, and the 47th president won’t be able to stop the inevitable economy-wide shift from fossil fuels to renewables. 

“This is bad for the climate, full stop,” said Gernot Wagner, a climate economist at the Columbia Business School. “That said, this will be yet another wall that never gets built. Fundamental market forces are at play.”

A core irony of climate change is that markets incentivized the wide-scale burning of fossil fuels beginning in the Industrial Revolution, creating the mess humanity is mired in, and now those markets are driving a renewables revolution that will help fix it. Coal, oil, and gas are commodities whose prices fluctuate. As natural resources that humans pull from the ground, there’s really no improving on them — engineers can’t engineer new versions of coal. 

By contrast, solar panels, wind turbines, and appliances like induction stoves only get better — more efficient and cheaper — with time. Energy experts believe solar power, the price of which fell 90 percent between 2010 and 2020, will continue to proliferate across the landscape. (Last year, the United States added three times as much solar capacity as natural gas.) Heat pumps now outsell gas furnaces in the U.S., due in part to government incentives. Last year, Maine announced it had reached its goal of installing 100,000 heat pumps two years ahead of schedule, in part thanks to state rebates. So if the Trump administration cut off the funding for heat pumps that the IRA provides, states could pick up the slack. 

Local utilities are also finding novel ways to use heat pumps. Over in Massachusetts, for example, the utility Eversource Energy is experimenting with “networked geothermal,” in which the homes within a given neighborhood tap into water pumped from underground. Heat pumps use that water to heat or cool a space, which is vastly more efficient than burning natural gas. Eversource and two dozen other utilities, representing about half of the country’s natural gas customers, have formed a coalition to deploy more networked geothermal systems.

Beyond being more efficient, green tech is simply cheaper to adopt. Consider Texas, which long ago divorced its electrical grid from the national grid so it could skirt federal regulation. The Lone Star State is the nation’s biggest oil and gas producer, but it gets 40 percent of its total energy from carbon-free sources. “Texas has the most solar and wind of any state, not because Republicans in Texas love renewables, but because it’s the cheapest form of electricity there,” said Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist at Berkeley Earth, a climate research nonprofit. The next top three states for producing wind power — Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas — are red, too.

State regulators are also pressuring utilities to slash emissions, further driving the adoption of wind and solar power. As part of California’s goal of decarbonizing its power by 2045, the state increased battery storage by 757 percent between 2019 and 2023. Even electric cars and electric school buses can provide backup power for the grid. That allows utilities to load up on bountiful solar energy during the day, then drain those batteries at night — essential for weaning off fossil fuel power plants. Trump could slap tariffs on imported solar panels and thereby increase their price, but that would likely boost domestic manufacturing of those panels, helping the fledgling photovoltaic manufacturing industry in red states like Georgia and Texas.

The irony of Biden’s signature climate bill is states that overwhelmingly support Trump are some of the largest recipients of its funding. That means tampering with the IRA could land a Trump administration in political peril even with Republican control of the Senate, if not Congress. In addition to providing incentives to households (last year alone, 3.4 million American families claimed more than $8 billion in tax credits for home energy improvements), the legislation has so far resulted in $150 billion of new investment in the green economy since it was passed in 2022, boosting the manufacturing of technologies like batteries and solar panels. According to Atlas Public Policy, a research group, that could eventually create 160,000 jobs. “Something like 66 percent of all of the spending in the IRA has gone to red states,” Hausfather said. “There certainly is a contingency in the Republican party now that’s going to support keeping some of those subsidies around.”

Before Biden’s climate legislation passed, much more progress was happening at a state and local level. New York, for instance, set a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 40 percent by 2030, and 85 percent by 2050. Colorado, too, is aiming to slash emissions by at least 90 percent by 2050. The automaker Stellantis has signed an agreement with the state of California promising to meet the state’s zero-emissions vehicle mandate even if a judicial or federal action overturns it. It then sells those same cars in other states. 

“State governments are going to be the clearest counterbalance to the direction that Donald Trump will take the country on environmental policy,” said Thad Kousser, co-director of the Yankelovich Center for Social Science Research at the University of California, San Diego. “California and the states that ally with it are going to try to adhere to tighter standards if the Trump administration lowers national standards.”

[Note: One of the obscure but great things about how emissions regulations/markets work in the US is that automakers generally all follow California's emissions standards, and those standards are substantially higher than federal standards. Source]

Last week, 62 percent of Washington state voters soundly rejected a ballot initiative seeking to repeal a landmark law that raised funds to fight climate change. “Donald Trump’s going to learn something that our opponents in our initiative battle learned: Once people have a benefit, you can’t take it away,” Washington Governor Jay Inslee said in a press call Friday. “He is going to lose in his efforts to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, because governors, mayors of both parties, are going to say, ‘This belongs to me, and you’re not going to get your grubby hands on it.’”

Even without federal funding, states regularly embark on their own large-scale projects to adapt to climate change. California voters, for instance, just overwhelmingly approved a $10 billion bond to fund water, climate, and wildfire prevention projects. “That will be an example,” said Saharnaz Mirzazad, executive director of the U.S. branch of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. “You can use that on a state level or local level to have [more of] these types of bonds. You can help build some infrastructure that is more resilient.”

Urban areas, too, have been major drivers of climate action: In 2021, 130 U.S. cities signed a U.N.-backed pledge to accelerate their decarbonization. “Having an unsupportive federal government, to say the least, will be not helpful,” said David Miller, managing director at the Centre for Urban Climate Policy and Economy at C40, a global network of mayors fighting climate change. “It doesn’t mean at all that climate action will stop. It won’t, and we’ve already seen that twice in recent U.S. history, when Republican administrations pulled out of international agreements. Cities step to the fore.”

And not in isolation, because mayors talk: Cities share information about how to write legislation, such as laws that reduce carbon emissions in buildings and ensure that new developments are connected to public transportation. They transform their food systems to grow more crops locally, providing jobs and reducing emissions associated with shipping produce from afar. “If anything,” Miller said, “having to push against an administration, like that we imagine is coming, will redouble the efforts to push at the local level.” 

Federal funding — like how the U.S. Forest Service has been handing out $1.5 billion for planting trees in urban areas, made possible by the IRA — might dry up for many local projects, but city governments, community groups, and philanthropies will still be there. “You picture a web, and we’re taking scissors or a machete or something, and chopping one part of that web out,” said Elizabeth Sawin, the director of the Multisolving Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that promotes climate solutions. “There’s this resilience of having all these layers of partners.”

All told, climate progress has been unfolding on so many fronts for so many years — often without enough support from the federal government — that it will persist regardless of who occupies the White House. “This too shall pass, and hopefully we will be in a more favorable policy environment in four years,” Hausfather said. “In the meantime, we’ll have to keep trying to make clean energy cheap and hope that it wins on its merits.”"

-via Grist, November 11, 2024. A timely reminder.

[allforthegaymes]

Neil loves everything about Andrew.

He doesnt care when Allison teases him about it, saying thats what everyone says when theyre in a relationship.

He loves when theyre kissing and Andrew always pauses to smile against his lips. When he snorts at Neil when he dives back in to continue.

He loves the glimpse of Andrews chipped canine tooth from a snow sledding accident. Nicky had been driving the Maserati, Andrew dragging behind it on a sled as they coasted through the parking lot, slick with ice. Before the sled hit a curb hidden by the snow and he’d gotten tossed into a tree.

He loves the way Andrew glares, half pouting, drunkenly at him when he stands in the Columbia kitchen cutting marshmallows up to try and mimic the mini marshmallows Andrew insists on having in his cocoa.

He loves the way Andrew stands in some supermarkets clothing department trying to decide if paying $20 is worth having the pack of spiderman boxers. He loves the way Andrew washes them the second they get home and groans as he rips at least two seams on them after they shrink outrageously small after the wash. He loves the way Andrew stubbornly refuses to stop wearing them anyways.

Neil loves how Andrew leans over the counter in the bathroom, dragging beard dye over his eyebrows to tint them a shade so they can actually be seen. He loves the way Andrews head tilts back with an annoyed groan when they come out too dark and Aaron takes at least 20 pictures of him with dark bushy eyebrows. He loves the way Andrew lets him drag him to the girls dorm so Allison can give him an evil grin and fix them.

He loves the way Andrew refuses to let him light his own cigarettes. The first few times he’d lit his own Andrew would snag it from his mouth for himself, and light Neil a new one himself. Usually he just presses the tips of their cigarettes together, the lit cherry of his own lighting Neils. Or Neil will just pass his lighter over to Andrew, leaning forward with the cig held between his lips, wobbling slightly from the way hes trying to squash a smile.

He loves the way Andrew has no opinions when it comes to which video game they all play on tuesday and thursday game nights, but is the loudest at insisting which movie plays on friday movie night, arguing with everyone that they have to do the hat method for picking one and insists everyone else is teaming up on him when his doesnt get picked. He loves the way Andrew refuses to let Neil copy his movie choice onto his own piece of paper, even if itd give his choice better odds of being picked out of the hat.

He loves the way Andrew groans and grumbles when theres a heat wave and tells Neil he runs like a furnace, but stays firmly wrapped around Neils back anyways as the fan points directly at them in bed. The connected skin between them slick with sweat that makes Kevin complain about the smell in the room until Andrew points at Kevins stinky gym bag in the corner.

He loves the way Andrew asks him ‘yes or no’ whenever theyre about to do something new. Loves the way ‘yes or no’ slowly evolves into different situations. Texted to him from across a sports gala once theyre pro to ask Neil if he wants to ditch it with him early. Mumbled against his neck when he shows Neil the transfer request to move back onto the same pro team together.

He loves the way Andrew understands when Neil says no, that he wants to finish up talking to a few more coaches around the gala first. When Andrew asks him if he wants to try a new steakhouse and Neil would rather get Thai from down the road and sit in the Mas instead.

[journeytothewestresearch]

I've heard that Wukong has a heart of gold (literally), as well as iron lungs, and a metal spine from being in Lao Tzu's furnace and eating molten Copper from Guan Yin and was wondering if this is true.

Monkey states that in ch. 34:

When old Monkey caused great disturbance in the Celestial Palace five hundred years ago and was refined for forty-nine days in the eight trigram brazier of Laozi, the process in fact gave me a heart strong as gold and viscera hardy as silver, a bronze head and an iron back, fiery eyes and diamond pupils (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 2, p. 131).

The legend of his adamantine body predates the 1592 JTTW. For instance, Sun claims the following in the early-Ming zaju play:

I plundered Laozi’s gold Pill of Immortality, and have endured so many alchemical transformations that my muscles are brass, my bones iron, my eyes fire, my pupils gold, my asshole lead and my prick is pewter (Ning, 1986, p. 142). 

Another example comes from the 13th-century JTTW. He is referred to as the the “Bronze-Headed, Iron-Browed King of the Eighty-Four Thousand Monkeys of the Purple Cloud Grotto on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits” (Wivell, 1994, p. 1182). And the story ends with the Tang Emperor Taizong enfeoffing him as the “Great Sage Steel Muscles and Iron Bones” (Wivell, 1994, p. 1207).

Sources:

Ning, C. Y. (1986). Comic Elements in the Xiyouji Zaju (UMI No. 8612591) [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Michigan]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

Wivell, C.S. (1994). The Story of How the Monk Tripitaka of the Great Country of T’ang Brought Back the Sūtras. In V. Mair (Ed.), The Columbia Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature (pp. 1181-1207). New York: Columbia University Press.

Wu, C., & Yu, A. C. (2012). The Journey to the West (Vols. 1-4) (Rev. ed.). Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.

[gchoate17]

In keeping with tradition, here’s my top ten list of the best events of 2024 and the worst events of 2024, vaguely ranked in the order that they most impacted my life/mental health.

BEST

The boys reached an age where they can run wild with limited supervision. I’ve especially loved watching them run free with their cousins on holidays – just like I remember doing. Is this the smell of freedom? (September-ish)

With much trepidation, Liz and I attempted a cross-country road trip – Arizona and back with lots of planned stops – with the boys. We removed screen-time restrictions and let them fry their brains, but the trip was more fun than we thought it would be because they were champions (and because Liz bought a Dino Potty that allowed Mags to go wherever we were). (June 8-19)

Potty-training Magnus was so easy that I wasn’t even sure we were doing/did it. He’s had like two accidents after the initial housebreaking. (February-March?)

Watching Gus absolutely light up at UA-Little Rock’s Nerd Night – so much science and technology. Everyone was so inviting and engaged about all the things my seven-year-old is excited about. We can’t wait to go back next year. (October 23)

My mother gifted Magnus a book about the symphony last year and we have read it so many times that he knows all the instruments by name and most of them by sound. This year he got to hear lots of live instruments – a chamber orchestra at his Montessori school, the symphony with the St. Mark’s Baptist Church choir at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s grand opening, the Avett Brothers, among other places – and it’s been wonderful to see him absorb it all with so much joy.

On her deathbed in 2018, Alice Marie Choate told her children and grandchildren she wanted us to stay close – I assume she knew she was the glue. In the days after she died, Liz and I committed to each other that we would host everyone at our house in honor of my grandmother’s birthday when we could. We finally made that happen with Mum’s Birthday Brunch at our house and I felt as proud as I would have if she had been there to witness it. (May 11)

A video I helped make was accepted by a film festival at Columbia University, which led to a fantastic trip to New York with Liz.

CAMP WEEK! Gus went to sleepaway camp for a week (!), Magnus went to Camp Nene for a week (!), and Liz and I went to Camp Chicago for a week and – among other highlights – ate one of the best meals of our lives at Jeong.

I set a goal of 10,000 steps per day and finished with an 11,458 average for the year.

I’ve missed going to Little Rock Trojan basketball games, which was something Liz and I did a lot early in our relationship. We decided the boys are finally at an age where they can sit through the games without making us miserable, so we bought season tickets. Magnus is there for the popcorn, Gus reads the whole time, but he’s learned to like the dance cam and the dunks, and I can work with that. (September-December)

WORST

During a trip to Chicago, a homeless person stole Liz’s phone/wallet off the patio table where we were eating lunch. It took us ten seconds too long to realize it happened. The worst part was the embarrassment of feeling so much like a…[gags]…tourist. (July 9)

I pulled a calf muscle, then pulled a hamstring. Recovery lasted forever and maybe sparked a depression. (April-September)

After eight years of taking pictures of my food, I stopped ranking my restaurant meals. I miss the data, I miss the ability to look up where I’ve eaten and when, but I’m glad to have saved myself a considerable amount of time. (Also, it’s worth noting that this almost made my Best list.) (May 12)

Liz and I had separate trips abut each other, which resulted in not seeing each other for 10 days. I did not like it. Not one bit. (September)

Major home expenses hit this year – new gutters, new A/C, new furnace – and they were expensive.

While walking through Gus’s room barefoot, I was ambushed by a stray Lego brick and it broke the skin and gave me a limp for a solid three days. (October 3)

Magnus had a double ear infection, but he didn’t give us any indication until he perforated his ear drum. (June 10)

Mostly due to an organization called General Mills and a product called Cinnamon Toast Crunch, I developed an intense, late-night snack habit that kept me from maintaining any sort of control on my weight-loss goals. (July-December)

I had my worst (and most expensive) fantasy football year since I started playing 16(?) years ago.

Our outgoing pipes froze for five days, limiting us to one sink, one shower, and one toilet. Could have been worse, but it wasn’t fun. (January 16-January 21)

Previous Best/Worst Lists: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.

[darkmaga-returns]

Recent events in the State of Washington pit environmentalists against the voting public.

Doomberg

Nov 13, 2024

“Don't pay any attention to the critics—don't even ignore them.” – Samuel Goldwyn

By nearly all the measures that matter, the State of Washington’s energy mix is about as green as it gets. Leveraging the powerful flows of the Columbia River, Washington generates approximately 60% of its electricity from hydroelectric dams. The Grand Coulee Dam is by far the largest hydroelectricity producer in the US and ranks among the top ten globally, generating more than 20 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. The state is also home to the Northwest’s only commercial nuclear energy facility—the Columbia Generating Station—which provides a further 8% of annual supply to the grid, about as much as is currently delivered by wind turbines. The balance of Washington’s generation comes from clean-burning natural gas, and the last of its large coal furnaces is set to close in 2025. Set it and forget it | Getty

A similar story emerges when analyzing how residents in Washington heat their homes. More than 58% use electricity, and state leaders are actively pushing heat pumps as a replacement for traditional resistive heating options. Only a third of households rely on natural gas, while the remaining 9% rely on a mix of propane, wood, and other sources.

Although Washington produces almost no oil or natural gas within its borders, it has positioned itself shrewdly in both markets. The state is home to five refineries, ranks fifth in the US by total refining capacity, and is a net exporter of petroleum products. Washington is also a major conduit of natural gas produced in British Columbia and Alberta, home to some of the lowest-cost supply in the world. The Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline is capable of flowing 2.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) as it passes into the state from Idaho on its way to Oregon. The Northwest Pipeline has a peak capacity of 3.8 bcf/d and enters Washington in Sumas, southeast of Vancouver, facilitating gas supply for Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado.

[follow-up-news]

Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel filed a federal lawsuit Monday challenging a Biden administration decision to block Nippon’s proposed $15 billion acquisition of the Pittsburgh company and said that the head of the Steelworkers union and a rival steelmaker worked together to scuttle the buyout. In moving to block the transaction Friday, Biden said U.S. companies producing a large amount of steel need to “keep leading the fight on behalf of America’s national interests,” though Japan, where Nippon is based, is a strong ally. In separate lawsuits filed Monday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the steelmakers allege that it was a political decision made by the Biden administration that had no rational legal basis. “Nippon Steel and U. S. Steel have engaged in good faith with all parties to underscore how the Transaction will enhance, not threaten, United States national security,” the companies said in a prepared statement Monday. Nippon Steel had promised to invest $2.7 billion in U.S. Steel’s aging blast furnace operations in Gary, Indiana, and Pennsylvania’s Mon Valley, and had said it is best positioned to help the U.S. compete in an industry dominated by the Chinese.

[backside-into-the-heavenly]

February 13th, 2024

A quick preview of today's snowfall. This is at Esther Furnace Covered Bridge in Cleveland Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

[mothmiso]

Delaware River (2) (3) (4) by Holly Kilpatrick

Via Flickr:

(1) Near the Durham Furnace Locks on the canal. (2) Portland Pedestrian Bridge. In the 1800s and early 1900s, this was a wooden covered bridge. Damaged in floods, it was closed to vehicles and reconstructed as a walking bridge in 1958. On the closest pier you can see numbers marking what appear to be flood height markers, but the numbers can't be in feet because the bridge is probably about 50 feet high. (3) Looking north to the Delaware Water Gap in the distance. On the left bank is Pennsylvania, on the right bank is New Jersey. I am standing on the walking bridge between the two. (4) At Portland, PA, looking south to the Portland -Columbia bridge in the evening.     

[reasonsforhope]

More info below. Thanks for posting, OP! I've been meaning to get this article up myself, but I haven't had the time, so this is perfect!

"“This is bad for the climate, full stop,” said Gernot Wagner, a climate economist at the Columbia Business School. “That said, this will be yet another wall that never gets built. Fundamental market forces are at play.”

A core irony of climate change is that markets incentivized the wide-scale burning of fossil fuels beginning in the Industrial Revolution, creating the mess humanity is mired in, and now those markets are driving a renewables revolution that will help fix it. Coal, oil, and gas are commodities whose prices fluctuate. As natural resources that humans pull from the ground, there’s really no improving on them — engineers can’t engineer new versions of coal.

By contrast, solar panels, wind turbines, and appliances like induction stoves only get better — more efficient and cheaper — with time. Energy experts believe solar power, the price of which fell 90 percent between 2010 and 2020, will continue to proliferate across the landscape. (Last year, the United States added three times as much solar capacity as natural gas.) Heat pumps now outsell gas furnaces in the U.S., due in part to government incentives. Last year, Maine announced it had reached its goal of installing 100,000 heat pumps two years ahead of schedule, in part thanks to state rebates."

-via Grist, November 11, 2024

From the article:

“Texas has the most solar and wind of any state, not because Republicans in Texas love renewables, but because it’s the cheapest form of electricity there,” said Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist at Berkeley Earth, a climate research nonprofit. The next top three states for producing wind power — Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas — are red, too. [...] “You picture a web, and we’re taking scissors or a machete or something, and chopping one part of that web out,” said Elizabeth Sawin, the director of the Multisolving Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that promotes climate solutions. “There’s this resilience of having all these layers of partners.” All told, climate progress has been unfolding on so many fronts for so many years — often without enough support from the federal government — that it will persist regardless of who occupies the White House. “This too shall pass, and hopefully we will be in a more favorable policy environment in four years,” Hausfather said. “In the meantime, we’ll have to keep trying to make clean energy cheap and hope that it wins on its merits.”

[caseymullis]

Navigating Comfort and Quality with Your Local HVAC Company

When the seasons change, bringing sweltering heat or biting cold, homeowners and businesses alike find solace in their climate control systems. Ensuring that your environment remains comfortable year-round requires a reliable heating, cooling, and air quality system managed by a professional HVAC company near me. This article explores the critical services offered by these local professionals to maintain a pleasant indoor atmosphere.

The Importance of Heating Solutions

As temperatures plummet in winter months, having an effective heating system is non-negotiable. A competent HVAC company provides comprehensive heating services to keep residential and commercial spaces warm and cozy. From installing new furnaces to repairing existing heat pumps, these professionals ensure that every component of your heating system operates efficiently. Regular maintenance checks are also crucial in preventing unexpected breakdowns during cold spells when you need your heater the most.

Cooling Services for Warmer Months

On the flip side, as mercury rises during summer periods, cooling systems become indispensable for comfort and health. Air conditioners must function at peak performance to combat high temperatures effectively. An HVAC company's cooling services include the installation of new AC units tailored to space requirements, repairs for existing systems showing signs of inefficiency, and periodic maintenance to extend the lifespan of your cooling equipment.

Breathing Easy with Improved Air Quality Services

Indoor air quality is a silent yet significant factor affecting overall well-being. Contaminants like dust mites, pollen, mold spores, and other allergens can proliferate if not properly managed through adequate ventilation and filtration systems. Local HVAC companies offer air quality solutions that encompass everything from humidifiers to whole-house air purifiers—equipping homes and offices with cleaner air that promotes healthier living environments.

Why Choose a HVAC Company Near Me

Selecting an HVAC service provider in close proximity offers several advantages. Quick response times mean faster resolution when your heating or cooling system faces unexpected issues—comfort can be restored without undue delay. Proximity also fosters stronger customer relationships; local HVAC technicians are more attuned to regional climate challenges and energy efficiency standards relevant to your area.

A nearby professional team can provide personalized recommendations based on an intimate understanding of your local weather patterns. They're equipped not just with tools but insights into what solutions best suit your specific needs for heating, cooling, or improving air quality. In conclusion, maintaining optimal indoor temperature and air quality throughout the year is essential for comfort and health.

Finding a dependable HVAC company near me ensures that professional help is never too far away when it comes to overseeing your home or business's environmental conditions through proficient heating, cooling, and air quality management services. Whether you're looking to install new equipment or seeking routine maintenance on existing systems—a local touch makes all the difference in achieving lasting household comfort and operational peace of mind.

Contact Us:

Address: 2509 Cayer Ln, Suite B, Columbia, Tennessee, 38401, US

Phone: 931-534-9943

Website: https://calltrueblueair.com/

[libraryofva]

Recent Acquisition - Photograph Collection

Students and teacher, Columbia Furnace, VA. 1931. Grades 1-3.

[lockhartindustries]

Evaluating and Enhancing Indoor Air Quality: A Guide for BC Homeowners

How to Test Air Quality in Your BC Home

Indoor air quality plays a crucial role in our health and comfort, yet it is often overlooked. The air inside our homes can significantly affect our well-being and overall quality of life.

In British Columbia, air quality issues are especially pertinent. The region's frequent wildfires release a variety of pollutants into the air, impacting both outdoor and indoor environments. Additionally, the growth of urban areas introduces pollutants from vehicles, industries, and other sources into our homes.

Testing the air quality in your home is essential for creating a safe and healthy living space. Several methods are available for assessing indoor air quality, ranging from DIY options to professional services.

Identifying Common Indoor Air Pollutants

While we often focus on outdoor air pollution, the quality of the air inside our homes is equally important. Indoor air pollution can arise from various sources, making it essential to identify and address these issues.

Common Indoor Air Pollutants

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): These chemicals are emitted from household products such as paints, cleaning supplies, furniture, and scented candles. Long-term exposure to high levels of VOCs can lead to respiratory problems and other health issues.

Particulate Matter: Tiny particles suspended in the air, including dust, pollen, pet dander, and particles from cooking and heating, can exacerbate allergies and respiratory conditions.

Mould and Mildew: Damp or humid indoor environments can promote the growth of mould and mildew, releasing spores into the air. Inhaling mould spores can trigger allergic reactions and respiratory symptoms.

Radon: A colourless and odourless radioactive gas that can seep into homes from the ground. Long-term exposure to high radon levels is a known cause of lung cancer.

Carbon Monoxide (CO): A toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion of fuel, often from gas stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces. High levels of CO can be life-threatening.

Asbestos: Historically used as a fire retardant, asbestos is found in older homes and poses a risk when disturbed. Inhaling asbestos fibers over time can lead to lung cancer.

DIY Methods for Testing Home Air Quality

There are various DIY options for testing the air quality in your home. These methods can provide valuable insights into the overall health of your indoor environment.

Home Air Quality Test Kits

Home air quality test kits are a convenient and cost-effective way to assess the air you breathe inside your house. These kits allow you to collect indoor air samples and send them off for laboratory analysis.

Different types of tests can be conducted with these kits, including:

Tests for mould in your home

Tests for dust, allergens, VOCs, asbestos, and metals

Tests for bacteria and yeast

Home Air Quality Monitors

Using a home air quality monitor is another straightforward method to test your home's air quality. These devices are user-friendly and provide real-time data on the levels of pollutants in your indoor environment.

These monitors measure and display information about particulate matter, VOCs, carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and humidity.

Visual Inspections

You can also conduct visual inspections to assess the air quality in your home. Look for signs of mould growth or water damage on walls, ceilings, or floors. Pay attention to musty odours or excessive dust accumulation, which may indicate poor indoor air quality.

By utilizing these DIY methods, you can gain valuable insights into your home's air quality and take appropriate measures to improve it for better overall health.

Professional Air Quality Testing Services

For a more comprehensive assessment of your indoor air quality, professional testing services offer several advantages that provide more accurate results and peace of mind:

Expertise: Professionals have the knowledge and experience, along with advanced equipment and techniques, that DIY methods lack. They can detect a wide range of harmful substances that may not be easily detectable with kits or monitors.

Protocols: Testers follow strict protocols and standards that ensure consistency and reliability in their results. They provide detailed reports explaining the findings and recommending appropriate actions if necessary.

Time and Effort: Instead of spending hours on different DIY tests, professionals can quickly and efficiently evaluate your indoor air quality, allowing you to address any issues promptly before they worsen.

Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Taking proactive steps can help create a healthier living environment for you and your family. Here are some ways to improve the air quality in your home:

Regularly clean and vacuum to remove dust and pet dander, which can contribute to poor air quality.

Use natural cleaning products instead of those with harsh chemicals that can release harmful fumes into the air.

Minimize indoor smoking as much as possible.

Ensure adequate ventilation in your home, such as exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. Open windows whenever possible to allow fresh air circulation.

Control moisture levels in your home. High humidity can lead to mould growth. Use dehumidifiers or ensure proper ventilation in damp areas like basements and bathrooms.

Concerned About Your Air Quality? Call Lockhart Industries!

Lockhart Industries is dedicated to helping you create a clean and safe environment for you and your family. With our expertise, we can guide you toward achieving the best air quality in your home or business and provide solutions to any issues that may arise.

Don't compromise on the air quality in your home. Trust Lockhart Industries in Duncan for all your indoor air quality needs. We will ensure that you and your family breathe clean and healthy air every day. Contact us today to discuss your options!

*Don't forget to follow us on Facebook for essential HVAC tips!

[lockhart4132-blog]

Evaluating and Enhancing Indoor Air Quality: A Guide for BC Homeowners

How to Test Air Quality in Your BC Home

Indoor air quality plays a crucial role in our health and comfort, yet it is often overlooked. The air inside our homes can significantly affect our well-being and overall quality of life.

In British Columbia, air quality issues are especially pertinent. The region's frequent wildfires release a variety of pollutants into the air, impacting both outdoor and indoor environments. Additionally, the growth of urban areas introduces pollutants from vehicles, industries, and other sources into our homes.

Testing the air quality in your home is essential for creating a safe and healthy living space. Several methods are available for assessing indoor air quality, ranging from DIY options to professional services.

Identifying Common Indoor Air Pollutants

While we often focus on outdoor air pollution, the quality of the air inside our homes is equally important. Indoor air pollution can arise from various sources, making it essential to identify and address these issues.

Common Indoor Air Pollutants

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): These chemicals are emitted from household products such as paints, cleaning supplies, furniture, and scented candles. Long-term exposure to high levels of VOCs can lead to respiratory problems and other health issues.

Particulate Matter: Tiny particles suspended in the air, including dust, pollen, pet dander, and particles from cooking and heating, can exacerbate allergies and respiratory conditions.

Mould and Mildew: Damp or humid indoor environments can promote the growth of mould and mildew, releasing spores into the air. Inhaling mould spores can trigger allergic reactions and respiratory symptoms.

Radon: A colourless and odourless radioactive gas that can seep into homes from the ground. Long-term exposure to high radon levels is a known cause of lung cancer.

Carbon Monoxide (CO): A toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion of fuel, often from gas stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces. High levels of CO can be life-threatening.

Asbestos: Historically used as a fire retardant, asbestos is found in older homes and poses a risk when disturbed. Inhaling asbestos fibers over time can lead to lung cancer.

DIY Methods for Testing Home Air Quality

There are various DIY options for testing the air quality in your home. These methods can provide valuable insights into the overall health of your indoor environment.

Home Air Quality Test Kits

Home air quality test kits are a convenient and cost-effective way to assess the air you breathe inside your house. These kits allow you to collect indoor air samples and send them off for laboratory analysis.

Different types of tests can be conducted with these kits, including:

Tests for mould in your home

Tests for dust, allergens, VOCs, asbestos, and metals

Tests for bacteria and yeast

Home Air Quality Monitors

Using a home air quality monitor is another straightforward method to test your home's air quality. These devices are user-friendly and provide real-time data on the levels of pollutants in your indoor environment.

These monitors measure and display information about particulate matter, VOCs, carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and humidity.

Visual Inspections

You can also conduct visual inspections to assess the air quality in your home. Look for signs of mould growth or water damage on walls, ceilings, or floors. Pay attention to musty odours or excessive dust accumulation, which may indicate poor indoor air quality.

By utilizing these DIY methods, you can gain valuable insights into your home's air quality and take appropriate measures to improve it for better overall health.

Professional Air Quality Testing Services

For a more comprehensive assessment of your indoor air quality, professional testing services offer several advantages that provide more accurate results and peace of mind:

Expertise: Professionals have the knowledge and experience, along with advanced equipment and techniques, that DIY methods lack. They can detect a wide range of harmful substances that may not be easily detectable with kits or monitors.

Protocols: Testers follow strict protocols and standards that ensure consistency and reliability in their results. They provide detailed reports explaining the findings and recommending appropriate actions if necessary.

Time and Effort: Instead of spending hours on different DIY tests, professionals can quickly and efficiently evaluate your indoor air quality, allowing you to address any issues promptly before they worsen.

Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Taking proactive steps can help create a healthier living environment for you and your family. Here are some ways to improve the air quality in your home:

Regularly clean and vacuum to remove dust and pet dander, which can contribute to poor air quality.

Use natural cleaning products instead of those with harsh chemicals that can release harmful fumes into the air.

Minimize indoor smoking as much as possible.

Ensure adequate ventilation in your home, such as exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. Open windows whenever possible to allow fresh air circulation.

Control moisture levels in your home. High humidity can lead to mould growth. Use dehumidifiers or ensure proper ventilation in damp areas like basements and bathrooms.

Concerned About Your Air Quality? Call Lockhart Industries!

Lockhart Industries is dedicated to helping you create a clean and safe environment for you and your family. With our expertise, we can guide you toward achieving the best air quality in your home or business and provide solutions to any issues that may arise.

Don't compromise on the air quality in your home. Trust Lockhart Industries in Duncan for all your indoor air quality needs. We will ensure that you and your family breathe clean and healthy air every day. Contact us today to discuss your options!

*Don't forget to follow us on Facebook for essential HVAC tips!

[newstfionline]

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Universities Struggle as Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations Grow (NYT) At New York University, the police swept in to arrest protesting students on Monday night, ending a standoff with the school’s administration. At Yale, the police placed protesters’ wrists into zip ties on Monday morning and escorted them onto campus shuttles to receive summonses for trespassing. Columbia kept its classroom doors closed on Monday, moving lectures online and urging students to stay home. Harvard Yard was shut to the public. Nearby, at campuses like Tufts and Emerson, administrators weighed how to handle encampments that looked much like the one that the police dismantled at Columbia last week—which protesters quickly resurrected. And on the West Coast, a new encampment bubbled at the University of California, Berkeley. Less than a week after the arrests of more than 100 protesters at Columbia, administrators at some of the country’s most influential universities were struggling, and largely failing, to calm campuses torn by the conflict in Gaza and Israel.

Haiti health system nears collapse as medicine dwindles, gangs attack hospitals and ports stay shut (AP) On a recent morning at a hospital in the heart of gang territory in Haiti’s capital, a woman began convulsing before her body went limp as a doctor and two nurses raced to save her. But the Doctors Without Borders hospital in the Cite Soleil slum was running low on key medicine to treat convulsions. “The medication she really needs, we barely have,” said Dr. Rachel Lavigne, a physician with the medical aid group. It’s a familiar scene repeated daily at hospitals and clinics across Port-au-Prince, where life-saving medication and equipment is dwindling or altogether absent as brutal gangs tighten their grip on the capital and beyond. They have blocked roads, forced the closure of the main international airport in early March and paralyzed operations at the country’s largest seaport, where containers filled with key supplies remain stuck. “Everything is crashing,” Lavigne said. Haiti’s health system has long been fragile, but it’s now nearing total collapse.

UK passes law to send asylum seekers to Rwanda (BBC) After months of wrangling, the British Parliament has passed a controversial bill, paving the way for asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda. It’s a flagship immigration policy for the Conservative government of Rishi Sunak, who said it would make clear “if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay". About 52,000 asylum seekers could be sent to the East African country. Yvette Cooper, who oversees interior policies for the Labour opposition, called the plan an "extortionately expensive gimmick". And charities describe it as a "breach of international law". In a statement, Mr Sunak said: "We introduced the Rwanda bill to deter vulnerable migrants from making perilous crossings." On Tuesday morning, after the passing of the bill, my colleagues witnessed about 30 migrants boarding a small boat on a beach in northern France. Five other people, including a child, died as they attempted to cross the Channel.

Russian Attacks Crush Factories and Way of Life in Ukrainian Villages (NYT) Its towering smokestacks once puffed out clouds of steam. In gigantic machine rooms, turbines whirled around the clock. Furnaces burned trainloads of coal. In the Soviet era, the Kurakhove Heating and Power Plant gave rise to the town around it in Ukraine’s east, driving the local economy and sustaining the community with wages and heating for homes. “Our plant is the heart of our city,” said Halyna Liubchenko, a retiree whose husband worked his entire career in nearby coal mines that fed the facility. That heart is barely beating now, partly destroyed by artillery. The plant is among the last still operating in Ukraine’s Donbas region, once the country’s center of heavy industry and now a focal point of Russian ground offensives that are ravaging towns and cities along the front line. War in eastern Ukraine has killed tens of thousands of people, reduced cities to ruins and displaced millions of people. It has also all but destroyed the factories and plants that were for years an important driver of Ukraine’s economy.

Modi Calls Muslims ‘Infiltrators’ Who Would Take India’s Wealth (NYT) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called Muslims “infiltrators” who would take India’s wealth if his opponents gained power—unusually direct and divisive language from a leader who normally lets others do the dirtiest work of polarizing Hindus against Muslims. Mr. Modi, addressing voters in the state of Rajasthan, aimed his emotional appeal at women, addressing “my mothers and sisters” to say that his Congress opponents would take their gold and give it to Muslims. Implications that Muslims have too many babies, that they are coming for Hindus’ wives and daughters, that their nationality as Indian is itself in doubt are often made by representatives of Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, or B.J.P. Mr. Modi’s use of such language himself, as he campaigns for a third term in office, raised alarm that it could inflame right-wing vigilantes who target Muslims.

Asia’s Heat Wave Scorches Hundreds of Millions (NYT) Hundreds of millions of people in South and Southeast Asia were suffering on Monday from a punishing heat wave that has forced schools to close, disrupted agriculture, and raised the risk of heat strokes and other health complications. The weather across the region in April is generally hot, and comes before Asia’s annual summer monsoon, which dumps rain on parched soil. But this April’s temperatures have so far been unusually high. In Bangladesh, where schools and universities are closed this week, temperatures in some areas have soared above 107 degrees Fahrenheit, or 42 degrees Celsius. Those numbers don’t quite capture how extreme humidity makes the heat feel even worse. The heat wave could lead to more cases of certain diseases, including cholera and diarrhea, said Be-Nazir Ahmed, a public health expert in Bangladesh. Mr. Ahmed said that people should ideally try to work earlier in the morning and later at night, when temperatures are lower. But that is easier said than done in a country where many people work outdoors.

Mama’s boys and marital strife are no joke in today’s China (Washington Post) Tales about evil mothers-in-law and marital bust-ups have landed China’s wildly popular ultrashort dramas in trouble with official censors. Beijing is cracking down on the format’s allegedly “inappropriate” plots about marital strife for fear they will hurt the government’s campaign encouraging families to stay together and have more children. Huang Zhongjun, a scholar at Zhejiang Normal University who has studied micro-dramas, says the format has proven harmful to society in part because viewers are fed unrealistic plots that “vilify people and amplify conflicts” within families. Young people, who spend more time with their screens than real people, are becoming “emotionally deficient” and “unwilling to get married or have children,” he added. Censors this month called out mother-in-law dramas for straying from “mainstream values” approved by the Chinese Communist Party. Since China’s population began to shrink in 2022, officials have stepped up controls on “unhealthy” portrayals of love and marriage in popular culture. At the same time, they have dialed up propaganda to encourage young couples to settle down and get busy having children.

Taiwan rattled by more than 200 quakes, but no major damage (Reuters) Taiwan’s quake-hit eastern county of Hualien was rattled by more than 200 aftershocks late on Monday and early on Tuesday, but only minor damage was reported and no casualties and major chipmaker TSMC said it saw no impact on operations. Largely rural and sparsely populated Hualien was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on April 3 that killed at least 17 people, and there have been more than 1,000 aftershocks since. Buildings across large parts of northern, eastern and western Taiwan, including in the capital, Taipei, swayed throughout the night, with the largest quake measuring a 6.3 magnitude. All were very shallow.

Iran’s Israel strike coincided with crackdown on dissent at home, activists say (Reuters) The same day Iran launched its first ever direct attack on Israel it embarked on a less-noticed confrontation at home, ordering police in several cities to take to the streets to arrest women accused of flouting its strict Islamic dress code. Iranian authorities insist that their so-called Nour (Light) campaign targets businesses and individuals who defy the hijab law, aiming to respond to demands from devout citizens who are angry about the growing number of unveiled women in public. But activists and some politicians say the campaign appears aimed not only at enforcing mandatory hijab-wearing, but also at discouraging any wider dissent at a vulnerable moment for the clerical rulers. Under Iran’s sharia, or Islamic law, women are obliged to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes. Offenders face public rebuke, fines or arrest. The laws have become a political flashpoint since protests over the death of a young woman in the custody of the country’s “morality police” in 2022 spiralled into the worst political turmoil since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Israelis Prepare to Mark Passover, a Festival of Freedom, With Hostages Still in Gaza (NYT) Many Israelis were in a somber mood on Monday as they prepared to usher in Passover, the Jewish festival of freedom, saying they would mark the holiday rather than celebrate it, with more than 130 hostages remaining in Gaza. The number of hostages believed to be alive is unclear, and with negotiations with Hamas captors at an impasse, there is little prospect of their imminent release. The holiday is to start after sundown on Monday with the traditional Seder meal. By tradition, this is a joyful gathering of family and friends who follow a ritual order of blessings over symbolic foods as they retell the biblical story of the bondage and suffering of the ancient Israelites in Egypt and their exodus and liberation.

Report says Israel has not provided evidence of widespread militancy among UNRWA staff (Washington Post) Israel has not provided evidence that significant numbers of workers with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees are tied to militant groups, but the agency must implement more robust vetting of staff members to ensure neutrality and work to reestablish trust with donors, a highly anticipated report said Monday. Former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, who led the group, called the agency “indispensable and irreplaceable” in a news conference Monday. “As we speak, at this critical time, UNRWA has a vital role in the humanitarian response in Gaza,” she added. The findings released Monday will largely come as a relief to the embattled agency—pitched into an existential crisis in January after Israel alleged that a dozen of its 13,000 employees in Gaza participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks and that more than 10 percent had ties to militant groups. Sixteen major donors, including the United States, promptly suspended funding worth about $450 million, nearly half of UNRWA’s budget for the year.

74 is the new 71 (Yahoo) New research suggests that 74 is the new 71. Our perception of when “old age” begins is shifting, with most people believing this phase of life begins later than they used to, according to a new study published in the journal Psychology and Aging. While the study didn’t look at why this shift has occurred, experts say it makes sense—and is probably a good thing; humans on average are living longer than ever, and examples of people living full lives well beyond retirement age abound. Experts on aging—some of whom are in their 70s and 80s themselves—aren’t surprised, and say it’s part of a promising shift away from negative stereotypes about what getting older means. “Now, in most people’s daily lives, they know somebody who is 100,” Ellen Langer, a professor of psychology at Harvard University who researches mindset and aging, tells Yahoo Life. In the past, “you didn’t know anybody who lived to 100.”

[david843346]

Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag Market Size, Share, Latest Trends, and Growth Research Report 2024-2036

A comprehensive analysis of the “Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag Market Size, Share, Latest Trends, and Growth Research Report 2024-2036” provides an accurate overview and thorough analysis of the market industries in the present and the future. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the market, including current market trends, future projections, and an in-depth analysis of the major players in the industry. It provides a comprehensive overview of the market, including current market trends, future projections, and an in-depth analysis of the major players in the industry.

Request Free Sample Copy of this Report @

Report findings provide valuable insights into how businesses can capitalize on the opportunities provided by these dynamic market factors. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the major players in the industry, including their product offerings, contact and income information, and value chain optimization strategies. Furthermore, it offers an in-depth analysis of the leading businesses in the industry based solely on the strength of their business plans, product descriptions, and business strategies.

Key Findings

Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag Market has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by factors such as increasing consumer demand and technological advancements.

The market segmentation analysis revealed several key segments, including Type, Grade, Cover, Application, End-Use each with unique characteristics and growth potential.

Regional analysis highlighted the strong performance of Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag Market in regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with emerging markets showing promising growth opportunities.

Analyzing the Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag Market

A thorough understanding of the Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag Market will provide businesses with opportunities for growth such as customer acquisition, enhancements to their services, and strategic expansions.

By incorporating market intelligence into their operations, businesses can anticipate changes in the economy, assess the effect these factors may have on their operations, and create plans to counteract any negative effects.

Market intelligence helps organizations stay ahead of the curve through insights into consumer behavior, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics.

Using Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag Market data can provide organizations with an edge in the competitive market and establish prices and customer satisfaction levels.

In a dynamic market environment, business validation helps companies develop business plans and assures their long-term survival and success.

What are the most popular areas for Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag Market?

The North American continent includes Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The European Union is made up of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, the Republic of Turkey, and Russia.

The Asia-Pacific region is comprised of China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

The region of Latin America, which includes Brazil, Argentina, and Columbia

In addition to Africa, the Middle East includes South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Report highlights include:

There is a 360-degree synopsis of the industry in question in this study, which encompasses all aspects of the industry.

The report presents numerous pricing trends for the keyword.

Additionally, the report includes some financial data about the companies included in the competitive landscape.

The study enumerates the key regulatory norms governing the keyword market in developed and developing economies.

Additionally, the keyword report provides definitions of the market terms referred to in the document for the sake of convenience.

Future Potential

In the keyword research report, various primary and secondary sources are used to describe the methodology of conceptualizing the study. It has been discussed in the study what the scope of the report is and what elements it contains in terms of the growth spectrum of the keyword. The document also includes financial data of the companies profiled, along with the current price trends of the keyword.

Access our detailed report at@