#commercial air quality testing in NYC

[betterairqualityny]

Purpose of Commercial Air Quality Testing in NYC, New York City, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, Lower Manhattan, and Queens, NY

Inhaling quality air filled with oxygen and very few contaminants is desirable. The city air tends to be polluted, circulating inside various offices and other workplaces unable to meet standards. This makes it essential to consider commercial air quality testing in NYC, New York City, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, Lower Manhattan, and Queens, NY, thus ensuring a comfortable working area and good health for all concerned.

It is essential to understand that vacuuming the rooms and dusting will not suffice when numerous employees work in a small, compact room. The HVAC systems that continue to function throughout the day do little to improve the air quality. On the contrary, the HVAC system may be the problem rather than the solution, making it essential to occasionally consider professional testing and air cleaning services. ​ The reason for testing the air quality is that it is clear enough. Identifying various contaminants and taking measures to eliminate them as much as possible remains the key purpose behind air testing. The people working in such an environment are shocked to discover that the air has been tainted with the following pollutants moving along with the circulating air and entering the respiratory system of the individuals without any barrier. Some of the more troublesome contaminants need to be eradicated from the air after the test reveals their presence, including the following: -

l Biological elements such as bacteria, viruses, molds, mildew l Chemical compounds, including formaldehyde, paint & cleaning agents, carbon monoxide, and various types of VOCs l Particulate Matter such as pollen, dust, and suspended contaminants capable of irritating the respiratory system l The presence of gases like Radon, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide While it is important to have indoor air quality tested regularly at all commercial spaces, the following indications make it imperative to do so without delaying the identification of the pollutants and quickly cleaning up the air quality.

· Poor airflow inside the office/workplace · Temperature variations in different areas of the office denoting an improperly balanced HVAC system · Visible streams of dust in the air · Presence of VOCs from paint and other construction, office maintenance, or cleaning supplies · Inadequate ventilation in high-traffic & high-occupancy areas of the building · Health issues occurring due to the presence of high levels of carbon compounds · Sewer gas compelling the employees to complain about malodors · Water damage · Presence of mold & mildew

Testing for contaminants in the circulating air inside the workplace is not the solution. Proper identification of the diverse contaminants can enable the employer and management to clean the air perfectly, which is sure to result in the following benefits:

· Comfort for all concerned · Workplace Health and safety ensured · Compliance with local, state, and federal regulatory standards, including those set by the OSHA, EPA, and ASHRAE · Improved productivity and morale of the workforce · Low Absenteeism · Sustainability

Regular commercial air quality testing in NYC, New York City, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, Lower Manhattan, and Queens, NY, can help check for contaminants and identify various elements known to cause discomfort and health issues, leading to low productivity and a lack of motivation among employees.

[anthonygill18]

About IAC and Its working Experience

IAC (Indoor Air Care) founded by Rob Sindone is such a company that has experts and professionals in protecting the air that we breathe since 1989.  By 1995, it became one of largest Air Duct Cleaning and Indoor Air Quality companies in the tri-state area. In 2002, IAC – Indoor Air Care Professionals started a mold remediation division called Moldbusters Inc. They are professionalizing in quality air duct cleaning and HVAC cleaning for Long Island, Hamptons and NYC. They also provide services like HVAC & Air Duct Odor Removal/Control, HVAC Mold Removal, Air Duct Cleaning, Commercial & Residential Mold Testing etc.

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), the average six-room house collects 40 pounds of dirt, dust, and allergens in its air ducts each year. Up to 40,000 dust mites can live in each ounce of that dust. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. It’s that indoor air that circulates throughout the house every time the heating or cooling system turns on. That is the reason dirty ducts can cause or worsen allergies and asthma, or lead to other serious health issues. In addition to creating dust, allergens, and even mold, dirty ducts can harm financially.  To find extra details please check out iacpros.com

As dirt and debris build up—preventing air from flowing freely throughout the ventilation system. So, the house heater or AC unit has to work harder in order to push air through. That means it will costs more to operate and also can shorten the life of the heater or air conditioning unit.

So IAC Long Island brings to the people their professional to help clean your air ducts and get them performing effectively and efficiently again. IAC Long Island team were been protecting air duct to the general resistance and commercial properties for over 30 years. IAC technicians are certified in Mold Remediation and have years of field experience. They are fully licensed and carry pollution insurance, which give a total insurance coverage no matter what happens.

[sterlingcleaningservices]

Janitorial Cleaning Services In NYC- A Much-Needed Service For Your Workplace!

Many businesses are hesitant in asking for help with janitorial services in NYC. Cleaning is essential for public places and when it comes to getting janitorial cleaning services for office spaces, it is highly needed to maintain hygiene and reduce the spread of germs and grime. Hire a top-notch cleaning service provider to get exclusive professional janitorial cleaning service with health-tested products and go on to experience extreme cleanliness.

Janitorial Cleaning services are one kind of commercial cleaning service that needs to tidy up and maintain a property. It's basically a daily cleaning task that ensures that the place is clean and well-maintained.

These cleaning services are important to prevent the spread of sickness and maintain the air quality level of the indoor environment. There are several types of janitorial cleaning services like janitorial service for buildings, janitorial service for offices, and many more. Though all are sounding the same, the process is different from one another. The scope of janitorial services depends on the facility that needs to be cleaned.

The people who are providing the complete janitorial service are referred to as janitors, custodians, or cleaners. Custodians have enough skills to provide unique professional janitorial cleaning services.

A janitor can provide the following services: • Sweeping and mopping • Removing trash • Vacuuming carpets • Dusting all the furniture • Cleaning washroom and restocking toilet supplies • Sanitizing and disinfecting

It's always the best option to appoint expert cleaners from Sterling Cleaning Services in NYC to get top-notch janitorial cleaning services. We have industry-based experienced cleaners to offer the neatest environment for your commercial building. You never need to think about cleanliness and hygiene after getting our janitorial cleaning services.

[sterlingcleaning]

Janitorial Cleaning Services In NYC- A Much-Needed Service For Your Workplace!

Many businesses are hesitant in asking for help with janitorial cleaning services in NYC. Cleaning is essential for public places and when it comes to getting janitorial cleaning services for office spaces, it is highly needed to maintain hygiene and reduce the spread of germs and grime. Hire a top-notch cleaning service provider to get exclusive professional janitorial cleaning service with health-tested products and go on to experience extreme cleanliness.

Janitorial Cleaning services are one kind of commercial cleaning service that needs to tidy up and maintain a property. It's basically a daily cleaning task that ensures that the place is clean and well-maintained.

These cleaning services are important to prevent the spread of sickness and maintain the air quality level of the indoor environment. There are several types of janitorial cleaning services like janitorial service for buildings, janitorial service for offices, and many more. Though all are sounding the same, the process is different from one another. The scope of janitorial services depends on the facility that needs to be cleaned.

The people who are providing the complete janitorial service are referred to as janitors, custodians, or cleaners. Custodians have enough skills to provide unique professional janitorial cleaning services.

A janitor can provide the following services:

Sweeping and mopping

Removing trash

Vacuuming carpets

Dusting all the furniture

Cleaning washroom and restocking toilet supplies

Sanitizing and disinfecting

It's always the best option to appoint expert cleaners from Sterling Cleaning Services in NYC to get top-notch janitorial cleaning services. We have industry-based experienced cleaners to offer the neatest environment for your commercial building. You never need to think about cleanliness and hygiene after getting our janitorial cleaning services.

[certifiedinspectionsofficial]

What Certifications & Credentials  Should Your Home Inspector Have?

For the past decade or so, the state of New York has implemented a licensing requirement to perform residential or commercial building inspections. In order to obtain a license, one must not only take a test, but apprentice with an experienced inspector for a certain period of time and for a prescribed number of inspections. Alternately, an individual can be grandfathered into obtaining their license if they have performed a certain number of inspections within a prescribed amount of time. When licensing came into effect in New York, I was able to be grandfathered in, due to all of my past experience.

Prior to the licensing law, anyone was legally entitled to perform inspections, which left the public vulnerable to unqualified individuals doing shoddy work. Although licensing still does not guarantee quality in an inspector, it at least is a step in the right direction and is better than it was. So how did folks know who to use if there was no license?

Becoming Affiliated with a Professional Organization

The best way was always to become affiliated with a professional organization. These kinds of organizations generally provided ongoing educational classes and seminars, and some even had tests one had to pass to become a full member.

At one time or another, I was affiliated with ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors), NAHI (National Association of Home Inspectors), NAPI (National Association of Property Inspectors), the American Homeowners Foundation, the International Association for

Energy Economics (IAEE), the National Pest Control Association, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the National Society of Environmental Consultants, and the National Environmental Association.

There are also home inspection schools or institutes from which one could provide a diploma or certificate. I attended the Building Specs Institute in Annapolis, MD, the B.O.C.E.S. course in home inspection, the BTS Laboratory course on mold testing, seminars given by EMSL Analytical labs, and many continuous education seminars given by ASHI.

Why Specific Training in the Home Inspection field is Paramount ?

Although work experience in related fields like construction, architecture and engineering are helpful, they do not address all of the specific needs required to perform a quality home inspection, which is why specific training in the home inspection field is paramount. Although licensing is now required, what is more important is actual field experience, so when choosing an inspector, one should always inquire as to how many years of experience the person has. For instance, I have been doing them for 25 years. Would you rather hire someone to look over the biggest investment in your life who has been doing this for 25 years or one who has been doing it for 2 years?  And as always, be wary of referrals from real estate agents. The inspector they recommend may be good but they also may either do “quickie” inspections where they say everything is okay in order to please the agent and get more work from them, or even get a kickback. Remember, the agent stands to get a big, juicy commission if the sale goes through, so why would they recommend a tough inspector who is trying to protect the home buyer and point out all the defects in the house?

ABOUT US –

Certified Inspections is the #1 Mold Testing & Mold Inspections Company in Westchester , Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Fairfield, Bergen Counties & New York City.

We serve throughout the NYC, NJ, CT Tri-State Area, including Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Fairfield, Bergen Counties & New York City.

Certified Home & Building Inspections , Mold Testing, Mold Removal Plans , Indoor Air Quality, serving the Greater New York, New Jersey, Connecticut Metro Area.

[hvac-repair-near-me]

HVAC Installation Made Us Simple

HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It is used to refer to three distinct systems that are part of a complete home or business HVAC system. First and foremost, HVAC refers to heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. This system provides cooling and heating to commercial and residential buildings. HVAC also distributes air through ductwork throughout the building through an air distribution system.

There are three major components that make up the HVAC system and they include the furnace, the heat pump, and the air compressor. Together these units provide all the heating and cooling needs for many years. The V in HVAC stands for ventilation, because the air conditioner exchanges air inside a space with outside air. A clean, dry HVAC system can last for many years, so it is important to make sure that it is maintained properly by hiring a qualified HVAC professional.

When you call an HVAC company to fix your heating, air conditioning, or refrigeration problems, you will be able to schedule an appointment at any time. This allows you to have someone come to your home and inspect the system before it breaks down. An HVAC professional will also be able to repair your furnace or heat pump. Furnaces need to be replaced periodically, especially if it is over 50 years old, so it is good to have it inspected on a regular basis. It is important to have your furnace serviced every year, and this should be done by a licensed HVAC professional as well.

Another important factor to consider when calculating the average cost of HVAC services is the amount of labor that it will require to install the HVAC system. It is usually quite simple for an furnace repair professional to simply disconnect the old furnace and hook up the new one. If there are any wires that need to be connected, they generally just have to be reconnected. Once this is done, you just need to close up the space where the HVAC system is being installed, which usually requires no more work than putting up a screen. Since HVAC systems are quite inexpensive, it makes sense to hire a qualified HVAC expert for the installation, rather than attempting to do it yourself.

When you have an HVAC installation professional install your HVAC system, he will be able to use high quality refrigerant to fill the spaces between the walls of the HVAC system. Refrigerant helps to keep your HVAC unit cool, which is why it is important to have it replaced regularly. HVAC professionals know how to replace refrigerant and will do a great job with your HVAC installation. They will also know when it is time to change the refrigerant and how much to change it with, as well as knowing how to install your HVAC ductwork properly.

The HVAC professional will also install your HVAC unit properly. He will be measuring, inspecting, testing and cleaning the HVAC units throughout the house. If you don't know what your unit's efficiency rating is, it is always a good idea to find out this information before you start HVAC installation. Energy star measurements can help you get an idea of how efficient your HVAC is, allowing you to compare with other homes of the same size.

If you choose to attempt the installation on your own, it is important to follow all instructions carefully. HVAC repair can be tricky, so if you decide to do it on your own, make sure that you either have proper tools or knowledge of how to use them properly. If you attempt to repair your HVAC units without the proper knowledge, it could damage your HVAC systems or even cause it to stop running altogether.

Whether you choose to have a professional service perform the HVAC installation or you simply learn how to do it yourself, there are several benefits to having HVAC installation done. Your HVAC unit will run more efficiently, helping to lower your energy costs. In addition, you will avoid costly HVAC repair in NYC when the old fashioned part you need is no longer available.

[lumionblog-blog]

Drone-to-3D workflow for architectural visualizations

Architects and designers often need to know how a design will be incorporated into its real-life location, while clients and “non-architects” turn to photorealistic visuals (images, videos and more) for a deeper, more visceral understanding of the project and the architect’s intentions.

Story by Pjotr van Schothorst, Lumion (pjotr@lumion.com).

Nesselande Project with context made from this drone-to-3D workflow.

While working in Lumion, features such as OpenStreetMap (OSM) and satellite ground planes can provide some context for your design. They are suitable options for quickly building urban or rural environments relevant to your project’s location, but they’re also limited. 

For instance, OSM only provides rough building shapes, rendered white, and the satellite maps are flat, often outdated, and the resolution is too low for client visualization.

NYC skyline with context provided by OpenStreetMap, rendered in Lumion 8.3.

This all got me thinking — there has to be a better way to improve fast context-building without having to sacrifice photorealism. I investigated several options, starting with Google Maps and Google Earth SDKs, but these services do not allow their data to be used outside the scope of Google Maps and Google Earth, such as for architectural visualization.  

One solution is to create a 3D model of the environment using a series of photographs taken by a drone. This technique is sometimes used at construction sites to monitor progress, but it is not yet widely used for architecture design and visualization.

To test its viability, we used a drone-to-3D workflow for several real-life design projects. From our experiences, we derived a workflow simple enough to be used by architects (and not only 3D specialists). Using a modern drone and the software RealityCapture, it is now possible to capture an area of 300x300m and create a textured 3D model of sufficient quality for presenting a realistic background for your Lumion visualization.

Oh, and you can do all of this in one day. 

Workflow Summary

This summary is a condensed version. Click here for the full drone-to-3D workflow story (PDF).

Step 1: Buy a Drone.

Drones are getting cheaper, smaller and increasingly powerful by the minute. For this workflow, I used the DJI Mavic Air. It costs $800, weighs less than half a kilo and it can fly for 20 minutes on one battery. The DJI Mavic Air can also cover a distance of 10km and make 4K video and 4000x3000 images with good resolution. This is adequate for our purpose of creating 3D environments as a backdrop for architecture design or visualization.

10-inch tablet and tablet holder next to the DJI Mavic Air.

Also, I’d recommend that you buy some extra drone batteries and, if needed, a 10-inch Android tablet.

Step 2: Capture Drone Images.

Using a special app on your tablet for controlling a drone, e.g., Drone Harmony, the second step is to capture images around the area of interest.

The Drone Harmony app lets you draw the area of interest on a map, and then it calculates the flight path of the drone, capturing images automatically with a 60% overlap from the previous shot. This overlap is needed for automatic 3D model construction.

Example flight path in Drone Harmony.

Do five runs of the same flight path above the desired area, but make sure you assign a different camera angle for each flight. For instance, you can fly the first run with the camera pointed down and the other four runs with the camera tilted at 45 degrees. Each run takes 7 to 15 minutes, so the entire flying will take about 1 to 1.5 hours overall.

Step 3: Enter images into RealityCapture (RC).

While there are many different software programs for compiling drone images into a 3D model, I found RealityCapture as the best option. RealityCapture automatically aligns all of the images and then it creates a 3D model, adds textures and inspects the model’s quality. This literally takes a few minutes of manual work, and a few hours at most of background processing by the RealityCapture software.

Constructed 3D model after RC aligned and processed the images from your drone flights.

Step 4: Cut out the lesser detailed areas and unwanted objects.

If the quality of the model is OK, the next step is to cut out the lesser detailed areas and unwanted objects, and then simplify the 3D model to a smaller model. Depending on the model’s size and complexity, this can be anything between 30K and 1M triangles.

Cut out a specific area where you will insert your CAD building or spaces.

Texture the model again and export it in an FBX format. Cutting and simplifying the model takes between 20 minutes and one hour.

Step 5: Import the model into Lumion.

After importing the 3D drone model into Lumion, you can dress it up with trees, cars, people, furniture, etc. You can also import your design from SketchUp or your CAD/BIM program (Revit, 3ds Max, AutoCAD, Rhino, etc) on a separate layer. Make renders and animations.

Westpoint Apeldoorn Project, rendered in Lumion 8.5 after going through the drone-to-3D workflow.

This typically takes anywhere between 15 minutes and several hours.

If you want the full story, with detailed information and tons of great images and videos, check out the full Drone-to-3D workflow (PDF).

Testing the Workflow on Real-Life Projects

I used this workflow for several projects. One is a test project of a beach and dune area featuring an existing Lumion example house. The following two are commercial design projects from local architects. These are briefly described in the next sections.

Beach and Dune Area

Test project. Existing Lumion beach bungalow added to a 500x500m captured beach area near The Hague, The Netherlands.

Animation of the Dune and Beach Project

Nesselande Project

Private house design on a small island in a new residential area near Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Architect: Studio Aaan.

From the architect: “The house is located on a private island in a new urban development close to the city of Rotterdam. The house is oriented towards the new park located on the next island southwards. In order to be able to enjoy the views, the living areas are projected above the surrounding dike levels and the sleeping areas are located below. The lower floor is half sunk into the island and is organized around two patios. As a structuring design principle, the roof consists of expressive wooden beams in a dense pattern. The beams create a canopy on the south facade as well as a characteristic interior ceiling.”

Studio Aaan’s private home design (center right) in a 3D model of the real-life neighborhood of Nesselande, The Netherlands.

Nesselande project detail

Nesselande project interior

Nesselande project animation

Feedback from the architect, Hilbrand Wanders, of Studio Aaan: “For any architecture project, but especially a private, freestanding housing project, the interaction of the building with its surroundings is crucial. We want to study the project as an architectural object on its location, but also want to consider how the surroundings are experienced from the interiors. Only once a house is finished and the owners move in, one can precisely see how certain trees are creating shadows in the house, what objects in the surroundings are blocking views from a certain position, or how window openings are positioned relative to window openings of the surrounding buildings. These aspects are highly influential on the living qualities and are difficult and too time-consuming to model by hand completely early in the design process. It is very interesting for a designer to consider the correct 3D environment from the first moment on, to test the first design-ideas within a correct 3D surroundings, but also to communicate these to a client in a very clear and tempting format. In the case of this project, the fact that the views on the site were blocked by surrounding dikes, were the reason to place the living rooms on the first floor. All other design steps (bedrooms around patios in souterrain, the stepped garden wrapped around the house) were consequential to this notion.”

Westpoint Apeldoorn Project

Refurbishment of an existing office building into 98 apartments, each with a balcony, in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.

Architect: Paul Spaltman

Paul Spaltman’s design of a refurbished office building in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.

Another aerial render showing city context created from the Drone-to-3D workflow.

Front of the Westpoint Apeldoorn Project

Animation of the Westpoint Apeldoorn project:

Feedback from the architect, Paul Spaltman:

“Even though the 3D scan isn’t completely perfect, I can say that it offered an enormous additional quality and offered many new options. The fact that my design was embedded so clearly in the environment is an added value, not only during the design, but also during presentations and discussions with the customers, governments, and local citizens or whoever is involved. My client called that he is really positive about my design, and he will now discuss it with the city council (landscape, urban design, review etc.). The plan to replace the existing building is a sensitive topic with the people living in the area, so everybody is super critical. The 3D scan of the environment will play an important role in this approval process.”

Cost Overview

The following table sums up the software and hardware components I used. Other components may be needed, with additional costs, as well.

Creating your own 3D environments with drones

My experiences have shown that creating 3D environment models from drone images is very straightforward and feasible for any architecture design visualization.

The investment in time and money is relatively low, and any architect can do it without extensive training and/or the need for a 3rd-party service provider. The resulting models have value both in the design process (Lumion LiveSync) and for communicating with clients and other interest parties, like the city council and local citizens (Lumion rendered images and animations).

[holisticspaces]

5 Green Living Changes for Earth Day

Today is Earth Day, and the start of Earth Week. I encourage each of you to incorporate one green living change into your daily life. Below are five simple, yet impactful changes you can make.

1.  Adopt or Donate an Indoor Plant

I have a Golden Pothos from when I first moved to New York City in 2003. I can't even remember who gave it to me, but it was a housewarming gift. This plant is so hardy, it's survived and flourished through weeks of forgetful watering and even a dark ground floor apartment. In feng shui, house plants bring life energy into a indoor space. They can create a softer and more vibrant energy in a home or office.  Living plants are wonderful for improving overall indoor air quality. The Goldon Pothos is said to be particularly good for removing formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.  

What I love about the Golden Pothos is that they are easy to propagate. Simply cut off a 3" or longer piece, just below a leaf or a node (or joint). I like to take cuttings and place them in a glass of water. Alternatively, you can plant them, or you can wrap them in a wet paper towel and give them as gifts.

Orchids are also very common houseplants. What most people don't know is that after the flowers die, the remaining plant is still alive! The plant is dormant, and you can keep it. It's such a reward to see my orchids bloom every year.  

2.  Switch to a Renewable Energy Provider

An easy way to minimize your carbon footprint is to switch to a renewable energy provider. There are many different companies, and it really depends on where you live. It can be overwhelming to weed through all the companies, but it's worth it. The EPA gives some information on where you can find renewable energy companies for residential and commercial locations.  

Switching to Green Power does not typically mean that you need to install solar panels or a windmill on your roof. Although that is sometimes an option, in most urban areas this simply means that you can call your electricity provider and request you switch to a Green or Renewable energy source. In New York City, there are a handful of Energy Supply Companies (ESCOs) that provide a green option. You may see a small increase in your monthly bill, but in my experience it's very minimal. Probably around $10/month for a one bedroom apartment. You can also look into Renewable Energy Certificates RECS to offset your DIRTY electricity usage.

3.  Reduce Bottled Water Usage

Contrary to popular belief, the National Resources Defense Council NRDC says that bottled water is “subject to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those which apply to city tap water.”  If health is a concern, plastics are terrible to eat and drink from.  There may be Bisphenol A (BPA)s or other toxic chemicals and substances in plastic containers that will affect water quality.

In New York City, we have excellent quality tap water. I recommend those outside of NYC use a high quality water filter and drink tap water whenever possible. I use reusable glass bottles and my Soda Stream seltzer machine as much as possible at home.

4.  Buy Post Consumer Recycled Products

Most of us know by now, we need to recycle.  Reduce, reuse and recycle!  Note, recycle is last on that list.  

We put our glass bottles, metal cans, plastic bottles and paper/cardboard in the bins and out on the curb.  But what happens when we recycle? Sadly, not everything gets recycled. The recycling carter or your municipal recycler picks up the waste-- but if no one wants to buy the recyclables, they can put the unsellable material into the landfill. Glass, metals, cardboard and paper are typically easy to recycle. There is a market for these materials. Plastic is another story. Not all plastics are recyclable. The plastics that can be recycled have a shorter lifecycle, require more energy to recycle, and are not as valuable.

So.. what can we do? Purchase more Post Consumer Recycled products! "Recycled" typically means that the content is made from pre-consumer materials, such as the leftover waste from manufacturing. It's good, but not the same as Post Consumer. "Post Consumer Recycled" indicates that the recycled portion is from the recycled waste that you and I have put into our recycling bins. If we make an effort to purchase more post consumer recycled plastics, we in turn create a demand for the recyclable plastics. This will also cut down the creation of new plastics. 

5.  DIY Water Saving Toilet

My final tip is for those of us with a tank toilet. This is a toilet where there is a tank behind, rather than in the wall or with a flush-o-meter. It's super simple to make your own water saving toilet. Take an old plastic bottle (the ones you're no longer using!), and fill it up with water. Open the toilet tank cover, and place the plastic bottle inside. Be sure to avoid and not obstruct the toilet flap, ball, handles, etc., inside the tank. Voila! The water filled bottle will displace water in the toilet tank and reduce the water usage each time you flush.

As a final feng shui tip - be sure to keep your toilet bowl cover shut. The bathroom is a place where water is always coming in and out of the home. In feng shui, water represents wealth and money flow. Make sure you keep the toilet seat closed, as well as the bathroom door. This will keep the wealth from flowing away from you!

by Anjie Cho 

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[webdesignseo4-blog]

AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE IN NEW YORK, BROOKLYN, MANHATTANService Contract Benefits withHitech Central Air

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For many years, homeowners have been turning to New York City Air Conditioning for all of their HVAC repair service needs throughout the New York area. As a highly professional HVAC company, we understand how important having exceptional air quality is for the health and happiness of your family. This is why we offer a wide selection of HVAC services to New York area homeowners, and back them up with exceptional warranties. Take a look at our website to learn more about us and our services.

Maintaining the ventilation, air, and heating systems in your New York area home is the key to the longevity of your units and effective energy savings. With many years of experience in the industry, our employees have the knowledge and skill necessary to provide you with complete repair and maintenance services. We offer quality service on all aspects of your residential and commercial HVAC systems, from flat-rate diagnostic testing to AC repair and maintenance plans, and even full unit replacement.

We know that each person has individual needs about air quality in their homes, thus we have a tendency to spend a good deal of our time listening and apprehending our customers so we can make a custom-designed HVAC systems according to the dimensions of the family and the home and also the problems like allergies, smoking, pets, and more. We have a tendency to even provide room-by-room air management to satisfy the requirements of the individual members of the family.

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We’re experienced Air Conditioning professionals who continue to educate ourselves in technology while maintaining a safe, clean work environment. We practice and follow GREEN recycling policies and laws knowing the importance to NYC. We exceed required certifications of NYC and NYS to enhance our skills while ensuring the success of our mission. We strive to help our customers, their families and associates enjoy a harmonious, healthy, comfortable atmosphere.

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[betterairqualityny]

https://betterairqualityny.com/air-quality-testing-long-island-nyc/

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Startup scales up CNT membranes to make carbon-zero fuels for less than fossil fuels

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Mattershift, an NYC-based startup with alumni from MIT and Yale has achieved a breakthrough in making carbon nanotube (CNT) membranes at large scale. The startup is developing the technology’s ability to combine and separate individual molecules to make gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from CO2 removed from the air.

Tests confirming that Mattershift’s large-scale CNT membranes match the characteristics and performance of small prototype CNT membranes previously reported on in the scientific literature were published today in Science Advances. The paper was the result of a collaboration between Mattershift and researchers in the labs of Dr. Benny Freeman at The University of Texas at Austin and Dr. Jeffrey McCutcheon at the University of Connecticut.

For 20 years, researchers have shown that CNT membranes offer tremendous promise for a wide variety of uses including the low-cost production of ethanol fuel, precision drug delivery, low-energy desalination of seawater, purification of pharmaceutical compounds, and high-performance catalysis for the production of fuels. The difficulty and high cost of making CNT membranes has confined them to university laboratories and has been frequently cited as the limiting factor in their widespread use. Mattershift’s ability to mass-produce CNT membranes unleashes the potential of this technology.

“Achieving large scale production of carbon nanotube membranes is a breakthrough in the membrane field,” said Dr. Freeman, Professor of Chemical Engineering at UT Austin. “It’s a huge challenge to take novel materials like these and produce them at a commercial level, so we’re really excited to see what Mattershift has done here. There’s such a large, unexplored potential for carbon nanotubes in molecular separations, and this technology is just scratching the surface of what’s possible.”

The company has already booked its first sales and will ship products later this year for use in a seawater desalination process that uses the least amount of energy ever demonstrated at pilot scale.

“We’re excited to work with Mattershift because its membranes are uniquely tailored to allow salts to pass through our system while retaining our draw solute,” said John Webley, CEO of Trevi Systems in Petaluma, California. “We already demonstrated the world’s lowest energy desal process in our pilot plant in the UAE last year, and Mattershift’s membranes are going to allow us to push the energy consumption even lower.”

Three significant advances made this breakthrough possible. First, there has been a 100-fold reduction in the cost of carbon nanotubes in the last 10 years, with a corresponding increase in their quality. Second, is the growing understanding of how matter behaves in nano-confined environments like the interior of sub-nm CNTs, in which molecules move single file at high rates and act differently than they do in bulk fluids. And third, has been the increase in funding for tough tech startups, which enabled Mattershift to spend 5 years of intense R&D developing its technology.

“This technology gives us a level of control over the material world that we’ve never had before,” said Mattershift Founder and CEO, Dr. Rob McGinnis. “We can choose which molecules can pass through our membranes and what happens to them when they do. For example, right now we’re working to remove CO2 from the air and turn it into fuels. This has already been done using conventional technology, but it’s been too expensive to be practical. Using our tech, I think we’ll be able to produce carbon-zero gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels that are cheaper than fossil fuels.”

Video Demo: Mattershift prototype testing for molecular extraction of fuel: vimeo.com/251516969

Using CNT membranes to produce fuels is actually just one example of a technology predicted by Nobel Prize winning physicist, Richard Feynman in the 1950s, known as Molecular Factories. Molecular Factories work by combining processes such as catalysis, separation, purification, and molecular-scale manipulation by nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) to make things from molecular building blocks. Each nanotube acts as a conveyor belt that performs functions on molecules as they pass through, single file, analogous to how factories function at the macro scale.

“It should be possible to combine different types of our CNT membranes in a machine that does what molecular factories have long been predicted to do: to make anything we need from basic molecular building blocks,” said McGinnis. “I mean, we’re talking about printing matter from the air. Imagine having one of these devices with you on Mars. You could print food, fuels, building materials, and medicines from the atmosphere and soil or recycled parts without having to transport them from Earth.”

###

Mattershift designs and manufactures nanotube membranes for carbon-zero fuels, health and performance optimized air and water, and precision medicine. The startup was founded in 2013 to realize the potential of molecular factories, with the ultimate goal of printing matter from the air.

Mattershift was founded by Rob McGinnis. He was previously Co-founder and CTO of venture-backed startup Oasys Water, where his forward osmosis desalination technology cut the energy and cost of removing salt from water by 50%. McGinnis has authored over 30 patents and peer-reviewed articles in the fields of membranes, energy, desalination, and nanotechnology. He has a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Yale University.

Benny Freeman is the Richard B. Curran Centennial Chair in Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering. Dr. Freeman’s research is in polymer science and engineering specifically in mass transport of small molecules in solid polymers. His laboratory focuses on gas and liquid separations using polymer and polymer-based membranes, developing and characterizing new materials for hydrogen separation, natural gas purification, carbon capture, water/ion separation, desalination, and fouling resistant membranes. His research is described in 395 publications and 22 patents/patent applications. He has co-edited 5 books on these topics. He has won numerous awards, including the PMSE Distinguished Service Award (2016), AIChE Clarence (Larry) G. Gerhold Award (2013), Society of Plastics Engineers International Award (2013), the ACS Award in Applied Polymer Science (2009), and the AIChE Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology (2008).

Jeffrey McCutcheon is an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. Dr. McCutcheon’s research is in membrane separations with a focus on membrane fabrication and characterization. His group focuses on applications in liquid separations, including forward osmosis, membrane distillation, nanofiltration, and organic solvent separations. He has written 65 refereed publications, 3 patents, and 2 book chapters. He has won numerous awards including the FRI/John G. Kunesh Award from the AIChE Separations Division (2014), The DuPont Young Professor Award (2013), the 3M Nontenured Faculty Award (2011), and the Solvay Specialty Polymers Young Faculty Award (2011). He is President-elect of the North American Membrane Society and recently finished his term as Area Chair of Area 2D of the AIChE Separations Division (2015-2017).

Mattershift has been a member of the Grand Central Tech and The Hub incubators in NYC, and the Advanced Technology Laboratories Technology Incubation Program at UConn.

New post published on: http://www.livescience.tech/2018/03/09/startup-scales-up-cnt-membranes-to-make-carbon-zero-fuels-for-less-than-fossil-fuels/

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Uproxx, Brewbound, and the Internet Gaze on Women in Beer

In July 2019, pop culture website Uproxx published a list touting the best beer influencers on Instagram. The 12 individuals included bloggers, brewers, and photographers, and 10 of them happened to be women.

In a now-infamous episode of the Brewbound Podcast, former editor Chris Furnari derided these women. In a transcript of the episode, Furnari names the first two Instagrammers, who are male; then, he says, the list “goes to s*** and it’s all chicks who basically take photos of themselves in like low-cut tops with beer.” He refers to the women as “girls in tight clothing and bathing suits,” and their beer-focused Instagrams as “ones where we’re just looking at chicks.” This portion of the podcast has since been deleted.

Following the incident, Furnari made multiple public apologies, writing, “I unfairly stereotyped and made generalizations about a group of individuals who have clearly earned the right to be recognized.” He continues, “The comments I made were out of line and demonstrated a complete lapse in judgment.” His words proved to be insufficient, however. On July 25, 2019, Forbes.com announced Furnari left his position at Brewbound, an award-winning beer news website where he served as editor for more than eight years. It is unclear whether he resigned or was terminated.

For the record, the women Furnari referred to are Bella (@onehoppylady), a food and beverage photographer who did not share her surname at press time; Caitlin Johnson (@bigwrldsmallgrl), blogger and content manager; Heather Lewis (@beerbitty), blogger and former operations projects director at Brooklyn Brewery; and Megan Stone (@isbeeracarb), brewer at DuClaw Brewing Co. Some of their photos indeed include plunging necklines and bikinis, but there is diversity among their profiles. Stone (@isbeeracarb), for example, shares her beer-focused travel adventures and collaborations with other brewers; and Lewis (@beerbitty) posts about life experiences through the glass of memorable beers.

View this post on Instagram

So I had the pleasure of interviewing THE Sam Calagione of @dogfishhead at work recently!! I tried very hard not to fan girl over the legend I’ve been reading about for at least a decade, but I think a ton of my co-workers fan girl/fan boyed quite a bit when he came into the office. And I couldn’t resist getting a selfie 😅💁🏻‍♀️ What a fun guy! Super grateful that he made time in his schedule for this interview during his trip to NYC! We’re so proud to be distributing Dogfish Head at @unionbeerdist 🍻🍻 Head over to the @unionbeerdist IG and click on their link in bio to read the full interview!! And give them a follow too! ☺️🍻🤩

A post shared by Bella (@onehoppylady) on Feb 4, 2019 at 5:04pm PST

Furnari’s comments sparked fast and furious responses from men and women in the industry, many of whom are avid readers of Brewbound, fans of the slandered Instagrammers, or both. His departure caused even more controversy.

“Calling BS on this,” New Belgium spokesperson Jesse Claeys tweeted on July 25, 2019. “Furnari has always been a pro and a strong advocate for craft beer. Taking female beer/boob Instagram ‘influencers’ to task for essentially returning to misogynistic 70s era beer marketing is not a fireable offense.” (Update 8/12/19: New Belgium’s PR department requested VinePair clarify Claeys made this comment personally, not in his capacity as a spokesperson for the brand. His Twitter account has since been deleted.)

Beer writer and broadcast journalist Tara Nurin noted how easy it is to say something “stupid” on air in a Forbes.com piece, writing, “I feel the hosts were actually speaking up for women by chastising those whose personal branding suggests that their chests are more important than their faces and that their bodies speak louder than their minds… We still have a double standard but now it’s women who are commercializing themselves and trying to silence the men who give their opinions about it.”

Others argue these women deserve the same reverence and respect as Furnari or any beer professional. “I’m tired of women having to prove themselves as beer drinkers,” Melis, a.k.a. @thegirlwithbeer, who was also included in the list and prefers not to share her surname for safety reasons, wrote on her feed. Melis is a communications manager for a craft brewery in San Diego. “I work full time for an independent craft brewery, support the Brewers Guild and Pink Boots Society. […] You want beer culture to be more diverse and inclusive? Stop sh*tting on the people who bring diversity to it. Do better.”

View this post on Instagram

I have three significant things happening soon. The first one is that Melis @thegirlwithbeer and I are going to PANAMA next week!! I was invited to collab with @fulaicaza at @boquetebrewingcompany, and asked Melis to come along. Ale has a whole itinerary packed full of exciting things that we can’t wait to share with y’all. If you happen to live in Panama City, we will be doing a little meet and greet event. Check my stories for info. TAG your friends in Panama, we’d love to meet them!! And stay tuned for the next drop of news. 🇵🇦 ✈️ . . 🍻🍹: @southernbeergirl, myself, and @thegirlwithbeer drinking some @brooklynbrewery Bel Air sour and beer cocktails at @thepearlhotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #craftbeeronly #craftbeerlove #craftbeerbabe #craftbeergirl #brooklynbrewery #brooklynbeer #sourbeer #unicornhair #rainbowhair #craftbeercommunity #panamacitybeach #panamabeer #visitpanama #beerblogger #travelblogger #gypsybrewer #ladybrewer #girlswithbeer #dippindaisysswimwear #beerus #boquete #boquetepanama #sandiegogram #visitsandiego

A post shared by megan ✻ beer ✻ travel ✻ style (@isbeeracarb) on May 30, 2019 at 2:39pm PDT

Bella, a.k.a. One Hoppy Lady, also defended her right to control her own image in an Instagram post following the podcast, writing: “Does my fitted shirt discredit the 9 years I’ve spent in the beer industry? Does @isbeeracarb’s bikini erase all her brewing knowledge? Is @la_petite_biere too sexy to enjoy beer? […] I’m disappointed in Brewbound for publishing this harmful speech against women.”

(Ironically, or perhaps not at all, the Brewound Podcast topic was “diversity and inclusion.” It later featured an interview with D.C. brewery owner Julie Verratti, former chair and current member of the Brewers Association Diversity Committee.)

Womanhood, like beer, is political. What women say, wear, and do with our bodies in public is regularly politicized and policed. When the collective expertise of a group of young women is called into question because of the ways they present their bodies online, it opens our eyes to the ways conservatism and unsolicited criticism are unfortunately still present in the beer industry — and the world at large.

Interestingly, this is not the first time a listicle of influencers sparked controversy within the beer community. In 2017, “30 Female Beer Lovers You Must Follow On Instagram,” published by Men’s Health, also ruffled feathers. Some responses, from women as well as men, were strikingly similar to Furnari’s recent remarks.

View this post on Instagram

Quality is so important to me when I make beer, I make sure all of my ingredients are fresh and healthy before using them. I taste the wort and beer in every stage to make sure things are progressing as they should be. I’m so concerned about quality, which is why since I’ve started at @jaggedmountaincb we have been using the lab company @fermlyknow ! They have the specialized equipment that most breweries can not afford or have space for. They are able to test a wide range of things from ABV to calories. If you are worried about a contamination they can test for other unwanted yeasts/bacteria. I was able to visit their lab the other day and pretend like I was helping 😝 in all reality it was super cool to see how they go through the samples that us breweries send them. I was most fascinated by the way they test for calories! If you want to have a more in depth view be sure to check my stories. Fermly is a great option for breweries concerned about their beer quality, or just getting a more in depth view at your beer. Both of the owners have been in the beer industry, and give you a personal touch with direct communication. This is why if you mention me, southernbeergirl, you can get 10% off your first order with them! Check out the link in my bio to see all the services they offer 🔥 THEY TEST INTERNATIONALLY TOO! Have you ever gotten your beer tested? What are some things that surprised you the most?

A post shared by Alyssa (@southernbeergirl) on Jul 29, 2019 at 8:35am PDT

“I just think that championing these so-called IG ‘beer chicks’ is not the best vehicle for [recognition]… IG has just become an endless T&A parade with nearly naked pics being posted to lure you to their paid sites,” Hopgoddess312 wrote in a BeerAdvocate forum discussing the article. She also referred to the list as “a bunch of pics from women’s IG accounts, a good chunk of which are just tit pics and nothing to do with beer.” (Ironically, or perhaps not at all, Hopgoddess312’s profile photo is also a close-up of her breasts and a beer.)

“I feel this type of attention sets us back and demeans the hard working women who are in the industry,” Afro Beer Chick wrote in an October 2017 blog post. “There is no need to be a ‘hey look at me’ type beer chick… Let’s keep the boobs and butts for the other Instagram thots.”

On the other hand, the Men’s Health list was published in its “Sex” section. This is a meaningful editorial decision that reinforces the idea that attractive women and beer experts are two different subjects that often overlap.

Two years later, we are still grappling with these nuances. When members of the beer community see women baring it all in their photos, and earning more “likes” and followers, it’s easy to critique them for marketing to the male gaze. Yet when a male figure enters the ring to publicly condemn these same women, many jump to the women’s defense. What’s the deal?

It’s all about agency and respect. All members of the beer community should be able to present themselves however they choose, so long as they’re not hurting anybody; it’s not up to us to dictate what’s best for anyone else.

Yes, many of the Instagrammers included in last month’s list have sexy public personas. They’re also equipped with brains and beer expertise. Assuming anything less does a disservice to us all.

The article Uproxx, Brewbound, and the Internet Gaze on Women in Beer appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/beer-boobs-misogyny/

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Eyes in the Sky: Drone Inspection for Smarter Operations in Government

Thirteen years ago, drones began solving problems in industries from construction to film. Today, drones are quickly becoming a ubiquitous luxury in the consumer electronics landscape, and sure enough, government agencies aren’t far behind in applying drones to the needs of government at the Federal and State level. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is the technical term for a drone solution, defined by: the aircraft, controller, and communications between the two. Furthermore, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is used interchangeably with the term UAS and refers to the aircraft itself.

While the government plays a critical role in regulating emerging technology like UAS, there is also value to adopt the technologies of the ‘Digital Revolution’. At a one-thousand-foot view, both literally and figuratively, UAS expedite processes, help with strategic decisions, automate tasks, and prevent catastrophe. This is made possible by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics that have put UAS at the forefront of the 4th Industrial Revolution.Technology like photogrammetric mapping, Watson Visual Recognition or Visual Insights, TRIRIGA workplace management, and more, all help make the data more digestible. Additionally, this comes as industry fuses UAS with the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT consists of a network of interconnected sensors that are used to help us make sense of the physical world – UAS is just that – an additional class of endpoints that provide value through data.

Evolution of Drones

Drones have been used heavily within the military to survey and destroy an enemy from the other side of the globe. UAS were first used during the First World War, but with no significant success, until camera equipped drones were used during the Vietnam War on Air Force missions that were deemed too risky for manned flights. In 1985, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contracted Abraham Karem, known as the “drone father”, to build UAV’s for wartime and domestic criminal activity.1 Since then, UAS have continually evolved in the military, but have also splintered towards a variety of other users.

UAS began to take hold outside of the military in 2006, where they were used to patrol the border, survey crime, inspect construction, and more. It was not until recently that they were used for recreational purposes. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) sees the use of industrial drones unfolding in three waves. The first, currently underway, involves line-of-sight applications in which an operator guides a drone and maintains visual contact. The second, ramping up within 5 years, will introduce remote applications, such as observation of ocean-going ships. The third wave, which could be up to 25 years away, would introduce full-size pilot-optional aircraft.2

Today, UAS has infinite applications in the Commercial Sector and the Public Sector is not far behind. UAS are used to expedite rooftop insurance claims by taking photographs of the rooftops and using computer vision AI to identify the severity of damage and whether it was inflicted by a human. Analytics are then used in conjunction with insurance platforms to process the claims of homeowners. As another example, UAS are used to ease the process of inspecting utility power lines by providing data on anomalies that would have otherwise been hazardous to a human traversing the area.

Drones in action

There are many cities using UAS in the Public Sector. For example, the New York Police Department (NYPD) introduced a UAS program that includes a fleet of 14 UAVs and will allow the NYPD to gather critical information while keeping civilians and officers safe. The UAVs will assist with search and rescue missions, crime scene documentation, evidence search at large or inaccessible locations, and the monitoring of traffic and pedestrian’s at large events.3

Additionally, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) which focuses on safe drone integration with state, local, and tribal governments.Out of the many participants, the City of Reno, NV, is testing the use of UAV to deliver Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to those suffering from a cardiac arrest. Once fully operational, the plan is to have the drone with the AED dispatched at the same time as First Responders.4

Beyond the Device

As the market matures, more value will migrate to Artificial Intelligence and software, especially for turnkey solutions that improve UAS operations by enhancing detect-and-avoid systems, enabling analytics, like IBM Visual Insights andVisual Recognition, and assisting with navigation in areas where drones cannot rely on a GPS signal.5 This technology sits within the drone “value chain” and there are many components of this chain, or ecosystem. The UAV market is relatively mature in photographic and video capabilities to provide users with an eye in the sky for faster, safer, and more detailed results. Today there is a focus on technology that can complement drone hardware for further value-add to an industry. Some examples are listed below:

Maps and Photogrammetry: GPS location and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications enable hardware manufacturers to create fully or semi-autonomous paths for UAVs. Accurate positioning is imperative for many use cases, for example, search and rescue or deploying UAVs to respond to crime. Photo overlay on satellite imagery helps with a post-hoc analysis after an event, for example, evaluating damage to homes after a forest fire. Additionally, photogrammetry is used to provide 3D renderings, point clouds, elevations, and measurements.

AI Computer Vision: Data is used to build and iterate models for object and image identification. Subject Matter Experts related to a specific use case will provide the expertise needed to build accurate models. This has been seen in identifying asset defects in public transportation structures. There are also applications in emergency response and beyond.

Predictive Analytics: Data from computer vision, historical metrics, and weather will be used to predict the occurrence of anomalies. Applications are seen in emergency management and crime prevention. For example, UAS inspection of electrical utilities can be used to identify predictive and preventive maintenance. Additionally, weather data can be used to predict high temperatures and dry conditions, ultimately, identifying hotspots of wildfires and sending UAS to inspect the area.

Edge Computing: Micro-computers are used for local real-time processing. Edge computers on a UAV are used for ‘sense and avoid’ flying—a fully autonomous vehicle that avoid birds or another drone mid-flight. This can also be used for real-time video analytics, for example, to proactively respond to a live crime.

Cloud Computing/Platform: Immense power is required to process large volumes of high-quality photos and videos and needed to connect the drone data to a centralized platform.In the past, IBM managed the IoT landscape of drone analytics, coupled with data from other sensors, through theWatson IoT Platform.

Moving Forward

Getting started with a UAS pilot involves many moving parts. Although there are numerous approaches to a successful solution, three top considerations include:

Discover what problem you are trying to solve: What specific hurdles prevent you from operating at your fullest potential? How can UAS help you change that?

Strategically navigate the complex policy landscape: Ensure that stakeholders hold an FAA Part 107 certification (it would be beneficial to have more advanced certifications like those offered from AUVSI), obtain the appropriate approvals for a mission, and educate the public about your intent.

Identify the appropriate vendor: There are hundreds of drone hardware and software companies. Working with the right people will help scale your pilot and solve your problems to the fullest ability.

Conclusion

Drones are beginning to disrupt the way agencies manage land, emergency management responds to natural disasters, industries inspect hazardous areas, and even how humans get around. IBM is using drones to help clients across industry and government solve problems from safety to efficiency. With a focus on Artificial Intelligence, cloud storage/processing and applying augmented analytics, government can improve operations and create smarter and safer environments.

Reference: Works Cited

1Whittle, Richard. “The Man Who Invented the Predator.” Air & Space Magazine, Air & Space Magazine, 1 Apr. 2013, www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/the-man-who-invented-the-predator-3970502/.

2“Drones Go to Work.” Https://Www.bcg.com, 10 Apr. 2017, www.bcg.com/en-us/publications/2017/engineered-products-infrastructure-machinery-components-drones-go-work.aspx.

3“NYPD Unveils New Unmanned Aircraft System Program.” NYC, Workers’ Compensation Board, 4 Dec. 2018, www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/news/p1204a/nypd-new-unmanned-aircraft-system-program#/0.

4“City of Reno.” Reno’s Economy | City of Reno, www.reno.gov/community/uas-pilot-program.

5Cohn, Pamela, et al. “Commercial Drones Are Here: The Future of Unmanned Aerial Systems.” McKinsey & Company, https://mck.co/2UG0GPn.

The post Eyes in the Sky: Drone Inspection for Smarter Operations in Government appeared first on Internet of Things blog.

Eyes in the Sky: Drone Inspection for Smarter Operations in Government published first on https://decalsgraphicstore.tumblr.com/

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Report Alleges EPA Tests Skewed Against Ethanol By Oil Industry Influence

Report Alleges EPA Tests Skewed Against Ethanol By Oil Industry Influence

by Jim Lane

In Washington, researchers for a report published by the Urban Air Initiative contend that “technical data that shows the nation has been exposed to decades of flawed test fuels and flawed driving tests, which in turn means flawed emissions results and mileage claims”.  The complete Beyond a Reasonable Doubt series from UAI is available here.

Further, EPA emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that, according to a report from Boyden Grey & Associates, the Agency appears to have directly solicited financial contributions and technical input, “especially on the fuel matrix,” from an oil industry controlled research organization.

Of the testing, Adam Gustafson of Boyden Grey & Associates wrote:

EPA relied heavily on the oil industry to design the matrix of test fuels used in an influential and deeply flawed fuel effects study known as the EPAct study. EPA invited this involvement from oil industry employees and from the Coordinating Research Council (“CRC”), a group funded by the oil industry. In exchange, EPA sought and received valuable in-kind support from the oil industry.

This new evidence of collusion between EPA and Chevron, BP, and CRC is important, because EPA used the results of the EPAct study to update its vehicular emissions model, MOVES2014, which States must use when they develop policies to comply with EPA’s air quality standards. As a result of the oil industry’s influence, the model reports that ethanol increases emissions of many pollutants, even though other studies have demonstrated the opposite. UAI and scientists from Ford, GM, and other organizations have shown the EPAct study and MOVES2014 model to be inaccurate and biased against ethanol. The documents UAI has obtained reveal the source of that bias—the petroleum industry’s direct influence on the design of the EPAct study’s test fuels.

Were the tests rigged to produce results?

Gustafson writes:

“EPA and its oil industry collaborators expected their test fuels to produce bad results for ethanol. When preliminary testing showed that higher ethanol fuels lowered emissions of nitrogen oxide and other pollutants, EPA considered “chang[ing] the program midstream” to obtain different results “[i]f we continue seeing no NOX effect.” In the end, EPA decided to exclude the relevant test fuels from the program, and otherwise altered its slate of test fuels to “emphasiz[e] ethanol effects.”

Decreased test robustness is allenged

After reviewing documentary evidence from EPA emails, Gustafson wrote:

“As a result of EPA’s changes to the design of its test fuels, to accommodate the oil industry, the statistical robustness of the experimental design decreased from a “G-efficiency” of 83.6% to a G-efficiency of 51.6%. Although EPA at first considered that only a design with G-efficiency above 60% would be satisfactory, the Agency lowered its minimum standard to 50% in response to the deteriorating quality of its design.”

#Dieselgate vs #Gasolinegate

In the #Dieselgate scandal, a defeat device was installed by employees of the Volkswagen Group in diesel-based vehicles to provide inaccurate emissions data for standard EPA-supervised road testing.  The VW Group was fined more than $10 billion and diesel passenger vehicles sales have collapsed around the world.

In what we call “#Gasolinegate”, the defeat device is the fuel itself — special formulations of gasoline for which the Urban Air Initiative says that documentary evidence shows:

The EPA is relying on science that routinely and knowingly discounts the value of biofuels. Extensive research has shown that regulations are being implemented based on vehicle testing that use fake test fuels. But even if unbiased science was allowed to play out in these tests, the regulations that the EPA creates are prohibitive for any alternative to petroleum based fuel products.

How did it happen?

The UAI team reports:

Fearing that the U.S. corn ethanol industry would expand exponentially, the oil industry aligned with the environmental community to pressure EPA/OTAQ to derail the corn ethanol industry. It appears contradictory, but many key environmental groups focused more on land use issues and misguided net energy reports than clean fuels and clean air. As a result, they were convinced to oppose biofuels as a clean renewable fuel and octane source.

While at the same time, continued increasing toxic aromatics in the fuel supply. Random fuel samples collected from the Kansas City area in 2016, and sent out for testing by Urban Air Initiative (UAI), revealed benzene volumes as high as 2.1% and that does not account for benzene emissions that are formed by other aromatics compounds as they exit the tailpipe. This is nearly twice the legal limit.

This goes to show that Congressional intent is still not being followed and the general public is being exposed to even higher levels of toxic aromatics than allowed by law

What is benzene?

The Center for Disease Control writes:

“There is no safe exposure level to benzene; even tiny amounts can cause harm. The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) classifies benzene as a human carcinogen. Long-term exposure to excessive levels of benzene in the air causes leukemia, a potentially fatal cancer of the blood-forming organs. In particular, acute myeloid leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (AML & ANLL) is not disputed to be caused by benzene.

According to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study, emissions from road transportation were the most problematic, causing approximately 53,000 premature deaths in 2005. The American Petroleum Institute (API) stated as early as 1948 that “it is generally considered that the only absolutely safe concentration for benzene is zero” There is no safe exposure level; even tiny amounts can cause harm.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has stated:

“As benzene is ubiquitous in gasoline and hydrocarbon fuels are in use everywhere, human exposure to benzene is a global health problem. Benzene targets liver, kidney, lung, heart and the brain and can cause DNA strand breaks, chromosomal damage, etc. Benzene causes cancer in animals including humans. Benzene has been shown to cause cancer in both sexes of multiple species of laboratory animals exposed via various routes.”

The impact of PAH on children’s health

What is the health impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, also known as PAHs? Dr. Linda Birnbaum, head of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in a 2010 hearing:

“In a 2009 study of the effects of PAH’s on children’s IQs in NYC…the mother’s exposure as measured during their pregnancies by wearing backpack monitors was associated with a decrease in IQ among the more exposed children. The extent of this exposure was similar to low-level lead exposure.”

Meanwhile, according to Terry Tamminen’s research in Lives per Gallon: The True Cost of our Addiction to Oil

“The Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California at Davis places the minimum external cost of air pollution from motor vehicles in the U.S. at $24.3 billion each year. Their work and related studies suggest the costs may be far higher when values are added for things like early deaths and lost productivity.

Meanwhile, the Clean Air Act law requires EPA to do a cost benefit analysis every 20 years and periodically for different programs. EPA’s most recent study says for every $1 invested in reducing pollution the nation receives $30 in the form of reduced health costs.

The aromatics backstory: why are they in gasoline at all?

Gasoline is a complex compound of 450+ chemicals. About 20% to 30% of a gallon of gasoline contains toxic/carcinogenic aromatics, which are hydrocarbons derived from petroleum with one or several benzene ring-like molecular structure with a ‘sweet’ or aromatic odor.

Aromatics are additives to gasoline to raise its “octane” rating. Most gasoline stations carry three octane grades (87 Regular, 89 Mid-grade), 91-93 Premium).  The most common aromatics include benzene, toluene methylbenzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene dimethylbenzene (often referred to as BTEX)

Octane is not only an expensive part of gasoline. To the extent “octane” is derived from crude oil, it is also can be most toxic and carbon-intensive. The use of higher octane fuels can enable auto makers to sell higher compression ratios, turbocharging, and downsizing/down speeding — all of which enable increases vehicle efficiency (miles per gallon) and lowers greenhouse gases through decreased petroleum consumption. For 100 years, auto manufacturers have searched for affordable, effective, and environmentally safe octane-boosting compounds, but there are only two commercially viable and legal contenders – aromatics and ethanol.

EPA’s role

The UAI team wrote in its report:

Emails between the EPA and the oil industry show that EPA asked oil industry employees what test fuels they would “prefer to see tested” and then revised the test fuels in response to their input. The EPA also threw out three test fuels after preliminary results showed that ethanol lowered emissions of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants and otherwise altered its slate of test fuels to downplay ethanol’s positive effects.

The emails show that the EPA relied heavily on oil industry employees from Chevron and BP to design the test fuels in a large-scale fuel effects study known as the EPAct vehicle study. This is important because the EPA used the results of the EPAct study to update its vehicular emissions model, MOVES2014. All States must use this emissions model to develop and implement plans for compliance with EPA’s air quality standards.

The process of simply adding ethanol to base gasoline is called splash blending. This is what happens in the “real” world and it is what should happen during fuel testing. However, when this is done, the results are not favorable to the oil industry. Simply adding ethanol to gasoline improves gasoline in every way. It lowers carbon, reduces common air pollutants for smog formation, lessens CO2 emissions, reduces sulfur content, and provides clean octane as a replacement for toxic aromatics. This was the exact intent of the Clean Air Act octane amendments.

Peer-reviewed confirmation on flawed testing

In the peer-reviewed journal article “Issues with T50 and T90 as Match Criteria for Ethanol-Gasoline Blends” James Anderson and Timothy Wallington of Ford Motor Company, Robert Stein of AVL Powertrain Engineering Inc., and William Studzinski of General Motors took issue with the EPA test methodology. They took particular issue with the use of a practice called “match-blending”, which they found creates the appearance of emissions attributed to ethanol which should be attributed to aromatics.

They wrote:

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that exclusive use of a match blending approach has fundamental flaws. For typical gasolines without ethanol, the distillation profile is a smooth, roughly linear relationship of temperature vs. percent fuel distilled…For ethanol-gasoline blends, higher boiling-point hydrocarbons must be added to match…fuels having less ethanol. The degradation of emissions which can result is primarily due to the added hydrocarbons, but has often been incorrectly attributed to the ethanol.”

“EPA’s secret consultation “?

Boyden Grey’s Gustafson added:

EPA’s secret consultation with a group of oil company employees about the test fuel parameters violated the requirement of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy that such committees be balanced,  that they be publicly announced and that their meetings be open to the public.

EPA’s exclusive reliance on oil industry employees with an incentive to generate results favorable to petroleum and disfavorable to ethanol violated the objectivity requirement of the Agency’s Information Quality Guidelines.122 It also violated EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy, which requires all employees, including scientists and managers, to “[a]void conflicts of interest and ensure impartiality.”

EPA’s reliance on oil industry consultants was kept secret, in violation of the Scientific Integrity Policy’s requirement that scientific findings, be “generated and disseminated in a timely and transparent manner.”

The EPAct study contributed directly to the emissions factors in EPA’s new vehicular emissions model, MOVES2014, which State must use in constructing implementation plans for compliance with EPA’s air quality standards. EPA’s unlawful reliance on the oil industry to design the EPAct study compounds the agency’s failure to give the public notice and an opportunity to comment on the MOVES2014 model, as required by law.

Was there an alternative?

One legal and commercially-available and viable octane-boosting alternative to carcinogenic aromatics  is ethanol. In 2008, A National Renewable Energy Laboratory report found:

Ethanol blending in the US is keeping US retail gasoline prices about 17 cents per gallon lower than they would be with no ethanol…with…an average ethanol concentration of 20 percent nationwide, the per-gallons savings (mileage adjusted) could reach 18 to 62 cants per gallon.

The UAI team writes:

One gallon of ethanol can replace up to two gallons of aromatics, which are the most carbon intensive and toxic of the 450+ chemicals in gasoline. Adding ethanol to gasoline allows refiners to reduce toxic/carcinogenic aromatics additives, which means a reduction in mobile source air toxics (MSATs) and ultrafine particles that create dangerous pollution and negative health effects. In addition, ethanol continues to improve its carbon footprint. According to the USDA, by 2022, ethanol’s GHG profile is expected to be almost 50% lower than gasoline due to improvements in corn yields and transportation efficiency, further improving air quality.

The Digest’s Take

In our view, this represents a substantial and compelling body of evidence that testing took place that apparently resulted in flawed data used in the EPA’s vehicular emissions model, and which would have materially underestimated the role and impact of renewable fuels in reducing carcinogenic emissions.

Further Reading

The 9-part series, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, from the Urban Air Initiative, has links to all the cited sources.

Full PDF of document.

Part 1: Executive Summary.

Part 2: The Problem.

Part 3: The Threat.

Part 4: What’s Been Done.

Part 5: Why it’s Not Working.

Part 6: Flawed Fuel Testing.

Part 7: What We Can Do.

Part 8: Biofuels, an Available Solution.

Part 9: Conclusion.

Jim Lane is editor and publisher  of Biofuels Digest where this article was originally published. Biofuels Digest is the most widely read  Biofuels daily read by 14,000+ organizations. Subscribe here.

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