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Two guys, a plan, and a better way to Go Green in building

The first time I saw Brent Francese, he was playing drums behind a clear acrylic drum screen and sound shielding system. I would have another opportunity to view his work when I saw a poster he designed for a benefit concert, which was prominently displayed across opposing, overhead screens. Curious about his background, I discovered he is also an accomplished architect.

This past week, I seized the opportunity to get to know Brent better. We spoke briefly in the hallway about the current trend of “Go Green” in building, both residential and commercial. I explained that although I was very upbeat at the possibilities, and reflected on a few of my favorites, I questioned the ability of this taking hold without some level of cost advantage. Everything I have looked into to this point seems to not have a payback, other than the positive impact from treating our environment with care and respect.

What began as a quizzical conversation (from me), soon developed into a high level of curiosity and interest in a new way of thinking. Brent talked about more than just the product side of this movement; he introduced the notion of “…creating low carbon, smart living environments for everyone.”

Brent described how the architectural industry is a driving force in green building, much of which is in the product side. This occurs most through the products specified by the architect, and the incorporation of “greener” design concepts. Some of the more prominent areas are “plywood sheets, countertops, sinks, toilets, rain catchment, wind, (etc.)”. This in turn is being driven by consumer demand, i.e., the public at large is asking for it.

Here is where I think Brent, and his collaborating partner, Tony Lineberry, has ventured into new space – pardon the pun – called “Clean Living”. They define it as, “Clean Living is about creating residential homes with a smart, small and sustainable mindset. Simply, our mission is create homes that will not only help our environment, but give back to it.”

They are putting it into practice with “a simple house set on a 4' module which is the basic dimension of a piece of plywood (4'x8') and has a basic set dimension of conventional lumber to reduce waste.” This level of greener living, or Clean Living as they call it, makes for “ a very small footprint which will keep it low impact on the earth.”

What Brent showed me was that I was focused on the ‘big’ systems (solar, wind, water, etc.); although they incorporate those in their design, they begin with the notion that “basic architecture can start off with a base of being green just by how it’s sited on the land”, what Brent referred to as “passive”. The “active” side, which had been my primary interest, can include a package of products, treatment (finishes, paints, plaster, etc.), and other building materials or techniques.

I still believe that we will need to reach some level of cost savings, or at least a reasonable break-even, before this takes on greater momentum. But for now, I have a new idea of how Clean Living can help mitigate some of the cost obstacles presented by the ‘big systems’  that I have considered in the past.

More on Clean Living found here.

Innovation: Run Silent, Run Deep - Black & Decker’s 19” Rechargeable Mulching Lawn Mower

Everybody loves a green lawn and tidy landscape; but at what cost to the environment? Electric mowers and lawn care tools have been around for a long time. Along with the limitation of an umbilical cord back to the outlet, there were more than a few extension cords cut in the process of trimming or cutting. Kind to the environment and gentle on the ears, in some ways they weren’t as practical as their gas-powered brethren.

 

Black & Decker has embarked on ways to move toward a zero emissions and Energy Star rated product line for rechargeable lawn and garden tools. With a complete line of outdoor power equipment tools, based on their 18 volt single source (rechargeable) battery system, they can lay claim to environmentally-friendly and a lower cost of operation. Add the reduced noise levels compared to their gasoline counterparts and you now have the means to quietly run lawn care tools for extended periods of time. Trimmers, edgers, blowers, tillers, and power shears can all run from the same rechargeable battery system.

 

Enter into the picture, the 19” Rechargeable Mulching Lawn Mower from Black & Decker. With half the noise level of a gas-powered lawn mower and a simple lever start – no swift yanks on a cord required – you can mow a 1/3 acre home site on a single charge. Need to mow more? Within four hours you can be at 70% power, and fully100% when left to charge overnight.

 

The reduced cost of operation is quite apparent. No annual tune-ups and you eliminate the expense of both fuel and oil. Black & Decker estimates that it will cost less than $10 a year to operate!

 

Along with being Energy Star rated, it is fully-featured in every way; the 19” Rechargeable Mulching Lawn Mower includes cutting options of mulch, rear bag, or the optional side discharge chute. And it has a one-touch (single lever), seven position height adjustment for all four wheels. There is also a removable key to prevent accidental startup.

 

With the Black & Decker line of rechargeable outdoor tools and equipment, you can run silent, run deep - into the woods and all around the house, on a single charge.

Innovation - KE Shake Away™ Vibration Isolation Pads - dampen the shimmy and shake of washing machines

Depending on the type and age of a washing machine, as they hit full speed during various cycles you would think they are either doing a dance, or going to walk out of the laundry room. The newer front-loading washing machines can rev high enough to transfer vibrations across the floor joists seemingly shaking the house apart. I can only imagine the experience of a laundry room on the second floor – it probably would remind me of the so-called minor earthquake tremors I experienced living in California. Some people suggest that front-loaders perform better – from a comfort perspective – when installed on concrete floors, e.g., in the garage.

Enter Kellett Enterprises’ Shake Away™ Vibration Isolation Pads. These pads can be mounted between the unit’s feet and the flooring. They are ideal for compact stackable units as well as the more traditional styles of washers and dryers.

To get the best use of the pads, you need to let them 'take a set' (indentation in the pad) over a 36-hour period. They are ideal for metal or plastic feet (on the appliance), but are not suitable for those units that have rubber feet.

I contacted Kellett Enterprises to get some details on how the pads work and where they can be used beyond major appliances. In talking to Terry Mauldin, Sales Director, I discovered that the pads do not act like a shock absorber to dampen the motion; the pads are designed in layers to transfer the motion in oscillations that dissipates as heat energy.

Terry and I went on to talk about other applications for their line of pads and technology. They would be ideal for treadmills, and other applications where noise, impact, or a motor’s motion transfers as vibration to the mounted surface. Other parts of the business addresses industrial and commercial applications, e.g., HVAC pumps, large machinery, etc. They continue to research new designs and applications for their pad technology. A recent innovation is “a new vibration pad developed with a lower shore durometer to handle vibration on light equipment and computer/server equipment for today’s new vibration requirements.”

Much of their business is gained by WOM (Word of Mouth), viral marketing, and online video. Some of the best spokespeople for their pads are the repair people that visit homes for aftermarket repairs or complaints about appliances. Kellett can also be found at various trade shows and have been featured on dedicated shows and networks like CityTV Toronto - Gadget Boy, and The Money Pit Home Improvement Show.

You can learn more about application and use from their Web site. Pads can be purchased from a variety of retailers like home improvement stores, appliance parts and repair shops, or visit their retail site.

p.s. Take some time to read the history of their company. They offer a lesson for most any small to medium business in overcoming adversity and achieving success.

Pilots N Paws - Doing what you love can reap benefits for others

I got the bug for flying from traveling in our company airplane. At the time, we flew a Cessna 320 (twin-engine) Skyknight that the President of the company owned and used for company business. We would make regular trips between our manufacturing plants in Chicago, IL and Birmingham, AL.

As I went on to get my private pilot’s license in Holland, MI, I soon reaped the benefit of being able to use it for business. I would rent various aircraft to fly long distances between customers. After moving from the Midwest, I put this to use across a wide landscape on the West Coast.

When I changed jobs, and the territory got smaller, I soon found it difficult to stay current. Besides the occasional hitching a ride with another pilot for flight time,  I often wished I could justify aircraft ownership. 

I soon found that those who owned aircraft had a similar desire to fly more, yet they were unable to justify the trip; it wasn’t just money, some of it was driven by the desire for longer distances and seeking new surroundings. Part of the joy of flying is the adventure of experiencing new destinations.

While reading a recent issue of AOPA magazine, I came across a story of an organization called Pilots N Paws. This organization provides “the environment in which those involved can come together in a common place and arrange or schedule rescue flights, overnight foster care or shelter, and all other related activities” with the help of “pilots or plane owners willing to assist with the transportation of animals.” Having transported two dogs – one was mine, and the other a friend’s - on one of my pleasure flights, I was surprised to see them settle down and go to sleep shortly after takeoff.

This effort becomes a Win/Win for pilot, ground volunteer, and the animal in need of help. Reduced travel time eases the stress on the animal when transported longer distances. For the pilot, their contribution of time and aircraft brings forth the benefit of much-desired flight time and a rewarding feeling of helping the animal reach a new home.

How many other examples are out there? One that quickly came to mind was the volunteers with Wheels4Hope, who have an inclination toward car repair, that help provide much-needed transportation for low-income people. I know of many other local organizations and volunteers who offer their computer skills in the form of repair, instruction, or the revitalization of a used computer for someone to use.

I’ll close with an old company slogan from Kaiser Cement, “Find a need, and fill it.” Doing what you love can reap benefits for others.

Maybe the ants know a better route than the Dash Driver Network

 I recently installed the NAVIGON Real-Time Traffic for Life on one of our GPS units; it’s standard on other NAVIGON models, but optional on mine. The installation was a simple, straightforward download and activation. The only ‘learn as you go ‘ was that I should attach the car adapter power cord to act as an extended antenna for better reception of the traffic updates and alternate routing.

It wasn’t that long ago that I began following Dash Navigation and their “Dash Express, the first two-way, Internet-connected GPS navigation system.” The concept seemed simple. Operating in a peer to peer like fashion, the Dash Network Operations Center (anonymously) collects information from members of the Dash Driver Network, and servers update all other Dash devices in the same area. The end result should deliver the best routing at all times.

On the Dash home page they say their new capabilities will make “…a typical GPS practically obsolete.” Maybe; but, I don’t plan to abandon any of the four units (and brands/types) I have in our inventory.

When I first read about Dash’s efforts, I couldn’t buy into the advantage over a traditional GPS with real-time traffic. Dash claims that as their network grows, accurate and timely reporting, as well as navigation, will get better and better. That was my original argument against it; in order to make this work, you’ll need to grow the Dash network, first.

What I see now is they have added the more commonly available alerts from road sensors and other reporting sources to supplement their network. But, is any of this member reporting, traffic updates, and navigation going the right way over the long term?

Since my traffic alerts are based on available reporting, e.g., city coverage, reporting sources, etc., I recognize my traffic awareness will be limited in scope and coverage. As I drive into and around traffic, I often reflect on the fact that those going in the opposite direction have the best view of what I am about to face. This is where the ants enter the picture.

German scientists at the Dresden Institute of Technology are studying the routes ants take to and from food sources and how they avoid congestion in the process. They hope to be able to translate this into better traffic management and data reporting. In their initial findings, they have discovered that the ants returning from the food source (outgoing) helped direct incoming ants to less congested, alternative routes even if they were longer.

Much like my own experience, it’s those cars coming toward us that may offer the best navigation information for traffic avoidance and rerouting. What the scientists are attempting to discover now is, “…how ants pass on these "traffic reports" to each other.” Solve this, and possibly all the fancy traffic reporting networks give way to simple communication between vehicles in the same area. Once they can talk to each other, we can probably let technology deliver new routing and traffic avoidance.

Given the choice between where I am at with a traffic-equipped “typical GPS”, and what Dash Navigation claims will obsolete my unit, I plan to wait around for the ants. It sounds like they have the better solution in the long run.

Smoke Detection - Keep your smoke detectors in good working order

Smoke alarms save lives and are essential for home safety and peace of mind. When the alarm sounds, you may have only three minutes to get out of your home, safely. But, did you know that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends the replacement of smoke detectors every ten (10) years?

Smoke detector technology continues to evolve and many new and improved units are available for easy installation. Consider upgrading battery-only units (DC) to AC units. As you replace existing detectors, you may want to upgrade to units that include battery back-up and other advanced features, e.g., voice alert, wireless interconnected system, remote control, etc. Don’t forget to change batteries in all units at least once a year (Daylight Savings Time is an excellent reminder).

Once you have confirmed that all devices are in good working order, it’s important to have an escape plan in the event of a fire. Carry out ‘practice’ drills with the entire family; your practice drill is an excellent time to remind everyone of what to do in the event of a fire, e.g., Sparky the Fire Dog’s (drill) “stop, drop and roll”. Another good idea is to talk to your children about what to do when they stay the night at a friend’s home.

Consider combination detectors for both fire and carbon monoxide (CO), or detectors that are triggered by heat versus the more traditional particulate matter. More advanced detectors are available for early detection of smoke in HVAC ducts. Pricing varies from as little as less than $10 for simple DC or AC units to $75 or more for advanced unit technology.

With readily available technology, and minimal cost to install or upgrade your units, there is no better time than now for better home safety and peace of mind.

Article Background

For a number of years I have written short, freelance articles on topics surrounding DIY home improvement and related products; you will find similar coverage and personal experience in a slightly different way in this blog.

The Holidays tend to raise the level of fire danger in homes. This 300-word Smoke Detection article was originally scheduled to be included in a Fall/Winter magazine issue, but got pulled at press time.

The great thing about having your own blog is that when your freelance work for others hits the editing room floor, you can often use it in your own way. And, unlike a magazine, it was easy to include some helpful hyperlinks in the body of the text.

Innovation - Levolor’s innovative technology in window coverings and blinds

Window blinds are often seen as simple designs of adjustable slats made of wood, metal, or vinyl for windows and doors. When it comes to window coverings and blinds, Levolor stands out as a well-known and trusted brand of product and performance.

Levolor takes the window covering options to new levels with options like cordless blinds and shades for safety, cellular shades to reduce energy loss, or solar shades that filter light and reduce the harmful effects of UV rays.

Cordless blinds and shades “replaces the outer lift cords with a spring motor system, reducing the risk of strangulation. The spring motor system allows you to raise or lower the shade with a simple push or pull on the bottom bar.” This is an ideal solution for protecting young children and pets.

Cellular shades can reduce energy loss and “minimize the damaging effects of ultraviolet light on carpets and furniture. Cellular shades (or "honeycomb") get their name from their unique air-trapping "cells". These cells create an air barrier between the shade and the window, providing a cushion of insulation.”

Levolor offers many tools on their Web site to help you in your selection of window coverings. From their idea center, you can follow design trends and ideas for your own installation needs. You can compare the features and benefits of their many designs with comparison charts. And, once you make a decision on what suits you best, you can order up to ten free swatches from the product list delivered to you by mail.

Innovation – Proper ridge and home ventilation is more than just hot air

Most homes are equipped with some level of ventilation in order to vent the hot air and moisture that builds up beneath the roof. However, in order for ventilation to work properly, there must be an equal balance, or exchange, of incoming cooler air. Working in tandem, today’s home has soffit (or eave area) vents acting as an ‘intake’ for cooler air, and ridge vents to act as an ‘exhaust’ for the warmer (hot) air that would be trapped at the peak.

A problem arises when the architecture of the home does not allow for the placement of the incoming cooler air vents. Whether it is a roof design that affords little in the way of a soffit, or one like my own home that has colonial molding around the exterior of the home, the common solution to attic ventilation may turn to gable vents, or powered vents in the roof.

Enter a new solution from Air Vent, Inc. In addition to a wide range of ridge and soffit/eave vent designs, and solutions for gable vents, they recently introduced “The Edge™” vent. Now you can add intake ventilation on the roof itself. Running along the edge of the roof, it follows similar technology as a ridge vent in design and materials. With a narrow 3/4 inch rise and a shingle-over installation, it blends into the appearance of the rest of the roof. Another option from Air Vent for homes with little or no soffit area is the Pro Flow™ Vented Drip Edge.

Take time to carefully plan your ventilation needs. There are a number of tools and documents on the Air Vent Web site to help you design the optimal system. One cautionary note, and common mistake, is adding power venting systems to a more passive system like ridge vents. The power vents can pull the air away from the ridge vents and cancel out the benefits of the air exchange.

For those of you in colder climates that face the hazard of “ice dams”, improper ventilation may be the root cause. To learn more about ventilation and ice dams, run the Ice Dam Animator on the Air Vent Web site.

p.s. Contractors and builders may be interested in Air Vent’s Ask the Expert™ Seminars.

Product Review: ScumBuster Xtreme (S700E) from Black & Decker

After we featured the ScumBuster Xtreme in my original blog Post, and our monthly eNewsletter, you told us you wanted to know more about it. It wasn’t just by email, or your clicks on the pics that got my attention; the numbers of search engine hits were some of the highest we have seen to date.

Just the name alone draws your attention to this tool, so there was no resistance from me to take one for a test drive. The folks at Black & Decker sent me a ScumBuster Xtreme (S700E) to put through the paces. Plus, pictures of the innovative design and well thought-out attachments captivated me; I wanted to test it firsthand to see if it lived up to the image I had in my mind.

The packaging not only catches your attention, but also adds a good pictorial of use. This is intended for use in the home (consumer, not commercial use) so quality packaging is important to get the buyer’s attention.

Upon opening the box, there is a complete and detailed instruction manual. Smack-dab on the front of the cover (page) is “Before returning this product for any reason please call…” and a 1-800 number. Just below in smaller print is a message that says in part, “…in most cases a Black & Decker representative can resolve the problem over the phone.” Smart! They anticipated some consumers may struggle with this new concept in cleaning and are prepared to help.

Inside the manual are a variety of usage tips and instructions, including a “Before First Use and Tips”. As a cordless unit, they recommend an overnight (minimum 16 hour) charge; charging is pretty straightforward by merely plugging the charger cord into the unit. But, they have a clever little tab on the charger cord, like a pull-tab, for pulling the pin plug out of the unit. This makes it easier and less susceptible to damage over time.

However, I would like to see some type of battery indicator of go/no-go on the unit or charger, i.e., some indication charging is complete, e.g., the red charging light would change to green. I also wonder about the rubberized “charging port (cover) plug” that’s on the unit. Its ‘hinged tether’ might break over time and possibly get lost, exposing the charge pin to water.

Accessories include an extension tool, which does triple-duty as a rinsing tool, extension handle, or chemical cleaner reservoir. You can adjust the “piston resistance” for wear and tear over time. There are two basic cleaning ‘heads’. One is a soft bristle brush and the other a replaceable scrubbing/scouring pad. The scrub pad attachment is really two parts. The head is equipped with a screen – to let water through - surface and ‘grip’ (like Velcro) that holds the replaceable pad.

Here is where I think a “tool caddy” would be a nice addition versus the simple ‘rubberized ring’ on the unit, only. Like the port plug, I think this won’t hold up to use trying to hang it on a nail, or pegboard hook. The unit comes with a (refreshing in the industry) two-year limited warranty.

On to the job at hand, cleaning some bathrooms. I chose two locations for test: my primary residence, and a vacation home on the Coast. The two sets of bathrooms allowed me to test on tile and grout, tubs with glass doors, as well as the more common tub/shower (surround) enclosures. Plus, the water at the beach tends to offer a higher degree of build-up (deposits).

The soft bristle brush is cone-shaped so it’s easy to get in small or curved places (e.g., faucets) as well as having enough ‘flat surface’ area to cover larger surfaces like basins, floors, tiles, and counters. But, in trying to use the unit on smaller tiles in a shower, the brush’s tip was too time consuming to clean the grout; the bristles didn’t seem to be enough to kick some of the scum loose. In the interest of time, I would probably go back to using the edge of a scrub pad or toothbrush for the grout.

Before I go further, I was pleased with the ‘balance’ of the unit in my hand. I have found the same thing in Black & Decker power tools, so I will assume this is the result of common design and engineering. My hands didn’t get tired or strained from holding and using the unit. This is where the extension handle is a nice addition. It easily snaps onto the unit and allows you to reach taller areas or stand erect and use the unit like a powered mop/scrubber for floors. For an aging population, this should be a hit. It’s pretty quiet, too.

Since we are in a drought, I particularly liked the idea of the extension handle (removed from the unit) as a rinsing tool. You put the handle (closed) into a bucket of clear water, pull the handle to full extension, and then use it like a ‘Super Soaker’ – I really did enjoy this part. No waste of water, full-control of the rinse, and a little fun mixed in!

The other use for the handle in this configuration is to fill it with a liquid cleaning solution. In most instances you would use a traditional spray cleaner on the surface, and the tool to do the scrubbing. But, in the case of the beach, I have found vinegar and water as the combination that cleans best. You unscrew a cap on the extension handle, pour an amount that can be mixed with water (in the handle), and you are good to go. You follow a similar set of steps as to using it as a rinsing tool, but begin with the fill cap, then pull the water from your bucket. The cleaning at the beach took far less time than normal and less effort.

Although I read that it’s rated at 25-30 minutes use on one charge, I found that I could easily clean two bathrooms of showers and tubs before recharging. And, if you were after a quick clean of surface areas without tubs and showers (and not including floors) you could probably get basins and counters in more bathrooms. Once you exhaust a charge, it’s about 6-8 hours to charge again. Since it’s not a removable battery for a ‘hot swap’ (that would be nice for larger homes), you may want to plan ahead of when and how much to clean. Once you get the hang of using it (e.g., at first I used it like an auto buffer), and move along, you can clean quickly.

One side note is they encourage you to hold the unit on the surface before pressing the button for “On”. This reduces backsplash and splatter. But, it’s not practical when the unit is on the extension handle. I tried it both ways and I agree, hold the unit on the surface before turning it on. The rotation is slow enough, that I found I could turn it on and place it on the surface when not standing right next to it (assuming splatter didn’t matter).

Summing it all up. It did the job as expected and exceeded expectations in other ways. Many nice design features and a full compliment of accessories. Depending on your own habits, it can be a time-saver; but overall I appreciated the reduced effort to get the job done. Add the tool caddy and a hot swap of batteries and I’d push it up a couple of notches in ranking.

The ScumBuster Xtreme (S700E) is available from a variety of sources and retail locations. I have included this Amazon.com link for your purchase convenience.

* Pictures courtesy of Black & Decker

Innovation – Handy tools and products for your PC or Desktop

Each month we feature Innovative products that offer a "New twist on an old idea or business". This month's featured Innovations are driven by some personal experience, and then a search for other ‘hardware’ products that might be handy for a PC or Desktop.

The other day, I decided to ‘max out’ the memory in one of the older desktops. Today’s ‘resident’ applications consume more horsepower, and without more memory, things can get pretty slow. For many years I have discharged any static in my body before opening and working inside the PC case (or tower). I use an Anti Static Wrist strap like this one from StarTech.com, while I work inside. The quick-snap connection makes it easy to leave the strap in place and work untethered to retrieve another part or item.

After I buttoned it all up and confirmed the install, I began to think about other hardware-related PC products that may be a ‘nice to have around’. With one recent college graduate behind us, and one still in college, I reflected on my concerns around theft of their gear.

The laptop is protected with a suite of security cables depending on where she is going to work. However, when my son was in college, he had a desktop. I bought him a security cable for the hardware, but never considered someone breaking into his case and stealing components. That thought led me to find a CPU Security Lock. You simply replace one of the screws on your computer case with a heavy-duty case lock.

I regularly open the desktops that I care for and vacuum out the interior and fans. The intake fan on one of the larger PCs (a tower) is like a wind tunnel and really pulls in the surrounding dust. I had thought about getting it up off the carpeting, but never pursued the idea. That’s until I found a stand with wheels. “The "gripper" stand features a unique 4-way adjustment to tightly grip most any size case.” I’m going to put this on my ‘to purchase’ list.

Those of you who have been following my blog series called “Small Group Wisdom” may be interested in this one. One of the ideas that came forward in the group was some form of monitor or meter to gauge how much electricity (or watts) various appliances used while in operation. The idea was to reduce your overall consumption by turning off some of the appliances. We killed the idea after the champion found existing products in the market.

I poked around a bit on the Internet and found this watt monitor that might be a good match for deciding what plugs to pull in order to cut down on the utility bill. One of the features that caught my attention was, “Monitor the quality of your power by displaying Voltage, Line Frequency, and Power Factor.” In our area, we experience frequent ‘brown outs’ or ‘bursts’ (spikes) for no apparent reason.

If you know of, or have used other like products, tools, or tips for PC hardware or appliances, tell us about them.