Home » Archives for February 2012 » Page 56
Page 56«..1020..55565758..7080..»
Location was Old Salt's home before 1999 fire
February 14, 2012 2:00 AM
HAMPTON — The vacant lots on Ocean Boulevard, where the Old Salt restaurant and several other businesses used to stand, might finally become the location of a four-story, 36-unit residential condominium building with ground-floor retail space.
Property owner Ted Sanderson will go before the town's Zoning Board on Thursday, Feb. 16, to seek reapproval of more than a half dozen variances for 83, 89 and 81 Ocean Blvd. and 5 J St.
While the project was approved in 2004, the approval expired. Zoning Board member Tom McGuirk said approval is only good for two years, with a third year available if the applicant requests an extension. McGuirk, who will step down from the hearing because his restaurant and bar is an abutting property, is hopeful the long-awaited project may finally come to fruition.
"The property has been vacant for 13 summers," McGuirk said. "I'm just excited that there will once again be foot traffic down at the end of the beach."
The property became vacant after a 1999 fire destroyed the Old Salt Eating and Drinking Place and the Beachwalk Enterprises.
What is believed to have started as a trash fire at 2:40 p.m. June 16, 1999, quickly spread to engulf the restaurant and the other buildings that housed Cecile's Gift Shop, Lexie's Pizzeria, Haven's Cafe and six apartment units.
Aided by a strong westerly wind, the fire then spread to Springfield Motor Lodge.
More than 200 firefighters from 23 communities responded to the blaze, and it took more than four hours to get it under control.
The property has been used as a parking lot for the last 12 years, while the redevelopment project was put on hold because of litigation.
Abutters, led by Michael Scanlan, fought against the project, which was first to be known as the Majestic, then the Breckenridge. The case reached the state Supreme Court.
In opposing the project, Scanlan and other abutters cited the size of the complex, the impact on property values, traffic in the area and claimed the project doesn't fit the Hampton Beach master plan.
Scanlan no longer owns the abutting property.
While developers won their legal battle in 2007, construction was held up because of the struggling economy.
In the application to the Zoning Board, attorney Peter Saari, representing the developer, said the new proposed project is dramatically smaller than the old burned-down buildings and will bring in substantially more tax revenue.
Saari argued the variances are needed to make the project work. Variances being sought include relief from required lot area per dwelling, maximum stories, setbacks and parking requirements.
Saari said denying the variances could result in more years with nothing more to show at that location than a parking lot.
"We were the only abutters that didn't oppose the project the last time around," McGuirk said.
McGuirk said the developer has worked to address many of the concerns brought up by abutters in the past, including expanding the buffer between the proposed project and neighboring properties.
Reader Reaction We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the Community Rules. We ask that you report content that you in good faith believe violates the above rules by clicking the Flag link next to the offending comment. New comments are only accepted for two weeks from the date of publication.
Read more here:
Condos, retail space proposed for Hampton beach site
13-02-2012 16:16 Here is a home Blastmaster Cob blasted and finished with Quality Alaskan Finishes
Read more here:
Log home restoration by Blastmaster - Video
Category
Home Restoration | Comments Off on Log home restoration by Blastmaster – Video
MD Restoration – Video -
February 15, 2012 by
Mr HomeBuilder
14-02-2012 11:55 mdrestoration.com Show off the variety of home damage repair you provide with this ad. "Floods and fires. Even the most conscientious homeowners aren't always prepared for these powerful forces. Although you don't have control over nature, you can make sure the damage done to your home is properly restored after unfortunate floods, fires or other calamities. We offer round-the-clock, emergency cleaning, restoration and disaster preparation services. No matter the damage, our expert services guarantee your home is safe and sound as possible -- before and after unforeseen crises. Expect the best, but prepare for the worst. Call today."
The rest is here:
MD Restoration - Video
PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
IEEE, the world's largest professional association advancing technology for humanity, today published the February edition of the IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter, which reveals the University of Minnesota’s plan to build a sustainable community with a Smart Grid overlay, as well as work that will lead to the automated, energy-efficient smart home. Additional articles address the unique requirements of security planning for Smart Grid and technologies in exploration for creating the self-sensing and self-healing energy distribution system.
The current issue is available online at no cost at the IEEE Smart Grid Web Portal: http://smartgrid.ieee.org/newsletter/february-2012.
“The February issue of the IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter covers progress being made in R&D and deployments, as well as identifying and addressing pinch points within the multi-faceted areas of Smart Grid with a focus on assessing applications and implementations in homes and whole communities that are underway,” said Massoud Amin, chair of the IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter. “As Smart Grid is deployed, necessitating seamless connectivity and inter-operability of local devices and networks that are smarter and more secure all the way to the system level, and end-to-end, cyber-physical security, which is layered, self-monitoring and self-healing, and supporting smart homes, smart buildings and communities, the IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter is chronicling the progress and mapping opportunities ahead.”
The February issue brings together expertise from a multi-national author set with proficiency in machine learning, artificial intelligence, sensors, power quality issues and distribution automation technologies.
Dr. S. Massoud Amin, author of “Playing in the Smart Grid Sandbox” in the December issue, returns to detail another University of Minnesota community initiative, the residential development project, U More Park. The project pursues the vision to build a smart microgrid from scratch in an environmentally and economically sustainable community so optimal technologies can be incorporated at the outset and economies of scale exploited. Massoud is a senior member of IEEE and holds the Honeywell/H.W. Sweatt Chair in Technological Leadership at the University of Minnesota.
Chao Chen and Diane Cook delve into the smart home where sensor data can ultimately drive development of an intelligent system for automatically controlling the environment to improve energy efficiency and reduce the energy footprint of the home. Chao Chen is an IEEE Graduate Student member and a Ph.D. student in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Washington State University. Diane Cook is an IEEE Fellow and a Huie-Rogers Chair Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Washington State University.
Sandeep Agrawal and Dr. Manoj Daigavane address the critical requirement for early security design for any Smart Grid project, to include source code security, security as risk management and proactive procedures that engage processes as well as products and provide for monitoring for both events and physical actions. Sandeep Agrawal is Vice President at Neilsoft Limited Pune, India. Dr. Daigavane is Principal of S. D. College of Engineering, Wardha – Maharashtra, India.
Fang Yang and Zhao Li write about improving the self-healing capability of the distribution-level Smart Grid in the United States by exploring two complementary technologies for the distribution outage management system - feeder level fault detection, isolation and service restoration and Smart Meter-based outage analysis - essential self-sensing and self-healing solutions for distribution system disturbances. Fang Yang is an IEEE member and member of IEEE Power & Energy Society as well as a senior research and development engineer with ABB Inc. U.S. Corporate Research Center. Zhao Li is an IEEE member, and member of IEEE Computer Society and IEEE Communication Society, and a senior software architect with ABB Inc. US Corporate Research Center.
To subscribe to the IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter at no cost, go to: http://smartgrid.ieee.org/publications/smart-grid-newsletter.
An RSS feed of the monthly Newsletter is also available: http://smartgrid.ieee.org/newsletter/February-2011?format=feed&type=rss.
The IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter promotes greater understanding of critical issues and challenges that impact efforts to move Smart Grid from conception to reality, including power generation, transmission and distribution, storage, technological advancement, renewables, infrastructure investment, funding, R&D, standards, security and communications.
Other Smart Grid technical experts who specialize in electric vehicles are featured speakers at the first IEEE International Electric Vehicles Conference (IEVC) being held in Greenville, South Carolina, USA March 4-8, 2012. Speakers include Heiko Weller, Bosch Engineering GmbH Director e-mobility Group; Dr. Julian Weber, BMW Group, Project I, Head of Innovation Projects e-Mobility; Jay Iyengar, Chrysler Group, Global Director, Head of Electrified Propulsion Systems; James Barker, Clemson University President; Pat Davis, Department of Energy Program Manager of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Vehicle Technologies Program Office; Dennis R. Beal, FedEx Express Vice-President Global Vehicles; and Frank O. Klegon, SAE International President among many others. Additional information about the IEVC can be found at: http://electricvehicle.ieee.org/.
For further details about the IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter and information on IEEE Smart Grid standards, publications, and conferences, please visit http://smartgrid.ieee.org/. Follow @ieeesmartgrid on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ieeesmartgrid. Join IEEE Smart Grid on LinkedIn: IEEE Smart Grid.
About IEEE
IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional association, is dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org/.
More:
Minnesota University to Build Smart Microgrid From Scratch, the Smart Home is Coming, and Security Planning Featured ...
Category
Home Restoration | Comments Off on Minnesota University to Build Smart Microgrid From Scratch, the Smart Home is Coming, and Security Planning Featured …
CLAIBORNE PARISH, LA (KSLA) -
UPDATE: CenterPoint Energy crews in Haynesville, Louisiana say that as of Wednesday morning gas services have been restored to more than 1000 customers.
Crews continue their door-to-door efforts this morning to relight pilots and checks for leaks after approximately 1400 customers lost gas service Monday night.
UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: District Director for Center Point Energy Eric Barkley says about 800 Center Point customers now have gas service in Haynesville.
Barkley says crews plan to come to a stopping point at 10:30 p.m. The workers will resume service restoral Wednesday morning.
UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: District Director for Center Point Energy Eric Barkley estimates 500 homes and businesses have gas service restored in Haynesville including schools, a nursing home and other institutions.
UPDATE 6:00 p.m.: District Director for Center Point Energy Eric Barkley says about 300 homes in Haynesville have gas service at this hour.
Barkley says crews hope to restore gas service to most of the residents by the end of the night. Barkley also says residents have to be home to get their services turned back on. Barkley says crews will leave door hangers for residents that were not home. The door hangers will have a phone number for to schedule an appointment to get services turned on. That number is 1-866-275-5252.
Claiborne Parish school officials say classes will resume Wednesday.
UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: Crews have arrived from Arkansas to assist CenterPoint Energy with the process of getting gas service turned back on for business and residential customers in Haynesville.
As of Noon Tuesday, the system had been "purged" of air and tested to ensure the repaired line contains only pure natural gas. That was "phase 2" of the restoration process.
Phase 3 will be going door-to-door to re-ignite the pilot lights at each service address and make sure there are no leaks.
That process is expected to take be lengthy, as crews will need to make sure there are no leaks or problems with re-connecting service at each of the 1,114 addresses.
Right now, CenterPoint Energy says they are focused on restoring natural gas service to the impacted customers and getting things back to normal for them as safely and as quickly as possible. But, in a statement released early Tuesday afternoon, the company confirms, "We will conduct an investigation into how and why this occurred and will seek to recover our costs, if appropriate."
UPDATE 10:30 a.m.: Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith says 1,114 gas meters were affected by the outage.
Crews repaired the leak about 1:30 a.m. but the town still is without gas service. CenterPoint called in 50 trucks from E. Texas and Arkansas.
Crews expect to start turning the gas back on and relighting pilot lights at homes and businesses around noon Tuesday, but critical facilities such as the hospital and nursing homes will be considered a priority.
Workers will need to go into homes and businesses to perform relights. If no one is home, a yellow slip will be left at the home and the relight will have to be rescheduled.
By 3 p.m. Tuesday, the town should know if they'll have to suspend school on Wednesday.
UPDATE 8:30 a.m.: Crews with CenterPoint Energy have begun Phase One of their plan to restore power to the town of Haynesville.
After an early morning meeting at the Claiborne Parish Fair Building, crews have started to turn the gas valves off at all homes and businesses in the town.
KSLA News 12 is in Haynesville at this hour following the progress of the work. On KSLA News 12 at 9, we'll have more on the restoration process plus speak with CenterPoint Energy about how things are progressing. You can watch KSLA News 12 at 9 online at ksla.com. Click here to watch the program.
We'll continue to have updates throughout the day on ksla.com.
UPDATE 6:45 a.m.: School officials say all Haynesville schools will be closed Tuesday due to the gas outage.
CenterPoint Energy also says some Haynesville residents should have their gas service restored as early as Tuesday evening, the latest time estimate of when all gas service should be restored is Wednesday.
Center Point Energy Spokesperson Alicia D. Dixon says most Haynesville residents will not have gas service any sooner than midday Wednesday. Center Point Energy officials say the outage was caused when a piece of equipment hit a Center Point Energy natural gas line disrupting service.
Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith says Arkla Gas mega crews and Center Point Energy crews along with crews from Arkansas, East Texas and other parts of Louisiana are working to locate the gas leak. Both crews will have to work to turn every meter off in the city including businesses. Smith says this is for precaution. The crews are setting up a command center in the city.
"CenterPoint Energy has begun the process of turning off the flow of gas to each customer's natural gas meter," says District Director for Center Point Energy Eric Barkley. "We will then work to ensure that the natural gas distribution lines are clear of air. Once the lines are clear, we will begin the process of going meter to meter to restore gas service to each customer."
Smith says both Arkla Gas and Center Point Energy crews will have to work to turn off 3,000 to 5,000 gas meters.
"When we begin the process of relighting, we'd like to ask that customers be at home if possible so our employees can go inside to restore natural gas service. A customer needs to call us only if there is a door hanger at their home or business indicating that we've already been by to attempt to restore service. Please call the number on the door tag left by our service personnel," says Barkley.
Smith says the city lost all gas service at about 6:30 p.m.
For safety reasons, the company urges customers not to turn any valves or tamper with the natural gas meter. Opening or turning any valves could allow air to enter the natural gas lines, which would hinder the re-pressurization process.
KSLA News 12 will have more details on this story as they become available.
Copyright 2012 KSLA. All rights reserved.
Go here to read the rest:
UPDATE: Gas service restored to 500 Haynesville homes and businesses
Category
Home Restoration | Comments Off on UPDATE: Gas service restored to 500 Haynesville homes and businesses
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tinian delegation pushes anew for restoration of patients' free meal
The four-member Tinian Legislative Delegation is again asking the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. to restore the free meals for Tinian and Rota hemodialysis patients, saying that there are other areas where CHC could cut spending, including non-hiring of non-essential employees at this time.
The delegation is also requesting CHC to provide an “accurate description of [its] financial situation.”
Senate Vice President Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian) said providing free meal to Tinian and Rota patients is a “miniscule obligation,” which he estimates at $50,000 a year that could be an equivalent of one employee's salary.
“We have a hard time believing that CHC does not have the money for the patients' meal when they continue to hire non-essential employees. We could understand if they are hiring doctors, but they continue to hire administrative employees,” Hofschneider told Saipan Tribune.
Hofschneider said after some Tinian officials made their formal request with CHC to restore the patients' free meal, the delegation also wrote a Feb. 7 letter asking the same.
“As of Feb. 15, we haven't received a response from CHC. They are still not restoring the free meal to these patients. These patients are not here by choice. If the services provided on Saipan are also provided on Tinian and Rota, they won't come here. Another thing we're concerned about is that CHC should continue to provide the meal because theirs is approved by nutritionists,” he added.
Hofschneider, in his one-page letter to CHC chief executive officer Juan N. Babauta, said although the delegation is cognizant of CHC's financial situation, they are “disappointed” by its decision to stop providing meal service to Tinian and Rota patients.
“Furthermore, it is displeasing to learn that while you have decided to cut this miniscule service and burden employees with austerity measures, you were still able to hire new employees and offer certain current employees a raise. These actions send a very confusing message to the Delegation and the [CNMI] Legislature, with whom you are requesting to assist CHC with its monetary problems,” he told Babauta.
Babauta issued a memo stating that meal services and bottled water for Rota and Tinian medical referral patients staying at the guest house will be discontinued on Feb. 1, 2012, and these services may only resume if funding is made available.
CHC was not able to pay on time its non-essential employees on Friday, and Babauta asked the Legislature to immediately approve an $11.58 million line of credit bill that will help CHC with its finances until it gets back on its feet. The House passed the bill on Monday, but the Senate won't have a session until Feb. 23.
Back to top
Here is the original post:
Tinian delegation pushes anew for restoration of patients' free meal
Category
Home Restoration | Comments Off on Tinian delegation pushes anew for restoration of patients' free meal
The Adventure is one step closer to sailing in the 2012 Schooner Festival, as organizers hope.
Tuesday, crews at the Gloucester Marine Railways on Rocky Neck pulled the restored schooner out of the water for some interior work. On Thursday, workers will scan the hull, clean it, and do some calculations for installing an engine, bulkheads and ballast, among other projects. Today and tomorrow, crews will work on removing the Adventure's masts and re-rig the ship.
"The Adventure organization is beginning 2012 at a rapid pace with our goal to have Adventure sailing in the 2012 Schooner Festival," said Joanne Souza, the organization's executive director.
Adventure won't be finished by then, but she should be able to sail, Souza said.
The Adventure is a 122-foot dory fishing schooner built in Essex in 1926. The restoration project, according to the Schooner Adventure organization's website, is more than 70 percent complete, and has beencarried out at a cost of around $2.5 million to date.
Steven Fletcher may be contacted at 1-978-283-7000 x3455, or sfletcher@gloucestertimes.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stevengdt.
Excerpt from:
Schooner hauled out for home-stretch restoration
Category
Home Restoration | Comments Off on Schooner hauled out for home-stretch restoration
February 15, 2012, 9:59 AM EST
By Freeman Klopott
(Updates with revised loan size in first paragraph.)
Feb. 14 (Bloomberg) -- New York state has applied for a $2 billion federal loan for construction of a $5.2 billion replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson River, state officials said.
Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald said the state sent a letter of interest to the Federal Highway Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation, which administers a program that provides credit assistance for “regionally significant” infrastructure projects.
“They’re reviewing it now,” McDonald said in an interview today after leaving a Cabinet meeting with Governor Andrew Cuomo in Albany.
McDonald said during the interview that the loan request was for $3 billion, a figure later revised to $2 billion by her spokesman, Bill Reynolds.
“The commissioner misspoke,” he said in telephone interview.
Bloomberg News had asked Reynolds for a copy of the letter in a Feb. 6 e-mail. It wasn’t provided.
Replacing the 56-year-old bridge, which carries 138,000 vehicles a day between Rockland and Westchester counties as part of the New York State Thruway system, is a priority for Cuomo. In his $132.5 billion budget, the governor didn’t identify a specific funding source, though said the new bridge would be financed with public money. The 54-year-old Democrat has compared building a new Tappan Zee to the construction of the Erie Canal in the 19th century.
The three-mile-long (4.8-kilometer) bridge is estimated to cost $5.2 billion, with the price tag rising as high as $16 billion if public transportation projects are included. Loans through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, which McDonald said the state applied for in December, can be used only to pay for one-third of a project’s total estimated cost under current law. If New York is applying for the full amount, that would make the value of the project $6 billion.
Short List
Legislators in Washington are currently considering whether to increase the participation limit to about 49 percent of the total cost.
“We’re following what happens in Congress very closely,” McDonald said.
Fluor Corp., Bechtel Group Inc., Skanska AB and Grupo Dragados SA are part of four teams selected to bid on the project, the state said in a Feb. 7 statement.
State officials have mostly been mum on financing plans. At today’s cabinet meeting, Cuomo said only, “We’re working on a financial plan.”
New York’s Transportation Department hired Jeffrey A. Parker & Associates to develop a funding plan, according to a December announcement. The Philadelphia-based financing consultant specializes in public infrastructure projects and will help secure a federal loan, according to the firm’s website.
Tifia loans are generally used for projects costing more than $500 million, last about 35 years and have an interest rate tied to U.S. Treasuries. As of Feb. 10, Tifia’s interest rate was 3.14 percent.
Nancy Singer, a U.S. transportation department spokeswoman, said in an e-mail she couldn’t immediately comment.
--With assistance from Martin Z. Braun in New York and Carol Wolf in Washington. Editors: Mark Schoifet, William Glasgall
To contact the reporter on this story: Freeman Klopott in Albany, New York, at fklopott@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Tannenbaum at mtannen@bloomberg.net
See the original post:
New York Seeks $2 Billion Federal Loan for Tappan Zee Bridge
Category
Cabinet Replacement | Comments Off on New York Seeks $2 Billion Federal Loan for Tappan Zee Bridge
New bites to try -
February 15, 2012 by
Mr HomeBuilder
The fresh faces of 2012 try their hands at all kinds of cuisines, from barbecue to vegan, from an imported gelato to a New York-style pizza. One new restaurant lets you cook your own soup. Check them out.
Less than a week old
Say hello to these newborn restaurants!
Gaijin Noodle + Sake House: Ramen bowls, hamachi paired with Okinawan yams fried into chips, and yakitori at a new concept from chef Antonio Friscia in a textured, trendy spot. 627 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp. gaijinsd.com
The Kebab Shop: An expansion of the popular doner kebab business that first opened in the East Village in 2008. Beech and Union streets, Little Italy. thekebabshop.com
Puesto Mexican Street Food: Grilled Mexican cuisine (huitlacoche tacos! delish) made to order at this fast-casual spot, as well as build-your-own rice bowls. 1026 Wall St., La Jolla. (858) 454-1260 or eatpuesto.com
Casa De Luz
Macrobiotic diets aren’t just for age-resistant celebrities (Madonna). Promoting an animal-free, gluten-free, ever-changing organic menu, this spacious Austin import is an update to an old Salvation Army building. It’s a vegan counterweight to North Park’s carnivorous obsessions (The Linkery, Carnitas’ Snack Shack). For breakfast, you might find a porridge of amaranth whole grains. For a three-course, $14.95 lunch, perhaps vegetable miso, roasted beets and onions, and green and black beluga lentils in a French dressing. There are nut-sauce accompaniments — “and sauce for the nut-intolerant,” adds owner Eduardo Longoria. Dinner’s also available, along with meal plans, macrobiotic cooking classes, and soon, organic beer and wine. Remember to compost your scraps when you bus your table. 2920 University Ave., North Park. Unlisted. casadeluz.org
Cremolose
Chef-owner Vicenzo Loverso (Origano) knows how to get Italian goods into the United States. Evidence: the imported, gelatolike cremolose he’s been loading patrons up with since January (with flavors like hazelnut, pistachio, peach, tangerine, strawberry). There’s also the imported beef bresaola in his paninis. And slow-roasted imported pork in his porchetta sandwiches. There’s room for stateside ingredients and traditional gelatos in the 5,000-square-foot Italian cafe, as well as fresh-baked cakes and specialty cocktails made with cremolose. Open until 4 a.m. on weekends. 840 Fifth Ave, Suite 100, Gaslamp. (619) 233-9900 840 cremolosesd.com
Flippin’ Pizza
Hey Cal State U. kids, Flippin’ is pointing at you. Located right across from the San Marcos campus, you’ll find a pizzeria cloning New York’s water for its pizza dough and cooking on pizza stones. “We want to be in the business of replicating the same New York pie I grew up with as a kid,” Flippin’ CEO Patrick Farley says. Two slices with a drink are $6. A bacon and jalapeño calzone is $12. Bring your study group some happiness by getting an airy, 18-inch, four-cheese pie (mozzarella, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, ricotta). Or hang out at this chain: They’ve added a bar and chopped salads like the artichoke and roasted red pepper. 342 South Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos. (760) 736-3180 or flippinpizza.com. 4S Ranch location coming soon, and they’ve got a food truck; find them on Twitter at @FlippinPizzaCA.
Continue reading here:
New bites to try
Lead Paint Hazards and Older Windows -
February 15, 2012 by
Mr HomeBuilder
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- If your home was built before 1978 and you still have the original windows, it's time to seriously consider replacing your windows --- especially if you have young children or a pregnant person living at home.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120215/NY52241)
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the routine opening and closing of windows in homes built prior to 1978 can disturb lead-based paint around the windows, causing paint dust and chips to be released into the air. These lead particles are so potentially dangerous that the EPA now requires contractors to be trained and certified before they can perform any renovation, repair or painting projects that may have previously applied lead-based paint.
"Research indicates that the everyday activity of opening and closing windows creates friction that then allows invisible lead dust to enter the air," says Rick Nevin, a consultant to the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH). "Young children, who crawl on the floor where the lead dust has settled, can be especially at risk. Toddlers put their hands in their mouths … and after playing on the floor near a window, they can easily transfer the lead dust into their mouths. The ingested lead travels through the bloodstream to a child's developing brain, causing many types of neurobehavioral damage."
According to Nevin, one of the most important long-term investments a homeowner can make for the overall safety of a family is to replace older windows, using the EPA-approved lead safe renovation guidelines. "Replacing older windows is one of the best ways to reduce lead risks," says Nevin. "Make sure to use only a contractor that is certified in lead-safe work practices and strongly consider the use of ENERGY STAR® qualified windows, like the vinyl replacement windows offered by Simonton Windows®. These windows are a healthy choice for replacing older single-pane units. They're energy-efficient and a good value for the investment."
"At Simonton, we advocate that replacing older windows coated with lead-based paint with vinyl windows is a sensible step for homeowners who want to create a healthier home environment," says Gary Pember with Simonton Windows. "We believe Rick's research substantiates the replacement of all windows coated with lead based paint as a way to dramatically help reduce lead dust within that home."
Nevin explains that, according to his research funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), homeowners need to understand there are four key steps to completing a "lead-safe window replacement strategy" for the home. "First, they advise replacing all single-pane windows with ENERGY STAR qualified windows," says Nevin. "Second, stabilize any significantly deteriorated paint. Third, perform specialized cleaning to remove any lead-contaminated dust. And finally, perform dust wipe tests to confirm the absence of lead dust hazards after the clean up." Research results can be obtained at http://www.ricknevin.com/windows.html.
Original post:
Lead Paint Hazards and Older Windows
« old entrysnew entrys »
Page 56«..1020..55565758..7080..»