Take it inside! Thats what the City Council of Yuba City said yesterday when it passed an urgency ordinance immediately banning residents from growing medical marijuana outdoors, according to the Appeal Democrat. Phototron, the leading online growing systems manufacturer, says this move isnt the end of the worldand that its solutions offer growers an easy and elegant transition to growing cannabis indoors.

Gardena, CA (PRWEB) March 08, 2012

As the various layers of government crack down on outdoor marijuana growing, even in states where medical cannabis is allowed by law, many are turning to indoor growing in order to get affordable access to the medicine they need, said Craig Ellins, Phototrons CEO. The Phototron allows you to grow indoors easily and with very little investment, since it requires no additional lighting, plumbing or electrical upgrade Everything you need is self-contained with the Phototron. You simply plug it in and grow.

Growers no longer need to invest in setting up large hydroponic systems that take up an entire room or even smaller setups, like the standard 4 X 4 trays that require 16 square feet of floor space. They also dont need auxiliary components like a water reservoir, coolers, fans and other things that take up additional space.

Phototron says that there are many other advantages to consider, including:

#1 Grow Year Round

Being able to grow in a controlled environment is one of the greatest benefits of an indoor growing system. In addition to providing shelter from inclement weather, snow, frost, humidity and heat waves, gardeners can control the number of daylight hours.

#2 Grow in Small Areas

Would-be gardeners with space limitations like apartments and condos, can still garden indoors. All of the Phototron grow cabinets are only 21 inches wide and deep, so they take up less than 2 square feet of indoor floor space. That means that they can be located almost anywhereeven a kitchen countertop.

#3 Protected from Invaders

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Indoor Growing More Attractive as Municipalities Including Yuba City Ban Outdoor Growing

To hear Sharon Litwin's interview with Lake Douglas on WWNO radio, clickhere.

Hard to believe that Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday. Already its spring, although the trees and flowers have known that for weeks.

With the season come thoughts of planting and gardens, both private and public. But not everyone has the artistic vision to design an elegant outdoor space nor a green thumb, even in this area of lush foliage. So for someone like me, who practices her own horticultural version of Darwins Theory of Evolution (if it lives, it lives; if it dies, it dies), its probably best to go sit some other place and be the beneficiary of a real landscape architect's skills.

We are lucky in our city to have a number of sites to choose from. So imagine my surprise to learn that, in New Orleans, the identification of landscape architecture as a formal academic occupation is fairly new. The history of our 200-year-old citys outdoor design landscape made me think such skills must be the outcome of a profession long taught.

Not so, says Lake Douglas, Associate Professor in theRobert Reich School of Landscape Architecture at Louisiana State University.

Numerous examples of early professionally designed outdoor spaces exist around town; theNew Orleans Botanical Garden, one of the few remaining examples of public garden design from the 1930s Art Deco period,is one. It was built by William Weidorn, a professionally trained landscape architect from Cornell University brought down to work on City Park. But it wasnt until several years later that another Cornell University graduate and ardent believer arrived in Louisiana, bent on creating a formally accredited university academic program.

'Doc' Reich, as we call him now, came to Louisiana in the 40s and started the program, Lake says of Robert Reich, for whom the LSU School of Landscape Architecture is named and who died in 2010. He remained on faculty teaching until he died. Students actually went to see him in assisted living, where he worked with them up to age 97.

Today landscape architecture projects can range from those as modest as private garden designs to those addressing issues of such huge scale as coastal erosion or managing environmental disasters.

Currently involved in a grass-roots effort to increase this citys inventory of public green spaces through the creation of the Lafitte Corridor Greenway, Lake uses several already-constructed projects to demonstrate to his students excellent examples of thoughtful and successful local landscape architecture.

You can look at improvements to the Audubon Zoo, which used to be thought of as an animal ghetto and now is one of the most impressive zoos in the world, he says. And then theres the new Big Lake area of City Park, a project made possible through the Trust for Public Land. When you pass by it you can see people walking, running, skateboarding from 7 in the morning until 7 at night. Its wonderful.

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Landscape architects shape city's green spaces

Needham could fix its two aging and overcrowded elementary schools by reshuffling populations among five town schools, according to a pre-feasibility study.

Dore and Whittier, an architectural firm hired by the Needham School Committee to study Hillside and Mitchell Elementary Schools, presented four options for the two schools at a School Committee meeting on March 7.

According to Massachusetts School Building Association standards, the two schools house nearly twice as many students as they should.

The buildings are also in need of renovation. In 2010, the MSBA rated Mitchell a two on a scale of one to four, where a four denotes poor conditions and a one denotes good conditions. Hillside earned a ranking of three.

Dore and Whittiers four options are intended to solve those overcrowding and aging problems.

One [option] involves looking at Hillside and Mitchell and what we can do with the populations as they currently exist, said Dore and Whittier principal Donald Walter. That plan would either keep the current populations at each school; put kindergarten and first grade at Hillside and second grade through fifth grade at Mitchell; or put grades kindergarten through third grade at Mitchell and fourth and fifth grade at Hillside.

The second option, said Walter, involves repurposing Hillside and either combining the two school populations at the Mitchell site in two buildings, or in one building.

Essentially you would have two buildings under one roof. You would still have Hillside and Mitchell, but they would share some of the core facilities, said Walter. That option would concentrate upwards of 900 students at one site, far more than Needhams current biggest elementary school, Newman, which houses 641 students.

Option three would move High Rock, Needhams sixth grade school, to Pollard Middle School or to DeFazio Park. It would move Hillside to Newman and part of Newman to High Rock, renovate or rebuild Mitchell and repurpose the Hillside site.

Option four would install full-day kindergarten--long on Needhams wish list--lump grade five with grade six at Pollard or DeFazio, then relocate Hillside to Newman, part of Newman at High Rock, renovate Mitchell and repurpose Hillside.

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Architects present four options for overcrowded Needham schools

Target is expected to be the primary anchor for a new shopping center that will rise near the Kaiser hospital in South San Jose.

The new retail complex, dubbed Village Oaks, will total 320,000 square feet. Besides Target, a major supermarket is expected to be one of the anchors. A health club, restaurants, banking and other retail are expected to make up much of the remainder of the tenants.

After stalling during the recession, the center's launch is being bolstered by a rebounding local economy. Principal developer Hunter Storm Properties has teamed up with realty finance and investment firm Pacific Coast Capital Partners.

"We have very strong interest in most retail categories for this site," said

The location of the retail complex, near Highway 85 and Cottle Road, is in a retail void for large shopping centers.

"This area is really underserved for retail," said James Chung, a partner with Terranomics, a real estate firm that is scouting for tenants to occupy the project.

The developers and Terranomics wouldn't identify the anchors that have agreed to move to the center, which will occupy a portion of the former IBM disk drive factory site.

However, marketing materials for the complex and a residential development that will be constructed nearby

The nearest Target stores are at San Jose's The Plant shopping center and on East Capitol Exopressway off Highway 101 to the north, Oakridge mall to the west and a shopping center in Morgan Hill near 101 and Cochrane Road.

The robust job market in the South Bay has helped coax considerable interest out of big retailers for this center and elsewhere in Silicon Valley.

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Big retail center planned for south San Jose to include a Target

NEW YORK, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Stuart Dean, North America's preferred provider of architectural restoration services, will demonstrate its broad array of facade restoration and commercial-grade grout installation solutions to attendees of the National Facility Management Technology (NFMT) Expo (March 13-15 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD). NFMT is the largest gathering of building owners, facility managers, maintenance engineers, sustainability directors and other facilities management professionals across the country. The expo provides an interactive educational and networking experience that offers ideas to inspire those in the facility management industry.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120213/NE52388LOGO )

"At Stuart Dean, we have a proud history of restoring, polishing and maintaining some of the continent's most prominent commercial addresses. We are also pleased to mark our tenth anniversary as an exhibitor at NFMT, a key industry show," said Mark Parrish, president and CEO of Stuart Dean. "Our time-tested approaches and innovative solutions help to extend the life, increase the value and enhance the beauty of interior and exterior architectural surfaces for buildings, institutions, retail stores and restaurants of all kinds. We believe the industry will continue to take notice of what we have to offer from the facade outside to the floor inside."

Stuart Dean's Specialty Services Division focuses on the restoration of architectural metal of curtain walls and building facades. Because both function as the long-term weather barrier for the building, they can become dull and weathered by harmful elements. Stuart Dean employs experts in the application of field-applied fluoropolymers and other high-performance coatings to restore the facade and the curtain wall. The company also remains on the forefront of developing and applying the newest technologies and methodologies to protect metal architectural surfaces.

Inside the building, the company's exclusive Marcoat Epoxy Grout Floor System is an innovative solution for grout degradation, one of the most common and costly back-of-the-house problems for the restaurant industry. Marcoat is a nonporous epoxy replacement for conventional grout and eliminates corrosion for the long term by standing up to the rigors of daily wear and tear in commercial kitchens. The material features industry-leading return on investment, with a total cost of ownership four times less than conventional grout.

The company also specializes in stone cleaning and sealing, wood refinishing and glass restoration, thereby providing the total solution for facility managers.

Stuart Dean will be located at Booth #2223 at NFMT.

About Stuart Dean Stuart Dean is the country's preeminent architectural restoration company, specializing in metal polishing, stone cleaning and sealing, wood refinishing, glass restoration, and commercial-grade grout installation. Thousands of clients entrust Stuart Dean to protect, maintain and restore their buildings, retail stores, institutions and restaurants every day. Stuart Dean offers a portfolio of services to enhance the beauty and retain the value of a wide array of architectural assets. The company has been in business for nearly 80 years, with 22 offices in the U.S. and Canada and over 450 employees. Major markets served include New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, D.C./Virginia, Phoenix, Charlotte, Miami, Atlanta, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Tustin, San Diego, Toronto, and Vancouver. For more information, visit http://www.stuartdean.com.

Contact: Jeff Donaldson 412-642-7700 jeff.donaldson@elias-savion.com

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Stuart Dean Highlights Restoration and Maintenance Solutions to Building Owners, Facility Managers at NFMT 2012 ...

Radnor Townships Historic and Architectural Review Board gave developer Cas Holloway a 3-0 nod of approval Wednesday night, deeming his plan for restoring Louella Mansions Second Empire architecture and gabled mansard roof appropriate to safeguard the architectural and historical integrity of the iconic building.

Radnor Township commissioners had voted 4-2 in February to approve the final plans of C.F. Holloway III & Co. to convert the existing Louella Mansion apartments into condominiums and construct a new underground parking garage, but the issues heard by HARB Wednesday were considered important enough to be brought back before the board.

Of particular interest to the HARB board were proposed exterior renovations that included the enclosing of the porch at the west end of the building; the removal of a coal chute, two existing at-grade windows and a basement entrance; and the relocation of two windows on the north side of the building.

Also discussed was the roof line, as the plan would opt to continue the mansard roof out and over the enclosed porch, and also shutters, windows, doors and roofing materials.

Holloways architect summarized the history of the 1867 house with its additional wings added in 1890 to accommodate its change of function into a hotel, and the western porch addition somewhat later on, in the 1920s or 30s, when Louella became an apartment building. He noted the original wrap-around porch, which was discarded with the buildings enlargement, the three-story porches that were built onto the south and north facades, and also the fact that enclosed porches have been common additions to many of the homes in the Louella Court historic neighborhood as well as other historic buildings in Wayne and elsewhere.

Holloway plans to reconfigure the existing 25 apartments into 12 condominiums with attention paid to upgrading all of the mechanical aspects of the badly outdated building to conform to code while preserving the historical look and quality, but with modern replacement materials where age and rot have taken their toll.

Neighbors and local historians have questioned and criticized Holloways choice of AZEK molded products for trim, moldings, decks and other architectural features, referring to the proposed restoration as plastic.

HARB board member John Dziedzina noted, however, that three preservation projects he is familiar with, all with no budget for the exterior work, have specified AZEK, which will, apparently, outlast wood.

Board chair Cameron Lacy summarized his opinion on the issues that the board had heard about -- that enclosing the west porch represents an architectural feature that has been done many times before, that removing the coal chute and basement entrance would have no significant impact, and that the relocation of the windows is an improvement.

Louella court neighbors have retained counsel to appeal the Board of Commissioners approval to the townships zoning hearing board. That appeal is expected to come up in April. Continued...

Originally posted here:
Approved Louella Mansion plan gets HARB nod

Independent AAMA window and door product performance testing allows homeowners to evaluate products by comparing standardized testing results. Simonton Windows participates in every aspect of the stringent AAMA Gold Label Certification program, providing top-quality products and peace-of-mind to homeowners.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) March 08, 2012

AAMA stands for American Architectural Manufacturers Association. Why is this organization important to homeowners? Because for almost 50 years AAMA* has provided independent product performance information on windows and doors. And, the AAMA Certification Program is the only program in the window and door industry that requires components used in the finished window and door assembly to pass their own set of performance tests.

AAMAs comprehensive program requires the use of AAMA-accredited labs so that tests are performed by qualified, experienced third-party professionals using properly calibrated equipment. Add to that two unscheduled manufacturing plant inspections each year by AAMA officials and you have a sound program that provides confidence to consumers purchasing AAMA certified products.

AAMA testing provides many benefits for consumers, says Timothy J. Efaw, testing team leader at Simonton Windows. Since the testing is done to a specific industry standard, homeowners can evaluate products by comparing standardized testing results.

Consumers should look for windows and doors that meet the AAMA tests for structural integrity that withstand wind loads. A key tip for consumers is to be suspicious of any window or door product that is not tested. This may mean that the units cant or wont perform to the minimum threshold of standards laid out by the AAMA program. That could be a big red flag when shopping for windows.

Efaw explains that there are various levels of AAMA testing, with the highest, most dependable level being AAMAs Gold Label Certification. While some companies choose to participate in selective parts of the AAMA curriculum, Simonton Windows participates in every aspect of the stringent Gold Label Certification, says Efaw.

This is the highest testing level possible from AAMA and ensures that all aspects of manufacturing, quality, training, component certification and overall product certification are in line with all documented AAMA standards. Meeting Gold Label Certification assures a homeowner of purchasing the highest standard of window available in the marketplace that has been rigorously tested according to AAMA requirements for structural strength and resistance to air leakage, water penetration and forced-entry.

What You Get with AAMA Gold Label Certification

In order to receive the AAMA Gold Label Certification, windows and doors must pass independent AAMA-accredited test lab requirements that meet these criteria:

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What to Know Before Buying Replacement Windows

Concerns over the Robinson School window replacement project led the towns municipal building committee (MBC) to appear before the board of selectmen on Wednesday.

MBC chairman Maureen Doherty addressed the questions about $375,000 voters approved at last springs Town Meeting to replace the windows in the school. The confusion among residents and elected officials seems to be over what exactly the $375,000 was to cover.

Doherty said she was not present for the school department presentation last year.

When it came to the building committee we always knew it was just phase one, Doherty said.

I never remember phase one ever being said, selectmen Chairman Jess Aptowitz said. People thought when they voted at Town Meeting that amount was the total amount needed for all windows. I dont think that was clear at the meeting.

Doherty said her committee was there to work for the best value on the project and did not want to get caught up in a disagreement between the selectmen and the school department.

Doherty also said the committee received 15 proposals for a design professional for the project, something she said is required by state law.

She said it was important to hire someone because of the scope of the project, a 35,000-cubic-yard facility, and the fact that it was not just a matter of popping out old windows and installing new ones.

Its window wall systems, its not a window replacement, Doherty said. They interface with masonry walls. We cant go to Home Depot and get a window.

MBC Vice Chairman Bob Barry said the window replacement may not be able to be completed in the summer but could go into the fall.

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Robinson window project discussed in Mansfield

SAN MATEO, Calif., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pythagoras Solar, provider of the industry's first solar window to simultaneously deliver energy efficiency, high power density and optimized daylighting, today announced its participation and contribution of solar window technology to the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE) Building Technology Showcase, a first-of-its-kind research and demonstration building for sustainable technologies in the City of Boston's Innovation District. Pythagoras Solar is one of 35+ partners contributing a combined total of $2.7 million in advanced building energy technologies and services for the new "living laboratory."

"We are delighted to incorporate Pythagoras Solar's innovative solar window technology into our facility," said Fraunhofer CSE Building Energy Efficiency Group Leader Kurt Roth. "Building-integrated solar PV is an important technology for commercial construction, and we're excited to enter into a partnership with Pythagoras to benefit from and help refine the technology's energy production potential as well as impacts on lighting, heating, and cooling."

"Pythagoras Solar is excited to contribute its technology to the Fraunhofer CSE Showcase to help raise awareness for sustainable innovations and in particular solar window technology," said Udi Paret, VP Marketing and Business Development, Pythagoras Solar. "We are proud to have our technology demonstrated alongside industry leaders, such as Guardian Industries. Together, we can show that products that truly stand to change the way buildings are built are available today. Forward thinking building developers and architects can now see our solar windows in action firsthand and better understand how they can turn facades into energy generating assets."

Pythagoras Solar's Photovoltaic Glass Unit (PVGU), or solar window, provides significant and simultaneous benefits including energy efficiency, optimized daylighting, and high density solar power generation in a standard double-pane window form factor. This PVGU is easy-to-install, designed to meet advanced building codes and standards, can be optimized for a variety of uses and offers attractive economics with a typical ROI of 3-5 years. The first products are designed for curtain wall and skylight applications. Currently, Pythagoras Solar is shipping products for commercial projects and starting to deliver on a full pipeline of projects across the United States.

"In addition to making the Building Technology Showcase the premier research and demonstration laboratory for clean energy technologies, we are committed to making the building a venue where everyone -- from seasoned architects and construction executives to students still deciding their future career paths -- can visualize the performance and potential of the technologies incorporated into the building," said Nolan Browne, Managing Director of Fraunhofer CSE. "Our goal is to present the information in innovative ways that engage visitors and create demand for these energy-saving systems and sustainable products in the market."

For more information please visit http://cse.fraunhofer.org/bts.

Industry Partners Contributing to the Showcase:Controls and Building Management:Siemens Cimetrics OutSmart Power Systems

Interior Products / Systems:Dorma ThyssenKrupp Elevator nora systems, Inc DuPont Curava Artaic

Envelope:Guardian Industries Pythagoras Solar Roxul Cooley Group Dow Corning Erie Architectural Products

Solar Energy Systems:Schueco USA TIGI

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Pythagoras Solar Announces Solar Window Technology Contribution to Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems ...

CROSSVILLE Students in the building construction technology program at Tennessee Technology Center at Crossville have completed the 2015 Energy Star Concept Home and are ready to show their work to the community.

A dedication is set for noon Friday, followed by an open house during the weekend, coinciding with the annual Home Builders Association of Cumberland County Home Show.

"We know this is the first net-zero home in the county," said Steve Lane, instructor. "It may be the first in the state."

Net zero home means that, over the course of a year, the home will produce more energy than it uses. That's accomplished through a combination of energy generation with solar panels and energy efficient technology and building practices.

A 4 kilowatt solar system has been installed at the home's location across the street from the TTCC campus on Miller Ave. That will stay at the site and allow TTCC to be a Generation Partner with the Tennessee Valley Authority.

"We're the first Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) facility to be a Generation Partner," explained Lane, who said TBR and TVA lawyers had to work out several points in the standard contract that would allow a state facility to take advantage of the program.

As a Generation Partner, TTCC will sell all of the power produced by the solar panels back to TVA at 12 cents greater than the current energy price.

The solar array will allow students at TTCC to learn how to install and care for solar panels. They can also change the tilt of the array and perform experiments.

Another unique feature is the geothermal heating and cooling system, donated by Water Furnace. One was installed in the classroom and the other in the student-built home. TTCC students are training on installing, de-installing and servicing the geothermal units.

The city of Crossville partnered with TTCC to dig 300 linear feet of trenches about five feet deep. Tubing was buried in the trenches and coolant is circulated through the tubing to provide a heating or cooling source for the home.

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TTCC students build net-zero energy home