Plessey, a manufacturer of semiconductor products used in many applications including solid-state lighting, has announced it is a core partner in the worlds first biophilic design project. The Biophilic Office is a ground-breaking office refurbishment project run by BRE, a building research organization.

The project will be located on the BRE campus at Watford in a 650-metre-square office building. The building will be refurbished according to biophilic design principles, putting a spotlight on nature. Biophilia is based on the innate attraction to living systems and natural processes. The project is designed to provide quantifiable evidence of the benefits of a biophilic design on health, wellbeing and productivity of office workers. The project is a comprehensive and long-term study that is unique for its scale and data capture.

A key result of the project will be to provide a firm foundation for the guidance and adoption of measures in the facilities management and refurbishment sectors to promote health and wellbeing in offices.

As one of several core partners on the project, Plessey will be using the Biophilic Office, as well as its own test facilities, to evaluate the offices role in promoting the health and wellbeing of office workers, in addition to expanding research into this type of nature-centred design in general.

Over a three year period, Plessey will contribute its expertise and knowledge in sensing and solid-state lighting technologies, which are commercially available in a range of Plesseys products. Plesseys Hyperion range was designed to provide supplementary lighting in greenhouses, helping to achieve increased productivity for growers while providing 40 per cent energy savings compared to equivalent 600W and 1000W sodium lights. Plesseys Orion series of LED modules delivers new levels of design freedom to architectural and industrial lighting designers.

The project will show how quantified improvements in productivity and wellness can bring rewards for landlords, occupiers, developers and all those concerned with the office and wider built environment, said Ed Suttie, research director at BRE, in a press release.

We believe this exciting new project will yield much valuable data and enable us to develop lighting technologies that are truly people-centric, where light levels can be adapted to suit human circadian rhythms, added Dr. Keith Strickland, Plesseys Chief Technology Officer.

Researchers will carry out a baseline year of pre-refurbishment and a year of post-refurbishment monitoring, evaluating the Biophilic Office environment for daylight, lighting, indoor air quality, acoustic, thermal and humidity comfort. Office occupants will undergo confidential health evaluations and sign up to a series of online questionnaires and surveys. They will enlist the help of wearable technology to monitor key health metrics.

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Plessey to provide lighting to biophilic office project - REMI Network - Real Estate Management Industry Network

In a lot of places that have legalized medical or recreational weed, you can legally grow a certain number of plants. Its still illegal everywhere else. But even if you are allowed to grow your own weed, there will likely be restrictions on your growing activity. All of this means that there are many situations where you need to go into stealth growing mode. Here are the keys to growing weed without getting caught.

Stealth growing is all about anticipating what will give you away, and then taking steps to avoid those things. To do this, think about where you will be growing your plants. Why is this a good spot to grow? What do you think will be the biggest vulnerabilities you will face in this location? What are the biggest strengths this spot has going for it? Are there better, more discreet ways you might want to grow?

Most of what stealth growing requires is common sense and a little bit of planning ahead. As a general guideline, its always better to err on the side of being too suspicious and guarded than not suspicious enough.

This does not necessarily mean you need to become paranoid or some sort of conspiracy theorist. It just means you need to keep your stealth growing to yourself. Period.With that said, here are the most important tips for successful stealth growing.

Dont tell anyone that you are growing cannabis. Not even your best friend. We dont think your best friend is going to rat on you. Were more worried about them carelessly telling somebody elsesomebody you might not know or trustabout your grow.

This rule also applies if you ever find yourself in a conversation about anything related to growing. Do not let it slip that you are growing weed, or even that you know how to grow weed. Just keep silent and play dumb. You dont want to draw any unwanted attention to yourself.

In fact, you dont want any attention, even positive attention, on your growing activity. Its ideal if nobody except you knows about your stealth growing operation. To keep it safe, keep it secret.

This tip applies to all sorts of things. For starters, if you are growing outside, keep your plants from being too visible. This can be a little bit tricky. Since they need a lot of sunlight, you cant just cover them up or hide them during the day.

Look for remote and out of the way places to grow your cannabis. You can also try disguising your cannabis with other plants. Place them in a larger garden, or mix them in with other shrubs. Finally, watch out for strains that grow super tall or bushy.

Maintaining low visibility applies to indoor growing, too. For example, you dont want to be too obvious when you are building your grow room. If neighbors or passersby see you carrying loads of gardening equipment and soil into your house, they might get suspicious. Move stuff at night. Or put it all in nondescript boxes first. Anything to make it look normal or unremarkable.

This also applies to how and where you install equipment such as ventilation and lighting systems. You do not want people to see bright lights coming from your house at odd hours. Similarly, it would be bad if people saw ventilation hosing and ducts coming out all over the place.

The smell of cannabis is probabaly its most distinctive quality. Its a dead giveaway if you, your house, or your backyard constantly reeks of weed. To control the odor of your stealth growing operation, do the following:

If you are growing inside your home, be sure your stealth growing operation is silent. You will need a fair amount of elecrical equipment to successfuly grow weed indoors: lights, fans, vents, and if you are growing with a hydroponics setup you will also need water pumps and filters.

All of this can create a lot of noise. When selecting your equipment, be sure to read online reviews to find the quietest models. Along with that, when you install your gear, use padding or foam to insulate as much of your grow room as you can.

When youre all set up, walk around the house during daylight and nighttime hours. Look for anything weird. Be sure you cant see light streaming out of your windows, and listen for any loud or unusual sounds that could give you away.

Finally, dont be obvious. Do not make a pattern of visiting a remote grow site at the same time every day. Likewise, dont be obvious about bringing growing materials, plant food, and equipment into your home.

This also applies to other things like water and power bills. A sudden and dramatic spike in water and especially electricity usage can be an obvious indicator of a grow operation.

Try to use equipment that is as efficient as possible. In particular, when you are choosing lighting systems for an indoor grow, use lights that dont suck too much power. LEDs and some fluorescent bulbs are great for this.

Similarly, use reflective hoods to point as much light as possible down at your plants. In addition, line the walls of your grow room with reflective material. All of this means that no light will go to wasteit will all hit your plants. This lets you use your light bulbs more efficiently and can help you reduce the amount of electricity you need.

With a little common sense, some good planning, and a commitment to being quiet and discreet, you should be able to successfully pull off a stealth growing operation.

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Stealth Growing: How to Grow Weed Without Getting Caught - Green Rush Daily

By Tom M. Hanzely

There are nearly 5.6 million commercial buildings across the United States, which generate approximately 16% of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to reduce the environmental impact of these commercial facilities, even the smallest eco-friendly renovation shouldnt be overlooked, as it can create positive change. In fact, according to the U.S. EPAs ENERGY STAR program, if energy efficiency among commercial buildings improved by just 10%, there could be a total cost savings of about $40 billion, not to mention the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that would be prevented. Following are three renovations may not only reduce a commercial buildings carbon footprint, but even help save money over the long-term:

Re-roof and optimize insulation level. The opportunity to re-roof presents itself every few decades. This delivers the chance to bring your roofing assembly a critical part of the building envelope up to current standards. When it comes to re-roofing, the International Code Council (ICC) makes a distinction between a roof recover and a roof replacement. A roof can be recovered once, but if youre re-roofing due to a roof system failure, its likely time to look at a true roof replacement. You can remove old materials and build a new roofing assembly that meets todays standards. In most cases, old roofs will typically only have 1-2 of insulation, and a complete roof replacement would require additional inches of insulation to be installed. The industry now has more data on the appropriate levels of insulation to maximize the efficiency of the thermal barrier. When you re-roof, you can increase thermal performance by following the latest prescriptive guidelines found in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE tables, which prescribe minimum R-values to ensure youre effectively keeping heat in during the winter and out during the summer.

When it comes to re-roofing, the International Code Council (ICC) makes a distinction between a roof recover and a roof replacement. A roof can be recovered once, but if youre re-roofing due to a roof system failure, its likely time to look at a true roof replacement. Facility managers can have old materials removed and a new roofing assembly built that meets todays standards.

In most cases, old roofs will typically only have 1-2 of insulation, and a complete roof replacement would require additional inches of insulation to be installed. The industry now has more data on the appropriate levels of insulation to maximize the efficiency of the thermal barrier. When re-roofing, thermal performance can be increased by following the latest prescriptive guidelines found in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE tables, which prescribe minimum R-values to ensure the roof is effectively keeping heat in during the winter and out during the summer.

Insulation works to consistently regulate energy flow throughout a roofing assembly and minimize energy leakage. If re-roofing, facility management may want to consider a more energy efficient insulation such as polyiso, which can be recycled and reused on roofing applications.

Change existing skylights to daylighting units. When looking at the breakdown of energy consumption by building category, lighting is usually at the top of the list as a main consumer of energy. Utilizing daylighting systems, however, can save energy because the availability of sunlight matches the time we spend in commercial and industrial buildings daily. Furthermore, the sunlight matches the electrical demand put on the energy infrastructure.

Daylighting units provide the highest visible light transmittance with superior light distribution, compared to sunlight domes. This technology keeps facility interiors bright enough to decrease the use of indoor electrical lighting up to 70% during daylight hours. Daylighting units can catch up to 20% more light at low angles than standard shapes and transmit more light to the workplace area without producing glare, hot spots, or UV damage to interior furnishings, equipment, and other items.

Install vegetated roofing. Vegetated roofs offer a host of environmental and functional benefits to facility management staff, ranging from stormwater management and creation of new usable space to air quality improvements and, of course, significant energy savings. Vegetated roof systems provide shade and aid in cooling the air around the building through evapotranspiration. This reduces the pressure put on a facilitys mechanical heating and cooling systems for the floor directly below the vegetated roof, resulting in significant energy savings.

However, the actual thermal performance varies widely and is dependent upon factors including building design, time of year, depth of media, vegetation type and coverage, and amount of water held within the system. Nonetheless, these energy savings are real; theyre a dividend on the initial investment in a vegetated roof. Vegetated roofs also help protect the underlying roof system from extreme temperatures and ultraviolet rays, extending its service life and saving money from a roof replacement or restoration.

In addition to energy savings, installing a vegetated roof offers ample stormwater management benefits. A vegetated roof system reduces the volume of stormwater runoff, which helps alleviate the stress put on infrastructure. This is of importance in urban areas because excess stormwater runoff is the major contributor to non-point source pollution, stream bank erosion, and the cost to treat the water. Vegetated roofing mimics the role that soil and vegetation play in a natural setting by absorbing the water and eliminating impervious surfaces.

Maximizing R-value of roofing insulation, staying up-to-date on codes and standards, implementing daylighting units, and installing vegetated roofs are all renovations that can offer commercial buildings significant energy savings while also working to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Hanzely is a national sales manager for Firestone Building Products SkyScape Vegetative Roof System. He has 17 years of experience designing and installing vegetative roof systems throughout North America and is an accredited Green Roof Professional and a LEED professional. Hanzely holds a bachelors degree from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, and a masters degree from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Schaumburg, IL.

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Roofing Renovation: 3 Energy Efficient Strategies - Facility Executive Magazine

We are not the fastest, nor cheapest; but according to our customers we are the best siding, seamless gutter and exterior repair company in the area!

Rain-Go has been serving the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill area since 1998with many satisfied customers. Rain-Go customers enjoy the benefit of only having to hire one contractor for all of their home exterior needs. Just imagine only having to work with one contractor on your home rather than several!

At Rain-Go, we keep the home improvement process simple and efficient. Our team of craftsmen have many years of experience in all aspects of exterior carpentry which is clearly evident in our reviews. We are second to none and take pride in the quality of our work. Call us today at (919) 875-0700 and you will not be disappointed!

Rain-Go Exteriors is fully insured and licensed, providing service for all of your home exterior needs!

If your roof is leaking, it can cost you a lot in home repairs. At Rain-Go Exteriors, our Raleigh roofing team has the experience you need to do your roof right the first time! Dont risk hiring a company that isnt qualified, or doesnt have a full time roofing team. We take pride in our work as seen in our customer reviews.

If your gutters were not properly installed, or if they are starting to fall apart, it can cause major issues with wood rot and gutter stability. If your gutters are installed onto rotten wood, fascia, or soffit the gutters will not have the correct pitch nor slope and will eventually fall off. Many inexperienced contractors will miss steps like this, and they will cause you more money in the future. Learn more about what sets our Raleigh Gutter installation services apart from our competitors!

As a licensed general contracting company, we can provide you with any Raleigh exterior remodeling and Raleigh siding services you need. Many siding companies do not pay attention to detail and make careless mistakes that will cost you money down the road. We make sure that each Raleigh siding repair we perform will last.

At Rain-Go Exteriors, we know that a properly completed job means not using cheap products and charging premium prices. As a homeowner, you expect the job to be completed to perfection and we only trust the industrys top brands to accomplish that goal.

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Raleigh Roofing, Siding & Gutter Installation Company - Rain-Go

Located in Jupiter, FL, Gutter Professionals, Inc., delivers quality workmanship to the Palm Beach and Martin County area. From gutter installations and repairs to clean outs and downspout drainage.

Gutter Professionals, Inc., is committed to exceeding our clients expectations. We offer quality and timely work, and offer top-of-the-line gutter products and accessories. We are the premier solution to your gutter needs in Jupiter, FL, West Palm Beach and throughout the Palm Beach and Martin County area.

No matter how big or small the project is, Gutter Professionals, Inc., aims to satisfy customers in Jupiter, FL and the surrounding areas. As an owner-operated business, focus is on ensuring the highest quality workmanship on your project from start to finish. With more than 10 years experience, the owner, Tim excels in customer service and satisfaction.

We offer superior quality in our services and the best installations, repairs, gutterproducts for our customers. Everywhere we go, and everywhere we have been we leave a trail of happy and satisfied customers, and have realreviewsfrom real people to prove it. Our reputation is our future business.

Services Offered by Gutter Professionals, Inc.:

At Gutter Professionals, Inc. superior customer service and quality craftsmanship are our motivation! Call us today at 561-249-7292for a free estimate from our licensed gutter specialist.

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Gutter Professionals (561) 249-7292 | Seamless Gutters Palm ...

Specialties

Welcome to The rain gutters specialists inc!

Our services include rain gutters, copper, aluminum, all custom work, and seamless rain gutters service in many areas of Los Angeles county.

We offer a variety of options in rain gutter styles and materials as we continuously research new and innovative materials in our industry (i.e. rain chains and gutter guards), allowing us to give our customers the best job possible, backed by the best service. With every job that our rain gutter specialists complete, we are confident that you have received the highest quality materials and workmanship available. At present, we are installing baked aluminum seamless rain gutters, as well as copper and steel gutters.

Established in 1999.

Our philosophy is simple: offer the best quality product at a fair price, deliver it with skillful, friendly service and make sure each customer is satisfied. That's it!

We must be doing things right. We've been selected for the "Super Service" award by Angie's List in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015, were contracted by the A&E network TV program "Flip This House", and have received wonderful reviews from our many satisfied customers throughout Los Angeles county.

Seamless aluminum rain gutters are our specialty. We also install copper, bonderized and galvanized steel gutter systems. Need custom fabrication? Call us for more information.

As a "Rain Gutters Guy" for the past 10 years I am proud to be part of The Rain Gutter Specialists Company. It's not just about doing rain gutters, it's about getting the job done right!

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The Rain Gutters Specialists - 462 Photos & 291 Reviews ...

About Us

Mike's Seamless Aluminum Gutters is Maryland's leading full service residential and commercial gutter company. We are dedicated to providing professional gutter installation, expert service and unparalleled satisfaction for over 34 years. Founder and president Mike Baird has built a solid reputation in this industry thru the years and continues to stand behind his commitment to each and every customer.

You can be assured that the service we provide will exceed your expectations. Our experienced team of skilled professionals will tailor each job to your specific needs to enhance your home or business. We utilize only state of the art equipment and the highest quality materials for each and every installation. We guarantee our materials and craftsmanship with one of the best warranties in the business.

At Mike's Seamless Aluminum Gutters, our workmanship is flawless. Our gutter services include gutter planning, gutter design, gutter installation, and gutter protection including Champion Gutter Guard. Mike's Seamless Aluminum Gutters boasts a client list of over 20,000 satisfied homeowners, businesses and contractors. Let us plan, design and install your next gutter project! Contact us today for a free, no obligation quote.

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Mike's Seamless Aluminum Gutters | Maryland's Leading Full ...

Are you tired of having to climb a ladder to clean your gutters? Do you wish you didnt have to put your physical safety at risk just to remove debris from a clogged gutter system? The Beldon LeafGuard gutter system is a patented product that will simplify your life by eliminating the time-consuming and dangerous chore of gutter clean out. Beldon LeafGuard is a one-piece system that prevents a variety of gutter problems from occurring. Most debris is prevented from entering the gutter system by a fully integrated curved hood that keeps out the majority of leaves, twigs, and other items, but permits water to fall in. Should any extraneous items enter the gutter system, its seamless design ensures that the debris wont snag. The result is a freely flowing, non-clogging gutter that channels away rainwater to where it wontdamage the home. Another great thing about Beldon LeafGuard is that it doesnt have to be nailed to the roof, potentially causing warranty problems like a standard system. Instead, it is affixed directly to the fascia using durable brackets, with installation typically taking a day or less.

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Gutters | Seamless Gutters | LeafGuard Gutters

Gutter king of North Florida provides affordable service and installation ofSeamless Gutters, Gutter Guard Systems, Rain Barrels and more for all size homes and commercial buildings. We serviceJacksonville, the Beaches, Orange Park, and surrounding areas.

Gutter King is the top installer of seamless rain gutters in Jacksonville, Florida. Our team of installers islicensed, well experiencedand bonded to work in Florida. We care about doing the right job the right way the first time. For us, there is no other way and that is what sets us apart from the competition.

Sure, you could hire just about anyone to come to your home and install gutters. In fact, our competitors might even be bigger and they might even be cheaper and faster. But unlike just any old contracting outfit, we care about more than just getting paid we care about your satisfaction.

On top of that, we specialize in gutter installation in Jacksonville, FL. We do gutters and we dont do anything else. Because of our focus on gutters we are able to install gutter systems that not only work well but also look great. And because we love the Jacksonville area we understand the needs our customers have, particularly when it comes to the heavy Florida rains. How many others out there can say that?

Installing gutters is an important part of maintaining and protecting your home. Our innovative gutter systems will protect your home from the harmful effects of the elements and Mother Nature. In addition, our Gutter Guard system helps ensure proper drainage throughout the year by preventing leaves and residue from building up and clogging your gutters.

If you live in or near the Jacksonville area and have a need for gutter installation or repair, give us a call. A member of our installation team will be more than happy to visit your home. We provide free, no hassle estimates and can discuss options that best fit your budget and needs.

Give us a call and find out why were the Gutter King!

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Gutter King of North Florida Seamless Gutters Jacksonville Fl

GutterKing was started in 1990 and has been installing seamless aluminum gutters, gutter protection and roof de-icing systems for 25 years. As a family owned and operated company, we serve Buffalo, NY including Erie and Niagara Counties. Anyone whom you come incontact with at GutterKing is a direct employee of GutterKing, meaning, unlikeother companies, we do not use subcontractors of any kind. We are prompt, efficient and usually can complete a job from initial contact to completion in 7 to 10 business days or less depending on the weather.We show up on timeand do not require a deposit in most cases.

The experienced gutter contractors at GutterKing specialize in the installation, repair and maintenance of gutters, gutter covers, downspouts, fascia boardsand soffit and trim for both residential and commercial customers. We even provide icicle and snow removal services for your roof and gutters as well as roof deicing systems to prevent further ice buildup that can lead towater leaking into your home. As a fully insured business in Buffalo, NY, you can expect top quality services at competitive prices. We have full liability insurance and workmens comp. Our markets are homeowners of all ages as well as landlords, small business owners, commercial business owners andproperty management companies.

GutterKing is Western New Yorks premier seamless gutter installer. From resolving drainage problems to gutter flushing, we do it all. You may be surprised at how affordable gutter protection can be.

Contact your local office today for a free estimate!

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GutterKing | Buffalo NY Gutters and Downspouts