The U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services facility in Irving, Texas.

Pearl River, NY (PRWEB) August 17, 2017

Hunter Douglas Architectural, a developer of leading edge architectural product solutions and systems, has launched two online tools to help specifiers understand the impact of fenestration and calculate how specific fenestration materials can alter the performance of a building project. By using these accessible web-based tools, architects and designers will be able to easily assist clients seeking LEED certification, enhance building energy efficiency through comprehensive performance data, and provide optimal environments for occupants.

The LEED Calculation Tool, available at leed.hunterdouglasarchitectural.com, allows users to obtain LEED Materials and Resources Credit Information for Recycled Content (MR 4.1) and Distance to Manufacturer (MR 5.1). System parameters include: operation, type, bracket, width, height, fabric selection, and project location. After selecting the appropriate fields and inputting project information, the tool generates a .pdf file that clearly summarizes the application of LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation and Commercial Interiors projects using Hunter Douglas products.

The process of generating LEED certification information can be incredibly time-consuming, but its something that has to be done if a building is seeking LEED, said Jon Behrens, Senior Project Manager of Window Coverings at Fabric Wallcraft, a California-based company that focuses on acoustic design solutions, architectural installations, interior light, and solar control. This tool was incredibly straight-forward and easy to use and it took me about 35 seconds to get the information I needed whereas before it took hours.

The Shading Performance Guide, found at shadinganalysis.hunterdouglasarchitectural.com, is a three-step tool designed for comparative estimates of key performance indicators of fabrics. The tool helps architects and designers implement the ABCs of shading fabric: application, the building, and color and composition. After entering the projects location, building orientation, and glazing system, the fenestration tool compares two shading fabrics on glare reduction, view preservation, and energy reduction based on the ANSI/NFRC 200/201 procedure for determining Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SGHC) and Visible Light Transmission.

When specifiers are selecting shading fabric, they may not fully consider the performance characters of the fabric versus the needs of the overall building, said Nick Chiaro, General Manager of Architectural Window Coverings at Hunter Douglas Architectural. This tool allows architects, designers, and others to make the right choice for their projects specific requirements.

To experiment with the LEED Calculation Tool, Shading Performance Guide, or to view Hunter Douglas Architectural Window Covering products and projects, please visit HunterDouglasArchitectural.com.

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About Hunter Douglas ArchitecturalFor nearly a century, Hunter Douglas Architectural has been working within the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. By combining the vision and talents of our diverse team in offices spanning more than 100 countries, weve tackled tough design-build challenges in countless communities worldwide. Collaborating with our customers, we develop new technologies that meet the real needs of design teams in the field. The results are evident in our extensive range of high-performance interior and exterior window coverings, acoustical and metal ceilings, and facades, and in our customization capabilities and technical support. Over the years, weve remained deeply committed to sustainability and responsible manufacturing. Our design solutions optimize interior environmental quality, including energy efficiency, and material resources, and have helped many projects achieve LEED Platinum, Gold, or Silver worldwide. http://www.hdarchitectural.com.

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New Online Tools from Hunter Douglas Architectural Provide Specifiers with Complex Fenestration and Energy ... - PR Web (press release)

Growing up in the west and especially Idaho, fences are something we understand! Theyre integral to the success of farms and ranches. Fences keep in what they need to keep in and keep out what they need to keep out! They help set boundaries, provide a sense of place and often help keep the peace between neighbors. They provide a vital service but when they become cemented and inflexible and immovable in purpose and intent, problems may arise. Fences, just like us, when we become cemented, inflexible and immovable, problems arise. Weve seen it time and time again. Been a problem for as long as fences have been around and equally as long as we, those who choose to build fences, lose sight of the purpose of that fence in the first place! Maybe this time of year, its good to keep our Fences flexible. September is one of those months of transition. School begins again, work can shift in focus, the weather begins to change and we often meet new folks in new situations. Summer vacations become a pleasant memory and its time to get back to planning life as we know it. Maybe September is a good month to not only take stock of what is but also what might be? A story comes to mind..

Many years ago, there was a woman who lived in a small village in France.

Trained as a nurse, she devoted her life to caring for the sick and needy. After many years of kind and selfless service to the villages families, the woman died.

She had no family of her own, so the townsfolk planned a beautiful funeral for her, a fitting tribute to the woman to whom so many owed their lives.

The parish priest, however, pointed out that, because she was a Protestant, she could not be buried in the towns Catholic cemetery.

The villagers protested, but the priest held firm. It was not easy for the priest either, because he too had been cared for by the woman during a serious illness. But the canons of the Church were very clear; she would have to buried outside the fence of the cemetery.

The day of the funeral arrived, and the whole village accompanied the woman s casket to

the cemetery, where she was buried--outside the fence.

But that night, a group of villagers, armed with shovels, sneaked into the cemetery.

They then quietly set to work. Moving the Fence.

Fences are something we understand. They set boundaries and provide a sense of place and purpose. They keep in what needs to be kept in and keep out what they needs to be kept out. Maybe we just need to consider what it is that needs to be kept in and what it is that needs to be kept out. You just never know the impression youll leave and the difference you might make in a persons life by Moving Fences. Isnt that what Changing Seasons is all about? The opportunity for growth and new directions in a place you never dreamed possible! All through the simple act of moving a fence.

And by moving that Fence, who knows whom you just might include! May the Lord richly bless you and yours as we eagerly anticipate cooler temperatures and the colors of change to come.

Bob Stone is pastor of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Pocatello.

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Moving fences - Idaho State Journal

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MADISON, Wis. Wildlife officials in Wisconsin may use methods such as electric fencing to stop bears from damaging crops.

Over the last seven years, about 275 farmers have enrolled in a state program that compensates farmers for damage bears cause. Last year's appraised damage was $220,000, Wisconsin Public Radio reported .

Department of Natural Resources wildlife damage specialist Brad Koele said there are about 28,000 bears across the state. He says problematic bears are typically trapped and relocated, but that finding them all can be challenging.

Koele said the state is giving more farmers bear hunting permits. The agency also plans to help farmers install electric fences, despite concerns about the fences' effectiveness because of issues such as electrical shorts, he said.

The crop damage program also applies to elk. The state has paid nearly $250,000 to install fences around five Jackson County cranberry marshes.

Some growers are using paintball guns to scare away animals, Koele said.

"Doesn't hurt 'em," Koele said. "Probably stings them a little bit, and just kind of reinforces that natural fear that that's not a good place to be in and whether its field or cranberry operation, hopefully they'll stay out of there."

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is testing out using drones to scare away the animals, he said.

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Wisconsin to use electric fences to stop bear crop damage - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Next Page: Swinging for the fences Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The slow-growing, straight-grain hardwood trees of northern Pennsylvania and southern New York are just that hard. They are coveted by fine furniture makers across the country and by companies that make thousands of baseball bats from youth leagues ...

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The Next Page: Swinging for the fences - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

(MENAFN Editorial) Baker Roofing Company of Raleigh, NC, has received GAF's 2017 President's Club Award. A GAF Master Select(TM) contractor since 2001, it has provided roofing and improvement services to commercial and residential customers since 1915. Raleigh, NC August 15, 2017: Baker Roofing Company

Baker Roofing Company of Raleigh, North Carolina, has received the most prestigious contractor award GAF offers: The GAF President's Club Award. This highly coveted award recognizes Baker Roofing Company as one of the 'elite of the elite commercial roofing contractors in the United States.

Baker Roofing Company has been a GAF Master Select(TM) Contractor since 2001; the company received the President's Club Award due to its excellent performance in 2016. To become a Master Select(TM) Contractora status that less than 1% of roofing contractors nationwide are able to achievea candidate must demonstrate proper licensing, maintain insurance (in states that require it), have a proven reputation, and show commitment to ongoing professional training.

The company's residential division also has been doing business for nearly a century. Baker Roofing works on all types of residential roofing systems, as well as installing and replacing siding, windows, gutters, and doors.

With its long history in its home market area, Baker Roofing cherishes its community relations and continually looks for new ways to give back. It has worked with Habitat for Humanity of Wake County for several years. The company also supports and participates in the fundraising endeavors of organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, the Salvation Army, and Jobs for Life. Baker Roofing is a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association, is certified by multiple materials manufacturers, and is a multi-year recipient of the Angie's List Super Service Award.

In business since 1915, Baker Roofing offers residential customers a comprehensive list of services, including roofing, siding, windows, doors, decks, and sunrooms. Although the company has grown significantly since its founding, its commitment to providing customers with the best possible experience has remained unchanged. Baker Roofing has 12 locations throughout the Southeast; the company performs work all across the #UnitedStates and in some international locations.

Founded in 1886, GAF is the largest roofing manufacturer in North America. The Company is an operating subsidiary of Standard Industries.

With a focus on social responsibility, GAF developed Advanced Protection(R) Shingle Technology, providing excellent durability and wind resistance while reducing the use of natural resources. The Company has also developed single-ply and asphaltic roofing membranes with excellent durability and high reflectivity to meet the most rigorous industry standards while helping commercial property owners and designers reduce energy consumption.

About Standard Industries: Standard Industries is a privately-held, global, diversified holding company with interests in building materials, aggregates, and related investment businesses in public equities and real estate. With over 7,500 employees and operations in more than 80 countries, Standard maintains a team-oriented culture of meritocracy and operational excellence, and a passionate focus on investing in its people.

#Media Contact Company Name: Baker Roofing Company Contact Person: Pete Rigney Email: Phone: (919) 336-5921 Address:517 Mercury Street City: Raleigh State: NC Country: #UnitedStates Website:

MENAFN1608201700703268ID1095740447

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Baker Roofing Company, Commercial Division, Receives GAF's Prestigious 2017 President's Club Award - MENAFN.COM

Gavin shares this latest news on behalf of Island Roads. Ed

Work is to begin shortly on a major scheme by Island Roads to repair and strengthen the wall that retains the footway along Whitepit Lane in Newport.

The scheme, which is scheduled to begin on 29th August and last approximately six weeks, is part of an ongoing programme of work by Island Roads to improve the condition of local authority structures mostly bridges and retaining walls across the Island this year.

The work at Whitepit Lane will involve removing sections of the concrete walls that are deteriorating. New concrete sections will be formed and, where appropriate, joints put in place to help prevent future cracking.

One-way system during worksIn order for the work to be undertaken as safely and quickly as possible, a one-way system from west to east will be put in place for vehicles along the entire length of Whitepit Lane.

This means that it will not be necessary to use temporary traffic lights to regulate traffic. Unfortunately, parking restrictions will also have to be put in place to allow us to carry out this work.

Helping to keep minimum disruption Island Roads structures manager, Ian Hodson, said,

Given the residential nature of this road, it is impossible to undertake the work without some inconvenience, but we hope the one-way arrangement we are putting in place will help keep disruption to a minimum.

As residents will know, the wall is in need of repair and this strengthening work will result in a structure that remains in good condition for many years to come.

Image: Island Roads

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Expect disruption during retaining wall works - On The Wight

Micrograph showing a lymph node invaded by ductal breast carcinoma, with extension of the tumour beyond the lymph node. Credit: Nephron/Wikipedia

Women who live in areas with higher levels of outdoor light at night may be at higher risk for breast cancer than those living in areas with lower levels, according to a large long-term study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The link was stronger among women who worked night shifts.

The study will be published online August 17, 2017 in Environmental Health Perspectives.

"In our modern industrialized society, artificial lighting is nearly ubiquitous. Our results suggest that this widespread exposure to outdoor lights during nighttime hours could represent a novel risk factor for breast cancer," said lead author Peter James, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School's Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, who did the work while a research fellow in the Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at Harvard Chan School.

Previous studies have suggested that exposure to light at night may lead to decreased levels of the hormone melatonin, which can disrupt circadian rhythmsour internal "clocks" that govern sleepiness and alertnessand, in turn, lead to increased breast cancer risk.

The new study, the most comprehensive to date to examine possible links between outdoor light at night and breast cancer, looked at data from nearly 110,000 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study II from 1989-2013. The researchers linked data from satellite images of Earth taken at nighttime to residential addresses for each study participant, and also considered the influence of night shift work. The study also factored in detailed information on a variety of health and socioeconomic factors among participants.

Women exposed to the highest levels of outdoor light at nightthose in the top fifthhad an estimated 14% increased risk of breast cancer during the study period, as compared with women in the bottom fifth of exposure, the researchers found. As levels of outdoor light at night increased, so did breast cancer rates.

The association between outdoor light at night and breast cancer was found only among women who were premenopausal and those who were current or past smokers. In addition, the link was stronger among women who worked night shifts, suggesting that exposure to light at night and night shift work contribute jointly to breast cancer risk, possibly through mechanisms involving circadian disruption. The authors acknowledged that further work is required to confirm the study findings and clarify potential mechanisms.

Explore further: Night shift work and breast cancer risk

More information: "Outdoor Light at Night and Breast Cancer Incidence in the Nurses' Health Study II," Peter James, Kimberly A. Bertrand, Jaime E. Hart, Eva Schernhammer, Rulla M. Tamimi, Francine Laden, Environmental Health Perspectives, August 17, 2017, DOI: 10.1289/EHP935

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Outdoor light at night linked with increased breast cancer risk in women - Medical Xpress

The first solar eclipse Fred Espenak saw was electrifying. It was March 7, 1970, and Espenak, who had just earned his drivers license, drove his familys car from Staten Island down to North Carolina. "I thought I was really prepared for the eclipse. And then the moon shadow swept over us, and we were plunged into totality," he said, referring the zone of complete darkness that occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun and fully blocks the star. "I promised myself that this could not possibly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience because it was just so beautiful, so spectacular."

Decades later, Espenak, 64, a retired NASA astrophysicist, enjoys the nickname "Mr. Eclipse," for his research on eclipse predictions and eclipse photography. A well-known figure in the universe of eclipse chasers, hes traveled all over the world to see 27 total solar eclipses no easy feat given that a total solar eclipse graces any given place in the world just once every 375 years.

Espenak's most memorable eclipse took place in India in 1995. It was a long trip there to see a short, 41-second eclipse. He was traveling with a tour group, and one woman happened to catch his eye. "I just said, 'Hmmm.' Nice hair," Espenak said. The 1995 eclipse was Patricia Totten's first, though she had been trying for more than 20 years to see one.

In the years that followed, a shared interest in eclipses and science (Totten is a former chemistry teacher) helped them stay in touch. Years later, the two began dating, and they got married in 2006.

Fred and Patricia Espenak, both retired, now live in Arizona Sky Village, an eastern Arizona village designed for astronomers who want to make observations with minimal light pollution.

"I've always wanted to live someplace where I could go out and really see the Milky Way any night," Fred Espenak said. But to get away from the light pollution that plagues so much of the U.S., the Espenaks have "abandoned civilization, so to speak," he said. The nearest grocery store is 60 miles away. Their backyard is a great expanse of desert, and the couple has seen rattlesnakes, bobcats, and coyotes pass near their home. The village even has rules around outdoor lighting at night: namely, there can't be any. There are no streetlights, headlights must be curbed, and the Espenaks' home is even outfitted with blackout curtains. All this means that if Espenak wakes up at 1 or 2 a.m. to go stargazing in the two observatories he built, he's often able to see the Milky Way and galaxies far, far away.

"I think it's wonderful to be married to somebody with a passion," said Patricia Espenak, 73. The two have turned their love for eclipses into a full-time hobby. They travel the world together, from China to Antarctica, chasing the celestial phenomena. "All my world travels, with solar eclipses, [have] given me a greater appreciation for different cultures," Fred Espenak said. "A greater acceptance to appreciate the diversity of the people on this planet."

Watch the video above to see their story.

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He Met His True Love While Chasing Eclipses. Now They Chase Them Together - TIME

Photo: aspectLED

Lighting manufacturer aspectLED has announced it has created a new landscape LED lighting category in response to demand.

Based off the companys Modern Series landscape lights, the Black Series landscape lights are offered at a lower wattage and cost. Developed in order to respond to the demand for an outdoor landscape and in-ground LED lighting category, the Black Series boasts a 50,000-hour life span, requiring no maintenance for decades.

The landscape lights have a safe low voltage of 24VDC for easier wiring, and according to the company can use up to 80 percent less power than equivalent incandescent fixtures. Constructed to withstand high shock, vibration and moisture ingress, the lights are available in multiple single colors or a color changing option.

Listening to our customers has always been critical to our business, said Mike Crissinger, director of marketing for aspectLED. When looking at our outdoor lines, between in-ground/well lights, stake/surface mount landscape lights and underwater pool lighting, mid-range 6 to 18 watt models seem to be customer favorites. It only makes sense to expand our offering in that segment.

aspectLED has a wide selection of outdoor lighting including in-ground well fixtures, pathway/driveway lights, underwater recessed, tripod, fountain and stake and surface mount landscape lights. For more information on their lighting lines, click here.

Expanding its selection of landscape lighting, WAC Lighting is now offering LED path lights, which are available in Ledge and Balance styles.

Balance LED Path LightPhoto: WAC Lights

These lights are designed to outline existing exterior features such as paths, driveways and ponds creating soft, even illumination. The fixtures are slim and linear. The Balance style is tall, slender and provides a wide spread of illumination. The Ledge style is shorter, wider and provides more direct lighting. The angular, nondescript design allows it to blend into the surrounding landscape.

Both fixtures are built from corrosion-resistant aluminum. They are IP66 rated and factory sealed to resist any water penetration, including high-pressure water jets. The LED path light fixtures come in either black or bronze features.

The customer can choose between warm white with a color temperature of 2,700K and pure white with a color temperature of 3,000K. The light has a constant output for 9V-15V input.

For more information on WAC Lightings products, click here.

VOLT Lighting has introduced over 200 new products in the past two years, and one them was the Pro Junction Hub, and now the company has an upgraded version.As a hub-type connector, the Pro Junction Hub allows the installer to connect up to seven fixtures and the main line from the transformer. By using a hub, the installer can ensure the lights all receive similar voltage and they provide a voltage testing point before and after installation.

Photo: VOLT Lighting

VOLT was the first company to use clamp-type connectors in hub junctions, said Michael Caselnova, Jr., director of product development and marketing for VOLT. Clamps are much easier and faster than typical twist-type hubs or hubs that use set screws.

The introduction of the Pro Junction Hub was welcomed by lighting professionals, and VOLT Lighting encouraged reviews and feedback from the customers. The response for the clamp was positive but they wanted them to be more accessible in the hub and easier to open and close.

Within a few weeks of introducing the first Pro Junction Hub, we were in our Innovation Lab re-designing the hub and testing new prototypes, Caselnova said. A few months later we went into production and launched the improved Pro Junction Hub. A new, upgraded clamp is used that is much easier to open and close, and the clamps are attached to the underside of the hub cap more accessible and secure.

For more information on the Pro Junction Hub, click here.

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Lighting roundup: aspectLED expands LED lighting category - Total Landscape Care

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Global Outdoor Lighting Systems Market 2017 Acuity, Cree, GE ... - People Today 24