The Thomas Fire in December 2017 burned nearly 282,000 acres in the California counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara. It reportedly destroyed 775 single-family homes and damaged another 200.

It was an ideal opportunity for Dvele, a three-year-old prefab home manufacturer, to showcase its first fire-resistant spec home under its California Wildfire Rebuild Initiative. Dubbed Skyview, the 2,280-square-foot single-level house, assembled on a burned-out lot, was built to wildfire mitigation standards set by San Diego county, which are considered tougher than the Wildland-Urban Interface Code that California follows, says Brandon Weiss, Dveles chief innovation officer.

The San Diego standard mandates such products as ember-resistant soffits (to keep fire detritus from getting inside the house), noncombustible siding, and dual-glazed R-20 windows. A rooftop solar array from Sunflare provides energy resilience. Skyviews selling price was $1.4 million, including $550,000 in land costs.

Dveles rebuild initiative offers lower prices and faster build times than traditional rebuilding techniques, Weiss says, and can produce a house in its Loma Linda, Calif., factory and assemble it on site within four to six months, from permit to occupancy. The companys website shows eight home plans ranging from 1,129 to 3,956 square feet and priced from $245,000 to $719,000, exclusive of land costs.

These all-electric models are built to Passive House and LEED specifications. They include roof-mounted 8.4-kW solar arrays and emergency power through built-in batteries. The homes biophilic design gives owners more exposure to the outdoors and the homes are also equipped with connected home features such as cellphone-controlled remote security and lighting and mesh Wi-Fi networks.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, Dvele will complete 11 homes. It expects to produce 60 to 80 homes in 2020, about half of which are likely to be rebuilds, Weiss says. For every house that Dvele makes, it offsets its carbon footprint by planting 10,000 trees.

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How One Prefab Building Company Is Rebuilding Better in the Face of Disaster - Professional Builder

The annual Darby Dog Derby, hosted by the Bitterroot Mushers, is scheduled for January 18th and 19th at Gibbons Pass. Details can be found at bitterrootmushers.org.

By Jeanette Hunter

Winter sunrise takes a while to crawl down into icy Gibbons Pass, but the rising cacophony will assure you youve come to the right place. 2020 marks the thirteenth year for the Darby Dog Derby (DDD), hosted by the Bitterroot Mushers. Whatever the weather, its a magnificent backdrop for the 2-day gathering. In 2019, it started at a balmy 27 degrees and 50 shades of grey: saged, browned, heathered, and whitened, from the sky to the pines swaying with the winds symphony.

From as far away as Oregon and Canada, teams travel to participate in this event each January, competing in 2- to 8-dog sled races and the slightly eclectic sport of skijoring, which requires a dog or two in harness streaking down the trail while attached to a person strapped into cross country skis. You might ask yourself whod be crazy enough to try this, but try and succeed! they do, and somewhere deep in your skull you may find yourself thinking maybe you, too, could release your own inner child in such a manner. Actual kids can also participate in the festivities, due to the generosity of so many of these mushers. The pee-wee race gives 4- to 10-year-olds the opportunity to experience dog sledding, even if their families dont own a sled and team. Participation is limited, helmets are required, and entry requests are available online prior to The Derby.

The camaraderie between humans and dogs and even among competing teams is strongly evident as enthusiastic dogs are placed in the rigging then led to the starting lines, sometimes with nearly as many handlers as dogs to prevent a premature start to the race. Bright-colored booties commonly cover paws, the human team members frequently take time to stroke or talk to their canine companions, and teams occasionally return with an injured or tired pup carefully packed on the sled. Energy and trust abound at these events.

One would expect to find huskies and malamutes, but the number of rangy, short-haired dogs may surprise you. Their athleticism is highly-valued, and muscular frames tend to generate substantial heat. Additionally, hollow hair is a trait of many of these chosen slender breeds, lending some pretty remarkable insulative qualities, and pups that tend to cool down quickly are carefully blanketed as needed.

Stories abound, occasionally with Iditarod roots. Tawny little Patia often joins in this Montana melee, her mother a canine member of the 2011 winning team in that famous Alaskan race. Quite a few of the dogs are actually adopted from shelters or when other mushers retire. One of the 2017 skijor runners previously belonged to a racer who tragically died in a car accident, and the sledding community rallied to find homes for all his dogs. Teams from acrossthe nation have participated in the DDD, although the majority are from the northwest.

Nicki Arndt, the race marshal, wished for something to be known by all: This couldnt happen without the strong support of an entire community. In addition to the greatly appreciated financial assistance from many of the valleys businesses and Mikes amazing culinary creations for the annual mushers dinner at Little Blue Joint, the BEARS (Bitterroot Emergency Amateur Radio Service) team has stepped up each year to keep things running smoothly and, more importantly, safely. Should someone ever be injured or end up (heaven forbid) missing, BEARS would save the day. Members even hiked up the surrounding hills last summer to determine the best location for the repeater for quick and most accurate placement prior to this years event. Snowmobilers from the Bitterroot Ridge Runners, seemingly displaced from this favorite recreational area for the weekend, were all in and ready to lend a helping hand shuttling workers, fencing, and trail markers. And while Lost Trail Ski Area keeps this area groomed all season, quite a bit more trail is brought to spec for the derby to accommodate a 23-mile run.

Spectators are welcome and appreciated, but please leave your vehicles where Highways 93 and 43 meet just a minutes walk away from the oft-crowded Gibbons Pass parking area and starting point for the race. Another great observation point most years is located 8 miles east of Highway 93 on the north side of Highway 43, where the 8-dog teams circle around and return. Due to the openness of this snowy meadow, visibility is spectacular. Outhouses are available, but bring plenty of warm drinks, food, and clothes, and even snowshoes or cross country skis for a truly delightful and memorable experience. Your own canine comrades may appreciate staying home, due to the cold temperatures and being sequestered to your vehicle. For more information on the upcoming January 18th and 19th event, check out bitterrootmushers.org. Now, mush!

Originally posted here:
Dog Days of Winter - skijoring, sledding in the 'Root - Bitterroot Star

Outraged customers who have been forced to manage without a washing machine for almost a month since have voiced their anger that they are being offered a replacement model which is inferior to their original appliance.

Customers took to Twitter to complain that after being told to register for a replacement machine following a December recall by the firm amid fears of a fault which could pose a fire risk, they are being told that they will receive a machine which is a different size - or colour - to their original model.

Others complained that after being told to arrange a delivery date for their new machine via a link on Whirlpool's website, they found that no dates were available in their area. Whirlpool's social media staff told customers that they were "sorry for any disappointment caused" and urged customers to keep checking back.

Families have been forced to manage without a washing machine since 17 December when the appliances were recalled by Whirlpool.

Whirlpool customers this morning received an email stating that they would be entitled to a replacement machine to replace those affected by the fault which can cause the door locking system to overheat, creating the risk of a fire. According to Whirlpool, 79 fires are thought to be attributed to the fault, which develops over time.

Twitter user @rbutlerUK said: "The replacement machine isn't like-for-like, if it was the load size would be the same, so how can you say you're offering like-for like when the new one offered holds less of a load?"

@WELSHRYANp ADDED: "why are you sending emails, saying you are offering a like for like replacement for the recall affected models, but the replacement is a lower spec model?"

@Dsbailey87 said: "Hi I've been offered a replacement but in the wrong colour after contacting customer service who were useless and clueless and had no solution."

Whirlpool told customers that it would not offer refunds as it wants to ensure that faulty machines are removed from people's homes and "do not enter the second hand market".

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Whirlpool recall: customers angry after replacement machines 'too small' and the 'wrong colour' - The Scotsman

A 10-year-old boy from Odisha, suffering from a rare medical condition, has to go through the traumatising and painful process of skin shedding every month. The condition causes his skin to form scales like that of a snake, become extremely dry and shed at the end.

The child, Jagannath is suffering from a rare disease called Lamellar Ichthyosis, he was diagnosed a few years ago. The disease causes his skin to lose moisture unusually due to which his skin becomes so tight that it becomes difficult for him to move.

Jagannath has to apply moisturizer every three hours to retain the moisture which allows him to do daily activities. He also uses a stick to stretch his body which slows down the tightening of his skin.

The disease also causes body overheating, hair loss and drying of the eyelids. Jagannath also bathes more than usual to get rid of the irritation, another effect of the disease on his body. However, bathing frequently again causes loss of moisture, reported a leading daily.

Jagannath has been informed by a local dermatologist that his condition cant be treated, but some doctors believe there is a cure. Unfortunately, Jagannaths family cannot afford to get him treated by a specialist.

Prabhakar Pradha, Jagannaths father says that his son has been suffering due to the disease since childhood. He said, I do not have enough money to take him for treatment and my heart breaks seeing him suffer from this cursed disease every day.

Also Read: Makar Sankranti 2020: 8 public places where you can fly kites in Mumbai

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10-year-old Jagannath from Odisha sheds his skin every month due to a 'rare' skin condition - Yahoo India News

First Street Foundation, a climate research organization that studies the impacts of flooding on housing, announced Tuesday that it will share data with both the public and top researchers in a move that could ultimately benefit consumers.

The foundations flood data will be shared as part of a new partnership known as Flood Lab. The partnership includes researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, University of Texas, Austin, and five other academic institutions, according to a statement. Those institutions will then use the data to examine the financial, social, fiscal, and economic impacts of flood risk, according to a First Street Foundation statement.

Matthew Eby

The end result of this project could ultimately be pressure on home prices, as well as mortgage-backed securities and municipal bonds, First Street Foundation executive director Matthew Eby told Reuters.

First Street Foundation also argued that sharing its data with both the public and with various academic institutions contrasts sharply with the way flood risk is normally evaluated today. In its statement, the foundation said that typically an oligopoly of for-profit firms sell detailed flood risk data to large financial institutions and insurance companies. Meanwhile, researchers lack access to that same information, leading to a lack of transparency.

The new partnership is meant to correct that problem.

By giving this data to the worlds top experts for analysis and sharing it with the public, First Street Foundation will disrupt a dangerous asymmetry of information in the United States, one that allows institutional investors and the wealthy to capitalize on the changing climate while disempowering the vast majority of Americans to protect themselves and plan for their future, Eby added in a statement.

The data will also be available to the public, via a searchable online database, sometime during the first half of this year.

The impact of flooding, and climate change generally, on the housing market is a growing concern. For example, law makers have been grappling for years with how to reform a long-troubled federal flood insurance program, even as tens of millions of Americans continue to live in flood-prone areas.

Meanwhile, climate-fueled disasters such as wildfires have already begun to drive up the of cost both housing and adjacent services such as insurance, in some parts of the U.S.

First Street Foundation which describes itself as a non-profit working to calculate the past, present, and future flood risk of every home and property in the United States now hopes to improve the broader understanding of such issues with its new data-sharing partnership.

As partners of the First Street Foundation Flood Lab, the researchers will analyze floodings impact on the U.S. housing market, the organization said in a statement, its implications for lower income and minority communities, and its cost to federal, state, and local taxpayers among other issues.

Email Jim Dalrymple II

Create your own success story at Inman Connect New York, Jan. 28-31, where over 4,000 industry professionals gather to forge new relationships, share tactical takeaways and discover the latest technology to boost their bottom line.

Click here to learn more

Thinking of bringing your team? There are special onsite perks and discounts when you buy tickets together. Contact us to find out more.

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Flood risk data to be made publicly available to shed light on housing impacts - Inman

Sun Correspondent

Rembrandt van Rijn is considered one of the greatest visual artists in the world and in the history of art. Dutch artist Jacobina Trump will shed insights on his life and work Jan. 16 at Cafe Evergreen.

A reception with wine and light bites follows the lecture.

Rembrandt came from poverty and died in poverty despite the fact that his paintings are now worth $500 million and more, says Trump. This year marks 350 years since his death and I welcome audiences to commemorate his legacy as we learn how he became the artist he was and consider why were still fascinated by him today.

Jacobina adds that she has additional talks planned: Art and Money on Feb. 6 and The Split Brain on April 9 explores creativity versus science. Both are at Cafe Evergreen.

The talks are meant to bring awareness to the different perspectives people choose to focus on and dedicate their lives to. Combining the extremes within oneself creates a holistic way of looking at the world, she says.

Born in the Netherlands, Trump studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague, Holland, and subsequently became a teacher there. Her professional path includes stage set designer, photographer, art director, and decorative painter. She moved to The United States in 1995 and now lives in Englewood where she serves as facilities manager of the Hermitage Artist Retreat.

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Dutch artist Jacobina Trump to shed insights on the life and work of Rembrandt - yoursun.com

Natural stone countertops and those cobalt blue cabinets you just saw on Pinterest are more than just eye candy. A minor kitchen remodel is in the top 5 most important home improvement projects, according to experts at Millionacres and elsewhere in the industry. But it isn't cheap, with the average cost of a minor kitchen remodel coming in at $22,507. So, if you're planning a remodel this year and questioning what trends have staying power versus ones that'll be outdated in a month -- then I salute you. You're being a smart shopper on an important investment.

Since interiors publications and TV shows give unreliable and often conflicting info, I like to go straight to those who work hands-on for advice on home design and improvement projects. I asked several what they were recommending to clients for 2020, and here's the best of what they said.

Small footprint housing comes with the territory of living in an urban center, and as the kitchen gains status as the center of the home, design experts are asked to help maximize the room's potential without letting it visually dominate the main living area.

"By lining the wall adjacent to a kitchen with base cabinets as well as upper cabinets, people pick up additional storage" is a tip from Suzanne Cook, owner of NYC-based Atmosphere Kitchen & Bath. Cook specializes in high-end yet functional spaces in a city where average apartments are under 900 square feet.

High-end kitchen design and product manufacturer ITALKRAFT sees the kitchen as the focal point of the home. But it's also a workspace, and some components tend to get cluttered or dirty. Thus, Alex Xakoustis, founder of ITALKRAFT, suggests "hiding" the sink with a sliding wood countertop -- that doubles as an eating area when open. He also installs sliding wood paneling that can hide cabinets to create a smoother aesthetic.

As an owner planning to rent or sell, you are likely looking for perceived value instead of the highest-quality, most expensive upgrades available. "Value engineering" is the term Cook uses to explain visual components that seem high-end but are actually affordable.

"While real wood veneers can be quite pricey, laminate manufacturers have come out with unbelievable options that look and feel like real wood without the cost," she says.

Another tip to add the instant hint of high-end: Update your hardware -- starting with the faucet.

Finally, if you have even a hope of charging medium-high rent, Cook contends you must have a dishwasher. And it's not a pricey upgrade, costing $400 to $700 on Home Depot's site to buy new, plus around $200 to install.

Experts agree that the sleek, uniform look is on its way out. A variation of textures and colors is replacing the look where everything's monochrome or perfectly matched.

"We will be seeing more bold, matte colors, such as navy blue, and book-matched wood panels in high gloss," says Xakoustis. "A mix of natural wood with colorful lacquers."

Bookmatching involves having two adjoining surfaces mirror each other so that the finished product resembles an open book.

If you want to introduce a pop of color into the kitchen, HGTV's Laurie March suggests painting just one item: the kitchen island, or maybe the lower half of the cabinets.

"And if you're going to do it, paint it blue," she says. "America's favorite color is blue for the last 5 years."

Both expert color opinions align with the Pantone Color Institute, which named Classic Blue its 2020 Color of the Year.

While wellness is important throughout the home, it makes a lot of sense to focus on it first in the room where food is prepared and eaten.

Many cleaning and home improvement substances contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are carbon-based and can be harmful to the respiratory system and/or central nervous system. Whether you're deep-cleaning, repainting the walls, or refinishing cabinets, insist on low-VOC products. Many companies are now making paints, finishes, sealants, and cleaning products that are low-VOC.

If you're going green in your food waste practices or plastic usage, look at a kitchen remodel as a way to introduce greener elements into that space. Further to the low-VOC directive, Laurie March suggests you can actually get low-VOC flooring and pressed wood products. Also, look into natural stone countertops instead of laminate and glass storage containers instead of plastic.

Quality of light, and specifically natural light, is key to improving mood and energy. If you can't replace walls and doors with windows and glass -- because of either the expense or the home's construction -- add recessed lights and install mirrors and metallics. If you already have windows, make sure the window coverings aren't too dark or heavy.

Whether you're looking to rent out your property, working toward selling it, or just trying to beautify the space you live in, a kitchen remodel can really pay off. And even small updates can make a major difference if you don't have the budget for big ones.

View original post here:
Kitchen Renovation Trends for 2020 - Motley Fool

Bold is beautiful, and kitchen designers and homeowners agree: Interest in daring kitchen color choices such as avocado green and millennial pink is on the rise. Although white remainsa fan-favorite for most homeownersaccording to the 2020 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report, searches for unique color choices are way up, and shades such as emerald and turquoise are making their rounds in high-end, custom kitchens. Going bold is risky, however, especially if designers integrate the color into countertops and cabinetry: Make a wrong move, and you could be out thousands of dollars and stuck with a bubblegum-colored countertops when you were going fora millennial pink shade.

Remember your grandmothers avocado-green kitchen? It could soon be yours. Or maybe itll be pink, mauve, emerald green or buttercup. Anything but white, because the revolt against the white kitchen has begun.

Last November, the cover of Elle Decor featured a Steven Gambrel-designed kitchen awash in a shiny turquoise even the ceiling gleamed like an iridescent underwater wonderland. On Pinterest between November 2018 and November 2019, searches for dark green cabinets jumped 367 percent, plum kitchens went up 107 percent and pink kitchen walls spiked 121 percent.

For decades now, cabinets have been relegated to white, brown or maybe black, and its been even longer since appliances were allowed to be anything but stainless steel. But the Instagram kitchen invariably a clean backdrop of basic Shaker cabinets, simple subway backsplashes and marble countertops finally has some competition.

Jenny Dina Kirschner, an interior designer in New York, recently painted the cabinets pink for a client in Long Island, giving the room a decidedly 80s vibe somewhere between mauve and millennial pink. The color picked up the pinkish tones in the Calacatta Vagli marble countertop.

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Will Bold Colors Overthrow the All-White Kitchen in 2020? - Professional Builder

Air Fryers have become a trendy option for cooking without using oils or heating up your oven. They are a great way to prepare healthy, delicious recipes easily. Dash by Storebound, a company well known for fine small appliances, has a selection of air fryers to fit all of your kitchen and food prep needs.

At Dash, they believe that the first step to a better life starts with cooking and eating real, wholesome foods. That is why they make products to help customers blend, prep, simmer, saut, and cook to achieve better health.

Dash has two excellent air fryer models. Dash's 10L Compact Air Fryer Oven air fries, bakes, broils, warms and also toasts. Its AirCrisp technology cooks with hot air for tasty and healthier fried food without using too much added oil or fat. The rotating basket automatically turns ingredients to ensure crispy, even results for your food. A baking pan and oven rack is included to cook mini-pizzas, bake pastries, and even broil tasty meat entres. The unit delivers the features of a toaster oven with the power of air frying. The 10L Compact Air Fryer Oven also has a timer and auto-shutoff function to prevent overcooking. And the size is ideal for countertops. The attractive small appliance is a great option for apartment living and dorm rooms, especially when the use of a full kitchen may not be readily available.

The Dash Compact Air Fryer comes in a variety of colors to coordinate with your home decor. You can enjoy your very favorite fried foods without any of the guilt. AirCrisp technology rapidly circulates air to cook ingredients keeping the signature crispy quality of fried foods, while eliminating the need for oil. Air frying reduces added fat by 70-80% without sacrificing flavor. Simply plug in the Dash Compact Air Fryer, set the desired time and temperature, and you're ready to air fry. The neat design of the Dash Compact Air Fryer fits on your countertop while offering an ample 1.2L capacity. The dishwasher safe parts make your Dash Compact Air Fryer especially easy to clean.

Check out just a few of the delightful recipes that you can easily prepare with a Dash's Air Fryer units.

Crispiest Air Fried Potatoes can be made in the 10L Compact Air Fryer Oven using less oil than conventional fried potatoes

Ingredients:

-1 lb red potatoes, chopped

-2 tsps olive oil

-1 tsp garlic powder

-1 tsp Italian seasoning

- tsp salt

Method: Toss red potatoes in olive oil and spices. Place in the Rotating Basket and Air Fry in the Dash 10L Compact Air Fryer at 400F for 20 minutes.

Easy Donuts can be made in the Dash Compact Air Fryer as a tasty, better for you donut treat

Ingredients:

-1 can of biscuit dough

-4 tbsp butter, melted

-1/3 cups granulated sugar

-1/2 tsp cinnamon

-4 tbsp dark brown sugar

1/2 tsp sea or kosher salt

Method: These donuts take only 5 minutes in your air fryer. Combine sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar and salt in a bowl and set aside. Preheat Air Fryer to 320 degrees, Remove the dough from the can but do not flatten and use a 1 inch ring cutter to cut a hole in the center of each biscuit. Arrange three pieces of dough in the basket at a time and air fry for 5 minutes. As each round of donuts comes out, use a pastry brush to paint butter on the entire surface of each donut. Coat each buttered donut in the sugar mix. Shake off excess and serve warm.

Try these and other recipes provided with your Air Fryers and on the Dash web site.

Dash has other products that include their Dash Rapid Cold Brew System, Dash Greek Yogurt Maker, Dash Mini-Maker Grill, Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, Dash Deluxe Ice Cream Maker and many more fine products.

For more information, please visit the company web site at https://www.bydash.com/.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Dash

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DASH Air Fryers for Healthier Eating in the New Year with Countertop Convenience - Broadway World

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Countertop Oven Market Trends in China" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This study focuses on China's Countertop Oven market trends. In the two past decades, the market has been growing at a fast pace. The dramatic expansions of the manufacturing capabilities and rising consumer consumptions in China have transformed China's society and economy. China is one of the world's major producers for industrial and consumer products. Far outpacing other economies in the world, China is the world's fastest growing market for the consumptions of goods and services. The Chinese economy maintains a high speed growth which has been stimulated by the consecutive increases of industrial output, imports & exports, consumer consumption and capital investment for over two decades. Rapid consolidation between medium and large players is anticipated since the Chinese government has been encouraging industry consolidation with an effort to regulate the industry and to improve competitiveness in the world market.

Although China has enjoyed the benefits of an expanding market for production and distribution, the industry is suffering from minimal innovation and investment in R&D and new product development. The sector's economies of scale have yet to be achieved. Most domestic manufacturers lack the autonomic intellectual property and financial resources to develop their own brand name products.

This new study focuses on market trends and forecasts with historical data (2008, 2013 and 2018) and long-term forecasts through 2023 and 2028 are presented.

The primary and secondary research is done in China in order to access up-to-date government regulations, market information and industry data. Data were collected from the Chinese government publications, Chinese language newspapers and magazines, industry associations, local governments' industry bureaus, industry publications, and in-house databases.

The author is one of the leading sources for up-to-date market information and research on the fastest-growing Chinese markets. They have published over 2,000 reports focusing on the Chinese markets, industry forecasts and company profiles. The report provides hard-to-find market data and analyses. The publications are intended to help international marketers identify business opportunities and promote their product sales in the Chinese markets.

Key Topics Covered:

I. INTRODUCTION

II. BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

III. COUNTERTOP OVEN MARKET TRENDS

IV. MARKETING STRATEGIES

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o0o2ig

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China Countertop Oven Market - Demand for Countertop Oven will Continue to Grow at 8% by 2027 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire