Venture capitalists and industry evangelists alike have been predicting for a few years now that the world is on the brink of a new space age. And for good reason.

Ambitious, well-funded companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX are becoming household names with plans to travel to the moon and beyond. Rockets are easier to build and less expensive to launch than ever before (you can even 3D print one).

And more companies are popping up with intentions of ringing the globe with high-powered networks of pint-sized satellites. That trend in particular kept popping up in the past seven days.

It was a good week for those who are optimistic about the potential benefits vast satellite networks can bring to us here on Earth. But it was a worrisome week for scientists who are concerned about what omnipresent satellites might mean for watching the stars. And that's one of 11 things you need to know from the past week:

Thursday also brought news from one of SpaceX's primary rivals in the satellite-powered internet industry. OneWeb, which is backed by SoftBank, successfully launched 34 new satellites from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the latest additions to a planned network of nearly 650 orbiting transponders.

Earlier in the week, a rocket startup called Astra emerged from stealth after reportedly raising more than $100 million in venture capital. Astra plans to conduct low-cost, high-frequency launches for companies like OneWeb that want to blanket the skies in satellites.

Blue Origin, which is also in the business of powering satellite launches, might have received a boost of its own this week. Regulatory filings show Jeff Bezos has liquidated about $3.5 billion in Amazon stock over recent days. Bezos said in 2017 he sells $1 billion in Amazon stock every year to fund Blue Origin's operations. As he famously put it a year later: "The only way that I can see to deploy this much financial resource is by converting my Amazon winnings into space travel."

News of all the successful launches and piles of funding, though, only added to the consternation of people who have dedicated their professional lives to watching the stars.

In the wake of OneWeb's Thursday launch, The New York Times published a story about the disturbed astronomers who worry OneWeb's satellites will produce chatter that interferes with the sorts of radio waves used to monitor and learn about faraway stars.

Considering some other recent events, it seems fair to be concerned. SpaceX and its existing Starlink satelliteswhich are highly reflectivehave already been wreaking havoc on interstellar observation. For months now, astronomers have been taking to Twitter with otherwise useful images ruined by bright streaks of light bouncing off satellites. Experts like astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell say that if the trend continues, it would "represent a serious change to the night sky."

And there's reason to think it might continue. SpaceX and OneWeb are far from alone in their plans for sweeping satellite constellations. Amazon and Facebook are believed to be planning networks of their own. And startups like Planet, Spire Global and Swarm Technologies have similar aims.

The obvious solution here, of course, would be for satellite companies to be a little more conscious of the products they're putting into the skies. Musk has already pledged to make changes in Starlink's satellites, tweeting that SpaceX cares "a great deal about science." And there are already some safeguards in place. OneWeb was reportedly required to cooperate with radio astronomers before the launch of its satellites in an effort to avoid crossing wires (so to speak).

But what is it they say about the best laid plans? Maybe Starlink will indeed fix its over-reflective satellites. But as the Earth's orbit becomes more crowded, even a small percentage of carelessly designed satellites could contaminate the night skies for us all.

And sure, there are probably more immediate concerns out there than astronomers struggling to photograph some far-off star. But astronomy is, I think, an important tool humans use to figure out who we are, where our world came from, and what our future might hold. It was radio astronomythe kind threatened by OneWebthat allowed scientists last year to take the first photograph ever of a black hole.

It would be a shame if the science of improving communications and knowledge here on Earth comes at the expense of the science concerned with the rest of the universe. It doesn't have to.

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11 big things: Dreams & nightmares of the satellite era - PitchBook News & Analysis

Ashley Dassinger-Carson dreamed for years of opening a shop on Kansas Avenue. This spring, that dream will finally become a reality.

Dassinger-Carson plans to open two shops in downtown Topeka this year Ash Boutique, which she has owned since 2014, and Makers, a new business cooperative-inspired store that will feature local artisan-made goods.

Dassinger-Carson first opened Ash Boutique, a women's clothing store, in July 2014. But the store, located at 3123 S.W. Huntoon St., has outgrown its current space.

"We saw huge growth in 2017, 2018 and then 2019 so I've been feeling the growing pains for a while," she said.

Dassinger-Carson has tried meeting the needs of a growing customer base by offering new items, such as shoes and plus-size clothing. Now, she says, Ash Boutique simply doesn't have the space to store excess apparel or expand its offerings further.

"We had great success with shoes, but we didn't have any room to store the shoes," she said. "So we stopped carrying shoes, even though that was really successful."

As Dassinger-Carson started to think about the boutique's next step, she turned to downtown Topeka, where she has always wanted to be.

"When I first wanted to open a boutique and I worked over at (BNSF Railway) I would walk Kansas Avenue all the time on my breaks, and I dreamed of having a shop down here," she said. "I really wanted it."

Before opening Ash, Dassinger-Carson looked at a spot downtown, but at the time, it was too big.

"I brought my husband and was like: 'What do you think? This is going to be perfect,'" she said. "And he said, 'Ashley, this is not where you start. This is where you end up.' I kept that in the back of my mind all these years start small, grow big."

When the time came to consider upsizing, Dassinger-Carson didn't want to rush the decision.

"It was kind of presented to me before the Cyrus was even finished being built," she said. "And that was when our fifth child was born. And I said: 'I'm not going to make any moves or any of these decisions with pregnancy hormones. I'm just going to sit on it for a while.'"

Eventually, she said, "Yes."

But moving Ash wasn't the only decision Dassinger-Carson had been mulling. She also had an idea for a storefront where other artisans could display and sell their work.

"Since having my shop, I've had a lot of people come through my door who are essentially a maker, a creater," Dassinger-Carson said.

She said many of them are female entrepreneurs who make products from home as a "side hustle."

"They would want to put their products in my store," she added. "A lot of the time, they had really great products, but it maybe wasn't right for my customer or it wasn't right for the story that Ash is telling. But I wanted a way to help them."

That is how Makers came into the picture. Moving Ash Boutique downtown presented the perfect opportunity to open a second business, one where Dassinger-Carson could help other entrepreneurs thrive.

"Someone once told me that success isn't a drop of water, that it's an ocean and there's enough for everyone and I really, really believe that," she said.

Makers will operate similar to a co-op space, but artisans won't pay Dassinger-Carson to rent floor space. Instead, they will pay her a marketing and operational fee to sell their products in her store, and the artisan will earn commission.

"So it's not going to look like a flea market or an antique shop. When you walk in, you probably won't even know that there's 30 different businesses all wrapped up into one," Dassinger-Carson said.

She thinks Makers will help small-business owners selling solely online attract new customers allowing them to create an "omnichannel experience," she said, without having to invest in a brick-and-mortar store.

Makers will occupy space at 913 S. Kansas Ave., while Ash Boutique will sit a few storefronts away at 921 S. Kansas. Dassinger-Carson hopes to have both stores up and running by April 1 to coincide with the spring opening of Evergy Plaza.

Vince Frye, president of Downtown Topeka, Inc., said he is excited to see the new downtown additions.

Frye moved to Topeka in 1971, after graduating from the University of Kansas, and he said downtown Topeka used to be lined with shops.

"Everybody would come downtown because this is where everything was the restaurants, the theaters, the clothing stores, everything," Frye said. "It's really great to see people realizing the potential again of downtown and wanting to be a part of that and moving back to the corridor."

He hopes downtown continues to prosper and be a place Topekans can be proud of.

"We always wanted to make downtown a destination on nights and on weekends, and that is happening," Frye said. "That is allowing businesses like Ash Boutique to understand the potential."

Dassinger-Carson has recognized that growing potential for a while, and she hopes her move will inspire others to follow suit.

"I think downtown is going to be the place where you come, play and stay where you don't just come to eat and leave or work and leave," Dassinger-Carson said. "I hope that by having these shops, other people say, 'I can do it, too' whatever business they have, whether it's a salon or a spa or another gift shop.

"Whatever their passion and talent is, I hope they say, 'I can do that, too' and bring more businesses down to Kansas Avenue."

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Two new shops are expected to open on Kansas Avenue this spring - The Topeka Capital-Journal

(Shuttershock Photo)

The flick of a switch or a slow transition, how do you like your light? Dimmers vs. traditional light switches create ambiance and can reduce the number of times you get up from the sofa to turn the lights on and off.

Noel Pena, electrician, Fox Valley Electric, a Rosie-Certified partner explains the real difference between traditional and dimmer switches.

A traditional light switch simply supplies or cuts the power to the lamp or bulb. A dimmer switch used to work by means of a variable resistor, the more resistance, less energy to the bulb and more heat at the dimmer switch therefore dimmer light, Pena said.

Modern dimmers work differently by rapidly shutting off the light bulb circuit every time the AC current reverses direction 120 times per second. Depending on where the dimmer is set changes how long the circuit is off in milliseconds. The higher the switch is set, the faster the circuit turns back on. This changes the amount of energy supplied to the bulb, and thus the brightness of the light.

If you are considering changing to a dimmer switch, the first thing to ask is whether it will be compatible with your current lighting system.

There are three primary styles of dimmer switches.

This lets the user turn the dial to gradually change the brightness of the bulb.

(Shuttershock Photo)

The user simply touches a plate on top to turn the light up or the bottom to decrease brightness until the preferred setting is reached.

(Shuttershock Photo)

This allows for controlling two or more different sets of lights by remote control. If you are lounging on the sofa or your favorite chair, you probably dont want to get up multiple times to change the lighting as the sun comes up or goes down, so this is an ideal option. They can be installed anywhere and sometimes without the need for wiring. Some feature wireless controls via computer or cell phone. Oftentimes they can integrate with other smart home systems, such as heating/cooling and security. Voice control is even automated. We can help set all of that up for you, said Pena.

Many dimmer switches are not compatible with energy-saving light bulbs. An energy-saving bulb contains glass tubes coated in phosphor, said Pena. When electricity passes through the bulb, the gas emits ultraviolet rays which light up the phosphor. When used with a dimmer switch, these bulbs simply flicker on and off. We recommend switches that let you choose from two or three fixed levels of brightness.

Additionally, incompatible bulbs will limit the dimming range and cause humming, buzzing, and flickering. Unless the manufacturer indicates the bulb is dimmable, do not install any LED or compact fluorescent bulb in a socket controlled by a dimmer.

There are also tabletop dimmers that are equipped with a cord, plug, and socket. Though the bulbs in the fixture must be compatible with the dimmer.

Ever notice interference to nearby televisions and radios when you turn the lights on? That happens because the rapid changes in the voltage supplied to the bulb can cause excessive vibrations in its filament, which is magnetic. Higher quality dimmer switches will include inductor chokes or interference capacitors that can smooth the effects of the changing voltage.

Look for LED bulbs that state they are dimmable. There are several types and color quality available. Manufacturers publish lists of bulbs that are compatible with dimmer products.

Each dimmer switch comes with a wattage rating that tells you the maximum watts of bulbs you can control with it. Follow the instructions otherwise serious damage or injury can occur. Also, if you will be controlling multiple bulbs from one switch, you need to add up the wattage of each bulb concerned.

When installing a dimmer, we highly recommend you hire a licensed, bonded, and insured electrician. Electricity is a safety issue, and should really not be left as a DIY project or to a handyman, said Pena.

A professional electrician will Inspect the wall box in which the dimmer will be installed and take measurements to be sure the dimmer will physically fit. Confirm that the dimmer intended can be used with the type of bulb in your application. Check if the dimmer requires a neutral connection (a wall box with a ground connection and at least two other wires). Help you choose a dimmer with sufficient power capacity by calculating the total wattage of the bulbs to be controlled and choose a dimmer rated for at least a 20 to 30 percent higher power capacity. Check the dimming range with a visual test to ensure it is suitable for a given application. Check labels or markings on the dimmer, packaging or installation instructions for an electrical safety rating such as UL-1472.

You can mix brands and types of bulbs for simple control situations. With interconnected systems where light is controlled from more than one location or wirelessly, the parts of the system need to talk to each other. In that case, only use products of the same brand or compatible products that are approved for your system.

Now that you are not dim about dimmers, go ahead and set the mood in your favorite room.

Join Rosie on the House every Saturday morning from 7 to 11 a.m. on KTAR News 92.3 FM. If youd like to send us questions or comments, emailInfo@RosieontheHouse.com. Follow us onTwitterand like us onFacebook.

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Heres how to install lighting dimmers in your home - KTAR.com

What Makes a Thermostat Smart?

Back in 2011, the original Nest Learning Thermostat took the world by storm, offering Wi-Fi connectivity in a stylish puck-shaped device that could learn your daily routine and create heating and cooling schedules accordingly. While the Nest wasn't the first connected thermostat to hit the market (Canadian-based Ecobee beat it by two years), it was nonetheless a game changer that helped spawn a new market. Both Ecobee and Nest are still at it, but now face stiff competition from HVAC industry mainstays such as Carrier, Honeywell, Trane, and others.

If you're looking to smarten up your home, your thermostat is a good place to start and can help you save a considerable chunk of money by reducing your heating and cooling costs. However, not all smart thermostats are created equal; some are designed for simple heating and cooling systems and offer basic scheduling and programming options, while others are designed for complex multi-stage systems and will control heating, cooling, dehumidifier, and ventilation systems. As is the case with most smart home devices, prices vary depending on features and capabilities. Read on to find out what to look for when shopping for your smart thermostat, and our favorite models we've tested.

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Smart thermostats offer a variety of features that will not only help keep your home comfortable, but can reduce heating and cooling costs. The most basic models are relatively inexpensive, but are still equipped with Wi-Fi circuitry that allows you to connect the device to your home network and the internet. They can be controlled from a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet using a free mobile app, and some models also let you control things from a web browser.

Basic controls allow you to raise and lower the temperature, create a seven-day heating and cooling schedule, override the schedule if you or a family member will be returning home early, and turn the system on and off. Nest thermostats take scheduling a step further; they track your daily comings and goings, as well as heating trends over time, and create a heating and cooling schedule based on when you are usually home or away and what temperature you prefer during those times.

As is usually the case, you'll pay more for more features. A bright colorful touch display makes it easy to configure and program the thermostat and gives it a touch of style, and it can usually be read from across a room. Moderately priced thermostats like the Honeywell Lyric T5 display the current time and temperature until you tap the screen, at which point it will display temperature and menu settings, while more expensive devices such as the Nest Learning Thermostat contain motion sensors that will light up the display when you enter the room.

Many of the latest smart thermostats contain humidity sensors that will trigger an alert when it detects high or low humidity levels, and some models will display your local weather forecast. The Ecobee4 comes with wireless room sensors that measure the temperature in the room where they are placed to ensure that the room is heated or cooled to the house temperature setting. They also use motion detection to bring the room up to temperature when it is occupied and suspend heating and cooling when it is empty.

If you want your thermostat to automatically lower the temperature when you leave your house and kick back in when you arrive home, look for a model that supports geofencing technology. Geofencing uses your phone's location services to let the thermostat know when you have entered or exited a virtual perimeter around the house. Using the mobile app, you can set your preferred Home and Away temperatures and the thermostat will be triggered when you enter and leave the perimeter. Just make sure you have your phone with you when you leave the house.

Usage reporting is another helpful feature that lets you see a historical view of how often your system is running and how long it takes to meet its target temperature. Some thermostats even tell you what the outside temperature was at the time so you can see how it impacted your HVAC system. Other common features to look for include reminders for maintenance and replacing things like air filters, vacation scheduling capabilities, and power cycle alerts that let you know if your system is acting erratically.

If you have other smart devices installed around your home, look for a thermostat that will work with as many of those devices as possible. Nest thermostats work with other Nest devices such as the Protect smoke alarm and Nest Indoor and Outdoor cameras, as well as numerous third-party devices including smart switches, fans, and lighting systems. IFTTT (If This Then That) support is a popular feature that allows you to have the thermostat trigger, or be triggered, by other IFTTT-enabled devices or services. For example, you can create an applet that turns on a smart air conditioner when your thermostat reaches a certain temperature.

Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant voice commands are supported by many of the latest smart thermostats and allow you to do things like change temperature settings and find out the current temperature using your voice. Some of the most feature-rich smart thermostats out there, the Ecobee 4 and Ecobee Smart, have built-in Alexa voice control and can do just about everything that an Echo speaker does; you can ask them to play music from your Amazon library, get the latest news and sports scores, find out the weather forecast, change temperature settings, and much more.

Smart thermostats are usually very easy to install, but it's important to know how your system is wired before you begin. Always make note of your wiring before you remove your old thermostat, and if possible, take a picture. Most of the latest devices come with pre-printed labels that you can attach to the wires to help identify them during the installation. You should also know what type of system you have as you'll be asked to enter that information during setup. Commonly supported HVAC system types include gas, oil, electric, propane, forced air, and radiant.

Most smart thermostats can be used with multi-stage heating and cooling systems, but if you'll be controlling other components such as whole-house dehumidifiers, heat pumps, and ventilation systems, make sure you select a thermostat that supports those devices. In fact, if you have a complex multi-component HVAC system, it's a good idea to have a professional HVAC technician install the thermostat for you to avoid damage to your system.

Another factor to consider is whether or not your system contains a C (common) wire, which is used to supply constant power to the thermostat. Almost all smart thermostats require a C wire to work, but older houses with older heating systems usually don't have a C wire because older thermostats did not require one. Some smart thermostats come with a power extender kit that you can install yourself to supply power to the device. Other devices, including Nest thermostats, can be installed without a C wire, but will steal power from the furnace control circuits in order to provide enough power to keep the internal battery charged. While this usually works without issue, it has been known to cause problems with certain HVAC systems and may actually cycle on the system in order to steal power. If you'd rather not take a chance on frying your furnaces circuit boards, you can have a professional technician run a C wire for around $150 or so.

Between installation and the device itself, the cost of a smart thermostat can carry a significant premium over a traditional model. But keep in mind that it can actually save you money on heating and cooling costs over time, not to mention the flexibility it provides when you're both in and out of the house.

Pros: Advanced Alexa functionality. Remote room sensor. Dual-band Wi-Fi. Lots of third-party integrations. Easy to install.

Cons: Pricey.

Bottom Line: The Ecobee Smart Thermostat With Voice Control is loaded with features including Alexa support, a touch display, a remote room sensor, and interoperability with lots of other smart home devices.

Pros: Embedded Alexa voice service. Remote room sensor. Works with other connected devices. Easy to install.

Cons: Pricey. Middling audio quality.

Bottom Line: Built-in Alexa voice technology, integration with other connected home products, a remote room sensor, and numerous wiring options make the Ecobee4 the smart thermostat to beat.

Pros: Sleek design. Easy to install. Loaded with features. Interacts with other Nest and third-party devices. Support for Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT.

Cons: Lacks remote room sensors. Pricey.

Bottom Line: The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat has all the smarts of its predecessors and adds some new features including a larger display, geofencing support, a furnace monitor, and a few more sensors.

Pros: Easy to install. Remote room sensor. Works with Alexa, Cortana, and Google voice commands. Dual-band Wi-Fi.

Cons: No HomeKit support. Doesn't integrate directly with other Honeywell smart devices. Limited IFTTT functionality.

Bottom Line: The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat is a dual-band Wi-Fi thermostat that uses long-range sensors to provide uniform temperatures throughout your home.

Pros: Easy to install. Stylish design. Geofencing support. Mobile app and Web browser support. Lots of scheduling options.

Cons: Lacks remote room sensors. Does not support IFTTT.

Bottom Line: The Lux/Geo Wi-Fi Thermostat offers plenty of scheduling options and uses geofencing to automatically switch between heating modes depending on your location, but it lacks some of the useful features you'll find in competitors.

Pros: Stylish, customizable design. Easy to install. Supports multiple voice platforms. Works with Apple HomeKit. Usage reporting. Geofencing.

Cons: Does not integrate with other smart home devices. Lacks IFTTT support. No external room sensors.

Bottom Line: The Lux Kono Smart is a sharp-looking, HomeKit-enabled thermostat that you can control with a number of voice assistants or with a thoughtfully designed mobile app.

Pros: Reasonably priced. Easy to install. Stylish design. Works with other Nest and third-party smart home devices. Supports Alexa and Google Home voice commands and IFTTT applets.

Cons: Frosted display can be difficult to read. Does not support as many HVAC components as the Nest Learning Thermostat. No remote sensors.

Bottom Line: The Nest Thermostat E offers most of the same smart features as its more expensive siblings, but it can't control complex multi-stage HVAC systems.

Pros: Easy to install. Large color touch screen. Works with Alexa. Threshold alerts.

Cons: Doesn't integrate with other smart home devices. Lacks IFTTT support and geofencing capabilities.

Bottom Line: The Bosch Connected Control BCC100 is a serviceable thermostat that you can control from anywhere, but it's not quite as smart as its competitors.

Pros: Reasonably priced. Uses geofencing. Supports Siri and Alexa voice commands. Easy to install.

Cons: No motion or humidity detection. Lacks usage reports. No IFTTT support (yet).

Bottom Line: The Honeywell Lyric T5 is a reasonably priced smart thermostat that works with Apple HomeKit and can be controlled with Siri and Amazon Alexa voice commands, but it lacks many of the features you get with more expensive models.

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The Best Smart Thermostats for 2020 - PCMag India

Heat generation is developing into a significant contributor to our economy, accounting for around a third of UK carbon emissions. To meet the UKs carbon reduction targets, we must significantly cut our emissions from heat. This requires us to move to cleaner and more efficient ways of heating our homes, buildings, and industry. Heat networks are an important part of this transition to clean growth and will allow us to make progress on reducing heating emissions.

Heat networks are shared heating systems which provide a more energy-efficient alternative to domestic boiler heating systems. They incorporate systems where water is heated or chilled at a central source (such as a boiler or plant room) and then channelled to customers through a pipe network for heating, cooling or hot water use. There are two types of heat network. Communal networks serve a single building containing multiple customers, such as a block of flats or offices. District networks serve multiple buildings, such as a housing estate or university campus.

Heat networks are very popular in northern Europe but currently supply only a small percentage of the UKs heat demand. However, the government is promoting this technology as an important contributor towards its carbon-cutting targets. Consumer charging within this sector was largely unregulated until the introduction of the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations in 2014, which sought to establish some uniformity among operators in the way they bill customers (i.e. according to their actual consumption of heat) while also giving customers an incentive to reduce their consumption. The 2014 Regulations are also being used to create the first detailed register of heat networks in operation throughout the UK.

The Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations were introduced by the UK Government as part of the European Unions Energy Efficiency Directive in 2014, and relate to the distribution of thermal energy from a central source to more than one end user for the purposes of heating, cooling or hot water supply.

Under the existing regulations, for any new or significantly renovated dwellings where heating, cooling or hot water is supplied from a district heat network to more than one final customer. The heat supplier must ensure that point-of-entry meters and final customer meters are installed to measure consumption and facilitate billing.

The law also requires heat suppliers to notify the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) regarding the location, capacity and supply figures of any existing district heat network or communal heating scheme.

In addition to new and significantly renovated buildings, BEIS are also planning to legislate for the installation of energy meters in existing buildings which are supplied by a heat network.

BEIS estimate that there are currently between 25-50 thousand heat networks within the UK. As explained above, it is now a legal requirement to have registered these heat networks or communal heating schemes with BEIS.

BEIS expects a significant number of these existing heat networks to require retrofit heat meters, with circa 200,000 meters expected to be installed over the coming 2-3 years.

A heat meter or energy meter is a device which measures thermal energy provided by a source like a Heat Interface Unit or Heat Network boiler output. It accurately records energy usage is kWh by measuring the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid, and then calculating this against the changes in temperature between the flow and return legs of the heating system. It is typically used in any application where heat is generated, and for district heating systems to measure the heat delivered to consumers.

The key approvals required for Heat Meters within Heat Networks are that they are MID (Metering Instrument Directive) and Class 2 approved. This means that only Ultrasonic or Superstatic meters are permissible (mechanical water meters used together with a Heat Integrator are now allowed!)

There are numerous meter data collection or advanced meter reading systems available on the market. These are used to consolidate the meter reading data from each location, and come in various forms, including hard wired, wireless and GSM. Hard wired systems generally work well within new build sites, but can be problematic to install in retrofit applications, where wireless or GSM communications can be more practical.

There are also multiple communication protocols available, including (to name a few) M-Bus, Modbus, Zigbee, Lora & Sigfox. M-Bus is the most common format for data to be obtained from most Heat Networks, this provides the most flexible billing cycles to customers for accuracy instead of following the standard utility read cycles (quarterly/yearly).

Meter reading systems can also be teamed with billing, prepayment or pay as you go (PAYG) accounts for individual residents. Everyone benefits from the heat network because it enables bulk buying of gas and more efficient generation of heat. As well as cost-effective heating and hot water, you can implement a billing solution which brings benefits for each resident as well as the Managing Agent, Landlord, Housing Association and any other party responsible for heat supply to the property.

It is important that you engage a company who specialises in the provision of metering and metering systems, in order to ensure the right technical solution is selected for the application.

DMS are an independent supplier of metering and control solutions, principally operating within the Building Services, Renewables and Utility market sectors, with a proven track record for excellent customer service and support spanning 20 years. Initially, specialising in energy (heating or cooling), gas, water & electricity metering, we have now extended our scope of supply to include data collection (AMR) & billing systems.

Our business ethos is to be selective in supplying only high-quality products and services some of which are exclusive to DMS within the UK, including the Sontex Swiss range of SuperStatic technology energy meters for heating or cooling applications.

All our products and services are backed up by an experienced technical team, who will ensure that your enquiry is responded to the same day wherever possible. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive support service, including onsite technical support and commissioning.

DMS Metering Solutions

Tel: +44 (0) 1773534555

sales@dmsltd.com

http://www.dmsltd.com

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Heat Network Metering: The key to success - Open Access Government

Eventually, even the best-laid carpets must be replaced. While regular upkeep can increase your carpets lifespan, most manufacturers estimate youll need a full replacement after about 10 years. And the signs you need to start shopping around arent always obvious. Here are a few ways you can tell your carpet is reaching the end.

Stains wont come out

Whether its from spilled wine or a new puppy, there are some stubborn stains that even professional cleaning cant get rid of. If theyre minor, you can typically hide them with area rugs or furniture. But if the damage is permanent and unsightly, its probably time to look for new carpeting. Homeowners typically pay between $760 and $2,540 to replace a carpet, according to the Angies List Pricing Guide. Per square foot, carpet materials usually cost an average of $2 to $7, though price can fluctuate depending on quality.

Foul odors wont go away

If you notice that deep cleans just arent banishing the bad smells, that likely means the issue isnt in your carpet alone it could be in the padding or floor beneath the carpet. How you handle the problem depends on the type of smell. If your pet is the root cause of the issue, youll likely need a full replacement. If you notice a musty smell, that could mean you have a water or mold problem. In that case, carpet replacement may be necessary after a mold remediation specialist takes a look at things.

Theres visible damage

Carpet damage can range from smaller issues, like a burn mark or two, to extensive problems like the mold damage mentioned above. If theres just a small area where the carpet is frayed, its possible for a flooring pro to help you patch it up. If your entire carpet was flooded with dirty water, or clean water flooding has taken a long time to dry out, replacement is the best course of action. A pro can also let you know if the damage extends to the floor beneath your carpet, and how to fix the problem before it creates bigger problems.

You have increased allergy symptoms

It can be difficult to remove dust, pet dander and pollen that embeds in carpet fibers over time. If you or your loved ones notice more sneezing, itchy eyes or coughing, it may be that the problem is beneath your feet. The Mayo Clinic recommends using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or opting for linoleum or hardwood if youre truly concerned. It costs about $180 for carpet cleaning, via the Angies List Pricing Guide, and its worth a try before replacing the carpet.

The carpet is old

At a certain point, patching and deep-cleaning your carpet isnt going to do the trick. If you notice matting, fading color or that the padding just doesnt feel like its there anymore, its probably time to move on. If you see ripples or wrinkles, it is possible to have your carpet re-stretched. This is a more expensive repair, so discuss with a carpet pro whether or not it makes sense to fix the issue or get a complete replacement.

2020 Ask Angies List

Visit Ask Angies List at http://www.angieslist.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Ask Angie's List: When is it time to replace my carpet? - WV News

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Hampden County Courthouse in Springfield is one of the oldest trial court buildings in the Commonwealth. Some employees say the building is making people sick.

The 22News I-Team was sent a copy of an eight-page report created by an unknown number of employees at the Hampden County Courthouse. Inside, it details serious illnesses that they say other people got while working at the courthouse.

The Hampden County Courthouse, also known as the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse, in downtown Springfield is nearly five decades old. For the past 15 years, employees have raised concerns about the health risks that allegedly come with working in the building.

This began in 2005 when it was discovered that four employees died from pancreatic cancer within a 10-year span. Then in 2018, these concerns were renewed when Judge William Boyle was diagnosed with ALS, just five years after Judge Robert Kumor died of the same disease. Both worked in the same office, one right after the other, and died of the disease.

The report says its like hitting Powerball, having two people in the same room, in the same building, coming down with the same dreadful disease, State Representative Angelo Puppolo said. Coincidences are one thing, but this is highly coincidental.

A third long-time courthouse employee also was diagnosed with ALS and died in 2017, according to the employee report.

According to The ALS Association, ALS is discovered in about two people per every 100,000. There is no known cause of the rare disease, but 10 percent of cases are inherited through a mutated gene, according to ALSA.

The employee report cites a Harvard University study from 2018 that found that people who were exposed to diesel fumes were more likely to get ALS. The employee report says that both judges and the third long-time worker had offices over what was, at the time of their employment, the entrance to the underground parking garage where diesel vehicles entered and idled. About a quarter of employees reported smelling diesel or gasoline-like odors throughout the building at some point.

The courthouse windows do not open but are known to be poorly sealed, allowing in moisture on rainy days. These poorly sealed windows make it likely that fumes from the garage entrance below also entered the offices of the person who had ALS.

Rep. Puppolo was a good friend of Judge Boyle and has been advocating for a new courthouse in Springfield for years.

Theres a ton of people that go in there, either work there or utilize, Rep. Puppolo said. My main concern is public safety and the safety of the people who work there. If there wasnt a case to build a new courthouse, I think this document outlines a solid foundation that the Trial Court needs to start doing it.

In 2018 after meeting with Hampden County Courthouse employees, the State Trial Court hired an environmental consultant, Environmental Health & Engineering, to test the air and water quality in the building. John Williams, Massachusetts Trial Court Administrator, told the 22News I-Team that these tests were run day and night for six weeks. They were testing for things that could be tied to the symptoms employees were reporting.

In a newly released draft report of those results, EH&E did not identify conditions that would support an environmental work-related cause for the cases of chronic health conditions reported in the buildings, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or cancer.

The draft report does say, though, that the building has mold issues, water damage, and dirty air ducts.

We tested the air quality, the mold is not in the air, Williams said. In fact, the mold inside the building is lower than the mold in the air outside.

The 22News I-Team asked Williams if the building was safe.

Theres nothing in the evidence that we collected that shows anything of concern, except we need to do better jobs of cleaning, Williams explained. There are some areas of mold, things like that. We need to get rid of moisture sources. We need to clean that up, and there are some better ways for us to do business.

Both Rep. Puppolo and Sen. Welch say they are concerned about what will happen to the day-to-day business at the courthouse when the clean-up projects begin.

If they do mold remediation, are they going to remove the employees from the building and put them in another? Sen. Welch questioned.

Employees still need to work, so we need to have some sort of temporary facility, and then look at either putting in another building right on that footprint or looking somewhere else, Puppolo said.

The state Trial Courts Capital Master Plan, issued in 2018 did not include the Hampden County Courthouse in Phase 1 of $3 billion in work planned for courts statewide.

If this issue was happening in Boston, they would have built two courthouses, State Senator James Welch said. We should be able to, as a Commonwealth, ensure that when we ask people to show up to work in a state building, its safe and its healthy.

As we prioritized things, health issues were among the major concerns, and at the time, we didnt have those things sort of front and center in what was found for immediate action, Williams said.

According to Williams, the Trial Court will be investing more than $300 million into the Hampden County Courthouse, mostly in Phase 2 of the Master Plan, which will begin several years from now.

Its Springfields time right now, Rep. Puppolo said. This building certainly has outlived its usefulness and, more importantly, outlived its safeness.

The employee report mentions physically testing people who work in the courthouse for heavy metals. Williams said the trial court is working to coordinate blood and urine tests for all employees.

One of the recommendations is to have an occupational health professional to coordinate counseling employees on next steps, Williams explained. We think blood and urine samples should be done in that framework. Then, we can have a health professional receive those results, aggregate them, and tell if there are patterns.

Still, employees say their health concerns are serious, and they are being minimized or ignored by the State Trial Court.

Representative Puppulo is now calling for a meeting between Springfield lawmakers, and the States Trial Court officials to discuss these health concerns. As of this publishing, a date for this meeting has not been set.

I dont think they (The Trial Court) are trying to brush anything under the rug. I think they realize its a significant problem, but its also a significant problem to deal with, Puppolo said.

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I-Team: Health concerns at the Hampden County Courthouse - WWLP.com

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It was an elementary school. For almost three years now, its been Phillipsburgs temporary town hall. And it may remain so for another year and a half.

The municipal government wants to extend its rent-free agreement for the Freeman School with the school board through September 2021. After that, all options are on the table, Mayor Todd Tersigni told lehighvalleylive.com.

The municipal offices moved in 2017 due to mold in town hall on Corliss Avenue. The arrangement through September 2020 allows the town to use the school and the district to use a bus garage, both at no cost except utilities. The same lease allows the Phillipsburg police to use the former Andover-Morris Elementary School as a headquarters.

In a recent report to the town council, Tersigni said he wants to extend the lease through September 2021. Schools Superintendent Greg Troxell said no formal action is expected at the boards next meeting on Monday, but it appears they are desirous to assist the town.

A desk is set up in an old Freeman Elementary School classroom in October 2017 as Phillipsburg's municipal offices move in.Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com

The extension would give the town government more time to find a permanent solution. Before Tersigni took office in January, it had appeared town hall would return to the Corliss Avenue building after remediation. But the new mayor said he is looking at all kinds of solutions.

In a previous stint on town council, Tersigni advocated moving town hall to South Main Street, where it was until the Corliss Avenue building went up in the 1970s.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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Phillipsburg wants to stay in its temporary town hall another year. After that ? - lehighvalleylive.com

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