CHESTER, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

In the current economic climate, many homeowners are looking for new ways to save money. For many turning to home improvements and eco friendly alternatives as a way to save money and invest in the home is the perfect way of economising. UKFlooringDirect.co.uk features an eclectic range of eco friendly flooring choices which will not only look good but reduce carbon footprint too.

The diverse range of solid wood, engineered wood and laminate flooring products offered at competitive prices at UK Flooring Direct are a popular choice amongst homeowners who wish to save money on their home improvements but it is the eco friendly alternatives which are favoured amongst homeowners looking to help the planet.

The wide range of cork and bamboo flooring choices available at UK Flooring Direct provide homeowners with plenty of choice when it comes to decorating their homes. Both are perfect for eco friendly homes and both will contribute towards a greener planet.

Bamboo flooring is a great alternative to timber flooring. A fast growing grass, bamboo is truly sustainable. Its short growing cycle and quick maturity mean that it can replenish itself much faster than wood. It matures in 3 to 5 years as opposed to the 40 to 60 years that it takes oak to mature.

Both strong and durable, bamboo flooring is available in a range of styles which can become striking and eye-catching in any home. Whats more, unlike solid wood flooring, it is not susceptible to shrinking or expanding and thus, will not cause problems after installation.

Cork flooring, like bamboo, is a renewable flooring material which is synonymous with green interiors. Made from recycled materials, cork flooring is typically made from cork bottle stoppers but this does not change its real beauty.

Cork floor creates a smooth, warm surface which has far higher thermal and acoustic materials than conventional foam. It is perfect for kitchens as it has a similar resiliency as carpet.

UK Flooring Direct offers its eco friendly flooring alternatives at competitive prices too, music to the ears of homeowners who continue to feel the squeeze. Visit the site to find out more about the benefits and prices of eco friendly floors from UKFD.

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UK Flooring Direct Features Alternative Flooring Options for Eco Friendly Customers

LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Completing a two-week extreme makeover, ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises reveals chic-ly redesigned major public spaces aboard Crystal Symphony, including the Avenue Saloon, Palm Court lounge, Galaxy showroom, Hollywood Theatre, Bridge Lounge, Fantasia and Waves "junior cruisers" areas, and the Tender Landing/passenger boarding area. This latest triumph marks the culmination of a $65 million, five-year plan to redesign every room aboard the award-winning ship. Other invigorating new touches include "bells and whistles" added to all staterooms, paddle tennis court resurfacing, sprucing of tender shuttles, more energy-efficient hull paint, galley updates, and general maintenance and detailing of the entire ship, from propellers and boilers to the bridge and lifeboats.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120618/LA26471)

"In keeping with our tremendous focus on design, we wanted to create something both highly contemporary and yet extremely accessible," says President Gregg Michel. "The ultimate result is all our guests' favorite gathering places now feeling even more welcoming, while also offering the stylish sophistication and comfortable elegance luxury travelers look for in a vacation setting, and expect from Crystal."

Three interior design companies from the UK and U.S. created the visions for the new spaces: Adfecto and SMC Design from London and KNA Design from Los Angeles, with inspiration culled from classic tony icons like New York's 21 Club, Hollywood's Coconut Grove, and Palm Beach country club life. With lighting being such a key creative consideration, Crystal and designers also worked with DPA Lighting Consultants to add to the design's drama, ambiance, and environmental-friendliness.

Elegant Tea, Tunes, Cocktails, and Vistas

KNA's redesign of signature lounges Avenue Saloon and Palm Court sets the perfect, lively backdrop for taking advantage of Crystal's newly all-inclusive fine wines and custom-crafted cocktails.

The panoramic-view Palm Court sparkles as the jewel in the crown on top of the ship, recalling the glamour-filled Coconut Grove of Hollywood's yesteryear, yet also delivering a sleek, uber-contemporary wow factor. More intimate, modern lounge seating in buttery soft leathers surrounds a larger, spiral-design dance floor and slick, stainless and hand-tiled mosaic bar. Flooring is a mix of white, laser-cut Calacatta marble, soft grey swirling wood, and carpeting with a bold, large-scale, graphic -- a pattern that is complemented by the reflective, decorative ceiling around the bar's perimeter. Together, aqua, chartreuse, ash, and cream jewel tones create a "light" California ambiance that helps bring the outside in during daytime tea and view-gazing. New lighting, including stunning, faceted Lucite wall sconces and shimmering Murano glass table lamps, transforms the space into a dreamy destination for evening dancing and drinks. The emblematic palm theme endures in pillow fabric, Sago palm trees, and a dramatic rock crystal, branch ceiling feature above the spacious dance floor. Six-foot-tall, lit alabaster urns, suede wall upholstery, electric window shades, and state-of-the-art Meyer speaker and audio control systems further accessorize the look and sound of this enchanting social destination.

Avenue Saloon and piano bar retains its 19th-century gentlemen's club feel, but incorporates updated colors, furnishings, materials, and music and seating configuration. Rich mahogany-paneled walls, leather upholstery, brass nailhead trim, sumptuous velvets, and thick, lush inset rugs remind one of a days-gone-by manor home. Heavily shuttered windows frame regal burgundies, golds, caramels, moss greens, and ivories that embrace guests in luxe warmth. The inviting piano relocation allows for increased seating and conversation area choices, including new brass-tack couches, embossed-leaf barstools, or tufted booths. New romantic lighting, sumptuous crown molding, antique-style trunk tables, custom artwork, and audio systems add to the salon atmosphere.

Exquisitely Swank Theatres

Old Hollywood panache also extends into Crystal's entertainment showrooms, the Galaxy Lounge and Hollywood Theatre, with an air of British tradition, thanks to the spaces' two UK designers.

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The Big Reveal: Crystal Symphony Completes Dazzling Extreme Ship Makeover

MANCHESTER, N.H., June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --In an ambitious drive to reach zero manufacturing waste in its North American facilities, Freudenberg North America's 16 companies will increasingly pursue industrial processes that focus on recycled product content, plant recycling, lower water and energy consumption and increased use of sustainable materials over the next decade.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120618/DE25530 )

The companies were challenged to reach this objective by parent corporation, Freudenberg and Co., during a recent internal Global Innovation Forum on raw materials and innovation. The two-day event, annually conducted and simultaneously video-cast from locations in Germany, Brazil, the United States, China and Japan, allowed Freudenberg's global contingent of scientists, chemists and other technical specialists to review green projects, share best practices and participate in critical discussions about ongoing environmental issues.

The impact that global megatrends such as population growth, global warming and an increasing scarcity of resources is having on Freudenberg's business and innovations and how the corporation will respond was central to the Global Innovation Forum.

"In the past, we have successfully issued challenges to our manufacturing facilities to achieve zero defects and zero accidents," said Dr. Martin Stark, a member of the Freudenberg and Co. Management Board. "We are now issuing a challenge to achieve zero manufacturing waste. The trends driving our business today mandate this kind of response if we are to maintain long-term growth and profitability."

In North America, Freudenberg companies provide products and services as diverse as consumer cleaning products; medical devices; seals and gaskets for the transportation and construction industries; industrial components for the energy and oil and gas industries; nonwoven filters and materials; information technology outsourcing; and specialty lubricants and release agents. All of the companies are engaged in implementing processes and programs that will improve the environmental sustainability of their products and plants, said Leesa Smith, president, Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership.

"Freudenberg's North America companies are committed to developing the highest quality products available in manufacturing facilities that protect people, communities and the environment," Smith said. "Freudenberg has a 160-year history of conducting its business with integrity and a commitment to the welfare of its plant communities. The confluence of new environmental challenges and this long-standing corporate culture is pushing our people to develop green industrial innovations that will help solidify our success and the health of our communities into the next century."

Among the environmental initiatives that Freudenberg North America companies are pursuing:

About Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership

Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership, the North American holding company for Freudenberg & Co. of Weinheim, Germany, owns a family of companies that operate 15 unique businesses. Together, these companies provide innovative products and solutions to customers in industries ranging from automotive, aerospace and medical to chemical, oil and gas and construction. Freudenberg North America companies develop and manufacture custom-engineered seals, vibration control technology, filters, nonwovens, release agents, lubricants, expansion joints, household products, and IT software and services.

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Freudenberg North America Companies Target Zero Manufacturing Waste in Push to Improve Sustainability

RALEIGH, NC.- CAM Raleighs latest feature exhibition, The Credentialist, a new body of artworks commissioned by CAM Raleigh and created by Jos Lerma, opened May 19, 2012. Jos Lerma currently lives and works in New York and Chicago, where he is a faculty member at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Lerma creates intricate installations that combine painting and non-traditional materials such as reflective fabrics and commercial carpet, relying on a compendium of mediums, references, and elements that combine his personal history and extensive academic accolades with his awareness of social history. Lerma originally migrated from Spain to Puerto Rico and now lives between Chicago and Brooklyn, and has multiple degrees in law and art. The Credentialist is a new body of 18 artworks commissioned for the main gallery at CAM Raleigh highlighting his ability to combine and collapse facets of history from his personal viewpoint. Central to the exhibition is the notion of rising and falling, particularly the precipitous demise of great historical figures. The records of these fluctuations are played out on various paintings, curtains, and carpets that occupy the space. 4 large canvases, which imitate ballpoint pen doodle, depict themes such as war, love, and paradise while referencing paintings on the subject by Tintoretto and Piero De La Francesca.

In his paintings, Lerma employs images of Baroque style portraits of historical, famous French Bankers from the 18th Century, which are signified by wigged portraits. The artworks in this exhibition are monumental, featuring a liberal use of brush strokes, doodles, and highlights of paint to underscore the sketch-like quality of the drawings. By distorting and often erasing the features of the faces, only leaving profiles or frontal views of wigs, Lermas work also references the paintings of Francis Bacon and Philip Guston.

Lerma places his large works on electronic keyboards as a way of combining previous elements of his oeuvre. This provides a soundtrack to each painting -- making the paintings active participants in the art. Through the use of acrylic spray paint on canvas, he is able to reproduce the aesthetic of highlighters and penscratchings on a paperpad. His swirled scribbles are reminiscent of graffiti while doodles reference French political cartoon drawings. Lermas paintings meld these several diverse mediums to create works that resemble portraits of bureaucratic figures while simultaneously appearing to be topographical landscapes. Lerma builds up hues of paint and juxtaposes them alongside flat planes of white paint or doodles of spray paint. Lermas paintings are experimental and expand the notion of painting. The main gallery of CAM Raleigh features a large-scale carpet installation. Lerma paints directly on inexpensive commercial grade carpets. The scale of the rugs affects the physical relationship of the viewer to the work. I like the thought of people walking over my ideas, convoluted and preliminary as they often are, and examining and stepping over an intimate space while simultaneously feeling small. Like having the same relationship an insect would have to a drawing - or of course a child to a carpet," Lerma says.

The hypnotic musical tones of the electronic keyboard and the meditative swirls of the doodles seem to counterbalance the stiff regulations of the wigged French bankers and the very controlled atmosphere of both the four-sides of the canvas and the white-walls of the gallery. Lerma effectively describes them as paintings and works about paintings, which attempt to collapse the historical and the autobiographical within a single frame .

Elysia Borowy-Reeder, CAM Raleigh executive director and curator of the exhibition, says "Lerma suggests new ways of experiencing artvisitors are invited to walk on top of his paintings and travel through a visual history. This exhibition is also a celebration of the diversity of artistic expression that puts the artist in the center of the community. CAM Raleigh is an avid champion of artists early in their careers and we give them an atmosphere where they are e nc ou rage d to foster across-fertilization of ideas and dynamic interaction with visitors. Its also an opportunity for visitors to have a chance to meet and exchange ideas with the artists.

The Credentialist, created by Jos Lerma, is organized by CAM Raleigh. It is curated by Elysia Borowy-Reeder, executive director of CAM Raleigh and coordinated at CAM Raleigh by Kate Shafer, gallery and exhibitions manager and Evan Lightner, lead preparator.

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CAM Raleigh presents José Lerma: The Credentialist; museum premiere of newly commissioned works

A month ago, the French classroom at Pittsburg High School was filled not only with students, but also with desks, chairs, and cabinets. Now, all those desks, chairs and cabinets are lining the hallways while work goes on to renovate the flooring of the room.

Pittsburg High School is undergoing a few cosmetic changes this summer. It starts with completing the renovations and retilings of several bathrooms in the high school, and ends with about a dozen classrooms getting brand-new flooring before students return in August.

"Actually, some of that is the original flooring from when the school was built in 1980.That's probably all from one classroom. The rest was about 10-14 years old. Typically, we asked some architects what the standard life of a carpet was in a school, and they said about seven years. It was due," said Jim Newell, USD 250 maintenance director.

Some of those working on the project said that the decision to replace the old carpet with tile in all but two rooms will prove fruitful for the school district. Or at least, they said, to the cleaning crews.

"You can only clean a carpet so many times, then it begins to stink," said Mike Newman of Quality Floors, who is helping in the installation. "Especially with the wintertime, when schools are open, and kids track in mud and snow. Tile is a lot easier to keep clean. It's a lot more sanitary than carpet, which holds so much in it."

The carpet in many of the rooms is being replaced while the students are gone. Crews have to cut the carpet, roll it up and carry it out, then use a special machine to scrape the carpet glue off the floors. Only when the floors are clear of any glue residue can the process of laying tile begin.

The bathrooms are a different story. The tile in those rooms is being placed directly on top of the old tile, creating an entirely new look. In addition, all of the original fixtures, stalls and walls are being replaced. In effect, Newman said, they are "gutting them and starting over."

Some minor remodeling work is also taking place at Pittsburg Community Middle School this summer. Newell said all the projects would be completed by the first week in August, if not before that date.

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Still in session

A synthetic "seabed carpet" that mimics the wave-damping effect of a muddy seafloor could be used to extract energy from waves passing over it, according to an engineer in the US. As well as offering a new way to produce clean and cheap electricity, the carpet which has not yet been built could be used to protect coastal areas against strong waves and provide areas of safe haven for boats in stormy seas.

The ability of muddy seafloors to dampen ocean waves is well documented at various locations around the world. In the Gulf of Mexico, fishermen have learned to steer their boats into a local muddy spot known as the "mud hole" when a storm is brewing. Here, the wavemud interaction is so strong that the storm waves are damped within a distance of a couple of wavelengths (100200m) and the boats there are completely safe.

"If mud can seriously take so much energy out of ocean waves, then why don't we use this idea to design a wave-energy convertor that's very efficient?" asks the carpet's inventor, Mohammad-Reza Alam of the University of California, Berkeley. He came up with the idea using a viscoelastic "carpet of wave-energy conversion" (CWEC) placed over a network of vertically oriented springs and generators on the coastal seafloor. The flexible carpet responds just like mud: as waves pass overhead, they induce dynamic ripples and undulations in its sprung surface, and these perturbations can be used to generate electricity.

Modelling the interaction of ocean waves with the proposed carpet, Alam was able to show that the system can easily absorb 50% of incident wave energy over short distances of about 10m. For typical North Sea waves, the simulation suggested energy absorption rates of 6.5kWm2, which is more than double the maximum possible with wind turbines and at least 20 times greater than currently achieved by solar-power convertors.

All oceanic motion is a combination of long and short waves. It has long been known that the short waves associated with choppy seas are dampened faster than far-reaching long waves (swells) for various reasons, but it was only recently that surprising field observations revealed that short waves are actually much better than long waves at imparting their energy to a muddy seafloor in shallow waters.

Alam developed a computer simulation that took into account hundreds of different waves and wave interactions. He found that when wave-damping conditions are strong as is the case with a muddy seabed a considerable amount of energy is converted from "surface mode" waves (where long waves dampen faster) to "bottom mode" waves (where short waves dampen faster and impart more energy to the seabed). "If damping is strong, the overall energy absorption from the ocean is even stronger," he explains.

Alam believes that the CWEC presents a number of distinct advantages over existing wave-harvesting techniques. Chief among them is the fact that not only is the device resistant to storms, it actually performs better in them. Current approaches use moored floating devices or seabed-secured clam-like structures with vulnerable hinges. When waves become too energetic, these devices are designed to retreat into a protective idle mode, often by being pulled beneath the surface of the water.

The CWEC's flat and fixed nature means that these issues are neatly sidestepped and it can continue harnessing power as the storm rolls by. Not only that, when non-linear elements of wave interaction which increase during stormy seas were introduced to the simulation, the efficiency of the device improved. The device also has a much broader bandwidth than most other wave-energy extractors, and can make use of any type of wave approaching from any direction.

The disadvantage of the CWEC is that its efficiency decreases with water depth, meaning that it is only suitable for use between the surf zone and depths of about 20m.

A completely submerged carpet structure would likely be more popular with mariners and environmentalists than traditional devices, which can pose the threat of collision for ships and entanglement for marine mammals. The energy-draining effect could also be put to good use protecting vulnerable shorelines, sheltering harbours or protecting near-offshore platforms.

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'Seabed carpet' could harness wave energy

RACINE Its time to say goodbye to the Wadewitz librarys gray institutional-looking wall tiles and mustard-colored carpeting, covered with duct tape in some well-worn spots.

Construction begins Thursday on a $100,000 library makeover the elementary school won in May for reading the most books per student during the past school years Racine Reads contest.

Mount Pleasant Renaissance School, 6150 Taylor Ave., and Trinity Lutheran School, 2035 Geneva St., also won $25,000 library makeovers for reading the second- and third-most books per student.

Wadewitzs updated library should be completed by the start of school this fall, said Wadewitz Principal Chad Chapin. He said the library will be a literacy commons designed around a comment from Fisk Johnson, chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, which funded Racine Reads and its prizes. When Johnson announced the prize-winners at a ceremony in May, he compared reading to piloting a plane.

Pick anywhere, Johnson said, and reading will take you there.

The updated Wadewitz library will focus on that idea through clouds painted on the ceiling, a world map on new carpeting and a book check-out area that looks like an airport counter, Chapin said.

It will be a big change for the outdated 2,600-square-foot library that still includes remnants from the rooms original use as a therapy space for special education students.

Old pictures show beds lined up in the room like a hospital. Those have been removed but the upper half of a glass room-divider still hangs from the ceiling and a large therapy lift beam juts out from one wall. Those things will be taken down in the makeover, Chapin said.

The gray wall tiles and the yellow, worn carpet will disappear too, he said, adding Racine Unified is paying for the carpet removal, related asbestos removal and new carpet installation because that project was planned prior to Wadewitzs Racine Reads win.

The updated library will also have new windows, new lighting, iPads for student use, bean bags and couches for students to read in and TV monitors around the room to help students follow along with lessons. Part of a wall will even get removed to open up the library and let passersby see in.

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Readers' reward - Wadewitz’s Racine Reads library makeover starts Thursday

BOCA RATON, Fla., June 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q.E.P. CO., INC. (QEPC.PK) (the "Company") announced today that it will report its financial results for its fiscal 2013 first quarter on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.

The Company also announced that it will be hosting a conference call to discuss these results and to answer your questions at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 21, 2012. If you would like to join the conference call, dial 1-877-941-2068 toll free from the US or 1-480-629-9712 internationally approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time and ask for the Q.E.P. Co., Inc. First Quarter Conference Call / Conference ID 4545896. A replay of the conference call will be available until midnight June 28th by calling 1-877-870-5176 toll free from the US and entering pin number 4545896; internationally, please call 1-858-384-5517 using the same pin number.

Q.E.P. Co., Inc., founded in 1979, is a leading worldwide manufacturer, marketer and distributor of a comprehensive line of hardwood flooring, flooring installation tools, adhesives and flooring related products targeted for the professional installer as well as the do-it-yourselfer. Under brand names including QEP(R), ROBERTS(R), Capitol(R), Harris(R)Wood, Vitrex(R), PRCI(R), BRUTUS(R), Porta-Nailer(R) and Elastiment(R), the Company markets over 3,000 flooring and flooring related products. In addition to a complete hardwood flooring line, Q.E.P. products are used primarily for surface preparation and installation of wood, laminate, ceramic tile, carpet and vinyl flooring. The Company sells its products to home improvement retail centers and specialty distribution outlets in 50 states and throughout the world.

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Q.E.P. Co., Inc. Hosts Conference Call to Discuss First Quarter Fiscal Year 2013 Earnings

CHESTER, England, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

With summer fast approaching, many homeowners are choosing to make home improvements in time for visitors and summer barbecues. This week, as well as offering homeowners up to 75% off installation prices, http://www.bay-windows.info is also providing comprehensive advice on why bay windows are the perfect choice for the season.

As the sun appears from behind the clouds, people thoughts quickly turn to their plans for the summer. In preparation for a busy summer, homeowners are updating their homes with licks of paint and replacement doors and windows. This season, Bay Windows is offering homeowners an eclectic range of windows for competitive prices.

The innovative quote system onsite provides homeowners with the tools to find the best possible prices on quality windows in their area. After filling in some details, the competent team will scour customers' local areas for the lowest prices from expert installers. All installers are FENSA and CERTASS accredited suppliers, thus proving their professionalism in the industry.

The team will provide each customer with three free, no obligation quotes, each with up to 75% off.

For those looking for information on the benefits of choosing bay windows for the home, the pages at Bay-Windows.info are filled with useful tips. Bay windows are renowned for their large expanse of glass. Protruding from the outer wall of the building, they give the illusion of a larger room inside whilst allowing light to flood into the home.

Many homeowners turn their bay windows into a cosy cove to relax and enjoy the sun. The deep shelf can be used as a bench or a counter for a multi-functional window. Making an investment such as a bay window installation can create a welcoming touch that no carpet replacement or new furniture could match and is the perfect way to welcome guests and make them feel comfortable during their stay this summer.

Visit Bay-Windows.info to find out more about the benefits of bay windows. Alternatively, click here to navigate straight to the site.

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Bay-Windows.info Outlines the Benefits of Bay Windows for Summer

A week before the unveiling of the Dolby Theatre, two 50 ft., 1,400 pound trusses carrying 22 sound speakers each were assembled and flown high over the orchestra seating section of the auditorium as part of the Dolbys most challenging installation ever.

The iconic audio company is bringing its new immersive sound format Atmos to the newly-named Dolby Theatre home of the Academy Awards which was unveiled Monday.

"We continue to be guided by Ray Dolby's commitment to excellence and innovation," said Dolby president and CEO Kevin Yeaman, noting that Dolby will introduce new technologies and experiences in the theatre.At the end of the day this is emotional experience. We were looking for new way to tell stories in new ways and connect with audiences.

A grandstand and red carpet are already positioned in front of the theatre, and a red drape hangs over the soon-to-be-unveiled sign. That ceremony is slated for 6 p.m. Monday evening.

As part of the rebranding, the grand ballroom at the Hollywood & Highland complex that houses the Governors Ball will be renamed the Ray Dolby Ballroom, after Dolby's visionary founder. Also, the theatre's VIP lounge will be named the Dolby lounge.

The Theatre will have its grand opening on June 18 with the premiere of Disney/PixarsBrave,as part of the Los Angeles Film Festival.

STORY: Disney/Pixar 'Brave' Premiere To Mark Grand Opening Of The Dolby Theatre

Highlighting the theatre is Dolby's dazzling new sound format, Atmos, which the company's vp of content services David Gray called a "complete game changer. You can put sound anywhere in space."

Citing 3D and digital cinema advances, he said, "Its time for sound. Mixers and sound designers are looking for way to grab the audience with another dimension and to share their creativity.

"The goal is to tell stories as the artists intended," added Ramzi Haidamus, Dolby's executive vp sales and marketing. "The technology we create is about preserving this intent."

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Oscars' Dolby Theatre Unveiled With New Sound System (Photos)