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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) The Minnesota State Capitol restoration makes the building look the way it did more than 100 years ago, when Minnesotas best craftsmen built its most visible public landmark.

But this project is repairing a century of cover-ups and patch-overs. Project Manager Jason McMillan showed us skylights hidden for decades above false ceilings.

We knew they were there because you could see it from the roof, McMillan said.

There are linoleum sheets over oak floors and ceramic tiles, and long forgotten secret doors, like one to the old Supreme Court balcony.

A doorway there that just kind of led to nowhere, McMillan said.

But most of the work here you will never see, even though it may be the most remarkable of all.

Workers are digging below the Capitol foundation to install modern air ducts, 48 inches in diameter, below the surface.

And theyre hiding sophisticated heating, cooling, plumbing and power systems inside five-story vertical shafts behind the brick and granite walls.

See the article here:
Secret Doors & Hidden Skylights: Inside The Capitols Restoration

In his landmark agreement with China to address climate change, President Barack Obama has set an ambitious target for the United States to reduce its carbon emissions by 26 to 28% from 2005 levels by 2025.

At the United Nations Climate Summit in September, President Obama claimed that the United States is on track to achieve his pledge of a 17% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. Yet these gains have been purely circumstantial, rather than through any concerted effort to address climate change.

The U.S. shale gas boom resulted in a fuel shift for power plants from carbon-intensive coal to less costly natural gas, while the economic recession resulted in lower industrial output and less carbon emissions.

A cornerstone of the Obama administrations climate policy to achieve this 2025 target is its Clean Power Plan to regulate carbon emissions from the nations power plants, which account for 32% of U.S. carbon emissions.

Its success may lie in the hands of Americas homeowners. With natural gas and fuel oil included in the energy mix, heating, cooling and powering homes is 22% of total U.S. energy consumption and 20% of CO2 emissions.

Under the Clean Power Plan, power plants that run on fossil fuels will have four options to reduce their carbon emissions. Three of these require costly investments in supply-side infrastructure: improving fuel efficiency, converting to lower-emission fuel sources (such as from coal to natural gas), or shifting to renewable energy sources or nuclear power.

The fourth, more cost-effective approach is to reduce demand for electricity. Power plants would provide consumers with incentives to invest in energy-efficiency improvements that save them money.

The potential for energy savings is substantial. Home performance contractors across the country are able to achieve energy savings of 30 to 55% on heating and cooling for homeowners just by installing insulation in attics, basements and crawlspaces, reducing air leakage, sealing ductwork and upgrading old HVAC equipment.

This retooling alone could achieve a significant portion of the 2025 carbon emissions target. It would also create jobs: Every thousand homes that complete a home efficiency retrofit each month across America puts to work about 600 contractors and energy auditors.

Is this demand-driven approach to make Americas homes energy-efficient achievable?

Continue reading here:
Can the U.S. Kick Its Carbon Habit?

In his landmark agreement with China to address climate change, President Barack Obama has set an ambitious target for the United States to reduce its carbon emissions by 26 to 28% from 2005 levels by 2025.

At the United Nations Climate Summit in September, President Obama claimed that the United States is on track to achieve his pledge of a 17% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. Yet these gains have been purely circumstantial, rather than through any concerted effort to address climate change.

The U.S. shale gas boom resulted in a fuel shift for power plants from carbon-intensive coal to less costly natural gas, while the economic recession resulted in lower industrial output and less carbon emissions.

A cornerstone of the Obama administrations climate policy to achieve this 2025 target is its Clean Power Plan to regulate carbon emissions from the nations power plants, which account for 32% of U.S. carbon emissions.

Its success may lie in the hands of Americas homeowners. With natural gas and fuel oil included in the energy mix, heating, cooling and powering homes is 22% of total U.S. energy consumption and 20% of CO2 emissions.

Under the Clean Power Plan, power plants that run on fossil fuels will have four options to reduce their carbon emissions. Three of these require costly investments in supply-side infrastructure: improving fuel efficiency, converting to lower-emission fuel sources (such as from coal to natural gas), or shifting to renewable energy sources or nuclear power.

The fourth, more cost-effective approach is to reduce demand for electricity. Power plants would provide consumers with incentives to invest in energy-efficiency improvements that save them money.

The potential for energy savings is substantial. Home performance contractors across the country are able to achieve energy savings of 30 to 55% on heating and cooling for homeowners just by installing insulation in attics, basements and crawlspaces, reducing air leakage, sealing ductwork and upgrading old HVAC equipment.

This retooling alone could achieve a significant portion of the 2025 carbon emissions target. It would also create jobs: Every thousand homes that complete a home efficiency retrofit each month across America puts to work about 600 contractors and energy auditors.

Is this demand-driven approach to make Americas homes energy-efficient achievable?

See more here:
America Embraces Emissions Reform

Honeywell Lyric thermostat $279.00

Geo-fencing is probably a better solution than an algorithm that takes time to learn your home/away patterns, but that feature alone isn't enough to justify the Lyric's high price tag.

Oh, the irony. Honeywell introduced a round thermostat way back in 1953, but abandoned the shape in favor of rectangles in 1960. Thermostat manufacturers relied on that basic industrial design for the next 40 years, until the geniuses at Nest resurrected the roundand disrupted the industryin 2011. Now Honeywell has an all-new round thermostat of its own. The Lyric doesnt sing, and it wont learn your daily routine like the Nest will, but its not entirely dumb.

Ill discuss the Lyrics capabilities first and relate my installation experience second. That might seem backward, but you wont care about installing it if you decide it doesnt meet your needs and expectations. The Lyrics suggested list price is $280 ($30 more than the Nest Learning Thermostat). Honeywell is running a promotion that brings its price tag down to $229, but its still not an impulse buy.

The Lyric features an attractive industrial design thats just different enough from the Nest to avoid outright imitation. You move a ring around the exterior of the thermostat to set the desired indoor temperature, which is displayed on the smaller display on top of the Lyrics face. The Nest works that way, too, but the original Honeywell Round also had a ring (although it was on the face, not the outer edge, so who's the copycat?). LEDs cast a ring of cool light on the wall behind the Lyric.

You can override the Lyric's geo-fencing when you leave the house, but you can't control it from the web.

The larger display in the middle shows the current indoor temperature. Press the cloud/sun icon on the left-hand side, and this will change to show a periodic weather forecast. Pushing the home button on the right-hand side informs the Lyric that youll be leaving the house, so the HVAC system should be idled to save you money. A proximity sensor brightens the display when you approach.

But the Lyric has more sophisticated ways of knowing when youre home and when youre not, which Ill dive into next. (Honeywell claims the average homeowner will save $130 per year in heating and cooling costs, so that the Lyric will pay for itself in two years. Were not equipped to evaluate that claim, but its established fact that smart thermostats can reduce your utility bills.)

Like the Nest, the Lyric knows when youre away and when youre home desirous of indoor climate control. Unlike the Nest, the Lyric doesnt learn your comings and goings so it can develop a schedule based on when youre home and when youre away. And since there isnt a web interface, you cant change the heat/cool mode or set the target temperature remotely. You also cant manually program the thermostat to heat and cool on a schedule.

On the bright side, the Lyric is outfitted with a humidity sensor that can trigger the ventilation system to move air around your home if the humidity gets too high (increasing the chances of mold growth).

Continued here:
Honeywell Lyric review: This smart thermostat needs to wise up

Posted: Wednesday, December 3, 2014 12:32 pm | Updated: 11:50 am, Thu Dec 4, 2014.

Yuletide Fair at First Congregational

On Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., the First Congregational Church on Black Point Road in Scarborough will hold its annual Yuletide Fair. The event will feature A Maine Christmas theme. Holiday greens, books, quilts, baked goods and more will all be available. In addition, the church is offering a lobster roll luncheon for $15. Eat in or take out. Call the church at 883-2342 for more information.

Scarborough schools collecting Beanie Babies

The Scarborough School Department is holding a system-wide Beanie Baby collection now through Friday, Dec. 12. The donations will benefit Partners for World Health. Collection boxes will be located in the main lobby of each school.

European style market set for Dec. 13

On Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Nicholas Church on Route 1 in Scarborough will hold its annual Christkindlsmarkt, a European style village Christmas market. Call 883-9437 or email to stnicksmaine@gmail.com for more information.

The event will include live music, unique crafts, a kids shopping corner, baked goods, jewelry and more. A raffle will feature items from local merchants and the church cafe will serve German-style food from bratwurst to hearty meat and vegetarian soups. Also, attendees should expect a special visit from St. Nicholas himself.

Poetry and photography at library

On Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m., the Scarborough Public Library will host a program with local poet Ann P. Hammond and photographer Kristine Hoyt. This event is free and open to the public. Go online to http://www.scarboroughlibrary.org or call 883-4723, ext. 4, for more information.

Read more:
Current News Briefs - 12/3

Voting in the Maxwell Community Building on the Collins Maxwell Bond Issue. (Roger Riley photo)

MAXWELL, Iowa- Voters are going to the polls in Collins and Maxwell Tuesday to decide on a $7,950,000 bond vote to make improvements to the High School-Middle School Building in Maxwell.

The money would be used to install a security entrance, two new science classrooms, an addition to the cafeteria, and updates to the heating and cooling, including the installation of a geothermal system.

Were trying to focus on all corners of the building, said Jason Ellingson, who is Supt. of Schools in the Collins Maxwell District. we feel this is a really solid option for us to be thinking about doing the right thing for our students as well as our community,

The original structure is a 1931 building. Updates were done in 1954, 1976, and 1995. Every 20 years the district has supported growth, and improvements to the complex here. said Ellingson.

One of the components of the building improvement is security. A new entrance will provide a greater sense of security for anyone who has to come into the building, said Ellingson.

Were looking at revamping our heating systems as well as putting in air conditioning. said Ellingson. The school will also install a geothermal system to help reduce operating expenses.

Follow this link:
Collins-Maxwell Voters Decide $7.9 Million Bond Issue

News Release: Duke Energy December 2, 2014

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Before you deck the halls and transform your home into a festival of lights, calculate how your twinkling holiday displays will affect your winter energy bills.

Lighting displays are part of the timeless holiday decorating tradition, said Alex Glenn, state president, Duke Energy Florida. However, elaborate lighting displays can add significant costs to your energy bill. Estimate your energy costs before decorating and incorporate efficient, budget-friendly lighting options to save money during the holiday season.

Customers can estimate lighting costs using the holiday lighting energy calculator on Duke Energys website: http://www.duke-energy.com/lightscalculator.

Users can identify the type of lights, the number of 100-bulb strands and how many hours the lights will be used per day to estimate the energy cost per day and per month. Based on your selections, you can receive energy-efficient tips and options.

For example, six 100-bulb sets of large, incandescent bulbs (600 bulbs total) plugged in six hours every evening can add as much as $80 to a monthly power bill.

By comparison, six 100-bulb sets of similarly styled light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs would increase a monthly power bill by only about $7. Using six 100-bulb sets of mini-LED bulbs would increase a monthly power bill by only $1.

Winter efficiency reminders

Duke Energy is also offering tips for customers to reduce their winter heating bills.

The thermostat can be the biggest contributor of high winter bills, said Glenn. We encourage customers to select the lowest comfortable setting when theyre home, then lower the temperature a degree or two when they leave.

Go here to see the original:
Duke Energy Offers Holiday Lighting Energy Calculator, Other Winter Tips

An efficient HVAC system is important to the comfort of your family throughout the seasons of the year, because this climate control device is responsible for Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning your home. Learn the basic facts about essential components of your HVAC system andfind out the role each one plays in keeping the household and its members warm in winter and cool in summer.

1. Thermostat. The thermostat is usually the most visible part of your HVAC system. Set on a prominent, easily accessible wall, it may be either programmed in advance or set manually to keep the home at a desired temperature. When the ambient temperature becomes too cold or too hot, the thermostat will trigger the heat exchanger or the evaporator coil-condensing unit combo to begin circulating warmed or cooled air as needed.

2. Furnace. The furnace is the key component of your HVAC system. It's also the largest, requiring substantial space -- typically in the cellar, your finished basement, the attic, or a special closet designed for that purpose. Its function is to heat a supply of air which is to be distributed to various rooms of your home via the HVAC. This heating process is accomplished using one of four possible heat sources -- combustion (burning natural gas, oil, coal, or propane), electric resistance, heat pump, or solar energy collected on site.

3. Heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is found inside your furnace unit's housing. This component switches on when the furnace is activated by thermostat to produce warmer temperatures in winter. The heat exchanger pulls in cool air, heats it, and circulates the resulting heated air via your ducts and out through the vents.

4. Evaporator coil. The evaporator coil has an opposite role to the heat exchanger; it acts to cool the air when your thermostat is set to lower temperatures in summer. Located in a metal enclosure on the furnace's exterior, to the top or side, the evaporator coil works similarly to an automobile radiator to produce cool air, which is then circulated through the ductwork.

5. Condensing unit. The condensing unit is connected to the evaporator coil. This unit is installed by HVAC contractors on the outside of your home and filled with refrigerant gas. When the refrigerant has been cooled to a liquid by heat exchange with the exterior air, the condensing unit pumps the liquid to the evaporator coil to be evaporated into a gas once more.

6. Refrigerant lines. The refrigerant lines carry a refrigerant substance to the condensing unit vaporized in the form of a gas, and return it to the evaporator coil in liquid form. These "lines" are actually narrow tubes manufactured from a durable heat- and cold- resistant metal such as copper or aluminum.

7. Ductwork. Ductwork refers to the system of ducts that transports air warmed or cooled by the system to the various areas of your home. Ducts are commonly made of lightweight aluminum, which is easy for HVAC contractors to install. However, they may also be manufactured from steel, flexible plastic, polyurethane, fiberglass, or fabric.

8. Vents. The vents are the rectangular outlets which transfer the heated or cooled air from the duct system into the individual rooms of your home. Made of high- and low-temperature safe metal, the vents are located on or near the ceiling and are usually fronted with angled slats. These slats direct the treated air downward to where people are using the room; often they may be manually controlled or even closed, to control the amount of heating or cooling and the area of the room to which it will be directed.

Read the original post:
Know Your HVAC System Components and How They Work

By Andy Brown Published 5:55pm Friday, November 21, 2014

The Demopolis City Board of Education approved a change order Monday night for a project to install geothermal air conditioning units at Demopolis High School.

The change order resulted from a need to move 36 of the projects 176 wells across the street from the school.

We had to move the last 36 wells across the street, Superintendent Al Griffin said. Will there be a slight expense for us, Im not sure. Thats to be determined. I did ask (MidSouth Geothermal) to tell us in a fair estimate what they thought it cost them and they said about $6,900. Weve got to review the contract and look at was there room on the original set of plans for the last 36 wells.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems take advantage of the stable temperature underground using a piping system, commonly referred to as a loop. Water circulates in the loop to exchange heat between a building, the ground source heat pump, and the earth, providing heating and cooling at high efficiencies.

The project at Demopolis High School requires multiple loop fields to be dug for piping.

Griffin said at least 140 of the 176 wells needed to house the piping have already been dig by MidSouth Geothermal.

They can only use one rig across the road, but I feel certain that by the end of next week all the wells will be dug, Griffin said.

Griffin said all the equipment has been assembled by Hydro-Temp and waiting to be shipped.

The project is being funded through a QZAB grant the system was approved for last year.

Link:
Demopolis BOE approves change to HVAC project

Winters abrupt arrival with record cold this month also brought along an even less welcome event: an outbreak of house fires.

Fire department officials report the number is not particularly higher than usual this year. However, the cluster of fires in St. Joseph and the region reminds us how quickly an ordinary day can turn tragic.

Investigators have found a common cause among several fires in St. Joseph they occurred in older structures in which the electrical system was overloaded. Homes built 100 years ago, or even 50 years ago, were not designed to accommodate the pull of modern heating and cooling systems, as well as appliances and electronics.

An old adage holds true here: If in doubt about your homes wiring, have it checked out.

Research and experience also prove that moving to a newer house is not a foolproof way to escape the threat of fire. Because of the materials used in construction, newer homes often burn at a much faster rate than older structures. Synthetic materials both in the house itself and in the furnishings are more flammable.

Regardless of the age of your home or the type of wiring, two steps every homeowner and renter should take:

Install a smoke detector.

Keep it up to date.

St. Joseph Fire Inspector Steve Henrichson points out all smoke detectors can get dusty and batteries will run down on those not directly wired into the house current. Consider this a holiday-time reminder to check those batteries. Also, the National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

Winter will be with us for several months and these steps are worth it to keep your family safe from fire.

More here:
Wiring looms as threat