Back when the produce terminal in the Strip was being considered for renovation, some people were quite vocal about the idea of making cut-throughs in the building. One concern was destroying the character of the iconic but decaying building.

Years later, there are now three so-called passageways recently completed in The Terminal, the mixed-use redevelopment of the Strips five-block-long produce terminal. The enclosed and heated passageways at 17th, 18th and 20th streets sport benches, creative lighting in a dazzling array on the ceiling and a collection of colorful graphics about Pittsburgh.

The passageways were necessary due to the length of the building 1,600 feet and to allow access from parking on Spruce Way as well as for tenants and visitors, says Chuck Kennedy, senior principal with Antunovich Associates, the Chicago-based architects who designed the renovation.

Kennedy says that the intent was to keep the building as original as possible. We didnt do any structural changes to the building. There were upgrades and repairs. Door bays were the same replaced with glass. All the bones of the building were left in place and repaired so it could stand for another 100 years.

The passageway floors feature the original concrete, cleaned and sealed. Tenants in The Terminal will be able to use the passageways for an additional entrance to their business as well as for getting more visibility, Kennedy says.

And more news about The Terminal

If youre tired of staring out your window, take a socially distant stroll through The Terminal in the Strip District, where Winter Window Displays are up through Dec. 31.

Employees and volunteers from 16 local nonprofits decorated their own 8-by-7 bay for the season. Visitors are encouraged to grab a hot beverage from a neighborhood coffee shop and peruse the whimsical exhibits on Smallman Street.

Each window includes a QR code to scan using a smartphone to get more information on each organization or make a donation.

Photo by Kristy Locklin.

The first Terminal tenant, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, is opening on Dec. 8.

City Grows, a Lawrenceville-based organic garden shop that will soon debut its second location at The Terminal, is hosting an outdoor pop-up market at 1601 Smallman from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 6. There will be dried wreaths, decorative greens and locally made gifts.

Morgan McCoy, marketing manager for McCaffery, the real estate firm transforming the property, says the company has halted all non-tenant events for the rest of 2020 but hopes the Winter Window Displays add some joy to visitors while giving local organizations a boost.

Inside one of The Terminals heated passageways. Photo by Tracy Certo.

The Terminal wants to see small business and community organizations thrive, so weve been focusing our marketing efforts on realizing that vision, McCoy says. We supported Row House Cinema by partnering on a monthlong drive-in series in October, gave free space to local businesses for a fall market event, have regularly hosted fitness events with local studios since August, and now have the Winter Window Displays program. We plan to continue being a place for neighbors near and far to gather.

City GrowsMcCafferyStrip DistrictThe Terminal

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The Terminal debuts three passageways and holiday window displays. Liquor store opens Dec. 8 - NEXTpittsburgh

Microsoft is following the customers and the ecosystem, but pragmatic investment in Linux doesn't diminish the company's commitment to Windows.

Microsoft adopts or supports Linux when the customers are there.

Image: Microsoft

'Microsoft and Linux' should be a phrase we're used to hearing by now. Microsoft is a member of not only theLinux Foundationbut also the Linux kernel security mailing list (a rather more select community). Microsoft issubmitting patchesto the Linux kernel "to create a complete virtualisation stack with Linux and Microsoft hypervisor". And when Microsoft wanted to add container support to Windows, it picked an open-source specification designed originally for Linux rather than the internal Windows-centric implementation it had already written.

Now Azure customers get the same hybrid benefits for Linux support contracts as they do for Windows Server licences; Windows runs Linux binaries; some key Microsoft applications are available on Linux; and new services might be built with Linux. That's not just the obvious ones like the Azure Kubernetes Service:Microsoft Tunnel-- the VPN replacement for iOS and Android apps connecting to corporate resources on-premises through Azure AD -- installs as a Docker container on a Linux server.

SEE: Windows 10 Start menu hacks (TechRepublic Premium)

At the recentAzure Open Day, Kubernetes co-founder and Microsoft corporate vice-president Brendan Burns talked about Microsoft having a deep understanding of Linux and contributing to existing open-source projects based on Linux as well as founding new ones likeDapr(Distributed Application Runtime).

"Azure can provide best-in-class support for Linux and container infrastructure and I think this is because we have a deep understanding of what it takes to run Linux in a hyperscale cloud," said Burns. "We have a deep understanding and engagement in both Linux and container communities. We contribute source code to all of these environments."

In short, Microsoft 'hearts' Linux.

But forget the idea of throwing away the Windows kernel and replacing it with a Linux kernel, because Microsoft's approach to Linux is far more pragmatic and comprehensive. Although the company is now thoroughly cross-platform, not every application will move to or take advantage of Linux. Instead, Microsoft adopts or supports Linux when the customers are there, or when it wants to take advantage of the ecosystem with open-source projects.

Microsoft's Tunnel VPN gateway is provided as a container running on a Linux host.

Image: Microsoft

Back in 2008, when Hyper-V was released, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server became the first non-Windows operating system officially supported (and 'enlightened' to improve performance) on Hyper-V -- two years after Microsoft and Novell signed an agreement to work on interoperability and seven years after then-CEOSteve Ballmer infamously comparedLinux licensing to "a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches".

Microsoft was no doubt hoping to win over Linux users to the enterprise features in Windows Server, but customer support mattered too. In 2009, Microsoft and Red Hat announced that Microsoft would validate Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Windows Server 2008 and Hyper-V, Red Hat would validate Windows Server guests virtualised on Linux, and the companies would offer joint technical support to enterprise customers using the two operating systems together.

Over time, Linux support at Microsoft became rather more enthusiastic, if no less pragmatic: .NET had to go open source and cross-platform or it was going to lose its customer base; that also meant becoming a modular, agile project built on GitHub with the community, rather than a framework that shipped once every three to five years with a new version of Windows.

Linux workloads on Azure began to outpace Windows Server VMs, both for customer's own applications and for apps from ISVs. "If you look at the images that we have on Azure Marketplace, sixty percent of them are based on Linux," Talal Alqinawi, senior director in Azure marketing, told TechRepublic recently. "We support some of the largest enterprise workloads in Azure -- like SAP, for example -- and they are almost completely run on Linux today."

As a result, Microsoft began working with distros like Red Hat and Ubuntu totune the Linux kernel for Azure; and if customers run into bugs in Linux when it's running on Azure, Microsoft will work on the bug and contribute code to fix problems (or just to make workloads likeSAPrun better).

SEE:60 Excel tips every user should master

Similarly, bringing SQL Server to Linux in 2016 meant that Microsoft could carry on competing with Oracle for database customers who didn't want to move to Windows Server because they'd invested in containerisation and DevOps. In 2017, Tony Petrossian, then in the Microsoft database systems group, told us: "Apart from all the obvious reasons -- that people are using Linux -- one of the big motivators for us was that a lot of the container and private cloud technologies are built on Linux infrastructure and we wanted SQL Server to be part of that ecosystem."

By the time PowerShell became a cross-platform, open-source project in 2018, Jeffrey Snover (creator of PowerShell and then the chief architect for Azure infrastructure) could say quite sincerely: "The company is becoming a cross-OS company; I like to say 'the sea refuses no river' and we want to be the company for everybody, no matter what platform you're using."

Linux support is important for hybrid cloud with Kubernetes, for edge computing with containers, and for IoT devices that often don't have the resources to run Windows. Although Windows has become modular over the years, and stripping the GUI out of Nano Server makes it a much smaller image than full Windows Server, a custom Linux build can be smaller still.

When Microsoft started work onAzure Sphereas a secure, updateable IoT platform in 2015, it wasn't surprising that Azure Sphere OS combined security innovations Microsoft had first used in Windows with a custom Linux kernel rather than an IoT version of Windows. At the time, Azure was already buildingSONiC, the network OS based on Microsoft's Switch Abstraction Interface (SAI) specification and Debian.

Microsoft's buying power meant it could ask network hardware suppliers to support SONiC so that all the network hardware it bought for Azure would run the NOS (which makes SONiC support widespread enough that advanced enterprises can start adopting it themselves). And making it open source and submitting it to theOpen Compute Projectmeant that hardware vendors and other cloud providers like Alibaba and (even before the acquisition) LinkedIn could contribute improvements.

Microsoft also used a custom Linux kernel for the AzureOpen Network Emulator(originally called CrystalNet), a system that runs both containers and VMs to emulate the entire Azure network for testing network changes before they're made.

Teams is the first Microsoft 365 app to come to Linux.

Image: Microsoft

TheLinux Systems Groupat Microsoft also created an internal Linux distribution,CBL-Mariner, designed for IaaS; (it stands for Common Base Linux). It's used for running the Azure Kubernetes Service on Azure Stack HCI -- but again, it's not a general Linux distribution like Ubuntu.

The same group creates theLinux kernel used for WSL2, theWindows Subsystem for Linuxthat puts a Linux kernel in Windows so you can run Linux binaries. That's to make developers' lives easier, because so many tools and frameworks assume developers are using Linux -- and even though Visual Studio Code is available on Linux, Microsoft has spent the past few years working on wooing developers onto Windows.

"We're really trying to meet developers where they're at in terms of what they can do," Andrew Clinick from the Windows developer platform team told TechRepublic. WSL started out as a way of accessing Linux command-line tools, but developers wanted more than that. "So now you can run GUI apps, and you can run, essentially, what you would expect from Linux, so you can run all your workflows," said Clinick. "We're trying to provide you a complete solution so that it's not, 'oh, I guess I can run some Linux on Windows'. We want to make Windows the best place for you to be able to build any application. WSL is part of that, as Linux integration with Azure. No matter where your code is running, you can create it on Windows and you can utilise it on Windows -- and obviously in the cloud."

At the launch of.NET 5, the Visual Studio teamexplained the value of WSL 2for developers in very pragmatic terms. "For a Windows .NET user targeting Linux, WSL 2 lives in a sweet spot between production realism and productivity". Debugging in a remote Linux environment or container means the code is running where it will run in production, but debugging locally in WSL is faster and more convenient.

Microsoft seems to have taken some convincing to create aTeams client for Linux-- the first Microsoft 365 app to come to Linux -- instead of telling customers to use the web client. Customers who had staff using Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux could get everyone except the developers and admins working on Linux devices on the same collaboration platform, and over 9,000 requests on User Voice and unofficial Linux clients for Teams showed there was a clear customer demand. The status of the Linux Teams client bounced from 'working on it' to 'declined' to 'under review' to 'on the backlog' before it was confirmed.

That back-and-forth is a reminder that Microsoft's relationship with Linux is a journey: internal developers have become increasingly comfortable working with Linux and playing key roles in open-source communities, but product teams still need to think about business models and resource allocation. Developers and infrastructure are the areas where these decisions seem to be clearest for Microsoft.

Just as organisations want all their staff talking on the same platform, attackers looking for targets as they move around inside a network don't care if an application server is running Windows or Linux. So bringing the variousDefender security tools to Linuxis much like bringing them to macOS, iOS and Android to offer customers a comprehensive endpoint solution.

"With Microsoft Defender, we've delivered Linux support over the last year or so, we're completing our work on Android and we have a preview for iOS," general manager for Microsoft security Andrew Conway told us.

"And then if you look at the Azure Defender components on the Azure platform side, the team has been utilising Azure Arc to extend all of the Azure defender protections, not just across assets in Azure but also assets that would live in hybrid clouds and GCP and AWS, and so on, " Conway added. "It's absolutely part of our cross-platform and cross-cloud approach to delivering security for all workloads."

When the idea of bringing the new Chromium-based Edge browser to Linux first came up, the question for the Edge team was whether the people saying 'Microsoft should bring Edge to Linux' wanted to use Edge on Linux or whether they wanted Microsoft to prove something about making Edge cross-platform. While the enthusiasts who were vocal about asking for Edge on Linux are one part of the target audience, developers were a big part of the decision, technical program manager Sean Larkin explained in asession at Ignitethis year.

"We know that Linux has a huge market share for CI/CD and automation and browser automation, so we wanted to be able to give you the ability to test on any browser across any system and any platform so that you could have a consistent experience, whether it be your test running, your test failing or having your automation tools working as seamless as possible," said Larkin.

Hyper-V has been able to virtualise Linux for a long time, and making it work well used to explain Microsoft's significant contributions to the Linux kernel, because having Hyper-V support in the kernel meant it would be in every Linux distro. But why is Microsoft offering to make Hyper-V run with Linux rather than Windows Server as the host?

Ben Armstrong, one of the veteran Hyper-V developers at Microsoft, gave us a cautious answer: "While we were developing Windows 8, we dedicated resources to take Hyper-V (which until that point in time had been exclusively a Windows Server offering) and bring it over to Windows Client. Enabling Hyper-V on Windows 8 allowed us to implement VBS, VSM, Credential Guard and more in Windows 10 -- and more."

"That is where we are at with the recent Linux kernel contributions to enable Hyper-V to utilize Linux as the root partition. We want to be ready to support this configuration quickly if a business need arises," Armstrong added.

Microsoft isn't saying what the business opportunity here might be. But it's more likely to involve enabling hybrid cloud or Kubernetes support with services likeAzure Stack HCI(or even being ready to compete with Apple if it makes another play for the server market using Arm silicon) than throwing away the Windows kernel, where it's still investing deeply, from security improvements to making low-level changes to optimise the performance of APIs that virtual machines rely on.

Be your company's Microsoft insider by reading these Windows and Office tips, tricks, and cheat sheets. Delivered Mondays and Wednesdays

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What is Microsoft doing with Linux? Everything you need to know about its plans for open source - TechRepublic

When officers working a construction detail at 1 Post Office Square Wednesday evening noticed a guy trying door handles on cars near them and he ran when he saw them approaching, they gave chase, police say.

Police report officers caught up with Michael OLeary, 36, formerly of Somerville and now of Boston, a couple blocks away on Kilby Street, near State Street, and arrested him.

But they did not charge him for trying door handles in Post Office Square but because he seems to have missed court dates for an incident in February, 2019, in which officers allegedly caught him in the act of rummaging around a car on North Washington Street and grabbing a gun he found in it.

O'Leary will now head into court to face charges of breaking and entering in the nighttime and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition for that incident, police say.

Innocent, etc.

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Man already wanted for breaking into a car is arrested while trying to break into more cars, police say - Universal Hub

Running Android apps on Windows 10 generally requires an emulator, with loads of programs out there to fill this gap. Fortunately, it emerged last week that Microsoft is thinking about bringing native Android app support to Windows 10.

Windows Central reported that this initiative is dubbed Project Latte and could be coming in 2021. This would allow developers to port their Android apps to the Microsoft Store with little in the way of code updates.

That got us wondering whether Android Authority readers would like to see Android app support in Windows 10. So we asked you last week, and this is how you voted.

A grand total of 2,681 votes were cast in this Android Authority poll, and the overwhelming majority of respondents (94.3%) were keen for Android app support to come to Windows 10. We can see why so many users voted for Android app support, as it would instantly give Windows 10 users a ton of choice when it came to apps and games.

Only 5.7% of those surveyed didnt want to see Android app support come to Windows 10. It seems like at least some of these users point to the possible omission of Google Play Services as a reason to skip these apps on Windows.

Well likely have to wait for more info to land in the coming months to figure out exactly how Microsoft could be planning to implement this feature. It wouldnt be the first time Microsoft dabbled with Android app support on its own platform though, having tested Android app support on early Windows 10 Mobile builds.

Thanks for voting in this poll and for all your comments! What do you think of Android app support on Windows 10 or the poll results? Let us know below!

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We asked, you told us: A ton of you really want Android apps on Windows 10 - Android Authority

BUCKTOWN The Hideout has teamed up with local artists to create gifts and merchandise for the holidays.

The beloved dive bar and indie venue, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., is hosting a holiday merchandise sale. Gifts were inspired by pieces of The Hideouts history and its iconic interior, manager Alice Blander said.

We kind of pulled from all these things The Hideout has in it, she said. Part of everything that we do is made by an actual artist who typically either ate, drank or was in a band at The Hideout.

For example, the back of the The Hideouts hoodies ($50) depicts the iron window grate created by a Finkl Steel worker in 1997.

When Tim and Katie Tuten bought the Prohibition-era bar, the riverfront part of Bucktown was heavily industrial. A local steelworker, Brad Frost, remarked on how arty the Tutens seemed and how their ownership of the bar was a sign of changing times.

Because break-ins at the bar were frequent, Frost offered to weld bars for the bars front and back windows. For the front window, he told the Tutens, We gotta do something cool with this.

He welded bars in an intricate geometric pattern. When he unveiled his work, he told the Tutens, You didnt think I had it in me, did you?

Frost went to the bar and got a beer. Then he told everyone to look closer at the grate.

We all freaked out when we saw Hideout, Tuten said. And Brad just stood there, drinking a beer, smiling.

Since then, The Hideout has become a staple in Chicagos independent music and arts scene. The bar has hosted countless neighborhood and charity events.

The Finkl steel plant was torn down in 2015. Its being replaced by Lincoln Yards, a $6 billion, 55-acre mega-development.

Brad is in his 60s now, Tuten said. He comes by once in awhile and says, I made that. Thats gonna be on a sweatshirt.

Other gifts for sale:

Though not yet on the website, look out for scarves depicting The Hideouts namesake stage banner, a metal camping mug ($17) and puzzles depicting Tim Tutens beer can collection and The Hideouts interior ($39).

These gifts will be added to the bars virtual shop and will be shipped to buyers.

In addition to shopping The Hideout-specific gifts this month, you can shop the bars virtual craft fair.

The Hideout will feature local artists and makers on its website and Instagram Thursday-Saturday. All sales will directly benefit the artists; however, shoppers can tip the The Hideout or donate money to a charity of their choosing.

Independent theaters and music venues were among the first businesses to close when the coronavirus pandemic swept Chicago in March and willlikely be the last to open, industry experts say.

In Chicago, venue owners say 90 percent of the citys indie clubsdont think they can surviveseveral more months of being closed without federal support.

Its critical supporters of The Hideout step up by shopping the holiday sale, Tuten said.

The money we make in December is gonna help us get through January and February, he said.

The Hideout isnt the only bar capitalizing on the holiday shopping season to make ends meet. In West Town, the Irish Nobleman is selling bar-themed clothing and face masks as part of a holiday pop-up market.

Gov. JB Pritzkers plan for reopening Illinoissays Chicago wont be able to reopen theaters or allow indoor service at bars until the region exits the Tier 3 restrictions of the larger Phase 4 category which is only possible if the city sees a continued decline in new coronavirus cases and if hospitals have space.

But even then, gatherings could be limited and businesses that reopen will have capacity limits. Large gatherings, including concerts, wont be permitted until Phase 5, which wont happen until theres a vaccine, widespread treatment for COVID-19 or no new cases at all.

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Congress Theater Overhaul Plan Apparently Dead After Developer Defaults Now, City Seeks Other Options

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Help The Hideout Make It Through Winter By Picking Up Bar-Themed Ornaments, Puzzles And More - Block Club Chicago

PowerToys, which is principally a group of extraordinarily useful instruments for energy customers, is getting an enormous replace on Windows 10. Microsoft PowerToys replace features a new interface for built-in picture resizer, Color Picker, and a bunch of bug fixes.

PowerToys is an open-source instrument and its been round because the days of Windows 95. In late 2018, Microsoft revisited PowerToys and created new utilities particularly for Windows 10.

Earlier this yr, Microsoft added a brand new utility known as Image Resizer that can assist you resize pictures and cut back their measurement in bulk. It comes with a quite simple strategy but it surely has been lacking a user-friendly interface.

With at presents replace, Microsoft is bringing Windows 10s Fluent UI to the picture resizer. It makes use of each Fluent Design and ModernWPF to imitate the WinUI feel and look, and the replace additionally allows assist for themes.

With the improved Image Resizer, now you can instantly resize the chosen photographs by selecting the pre-defined sizes Small, Medium, Large, Phone and Custom. You may also customise the default sizes for the pre-defined modes.

Microsoft has even added rounded corners to the PowerToys and its additionally following the design strategy of Windows 10X.

As we talked about on the outset, Microsoft can be introducing a brand new and improved Color Picker with Fluent UI and WinUI-like rounded corners. For these unaware, Color Picker is a instrument that permits you to scan any space of your desktop, apps or screenshots to detect and choose colours.

After the brand new PowerToys replace, the Color Picker makes use of drop shadows for higher distinction and now you can additionally choose a distinct shade of coloration by clicking on the smaller rectangles.

Heres the whole changelog:

If youre , youll be able to obtain the newest replace of PowerToys from Microsofts Github.

The put up Microsofts PowerToys for Windows 10 will get a contemporary replace with new options appeared first on Windows Latest

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Microsoft's PowerToys for Windows 10 will get a contemporary replace with new options - Enter21st

It took longer than expected, but a long-vacant Old Town space is roaring, well as much as that is possible during a pandemic. Uproar is open near Wells and Division with playful drinks and late-night bites. Its the first project from a new company comprised of Chicago restaurant veterans and members of Ohio-based Forward Hospitality Group.

Uproar is independent of Forward, and the first project from Uproar Hospitality Group who instructed crews to gut the space where modern Mexican restaurant Salpicon operated for 22 years at 1252 N. Wells Street. Ownership has big plans for the space, even without indoor dining during the pandemic. The first floor features a bar and a takeout window in back that will eventually open late night. Carryout and delivery is available on Grubhub, Uber Eats, and DoorDash.

The main bar has been replaced.

The foods from chef Jamie Fischer (Cindys Rooftop, S.K.Y.) who presents familiar American diner dishes with a refined gloss. The menu is divided into vintage and modern categories. The former includes hush puppies (white cheddar, Crystal Hot Sauce) and an Uproar Burger (special sauce, Hooks aged cheddar); the latter features squash soup (yellow curry, giardiniera, toasted pepitas) and a fried chicken sandwich with Calabrian chili. Fisher also features a rotating weekly family meal: The current iteration stars Japanese-style items like pork gyoza and matcha cream puffs. The first week was Americana themed, and proffered short rib pot roast and apple cobbler.

Cocktail kits, beer, and wine are available to go.Uproars drink selection lavishes attention on cheapish beer theres an entire Champagne of Beers section dedicated to Miller High Life. With room for about 100 between both floors, Uproars space includes two bars and various loungy drinking spaces with lots of bold, geometric shapes, busy modern wallpaper, and a large pink neon sign of a hand making a peace sign. The 40-person sidewalk patio is tented and outfitted with purple lights and large heaters.

Partners want to eventually replace the second-floor windows with glass that could open up. That could be essential to help air flow and to allow safer operations during the pandemic. Theres no timeframe for those changes, as time doesnt flow normally during COVID-19.

Various sections of the space feature different aesthetic approaches.

When patrons can safely gather indoors, operators aim to feature a music program thatll be the best in the city, with DJ sets featuring sounds from pop performers, rockstars, and Motown legends. They also plan to host live music events.

Uproar partner Dante Deiana is a DJ and promoter who has spent time on Barstool Sports Blackout Tour. He is also a partner in Ohio-based Forward Hospitality Group. Thats the same group behind Shake-It, a forthcoming Ukrainian Village burger bar from James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer (Adorn).

Uproar, 1252 N. Wells Street, (312) 643-0797, Carryout and delivery available online, Open 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; Noon on Saturday and Sunday. Call to confirm closing time.

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The vast majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs indoors, mostly from the inhalation of airborne particles that contain the coronavirus. But in spite of the obvious risks posed by being inside, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, small household gatherings are driving much of the recent surge in cases.

The best way to prevent the virus from spreading in a home would be simply to keep infected people away. But this is hard to do when an estimated 40% of cases are asymptomatic and asymptomatic people can still spread the coronavirus to others. Next safest is to entertain outside, but if you cant, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

First and most important always wear masks, make sure everyone stays at least 6 feet away from other people and dont spend too much time indoors. But in addition to these precautions, making sure the air inside is as clean as possible can also help. I am an indoor air quality researcher who studies how to reduce the transmission of airborne infectious diseases. Using increased ventilation or running an appropriately sized air cleaner or filter can add an extra layer of protection.

A safer home is one that constantly has lots of outside air replacing the stale air inside.

Homes are typically ventilated through open windows or doors, or from air leaking in through unintentional openings and cracks in the building itself. A typical air exchange rate for a home is around 0.5 air changes per hour. Because of the complicated way air moves, that translates into taking about two hours to replace two-thirds of the air inside an average home, and about six hours to replace all of it.

This slow air exchange is not good when you want to limit the spread of an airborne virus. The higher the ventilation rate the better so how much fresh air is ideal? While the exact exchange rate depends on the size of a room, as an example, a 10-by-10-foot room with three to four people inside should have at least three air changes an hour. In a pandemic this should be higher, and the World Health Organization recently recommended six air changes per hour.

Knowing the exact air exchange rate for your home isnt necessary; just know that more is better. Thankfully, increasing the ventilation of a house or apartment is easy.

Open as many windows as you can the larger the opening the better. Open doors to the outside. Run the exhaust fans in your bathroom and above the stove though only do this if the exhausts go to the outside and if you also have a window or door open. Additionally, you can place fans in open windows and blow the inside air out to even further boost your air flow.

I live in Colorado, and the winter cold has arrived. I still think it is worth it to have windows open, but I open them only about halfway and turn on the heaters in my house. This wastes energy, but I keep the time I have to do this to a minimum, and once visitors leave, I keep the windows open for at least an hour to completely air out the house.

All of these things add up and increase ventilation.

If you are worried that your home ventilation is still too low, air filtration can offer another layer of safety. Much the way an N95 mask works, running air in your home through a filter with small openings can capture airborne particles that could contain the coronavirus.

There are two ways to filter air in a home: using a built-in system like central heating, for example or using stand-alone air cleaners.

In my home, we use both air cleaners and our heating system to filter the air. If you have central heating, make sure your furnace filter has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of at least 11. This value describes how effective a filter is at removing airborne particles and contaminants from the recirculated air. The standard on most furnaces is a MERV 8 filter and many furnaces are not capable of running with a more efficient filter, so make sure to check your filter and ask a technician before replacing it. But a MERV 8 filter is better than no filtration at all.

You can also use a stand-alone air cleaner to remove airborne particles, but how effective they are depends on the size of the room. The bigger the room, the more air needs to be cleaned, and stand-alone cleaners are only so powerful. My home has an open floor plan, so I cant use my air cleaner in the main living space, but it can be helpful in bedrooms or any other smaller enclosed spaces. If you consider buying an air cleaner, I worked with some colleagues at Harvard to build a tool that can be used to determine how powerful an air cleaner you need for different room sizes.

And dont forget to also consider how effective an air cleaners filter is. Your best option is a cleaner that uses a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, as these remove more than 99.97% of all particle sizes.

If you decide to share your home with others in the coming months, remember that being outside is by far the safest. But if you must be inside, shorten the length of time your guests stay, wear masks and socially distance at all times. In addition to these precautions, keeping air flow high by opening windows as wide as possible, driving more air into your home with exhaust fans and using air cleaner and filters can help further reduce the chance of spreading the coronavirus.

Shelly Miller, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Open windows and doors to boost air flow and help remove airborne particles | Opinion - pennlive.com

When it comes to changing the house's windows, there is only one company that can be relied upon, and that is none other than HomeCraft Windows.

This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

Raleigh, NC -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/19/2020 -- Windows are an essential part of the structure of one's house. In various styles and designs, windows have emerged to be a style statement for the contemporary homeowner. So when one window gets broken or damaged, you do not have to live with the same. With HomeCraft Windows available with its big repository of replacement windows, every homeowner can get the worn-out windows replaced quickly and without much hassle. The company has been around for many years, and they are happy to be at their clients' services all the time. Their options in windows range anything from Bay & Bow Windows, Casement Windows, Sliding Windows, Double-Hung Windows, Awning Windows, or Hopper Windows. All the windows are of the highest quality and extremely affordable.

According to the experts handling the window replacement in Cary and Holly Springs, North Carolina it is wise to carry out the old window replacement job at the earliest. Windows that take time to open or close, or have holes in them, or are seen to fall off the hinges are of no good. They are not only an eyesore but are a severe threat to one's safety as well. That is why no time should be lost in getting the windows replaced.

When it comes to picking the right home replacement windows from the lot, the professional window installers at HomeCraft Windows will help. With their years of expertise, it is easy for them to suggest changes and pick the windows to fit their need and budget.

HomeCraft Windows also offers patio doors in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina.

Call 919-276-5400 for more details.

About HomeCraft WindowsHomeCraft Windows is one of the reliable places to loo for quality patio doors and window replacement in Cary and Holly Springs, North Carolina.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/homecraft-windows-is-the-place-to-shop-for-window-replacement-in-cary-and-holly-springs-north-carolina-1316696.htm

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HomeCraft Windows Is the Place to Shop for Window Replacement in Cary and Holly Springs, North Carolina - Press Release - Digital Journal

You want to do windows and doors Edmonton replacement projects in your home but your budget is constrained. This means you have to find what replacement or repair will have a big return on your money. Some places that are mostly lucky when it comes to renovations are the kitchen and the bathroom. You want to modify your kitchen and bring in a built-in glass cooktop. Who doesnt want such a kind of a kitchen anyway? When you weigh between the built-in glass cooktop and the most beautiful bathtubs, your budget does not allow you to do all that. These two areas are essential, and after the work is done, you will look at them and feel satisfied that the work was worth your money.

But do you know that these two renovations cannot compare to a door and window replacement? Purchasing new energy-efficient windows and doors Edmonton will not only enhance your homes look but also cut your energy costs. They also give your home a more homely feeling, more lighting, and a comfort. NorthTech Windows and Doors compiled this information to help you decide.

1.How window replacements are a valuable investment

When it comes to windows and doors Edmonton replacement, it might seem like you are spending a lot of money on it, but come to think of it this way. Replacing windows will increase your homes value by up to 80%. So, if you intend to sell your house, that will be a significant advantage to you. Can the built-in glass cooking top get to that value? Probably no.

The amount of money you will spend on replacing your windows will depend on the window types and materials and the kind of window frames. While aluminum is a good conductor of heat, its frames are cheap to buy and install. Fiberglass frames are good insulators and are more expensive to buy than vinyl. The cost of installing a double-hung window is more than that of installing a single-hung window. While wood frames cost more, they are more attractive than the other frames and energy-efficient.

2.How the type of window will affect the cost of replacement

The most affordable windows are the double-hung type of windows. They are also the most common types, and they are characterized by two sashes that open vertically. Single-hung windows can only be opened on one side, and many people do not consider them. This makes them uncommon, and they are also hard to clean. These windows are cheaper compared to the double-hung windows. While casement tends to be expensive, they are better at keeping cold air away. They are also commonly used by many people. Picture windows have a wide pane of glass that gives you an unobstructed view. They have a modern make, and they are expensive.

3.Energy-efficient windows

When it comes to windows and doors Edmonton replacement, energy efficiency comes first. With energy-efficient windows, your energy bills will be reduced. Also, if you are looking to sell your home, most home buyers consider energy-efficient windows to save on electricity. This means that replacing your windows will add value to your home and increase the chances of getting a buyer. These are the different types of windows you will find from most window manufacturers Edmonton:

a.Single-paned window- they have one glass pane that does not offer insulation. These windows are also leaky, and they might not be suitable for areas that experience strong winds. These windows lose 20% of the heat in your home to the outside and make you spend more money on energy.

b.Double-pane windows- Unlike the single-paned windows, double paned windows have two panes, which help reduce cold leaks. This makes them more energy efficient. They are also filled with air or gas like argon between the panes, which act as heat insulators. However, their price is comparatively higher than that of single-paned windows.

4.Low-Emissivity coating

It is also called a Low-E coating. This coating maintains the heat in the room and reflects heat especially in hot areas from getting into the house. You will find this glass is more expensive compared to others thanks to this property. However if you are buying many, window manufacturers Edmonton can give you a good deal.

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Is Windows and Doors Edmonton Replacement Worthy It? - The African Exponent