Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

EDITORS CHOICE 06.04.20

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Climate change, environmental issues, global warming, carbon emissions, pollution these are all terms we hear every day in the news and something that is starting to be tackled across the world. Amy Wallington finds out how home automation can help reduce our carbon footprint.

Obviously, the best way to save energy is to use less, but that is not always easy. Consumers might think they are saving energy and money by having a smart meter in their home. That might be the case for some, but it is unlikely that people are using less energy than before just because they know their daily usage.

Instead, home technology can help homeowners save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. Often an initial expense will save money in the long run. However, Dean Reddy, product marketing specialist at ABB points out: There is often a misconception as homeowners think that a professionally installed home automation system would cost the earth. On average, a basic install will cost around two per cent of the overall value of the property. Studies have shown that you can save up to 30 per cent on utilities with an automation system compared to a conventional install.

This is a great opportunity for system integrators to use technology to create an efficient ecosystem in homes and actually make a difference. Yasemin Borg is the prescription manager at Schneider Electric and agrees: According to the 2019 Committee on Climate Change report, CO2 and hazardous gasses are mostly emitted from buildings. Considering that such systems and increasing awareness in society can help lower emissions, this is solid proof that a connected smart home is more beneficial than a normal home.

Climate change is a huge issue and we are starting to see the effects take shape through natural disasters, higher temperatures and melting ice caps, just to name a few. Most recently, we have seen the devastation in Australia caused by bushfires due to record high temperatures and no rainfall. Simon Johnson, UK sales manager at EnOcean recognises the problems: In view of the devastation climate change could have on the planet, we all need to do our bit and help reduce energy usage. Unfortunately, the majority of existing homes in the UK do not have any kind of active energy saving devices installed. New builds are improving with more stringent regulations on the actual construction, including better wall and loft insulation, more advanced door and window systems, and the drive away from fossil fuelled heating sources, but with regard to active controls, even new builds are a long way from being slightly clever, never mind smart.

Reddy thinks that the UK is behind the rest of Europe on standardising smart homes. He says: Unfortunately in the UK we are not building homes of the future that are adaptable or intelligent. We really do need to catch up with our European neighbours as they have been using home automation systems for the past 30 years.

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Using natural elementsIntegrator Adrian Brown, technical director of Alpha Touch Limited, thinks that home automation professionals are in a key position to take action against climate change. He recognises: As a tech industry, we should really be taking the lead in finding ways of making the best use of technology to make more efficient use of the energy available and particularly how we can harness the likes of sun, wind, water, and other natural elements.

Brown is experimenting with different smart energy technologies in his own home so that he knows what possibilities he can offer his customers to make their homes more efficient. In terms of smart energy, we have installed solar panels coupled with sonnen battery storage, discloses Brown. The solar panels are giving us free energy eventually, once [the investment is] paid back. Realistically that will probably take about 10 years. Yes, there is an upfront cost, but longer term, it will pay for itself.

In this particular case, Brown recognised that he could use a Loxone system to make more efficient use of the excess energy created from the solar panels. He explains: Rather than exporting the excess energy back to the grid, we can harness it and use it ourselves, and using Loxone, we can prioritise where it goes. Initially, when the solar panels are generating power, the primary source is whatever the house is currently consuming on a day to day basis. Once the house has met its demand from the solar panels, it is creating excess energy which can then be used to charge electric vehicles for example.

In our case, once the solar panels have recharged the battery and the house has met its consumption, we divert the excess energy to an immersion heater, he continues. Rather than heating up the hot water tank from oil which is fossil fuel based, we can use that excess energy to heat the immersion heater to get our hot water, and weve saved on the cost of the oil and its better for the environment.

According to Gavin Stokes, country manager UK, sonnen UK, Brown has the best solution for an energy efficient home: From our point of view, one of the most efficient solutions for a household to become sustainable and energy efficient is to produce its own energy. With a photovoltaic (PV) system, up to 75 per cent of the annual demand can be covered by clean solar power. Additional energy from the grid is only needed in case of long bad weather periods or on shorter days in the winter.

A battery storage system like the sonnenBatterie is the heart of this solution. It integrates a smart energy manager that optimises the usage of the self-produced energy. Therefore, the homeowner doesnt have to change their habits.

He continues: Coming from an energy perspective, the smart control of the sonnenBatterie and its own energy supply has clear advantages over a conventional system. After all, the aim of energy management is to enable households to generate as much solar power as possible themselves. To achieve this, the software synchronises itself with the current weather forecasts, for example, then decides when the electricity should be stored or if it should be consumed in the house. A smart control system can have a very strong positive influence on the efficiency and sustainability of a house.

Adrian Brown, Alpha Touch Limited, had solar panels installed into his own home.

When it comes to home automation and energy efficiency, a lot of the time, it can simply be down to how a system is programmed. Brown recognised Loxones strengths in automation and utilised this to create an efficient home system.

He explains: The most efficient way of running a Loxone system is for it to be zoned, so that rather than having a traditional radiator system which heats up the whole house on one circuit, the Loxone system is zoned so that heat is not diverted to rooms that are not being used. It all comes down to programming how the property is making use of its energy and diverting the energy to where its required the most. Integrators need to think very carefully about how people use their houses, while also making intelligent use of how that house is occupied.

Start with the basicsThe best and simplest way to start being energy smart using technology is by automating the basics, which not only makes the homeowners life easier, but also makes it more energy efficient without really trying. The aim of home automation is to facilitate processes at home in a smart way, while serving to individual taste, says Borg. You can start being more energy efficient by monitoring, controlling and programming your heating, ventilation, lighting and home entertainment systems.

Something as simple as motion sensors and PIRs can make a big difference when conserving energy in the home. With many of them being battery-less, its an even better solution to install into peoples homes.

Connected things allow people to easily automate tasks that were once manual, and this automation allows for objects to easily follow schedules or occupants based on sensing technologies, explains Chris LaPr, solutions architect, Zigbee Alliance. For example, using motion features of smart thermostats and switches, temperatures can be lowered or lights turned off when rooms are deemed unoccupied. Gone are the days when people waste energy by leaving lights or devices on when leaving a room or the house.

Taking advantage of greener methods of creating power, Zigbee Alliance has a feature called Green Power, which allows battery-less devices to quickly join Zigbee PRO networks. These types of sensors that dont rely on batteries are extremely eco-friendly and keep waste out of landfills, LaPr says. Rather than relying on batteries, smart switches can be powered using energy resources that are often overlooked such as motion, light or vibration.

For example, Green Power takes advantage of the energy thats used to flip a light switch. That tiny burst of energy is actually powerful enough to send on/off commands to a wireless network, removing the need to use batteries. Today, we primarily see Green Power integrated into smart homes via smart switches, which can often be an easy retrofit option to have a switch wherever its desired.

Built around energy harvesting wireless technology, EnOcean also creates battery-less solutions for an eco-friendly home. Johnson agrees that sensors are a vital element of an eco-friendly home. EnOcean creates a sensor that is positioned near a window. It then senses that the window is open and doesnt allow the heating to be turned on until the window is closed. In Europe, and especially in Germany, thats common place. But in the UK, the amount of buildings you go into where the windows are open and the heating is on, its madness and it shouldnt be allowed to happen. Using a simple window contact that links back to an actuator on the boiler for example, means that if someone opens a window, it automatically turns the heating off. Its common sense when you think about it, but we are slow to adopt it in the UK.

Johnson also suggests that another basic and inexpensive thing to do is to have an ALL ON/OFF switch near the front door or near a bedroom for night use. This can be programmed to control everything that does not need to be on when youre not home or asleep realistically, anything other than the fridge freezer and security alarm as a simple way of turning all appliances off, rather than leaving them on standby.

From an integrators perspective, these solutions are not particularly expensive and it may not be a huge money maker, but these small and simple changes make ethical sense. It also opens the market up to the middle and lower ends, which could in turn increase your business.

Set it and forget itAs previously mentioned, despite containing a lot more technology, smart homes are naturally more eco-friendly and energy efficient than an un-smart home. LaPr agrees with this and thinks the set it and forget it system is the reason why.

He states: Evolving smart technologies brings a host of new possibilities to not only make humans more efficient with their energy use, but more efficient with their time around the home too. The ability to create rules such as, turn the light off in room after 30 minutes of no motion or, turn down the thermostat when an area is unoccupied for 30 minutes can reduce energy waste.

Adrian Brown's energy monitor shows how much energy is produced through solar panels.

Smart shades offer another option to save energy by automatically raising and drawing shades depending on the weather, temperature inside or outside, or time of day. This ability to set it and forget it delivers rewards in both energy savings, comfort and an overall satisfying smart home experience. Leveraging the convenience of your phone and the cloud, consumers can check on devices, or be alerted, and adjust accordingly. These are things you cannot do in a non-connected home.

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a big part in energy efficient smart homes, and again, is more appealing to the lower ends of the market as a more affordable, off-the-shelf solution that can help them to reduce energy waste. This is also something that the government has recognised, hence the roll out of smart meters. Although smart meters wont necessarily save you energy and money, it does make homeowners more aware of what they are using.

The benefits of IoT in terms of sustainability and efficiency has increased greatly over the last 20 years, explains Borg. Our devices now communicate with each other as we communicate with them. This growth in connectivity is only expected to increase.

The home automation market is currently considered to be in an early high development growth stage, which is forecasted to grow by a further 50 per cent between 2019 and 2023. The government has also officially signed the Net Zero target, which is to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

She continues: There is over 400 million to be invested in public and private buildings, which includes the smart meters program and other innovations bringing energy efficient solutions to the residential space. While the government is publishing policies, investing in infrastructure development and technology is key to be part of this social change.Europe vs. USDont worry, this isnt going to become a political debate! But there is a point to be made that energy prices across Europe are a lot higher than in the US. That might sound like a bad thing to us on this side of the pond but it actually encourages consumers across Europe to invest in smart home technology to make it cheaper for themselves.

According to LaPr: Right now there is a dichotomy between Europe and America. Europeans pay three times as much for energy as the US, so an investment in smart devices for energy savings has a higher return of investment (ROI) for homeowners.

We have all heard Trumps fake news claims about climate change, but all the while the American government are subsidising energy costs, consumers are not encouraged to think about solutions to create a more energy efficient solution.

In countries like the US, the government subsidises much of the energy costs and Americans dont feel the savings impact right now, continues LaPr. If the subsidising stops for any reason in the future and energy prices skyrocket, Americans would probably become more aware and interested in smart energy device investments within their homes.

Statistics from the last few years show that Germany usually pays the most in Europe in energy costs. However it has one of the highest levels of energy efficiency in Europe, according to a 2018 KfW Research report.

Supporting this, Stokes explains how sonnen works in the country: In Germany, we digitally connect the households with each other, so that the surplus of energy which is not needed or stored by the households themselves can be shared with other households in the sonnenCommunity. The remaining grid electricity in return that the household cannot produce itself also comes from renewable energy sources. In recent years, the largest decentralised energy-sharing platform in the world has thus been grown.

We also use a virtual power plant to offer the available storage capacity of the digitally networked sonnenBatteries as a buffer for the power grid. This way, fluctuations in the production of renewable energy can be balanced out in a matter of seconds.

Regional variationsThe UK is also playing a big part in the race to being green, although more can be done. Sonnen recognises the fact that each country has different needs and policies. In principle, it is possible for a household to have its own energy supply with a PV system and a storage system all over Europe, explains Stokes. However, the regulations on the energy market are different in each country, so we adapt our offering.

In addition to Germany, we already have virtual power plants from decentralised home storage systems in Italy and the UK. In the UK we are working with Centrica as part of the local energy management project as well as with a wide range of other forward thinking companies.

One of the biggest things stopping people having smart energy in their homes is the cost, and many say that the government should be doing a lot more to utilise the technology and expertise to help in the fight against climate change.

Theres a lot in the news at the moment about climate change and I think its becoming more and more urgent that we do something, states Brown. As a tech industry, we should be taking the lead in harnessing technology in the best possible way, not just in this country but around the world, to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and make the best of renewables. I think technology can do that.

He continues: I think the government can do a lot more in helping the industry. We decided to install solar panels last summer because we knew that on the 1st October 2019, the VAT on renewables was going to increase from five per cent to 20 per cent. By very stark contrast, fossil fuels coal, oil, etc the VAT was going to stay the same. That doesnt give people an incentive to invest in technology to make their homes more eco-friendly. I strongly believe that the government could do a lot more and reverse that; either reduce the VAT back to where is was or abolish it altogether and put high VAT rates on coal and oil.

Reddy agrees but also thinks builders should play a part too. He states: Although we work with various departments to ensure the technology is considered for government projects, we would certainly like to see the government driving this change. We would welcome a change in legislation so all new builds and rewires have to include an element of control. People are more conscious of the environment and are always looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Homeowners are also becoming more aware and accepting of technology and the benefits it can bring. In the future, I see home automation systems being installed as standard by developers alongside smart appliances.

Stokes thinks the investment in self-sufficient energy supplies is worthwhile. A current generation sonnenBatterie can be used for up to 20 years and a PV system for more than 30 years. In Germany, the investment is paid off after 9-12 years for the average household. After that, they produce and use their clean electricity free of charge.

He continues: There are regional subsidy programmes that provide financial support for investing in own energy supplies. The background to such government support is often that storage is the key technology for a successful energy transition in every country. This is because they can balance out fluctuations in the production of wind and solar energy in a matter of seconds and thus make renewable energy suitable for base load to some extent.

Old habits die hardThe move to have more smart energy in homes is definitely beginning to happen. It needs more development, investment and education but its certainly starting to take some sort of shape. Our everyday devices and utilities are now being built with energy saving features or some sort of intelligence to make it more eco-friendly and efficient.

Johnson points out: I think a lot of appliances going forward will have some sort of intelligence built in. Appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, fridge freezers and so one will become intelligent and turn themselves on or off depending on when they are most likely to be used, for example.

He also thinks that old habits die hard and we need to work harder to educate consumers about home automation and the environment. Ultimately, I think cost will always hold people back. We are also very traditional in the way we wire houses so I think anyone who tries to divert too much away from the standard system that we have got will probably struggle because we are frightened of change. If we can use an existing system and just stick bits on to make it intelligent, I think thats probably the way to go. Maybe in the future, houses will be wired totally different, but history would say probably not; we have been doing it this way for 50-60 years. I think the way forward is sticking things to the end that will make it intelligent, I dont think anything will change with regard to that.

However, technology companies are recognising the issues and finding ways they can make a difference. Many are entering into partnerships to create new innovations that will make new technologies that are energy efficient.

Apart from the legislation driving home energy automation, 24 of the largest and most innovative electrotechnical manufacturing companies, including Schneider Electric, are announcing a major commitment to reduce their emissions to net zero by 2050, Borg admits. This is an industry-wide campaign and will influence market trends of the future.

Ultimately, as Borg says: To reduce the effects of climate change, home automation will become a serious requirement, rather than being a luxury investment.

Original post:
Saving the planet one smart home at a time - HiddenWires

Issued on: 09/04/2020 - 03:44

Rio de Janeiro (AFP)

There are no good options these days in City of God.

Venture out in this densely populated Rio de Janeiro favela, and residents risk exposing themselves to coronavirus.

Stay in, and many have nothing to eat.

The Brazilian slum rose to fame in 2002, when an acclaimed film of the same name chronicled the violence, crime and stark choices facing young people growing up on its streets.

"If you run, the beast will get you. If you stay, the beast will eat you," went the film's tagline.

It could just as well apply to the era of COVID-19.

Like 40 percent of Brazil's labor force, people in favelas tend to work in the informal sector, the kind of jobs that become impossible under the stay-at-home measures adopted to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

"A lot of them are self-employed. They style hair, give manicures, collect cans to recycle, guard people's cars, sell things at the beach," says Samantha Messiades, founder of a charitable organization called Ligacao Cultural (Cultural Connection).

"All these people have lost their income. And they urgently need help," she says, wearing a pink face mask as she watches workers hand out food to needy residents in the slum of 37,000 people.

- A shadow of itself -

Rio de Janeiro is a shadow of itself under coronavirus isolation measures. A hush reigns over its usually jam-packed streets, and authorities have closed non-essential businesses, as well as the city's iconic beaches and tourist attractions.

That means hard times for the 1.5 million people who live in favelas -- a quarter of the city's population.

Messiades originally launched her organization to bring music, theater, dance and other cultural opportunities to children in City of God.

But now she has reinvented it as a food pantry to help people get through the coronavirus crisis.

It is supplying food, soap and basic hygiene supplies to 800 families, thanks to donations from churches, associations and private citizens.

"This is very important and valuable to people here," says Monica Oliveira da Silva, a cleaner among those waiting in a closely-packed line, many with babies and young children.

"The poor have no income and no savings. My children aren't working because they can't. They work in transportation. Everyone needs help," says Maria de Fatima Santos, a retiree.

Favela residents are also living in fear of the destruction a big outbreak could bring to their crowded, under-served communities.

On a street outside the community center where workers handed out boxes of food, a banner gives the global death toll and urges: "Stay home and save lives."

City of God has confirmed only one case of the new virus so far, authorities say.

2020 AFP

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Coronavirus adds to struggles in City of God favela - RFI

Tuesday has brought another welcome rise across global stock markets. The FTSE 100 is up by triple-digits as I type as infection rates slow and there are hopes that the world economy might not be hit as badly as first feared.

It still pays to dig out top defensive shares to protect your portfolio though. Those with resilient profits that should be able to ride out the worst of the coronavirus crisis. A growth hero with such characteristics Id be happy to buy today is Homeserve (LSE: HSV). And fresh financials released today illustrate why.

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Profits have been powering higher at the emergency callout specialist despite severe Covid-19-related lockdowns in many of its territories. Homeserve says that adjusted pre-tax profits are expected to have soared 12% during the fiscal year to March 2020, to 181m. This is also above analysts expectations.

The FTSE 250 growth stock continues to operate resolutely despite the coronavirus crisis. It has resisted the temptation to either furlough or make redundant its employees, it said. Around 6,000 of its office-based workers are now operating from home, while its emergency repair teams continue to answer around 150 callouts every hour.

The safe-haven appeal of utilities stocks is no secret. It doesnt matter how badly the economy is performing or whatever political chaos is raging. It also matters not whether other crises like public health disasters are developing. We all need running water to wash, electricity to boil the kettle and gas to put the heating on. And this keeps profits rising at these growth heroes. Its what makes the likes of FTSE 100 giants National Grid and Severn Trent such brilliant buys for turbulent times like these, I feel.

Its clear, too that Homeserve can be added to the list. If your plumbing is blocked or leaking, your boiler is kaput, or your homes wiring system shorts out, this companys services remain in demand, whatever troubles are going on outside.

The essential nature of its services has helped keep annual earnings barrelling higher at Homeserve in recent times. But this is not the only story. Through a steady stream of acquisitions and partner agreements, customer numbers continue to boom, rising by 100,000 year-on-year to stand at 8.3m as of March. It is making huge waves in the gigantic North American marketplace in particular. Its client base here swelled to 4.4m from 4m over the same period.

City analysts expect earnings at the growth stock to rise 8% in fiscal 2021, and by 15% the following year. And this creates expectations of more meaty dividend growth, resulting in yields of 2.2% and 2.5% for this year and next. It might be expensive on paper, sure. At current prices Homeserve commands a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26.1 times. I consider this to be a fair price considering its exceptional defensive characteristics and ambitious growth plans, however.

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Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Homeserve. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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Here's a growth stock I'd buy and hold for 10 years - Motley Fool UK

What You Should Know:

Scammers may be trafficking counterfeit or faulty protective equipment (PPE) duringCOVID-19 in what is now known as the grey market.

Premier outlines five common types of COVID-19 grey market scams for hospitals to avoid and key best practices to avoid them as hospital brace for the surge in COVID-19 patients.

Healthcare providers are working around the clock to safelycare for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic,and the last thing they need to worry about is whether their protectiveequipment (PPE) are reliable, safe and legitimate. Premier, a healthcare improvementcompany finds that scammers are now preying on hospitals by peddling counterfeitor faulty PPE includingsurgical masks, face shields, surgical gloves and gowns, isolation gowns, capsand shoe covers.

Defining Grey Market

Premier defines gray market as a supply channel that isunofficial, unauthorized or unintended by the original manufacturer. In marketswhere the products are scarce or in short supply, gray markets may crop up to sellthe item at any price the market will bear. In the case of COVID-19, where morethan 2,000 unique stock-keeping units (SKUs) are on allocation fromdistributors, gray market vendors are attempting to capitalize on providersneeds, offering difficult to obtain supplies at a 50X markup.

According to a survey of our members, 60 percent of facilities have received at least one of these offers, and Premier itself has received hundreds of these solicitations. Regardless of the form, these scams typically end with providers losing time, money and/or resources. Others find themselves the recipients of substandard or unsafe products if they receive anything at all.

5 Common Types of COVID-19 Grey Market Scams

Premieroutlinethe following five common types of COVID-19 grey market scams for hospitals:

1. Pay ahead.A broker requests and receives a deposit from hospitals for PPE such as medical-grade N95 masks. After wiring the funds, the broker vanishes, ceasing all communications.

2. One certificate, infinite masks.Multiple brokers have suggested they have millions (upon millions) of masks and all point to the same fraudulent certification documents.

3. Or just infinite masks.One broker reached out to Premier with the promise of a number of masks so high, that when we called the manufacturer to check the claim, we were told that it would have taken years of dedicated, international production without a single sale to reach that kind of stockpile.

4. Product exists, but it doesnt work.Weve had members pay for and receive products, as advertised, only to learn that the entire batch has to be discarded after they fail basic quality and authenticity tests.

5. Welcome to their humble abode.Solicitations sometimes come with an address. A quick Google Earth check will show that more often than not, the address isnt for a factory, a warehouse or even an office. Its usually home. That should serve as a warning that the product being offered is illegitimate if it even exists.

4 Best Practices for Hospitals to Avoid COVID-19 Grey Market Scams

In order for hospitals to avoid these common COVID-19 grey market scams, Premier recommends the following best practices:

1. Demand access to the physical item before paying for it.Not only does this require the seller to send proof that the item exists, it also allows an opportunity to vet the product through a trusted partner like Premier or the manufacturer to confirm its legitimacy.

2. Do homework on parties involved.Google their addresses, check with peers or Premier on the legitimacy of goods theyve delivered and ask questions. Err on the side of caution and be skeptical; if the seller has trouble answering questions or seems cagey in responses, walk away immediately.

3. Thoroughly vet vendors,including checking registrations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Be wary of links embedded in email offers, which could be aphishing cyber scam.

4. Take monetary precautions.For those that choose to buy, at a minimum provide funds via an escrow account to avoid theft.

The rest is here:
5 Common Types of COVID-19 Grey Market Scams for Hospitals to Avoid - HIT Consultant

Bobby Berk may not be home, but hes making the most of his situation.

Today, the Queer Eye starcaught up with Daily Pops Justin Sylvester over Instagram Live. While chatting about the current Coronavirus pandemic, the famed interior designer confirmed hes sheltering-in-place in Austin, TX.

Why? Well, as Berk explained, his Netflix show was down in the Lone Star State filming season six when everything began shutting down.

So, we were here filming season sixand we got through almost one episode when production got shut down, Berk shared with Sylvester. Me and a few of the other boys just decided to stay here, because we didnt really know how long we were gonna be shut down.

In hindsight, Berk said he feels like he maybe shouldve head home. Nonetheless, Berk couldnt be happier in Austin, a city which he really like[s]. In fact, per Berk, the rental hes in looks and feels like my house.

It probably helps that Berks husband Dewey Do is social distancing with him in Austin. As Berk noted, his doctor spouse had been in New York for work and Queer Eyes design expert demanded he come to Texas.

He went to New York for work. Hes a doctor, he goes back and teaches at Elmhurst Hospital once a month, Berk detailed. He was supposed to be there a week longer and I made him leave and come here to Austin. So, hes been here with me, which is great. Luckily, we werent quarantined separately.

As E! readers surely know, Berk and Do have been together for 16 years. Thus, it wasnt surprising when Berk said he didnt have any qualms about being with his spouse all day, every day.

His advice? Fight the pressure to constantly be engaged, its ok to sit in silence.

As for what people can do in their homes during this time? Berk encouraged viewers to organize and clean.

Organize it! Clean it! You know, you dont need to buy anything to do that, Berk wisely expressed. Get rid of the stuff that you dont need, go through those drawers and those closets and under the bed. All those things that youre like, Ah! One day when I have time, Im gonna do that! All you have is time now.

However, if you are looking for inspiration, be sure to check out BobbyBerk.com!

Be sure to catch Berks full chat with Sylvester on the Daily Pops Instagram account, which you can find HERE.

Read the original:
Queer Eye's Bobby Berk Reveals the One Thing You Should Be Doing at Home - Brinkwire

The NBA has used the shot clock since the 1950s and the colleges abide by a 30-second shot clock, for high school basketball its a wild west of possessions that can see a score end 5-4 if they wanted. In todays game of up and down offense, you dont see it too much, but you do see the stall game work its way into todays game.

The Arkansas Activities Association received permission from the NFHS to use a 35-second shot clock for Class 6A games next year as run for the next three seasons.

Many want a shot clock. Its what they are accustomed to when watching Kansas, Kansas State or Wichita State basketball play. There are a lot of hurdles to get said shot clock. Arkansas has been using a shot clock for non-postseason tournaments for two seasons now. The transition to the full season shot clock seemed to be all but inevitable.

What about Kansas? Where does the shot clock fit into our game that we dearly love?

You get situations where teams run four-corners and stall out the game, draining the clock until either the defense steps up and forces the ball out of the handlers hands or the team scores.

Nine other states currently have a shot clock implemented - Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Rhode Island, North and South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and California.

"I think for our game in South Dakota, its helped make it more fun," Assistant Executive Director Joe Auch said. "Weve had little to no complaints since weve implemented the shot clock."

The state of South Dakota had been using the shot clock in their largest class for two seasons before adding it to the entire state. The SDHSAA uses a 35-second shot clock at all levels.

"We had some stall tactics and some low scoring games," Auch said. "Its been a breath of fresh air having the shot clock. Games are higher scoring; coaches are finding new ways to win games and fans are enjoying it. Its a win all around."

While statistics are boring, the Butler County Times-Gazette re-watched 10 basketball games via the NFHS Network and the average possession within those games was 36.5 seconds. The only time the possession drew longer was in the final minutes of the game when the score difference was within 10. Possessions that were off a basket and not a foul or turnover, were on average 22 seconds long.

Andover, a team that had been known for pace and threes, held the ball up top for 30 seconds on multiple possessions in the fourth quarter, before initiating its offense. BV Southwest used the stalled offense to get back into the game. Andover would eventually prevail over BV Southwest.

"Sometimes the defense doesnt let you do the things you want to do," Andover head coach Martin Shetlar said after his teams first-round win over Blue Valley Southwest in the Class 5A State Tournament.

For a majority of the season, the Trojans averaged under 20 seconds per possession for the first half 32.5 seconds in the second half on games available via NFHS Network.

When the game entered the fourth quarter, possessions for the winning team increased by six seconds and the trailing team decreased by five seconds. The rush to beat the clock when trailing had an obvious effect on how the trailing team operated their offense due to them not having a potential opportunity of never seeing the ball again if the opposing team wanted to stall.

There are coaches who support the shot clock, however it may come about.

"Basketball is fun for people to watch and for kids to play because it is a fast pace game," Andover Central head coach Stana Jefferson said. "Lets keep it moving and for the kids moving on to the next level."

When the Butler County Times-Gazette re-watched four of Andover Centrals games, the Jaguars averaged 29 seconds per possession when you excluded fouls and turnovers.

There are some major hurdles when it comes to getting prepared and implementing shot clocks before you even consider the materials and installation. You have to get labor first and foremost and find those who are competent enough to run a shot clock.

There are typically 3-4 workers at a table. You have your scoreboard operator, who sometimes manages the game clock as well; the official scorebook; public address announcer; and sometimes there will be a person solely responsible for the start and stop of the game clock.

The latter is tough to find. While at bigger schools you may see it, you dont see it at smaller schools, such as Flinthills where the book runs the scoreboard, too. The PA will run the game clock. Now, youll have to find a third person to run a shot clock.

"There are always passionate people who love sports and want to be involved," Auch. "You have to properly vet they are capable enough and as educators and administrators, thats what we do every day. It would be no different in this sense."

In Maryland, they have been using a shot clock for some time and as one reporter put it, give people credit. Thats fine in Maryland to find competent people. However, what about a 1A school when they have a different clock operator every game? Even at El Dorado, a 4A school, they split scoreboard operators during tournaments this season.

"Outside of our first season with the shot clock, we have not had many complaints about errors in their use," Auch said. "We put out a crash course for officials and table workers."

When an official has to stop, reset the shot clock and put or take off time, those seconds add up to minutes and we have not begun to add it into other functions of the game.

The cost might be the most prohibiting thing to KSHSAA adopting a shot clock. While the shot clocks themselves start just over $5,000, on the personnel side, that can add up.

Andover Central pays their table workers $20-25 per game and typically will do 3-4 games on game night. When you break that down to add in a shot clock operator as Andover Central runs three at their scorers table, with nine regular season home games, that is almost $2,900 to pay your table workers.

Then, finding someone competent enough to run the shot clock. It has to be hit at the right time and not early or reset late. The delays could push a game beyond the anticipated ending time.

When it comes to adding the shot clock, your initial costs shoot sky high. There are plenty of questions that have to be answered: What type of shot clock? Is the scoreboard that is currently installed compatible with the shot clock? The venue, layout, installation, and wiring are also things you have to consider when you plan to install a shot clock.

"The up-front cost was not nearly a concern as you would think," Auch said. "Daktronics worked with us on the pricing as the entire state was installing them at the time."

According to a sales representative with Daktronics, the estimated starting cost for two shot clocks for the main gym is around $6,000. Then, if your gym is not compliant with the shot clocks and you have to re-wire or add a new scoreboard, your local school could end up adding an additional $6,000. This does not include the schools secondary gymnasium. Pricing would double in that case. All but one school in Butler County utilizes multiple gyms when hosting a varsity night.

When it comes to implementation of the shot clock, there is more than just cost and concern within the schools, the state association has to look out for themselves. When you implement the shot clock, you lose your seat on rule committees. As for South Dakota, they can make recommendations, but they cannot serve on those rule committees.

"Every year there are proposals on the shot clock," Auch said. "Its something we sacrificed for our game."

While you are not on those committees, associations can still recommend certain rule changes.

If you ask some athletic directors, there are bigger things to worry about than the shot clock for the state of Kansas.

"Id rather see the block/charge circle under the basket before a shot clock," Augusta Athletic Director Travis Olive said.

Kansas isnt getting the shot clock next season and probably not any time soon if the votes keep coming up negative. However, state adoption is the way to go. With the NFHS voting each year to give each state their adoption of rules, that would be the entry for Kansas to allow classes to use the shot clock.

"The rabbit hole of allowing states to adopt their own rules opens up a pandoras box of issues," Auch said.

That could give states their ability to adopt any sort of rules, really changing the game of basketball and not only the shot clock.

While Kansas continues to make their decision, the rest of the nation presses on. While what they do may be best for their state, the question continues to loom: is this what is right for Kansas?

Original post:
To shot clock or not: Is it time for Kansas to head that route? - The Hutchinson News

Article By : Cabe Atwell

For those whom that is impossible, be it cost-prohibitive, unavailable to their location, affected by an outage, or any other issue, how do they gain access to information? Take a look at the top six methods of broadband delivery...

The flow of information in the world is what keeps it running. For the average household, Internet access is possible through a wired broadband connection, which also offers the fastest and most reliable service of current delivery methods. But for those whom that is impossible, be it cost-prohibitive, unavailable to their location, affected by an outage, or any other issue, how do they gain access to information? While they may not be the commercial standard, there are several other methods of broadband delivery. Take a look at the top six below, plus a method for real-time news delivery with no Internet connection.

Wireless Connectivity (LTE)

Mobile Broadband Offers Wireless Access from Our Phones.

Plenty of us have another source of connection in our pockets. With average U.S. LTE speeds at almost 14 megabits per second, mobile broadband can be a perfectly serviceable alternative to traditional broadband. There are plenty of devices on the market to convert your cell signal into a Wi-Fi hotspot, and using a data-only plan, this can be a relatively low-cost, high-speed option. You may be subject to data caps and limited battery life with this method. Still, for the purposes of web browsing, social media, and email access, your cell will undoubtedly do the trick, as long as your location offers reliable LTE service.

Satellite Broadband

Satellite delivery can be an excellent option for areas where connections such as cable or phone lines simply arent readily available. The signal is transmitted using three satellite dishes one in space, one at the service providers hub, and one on your property. Traditionally, this method has been a last-resort service for rural areas. Satellite Internet has always had issues: high latency, limited broadband capacity, and signal disruptions due to weather or minor obstructions to your dish. However, in an effort to better reach these unserved or underserved areas, many companies are working to install low-altitude satellites, called Low Earth Orbits or LEOs, which could come to provide service to the entire planet.

FTTx

Fiber-Optic Technology Offers Reliable High-Speed Service.

Fiber-optic technology has been gaining traction in the U.S. for some time now, touted as the fastest and most reliable connection available. The service functions using wires made of transparent glass fibers as small as the diameter of a human hair, which transport data in the form of light signals. Unlike the copper wiring used for cable connections, these wires are not easily disrupted by environmental conditions. While the speeds enable rapid download and the service is incredibly reliable, fiber to the home is not yet widely accessible as it requires new infrastructure for delivery. Its also not clear fiber to the home is absolutely necessary to get blazing-fast broadband; if a broadband provider can get fiber close to a customers home, coaxial cable continues to be a great way to close the gap and support gigabit transmission rates.

Fixed Wireless (5G)

Fixed Wireless Connects Remote Areas Via Radio Waves.

Another wireless method delivers broadband to you via radio waves. Fixed wireless Internet uses an antenna on your property to communicate with nearby towers to send data onto a wired network. This comes with several difficulties. Often fixed wireless is more expensive than a purely wired connection, requires additional equipment and installation, and may encounter issues without line-of-sight on the tower. The pros, however, are that fixed wireless has no data cap and doesnt suffer from the high latency issues of satellite. Deployment areas are limited, as it is most useful when building a wired network to individual homes isnt cost-effective in rural and remote areas.

Broadband Over Powerline

Power Lines Provide Internet Access with Existing Infrastructure.

Broadband over power line (BPL) provides Internet access via ordinary power lines so, in theory, any location not served by conventional delivery methods but connected to a power grid can be given access. BPL uses radio-spectrum frequencies transmitted over the same lines as electrical signals to transmit data at speeds equivalent to cable or DSL. Power line communication (PLC) is not entirely new; BPL can be traced back to technologies developed by AT&T as early as 1914, and electricity companies have been bundling radio frequency and electrical current on the same line for years to monitor their own power grids. These radio signals are received by a modem-like BPL device that plugs into an outlet and sends the signal to your device. Deployment attempts have so far been plagued with issues, however, with trials stymied by limited reach and low bandwidth.

Balloons

Broadband Via Balloon Delivers Internet Connectivity to Remote Areas Worldwide.

Devices relaying signals while attached to balloons serve to extend connectivity to areas of the world without Internet access. The initiative began as a research project by Google X called Loon, which partners with global mobile network operators to expand their LTE service reaching places that lack coverage, supplementing existing networks, and providing coverage following natural disasters. In 2018, Loon became a separate company that continues to provide an aerial wireless network to areas without conventional access. Their balloons, maneuvered by adjusting their altitude to a wind layer with the desired speed and direction, use patch antennas to transmit signals to ground stations or LTE users. In 2019, they announced their fleet had reached one million hours of flight, all while delivering Internet access to unserved and underserved areas.

The Fallback Project

The Fallback Project Serves as an Information Access Alternative.

When there is no possibility of an Internet connection, one project seeks to offer continued real-time access to information. Developed to aid those with restricted communications due to Internet shutdowns by authoritarian regimes, The Fallback Project provides an alternative web platform that transmits encrypted data from sources preselected by a user to their Portal device via satellite. The Portal offers a hotspot to transmit data to any Wi-Fi enabled device on which news can then be browsed with a text-based UI. Since no data is stored locally, the setup maintains anonymity for the user. The project seeks to maintain the normalcy of information access during the most extreme circumstances, using forecasting algorithms to predict Internet shutdowns and providing backup right when its needed.

Related

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6 Alternatives to Get Broadband - EE Times India

It wasn't that long ago that Australia was mired in what many assumed would be the country's worst crisis of 2020.

Thousands of people were forced to seek temporary accommodation in rental properties and hotels. Many are still there, listening to daily reminders to "stay at home" to stop the spread of the coronavirus. If only they could.

Rebuilding after a bushfire can take months, if not years. Insurance assessments need to be carried out, land cleared, boundaries redrawn and essential services like electricity and water reconnected. Plans need to be drafted, costed and approved.

But most importantly, homeowners need to decide if they're willing to stay and risk losing everything all over again.

"A lot of people are coming to grips with what's happened, and the level of trauma is still very high," said architect Tim Lee, who was conducting how-to-rebuild seminars in fire-hit towns in New South Wales before coronavirus isolation measures forced everyone indoors.

Many Australians choose to live near the bush to feel closer to nature. They often live in wooden dwellings, sometimes down quiet, unsealed roads surrounded by trees.

Designed by Ian Weir and Kylie Feher, Karri House in Denmark, Western Australia, prioritizes design over land clearing. Bushfire shutters are used on a daily basis to block out light and insects. "My aim with my work is to build houses that will give extreme, very high levels of confidence so that people can leave early and the house will sustain itself without their help," architect Ian Weir said. Credit: Andrew Halsall / Ian Weir

That's because the vast majority of their houses were built decades ago, before the current building standards were introduced, and when little thought was given to fire.

But with the climate crisis producing hotter, drier conditions, architects say it's more important than ever to design for bushfires before they become more intense and even harder to control. And they say it's possible to create a fire-resistant home that doesn't resemble a bunker -- one that works with the landscape rather than adding fuel to a raging fire.

Losing a home

Merran and Peter Guest lost their home in the small Victorian town of Marysville on February 7, a day now known as Black Saturday. They left their home that morning to drive two hours to a party in Melbourne, unaware that a fire was approaching. Back then, there were no text messages or alerts warning of an imminent fire threat, as there are today. By the time they were allowed to return to their home, nothing was left.

"Everything that survived, when you picked it up it just turned to dust," Merran Guest said.

Related video: Can robots transform Chinese architecture?

However, with millions of Australian homes in moderate to extreme fire-risk areas, retrofitting them to meet current standards is all but impossible, said architect Nigel Bell of ECOdesign Architects + Consultants.

"You cannot, no matter how much money you've spent, upgrade it without demolition," said Bell. "If you've only got $5,000 or $20,000 to spend, probably one of the best things you can do is to add a water spray sprinkler system."

Kate Cotter, CEO of the Bushfire Building Council of Australia, says improving existing homes, even with simple measures such as sealing gaps and replacing flammable material, is a matter of national urgency. "Ignoring legacy property ignores the majority of the risk," she said.

A fire-resistant house built after the 2013 Blue Mountain fires that destroyed around 200 homes. The homeowners originally wanted to insert roof-windows, but were prevented from doing so due to tough regulations on "roof penetrations," according to architect Nigel Bell. They had to fit extra windows instead. Credit: nigel bell

Design as a barrier

New homes in high fire risk areas not only have to meet strict Australian building standards, but extra measures imposed by some states.

"People might not even smell smoke, and suddenly their immediate landscape around the building is on fire," he said. "In the majority of sites across the whole country, fire authorities are encouraging the management of sites, as opposed to the design of resilient homes."

Clever design can help reduce the risk of fire, without razing surrounding land, he said. For example, traditional wooden decks can be replaced with terraces, if the land is flat enough, and internal courtyards can be used to bring nature inside without compromising safety.

"We can get those kind of verandah-style spaces actually within the interior of the house," Weir said.

The panels on this prototype by architect Ian Weir are able to fold down to protect the house from flames. Galvanized steel panels cover bushfire-proof fabric. The idea is that owners should seal their house as a fire approaches -- then leave. Credit: ian weir

The prototype resembles a small oven, but the logic behind this house is that its occupants can lock it up and leave.

"Almost 50% of the wall surface area opens up to the landscape but (it) closes down to create a fully enclosed shield from embers, radiant heat and flames," Weir explained. "It is not intended to protect occupants -- instead the occupants can close it down and leave early."

The position of the house is important, too, said Bell of ECOdesign Architects + Consultants.

It should be low-set, especially the part of the house exposed to a potential firefront, and built on lower ground. "The worst thing you could do is build high on top of a hill or a mountain with bushfire-prone vegetation below," Bell said.

Fire resistant materials

New materials are also making homes more fire-resistant.

Architect Jiri Lev describes hempcrete as a "miracle material" that's both non-flammable and eco-friendly. Made from industrial hemp, a lime-based binder and water, it is squashed into a wooden frame and, once dry, creates an effective barrier against flames.

Lev says there needs to be a complete rethink of architecture in Australia, which he said has created "commodified, uniform dwellings" that are disconnected from the land and local conditions.

"It's always about building the biggest for the cheapest. Of course with that attitude and approach, you can never end up with a beautiful home or a beautiful suburb," Lev said.

His vision for bush architecture is a blanket of small townships, each flanked by agricultural land and bush that's close enough to be managed by the community to regulate the threat. Lev said it would require a change in thinking, from seeking solitude in the bush to building homes closer together to make communities safer and more efficient.

"Everyone tends to want to live like the nobleman, have their own little duchy or their own little barony, even if it's just a quarter acre or less," he said. "People naturally try to create their own little isolated universe, but it's not sustainable. And it makes no sense. In the end of there's no sustainability in isolation."

His point seems more pertinent now than ever. Designing a new home may seem exciting, but for many people who are rebuilding after a fire, it's a painful and daunting experience.

"You've got people who've been in their houses for 20 to 30 years, then all of a sudden it's gone," said Tim Lee. "There's a grieving process to go through. Many people just want their old house back."

Peter Guest inspects what's left their home after catastrophic bushfires on February 7, 2009, a day now known as Black Saturday. More than 170 people were killed and the entire town of Marysville was destroyed. The couple rebuilt on the same block soon after. Credit: Merran Guest

Merran and Peter Guest did, too. The house they lost was less than 10 years old. They still had the plans and asked the builder to construct another one -- but to make it bigger and more fire resistant.

The old marine plywood was replaced with rendered brick, all the windows were double-glazed and now the only wood in the house is the front door, made of merbau, a fire-resistant hardwood.

"Because we built the house, we knew what it cost. But many people had bought a house for not a lot, so they'd only insured it for a little bit -- and they didn't have money to build to the new specifications," Merran said, adding that if she had her time again, she wouldn't rebuild. The process was time-consuming, costly and confusing.

"If we had known what we'd go through rebuilding, we wouldn't have done it. But now we have, I'm glad we did it."

The rest is here:
The Australian architects designing homes to withstand bushfires - CNN

Upcoming Deadlines/DatesJune 30: 2020 ARCPLC ElectionJuly 15: Crop CertificationSeptember 30: PLC Yield Update

USDA Service CentersThough USDA Service Center doors are locked, they are open for business by phone and email. Field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While our program delivery staff will continue to come into the office on a rotational basis, they will be working with our producers by phone, and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center first. The Allamakee County USDA Service Center is (563) 568-2148. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

April 2020 CCC and FSFL Interest RatesNew rates were issued for the month of April and are as follows: 0.750% for 3 years 0.750% for 5 years 1.000% for 7 years 1.000% for 10 years 1.125% for 12 years 1.250% for 15 years

Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Enrollment for 2020USDAs Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk Loss (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. The deadline to enroll for the 2020 crop year is June 30, 2020. By enrolling soon, producers can beat the rush as the deadline nears.

FSA offices have multiple programs competing for the time and attention of our staff. Because of the importance and complexities of the ARC and PLC programs; and to ensure FSA meets your program delivery expectations, please do not wait to start the enrollment process. Contact your FSA county office and make an appointment soon to ensure your elections are made and contracts signed well ahead of the deadline.

ARC and PLC provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms.

Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) - February RateThe DMC rate for February 2020 was $10.06/cwt. As a result, there will not be a DMC payment for February 2020.

Breaking New GroundAgricultural producers are reminded to consult with FSA and NRCS before breaking out new ground for production purposes as doing so without prior authorization may put a producers federal farm program benefits in jeopardy. This is especially true for land that must meet Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions.

Producers with HEL determined soils are required to apply tillage, crop residue and rotational requirements as specified in their conservation plan.

Producers should notify FSA as a first point of contact prior to conducting land clearing or drainage type projects to ensure the proposed actions meet compliance criteria such as clearing any trees to create new cropland, then these areas will need to be reviewed to ensure such work will not risk your eligibility for benefits.

Landowners and operators complete the form AD-1026 - Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification to identify the proposed action and allow FSA to determine whether a referral to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for further review is necessary.

Marketing Loans - ReminderGrain that is under loan, or sealed as many producers call it, must be repaid or released for sale prior to moving the bushels out of storage for sale or feed use. Unauthorized disposition results in possible penalties and administrative actions. Remember to call before you haul and we can discuss your options and forms that you may need to sign. Phone the FSA office at (563) 568-2148.

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What's Up at the USDA Office? - Waukon Standard

With neighborhoods full of home-bound residents thanks to the state-wide Stay at Home order, any smoke created by recreational fires or yard-waste burning may impact a large number of people. Worse, since Covid-19 creates severe respiratory issues, anything that impacts breathing during these tense times can add to peoples stress and worry.

For these reasons, the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) encourages residents and businesses to continue working together to protect public health by reducing the amount of smoke they produce. Folks are asked to refrain from outdoor burning activities, including recreational fires, yard waste burning, and land-clearing slash burning. These voluntary restrictions should be upheld until the need for social distancing relaxes.

Residents may make use of alternatives to burning, including curbside pickup services offered by their trash pick-up providers. Compost piles can turn yard waste into valuable soil additives for yard and garden. And chipping can create good ground-cover materials.

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Residents Asked to Refrain from Burning - masonwebtv.com