Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Less BBQ, and fewer mistakes.

Will a combination of the two - along with solid play - help Titans cornerback LeShaun Sims land a bigger role in his second NFL season?

So far, Titans coach Mike Mularkey has liked what hes seen.

Hes been good, Mularkey said of Sims. Hes doing fine. LeShaun is very quiet -- he doesnt say a whole lot. But he comes to work every day, and he is all business when he is on the field. I think you can tell its his second year. He is a better player this year than he was this time last year.

A fifth-round pick out of Southern Utah in the 2016 NFL Draft, Sims played in 13 games for the Titans in 2016, with two starts.

Sims saw his playing time increase at the end of last season, after the team parted ways with veteran cornerback Perrish Cox. After struggling late in a game against the Bears in late November, Sims settled down in the final month of the season. Pro Football Focus listed Sims as the teams highest graded player against Kansas City on December 18. Sims intercepted Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith in the end zone in that contest.

In the final five games of last year, Sims tallied 16 tackles and six passes defensed. He played primarily on special teams at the start of the season, and was inactive the first three games of the season.

He is one of our promising young players, Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said of Sims at the end of the season. I think he has a bright future ahead of him.

Sims said he learned a lot from his rookie season, when he watched those around him, and listened.

You just have to relax, play ball, and get the (defensive) call, Sims said. You cant overthink everything.

I feel like once I got settled down I started to play some solid, decent ball. Now, I just have to build on that.

Sims has some new company around him this offseason. The team signed veteran cornerback Logan Ryan, and drafted former USC cornerback Adoree Jackson in the first round. At safety, the team signed former Jaguars safety Johnathan Cyprien.

The guys have been cool, Sims said. Were competing, and working together.

To put himself in a better position to be successful, Sims said he changed his diet, and has focused on eating better. His plan is to stick to a meal-prep, nutrition plan.

Not as much fast food, I guess, he said with a smile. They have some good barbeque out here. But I dont eat nearly as much now as I used to.

With a year under his belt, Sims plans to contend for a significant role in the defense this fall.

He likes his position, and coaches say hes a contender because of his size, speed and work ethic.

Just having more time in the offseason and being able to prepare, it has helped me a lot, Sims said. Ive spent a lot more time in the playbook, and I think that has helped and kept me from having a lot fewer mental mistakes. I just have to keep getting in the playbook.

This year, I just want to come (into training camp), still the same mindset as last year. But I definitely want a bigger role. I just want to come in, let the coaches see I understand the defense more, and do what I can to help the team, on defense and on special teams. Thats the biggest thing for me right now.

Original post:
LeShaun Sims Wants to Contend for Bigger Role in 2017 - Titansonline.com

Windows and doors are key to the financialand emotionalvalue of your most important investment: your home. Trends change, but making a good decision about windows and doors adds lasting value to your home over decades.

1.Whats Your Why?

Do your windows operate poorlyor are they sticking, broken, drafty? Do they fog or ice up when the weather changes? Are you looking for tangible financial benefits such as lower heating bills and energy efficiency or an overall increase in your homes value?

In addition to performance, aesthetics will also likely be a top priority. Is your home historically significant? Ultra-modern? Whether youre installing new windows and doors as part of a project to replace exterior siding, remodeling or building a home, or if you want to re-design living areas to bring in more of the outdoors, the finished look of your windows and doors can play a significant role in the overall design.

Together, the design, consistency and proper installation of customized windows and doors help protect, maintain and increase the value of your home. That je ne sais quoi curb appeal doesnt just happen: its magic lives in the details.

2. Imagine the Possibilities

A little research and a visit to a reputable dealer will help you understand the differences among the numerous types of windows and doors. Ask about function, ideal placement and the long-term benefits of materials wood, aluminum, fiberglass, vinyl and vinyl composite each have specific advantages, maintenance needs and life cycles.

Specialty designssuch as projection windows that look like traditional picture windows but may be vented on all sides, or tilt-turn European style windowsoffer unique solutions. Custom windows and doors allow you to open up large scenic vistas to maximize indoor/outdoor living.

3.Define the Details

The vision for your home may be unfolding in phases over time, so windows and doors that arrive direct from the manufacturer according to your specifications (versus off-the-shelf models sold at Big Box stores) offer more options and consistency. Check to make sure that finishes, cladding, shades, stains and hardwareas well as the materials used to produce your windows and doorsare approved by independent testing and accrediting organizations. Look for certifications from the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA).

Fully transferable and non-prorated warranties protect your investment, even if your home changes ownership, and are only offered by highly accredited companies.

4. Be Prepared

Anticipate that there will be some variables along the way to project completion, so it helps to ask questions and be prepared before work starts. Find out what should be done before the installers arrive and make plans for how youll live in your space while work is being done. For example, if you have detailed, intricate trim, you may need to build in additional work, and you will need to consider possible effects on the exterior of your home.

The preparation phase is one area where consultation with your builder, architect, contractor and window/doors dealer can help you plan ahead for a seamless workflow. Your final checklist should include such questions as the following:

Are the installer and supplier from the same company?

How will replacing my windows affect living in my home?

How should I prepare for installation?

What type of post-installation warranty is in place for labor and products?

How long should this project take? What variables might change this anticipated timeline?

What decisions will I need to makeand whento keep project on time?

Will there be a walk-through and demonstration upon completion to explain how to properly operate and clean windows and doors?

5. Getting the Right Partners

Replacing windows and doors is an opportunity to protect your investment in your home. Regular maintenance and upgrades of your homes exterior add value, and the decision to replace windows and doors is one of the most important ones youll make as a homeowner.

A visit to a showroom and an in-home consultation with an authorized replacement contractor or installer are key starting points. Depending on the scope of your project, bringing an architect, builder or contractor onboardalong with a trusted local window and door dealerhelps ensure a successful outcome. Reputable companies that rely upon good business practices are listed with your Better Business Bureau. An authorized window and door dealer can help you develop a budget and timeline to make your vision a reality. This pre-sales and installation guidance sets a reassuring and professional tone for all work being done.

The Marvin Family of Brands is dedicated to creating products that make the places where we live and work more meaningful. Established in 1904, Marvin is a fifth-generation family owned and operated business that produces the finest customized windows and doors. Local dealers offer you the personalized attention you need to select, install and maintain the finest in windows and doors. To find your local Marvin dealer, please visit Marvin.com or call 1-888-537-7828.

What's this? This content is made possible by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the attitude, views, or opinions of the Westchester Magazine editorial staff.

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5 Steps to Frame Your Window Replacement Process - Westchester Magazine

Apple introduced some major changes to the iPad with its iOS 11 beta earlier this week. While you can use the iPad just as youve always been able to, there are some additional multitasking changes that really make the iPad Pro more of a laptop contender. Apple has created a dock that acts more like something youd find on macOS, and refined its side-by-side apps interface so its even more similar to Windows 8. These changes make the iPad a lot more useful, but also a lot more confusing than it has ever been before.

The new dock extends the amount of apps you can pin to the bottom of the iOS home screen, but it also acts as the main way to control what apps can float or be used side-by-side. It replaces the old app picker from iOS 10, and instead of swiping from the right to access apps, you swipe up from the bottom of the display (even if youre in an app) to access the dock instead. After being familiar with iOS 10, the first time I tried to use the dock I was confused how to get apps side-by-side. I kept swiping from the right or swiping on the apps on the dock, but nothing happened. Its not immediately obvious how to even activate multitasking, and I had to watch our own hands-on video to even figure that out. Not a great start.

Multitasking on iOS 11 gets a little confusing

Placing apps into the Split View is simple once you know how you have to tap and hold on app icons to drag them into Apples Split View. This might seem like youre about to move an app icon on the dock, as thats how iOS works, but it actually turns the app youve grabbed into a floating app that can snap to the side of an existing one. This works if you activate the dock by swiping up, but if youre on the home screen then holding down an app will simply move it around with no options to create a split view. You can also activate a Slide Over view by dragging an app from the dock onto an existing one, which creates a hovering window you can arrange on the left or right on top of either a single app or split view apps. This means you can have three apps open in multitasking view. And its where things start to get truly confusing.

If you have a hovering app open on top of other apps, the interactions with that app are messy, even for a beta. Theres a little handle at the top which hints you can swipe down on it, but if you miss the tap target then the Notification Center (that now looks like a lock screen) activates. Likewise, closing the app from this view is extremely frustrating. Youd expect you could swipe down on the app to dismiss it, but that swipe down action will actually snap it into a side-by-side view or replace whatever other app you had snapped. To dismiss a floating app you actually have to swipe on the very left edge of the app and push it towards the right-hand side of the screen for it to disappear. To get it back, you then swipe from the right-hand edge of the screen. If that sounds confusing, its because it simply is. Swiping from the right-hand edge of the screen normally without any apps floating does nothing, so Apple has re-purposed an edge swipe gesture for a super specific reason.

You can ignore the gestures, but iPad Pro users will expect them to work

The split view also includes some oddities when you try to activate a third floating app. You have to drag an app to the bar that controls the split size for it to trigger the floating ability. If you dont then it will simply replace whatever app is in view. These multitasking controls for three apps are now very similar to Windows 8, and they suffer from the same problems. The gestures arent obvious, and managing the different snapped apps states isnt easy. Apple has taken many of Microsofts better ideas with Windows 8, but implemented them in an equally confusing way.

You might be sitting there and thinking well, who cares if you can use the iPad as youve always done, just ignore the multitasking or its a beta, it will get better. Those are both good points, but the iPad Pro wants to be more than an iPad. Apple is trying to convince iPad users to upgrade to more capable iPad Pro devices, and it really wants existing laptop users to switch. If youre buying an iPad Pro then you want the powerful hardware and the powerful software capabilities to match. Apple wants the iPad Pro to be considered as a real computer, but a mixture of its hardware and software is still holding it back from being a true laptop replacement.

Sure, you can ignore these gestures if you want, just like thousands of Windows and Mac users ignore keyboard shortcuts they dont know about. The problem Apple faces here is that its trying to convince everyone that a touch interface is just as productive as using a keyboard and mouse. In many instances thats true, and as apps adapt to buy into Apples world view then that will only improve. With iOS 11 though, these gestures are designed to replace the need for a mouse and theyre getting too complicated. iOS 11 is still in beta so things might improve, but the fact that Apple is struggling to make this stuff easy to use is a fundamental problem with touchscreens and productivity when it comes to precision.

iOS needs better precision touch support

Microsoft attempted to force its Windows 8 interface onto traditional PCs in a vague hope that it would get more tablet apps and boost its mobile efforts. Windows 8 users hated this, because they were used to using a keyboard and mouse for tasks and precision. Equally, Apple is forcing people to use a touchscreen for productivity and its confusing its message with optional keyboard and stylus additions to the iPad Pro. This keyboard doesnt have a trackpad for precision, and youre forced to move your hands from the keys to reach out and touch most of the time you want to interact. Yes, there are keyboard shortcuts that help, but a lack of mouse input feels unnatural if youre used to a laptop.

Apple has caved on keyboard and stylus support for the iPad, so it might seem obvious that the company will eventually implement some type of mouse support. Im not convinced it will, as Apples iOS hardware is primarily designed around touch. Apple sees touch as the future, and the iPad is slowly heralding that future. Drag and drop in iOS 11 is an excellent example of that, and a window into the future of the iPad. Software developers have been eagerly awaiting such a feature, and perhaps now they'll start to invest in more complex and productivity-focused app for the iPad. There are some, like the Aviary photo editor, that are truly great examples of our touch future, but there aren't enough.

iOS 11 marks a bigger departure from the familiar interface between iPhone and iPad, and it could help better define the iPad in the future. The big question of "who is the iPad for?" is never ending, but iOS 11 seems to signal that Apple is willing to make the fundamental interactions on an iPhone or iPad very different. That could help set a new direction for the iPad. While Apple left it up to software developers to create millions of apps and define the iPhone, the iPad has struggled to generate the same interest from developers thanks to slowing sales and its position between iPhone and Mac.

The complex gestures we see in iOS 11 will only get more tricky in the future as Apple continues to build them out instead of supporting a mouse. If Apple does want the iPad Pro to be considered as laptop contender, then it will need to refine its keyboard hardware and its software gestures and features. Apple still needs to prove that the touchscreen can truly replace a keyboard and mouse for professional productivity, so get used to remembering lots of gestures and swiping around on an iPad display instead of simply pointing and clicking for the foreseeable future.

Visit link:
iOS 11 on an iPad still won't replace your laptop - The Verge

REHOBOTH Rehoboth voters in a special election Tuesday approved two ballot questions for tax increases to fund improvements to school buildings.

The first ballot question was a capital exclusion, or one-time tax increase for one year only, for $87,203 for the installation of door security systems at Palmer River Elementary School, Beckwith Middle School and Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School. It passed 579 to 386 votes.

The school district, in a June 18 letter to parents, said the measure will increase taxes by mere pennies over the course of the year.

The second ballot question was a debt exclusion, or temporary override of the states Proposition 2 tax levy-limiting law, for $3.6 million for roof and window replacement at Palmer River Elementary School and window replacement at Beckwith Middle School. It passed 556 to 409.

According to the school district, the cost to the average taxpayer will be approximately $48 annually for an average $300,000 home, or $4 per month extra in taxes.

Superintendent Anthony Azar said it was a positive outcome for everyone involved.

I believe its a win-win for the students. Its a win-win for the staff and its a win-win for Rehoboth taxpayers, Azar said.

We appreciate the support from the Rehoboth taxpayers and its an exciting night for the district, Azar added.

Turnout for the election was 11 percent or 965 of the towns 8,544 registered voters.

The district had sent a one-call alert to families on Monday reminding voters to go to the polls.

More:
Rehoboth voters approve override for schools, money for security system - The Sun Chronicle

The Sun Herald

Appeals court says judge was wrong to rule for USAA in Katrina insurance case The Sun Herald The engineer's confidential conclusion said USAA could owe for replacement of all windows, also creating the possibility that the company would have to cover contents damaged by openings in the house that the wind created. The policy excluded ...

Continued here:
Appeals court says judge was wrong to rule for USAA in Katrina insurance case - The Sun Herald

ELKO Drivers on Idaho Street saw a downtown storefront get a makeover in recent days, yet it wasnt part of the Citys Redevelopment Agency grant program.

Cucina Investments LLC recently spruced up the faade of the former Gypsy Cupboard and The Moon Bar storefronts at 452 and 460 Idaho Street.

The Moon Bar, owned by Miguel Castro, opened earlier this month, leasing part of the building from Gwen Uhlig, owner of Cucina Investments.

The space at 452 Idaho St. has been vacant since this spring when Gypsy Cupboard closed its doors.

Approved in May, the Citys Redevelopment Agency offered a matching fund grant for eligible improvements such as window replacement, doors, siding, signage and awnings to storefronts within the redevelopment area.

The City Engineering Department verified that Cucina Investments did not turn in a grant application.

In a statement to the Free Press, Uhlig confirmed that she did not participate in and/or did not apply for the Redevelopment program, and said the project is expected to be done at the end of the month.

Broker Kelly Higgins with Investors Realty confirmed this week that the property is part of a single building and is available for lease or sale.

Higgins also said Uhlig used her own funds to remodel the storefront as the timing for the grant did not work out.

Im excited for the buildings to have a fresh, new look, said Uhlig.

Four Downtown locations the Hesson Building, J.M. Capriola Co., Gerber Law Offices, and the Western Folklife Center were approved in May for RDA grants totaling $66,175.

The grant went over its budget of $50,000, the monies of which are raised by taxes within the redevelopment district.

Last week, 52 windows in the historic Pioneer Hotel building were replaced after receiving $20,000 from the grant.

Read more:
Idaho street business receives makeover - Elko Daily Free Press

Ashburnham and Ashby are among the seven communities to receive Green Communities Competitive Grants, which they'll use to make municipal building more energy efficient.

Sen. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, a member of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, announced the grants last Monday.

"Congratulations to these seven communities on being awarded grant funding through the Green Communities program," Sen. Gobi said in a statement. "It takes hard work on the part of municipalities to be eligible for these awards and these communities all did their part for the greater good on the Commonwealth and the environment."

Ashby was awarded a grant totaling $100,981. The money will be spent installing two new boiler systems, in Town Hall and the Ashby Free Public Library, said Town Administrator Bob Hanson.

The Town Hall heating system costs $65,071 and includes the large-capacity tank and new programmable thermostats. The town will spend $35,910 on a new boiler for the library.

Ashburnham was awarded a $217,300 grant to install a new heating and cooling system in the town library, which, according to Town Administrator Heather Budrewicz, is "by far" the least energy efficient building in the town.

The library's current 30-year-old HVAC system is "obsolete by today's standards," according to Budrewicz.

The grant will help the town inch closer toward a goal set in 2013 to reduce municipal energy consumption by 20 percent.

From 2013 to 2016, the town cut energy expenditure by 11 percent.

The new HVAC system is expected to reduce consumption by another 5 percent, bringing the total amount cut to 16 percent.

The HVAC system is expected to improve air quality in the library and make way for the removal of a 50-year-old underground oil tank. Town plans to apply for additional grant funding to finance the removal of the 3,000 gallon tank.

Green Communities Competitive grants are administered by the Department of Energy Resources.

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Ashburnham, Ashby win 'Green Communities' grants - Sentinel & Enterprise

Today, using the internet-of-things channel for building CRM victories seems to be a demonstration of more hype than reality. But there is vast potential, as early adopters reap wins, executives said at a recent Salesforce IoT demo.

No topic is off limits in this expert guide devoted to Salesforces much-hyped cloud-based BI platform.

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"A lot of companies are still figuring out what their strategy is," Chris Weld, Salesforce IoT Cloud go-to-market director, told SearchSalesforce after presenting at the Boston stop of the Salesforce World Tour. While he acknowledged "not a huge amount of companies" have figured out a game plan for monetizing IoT, many Salesforce customers are trying to figure it out. Today's data systems are more agile, making them more conducive for IoT than just a few years ago, he said, and narrowing the scope of implementations that can affect business goals.

"[Enhancing] service is the low-hanging fruit we've seen for IoT," Weld added. "When you look at the operational change that's required for connected device data, that's where we've seen the highest value."

Some of the early adopters showcased in the Salesforce IoT demo included Emerson Climate Technologies, a connected-thermostat maker that added value to its product by conducting diagnostics on newly installed heating and cooling systems. While many new home heating and cooling systems feature potentially excellent efficiency specifications, Weld said in his presentation, improper installation begets poor performance and inefficient energy use. When a thermostat can measure efficiency and report performance metrics back to consumers, it's a reality check and new data point about the job a household's local installer performed.

In the future, Emerson plans to expand those diagnostics beyond new system installs to more general efficiency tests to help consumers conserve energy and lower their bills. In this way, the company hopes to prove to consumers the worth of its "smart thermostat" that typically costs twice as much as ones that aren't IoT-connected.

Also in the Salesforce IoT demo was a hypothetical large-format printer manufacturer using a combination of Salesforce IoT Cloud and Service Cloud features to track wear and tear on printers and help the businesses using the printers troubleshoot and replace parts as they wear out.

To figure out if investing in IoT to boost CRM capabilities is worthwhile, Weld said Salesforce customers he's worked with on IoT projects have to innovate rapidly. This means, typically, they have to fail fast and iterate again if the original concept doesn't quite work out in real-life tests.

They also need to add customer context -- examples include service history and service-level agreements (SLAs) in place -- to be able to act upon data the IoT sensors are outputting into the CRM system.

It is early in the game, early in the technology evolution. Wayne Kurtzmanresearch director, IDC

The most forward-thinking customers, Weld said, take advantage of real-time tech and thinking about IoT service implementations as proactive instead of reactive. "If we were doing this session four years ago, we'd be talking about Hadoop and HBase and [retrospectively analyzing] this incredible amount of data," Weld said. "We want to shift away from that and say, 'It's great to know what happened two days ago, but I really want to know what's happening right now so I can prevent problems before they occur.'"

The potential problem with IoT for CRM: thinking too big. Wayne Kurtzman, research director for social and experiential solutions at IDC, said the trick for companies to turn their CRM IoT pilots into money-making implementations is picking the right spots. Getting too ambitious too quickly can potentially eat up returns on investment before the projects get off the ground.

"That is a challenge," Kurtzman said. "It is early in the game, early in the technology evolution -- there's some risks at the beginning of any adoption curve. But if you play it right, if you play it where you are versatile, you can in fact reap significant benefits."

Salesforce Einstein: What's the benefit?

Tired of Salesforce password reset tickets?

IoT, Salesforce and VR meet your field service crew

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Salesforce IoT demo shows it's becoming easier to meld CRM and IoT - TechTarget

The Northeast branch of the Reading Public Library will be closed for the summer because the building will not have air conditioning.

The library is expecting the installation of a new heating and air conditioning system, but it won't be ready in time for the hot summer months.

Bronwen Gamble, executive library director, said the delay is frustrating for everyone involved.

"The city has been very proactive in trying to get this done, but it's a big project with many moving parts," she said.

The system will cost more than $150,000 to install, which is being paid for in a Keystone grant and community development block grants, each of which have specific requirements in the bidding process.

To lessen the inconvenience, Gamble said the Northeast branch will have outdoor hours on the front porch of the building where people can check out books, including new releases, and a selection of other media.

In addition to the regular hours, the Northwest branch will be open Mondays and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gamble said the newly revised bid specifications were released Monday and that the city is eager to expedite the process as quickly as possible.

"We're sorry for the inconvenience," she said. "We know it's frustrating. We're doing the best we can."

Here is the original post:
Lack of air conditioning forces Reading's Northeast branch library to close for summer - Reading Eagle

Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) technology is relatively new to the U.S., yet it has quickly become a very popular option in the commercial market.VRF is now moving into the residential market as well as more and more high-end homeowners and custom home builders are learning about the technologys ability to provide on-demand heating or cooling in multiple zones.

Many manufacturers are responding to this trend by offering VRF systems that are designed specifically for residential applications. These units often feature smaller footprints, lower profiles, and quieter operation as well as higher efficiencies, which are designed to appeal to the most discerning homeowner.

Homeowners do not lack options when it comes to choosing HVAC equipment for their high-end homes, so why should they consider VRF? It all comes down to efficiency, said CJ Corbet, southwest sales engineer, Fujitsu General America Inc. Our products, such as the J-II line, use algorithms to optimize highly efficient components, such as variable-speed compressors and fan motors, internal subcooling, and electronic expansion valve modulation, which help VRF systems out-perform traditional central heating and cooling in like-for-like applications.

But in residential applications, zoning is where VRF systems really shine, noted Corbet.

With VRF, we are able to put a unit in each room and only heat or cool the room that is occupied, he said. This eliminates heating or cooling rooms that arent occupied, which saves energy.

Energy savings, precise temperature control, and exceptional comfort definitely make VRF systems attractive to homeowners, said Chuck Hughes, director of commercial sales, LG air conditioning technologies, LG Electronics USA Inc.

Unlike conventional systems, which set a single temperature for an entire home, VRF systems offer the flexibility to create dedicated zones that allow for precise temperature control based on homeowners preferences. This lends itself to increased efficiency and improved comfort in a way that conventional systems simply cant rival.

Some VRF systems, such as LGs Multi V S line, also offer heat recovery technology, which enables homeowners to heat and cool different areas of their homes simultaneously. This is especially beneficial for homes that have gyms, for example, which the owners would like to keep cool during the winter, even though heat is required for the living areas.

In this case, heat recovery systems could repurpose the return heat from the gym to warm up the living area, which in turn, increases the energy efficiency, said Hughes. The return heat can also be used to heat a pool, which means homeowners are getting multiple uses for the energy they are paying for.

In addition to energy efficiency and personalized comfort, VRF systems offer design flexibility and quiet operation, inside and out, said Michelle Robb, director of residential marketing, Mitsubishi Electric US Inc. Cooling & Heating division.

VRF systems feature a compact footprint, which requires less outdoor space, and with long line lengths, the system allows maximum flexibility in installation, she said. There are also a variety of indoor unit styles available depending on the preference of the homeowner or the installation requirements.

While some might think VRF systems are expensive, they can actually cost less over the course of their lifetimes than traditional systems, said Robb. In a retrofit, there is existing infrastructure that may be reused depending on the choice of indoor units. In new construction, the initial cost of the equipment is typically slightly more expensive, but between reduced installation, labor costs, and operational costs due to impressive efficiencies, VRF systems can quickly become a more economical option all while providing better comfort.

Thanks to advancements in cold-climate technology, VRF systems can now be installed in just about any geographic area. For example, Mitsubishi Electrics S-Series and CITY MULTI VRF systems, both of which can be used in residential applications, can provide up to 100 percent heating output at 0F and 83 percent heating capacity at minus 13F, thanks to its Hyper-Heating technology.

With this technology, VRF systems are now a good fit for any home regardless of location, layout, or homeowner needs, said Robb.

It also does not matter whether VRF systems are being installed in existing homes or in new construction, as they work well in both types of applications.

With older homes, space often doesnt allow for the addition of bulky ductwork, but with our duct-free VRF, homeowners are able to preserve architectural features without requiring a redesign of the space or any major construction, said Hughes. In the case of new construction, owners desiring a clean aesthetic can eliminate building soffits for ductwork, which also translates to more usable square footage.

In Corbets opinion, all large homes would benefit from a VRF system rather than a traditional system, because the more rooms there are in a house, the better options there are for zoning.

VRF systems are also very well rounded for both extreme heating and cooling situations, so they cover a wide variety of geographical locations. And homeowners benefit from low energy costs and the comfort of on-demand heating or cooling through zoning.

And the good news for contractors is that VRF design is handled the same way in both residential and commercial applications.

Zone loads are required to select the appropriate unit for specific spaces, and once the units are selected, our design tool is used to lay out the configuration, said Corbet. That tool will catch any limitations that the project might exceed so that each project is designed correctly. For all VRF applications, controls are universal in that they can be used in any configuration.

While the controls for VRF systems are basically the same for all types of applications, residential controls may be slightly different.

Since VRF can be installed in large-scale commercial applications, such as school campuses, we offer additional controls for those types of installations, said Robb. VRF systems are also compatible with our kumo cloud programmable controller app, which offers remote control from anywhere in the U.S. through a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The interface has the ability to control multiple locations and indoor units, program cooling and heating events, indicate filter replacement, and monitor errors in the system.

For any VRF installation, be it residential or commercial, contractors still need to run a room-by-room load calculation to determine the number of indoor units required to appropriately condition the space, said Hughes. Since VRF systems can be ducted or non-ducted, contractors are able to select the systems that work best for each application, and end users can choose the indoor units that best complement their interior dcor. Combine that flexibility with zoning control, energy efficiency, and low maintenance, and there is no question that homeowner demand for VRF will continue to grow.

Publication date: 6/26/2017

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VRF Moving Into High-End Homes - ACHR NEWS