Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

ELIOT (WGME)-- In southern York County, money is being raised to buy a Vietnam veteran a new mobile home after his old one had to be demolished.

Tom Barr is a Vietnam vet and former Eliot police chief. Right now, people are donating their time, items and money to help him.

Barr's friend, Wayne Avery, says on a recent visit to Barr's mobile home, he found it was beyond repair.

"I could smell the mold outside. And then I went inside the house and I just saw the black mold everywhere. He's already got breathing problems, and he shouldn't be living in it," Avery said.

Avery started getting the word out, first to fellow veterans, then to people and businesses in York and Eliot.

"They stepped up and started donating stuff, and then they asked if they could help, and probably close to 30 people showed up. And we did a bunch of yard work. Got the place cleaned up," Avery said.

Another veteran, who owns an excavation company, donated his time to demolish Barr's old mobile home. It had deteriorated past the point where it could be rebuilt.

"There's just so much mold. There's nothing that we can salvage at all," Avery said. "I thought it was going to be an episode like 'Hoarders,' where people don't want to get rid of things. And much to my surprise, he pretty much let me do anything I wanted."

Right now, a local hotel is temporarily putting Barr up at no cost.

Barr will soon temporarily move into a donated trailer until enough money is raised to buy him a new home.

"The smallest, basic mobile home that we can get our hands on," Avery said.

Barr told Avery he's overwhelmed by all the support.

"I think he's just amazed that times have changed so much. That we're here to help all our vets," Avery said.

Right now, they're still raising money to try to buy a mobile home for Barr. While there's no definite timeline, there is a deadline they'd love to meet.

"The community just opened up and it's just amazing. It almost brings tears to my eyes," Avery said.

If you'd like to help, you can send a check to "Post 188," with "Tom Barr" in the memo, to Kennebunk Savings Bank, 7 Levesque Drive, Eliot, ME, 03903.

You can also donate online here.

Read more here:

Community comes together to raise money for new mobile home for ... - WGME

Indian architecture practice Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS has built a brick family house with perforated and angled triangular faade in Kerala, India.

The project, named The Kenz House, was designed for a four-member family, whose owner was a doctor.

Built on a 40-cent land set beside the National Highway 66, the project was commissioned with a simple yet demanding brief; "the client wanted something special, something new!.

Due to the sites close proximity to the highway, and the familys requirement for a peaceful nature-filled abode formed the overall architecture language of project and its interiors.

Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS stated that the project addresses the requirements for privacy and the need for open free-flowing interiors entwined with nature.

To meet the brief, the studio decided to tread the unconventional route with the architecture of the building by designing an iconic structure.

The programme of the house is scattered in two floors, highlighting the juxtaposition of two simple platonic form. On one side, an angled triangular portion appears to be added adjacent to a skewed rectangular form.

"This unusual futuristic building was given a traditional twist by realising it entirely in a versatile material, burnt bricks," said the studio.

"The exposed bricks were laid painstakingly on top of each with lattice-like perforations at intervals to ventilate and light up the interiors, and to create a beautiful play of light and shadow within."

"The slanting roof emphasises the climate-friendly architecture further, as it reduces heat and drains water swiftly during the heavy monsoon months," the studio added.

The 8,000 square-foot (743-square-metre) house is spread across the ground and first floors. The aim of the project is to bring nature - read air, light and greenery - inside with the use of two architectural features.

The first key features are a detailed skylights and latticework which define breezeways to facilitate natural cooling of the interiors. The second element is a clever distribution of internal courtyards, filled with greenery, and pools.

The dining area forms the heart of the house on the ground floor which opens out to a landscaped pool courtyard and connects this area with the outdoors.

Another element is the staircase, which connects the two floors seems to float, and has a concrete handrail which acts as an accent point for the house.

The functional circulation is decided to flows to the family room on the ground floor and the living rooms - arranged on the ground and first floors and the bedroom suites one each on both these floors.

The bedroom suites enjoy their private landscaped courts which are enveloped by brick louvers that usher cool breezes, whilst forming a privacy screen from the surroundings.

On the first floor, a spa is also designed with an internal courtyard alongside, to take the bright skylight adding to its comforting and natural charm. A touch of green also wraps the bathing area in the sons bathroom, which fits a trough filled with plants.

"We also built an outhouse - for the staff - behind The Kenz; a service entry from the rear end; and a special route which connects this house to the clients parents residence," said Srijit Srinivas, founder of Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS.

"Even the visually engaging terrace is carefully planned to support the services of the house."

"The landscape design, which forms the nucleus of the project, was carefully curated for its texture, foliage and to offer a rich uncluttered look, both inside and outside; and to complement the warmth and rusticity of the brick facade."

"From an energy consumption perspective, this climate-friendly home is a net zero entity," Srinivas added.

Inside, the studio used bold and brave material palette that complements the exterior of the building harmoniously.

While the rustic brick converses beautifully with the warm teak wood - used on the doors, windows, wardrobes, shelves and bespoke furniture pieces, the elegant Italian marble floors, the plush hand-picked rugs and upholstery fabrics, and the raw cement-finished ceilings add to the sensory dynamism of the space.

The walls of the house are dressed with the artworks which were meticulously sourced. The landscaped courtyards with lush greenery further impart colour and freshness into the comfortable and balmy interiors.

"The Kenz is an Arabic word, which means translates to The Treasure, in English - is a wonderful example of a luxury house done in exposed brick," said the studio.

"The house addresses the aspirational requirements of its clients to deliver a restrained architectural result which is visually arresting, functionally efficient, and an organic addition to the local milieu."

Perhaps the finest affirmation comes from the client himself, "The rumbling of the water in the pond, the greenery we see all around, the sounds of rain when it hits the pool in the courtyard, the simulation of walking through a park while moving from one area of the house to another, or the silences and utmost security we feel inside the master bedroom are most satisfying experiences of our lives, thanks to The Kenz House."

"We can only concede that The Kenz House, as named by the client, is their prized treasure!."

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Sections

Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS completed a resort with dispersed villas in the hills of Panchalimedu in Idukki district in India. The firm also designed Narrow Brick House, a two-storey house was designed for a couple in Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala.

Project facts

Project name:The Kenz House

Architects:Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS

Location:Kerala, India

Size: 745m2

Completion year:2023

Lead architect: Srijit Srinivas

Design team: Srijit Srinivas, Remya Raveendran, Sriya S., Deepika

Clients: Dr. Biji Basheer, Mrs. Meenu Biji, Muhammed Zahin, Muhammed Farzeen

Design coordinator:Remya Raveendran

Civil contractor:Kumaraswami A.

Interior Execution Team:Fairview Decors

Site Support:Sreelakshmi, Rahul A., Suchithra O.S. & Sreeja V.S.

Text: Deepa Nair

Landscape Execution:Jacob Klavara

Air Conditioning:Glacier Systems India Pvt. Ltd.

All images Justin Sebastian.

All drawings Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS.

> via Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS

brick house Kerala residential Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS

Excerpt from:
Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS built brick family house with angled ... - World Architecture Community

Its exam time again on the Part 3 course and, given the state of things, Im surprised at how blas the tutors seem. By contrast, the students sorry, candidates have endured yet another gruelling nine months of post-Brexit downturn, fluctuating immigration statuses and now the cancellation of HS2. There are longer hours, shorter contracts, pay freezes and straightup restructuring which notably protects the Revit-illiterate seniors while sending tremors through early career foundations.

Were briefed by the watery-eyed head of course that we should be kind but not too kind! It is an exam, and they need to understand the gravity of the situation. And we should be rigorous in our questions but dont make it weird! Stressed people dont give good answers. Make sure to ask them about the Building Safety Act, but dont get too specific, in case they ask the question back to us and, crikey, we have no idea, am I right! Mirthless chuckling. Oh, and make sure you ask them about their personal ethical stance, which they must have, and live by. Even though we can see theyre swimming in the same toxic swamp as the rest of us and it is, technically, just a job.

Our first candidate is a shoo-in. Solid work, solid answers to clarification questions, lovely. NEXT! Oh my, you are sweaty, sir. No, no, have a seat, no rush, deep breath, its just a conversation. Haha, sort of. So, how are you ? Oh Im sorry to hear your practice is making redundancies, thats always a stressful process. Are you part of that? Yes, you are, OK. Whats your, um, ethical position on that? No, go ahead, you can swear if you want to.

The next three candidates are similar, although perspiring less. Turns out for every B-Corp practice with dubious working hours and below-benchmark pay (its a local authority client, what are we supposed to doooooo?!) theres an equally cynical Employee Owned Trust trying to back-fill a resource gap by kicking the can down the road and hiding it all in an over-elaborate InDesign template. Either way, theyre cutting staff, theres no budget for a pay rise (soz!) and, no, you cant have time off in lieu. Be grateful for the golden handcuffs. Smile, youll be wearing them for two years.

Im getting a bit bleary-eyed with the onslaught of ennui, when Candidate 6 sits down. Hes calm, his answers are concise but specific and he elaborates when asked. Were done; hes cleared the RIBA/ARB hurdles what to do with the remaining 15 minutes? I go for a broad-spectrum question what are your reflections on working in architecture now that youve completed your Part 3? What are your takeaways? He pauses and sighs.

Honestly, the vibes are just off, you know? he says, eyeballing my silver haired co-examiner, as if daring her to question the colloquialism. Yes, she replies, yes, I am aware that the vibe has been off for some time. There is a pause. So how is your practice handling the economic uncertainty around your case study project? [Hint: its one of the HS2 casualties]. Well they announced this morning that theyd be making redundancies.

Ah, did they know you had your Part 3 exam today? Oh yeah, they said itd be a good talking point for the interview.

Nice. Ok, so what are your immediate thoughts then, given the surprise? Well you know, Im kind of fine with it? I took this job because they offered to pay for the Part 3, and if they make me redundant, it gets me out of the pay-back clause. Theres no projects anyway, and framework bids are soul-destroying.

I could go be a design manager, especially as the ARB are talking about abolishing the Part 3 system anyway. So really, Im kind of hoping they cut me. A severance pack and gardening leave sounds pretty good right now.

My turn to be stunned. Everything hes said is reasonable, accurate and honest. I really wish he was wrong, but hes not. Times up, so we shake hands and wish him the best of luck getting made redundant. I ponder my own ethical position on the train home.

The vibe really is off.

The rest is here:
The Secret Architect: The soul-destroying experiences of a Part 3 ... - Architect's Journal

Finish sequences continue throughout the building, with ceiling framing, equipment & accessory install, and MEPF trim making up the bulk of the work on Level 2, while taping, painting, and ceiling framing are wrapping up on Level 1. Rough cleans will begin next week on Level 2, and floor protection will be removed to make ready for flooring install.

At the main entry, preparation for storefront install is taking place this week while the team waits for the remainder of the storefront parts and pieces to arrive. Upon arrival, the storefront will be put in place, access control wiring will be run, and doors and hardware will be installed, fully enclosing the building.

Around the buildings exterior, exterior joint replacement and brick washing is complete, the final windows have been set, and exterior painting is underway. Once painting is complete on a given elevation, the brick will be sealed, wrapping up the waterproofing and visual refresh of the exterior.

Spaces will begin to come ready for final cleaning, AV install, and furniture moving in mid-December. We are currently working with Walsh Construction to determine when spaces will begin to become available to begin these activities.

As a whole, the building will remain closed for full move-in until substantial completion and temporary occupancy on Jan.10, 2024. The construction fence comes down the following week on Jan.17. The project remains on schedule for substantial completion by Jan. 10, and reopening of the building for spring semester on Jan.29, 2024.

Please see below for the full update.

Site & Exterior Work

Interior Finishes, Level 2

Interior Finishes, Level 1

Entry & Lobby

New Restrooms

Existing L1 Restrooms

Upcoming Events, Holidays, and Campus Coordination

Thanksgiving Holiday. Campus closed. No construction activities scheduled forThursday, Nov.23orFriday, Nov.24.

Questions may be emailed toconstruction@groups.pacificu.edu.

Excerpt from:
Pacific Hall Update | Week of Nov. 6 - Pacific University

In recent years, weve witnessed a rise in the popularity of solar in both the residential and commercial roofing industries. A 2023 study by Allied Market Research found the global solar sector on track to generate nearly $241 billion by 2031, a dramatic increase over the $59 billion recorded globally in 2021.

Specifically in the U.S., growth percentages are trending similarly, with estimates of the market valuing more than $900 million by 2025. What does this mean for those of us in the industry?

Its clear the demand for solar is trending upward, so its crucial to remain knowledgeable on all facets of the ever-changing equipment. As the solar market evolves, we expect positive advances in panel and system technology, installation processes and more substantial benefits offered by state and federal governments in the form of tax credits, to name a few.

With a rising demand for solar panels, installation processes are becoming routine for roofers and have progressed with modern technology.

Increased interest in solar continues to spur development in solar technology, specifically in designing the solar system's photovoltaic sheets. With modern advancements, we better understand how solar cells capture light, allowing improved development in the materials used alongside the cells to transmit the captured light to its final destination, such as lighting fixtures within a home or business.

Today, the most common material used in solar systems is silicon, reportedly found in 95% of models sold in the U.S. The lattice design of silicon atoms promotes increased efficiency as the solar cells and panels capture light, and the sheer abundance of silicon contributes to an overall reduced cost.

These attributes have contributed to greater accessibility of solar systems for homeowners and business owners, and we anticipate this trend of increased efficiency and decreased costs to continue in the future.

Another rising trend is the concept of flexible panels, an emerging technology allowing system installation on various surfaces, including cars and windows. Research is still largely underway, but recent developments have shown that flexible panels are inherently lighter, giving way to more diverse install locations.

These flexible panels are also designed with thinner materials that can perform in high-heat environments. We expect continued development into increased efficiency and lowered costs of flexible solar panels to promote even greater accessibility.

As the solar market evolves, (roofers) expect positive advances in panel and system technology, installation processes and more substantial benefits offered by state and federal governments in the form of tax credits, to name a few.

As panel technology improves, so do the system design and installation processes. With lighter-weight systems and faster technologies requiring less wiring and hardware installation, the turnaround time for homeowners and business owners has decreased significantly in recent years.

Before installation can begin, though, we know system design is a critical step in the process. Design tools such as Helioscope, Aurora or OpenSolar allow us to simulate different production scenarios for panel locations. With this technology, we, as professionals, are best equipped to ensure accurate placement and maximized panel efficiency for homeowners and business owners.

With a rising demand for solar panels nationwide, installation processes have become somewhat routine for roofers and have progressed with modern technology. As trends in the roofing industry change, such as introducing new shingle materials, it will be critical for solar experts to note and identify necessary changes to solar system installation processes and requirements. Most recently, weve seen trends in impact-resistant shingles and metal roofs compatible with solar panels.

As system development progresses, we anticipate a reciprocated advancement in design and installation to keep solar at the cutting edge of roofing technology for years.

We know a significant incentive for homeowners and business owners when deciding on solar panels is the variety of available tax credits. For residential owners, the federal residential solar energy tax credit can be claimed on federal income taxes for a percentage of the cost of a solar system, with solar systems installed from 2022-2032 eligible to receive a 30% tax credit.

Additionally, if a homeowner or business chooses to use domestically sourced goods for their roofing project, they may be eligible to receive additional credits. Many states and local municipalities also offer solar incentives that can be combined with federal tax credits.

For commercial properties, the investment tax credit, or ITC, reduces the federal income tax liability for a percentage of the cost of a solar system installed during the tax year. The production tax credit, or PTC, is a per kilowatt-hour tax credit for electricity generated by solar and other qualifying technologies for the first 10 years of a systems operation. The PTC reduces a businesss federal income tax liability and is adjusted annually for inflation.

With recently renewed legislation extending the federal tax credit into 2034, this will remain an important trend in the solar industry looking into the following year.

Our responsibility as field experts is to remain informed on new technologies and trends to ensure satisfaction and peace of mind for our customers. Solar will remain a dominant force as we look ahead in the roofing industry and will continue to develop and change over time as efficiencies are improved.

Go here to see the original:
Solar and Roofing: Current Trends and Looking Ahead - Roofing Contractor

The utility has been replacing copper wires with aluminum ones for years.

On Nov. 3, when Hawaiian Electric unveiled a new wildfire safety strategy to better protect most of the states power grid against future devastating blazes, grid repairs in Lahaina were already well underway and, in some places, completed.

Nonetheless, the states largest power utility says it has been putting that strategy into practice in Lahaina as its crews install new poles and erect transmission lines across the burn area. In fact, some steps in the strategy occurred there for years prior to the Aug. 8 wildfire.

Ever since the disaster, Hawaiian Electric has been installing aluminum wiring there instead of the single-strand copper wiring that tends to become brittle over time and runs along other parts of the grid, company officials said.

Its also been installing new so-called fault current indicators, which can help isolate problems along the line hopefully before they spark a fire.

Both steps are featured in the second phase of the utilitys new strategy. It covers Hawaiian Electrics full power grid, which covers the entire island state except Kauai County.

Neither step is really new in Lahaina, however. Some or all of the original copper lines there were already proactively replaced with aluminum ones over a period of years prior to the Aug. 8 fire, according to utility spokesman Darren Pai.

Further, Hawaiian Electric already had fault current indicators in place in Lahaina prior to the fire, Pai said. But the new ones being installed will shut off power on a line more quickly in response to a fault or a disturbance, he added.

The utility has installed some 240 new fault current indicators across the area since the fire occurred, Pai said.

It isnt clear how much copper wire remained in Lahaina at the time of the fire, if any.

Further, its not clear whether the wiring that ran along Lahainaluna Road near Hookahuna Street contained copper. Thats the site of the well-documented morning blaze sparked by downed power lines on Aug. 8.

Hawaiian Electric, through Pai, did not respond to those questions Thursday. Company offices were closed Friday.

Facing questions from Congress, Hawaiian Electrics CEO Shelee Kimura recently told lawmakers in her written responses that the poles in Lahaina, including those near the site of the morning blaze, had been inspected by the company in 2021 and 2022.

The cause of the wildfire that spread later that day, engulfing the town and killing at least 99 people, has not been determined. Agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency continue to investigate.

The new Hawaiian Electric wildfire safety strategy also calls for replacing some wooden poles with steel ones in some areas.About 1,000 power poles in West Maui were destroyed amid the Aug. 8 windstorms and fires. So far, the 180 or so poles that have gone into the ground in West Maui since the Lahaina fire are all wood, according to Pai.

The utility does plan to upgrade some of its poles to steel as it restores a backup transmission line through central Lahaina, Pai said in an email last week.

The transmission line with those steel poles will provide backup power to West Maui neighborhoods such as Puukolii, Mahinahina, Napili, Kaanapali and Kapalua, he said.

In places where we are installing new wood poles, they are stronger and designed to resist higher wind speeds than the older poles they are replacing, he added. New poles are also being installed with fire-resistant wrapping, according to Pai.

The company is also replacing existing fuses with sparkless fuses, addressing areas where the lines sag and reducing the distance between poles, he added.

Pai and other utility officials have described the new poles and lines as interim and temporary as Maui community members consider what they want a rebuilt Lahaina to look like and whether that includes burying transmission lines underground.

Kimuras testimony before Congress further revealed that Hawaiian Electric had an internal wildfire mitigation plan that it started to develop in 2019 and completed in January 2023.

The plan was not shared with Hawaiis Public Utilities Commission, which regulates Hawaiian Electric, prior to the fires that devastated Lahaina and Upcountry Maui on Aug. 8.

Once it was made public, the plan was criticized for not being sufficiently thorough in examining Hawaiis specific wildfire threats.

Civil Beats coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.

Sign Up

Sorry. That's an invalid e-mail.

Thanks! We'll send you a confirmation e-mail shortly.

Go here to see the original:
Some Parts Of HECO's New Wildfire Strategy Were Already In Play - Honolulu Civil Beat

In a world that increasingly leans towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, solar power has unmistakably emerged as a frontrunner in our quest to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. With more PR and marketing going into promoting the benefits of solar panels and solar power, it is more important and ever to truly understand the processes involved. If youre contemplating the installation of solar panels on your property, it is paramount to gain a thorough understanding of the solar panel installation process.

The journey towards solar power typically commences with an initial consultation. During this stage, youll be working closely with a solar installer or a representative from a solar company. The primary purpose here is to evaluate the feasibility of solar power installation to your unique property. This involves several key components:

After youve made the decision to proceed with the installation, the next phase is the design of the solar system and the associated permitting. Whether you are installing solar panels on a commercial property, on your home and even if you are thinking about solar panels for landlords and rental properties, you will need to consider things like the design and installation of the panels.

This phase encompasses the following:

Once the design and permitting phases are completed, its time for the installation of the solar panel themselves. Heres a glimpse of what this stage entails:

Following the physical installation, your solar system will undergo a series of inspections and connections, ensuring a smooth transition to operational status:

View original post here:
4 Things To Expect During the Solar Panel Installation Process - Talk Business

By Tracey Neal, Open Justice journalist of

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

A judge has found it "incomprehensible" that a man lost his life after an electrician failed to carry out a simple task to remove a wall switch to check the wiring.

In a decision released Monday, Stephen (Steve) Graham Burton has been convicted on a charge related to work he did on a central Nelson property in February 2020.

Much-loved dad and partner Craig Johnston died from an electric shock while working at the same property weeks later.

Judge David Ruth said that while there were complexities involved in Burton's task of installing a new rangehood and fan, if he had carried out the "very simple act" of removing a wall switch unit to check wiring, Johnston's death might have been avoided.

Burton denied he was at fault, and told the Nelson District Court last week that he was competent and reliable, that he'd done all the required testing, and that the installation was safe to use.

One of two charges brought by WorkSafe New Zealand against Burton has now been proven, in that Burton failed to take action knowing it was reasonably likely to cause serious harm to any person or significant property damage, and failed to prevent so far as reasonably practicable serious harm or significant property damage, has now been proven.

No verdict was required for a second, alternative charge of negligently doing an electrical installation in a manner that was dangerous to life because of the finding on the first charge.

On the afternoon of 19 March 2020, 53-year-old Johnston was found motionless on the floor by the homeowner who had hired him to build a casing around a newly installed rangehood above the cooktop.

One of his shoes had come off, both hands were clenched, and his left ring fingernail was ripped off.

The rangehood was hanging partially from the bulkhead.

He was later found to have died of cardiac arrhythmia, triggered by an electric shock after he had touched the rangehood that was "enlivened" by an electrical fault.

His partner of 35 years, Ruth McAlpine told NZME of the added burden of coping with his death just before the country went into Covid-related lockdown, while his son Jamie Johnston said his dad had been the biggest influence in his life.

Electrical inspector Simon Holmes found that the earth conductor of the socket outlet installed by Burton was connected by way of a three-core cable to the live, rather than the earth pin at the wall switch.

Essentially, there were two components of the existing rangehood unit connected individually to the wall switch that Burton should have recognised needed further investigation.

Holmes found that when the wall switch for the circuit to the socket outlet was turned on, electricity flowed through the earth pin of the socket outlet into the rangehood, resulting in the metalwork on the rangehood becoming "electrically enlivened" at a number of points around it.

Further detailed investigations by electrical experts uncovered a method of wiring that was outdated by a law change in the early 2000s, and that Burton would have seen had he done a proper check.

Registered electrical worker and a former vice-president of the New Zealand Electrical Inspectors Association, Stephen Pay, said in evidence that the green earth wire was wrapped in red electrical tape at the wall switch and was therefore being used as a switch wire rather than an earth wire.

Pay said this was not an unusual occurrence prior to a law change in the early 2000s.

The green wire which ought to have been an earth wire between the wall switch and the socket outlet installed by Burton was therefore connected not to the phase pin at the wall switch but to the earth pin of the socket outlet.

This meant that the wire was energised when the wall switch was turned on.

"The law was changed prohibiting that practise for reasons which are in stark relief in this case," Judge Ruth said.

Pay also said there were clues that should have prompted Burton to carry out a closer inspection of the wall switch, which he later said he hadn't done.

Pay said failure to do this was not in itself a breach, but mandatory testing, if carried out after the socket had been fitted and before the circuit was put back into service should have provided a warning.

"It is a reality that had the wall switch been removed and the red tape seen wrapped around the earth wire, the defendant would have immediately recognised that the wiring was not as he first thought it to be.

"That simple step, if taken, might well have prevented the tragedy that occurred on 19 March," Judge Ruth said.

Pay also said there were gaps in Burton's argument over the results shown in mandatory testing he was required to do, against those that investigators found.

WorkSafe NZ said Burton had either failed to carry out, or had failed to carry out properly the required earth continuity test, an earth fault loop impedance test, and a polarity test.

Judge Ruth said Burton's evidence of his earth fault loop testing was of considerable significance in this case, given what it would have revealed if done properly.

The officer in charge of the investigation Paul Kauder, who is also a technical officer with the operations unit of WorkSafe New Zealand, Energy Safety, said Burton had also issued two certificates of compliance, the second one because of problems with his IT programme.

Judge Ruth noted the second certificate was not issued until 29 June 2020, possibly on legal advice.

Burton was also challenged on what he thought was a plausible reason for what had occurred if he wasn't at fault.

Judge Ruth said a suggestion that some unknown person for unknown reasons might have reconfigured the wiring between the dates of 27 February and 19 March 2020, was "fanciful", and not supported by any evidence.

Ultimately, Judge Ruth found him to be a "most unimpressive witness" who was confused over technical questions that the judge himself said he was able to understand as a layperson.

NZME has approached Burton for comment through his lawyer. Michael Vesty, who said Burton's position would be outlined at sentencing.

* This story was first published by the New Zealand Herald.

See more here:
Nelson electrician Stephen Burton's failure to carry out 'simple task ... - RNZ

With lots of Thanksgiving cooking about to take over kitchens, it is a very good time to take another look at gas stoves. This is both for health reasons and the environment. Scientists and health providers have long known about risks associated with fumes given off when the burners are on, and in some cases, even when they are off. In addition, natural gas and propane have a big influence on climate change. In the short term, individuals should be sure to have adequate ventilation in kitchens. Longer-term, switching from gas stoves to electric appears essential. The risks of not doing so are serious.

Research that looked at harmful nitrogen dioxide levels from cooking found it within three parts per billion of the United States Environmental Protection Agencys safety limit for sensitive people. Indoor food preparation using gas is thought to contribute to about 13 percent of childhood asthma cases about equivalent to the rate from secondhand smoke.

Gas stoves also release benzene, a known carcinogen; a recent study of the amount produced during cooking revealed that it moves throughout homes, in some cases elevating bedroom concentrations above chronic health benchmarks for hours after the stove was turned off. Benzene exposure causes both cancer and noncancerous health effects. Shorter-term benzene exposure suppresses blood cell production, and chronic benzene exposure increases the risk of leukemia and lymphoma. Air pollution from tiny particles also from cooking can aggravate heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, and diabetes. Alarmingly, as the United States population gets older, more people will age into the ranks of the vulnerable, increasing the danger.

By far the largest proportion of greenhouse gas effects comes from carbon dioxide, followed by methane, then NO2 all of which come from, or are associated with, producing and using gas. Policymakers know that more Americans should be switching to electric cooking appliances, especially those that use induction as a safe and clean heat source. Induction stoves are expensive, then again, so is natural gas and propane. However, when the societal costs associated with treating illnesses are factored in, government subsidies for conversion make a lot of sense.

New York State was the first state to pass a law banning gas stoves and other gas-powered appliances in new buildings, including houses and apartment buildings. Upstream, though, the benefit will depend greatly on the rate at which electrical generation moves away from fossil fuels. Funding will be key. Later this year, federal rebates of up to $840 for electric stoves, cooktops, and ovens, are expected to bring the cost of conversion from gas or propane within the reach of many more people. The rebates will cover up to $500 for installation; up to $1,600 for insulation, air sealing, and ventilation, up to $2,500 for wiring upgrades, and up to $4,000 for new smart circuit breaker panels.

The money is part of a $4.5 billion package for electric appliances set aside in landmark clean-energy provisions in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Though many details have yet to be released, the rebates should be available to households making up to 150 percent of their local median income, a number calculated every year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is promising, but the experts advise waiting to buy until the terms of the rebates become clear.

The point is to consider switching to electric if you can, but not right away, and, in the meantime, keep those vent fans on full or open a window or two whenever the stove is on. Good ventilation to the outdoors is important especially when the Thanksgiving turkey is roasting for hours on end in the oven.

Read the original here:
Pies in the Oven, Problems in the Air - East Hampton Star

In recent years, we've had to deal with a multitude of different smart home hubs to run all our different devices. Thankfully, though, the Matter protocol is quickly allowing us to fold all of our smart-home tech under one central control hub. Those hubs can be an app in your phone, like Google Home, HomeKit, or Alexa, but physical hubs make it easier for everyone in your home to control things. The Brilliant Home Control, a physical hub that can stand alone or replace a wall switch, gives us a sense of whats comingand although theres still room for growth, its pretty awe-inspiring.

Brilliant is a beauty queen. It splits the hub into two parts: a digital touchscreen on the left, and touch sliders on the right. You can choose how many sliders you have, depending on what kind of switch youre replacing. In the wired version, you can choose from one to four switches, and in the plug-in version, you have two sliders. (Since these are not directly wired, youll get to choose what these control). When theres no activity around it, the screen goes to sleep, then uses motion sensors to wake up as people approach, displaying photos of your choice as the screen background. Its so aware that I didnt even realize it slept until I read it in the specs and tested it. Most of the time, youll interact with the sliders to control lights nearby.

While the plug-in Home Control mounts wherever you want it, the wired version takes a little more work. Evenstill, I was impressed with the innovations. As with most smart devices, installation requires a neutral line (the white wire, usually). While the instructional videos didnt match the current version of the wiring panel, it turned out to be much simpler than these installations usually are. That's because Brilliant actually senses which is the load wire and which is the line wire, and it doesnt matter which order you wire them up. This solves the issue with the vast majority of self-installed switches. Even though I live in an old house with terrible wiring, setting this up was easy, and the hub itself snapped right into place.

Once you tap the touchscreen, you can access the first of many interface screens. While theres a lot of functionality packed into this sleek panel, the UI is clean and well-designed, and I was never overwhelmed. The controls offered won't bog you down like other hubs, and youre never more than two swipes from home. From here, you can set up shortcuts to whatever actions you want, whether those are whole routines or simple one-off functions. Along the bottom is a row of icons that allow you to jump to other screens, including scenes, which lets you set up presets similar to Google Home and HomeKit. Perhaps you want a series of actions for first thing in the morning or before bed, or "party mode" for when guests are over. From here, you can jump to "rooms," which separates your devices by room, music, cameras, intercom, or alarms.

Almost immediately after I set up my Home Control, it started finding integrations, alerting me that Sonos was nearby. Moments later, I had limited access to my Sonos devices. (In almost all cases, hubs dont offer all the functions that native apps do.) I could control all my Sonos, and for music, pull from recently used queues. While I couldn't really search for new music, Brilliant did offer a link to open the native Sonos app to complete actions it didnt have in its own hub. It then found my SmartThings devices without me having to do anything, and guided me through integrating those devices. It found my Ring doorbell, and it blew me away by bringing the video from the doorbell to the Home Control.What's more, Brilliant has both a camera and intercom on board. If you have multiple Home Controls installed, you can access video feeds between them, or, alternatively, use them as an intercom system.

You can use the app to control many things the Home Control allows you to, including arranging rooms, adding devices or integrations,and also adding photos to your screensaver on the Brilliant's display.

When you like a device as much as I like the Brilliant, it hurts when you hit a wall. That wall here is integrations. For a hub to work as the only main smart system, it has to integrate with all the things. While Brilliant does support Matter, the standard thatll make that possible, their current integration list is woefully short. Sure, the major players are there: Philips, August, Schlage, Sonos, Ring, and Nest, as well as hubs like Google, HomeKit, and Alexa. But many of us have a circus of devices in our homes, like Meross, Sylvania, SmartLife, Rachio, Midea, LG, and Samsung. Without a way to bring those devices in, those shortcuts, scenes, and rooms don't live up to their potential.

Speaking of Alexa brings up my second issue: Brilliant only works with Google Home and HomeKit in a limited way, and it clearly favors Alexa. In fact, Alexa gets a spot in the bottom row of icons, with no way to delete or edit it. If you have Alexa, great. But if you have Google or HomeKit, all youre getting from the integration is the ability to control the wired-in lights operated by the sliders via Google Assistant or HomeKit. We need triggers and automations, so being able to bring those in from Google and HomeKit are essential. Although its by no means my favorite long-term solution, Id have expected at least an IFTTT integration to get around part of that problem, and you should be able to choose the voice assistant of your liking to replace that icon.

Are those integrations coming? Yes, and even without them, Matter is being deployed to more platforms every year. But if your home is built on a foundation of Meross smart plugs or Levoit switches, this might not be the time to grab a Brilliant yet.

Even with these faults, the Brilliant Home Control is a feature-filled, aesthetically pleasing piece of tech. Over time, I have confidence Brilliant will integrate more products and lines. Again, Matter is coming. Brilliant has committed on paper to the standard. But with prices starting at $399 for the plug-in or one-switch wired version, its an expensive option. If the majority of smart tech in your home isnt on their integration list, wait until next year. Otherwise, this is a worthy hub that will integrate into your home in a way no tablet has yet.

Go here to see the original:
Control (Almost) All of Your Smart-Home Tech With the Brilliant ... - Lifehacker