SAN FRANCISCO, July 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Gradient, a company built by thermal scientists to rethink HVAC and build products that are good for the planet and great at cooling and heating homes, is announcing the development of its first product, a replacement for the window AC. Gradient will replace the conventional home window AC with a more efficient, space-saving, better-designed solution that keeps homes cool with advanced heat pump technology and a climate-friendly refrigerant. Customers are invited to sign up now for the exclusive beta program at Gradientcomfort.com.

Air conditioning is essential to quality of life and work productivity, but the basic design of window air conditioners has not changed in 50 years. Too often, the very same air conditioning that makes life tolerable in hot weather is also contributing to making climate change worse; heating and cooling systems are responsible for 20% of global carbon emissions.

“Gradient has a mission to cool the world by transforming every home to be more comfortable and healthy for the people who inhabit it — without compromising the environment. We believe we can build a better home air conditioning solution while fighting climate change,” said Vince Romanin, CEO of Gradient. “Air conditioning is one of the most essential amenities to keep people comfortable and productive in a warming world, but too many people are struggling with antiquated window AC units that are clunky, noisy, heavy, and inefficient. Gradient offers a beautiful, intuitive design, a more efficient, sleek, quiet air conditioning experience, and climate-friendly refrigerants. Building a better air conditioner is one of the most effective ways to help people stay comfortable at home while helping to slash carbon emissions from HVAC systems.”

The Gradient is designed to be easy to install and does not block the view like a traditional window AC unit. It provides the benefits of a professional-grade heat pump system at a fraction of the cost.  It can provide cooling and heating year-round and is easy to use via mobile app.

Gradient was founded in 2017 and has raised over $13MM in venture funding; investors include Ajax Strategies, At One Ventures, Prime Coalition, Incite Ventures, Autodesk Foundation, Urban Us, Magic Hour, and leading Silicon Valley angels. The company has also received over $9MM in government grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, California Energy Commission, and California Strategic Growth Council.

“Home air conditioning is an underrated aspect of the overall conversation around climate change, and we see a big opportunity for Gradient to disrupt the home HVAC space by developing a much-improved, climate-friendly replacement for the traditional window unit AC,” said Milo Werner, Partner with Ajax Strategies. “Millions of Americans need an air conditioning solution, but their options are limited to out-of-date window and floor units that block their view, make a lot of noise, and contribute to climate change. The current technology has not improved in decades. As more people work from home, there is a higher level of consumer interest in getting a high-quality home air conditioner that really works. Gradient has a great product and an excellent team who are thinking creatively about addressing the needs of this market with a beautiful, intuitive, consumer-focused solution.”

Gradient spun out from Otherlab, a private R&D lab in San Francisco that has leveraged over $40MM in government grants to incubate hard tech companies in the manufacturing, energy, and robotics industries. Founded by thermal scientists and engineers, flanked by talent from juggernauts like Tesla and Nest, the Gradient team is uniquely qualified to solve this problem.

The Gradient solution will be available for sale nationwide in Spring 2022.  In the meantime, you can learn more and sign up for Gradient’s exclusive beta program at GradientComfort.com.

About Gradient

Gradient is rethinking HVAC. We build products that are good for the planet and great at keeping your home comfortable, starting with a replacement for the window AC. Gradient is founded by thermal scientists and engineers and flanked by talent from juggernauts like Tesla and Nest, all aligned behind a mission to cool the world. Gradient aims to reduce the carbon emissions from heating and cooling systems, which represent 20% of emissions globally. Backed by Otherlab, Gradient has secured over $9M in non-dilutive grants and over $13M in venture funding. To learn more, visit GradientComfort.com

Media Contact for Gradient:

Rebecca Silliman, Whipsmart PR
(510) 254-7615
315022@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Gradient

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For a brief, shining moment, San Francisco was clean. The arrival of world leaders for a high-profile summit earlier this month prompted the city to jump into action, hosing down its streets and sprucing up neglected downtown neighbourhoods. The change was dramatic. It was also shortlived. 

San Francisco is a city of stains. The sunshine glitters and the waters of the Bay sparkle but at street level, the centre is noticeably filthy. Some of these stains are palatable. Warm weather means fruit trees grow along the roads, dropping cherry plums and carob pods that get squashed underfoot. But most are man-made. Every year, the SF Department of Public Works receives thousands of reports of human faeces on its streets. 

Understandably, this is a subject that preoccupies locals. Not long after I moved here, a friend sent me an unusual guide to SF neighbourhoods known as the SF poop map. Created by a non-profit called Open The Books, the online map claims to show the location of every one of these reports made between 2011 and 2019. Zoom out and dots cover almost the entire city. Only a sliver of Pacific beach and the hills of Presidio park are clear. 

The problem persists. I looked up SF’s latest Street and Sidewalks report and found that nearly half of the busiest streets in the city are still affected. In Nob Hill, 89 per cent of the streets evaluated had human and animal faeces present. In the Mission, it was a comparatively clean 61 per cent. 

This is the side of San Francisco that the city was keen not to showcase when presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, tech leaders and the world’s press gathered for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. Hence the clean-up. There were grumbles from some residents that the efforts were being made for visitors, not for the people who live here every day. But there was also surprise that the city had proved it was possible, even if just for a few days. Unfortunately, it will take more than a one-off clean up to address the causes of San Francisco’s grime.

The more intractable problem for the city is a large homeless population plus a lack of public bathrooms. Officials point out that the city’s homeless population fell between 2019 and 2022. But the overall figure remains high. In 2022, there were 887 people without homes per 100,000 residents, according to a report by the City & County Of San Francisco Office of the Controller City Performance Unit. Many of those people live on the streets. Last year, there were 503 unsheltered people per 100,000 residents. Compare that to Washington DC, where the figure is 100 people per 100,000 residents. In central London, it is roughly 112 people per 100,000 residents.

This group is most at risk of illness from exposure to dirty streets. Although extra beds in shelters are being made available, the city has also become more active in simply moving homeless people away from some areas. 

San Francisco has been trying to tackle homelessness for decades. A lack of bathrooms seems like the sort of practical issue that might be easier to solve. Researchers at UC Berkeley tracked the impact of portable restrooms and found an immediate drop in reports of human waste on the streets. But in fact, the city already has a lot of public bathrooms. It’s just that many of them are closed. Proper maintenance requires attendants, which costs money. Recouping this from users is not possible. In California, as in many other states, it is illegal to charge entrance fees for bathrooms. 

Public spending on new facilities is controversial. When San Francisco planned to add a public bathroom to the well-heeled Noe Valley Town Square Park at an initial $1.7mn cost, there was instant pushback.

That leaves street cleaners. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu told a local news station that he hoped momentum from the Apec clean-up would make the situation sustainable. But walking through the Civic Center in the heart of the city, it is already clear that this is not the case.

If you live in San Francisco it is easy to get defensive. It has become famous for problems that are also found in other cities. But the publicity could be a spur to test out new solutions — making use of empty office space, for example, or expanding the number of supervised, portable public bathrooms. Clean public spaces make us happy. Living in grime does not.

elaine.moore@ft.com

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Locate Plumbers Is Offering A Streamlined Solutions For Customers Searching For Plumbers Near Me

Fort Worth, Texas, Oct. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

Locate Plumbers

is making it easy for homeowners and commercial property owners across the nation to find the best, highly rated plumbers operating in their local area. The company is welcoming plumbing contractors to claim their listing on the website and get fresh leads from customers searching for local plumbers.

As of 2023, over half a million individuals in the United States are employed in the plumbing industry with every business hiring on average 5 employees. So, over 100,000 plumbing businesses are vying for attention from homeowners and business owners looking for a solution to their plumbing problems. As discoverability can be a huge challenge in the industry, especially without the help of a cohesive digital strategy, Locate Plumbers is solving this problem by creating a directory where those looking for plumbing services can quickly and easily find the best local providers in their area.

“We realize just how hard it is to run a plumbing business,” says the spokesperson for Locate Plumbers. “You not only have to serve your customers to the best of your ability but also engage in continuous marketing and promotion of your services to attract new clients. This can be very difficult without a digital marketing strategy that funnels customers from where they are most likely to be – online, searching for local plumbers during an emergency. With Locate Plumbers, we are cutting through the noise and giving plumbing businesses an easy and accessible platform from where they can generate leads and lock in new clients, seamlessly and stress-free.”

Every plumbing listing on Locate Plumbers has a description where business owners can list their accomplishments to persuade customers to give them a call. Business owners also get a chance to showcase their office location, working hours, and all relevant contact information. Customers are also invited to leave reviews for the plumbing businesses, giving hardworking plumbing contractors the social proof they need to showcase their workmanship and customer service.

Website visitors searching online for “

plumbers near me

” can visit Locate Plumbers’ website to browse through hundreds of local plumbers. The listings can be narrowed using price range and sorted by most reviewed, most viewed, highest rated, best match, currently open, and nearest location. All the listings are highlighted on an easy-to-navigate map that allows users to get an overview of the businesses operating in their area and make the right choice based on their needs and budget.

The company’s spokesperson summarizes the benefits of working with Locate Plumbers by saying, “With our integrated platform, you get all the benefits of an online presence without having to do a lot of the legwork yourselves. This means you have a way to bring in customers from an all-new traffic source that showcases the best of your business. Claim your listing on our website today and get ready to receive calls from targeted leads who are interested in what you have to offer.”

Locate Plumbers offers plumbing business owners the choice of two plans to get their listings on the website. The free plan has a duration of unlimited days and offers a map display, contact display, location pin, business hours, and an ability to hide competitors’ ads. The $49.97 listing plan has a duration of 30 days, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), maps SEO for local visitors, increased lead potential, and PPC (Pay Per Click) options to advertise on other pages on the site.

The company’s services extend to almost all major metropolises in the US including Atlanta, GA, Indianapolis, IN, Miami, FL, Omaha, NE, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, Boston, MA, Dallas, TX, Kansas City, KS, Minneapolis, MN, Orlando, FL, Raleigh, NC, Charlotte, NC, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, Nashville, TN, Philadelphia, PA, Sacramento, CA, Tampa, FL, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, Memphis, TN, New York, NY, Phoenix, AZ, San Francisco, CA, and Washington, DC.

Readers are urged to browse through Locate Plumbers’ database of trusted plumbing companies across the US by visiting its website. For more information about the company, visit

Locate Plumbers on LinkedIn

.

###

For more information about Locate Plumbers, contact the company here:

Locate Plumbers

Danny Willis

(682) 990-5592

locateplumberscom@gmail.com

420 Commerce St STE 300

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Danny Willis

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Office-to-residential conversion seems like a simple solution to a problem. Nationwide, office vacancies stand at 17%, with some big cities—San Francisco, Houston, Austin—topping 30%, while the U.S. faces a housing deficit of 3.8 million units.

But making an adaptive reuse project pencil out in a tight financing market isn’t so simple. Boston, New York, and San Francisco, are considering ways to improve the financial incentives, change zoning policies and expedite plan reviews, but developers should get a full-service team assembled to take a hard look at a conversion before they get started.

Saving time and money on office-to-residential conversion

This blog looks at structural engineering issues that could prove costly if they are overlooked in the initial stages, and the opportunities that exist to create appealing residential buildings.

Issue 1: Preliminary structural investigation

To design a successful office-to-residential conversion project, an initial structural investigation is a key first step. Every building is unique, and older buildings may not have original structural drawings available or may have had substantial alterations. It’s extremely important for a structural engineer to see the structural elements during a pre-acquisition consultation, or at the onset of the project, to help identify issues early in the development.  

Getting to the structure is not always easy and may mean removing existing ceilings and wall finishes long before the general demolition begins. But skipping this key step can cause significant challenges—and added expense—later during construction.

Issue 2: Adding natural light

Housing facilities require exterior views in living units and it’s important to consider how this can be accomplished in an office conversion. In a recent post-tension slab project, IMEG proposed two solutions to bring in natural light—a central atrium or exterior balcony cut-outs. The atrium was more straightforward structurally because it could avoid post-tension bands, but the owner preferred the exterior balconies.

To create the balconies, the post-tension bands on each slab edge would need to be eliminated, which is no small task. To add strength, IMEG offered two solutions: add beams below, or strategically locate new posts to reduce the slab spans. The owner preferred the second approach since the new posts could be integrated into the corners of the new windows. Fiber-reinforced polymer composites can also be used to provide external strengthening where additional strength is needed.  

Issue 3: Structural design for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing

Coordinate with the structural engineering team as you plan unit layouts, plumbing, and HVAC. The architectural layout of a residential unit is unlikely to align with the office framing concept. If the units aren’t aligned with the structure the job will be more complex.

A conversion will greatly impact existing and new MEP systems, so the structural team will need to account for new floor and wall openings for conduit, piping, and HVAC. A ground floor restaurant or retail space can further complicate a conversion, as new shafts and penetrations will need to be run through the building. In older buildings, this can be a challenge, as the original shafts are likely smaller than current codes require, and the locations may be difficult to reuse.  

Determining whether the floor plate is made of concrete, steel, or wood has a significant impact in the feasibility of a project. Steel or wood is generally easier to adapt in a conversion. If it’s concrete, in particular post-tensioned concrete, you’ll need to scan the slab to locate rebar and the tendons to avoid hitting them with new cores and openings.  

Conversions involving steel, heavy timber, and clay tile in historic structures pose additional challenges. A structural engineer can help account for those materials upfront, to avoid surprises and extra costs later.

RELATED ARTICLE: About 11% of U.S. office buildings could be suitable for green office-to-residential conversions

Issue 4: Rooftop amenities

There’s good news on the roof. An office building’s HVAC equipment is likely heavier (and perhaps outdated), and more than a new residential building would need. So, you should be able to reduce the amount of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment on the roof. That leaves room (and reserve structural capacity) for desirable rooftop amenities, like a bar or pool, and the structural impact is not likely as much as you’d think. A structural engineer can help evaluate the structure and creatively supplement the structural system where it is most needed. For example, pool walls can be used as structure and upturned beams can be hidden by a built-up raised decking system.

Issue 5: Energy efficiency  

To make the building attractive to the marketplace, it’s important to update the exterior. Removing outdated and heavy exterior systems can improve aesthetics and energy efficiency. When IMEG worked on the conversion of 100 Van Ness, a 1970s-era office building in San Francisco, the original precast-concrete wall system was replaced with new unitized glass curtain wall.

To make that switch, crews spent six months removing 1,600 precast-concrete panels, each weighing 7,000 to 14,000 pounds. Not only was the finished product a more modern glass building that appeals to tenants, but it also helped prevented a seismic retrofit because the curtain wall had much lighter loads than the original precast panels.

Issue 6: Occupancy

Changing occupancy from office to residential triggers requirements for upgrading non-structural components of the building to comply with current code requirements. However, for the structural systems, where the existing building code is used, the trigger is based on a change in risk category instead of occupancy. Office and residential occupancies are in the same risk category, which would not trigger a wholesale upgrade of the structural system based on occupancy alone.

Several local jurisdictions have adopted their own triggers which do require structural system upgrades, so it is best to verify with the local jurisdiction’s amendments. There also have been changes to how risk category is defined, so buildings with over 5,000 occupants or significant public assembly areas can now trigger a change in category. Substantial alterations to the structure or additions also would trigger upgrades. Historical buildings may also have their own code and unique requirements.

Issure 7: Seismic requirements

Jurisdictions have significant variabilities in seismic requirements that can trigger upgrades for specific building changes in occupancy and use for office to residential conversions, and the associated alterations and additions. In most cases, newer construction buildings are “benchmarked” and do not require a retrofit. Several jurisdictions have adopted local amendments affecting mandatory seismic upgrade triggers:

• San Francisco, Calif., has adopted SFBC 503.11.1, which requires a seismic upgrade when two-thirds or more of the building floors are categorized as a substantial alteration—defined per floor as two-thirds or more of the floor area of a floor undertaking significant non-structural alterations. This is cumulative of any alterations within a two-year period. Retrofit is done to approximately 75% of new code levels.  
• Portland, Ore., enacted Title 24.85 Seismic Design Requirements for Existing Buildings, which triggers a seismic upgrade on a change of occupancy or use to more than one-third of the floor area and where the occupant load is more than 149. Retrofit is done to approximately 75% of new code levels, depending on the change in relative hazard classification.  
• Seattle, Wash., retrofits are triggered when a significant investment extends the useful life of the building. Similar in intent to the San Francisco “2/3 rule,” this would likely trigger a retrofit on a significant conversion project. Retrofit is done to approximately 75% of new code levels.
• Los Angeles, Calif., adopted Los Angeles Municipal Code 91.2.506.5.3, which requires buildings to be upgraded to 75% of new code level for change of occupancy from commercial to residential. Codes 91.8203 and 91.8204 require buildings meet current code.

Every jurisdiction is different and conversions from office to residential may trigger a seismic rehabilitation, which will need to be determined on a building-by-building basis. Owners often ask for voluntary seismic strengthening with the goal of creating a safer structure or reducing the probable maximum loss (PML).

Transforming vacant office spaces into vibrant residential units offers a promising solution to both high office vacancies and housing deficits. But this process involves intricate considerations to ensure success. While financial incentives, zoning adjustments, and expedited planning reviews are being explored in major cities, developers must assemble a comprehensive team to thoroughly assess conversion prospects in the tight financing landscape. Key structural factors include cost effectively introducing natural light, coordinating with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing integration, understanding the existing structure systems, addressing rooftop enhancements, understanding and accounting for seismic impacts, and navigating changes and amendments in national and local building codes.  

By embracing these factors and engaging in meticulous planning, developers can unlock the potential of office-to-residential conversions, creating appealing and functional living spaces while simultaneously contributing to urban revitalization and addressing housing needs.

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LONDON (AP) — Wildfires fueled by climate change have ravaged communities from Maui to the Mediterranean this summer, killing many people, exhausting firefighters and fueling demand for new solutions. Enter artificial intelligence.

Firefighters and startups are using AI-enabled cameras to scan the horizon for signs of smoke. A German company is building a constellation of satellites to detect fires from space. And Microsoft is using AI models to predict where the next blaze could be sparked.

With wildfires becoming larger and more intense as the world warms, firefighters, utilities and governments are scrambling to get ahead of the flames by tapping into the latest AI technology — which has stirred both fear and excitement for its potential to transform life. While increasingly stretched first responders hope AI offers them a leg up, humans are still needed to check that the tech is accurate.

California’s main firefighting agency this summer started testing an AI system that looks for smoke from more than 1,000 mountaintop camera feeds and is now expanding it statewide.

The system is designed to find “abnormalities” and alert emergency command centers, where staffers will confirm whether it’s indeed smoke or something else in the air.

“The beauty of this is that it immediately pops up on the screen and those dispatchers or call takers are able to interrogate that screen” and determine whether to send a crew, said Phillip SeLegue, staff chief of intelligence for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The cameras, part of a network that workers previously had to watch, provide billions of bytes of data for the AI system to digest. While humans still need to confirm any smoke sightings, the system helps reduce fatigue among staffers typically monitoring multiple screens and cameras, alerting them to look only when there’s possible fire or smoke, SeLegue said.

It’s already helped. A battalion chief got a smoke alert in the middle of the night, confirmed it on his cellphone and called a command center in San Diego to scramble first responders to the remote area.

The dispatchers said that if they hadn’t been alerted, the fire would have been much larger because it likely wouldn’t have been noticed until the next morning, SeLegue said.

San Francisco startup Pano AI takes a similar approach, mounting cameras on cell towers that scan for smoke and alert customers, including fire departments, utility companies and ski resorts.

The cameras use computer vision machine learning, a type of AI.

“They’re trained very specifically to detect smoke or not, and we train them with images of smoke and images of not smoke,” CEO Sonia Kastner said.

The images are combined with feeds from government weather satellites that scan for hotspots, along with other data sources, such as social media posts.

The technology gets around one of the main problems in the traditional way of detecting wildfires — relying on 911 calls from passers-by that need confirmation from staffers before crews and water-dropping planes can be deployed.

“Generally, only one in 20 of these 911 calls are actually a wildfire. Even during fire season, it might be a cloud or fog or a barbecue,” Kastner said.

Pano AI’s systems do still rely on final confirmation, with managers playing a time lapse of the camera feed to ensure it’s smoke rising.

For fighting forest fires, “technology is becoming really essential,” said Larry Bekkedahl, senior vice president of energy delivery at Portland General Electric, Oregon’s largest utility and a Pano AI customer.

Utility companies sometimes play a role in sparking wildfires, when their power lines are knocked down by wind or struck by falling trees. Hawaii’s electric utility acknowledged that its power lines started a devastating blaze in Maui this summer after apparently being downed by high winds.

PGE, which provides electricity to 51 cities in Oregon, has deployed 26 Pano AI cameras, and Bekkedahl said they have helped speed up response and coordination with emergency services.

Previously, fire departments were “running around looking for stuff and not even really knowing exactly where it’s at,” he said. The cameras help detect fires quicker and get teams on the ground faster, shaving up to two hours off response times.

“That’s significant in terms of how fast that fire can can spread and grow,” Bekkedahl said.

Using AI to detect smoke from fires “is relatively easy,” said Juan Lavista Ferres, chief data scientist at Microsoft.

“What is not easy is to have enough cameras that cover enough places,” he said, pointing to vast, remote areas in northern Canada that have burned this summer.

Ferres’ team at Microsoft has been developing AI models to predict where fires are likely to start. They have fed the model with maps of areas that burned previously, along with climate and geospatial data.

The system has its limitations — it can’t predict random events like a lightning strike. But it can sift through historical weather and climate data to identify patterns, such as areas that are typically drier. Even a road, which indicates people are nearby, is a risk factor, Ferres said.

“It’s not going to get it all perfectly right,” he said. “But what it can do is it can build a probability map (based on) what happened in the past.”

The technology, which Microsoft plans to offer as an open source tool, can help first responders trying to figure out where to focus their limited resources, Ferres said.

Another company is looking to the heavens for a solution. German startup OroraTech analyzes satellite images with artificial intelligence.

Taking advantage of advances in camera, satellite and AI technology, OroraTech has launched two mini satellites about the size of a shoebox into low orbit, about 550 kilometers (340 miles) above Earth’s surface. The Munich-based company has ambitions to send up eight more next year and eventually put 100 into space.

As wildfires swept central Chile this year, OroraTech said it provided thermal images at night when aerial drones are used less frequently.

Weeks after OroraTech launched its second satellite, it detected a fire near the community of Keg River in northern Alberta, where flames burned remote stretches of boreal forest repeatedly this summer.

“There are algorithms on the satellite, very efficient ones to detect fires even faster,” CEO Thomas Gruebler said.

The AI also takes into account vegetation and humidity levels to identify flare-ups that could spawn devastating megafires. The technology could help thinly stretched firefighting agencies direct resources to blazes with the potential to cause the most damage.

“Because we know exactly where the fires are, we can see how the fires will propagate,” Gruebler said. “So, which fire will be the big fire in one day and which will stop on their own.”

___

AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco contributed.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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„Fast die Hälfte des Leitungswassers in den USA enthält PFAs: Hier erfahren Sie, warum ‚Chemikalien für immer‘ gefährlich sind“, lautete die Schlagzeile von Forbes.com vom 6. Juli 2023 aus dem Artikel der aktuellen Nachrichtenredakteurin Molly Bohannon. Wenn Schlagzeilen schreien könnten, würde diese sicherlich die Trommelfelle im ganzen Land angreifen.

Bohannon behandelt in ihrem Artikel die vielen bekannten schwerwiegenden Gesundheitsrisiken und die Tatsache, dass Bedenken hinsichtlich dieser Chemikalien, die in einer Vielzahl von Alltagsprodukten sowie in Boden und Wasser vorkommen, Jahrzehnte alt sind. Die Tatsache, dass sie so weit in unsere Wasserversorgung eingedrungen sind, ist ernsthaft besorgniserregend.

„Das Ausmaß der Kontamination ist schockierend“, erklärte Eric Yeggy, technischer Leiter der Water Quality Association, einer Handelsorganisation, die die Wasseraufbereitungsindustrie vertritt. „PFAS sind seit Jahrzehnten weit verbreitet und unreguliert und haben ihren Weg in jeden Winkel der Welt gefunden, auch an sehr abgelegene Orte wie den Nordpol, das tibetische Plateau, die Antarktis und das Basislager am Mount Everest. Es wurde festgestellt, dass praktisch jeder getestete Mensch einen Cocktail aus verschiedenen PFAS im Blut hat“, fügte er hinzu.

Woher wissen Sie, ob das Wasser, das in Ihr Haus gelangt, sicher ist, und was können Sie dagegen tun, wenn dies nicht der Fall ist? Ich habe Fragen an Experten auf diesem Gebiet, einschließlich Yeggy, gesendet und gebe ihre schriftlichen Antworten weiter, die nur bei Bedarf aus Gründen der Länge und Klarheit bearbeitet wurden.

Hintergrund

Tina Donda, Vizepräsidentin für Wassersysteme beim R&T-Produkttestdienst der International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials, stellte fest, dass diese Verbindungen als „ewige Chemikalien“ bekannt sind, weil sie Tausende von Jahren halten können und mit der derzeit verfügbaren Technologie nicht abgebaut werden können. „Wenn PFAS-haltige Produkte entsorgt oder in Seen und Flüsse verschüttet werden, besteht die Gefahr, dass sie das Wasser verunreinigen. Da diese Chemikalien nicht zersetzt werden können, bleiben sie dort für immer“, daher der Spitzname. (Beachten Sie, dass einige Experten PFAS verwenden, andere PFAs.)

Diese Verbindungen wurden ursprünglich in den 1930er Jahren erfunden und finden sich heute in Hunderten von Verbraucherprodukten sowie in Feuerlöschschäumen und industriellen Prozessen. „Im März 2023 schlug die US-Umweltbehörde EPA rechtlich durchsetzbare Grenzwerte für sechs PFAS im Trinkwasser vor, die eine Überwachung der öffentlichen Wasserversorgung erfordern würden“, kommentierte Donda. Sie bemerkte weiter: „Der USGS-Bericht [citing 45% presence] fanden ein höheres PFAS-Risiko im Trinkwasser in städtischen Regionen, allerdings mit dem großen Vorbehalt, dass es an Daten für private Brunnen mangelt. Es ist wahrscheinlich, dass viel mehr Menschen von PFAS in ihrem Trinkwasser betroffen sind.“

Gesundheitliche Bedenken im Zusammenhang mit diesen Verbindungen wurden Ende der 1990er bis Anfang der 2000er Jahre erkannt, fügte David Purkiss, Vizepräsident der Wasserabteilung der NSF (gegründet 1944 als National Sanitation Foundation), hinzu. „Diese Verbindungen sind bioakkumulierbar (Konzentrationen bauen sich im Körper bei fortgesetzter Exposition auf), mobil (verteilen sich leicht) und persistent (werden nicht abgebaut oder bleiben „für immer“) in der Umwelt.“ Ihr weitverbreiteter Einsatz führe zu einer erhöhten Umweltbelastung und überschreite die Grenzwerte für gesundheitliche Bedenken, fügte er hinzu. Dies hat die jüngste Forschung und Fokussierung vorangetrieben.

Testen

„Hauswasseraufbereitungssysteme zur Entfernung von PFAS sind weit verbreitet“, kommentierte Yeggy. Dazu gehören Krugfilter, Kühlschrankfilter, Untertischfilter, Point-of-Use-Umkehrosmosesysteme bis hin zu Systemen für das ganze Haus. „Verbraucher sollten sich darüber im Klaren sein, dass nicht alle Trinkwasseraufbereitungssysteme für die Entfernung von PFAS ausgelegt sind, und viele tun dies auch nicht. Die beste Vorgehensweise besteht darin, sicherzustellen, dass ein System unabhängig für die Entfernung von PFAS zertifiziert wurde, bevor eine Kaufentscheidung getroffen wird“, riet er.

„Erkundigen Sie sich bei Ihrem Wasserversorgungsunternehmen, ob es regelmäßige Tests auf PFAS oder andere Schadstoffe durchführt“, empfiehlt der in San Francisco ansässige Sanitärunternehmer Phil Hotarek. „Einige Versorgungsunternehmen testen ihre Wasserversorgung auf PFAS und geben die Ergebnisse auf Anfrage möglicherweise an Kunden weiter.“ Nicht alle ewigen Chemikalien seien gleich, warnte er. „Daher ist es ratsam, sich an lokale Behörden, Gesundheitsämter oder andere zu wenden [your state water board] Für spezifische Informationen zur Kontamination in Ihrer Region. Sie können Ratschläge zu Wassertests, Schadensbegrenzungsbemühungen und damit verbundenen Gesundheitsrisiken geben.“

Wenn Sie sich nicht selbst überprüfen möchten, können Sie einen Experten beauftragen. Verbraucher können über eine Suchfunktion auf der WQA-Website einen zertifizierten Wasseraufbereitungsfachmann finden, sagte Yeggy.

Private Brunnen

Da Brunnen nicht Teil der Teststichprobe waren, die USGS zum Erreichen des 45-Prozent-Werts heranzog (und nicht wie öffentliche Wasserversorger routinemäßig von Regierungsbehörden überwacht werden), ist nicht bekannt, wie viele weitere Haushalte betroffen sind. „Menschen an privaten Brunnen – laut CDC 15 Millionen US-Haushalte – sind für ihre eigenen Tests verantwortlich“, betonte Donda.

„Mehrere Bundesstaaten haben Anforderungen an die Qualität von Brunnenwasser“, bemerkte sie und fügte hinzu, dass einige möglicherweise damit beginnen würden, Chemikalien für immer in ihr Testprogramm aufzunehmen. „Die Leute müssen sich möglicherweise an ihren Wasserversorger wenden, um zu erfahren, ob sie Informationen über abgeschlossene PFAS-Tests haben. Wenn nicht, müssen sie ihr Wasser an ein Labor schicken.“ Purkiss bietet an, dass Ihr Gesundheitsamt auf Kreis- oder Landesebene Sie für Kits und Tests an örtliche Labore verweisen kann.

Filtrationslösungen

Eine gute Nachricht sei, teilte Donda mit, dass die Technologien, mit denen Chemikalien reduziert oder dauerhaft entfernt werden können, auch andere Schadstoffe wie Blei entfernen können. „Um sicher zu sein“, warnte sie, „stellen Sie sicher, dass das Produkt zertifiziert ist, um die spezifische besorgniserregende Chemikalie zu reduzieren.“ IAPMO stellt auf seiner Website eine Liste der von ihm getesteten und zertifizierten Produkte bereit, die nach chemischen Akronymen durchsuchbar ist (z. B. PFOA, PFAS).

„Wasseraufbereitungsgeräte, die Aktivkohle, Umkehrosmose oder Ionenaustauschtechnologie verwenden, können verwendet werden, um den Gehalt an PFAS-Verbindungen in aufbereitetem Wasser zu reduzieren“, bemerkte Purkiss, und sie werden für Haushalte mit privaten Brunnen und kommunale Systeme gleichermaßen wirksam sein. „Allerdings“, warnte er, „ist es wichtig zu überprüfen, ob die Behandlungseinheiten von einer akkreditierten Organisation wie NSF für die Entfernung von PFAS-Verbindungen getestet und zertifiziert wurden, um sicherzustellen, dass sie den Standardanforderungen entsprechen.“ Auf der Produktverpackung sind diese Zertifizierungszeichen zu sehen, und Organisationen wie IAPMO und NSF verfügen über Online-Listen, um diese Markenaussagen zu überprüfen. (NSFs finden Sie hier). Suchen Sie auf seiner Seite nach der Reduzierung von Perfluoralkylsubstanzen, sagte er.

Purkiss schätzt, dass zertifizierte Point-of-Use-Filtrationsgeräte zur Aufbereitung des Wassers aus Ihren Wasserhähnen zwischen 100 und mehreren hundert Dollar kosten werden. „Wenn Sie das gesamte Wasser in Ihrem Haus aufbereiten möchten, benötigen Sie ein Point-of-Entry-Gerät. Allerdings gibt es derzeit nicht viele zertifizierte Point-of-Entry-Geräte.“ Bei all diesen Behandlungsgeräten sei es wichtig, sie gemäß den Anweisungen des Herstellers auszutauschen, riet er.

Hotarek empfiehlt seinen Kunden in Nordkalifornien Filtersysteme für das ganze Haus als beste Option, aber die Kosten beschränken sie manchmal auf Produkte am Einsatzort, bemerkte er. „Die meisten Filter für das ganze Haus halten zwischen acht und zehn Jahren (bis zur Nutzung) und erfordern keine Wartung, bis der Filter leer ist.“

Bei der Auswahl einer Ressource empfiehlt der Klempner, dass Sie den Installationsprozess und die Anforderungen verstehen. „Berücksichtigen Sie Faktoren wie den verfügbaren Platz, die Position des Filters, die Größe des Rohrs und die Konfiguration der Rohrleitungen. Stellen Sie sicher, dass das System ohne wesentliche Änderungen ordnungsgemäß im Haus installiert werden kann.“

Auswirkungen auf den Haushalt

Was wäre, wenn Ihr Zuhause zu den 45 % der Häuser gehört, die dauerhaft von Chemikalien betroffen sind? Während die Gesundheit Ihrer Familie das Hauptanliegen sei, gebe es noch andere potenzielle Auswirkungen auf Ihren Haushalt, warnte Hotarek.

„An Geräten kann es zu erheblichen Schäden kommen. Interne Teile fallen früher aus, Systeme haben eine kürzere Lebensdauer und die Leistung nimmt ab.“ Das Gleiche gelte auch für Warmwasserbereiter, warnte der Klempner. Wenn Sie sich über diese Möglichkeiten keine Sorgen machen, können Point-of-Use-Filter an Ihren Küchen- und Badezimmerspülen sowie am Kühlschrank funktionieren. (Vergessen Sie nicht die Wasserhähne in Ihren Badezimmern, an denen Sie Medikamente und Vitamine einnehmen, Ihre Zähne putzen und Zahnseide verwenden!) Yeggy von der WQA stellte fest, dass nur ein winziger Prozentsatz des Wasserverbrauchs eines Hauses für Kochen und Trinken aufgewendet wird. Mehr als 98 % seien für Bewässerung, Toiletten, Wäsche, Geschirrspülen und andere Anwendungen bestimmt, kommentierte er.

Wellness-Störer

Viele Amerikaner statten ihr Zuhause mit Wellnesseinrichtungen in Form von Dampfduschen und Toiletten im Bidet-Stil aus. Auch diese seien durch das Vorhandensein dauerhafter Chemikalien beeinträchtigt, stellte Hotarek fest. Die Heizelemente von Dampfduschen fallen schneller aus und die Dampfqualität sei schlechter, betonte der Klempner. „Ganz zu schweigen davon, dass es einfach nicht gesund ist, diese Chemikalien einzuatmen, während man in einem Dampfbad sitzt. Eine bessere Wasserqualität verbessert nicht nur die Qualität des Dampferlebnisses, sondern verlängert auch die Lebensdauer des Systems und verringert die Häufigkeit von Serviceeinsätzen.“

Wenn es um die Funktionalität von Bidets geht, werden auch deren Komponenten durch eine schlechte Wasserqualität beeinträchtigt und beschädigte Ventile können undicht werden. Aus hygienischer Sicht ist es auch nicht ideal, diese Chemikalien in Ihr Intimreinigungsritual aufzunehmen.

Smart-Home-Technologie

Wenn es um die Filterung des gesamten Hauses geht, ist die Einbindung in ein auf Wellness ausgerichtetes Smart-Home-Technologiesystem eine praktikable Option, und die chemische Filterung genießt bei den Kunden immer mehr Priorität, stellte einer der Marktführer in dieser Kategorie fest. „Bereits im Jahr 2018 haben wir mit der Verfolgung von PFAS begonnen“, erinnert sich Kelly Eager, Architektin und Teamleiterin für Wellness-Design bei Delos. „Wir haben uns ab Mitte 2022 stärker auf die Evaluierung und Kuratierung unseres Angebots an Wasserfiltrationstechnologien konzentriert, die für immer Chemikalien geeignet sind.“

Die Produkte des Wellness-Technologieunternehmens sind NSF-zertifiziert, berichtete Eager. „Abhängig von den Anforderungen des Hauses, der Bewohner und dem Sanitärdesign können diese Wasserlösungen 100 % des Wassers im Haus aufbereiten (z. B. heißes und kaltes Wasser für alle Armaturen)“, fügte sie hinzu. Das Unternehmen bietet auch Point-of-Use-Filtrationsprodukte an.

Letzte Worte

„Wasser ist Leben“, fasste Hotarek zusammen. „Denken Sie an alle wesentlichen Dinge im Leben, die Wasser benötigen: Kochen, Putzen, Geräte, Trinken, Baden usw.“ Wenn Sie Ihre Wasserversorgung sicherer und gesünder halten, können Sie sich positiv auf die Gesundheit und den Haushalt auswirken.

Folge mir auf Twitter oder LinkedIn. Kasse meine Website oder einige meiner anderen Arbeiten hier.

Ich bin ein Wellness-Design-Berater und von der Mayo Clinic zertifizierter Wellness-Coach mit 18 Jahren Erfahrung im Bau-, Wohndesign- und Umbaubereich.

Mein drittes Buch, Wellness durch Designerschienen im September 2020 bei Simon & Schuster, gewann 2021 einen renommierten Bruss Book Award.

Zusätzlich zum Schreiben spreche ich auf regionalen und nationalen Konferenzen über Wellness-Design-Themen, und berät Unternehmen und Analysten der Designbranche.

Ich moderiere derzeit zweimal im Monat Wellness-Mittwoch Zimmer im Clubhaus, in der ersten und dritten Woche des Monats um 16:00 Uhr Eastern/13:00 Uhr Pacific. Den aktuellen Zeitplan können Sie hier einsehen.

Weitere meiner Schriften können Sie auf meiner Website lesen jamiegold.net.

WeiterlesenLese weniger

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PHOENIX, April 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Officials, academics and the construction industry participated in a broad discussion on access to homeownership at the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s (FHLBank San Francisco) Fourth Homeownership Solutions Summit in Arizona part Experts, affordable housing practitioners, local lenders and other stakeholders argued that strategies and investments that create new opportunities for quality jobs must be a crucial part of the equation for increasing home ownership.

“To strengthen communities for Arizona residents, we must expand the supply of affordable housing,” said Teresa Bryce Bazemore, President and CEO of FHLBank San Francisco. “But we also need to address the other side of the equation. We must do more to ensure people have quality jobs and the economic security of family to buy, maintain and keep their homes.”

Noting the importance of affordable housing for communities and for families and individuals who can afford to buy homes, Bazemore added, “By bringing stakeholders together to share valuable information, insights and experiences from working with communities, FHLBank San Francisco helps create opportunities for individuals and families to achieve their living and home ownership goals. We want to help more families enjoy the American dream of home ownership.”

The Phoenix event, held March 23, was the final installment of FHLBank San Francisco’s four-city 2022-2023 Homeownership Solutions Summit Series. The gatherings have each brought together stakeholders from the housing and mortgage finance industries to share ideas, explore best practices and coordinate public and private collaboration to meet urgent demands for access to affordable housing and equal homeownership opportunities. Summits were also held in Los Angeles, California, Reno, Nevada, and Sacramento, California. Regional experts met to address the homeownership challenges facing each city, with a particular focus on removing structural barriers in the mortgage financing industry, housing supply and examining the challenges and opportunities of installment assistance programs.

According to a recent report, 38.1% of new and existing homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2022 were deemed affordable for middle-income U.S. families, indicating a worrying decline in housing affordability both in Arizona and nationally . Stakeholders agreed that creating pathways to high-paying construction jobs through programs such as apprenticeships can empower individuals from underserved communities to enter growth industries, ultimately increasing their chances of sustainable home ownership as they invest in building Contribute to housing where it is most needed.

“By providing robust education and career programs, investing in younger generations, and supporting rehabilitation initiatives, we can expand the pool of qualified job applicants and get closer to achieving and maintaining home ownership,” said Joan Serviss, director of the Arizona Department of Housing. “By nurturing talent and equipping individuals with the skills they need to succeed, we can ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve their housing goals.”

Key topics covered in the Summit presentations and discussions included:

• Innovative ideas to increase the pool of candidates from underserved communities who are qualified for quality jobs
• How Greater Diversity in the Banking and Mortgage Finance Industry Can Promote Racial Justice in Affordable Housing and Homeownership
• Promising solutions to the most common problems homeowners are at risk of losing their home

For more information on how FHLBank San Francisco strengthens communities and transforms lives by investing in affordable housing, advancing solutions to the racial homeownership and wealth gap, and boosting economic vitality initiatives in underserved communities, visit www.fhlbsf.com .

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-run cooperative that helps local lenders in Arizona, California and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity and transform lives for the better. The tools and resources we make available to our member financial institutions—commercial banks, credit unions, commercial credit unions, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions—encourage home acquisitions, expand access to quality housing, fuel economic growth, and revitalize whole neighborhoods . Together with our members and other partners, we transform lives and make the communities we serve more vibrant, just and resilient.

The post At FHLBank San Francisco Homeownership Options Summit, appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

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• Meshify Defender sensors detect water leaks and other hazards

• The sensors are characterized by a longer battery life and a greater range

• The water shutoff stops the flow of water with the faucet of a mobile app

Detects and stops leaks, any time of the day or night

HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Specialist insurer HSB today introduced Meshify Defender Sensors, its next-generation LoRaWAN® Internet of Things (IoT) device suite, and the new Meshify Defender Water Shutoff, which together help Avoid property damage and device damage with a mobile app.

Developed by Meshify, HSB’s IoT subsidiary, Meshify Defender Sensors monitor commercial and residential buildings and appliances 24/7 for water leaks, frozen pipes, temperature changes and humidity.

Once a sensor detects a leak, HSB sends an alert to customers, who can activate the Meshify Defender’s water shutoff by using the Meshify Protect mobile app to stop the water supply.

“HSB has provided IoT solutions to a number of companies for nearly a decade,” said John B. Riggs, HSB chief technology officer and president of Meshify. “The Meshify Defender sensors and water shutoff are the culmination of what we have learned about the needs of our customers and our insurance industry partners. Our state-of-the-art sensors and water shut-offs have been extensively tested and made accessible and affordable for insurers and their policyholders to reduce costly water losses.”

A seamless and secure connection

Meshify Defender sensors offer long range and longer battery life with more robust performance to support commercial environments with an enhanced customer experience.

LoRaWAN wireless technology, a low-power wide-area networking protocol, seamlessly connects Meshify Defender to the Internet of Things with end-to-end security.

Installs in 10 minutes, no pipe cutting

Developed through years of research and testing, the Meshify Defender Water Shutoff stops water leaks at the source, with design options that don’t require pipe cutting.

With the Meshify Protect mobile app for iOS and Android, customers can turn off the water from anywhere at any time with a tap of a mobile device screen.

Prevent casualties, provide peace of mind

In the past, water leaks from pipes, water heaters, HVAC systems, boilers, and other sources could go undetected for hours, days, nights, weekends, and holidays, causing serious damage.

Now customers can have peace of mind knowing that Meshify Defender sensors and Smart Shutoff can detect leaks and shut off water supplies to prevent or reduce property damage.

Available exclusively from HSB

The Meshify Defender Sensor Suite and Water Shutoff are available exclusively in the United States and Canada through HSB and its partner insurance carriers.

Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB)

HSB, part of Munich Re, is a multi-line specialty insurer and provider of inspection, risk management and IoT technology services. HSB insurance offerings include equipment failure, cyber risk, specialty liability and other coverages. HSB combines its technical expertise, technology and data to develop inventive insurance and service solutions for existing and emerging risks resulting from technological change. Throughout its 150-year history, HSB’s mission has been to help clients avoid losses, advance sustainable energy use and build deeper relationships that benefit businesses, governments and consumers. HSB holds AM Best Company’s highest financial rating, A++ (Superior). For more information, visit www.hsb.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Munich Re

Munich Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, primary insurance and insurance-related risk solutions. The group consists of the business fields reinsurance and ERGO as well as the capital investment company MEAG. Munich Re operates worldwide and is active in all lines of insurance business. Since it was founded in 1880, Munich Re has been known for its unique risk expertise and solid financial position. It offers clients financial protection in the event of extraordinary losses – from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to Hurricane Ian in 2022. Munich Re has outstanding innovative strength, which enables it to also deal with extraordinary risks such as rocket launches, renewable energies or cyber attacks. The company is driving the digital transformation of the insurance industry and has further expanded its risk assessment and range of services. Tailor-made solutions and proximity to its customers make Munich Re a risk partner in demand for companies, institutions and private individuals around the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005529/en/

Dennis Mileski

Telephone: +1 (860) 722-5567

Mobile: +1 (860) 534-0623

[email protected]

Source: Hartford Steam Boilers (HSB)

The post HSB’s New Sensor Options Cease Water Leaks Remotely with Good Shutoff Machine appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Though keeping our domestic spaces warm this winter is essential, so is the even flow of fresh air. These products guarantee that this can occur in the healthiest ways possible.

Courtesy LG

LG Art Cool Premier Wall Mount Split System with LGRED
LG

With one of the highest SEER ratings in the industry, the LG Art Cool Premier Wall Mount Split System with LGRED offers AEC professionals a design-forward solution that doesn’t compromise on energy efficiency. This inverter variable split system seamlessly connects with the LG ThinQ app providing remote cooling and heating controls.

(Courtesy Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US)

PKFY-NLMU Wall Mounted Indoor Unit
Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS)

Perfect for tight spaces, the PKFY-NLMU Wall-Mounted Indoor Unit by Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US is whisper-quiet, running at just 22 dB(A). Connected to the CITY MULTI®R2-Series, Y-Series, WY-Series, WR2-Series, and S-Series VRF zoning systems, the unit uses the least amount of energy needed to maintain an area’s desired set point.

(courtesy Bosch)

CDi Series: SM Rev C
Bosch

Bosch’s leading geothermal solution, the CDi Series: SM Rev C residential water source heat pump meets the highest ENERGY STAR standards. Available in two sizes, the system incorporates a two-stage scroll compressor, an ECM constant air monitor for superior comfort, and connects to Bosch’s EasyStart diagnostics app.

(courtesy 3M)

Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Healthy Living 2200 filters
3M

The Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Healthy Living 2200 Filter by 3M is perfect for keeping a wide array of HVAC units hygienic and hypoallergenic. The insert captures microscopic particles like pet dander, smoke, bacteria, viruses, and odors but also larger fragments like mold spores, dust, and pollen.

Courtesy Carrier

infinity
carriers

Third-party testing has demonstrated that Carrier’s new and improved Infinity air purifier can inactivate 99% of the murine coronavirus. Its MERV 15 rated filter treats the airflow flowing through most HVAC systems by creating a cloud of electrically charged ions that attach, pull apart, and eliminate airborne dust, pollen, viruses, and germs.

(Courtesy Uponor North America)

Stainless Steel Manifold
Uponor North America

The brand new Stainless-Steel Manifold application by Uponor North America is a corrosion-resistant alternative for cooling and heating application. Available in two sizes, the manifold comes preassembled for faster install. Both variants include full-port ball valves with temperature gauges and integrated flow meters.

The post Enhanced HVAC options be sure that interiors keep protected and hygienic appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.