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AprilAire Partners with Two Healthy Living Influencers to Amplify the Message that AprilAire is Healthy Living | News

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MADISON, Wis., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — AprilAire, the nationwide leader in professional-grade healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) solutions for the home, has partnered with two influencers in the home design, renovation, décor, and self-care space, dubbing them AprilAire Healthy Air Ambassadors and amplifying its message that AprilAire is healthy living. AprilAire installed its signature IAQ solution, the AprilAire Healthy Air System™, in the homes of Tamara Day, host of the Magnolia Network and HGTV show “Bargain Mansions,” and of Kelly Hartley, of Hartley Home, tailoring the system for each individual home’s needs with regard to fresh air ventilation, air filtration, and humidity control as well as for the climates in which they each live.

Tamara Day, who lives in Kansas and, in addition to her work with Magnolia Network and HGTV, is a home design and renovation expert also concerned with self-care and family life, as a mom of four. AprilAire’s professional partner in her area, Mike Bryant Heating & Cooling, installed an AprilAire Healthy Air System™ tailored to Tamara’s home and the needs of her family. Through a series of content and posts on her Instagram page and other social media properties, Tamara will share her family’s journey to healthier indoor air with AprilAire. See a video of Tamara’s install here.

Kelly Hartley, who lives in Florida, is also an AprilAire Healthy Air Ambassador. As the lead Instagram influencer of Hartley Home, Kelly focuses on home décor and styling, often with a DIY home improvement component and, as a mom of two girls, is committed to healthy indoor air for her family. The AprilAire professional partner who installed Kelly’s AprilAire Healthy Air System™ is Coastal Cooling, Inc. Kelly will blog and post about her family’s experience with their system installed in her humid Florida locale.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with influencers like Tamara and Kelly and tap them to be AprilAire Healthy Air Ambassadors,” said David Carlson, AprilAire’s Director of Marketing. “By installing our AprilAire Healthy Air System™ in their homes, these two influential home and healthy living experts have the opportunity to incorporate Healthy Air into family life at the most personal level. This will allow them to speak with authentic voices out of personal experience. We’re absolutely thrilled to bring them on board in this creative partnership.”

AprilAire’s flagship whole-home solution is for all types of homes and all types of HVAC systems in all climates and regions. The AprilAire Healthy Air System™ can be installed on existing HVAC systems and features automated, touchless, and programmable controls. The smart, all-in-one solution introduces healthy, fresh air, helping to remove airborne dust, allergens, bacteria and viruses, and reduce asthma triggers while simultaneously maintaining the humidity level that helps prevent the proliferation of viruses.

About AprilAire

AprilAire is on a mission to make homes healthy. We believe everyone deserves Healthy Air and envision a future with Healthy Air in every home. We value healthy living, customer inspired innovation, simplicity of design, straight talk and delivering real results as promised, and most importantly making a positive difference in the lives of our customers, families, and communities. Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin since 1954, AprilAire has been creating and delivering Healthy Air solutions to manage air purity, humidity, fresh air supply, radon mitigation, and temperature for all types of homes, in all environments. We have an unparalleled reputation as the brand of choice among tens of thousands of professional contractors and make a Healthy Air difference in the lives of the millions of families who rely on our products every day. To learn how to turn your house into a Healthy Home with the AprilAire Healthy Air System™ and learn about other solutions, visit http://www.aprilaire.com.

Media Contact

Lisa Reihl, AprilAire, 608-310-6333, [email protected]

 

SOURCE AprilAire

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Warzone player reveals “OP” trick to win game with PDS & vehicle

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A Call of Duty: Warzone player discovered a sneaky maneuver with the PDS System field upgrade and a vehicle. He’s now demonstrated this trick for the community and people are ready to try it out themselves.

Warzone’s PDS (Portable Decontamination Station) field upgrade was a new addition in Season 2 and is gradually becoming more popular. Essentially acting as an air purifier, the item allows players to withstand the noxious gasses for a little bit of time – which can prove critical when used at the right time.

While the PDS isn’t nearly as popular as field upgrades like Trophy System and Dead Silence, people are learning how to take advantage of its potential.

After one player showed how you can combine it with a Redeploy Balloon for wild rotations, another is now revealing its upside when coupled with a vehicle. Posted to Reddit by ‘TeeshTV,’ the trick instantly gained traction with the community.

Warzone trick uses PDS & vehicle for game-winning play

The PDS on top of a vehicle is OP from CODWarzone

Overall, the trick is a very simple and intuitive one, but PDS systems are new to the game so many might not have considered it. Basically, you can throw a PDS onto your vehicle – the same way you would with a Trophy System.

Once you have a PDS on the vehicle, it becomes literally portable. In Teesh’s case, this meant he could quickly rotate out of the circle and into the gas, before driving back into some enemies from an angle they couldn’t possibly predict.

With Teesh pulling the enemies’ attention, his team was able to rotate forward without getting held. That bought them enough space to push up and take shots, as he drove into the enemies from behind – downing one and then getting out of the car to finish the rest.

ActivisionWarzone’s PDS system is a new field upgrade in Season 2.

While movement and gun skill are critical in Call of Duty, Warzone also rewards players who think outside of the box. People immediately appreciated Teesh’s “OP” trick, with one responding “damn, what a play through the gas.”

Another took this rotation strategy as inspiration for their next session: “Dang I am excited to get home and try this.”

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Shift from COVID to the ‘next normal’

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As its name suggests, a new, book-length report entitled “Getting to and Sustaining the Next Normal: A Roadmap for Living with COVID” offers a detailed guide for exiting the COVID-19 crisis.

But as valuable as the precise advice is from experts such as Minnesota’s Mike Osterholm, one of the report’s key contributions is spotlighting a broader principle that should galvanize our response to this viral threat.

That critical concept: “biosecurity.” It’s not a new idea, but it’s one whose time has come. It simply means that protections and preparations against dangerous biological agents are essential ingredients for national defense. Commitment and investment are critical after COVID revealed health and economic vulnerabilities.

The report’s authors, including Osterholm and 22 other leading scientists from private and public sectors, offer benchmarks for gauging progress on COVID containment. They also argue compellingly, using the biosecurity framework, for substantial investment to guard against future disease threats. The estimated price tag: about $160 billion over three years, then $10 billion to $15 billion annually.

Among the objectives are improving domestic and global vaccine manufacturing capabilities, developing a “pancoronavirus” shot to guard against an evolving COVID virus, strengthening disease surveillance, improving indoor air quality in schools and public buildings, and “developing a multi-drug antiviral therapeutic.”

That last goal especially warns against complacency. The rapid development of a Paxlovid, a highly effective treatment for those infected with COVID, has been a triumph. But, as the report notes, this wily virus could develop resistance to it and to other medications. Thwarting that would yield dividends in developing treatments for other pathogens as well.

Both short- and long-term strategies are needed. Thus, the need for policymakers to shift from pandemic crisis response to the broader biosecurity framework. Unfortunately, a new snag in congressional COVID funding doesn’t inspire confidence.

Even as rising COVID cases in Europe and Asia signal another variant’s rise, congressional dallying is jeopardizing the $15.6 billion requested by the White House to continue the nation’s domestic and global COVID response. The dollars are needed to ensure plentiful U.S. supplies of tests, medical equipment and treatments. Hopefully, these won’t be necessary. But preparation remains vital.

“The Biden administration needs the funding to purchase and stockpile the tools we need to keep ourselves and our families safe and healthy if and when the next COVID variant emerges,” Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., told an editorial writer. “This includes tests, masks, treatment pills, and PPE. We also need funds for additional booster doses, vaccines for children under 5, and the global vaccination effort to stop future variants in their tracks.”

At the heart of the funding snag: a dispute over to whether to pay for the $15.6 billion plan by redirecting stimulus dollars already pledged to states. Republicans are the main advocates for redirecting state dollars, according to the Washington Post.

It’s worth noting that not all states will lose out on American Rescue Plan funds if this approach is taken. Twenty states already have received their full allotment. But 30 states, Minnesota among them, have not. Dollars repurposed for the federal COVID response would come from the funds pledged to these 30 states.

Clawing back these dollars from some states but not all raises fairness issues. Reneging is also unwise given the uncertainties of an ongoing pandemic. The nation’s health response shouldn’t require looting dollars set aside for states’ economic recovery.

The “Roadmap” report drives home how much work lies ahead. “In the United States, a country with 330 million people, the transition to the next normal can occur when the National Center of Health Statistics measures the direct mortality from major respiratory illnesses to average 165 deaths per day and 1,150 per week,” the authors write.

The death toll from COVID going into March 2022: “Over 10 times higher.”

The nation’s leaders need to shoulder their biosecurity responsibilities. Swift passage of the $15.6 billion in funding is necessary but just the start.

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Missouri agency tracking chemicals in public water systems

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – When you turn on the faucet and fill up your water bottle, you may notice a difference in the odor or taste of the tap, depending on where you’re located in the state of Missouri. 

Each year, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducts a census of public water systems across the state to determine how different chemical levels impact the aesthetics of water distributed throughout various systems. 

The census analyzes secondary maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), referring to biological, chemical or physical characteristics of water that may adversely affect the taste, odor, color or appearance. Secondary MCLs are not regulated by the EPA, but the agency does have recommended guidelines for water systems to follow in order to appease its consumers.

Primary MCLs, on the other hand, refer to harmful contaminants that are regulated and strictly monitored under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

New study to look at lead exposure in Kansas City

The census doesn’t test for the majority of regulated contaminants listed under the EPA, but it does provide insight to customers as to how different water treatment methods impact the aesthetics of the final product.

“If you get too much iron in your water (for example), it can make your water orangish-redish, so when you wash your clothes, you could actually have some whites that come out stained in that color,” Medlock said. “It’s not harmful to it, other than the fact that you probably don’t want orange clothes or to be drinking water that looks like iced tea when it’s not iced, that type of thing.”

Where does my water come from?

While some water systems collect, treat and distribute their own water from the source, other systems purchase water from larger systems that have collected and treated the water for them.

“The census is designed to give people information (about) where the water’s from, where it originated from,” Medlock said.

He said Kansas City is one of several water systems that sells water to other water systems that then resell the water to their own customers. Because some water systems do not produce their own water, some systems are exempt from submitting samples for analysis to the census, as it would be deemed redundant.

Kansas City hospital care ranked 3rd most segregated, St. Louis ranks 2nd: report

“They’re just basically getting water from Kansas City, so Kansas City does all the testing because the EPA and the regulations require that entry point after treatment testing, because a lot of these contaminants don’t change once it gets into the distribution system,” Medlock said.

Data shows the DNR tested at least 42, or 37%, of public water systems that distribute and serve the Kansas City area, with 26 of those systems submitting samples that exceed the recommended secondary MCLs for one or more chemicals.

Unity Village public water system in Jackson County, for example, submitted results indicating its secondary MCL chloride was at 341 mg/L, while the recommended limit is 250 mg/l, 36.4% less than what was found in Unity Village.

“If you have a high chloride content (for example), it’ll be more of a salty taste or just different taste. So it’s kind of a recommendation and you can see that in these reports, why your water might taste a little different,” said Eric Medlock, environmental program manager with Missouri’s Public Drinking Water Branch.

Unity Village also tested high for sodium and total dissolved solids (TDS), which is a measurement of the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter present in a solution of water. TDS can impact the taste and smell of water if a chemical, like chlorine, for instance, interacts with organic matter in a water system for too long.

“There’s a disinfection byproduct rule where we’re actually looking out in the distribution system for levels of that (contamination after treatment) because the longer chlorine has to react with that organic matter, you can actually have higher levels of those disinfection byproducts,” he said.

KC-area leaders, EPA spreading awareness of ‘silent killer’ radon

Medlock said treatment methods for water are different for varying water sources. For example, surface water, referring to water taken from rivers, lakes and other reservoirs exposed to air, typically must be treated more than groundwater.

“Because we have good quality water, Missouri does not have a standard for those types of groundwater systems to disinfect that water, so there’s sometimes very little treatment that’s needed when you tap into that type of water,” he said.

“Unlike a surface water system, where you’re basically getting exposed to the air, other potential contaminants, there’s a lot of treatment processes that are a part of a surface water system that makes that water safe — meeting those maximum contaminant levels before it’s served to the public.”

Medlock said the Missouri River functions as a border for water system sources, as the majority of water sourced from north of the river comes from surface water sources, while those south of the river come from groundwater sources, like the Ozark aquifer. 

While surface water sources tend to require more treatment, Medlock said some groundwater sources, especially those close to the bootheel area of southern Missouri, may experience palatability concerns as well. 

WHO now tracking hybrid COVID-19 variant: ‘deltacron’

“The water table is very high, so you don’t have to dig very deep to get a high quantity of water. But because it’s shallow, you can get other contaminants like iron and manganese that can be very high in concentration in those areas,” he said. 

Is my water safe?

Medlock said if consumers notice a change in the taste or smell of their water, though it may be a slight inconvenience, it does not mean it is unsafe to drink. He said consumers can mitigate water aesthetic concerns straight from home.

“There’s filters out there you can put in your home and things to remove some of the secondary type things, but the water’s still considered safe. So it’s not something the department would necessarily step in and make a water system correct, unlike a maximum contaminant level, where you exceed something like arsenic or benzene, one of those regulated contaminants, we will step in,” Medlock said.

Citizens interested in learning more about harmful contaminants found in their public water systems can visit the Drinking Water Watch online to track contamination results in real time.

“As soon as we get a result in that database, the public can actually see it in real time and that has every regulated contaminant that they can see,” Medlock said.

Customers should also browse through their water system’s annual consumer confidence report to track their system’s MCL violations. Medlock said this can provide consumers with transparency in regard to harmful chemicals that may pop up in their taps.

Water systems will be releasing their 2021 consumer confidence report in early April. They can be found on the EPA’s website.

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The IWBI Special Report Chapter Series: “China: Doubling Down on Better Buildings for Better Health”

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Published 10 hours ago

Submitted by International WELL Building Institute

The IWBI Special Report Chapter Series: “China: Doubling Down on Better Buildings for Better Health”

by Xue Ya, Yi (Zoe) Xia, Yan Zhang, Tony Armstrong, Yan Tai

In 2021, IWBI released an in-depth report that lays out research approaches and specific operational strategies as the world continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and prepares for acute health threats into the future. Prevention and Preparedness, Resilience and Recovery: An IWBI Special Report integrates proven strategies from the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and actionable insights garnered from IWBI staff and nearly 600 members of the Task Force on COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Infections.

We’ve been reposting chapters from the report to help highlight specific themes and insights. The IWBI Special Report Chapter Series continues with “China: Doubling Down on Better Buildings for Better Health,” authored by Xue Ya, President, IWBI Asia, Tony Armstrong, WELL Faculty, Senior Vice President, IWBI Asia, Yan Tai, WELL Faculty, Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Yan Zhang, WELL AP, Senior Associate, IWBI Asia, Yi Xia, WELL Faculty, Senior Associate, IWBI Asia.

Excerpt republished from: Prevention and Preparedness, Resilience and Recovery: An IWBI Special Report

Despite the fact that COVID-19 was first detected in China, it largely managed to halt the spread of the virus within its borders. Beginning in August 2020, social venues such as movie theaters, shopping centers, restaurants and tourist sites throughout the country reopened. Moreover, the World Bank noted that China was the only major economy to achieve positive growth in 2020.

Without a doubt, an important part of China’s successful response to COVID-19 resulted from sweeping government restrictions imposed at the national level—many of which may be hard to replicate in other countries. Social factors played a part as well. For example, wearing face masks carries less stigma among Chinese people than it does for the citizens of many Western nations. This is in large part because China endured the SARS epidemic between 2002 and 2003. Commentators have also connected America’s cultural emphasis on individualism with its struggles to contain the virus—while contrasting this situation with a more collectivist mindset present in China.

Every country’s approach to COVID-19 is shaped by its own distinct political, social and cultural considerations. As a result, no two nations can be expected to react in the exact same fashion…

Excerpt: Laying a Firm Foundation
China made a strong commitment to healthy buildings in the years preceding the emergence of COVID-19, particularly surrounding the importance of indoor air quality.

Between 2002 and 2003, the nation grappled with the SARS epidemic—which infected more than 5,000 people and claimed more than 300 lives. Like COVID-19, SARS was spread primarily through airborne respiratory droplets. And, in its aftermath, public health officials throughout China took steps designed to protect people from future outbreaks…

Country-wide Efforts
Researchers believe that centralized actions China taken at the country level helped to contain the virus transmission into 2021, though outbreaks in August driven by the Delta variant caused new lockdowns and mass testing. Front and center of such measures were the country’s strictly followed guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and transmission. The findings in a study on China’s methods to address COVID-19 by BioMed Central have shown that a nationwide well-synchronized system for case surveillance, rapid diagnosis and effective contact tracing and quarantine management largely contributed to reducing the original spread of the virus in China.

Excerpt: Standing Strong in Crisis
During the early months of the pandemic, many members of China’s healthy buildings movement focused their efforts on helping communities adapt to and endure the crisis, especially around air quality standards. As scientific research revealed that the disease was primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets, reliance on direct ventilation methods such as operable windows became widespread throughout the country. In addition, high-performance, point-of-use air purification units became common items in offices, conference rooms and other shared public spaces as economic activity resumed.

Many in the healthy buildings community in China also acted swiftly to leverage the various health strategies implemented in buildings as part of the tools they utilized to fight against virus transmission. For months following the pandemic outbreak, IWBI’s entire China team worked tirelessly with WELL projects across the country to help them communicate to all stakeholders the benefits of strategies implemented. Many other solution providers came forward with their expertise to help address specific issues. Carrier Global Corporation conducted a case study based on a COVID-19 incident in a restaurant in Guangzhou and issued a white paper in an effort to help guide proper HVAC use during a spread of infectious disease…

Excerpt: Building a Better—and Healthier—Tomorrow
Looking to a post-pandemic future, advocates for healthy buildings in China are well positioned to expand their impact. Between March 2020 and March 2021, organizations in China enrolled nearly 60 million square feet of real estate to pursue WELL certification. IWBI currently has projects applying WELL in nearly 100 countries around the globe. Such surging interest is an indication the people of China understand—perhaps now more than ever—that the physical spaces where we work, live, learn and play are vital to our health…

Conclusion
By making significant investments in policies, practices and places that seek to advance human health and well-being, China has positioned itself at the forefront of the world’s healthy building movement. In coming years, as societies continue to assess the full impact of COVID-19, leaders in China can examine and document the precise role this movement played in mitigating the effects of the virus. With more robust and rigorous research, officials and advocates can create an even stronger case for expanding the use of healthy building practices—both in China and all across the globe.

Read the full section here.

International WELL Building Institute Logo

International WELL Building Institute

International WELL Building Institute

The International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) is a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and well-being through the built environment. IWBI administers the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) – a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of buildings that impact the health and well-being of the people who live, work, and learn in them. IWBI was established pursuant to a Clinton Global Initiative commitment to improve the way people live by developing spaces that enhance occupant health and quality of life by sharing the WELL Building Standard globally. www.wellcertified.com

More from International WELL Building Institute

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Manufacturing Plants in Iowa and Nebraska Among Most Energy Efficient of 2021

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ENERGY STAR certified 93 energy-efficient plants this year

March 17, 2022

LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 17, 2022) – Bimbo Bakeries USA in Dubuque, Iowa, and Koch Fertilizer plants in Beatrice, Nebraska, and Ft. Dodge, Iowa, were among the 93 U.S. manufacturing plants that earned the Agency’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2021.

ENERGY STAR-certified plants are verified to be among the most energy-efficient plants within their industries. Bimbo Bakeries is commercial bread and roll baking facility, while the two Koch plants manufacture nitrogenous fertilizer. This was the first-time ENERGY STAR certification for their Beatrice plant.

Together, the 93 ENERGY STAR manufacturing plants prevented over 5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector, which is responsible for nearly a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

“As these companies demonstrate, improving energy efficiency serves to confront climate change while strengthening our economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Manufacturing plants that reduce energy consumption as part of the transition to a zero-emissions future save money and create the resiliency needed for the long-term health of their operations, our economy, and our planet.”

Thanks to their superior energy performance over a single year, these plants avoided nearly 90 trillion BTUs of energy consumption and prevented emissions equal to the annual energy use of nearly 650,000 American homes.

Since the first plants were certified in 2006, ENERGY STAR-certified plants have cumulatively saved manufacturers over $7 billion on energy bills when compared to average-performing facilities.

Energy efficiency cuts energy waste and is an essential action for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for both the United States’ Long-Term Strategy and the sustainability of the manufacturing  sector.

To assess energy performance, plants use EPA’s ENERGY STAR energy performance indicators (EPIs) or, in the case of petroleum refineries, the Solomon Associates Energy Intensity Index (Solomon-EII™) scoring system. To be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification, plants must score 75 or higher on these 100-point scales, indicating that they are more energy efficient than at least 75% of similar facilities nationwide. ENERGY STAR certification is available for 20 manufacturing sectors, from cement and steel to glass and commercial bakeries.

A list of all ENERGY STAR-certified manufacturing plants for 2021 is available on the Celebrating 2021 Certified Plants page.

About the ENERGY STAR Industrial Program

Since 2006, the ENERGY STAR Industrial Program has annually certified manufacturing plants for performing within the top 25% of energy performance in their industries nationwide. More than 230 plants have achieved this distinction since 2006. For more information, visit the ENERGY STAR Plant Certification page. For a list of all certified plants, visit the ENERGY STAR Certified Building and Plant Locator page. To learn more about how EPA and industry work together, visit the ENERGY STAR Industrial Energy Management page.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations – including about 40% of the Fortune 500® – rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving, energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid over $450 billion in energy costs and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More information about the impacts of ENERGY STAR can be found on the ENERGY STAR Impacts page.

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Filed Under: EPA

Daikin USA subsidiary acquires NJ distributor

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USA: Daikin company Goodman Distribution has acquired its New-Jersey-based distributor CCOM Group and its subsidiaries Universal Supply Group, RAL Supply Group and S&A Supply.

CCOM operates from 15 locations across New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts.

On completion, CCOM will continue to supply and promote the full line of residential unitary Goodman and Amana brand equipment and Daikin ductless and light commercial HVAC products, as well as a diverse lineup of additional brands and products. This includes building management systems and controls, other HVAC, indoor air quality, hydronic, plumbing and electrical equipment.

The announcement follows Daikin’s acquisition of Pacific Northwestern companies Thermal Supply and AirReps in December, and other recent acquisitions including ABCO HVACR Supply + Solutions, Robinson Plumbing & Heating Supply, Thermal Mechanics Inc (TMI), and Stevens Equipment Supply.

Related stories:

Daikin unifies US air conditioner brands – 7 March 2022
USA: Daikin’s unitary, ductless and light commercial and VRV products organisation in North America has been renamed Daikin Comfort Technologies. Read more…

Daikin acquires Washington state AC suppliers – 4 December 2021
USA: Daikin North America has continued its acquisitions of key distributors in the USA with the purchase of Washington state companies Thermal Supply Inc and AirReps. Read more…

Daikin buys Mitsubishi’s US distributor ABCO – 13 January 2021
USA: Daikin has acquired ABCO HVACR Supply + Solutions, a leading distributor of Mitsubishi Electric and other air conditioning and refrigeration systems and accessories in northeast USA. Read more…

Goodman acquires US distributor Robinson – 5 January 2021
USA: Daikin’s US subsidiary Goodman Distribution has acquired Robinson Plumbing & Heating Supply Co, its Massachusetts-based distributor of Goodman, Amana and Daikin residential unitary and light commercial products. Read more…

Daikin buys US distributor Stevens – 3 November 2020
USA: Daikin North America, the US subsidiary of the Japanese air conditioning manufacturer, has purchased its long-standing US distributor Stevens Equipment Supply. Read more…

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JLC LIVE Returns to Providence for the 26th Year as the Most Anticipated Regional Trade Show for Residential Construction Professionals in New England

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PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 18, 2022–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The JLC LIVE Residential Construction Show, organized by Informa Markets, returns to the Rhode Island Convention Center March 24-26 for a three-day conference and two-day exhibition full of live building clinics, ample networking, and technical, forward-looking educational seminars.

Exhibits: March 25 – March 26, 2022
Conference: March 24 – March 26, 2022

JLC LIVE, a household name in the region, is revered as New England’s must-attend event for professionals in residential construction. The annual trade show convenes thousands of builders, remodelers, contractors, and crews from across the region who leverage the event as a strategic tool to build their businesses, discover new products from the nearly 200 exhibiting manufacturers, and engage in expert-led education to sharpen business acumen and jobsite skills. Select sponsors and exhibitors in the 2022 edition include Andersen Windows & Doors, CertainTeed, Huber ZipSystem & Advantech, Milwaukee Tool, Westlake Royal Building Products, VERSATEX, and more top brands in residential building.

Building Clinics

This year’s expo brings industry education and hands-on demos to the forefront, providing attendees various interactive opportunities to learn solutions to today’s most pressing challenges and take away new skills from celebrated industry experts. A selection of workshops include:

  • Ross Trethewey, the Home Technology Expert for This Old House, will host a brand-new building clinic focused on Indoor Air Quality. All building clinics simulate a real-world jobsite setting.

  • Mike Sloggatt and Tom Brewer will host the Builders’ Workshop, teaching participants best practices for veteran framers and apprentice carpenters alike.

  • Tony Blue brings years of experience to the Roofing Clinic, where attendees will learn how to identify and address known problem areas before the roof is installed, and much more.

Show Floor Features

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  • The highly popular Tool Zone will return to the show floor for attendees to get hands-on with the latest tools and technology.

  • The all-new Beer Garden, located on the upper level of the convention center, will offer opportunities for industry connections. Attendees and exhibitors are invited to attend the Happy Hour at 1:00 pm on Friday, March 25, and Saturday, March 26, sponsored by The Contractor Fight.

New Product Discovery

With nearly 200 building product manufacturers accessible on the show floor, JLC LIVE is an ideal platform for exhibitors to effectively display and demonstrate their product and machinery, facilitating attendee discovery. As part of the interactive aspect of JLC LIVE New England, exhibitors present their products on the show floor as well as sell them.

For the 2022 edition, attendees will have access to eight LIVE manufacturer-led building and product demonstrations interspersed throughout the exhibit halls. Additionally, 11 LIVE building clinics and over 40 conference workshops led by nationally recognized experts will enhance business and jobsite skills. The building clinics cover a range of topics, including drywall, high performance, air quality, deck building, window installation, stair building, and more. Additional education around air quality and healthy homes is featured in the education program thanks to a new partnership with the Building Performance Institute (BPI). Larry Zarker, the CEO of BPI, will present multiple sessions throughout the three days of the conference.

“It’s always exciting to return to Rhode Island for JLC LIVE,” said Lauren Lamb, Vice President, Strategy, Marketing, and Conference, JLC LIVE at Informa Markets. “The event is high in anticipation, and our community is ready to ink deals and discover new products that will lay the foundation for continued industry growth.”

Residential construction is rebounding from the challenges brought on by the pandemic and are returning to JLC Live to arm their businesses with new machinery and learn new skills to keep up with demand, signaling the beginning of economic recovery in Providence. The trade event industry provides an incredible economic boom for the industries they serve, the cities that host their events, and the small and medium-sized companies that make up 85% of their customers. The industry creates over $325 billion in business sales and 1.3 million jobs globally each year.

Qualified members of the media can register for press credentials, here.

Register to attend at ne.jlclive.com/register.

About JLC LIVE

JLC LIVE events are the most anticipated regional trade events of the year for residential construction. Remodelers, home builders, contractors, and other tradesmen and women learn from the leading industry experts through live, on-floor building clinics, demonstrations, and classroom-style conference sessions. JLC LIVE attendees can expect to see the hottest products, learn the newest building techniques, and expand their professional network through fun, free-to-attend networking events. For more information, please visit www.ne.jlclive.com. Register to attend at www.ne.jlclive.com/en/register.

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio comprises more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Engineering, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure & Construction, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

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Originally Appeared Here

Wellness Features Termed a ‘Necessity’

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INDIANAPOLIS — Wellness features, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and an elevated awareness of indoor environments’ impact on physical and mental health, are no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity in today’s homes, a leading wellness expert contends.

According to Dr. Jie Zhao, executive v.p. of Delos, a New York-based wellness real estate and technology company, COVID-19 has literally reshaped the way homes – including kitchens and baths – will be designed, built, equipped and remodeled in the years to come.

“People are much more cognizant of the important role that homes play in our lives and how these environments can have an impact on the wellness of their inhabitants,”
Jie said.

At the recent “Insights Summit,” an annual event sponsored by the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), Jie outlined four key wellness trends that he believes will have the greatest impact on home improvement in the post-pandemic world. Among them:

Indoor Air Quality: Because viruses spread through the air much easier than by surface contact, the pandemic shed light on the importance of indoor air quality, or IAQ, as a component of a healthy home, Jie observed.

“Air filtration is vital to the reduction of particle transmission,” he said. “Not only can air-cleaning technologies improve peace of mind when it comes to invisible health threats like COVID-19, they also tackle visible particles in the air such as smoke and other harmful particles.”

According to Jie, ventilation and/​or ionization technology will be at the forefront of the fight against contaminated air in home spaces. ​“For this reason, IAQ may be the biggest wellness trend to have emerged from the pandemic,” he noted.

Mental Wellness: Mental wellness issues persisted long before the emergence of the coronavirus, but the amount of attention devoted to COVID-19 has increased significantly, Jie said.

He noted that one result for the home-improvement industry is the general migration away from congested cities in favor of larger residences, more nature and less commuting time. Jie also pointed to the effect of mental wellness on increased demand in certain product categories, including home entertainment, artists’ supplies, sports equipment and pets.

Home Offices: Another major change emerging from the pandemic is the increased importance of the home office.

“Many employees have made investments in their home offices and have gotten used to working from home,” Jie said, pointing to surveys which found that 80% of workers want to be able to work from home three days per week, and 92% want at least one remote workday per week.

“There has been a rise in office furniture and accessories that support health and wellness, such as the standing desk or ergonomic keyboard,” Jie said, adding that 20-25% of companies are currently reimbursing their employees for wellness-related home office supplies and furniture, “hinting at the prospect that work-from-home may be around well into the coming years.”

Fitness: While the spread of COVID-19 led to the temporary closure of most gyms and athletic institutions, it also gave rise to new home-based fitness technologies, Jie pointed out.

“Companies like Peloton and MIRROR are changing the way we think about fitness (and) combining the physical and virtual,” he said. “Consumers not only can purchase a piece of gym equipment for their home, but they can buy into an entire online social and content experience.”

“I expect to see more integration with online fitness platforms and home décor,” he said. “People want convertible spaces, so the easier their equipment blends with their home and lifestyle, the better.” ▪

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High Nitrate Levels Detected in Poseyville, Drinking Water Unsafe for Infants, Town Says | News

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Officials in Poseyville, Indiana, have issued a warning to community members after noticing a problem with the town’s drinking water.

According to the town’s website, water samples collected on March 7 showed nitrate levels of 12.5 milligrams per liter (mg/L), which is above the maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/L by 2.5 mg, causing a serious health concern for infants who are less than six-months-old.

Here’s some information from the Town of Poseyville’s statement:

  • DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome. Blue baby syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin. Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately. If you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may also wish to consult you doctor.
    • Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or another alternate source of water must be provided until the nitrate levels meet the acceptable standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated because nitrates remain behind when the water evaporates.

The town says it’s currently working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on a nitrate removal project.

44News reached out to utility officials on Friday, who said that as of now, no new updates were available.

Anyone with more questions can contact the public water system at 812-457-2044. 

You can see the statement and future updates on the town’s website at poseyville.us.

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