Staff Reporter

Climate Matters: Paying more to heat your home?

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

STEVE MAIER

4th in a series

Despite the recent rises in oil and propane prices, my wife and I are not paying more to heat our home this winter. That is because we use cold-climate heat pumps. We still have an oil burner, but it hasn’t been on for over two years.

Why aren’t we paying more? Because heat pumps use electricity, and electric rates remain stable over time. Electric utilities secure long-term contracts for the power they use to generate the electricity in the grid, so they are much less affected by worldwide energy price fluctuations. Also, an important control exists because Vermont’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates our electricity rates.

Yes, electricity prices go up over time, but they do so in slow and predictable ways. According to the Vermont Energy Action Network’s 2021 Annual Progress Report, running a heat pump cost around $15 per million BTUs (MMBTUs) in 2010 and about $18-19/MMBTU in 2020. Electricity rates are typically steady for two to three years and then go up a few percentage points based on several factors that are reviewed and approved by the PUC.

Oil prices, on the other hand, fluctuate wildly. Between 2010 and 2020, the cost for heating with oil ranged from $17 to $40 per MMBTU based on factors largely out of our control, including global economics, politics and climate emergencies. Over the past decade, the average cost of heating with fuel oil has been significantly higher than heat pumps (the costs were about the same when oil prices were low in 2017-2018). This winter, the cost of heating with oil is approximately double the cost for heat pumps. In addition to the price differences, heat pump technology is more efficient than most oil burners at turning energy into heat, so that factors into heat-pump savings as well.

The electricity delivered to our home is also much greener than fossil fuels. There are social and environmental issues with every kind of energy that humans use, and the electricity grid is no exception. But there is no denying that the electricity that Green Mountain Power delivers to us in Addison County is much cleaner in terms of greenhouse gas emissions than any fossil fuel energy. Our electricity sources in Vermont include both in-state and out-of-state renewables, Hydro-Quebec, nuclear (from New Hampshire), and a small amount (6% according to the Energy Action Network) of fossil fuels. The power mix is much cleaner than it was 10 years ago, and further changes, such as more renewables and phasing out nuclear, are planned over the next decade.

We also love our heat pumps for other reasons. Our indoor air quality is much better than when we used our forced hot-air vent system and burned a lot of wood. We breathe much easier, literally. And a huge bonus is that heat pumps also efficiently cool in the summertime, a benefit that will only grow as the climate warms.

If you are interested in heat pumps, there is a lot of good information available at Efficiency Vermont (efficiencyvermont.com); just go to the website and search for heat pumps. They have information on the different kinds of heat pumps, and which are more appropriate in different settings. They also have rebates to offer and a list of approved contractors. Heat pumps don’t work as well or save as much money in every situation, so getting a professional involved is usually a good idea.

By the way, much of the information in this article also applies to electric vehicles. We plan to devote an entire column to EVs, but here’s a teaser. While the upfront costs of EVs are still a bit higher, the Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that electric vehicle operating costs in rural areas like Vermont will be lower by roughly $1,500 during the first year of ownership, and over $21,000 over a 14-year lifetime of the vehicle. And once you test drive one, there is no going back!

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Steve Maier, a former member of the Vermont House, currently serves on the Middlebury Energy Committee and is a founding board member of CEAC, the Climate Economy Action Center.

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Originally Appeared Here

Murky water an ongoing issue for Springfield residents in Canterbury

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

New ZealandUpdated

24 Feb, 2022 06:14 PM4 minutes to read

Residents of a Canterbury township are fed up with their dirty water as the district council prepares to spend millions of dollars fixing the problem. Photo / Supplied

Residents of a Canterbury township are fed up with their dirty water as the district council prepares to spend millions of dollars fixing the problem.

Springfield has been subject to its fourth boil water notice following the May 30 and 31 floods last year, with many residents relying on a potable water tanker outside the community hall installed by the Selwyn District Council as a temporary measure.

Murky water runs from residents’ taps whenever it rains. They say boiling does not take away the turbidity, and the district council is not prioritising their concerns.

However, the district council says it has multiple projects under way to improve the supply and has been actively investigating alternate water sources.

The last precautionary boil water notice was issued on February 5 and was still in place on Monday – 16 days later.

This followed a notice on December 15, lasting eight days, and two earlier notices in 2021 from July 16 to 23 and June 22 to 30.

Resident Amy Albon said on day 10 of the notice last week the tap water at her house was the worst it had been since the 2021 floods.

She could not bathe her four-year-old son as she feared it would make a skin infection he was suffering from worse.

“I don’t have clean water to fill up a bath and wash him in or anything like that because the water looks dirtier than what he is,” Albon said.

It was unacceptable that residents were forced to fill up drink bottles at the tanker or buy bottled water, she said.

“It’s awful. I just feel like we are on the outskirts of the Selwyn district and we are really not thought about.

“Rolleston has all of its clean water, everywhere else has clean water.”

Springfield residents have been avoiding bathing their children with yellow/brown coloured tap water. Photo / Supplied

Even prior to the floods, the water supply had problems, with boil water notices issued once or twice a year.

Fellow resident Bridget Hayward said she has been buying bottled water for the family and pets to drink, as well as for cooking and doing dishes.

The potable water tanker was saving her money, but it was still a “hassle” to have to use it.

“Every time it rains our toilet always looks like it hasn’t been flushed, it’s a disgusting yellow brown colour,” Hayward said.

Springfield Township Committee chairman Graeme Dawson was among about 30 people who attended a regular Malvern Community Board drop-in session on Monday last week, where residents had been invited along to air their concerns.

Dawson said he was satisfied with the actions the district council was taking to rectify the matter.

Council group manager infrastructure Murray Washington said the boil water notices had been issued because of high levels of sediment in the supply source of the Kowai River, stirred up by rain events since the floods, potentially as a result of upstream landslips.

“There have also been changes in the way national drinking water standards are monitored and regulated that mean earlier and more frequent water quality notices are now required,” Washington said.

The district council had begun construction of a new 500m3 treated water reservoir and two new 30m3 raw-water storage tanks, altogether costing $780,000, due to be completed by June.

“Having additional stored water will help prevent or reduce the time that supply will be interrupted by providing more clean water while we are unable to take water from the river in rain events,” he said.

In addition, $2 million to $4 million of capital works could go ahead for a new membrane plant, offering better filtration than the existing filter system, pending results of a trial that was under way.

“So far the results from the trial have been positive and, if the trial is successful, the council will then consider installing the plant permanently.”

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Originally Appeared Here

Coast Guard lieutenant launches candle business during pandemic

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

(Even Keel Candle Co. Facebook)

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Tribune News Service) — With a background in hazardous substance training, Savannah Kuntz is aware of the science behind candles and indoor air quality.

So when Kuntz, a Coast Guard lieutenant, started Even Keel Candle Co. in October 2020, she focused on sustainably sourced and ethically made hand-poured vegan soy candles.

“By making your own, I know exactly what goes into them and exactly what doesn’t,” Kuntz said.

Her candle-making dates back 10 years when she started it as a hobby. Friends and family members received candles as gifts and as her knowledge expanded, it kindled her interest in the clean candle industry.

During the pandemic, Kuntz, like many, spent more time in her Virginia Beach home and decided to create a side business.

Within the first three months of launching, Kuntz said she had shipped her products to every state in the U.S.

Although she maintains a busy schedule working full-time, Kuntz makes time on the weekends and off-duty for her role as a candlemaker.

She said social media tools such as Facebook Business Manager have enabled her to plan out her posts for weeks in advance.

Her collections include more than a dozen fragrances in winter, essentials, and apothecary scents. She also created a line of reed diffusers. The Even Keel website explains clean candles as “no unhealthy chemicals, additives, dyes, or funny business.”

Candles are sold in 8-ounce ($16), 14-ounce ($20), and 21-ounce ($30) jars. Customers can recycle candle jars for discounts on future purchases.

Her nod to the nautical term runs deep for Kuntz, who grew up in a small Ohio town on the South Shore of Lake Erie.

“My family runs a marina; I was always on the water and loved sailing,” she said.

By the age of 5, Kuntz donned a life jacket and soloed at the helm of an Opti sailboat.

A 2017 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, Kuntz majored in management and is working on her Master of Business Administration through the American Military University.

As a response officer, she said her primary job is to serve as a federal on-scene coordinator representative leading a team that provides investigations for pollution response, proper cleanup, and environment restoration along the Virginia coastal zone.

“We get to do some pretty amazing missions every day,” Kuntz said.

Erin O’Brien, a real estate agent with Howard Hanna, burns Even Keel candles at home and at her office. She said she loves to support locally owned small businesses and loves that Even Keel is owned by a member of the military.

“I love knowing that they are all natural and the time that Savannah puts in to making sure they are clean and sustainable,” O’Brien said.

As for Kuntz, it’s all just another part of her mission.

“It’s a great stress reliever for me because you’re creating something,” she said. “This is the chance that I get to step back and say, ‘We’ve got smooth sailing days ahead.’”

For more information, visit evenkeelcandle.com.

[email protected]

Visit pilotonline.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Originally Appeared Here

Live a Smart and Healthy Tech Life the Celebrity Way

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Sponsored content. Us Weekly receives compensation for this article as well as for purchases made when you click on a link and buy something below.

There’s plenty of research showing that too much screentime can disrupt our sleep habits, make us less focused, and cause a host of other side effects beyond just tired eyes or a lack of in-person socialization. But did you know that even with our tech devices on the other side of the room, they could still be causing harm?

If you often suffer from poor sleep, chronic stress, irritability, and fatigue, It might be time to reduce the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in your indoor space. What are EMFs?

Somavedic

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An EMF is a type of invisible energy, also known as radiation, which comes from electrical power sources and man-made technology. EMFs could potentially lead to cellular and DNA damage for humans, pets, and even the plants inside our homes and workspaces. Combined with poor sleep, it’s possible that exposure to EMFs could lead to cardiac stress, impaired brain function, and a host of other health risks large and small.

This is why some of Hollywood’s top celebrities have all been vocal about taking steps to limit their exposure to wifi devices and the dangers of EMFs. Many of us know houseplants can help with cleaner indoor air quality, but now there is a product that works in a similar, but even more powerful, way to help neutralize indoor air smog — it’s the Somavedic!

Somavedic

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Somavedics are frequency therapy solutions for indoor spaces like your home, office, or even your car. They’re designed on the principle of a controlled release of energy from precious and semi-precious stones that help mitigate the negative consequences of EMF radiation from WiFi, Bluetooth, and cell phones. This means the Somavedic supports the body’s natural regenerative process to improve sleep, focus and concentration, maintain hydration, stay energized, reduce stress, neutralize free radicals, and enhance overall physical recovery – just to name a few potential benefits. Some Somavedic customers have even credited the device with eliminating bacteria, parasites and mold in their home.

Each Somavedic is crafted with the highest quality hand-blown glass. The latest “Vedic” and premium models offer the added bonus of being able to restructure your drinking water – making it more hydrating and easier for your body to absorb. Simply place your Somavedic next to your cup or bottle of water for 10 to 15 minutes and watch your water transform. Not only might you taste a significant difference, but even watering your houseplants with this restructured water has been shown to help them flourish as well!

Somavedic

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No need to feel powerless about our increasing exposure to 3G, 4G and 5G networks! Simply plug in a Somavedic. Celebrities and wellness influencers are already singing the brand’s praises. Volleyball icon Gabby Reece says “they make me feel good. I keep one in my daughter’s room and in my bathroom to protect me from any electronic devices near where I sleep.” Influencer and artist Jesse Wellens says “one of the biggest differences I’ve noticed since having the Somavedic is that my stomach anxiety issues have gone away.”

Customers are also stunned by the results they’re experiencing from using their Somavedics. One reviewer says they were “blown away” — noting that they’re “sleeping better”, their “plants are thriving,” and their “mood has improved dramatically.” Another called it a “positive force” in their life. And another said they felt a “powerful physical, mental, emotional and spiritual alignment” — love that!

Somavedic also offers convenient, portable accessories like crystal and titanium pyramids, key chains and pendants to help protect you even on the go! The “TINY” model is small enough to fit perfectly in your pocket – take it with you on flights or just about anywhere out of the home! Check out Somavedic’s full collection on their site, and get ready to start feeling good again today!

View all Somavedic EMF mitigating devices here! 11% off with code USWeekly11 for a limited time until March 2!

Disclaimer: While we work to ensure that product information is correct, on occasion manufacturers may alter their ingredient lists. Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and/or different information than that shown on our website. We recommend that you do not solely rely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings and directions before using or consuming a product. For additional information about a product, please contact the manufacturer. Content on this site is for reference purposes and is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist or other licensed health-care professional. You should not use this information as self-diagnosis or for treating a health problem or disease. Contact your health-care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Us Weekly assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products.

This post is brought to you by Us Weekly’s Shop With Us team. The Shop With Us team aims to highlight products and services our readers might find interesting and useful, such as face masks, self tanners, Lululemon-style leggings and all the best gifts for everyone in your life. Product and service selection, however, is in no way intended to constitute an endorsement by either Us Weekly or of any celebrity mentioned in the post.

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Originally Appeared Here

Photographing Organs in the Necropsy Room for Veterinary Pathology

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Blood ran over my latex gloves and dripped onto the tile floor as I carried the horse’s head to the stainless steel examining table. Actually, it had been band‐sawn in half, the long way, to give a clear view of skull fractures, so it was only half a head.

I placed the specimen on the table, on top of a sheet of black acrylic which was centered under my tripod. Narrow heavy-duty plastic bags slipped over the feet of the tripod kept them clean. My Nikon D850, attached to the bottom of the inverted column of the tripod, aimed down at the head. I was using my 50mm lens. Horse skull with fractures (fractures in bottom left), David Garnick

To level the exposed skull, I wadded up balls of paper towel and tucked them out of sight under the head. I used more paper towels to mop up blood, not only to expose the fractures but also because pools of blood tend to distract the eye. I had always been put off by the sight of blood, even in movies. But, totally absorbed in the challenges of my task, it didn’t bother me to have my hands covered in it.

I removed my gloves, careful not to touch the contaminated surfaces with my bare skin, and put them in the biohazard bin. I then scrubbed my hands with disinfecting soap.

My camera was tethered to my laptop with a cable that ran up towards the ceiling, along a length of angle steel suspended overhead, and down to the computer set up away from the specimen area. Viewing the image on the computer screen, I adjusted the height of the camera and positioned the two LED panels low and close to the head.

Each of the lights was covered with a sandwich of layers; closest to the LED elements was a sheet of translucent white acrylic to diffuse the dots of light, then a layer of polarizing film, and on top was a protective layer of clear acrylic.

I rotated the circular polarizer on my lens to remove all glare from the fractures, and to keep it minimal elsewhere. When using two lights, fitted with non‐rotating polarizing filters, it’s hard to remove all glare. The environment precluded the use of softboxes or diffusion fabric. However, as long as it isn’t obscuring the pathology, a little bit of glare can help convey the form and wetness of a specimen.

With one light on at full power, I dialed the other down. I used tethering software, Helicon Remote, to select the focus points of the nearest and farthest parts of the head. Looking at the histogram on the screen, I adjusted the exposure settings. I let the software determine the focus step size and the number of photographs to take. I clicked the icon to start the stack and waited about fifteen seconds for it to finish.

I loaded the images into the stacking software, Helicon Focus, and let it merge them into one image with the head fully in focus. The result was good. I had the stack of raw images on both cards in the camera and also on my laptop. Post-processing could wait until I returned home.

Photographing Cyst-Covered Chicken Ovaries

Finished with the horse’s head, I carried it to the walk‐in cooler and put it in the drum marked for disposal. After removing and cleaning the black acrylic, I put a square of black velvet paper on the table and laid a piece of tempered glass on top of it. I swapped my 50mm lens for my 90mm macro lens and went to the room next door to get my next subject, cyst-covered chicken ovaries.

Chicken ovaries covered with cysts, David Garnick

This was just part of my two-day visit in August 2021, to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory in San Bernardino, California. I was there at the invitation of Dr. Francisco Uzal, the lab’s Branch Chief. My visit included giving a talk and demonstration of some lighting and macro methods. I also had conversations with staff about equipment and techniques.

Most of my time was spent photographing specimens in the necropsy room. (Necropsy is the term for autopsies performed on animals.) Some of these were for the lab’s use, but mainly I was there to understand their photography needs.

The Role of Photos in Veterinary Pathology

As a photographer obsessed with the technical and aesthetic aspects of the craft, I hadn’t previously thought about non‐photography professionals who take photographs as part of their work. Veterinary pathologists diagnose diseases postmortem. They document virtually every specimen they examine.

The photographs become the de facto evidence for their findings; they are used in research, teaching, insurance claims, and court cases. The photographs must clearly show the presence or absence of the relevant pathologies. Though a quick phone snapshot is adequate for some purposes, a high-quality, well-lit image is often very useful.

Deer thigh with lesions (small dark craters visible on surface of muscle), David Garnick

The technical and aesthetic principles involved in taking a good photograph of an animal organ are no different from other types of photography; lighting, exposure, and composition all matter. However, the working conditions are, well, unusual. Pathologists work quickly, to keep up with the caseload, in a wet, gory, environment while taking precautions against dangerous pathogens. It’s a very physical job. I’ve seen a pathologist move from an examination table, using a scalpel on a rabbit, to the floor, using a bow saw to cut through a horse’s leg.

And they constantly take photographs. Often, labs have a dedicated camera stand for small to medium specimens. It will typically have two or four strong lights aimed at a glass surface that sits above a black background. But many specimens can only be photographed on the examining table or floor, with pools of blood and bits of fur or feathers cluttering the background.

Given the documentary nature of the photography, there are strict constraints on the types of post-processing manipulations that are allowed. Generally, global adjustments to exposure and contrast are allowed. For some purposes, the background can be painted a solid color. Under some circumstances, local adjustments are allowed for removing distractions that aren’t part of the portrayed pathology.

I’d gone to the lab with some trepidation over how I’d react to seeing and handling viscera. But, by the end of my second day in the lab, when a park ranger brought in a brown bear, I was sorry that I wouldn’t be there the following day to photograph its organs.

I want to thank Dr. Francisco Uzal, and all the staff at the San Bernardino CAHFS lab for their friendliness, their patience, and their dedication to the important work they do.

About the author: David Garnick’s artistic photography is held in public, corporate, and private collections. He collaborates with museums to create imagery for exhibitions, and produces, curates, and judges exhibitions of contemporary photography. He also works with science labs to help them improve and extend their imaging capabilities. You can view his blog and some of his work at davidgarnick.com. This article was also published here.

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Originally Appeared Here

Molds and yeasts in daycares may lead to chronic asthma, allergies

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Daycare centers for toddlers are notorious for spreading germs and perhaps the occasional cold. But the American Society for Microbiology reports a different pediatric threat lurking within most in-door daycare centers: mold and yeast. A new study finds these fungi are more common in indoor daycare centers than outside of them and may contribute mightily to rising adolescent chronic allergy and asthma rates.

Study authors add that several factors, such as specific building features or the number of children attending a particular daycare center, influence the presence of specific fungi species. This adds further evidence that molds and yeasts likely originate from indoor sources.

“This information is important to understand the alarming increase in chronic diseases like asthma and allergies in children,” says first author Eva Lena Estensmo, Ph.D., University of Oslo, Norway, in a press release. “Fungal growth can lead to poor indoor air quality, and some fungi are associated with allergic reactions and respiratory symptoms that may lead to chronic respiratory diseases.”

Citizen scientists collect evidence of fungi and yeast

These findings are based on data collected at 125 daycare centers in Norway. First, researchers analyzed each center’s indoor and immediate outdoor mycobiomes (fungal microbiome) by collecting dust samples of the insides and outsides of door frames. Then, they cross-referenced the findings against many variables, including the amount of attending children, their ages, the building type (single building, apartment, etc.), building materials (bricks, wood), ventilation systems, pest assessments, mold damage history, and year of construction.

Notably, a group of volunteer “citizen scientists” took charge of collecting dust samples and building/daycare data. These volunteers used materials mailed to them to collect the dust swab samples and answer a series of surveys on the daycare centers and buildings.

The team also considered environmental data such as indoor and outdoor temperature and moisture levels, distance from the nearest coast, and even longitude and latitude coordinates.

“Especially the high diversity of yeasts came as a surprise,” Dr. Estensmo comments. “We don’t fully know whether the yeasts are especially associated with children, but we have some indications—work in progress—that far more yeasts are present in daycares than in other indoor environments. In addition, the daycare environment with a lot of activity and high density of people is an interesting environment to study in relation to human influence on the indoor mycobiome.”

While it’s well-known that humans influence the indoor microbiome related to bacteria, researchers add there is less known about our effect on the mycobiome.

“Since young children often bring in organic materials such as soil and litter from nature, daycare centers may accumulate extra organic substrates promoting fungal growth, compared to other indoor environments,” the study reads.

The researchers published the study in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

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Originally Appeared Here

Container house recuperator air to heat recovery ventilation system, HRV ERV heat recovery ventilator

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Model Number	THC-#4533
Brand Name	Holtop
Origin	China

Key Specifications/ Special Features:

Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) is the energy recovery process of exchanging the energy contained in normally exhausted building or space air and using it to treat (precondition) the incoming outdoor ventilation air in residential and commercial HVAC systems. During the warmer seasons, the system pre-cools and dehumidifies while humidifying and pre-heating in the cooler seasons. The benefit of using energy recovery is the ability to meet the ASHRAE ventilation & energy standards, while improving indoor air quality and reducing total HVAC equipment capacity.

High energy recovery efficiency

Holtop crossflow enthalpy exchanger is built in the full Eco-slim series Erv, heat recovery efficiency up to 82% in winter, the allowance of moisture exchange between fresh air and exhaust air make a soft indoor temperature and humidity.

Holtop Factory

Holtop headquarters is located at the foot of Beijing Baiwangshan Mountain, covering area of 30,000 square meters. The manufacturing base is in Beijing’s Badaling Economic Development Zone, covering an area of 60 acres, with an annual production capacity of 200,000 units of air heat recovery equipment.
Holtop builds a sound certificate system of ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001 as well as product certification systems. Moreover, it has a laboratory certified by national authority. As a well-known manufacturer in the field of heat recovery, Holtop has a strong R&D team and possesses dozens of national invention patents, and participated in the compilation work of several national standards, Holtop was also elected as Zhongguancun High-Tech Enterprise.

Holtop products stand for TOP quality in heat recovery ventilation filed in China, certificated by CE, CB, RCM, RoHs, FCC, ISO and other different approved tests like anti-flaming test, anti-mold test, energy saving product test. etc.

Holtop partner

Holtop cooperate with world famous brand or offer OEM service.

Product Certifications

Certificate Standard
Certificate Image	Click on the picture to see a larger one
Certificate Number	FI-45765
Issue Date	2020/08/03
Issued By	SGS Fimko Ltd.
Expiry Date	2025/12/30

Certificate Standard
Certificate Image	Click on the picture to see a larger one
Certificate Number	FI-45774
Issue Date	2020/08/03
Issued By	SGS Fimko Ltd.
Expiry Date	2025/12/30

Note:
product.certifyingTips

Shipping Information

FOB Port	Tianjin
Lead Time	7–30 days
Weight Per Unit	36.0 Kilograms
Dimensions Per Unit	112.5 x 102.0 x 32.0 Centimeters

US HTS Code	8414.59.30
Units per Export Carton	1.0
Export Carton Dimensions	112.5 x 102 x 32 Centimeters
Export Carton Weight	5 Kilograms

Main Export Markets

– Asia

– Australasia

– Central/South America

– Eastern Europe

– Mid East/Africa

– North America

– Western Europe

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Originally Appeared Here

Water Systems Council Celebrates 90th Anniversary in 2022

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Water Systems Council, the only national nonprofit organization solely focused on household wells and small water well systems, is celebrating 90 years of contribution to the growth of the private water systems industry in 2022.

The Early Years

Founded in 1932 as the National Association of Domestic and Farm Pump Manufacturers (NADFPM), the organization’s early years focused on a cooperative partnership between water systems manufacturers and electric power companies to bring electricity to rural areas. That partnership, known as the Electric Water Systems Council, worked to promote and educate farmers, dealers, and others on the benefits of electrification and installation of running water on farms. Thanks to this effort, the annual sales of electric pumps and water systems grew from 50,000 in 1932 to 600,000 by 1950.

Once electrification was essentially accomplished by the 1950s, the NADFPM gradually moved to promoting complete water systems as part of a total well and water supply. The introduction of the submersible pump in the 1950s helped to spur pump sales throughout that decade and beyond.

In 1961, NADFPM was reorganized and renamed Water Systems Council (WSC). Supplier companies were invited to join WSC to broaden its support base. WSC turned its focus to developing a Testing and Rating Standard for pumps as well as a more robust and accurate statistical reporting program. Previously, the industry had relied on annual Census Bureau reports and an informal poll of manufacturers for its statistics on pump shipments. Beginning in 1970, WSC issued pump data based on actual shipments.

Today, WSC provides its members with monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual statistical reports on unit shipments of water systems, pumps, and tanks by state as well as five-year growth trends for jet and submersible pumps.

The Modern Era

Beginning in the 1970s, WSC began to place greater emphasis on providing the necessary tools for promoting, protecting, defending, and educating the industry and the public about water and private water systems through marketing, education, public information, engineering, legal advocacy, and government relations programs. Those efforts continue today through:

Public Education

Established in 2003, WSC’s wellcare® program provides private well owners with free information on well maintenance, well water treatment and testing, potential groundwater contaminants, drought issues, and more.
The wellcare® Hotline has answered more than 130,000 questions from well owners across the U.S., Canada, and other countries.
The wellcare® program provides 100 different information sheets on its website to help Americans maintain their wells.
Children’s Water Festivals have provided hands-on educational activities for more than 14,000 grade school children on preserving and protecting the nation’s water supply.
Free membership in WSC’s Well Owners Network provides more than 11,000 Americans with information on well maintenance and water testing, discounts on water testing kits, and other benefits.
WSC’s wellcare program is funded through EPA’s Training and Technical Assistance for Private Well Owners grant program.

Training

WSC has provided training workshops to over 100 communities in 34 states on issues related to wells and groundwater.
WSC has conducted Water Law Conferences for attorneys, academics, state and local elected officials, regulators, environmentalists, and others responsible for water resource planning.
WSC provides technical training for water well contractors and suppliers on topics related to water well drilling and installation.

Research & Standards Development

WSC maintains a searchable online database of state well codes pertaining to well construction and permitting.
WSC provides industry leaders and regulators with domestic water well data, household well data and other important research on regulatory matters impacting water wells.
WSC has provided the Centers for Disease Control with data from its wellcare® Hotline on consumer water well issues.
WSC develops performance standards for wells and well parts, including:

ASSE Standard #1093-2019/WSC PAS-97 (2019) –Performance Requirements for Pitless Adapters, Pitless Units, and Well Caps.
ASSE Standard #1099-2021/WSC-PST 2000/2021 – Performance Requirements for Pressurized Water Storage Tanks.

Government Relations

WSC has maintained representation in Washington, D.C., since the late 1970s to monitor activities of regulatory agencies and proposed government legislation that could affect the private water systems industry.
In 2013, WSC worked on water well legislation that was introduced in the House of Representatives on September 18, 2014 as the “Water Supply Cost Savings Act” (HR5659). The “Savings Act” was aimed at reducing the cost to federal, state, and local governments in providing quality drinking water to millions of Americans living in rural or isolated communities by promoting cost-effective community well water systems.
Signed into law in 2016, the Water Supply Cost Savings Act (PL 114-322) requires EPA and USDA programs to provide information about cost-saving, innovative, and alternate drinking water delivery systems, primarily focused on the utilization of wells and well systems. The law also requires that individual, shared, and community wells be considered by all applicants seeking federal funding for drinking water systems serving 500 or fewer people.
WSC ‘s legal advisor monitors local, state and federal cases and submits briefs on behalf of WSC and its members on issues of importance to the water well industry.

Giving Back

In 2010, WSC established the Water Well Trust, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides wells to Americans who do not have a safe drinking water supply. It is currently the only organization whose sole mission is to provide a safe water supply to disadvantaged Americans. It does this by providing financing for wells for low-income households with wells that no longer function properly, has contamination issues that render the well unsafe, or have no well or other safe water source.

Most Water Well Trust projects are funded through matching grants from the USDA’s Rural Decentralized Water Systems program. WSC member companies contribute a percentage toward the matching grant each year. USDA grants to the Water Well Trust have grown from $140,000 in 2014 to $1.4 million in 2021. To date, the Water Well Trust has been involved in drilling or rehabilitating 268 water wells serving 282 households in 27 states, paying $2.6 million directly to well contractors for this work.

In addition to providing a clean water supply for hundreds of Americans, the Water Well Trust projects have also been used to show government officials and regulators the effectiveness of wells and well systems to deliver quality drinking water across the U.S.

The Water Systems Council is the only national nonprofit organization solely focused on household wells and small water well systems. For 90 years, WSC has been committed to ensuring that Americans who get their water from household private wells have safe, reliable drinking water and to protecting our nation’s groundwater resources. For more information, visit watersystemscouncil.org.

Contact:

Margaret Martens, Executive Director
Water Systems Council
[email protected]
202-625-4387

SOURCE Water Systems Council

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Ten Ways Your Community Can Go All-Electric

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Electrifying the places we live and work is an important step on America’s path to repower society with clean renewable energy. Burning fossil fuels in residential and commercial buildings causes almost 30% of our country’s global warming emissions and research is increasingly showing that using fossil fuels in appliances like gas stoves can cause dangerous levels of indoor air pollution. Switching to clean, efficient and all-electric technologies will lead to cleaner air and a more liveable climate.

Forward-looking cities and towns across America are forging the path to all-electric buildings.

Right now, cities and towns all across America, from Ithaca, New York, to Berkeley, California, are forging the path to all-electric buildings. Environment America Research & Policy Center partnered with U.S. PIRG Education Fund to create a guide highlighting progress for communities that are looking to join the movement for clean energy buildings.

“Ten Ways Your Community Can Go All-Electric” can serve as a starting point for local elected officials and community members who want to get involved and take steps to electrify the places they live, work, learn and spend time with loved ones.

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Originally Appeared Here

Air America Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical Provides Top-Notch Air Conditioning Services in Coral Springs, Florida

February 24, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Coral Springs, FL: Air America Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical is a Nate certified technician offering air conditioning services in Palm Beach and Broward counties. As a Carrier authorized dealer, the company is certified to perform all HVAC services that meet meticulous national standards. The services offered by the company include AC and heating installation, replacement, repair and maintenance, and services. The company offers to finance with approved credit or an option of low monthly payments. They partner with financial institutions such as Wells Fargo and Synchrony Banks to provide incredible financing options for qualifying and non-qualifying equipment.

Air America Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical has a team of licensed and factory-trained technicians who do all the installations, maintenance, and servicing. The technicians can service and maintain all types of equipment regardless of the brand. They also use high-quality products in all their installations. The company president had this to say about their services. “As a service company, we started as two men with only one truck. Right now, we have an entire fleet of radio deployed trucks that are all fully stocked, professionally staffed, and computer inventoried. Customer satisfaction has always been one of our core values. We maintain a service division, as well as a full installation division which enables us to send the most qualified technicians to our clients.”

Besides Ac repair, installation, maintenance, and servicing, the company has a wide range of services, including ductless furnace repair and service, heat pump installation and repair, indoor air quality solutions, Ac services, and split system installation, among others. They offer prompt repair services with an emergency 24-hour emergency service and a 24 hour residential and commercial electrical service for electrical panel and service changes and upgrades, security lighting, electrical estimates, emergency generators, and standby power. This is in addition to electrical troubleshooting services, code violation repairs, and emergency electrical repairs, among others. They have a range of products which include air conditioners and heat pumps, controls and thermostats, furnaces, evaporator and fan coils, and packaged products that help customize the best solution for each client.

The Coral Springs air conditioning services expert is fully licensed and insured and a member of the local chamber of commerce, and an FPL participating contractor. The company has an A+ rating on Better Business Bureau, which implies clients’ trust in the company with minimal or no complaints. They also have frequent promotional offers and AC maintenance contracts.

Air America Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical is headquartered at 12550 NW 39th St, Coral Springs, FL, 33065, USA. They can be reached by phone at (954) 973-6599. Visit their website for more information on their services, promotions, and available financing options. Clients can also calculate their annual AC savings on the website.

Media Contact

Company Name
Air America Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical
Contact Name
Air America Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical
Phone
(954) 973-6599
Address
12550 NW 39th St
City
Coral Springs
State
FL
Postal Code
33065
Country
United States
Website
https://airamericaac.com/

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Originally Appeared Here

Staff Reporter

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