Guest Opinion

By Levi Teitel | Oct. 15, 2022

This November, Michiganders have an opportunity to defend two things worth fighting for at the ballot box: our environment and our freedom to vote.

I’m 26 years old, and as a young-ish person, the consensus is clear: We want action on climate. I’ve been a dedicated climate justice activist for nearly a decade, and there are now a whole bunch of teens who are louder, bolder, and more effective than I was when I started out. People across backgrounds, but especially young folks, are passionate about the need to protect our environment and the imperatives that go along with it, like expanding renewable energy and holding corporate polluters accountable.

Elections have so many implications for our environment. If you want your kids to be able to live in a healthy and clean environment, it’s important to vote, especially for policies that will get us on the right track towards meeting climate goals.

After the historic turnout of the 2020 election, we’ve seen important action on climate. Congress and the White House worked together to pass the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022, the single largest investment in fighting the climate crisis in our country’s history.

It’s hard to ignore the horrific storms happening with greater intensity and frequency, like Hurricanes Fiona and Ian that just ravaged Puerto Rico and southwest Florida respectively, and how our inaction to lower greenhouse gas emissions fuels these disasters. With lives and infrastructure destroyed, it’s clear that our voices—the majority of us who want safer and healthier communities—must get louder.

We need a functioning government with strong citizen engagement in order to have a healthy environment, which means that advocating for just climate solutions and using the power of the vote are essential tools to achieve real and lasting change.

That’s all to say, I firmly believe that participating in elections and supporting their integrity goes hand-in-hand with protecting the environment. There is a dual threat that we must confront: untrue conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and climate denialism that ignores the realities of why burning fossil fuels drives more pollution and rising temperatures.

The majority of Michiganders want climate action, and they also believe our 2020 election was accurate. However, some elected officials ignore us and instead pursue policies that go against facts and the will of the people. Our elections officials have repeatedly called the 2020 election the most secure and accurate election in our state’s history, and it was verified by hundreds of independent, nonpartisan audits. Our elections go through rigorous processes to ensure their integrity, and we should support the hard work that our local election officials do to make them run smoothly.

Those who are seeking to undermine trust in our elections are taking a page from the same exact playbook as the fossil fuel industry in their decades-long push for climate denialism. Proponents of the “Big Lie” exploited vulnerable communities, like right here in Antrim County. They tried to overturn the will of the voters, stoking fear and chaos while maliciously targeting a local clerk with decades of experience.

And just like the individuals who created false conspiracies about the 2020 election, climate denialists push dangerous and misleading claims about fossil fuels to cover up the damage that it causes to everyone, but especially our most vulnerable frontline communities.

This election, we have an opportunity to stand against these two great threats to our communities so we can maintain free and fair elections and continue to breathe clean air and drink safe water. We must vote for climate action so we can help Michigan’s independent family farmers thrive in the face of diminished soil conditions and crop yields. If we show up to vote, we can create a future that is better aligned with the majority of Great Lakes voters.

It’s time to vote for climate action so we can commit to ending our reliance on fossil fuels and achieving 100 percent renewable energy. But voting should just be the starting point––it’s also important to be active with local issues and see how you can tip the scales towards climate action in your own community.

If you have any questions about voting, head to MichiganVoting.org or call or text 866-OUR-VOTE. This election marks the first time in 10 years that we have new voting districts, so make sure you know which district you’re registered to vote in. You can go to mi.gov/vote if you’re unsure. Our communities, our climate, and our air and water are worth fighting for, so vote!

Levi Teitel is the rural communications coordinator with Progress Michigan, a nonprofit communications advocacy and government watchdog group. He is currently based in Emmet County.

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Originally Appeared Here

SHEPHERDSTOWN — In partnership with Lennox’s Feel the Love program, Johnson and Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning donated and installed free heating/cooling equipment to a Shepherdstown household in need.

On Oct. 9, the Danzey family in Shepherdstown was the recipient of the HVAC system installation and other acts of service.

Caleb Johnson, with Johnson and Johnson Heating and Air, said that the event brought in over 30 volunteers and was truly an event where you could feel the love.

Over the past 13 years, Lennox and its dealers have supported deserving community members by completing over 1,500 free installations.

“As most homeowners spend more time inside their home, Lennox continues to advocate for the importance of indoor air quality and the accessibility of clean, comfortable air for all,” the official release said.

“It was a great time. We were able to get the whole system changed out, new duct work, the new heat pump and furnace downstairs,” Johnson said. “We also got a bunch of yard work done, planted trees and a bunch of mulching and flowers.”

Johnson explained that each year, there is a nomination process for the Feel the Love program.

“If you have someone in mind who is in need of an HVAC unit or deserving of one, they can go to our website and submit someone,” he said.

Mark and Tracy Danzey, who were the recipients of this year’s program, were nominated by their neighbors, according to Johnson, and ended up being the selected family.

Tracy Danzey is a cancer survivor, and Mark Danzey is a veteran, Johnson explained.

“This year, we really felt that we could help out a family that was very deserving of the HVAC system,” Johnson said. “The Danzeys are great people. They were so grateful for everyone who came out and volunteered their time.”

Johnson also extended thanks to Chick-fil-A, which donated breakfast for the entire team of volunteers, and Cracker Barrel, which donated the lunch.

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Originally Appeared Here

It’s October. In a typical year, the first rains of fall would have already arrived.

Instead, nine large fires are burning throughout the Northwest amid one of the driest stretches on record.

And this weekend, air quality may reach “unhealthy” levels for all population groups in the Puget Sound area.

Friday night, stronger offshore winds are expected to carry smoke from the Bolt Creek and White River fires into the greater Puget Sound area. It may carry farther west and south to Kitsap and Pierce counties and will likely hang around through Sunday night.

Because of the easterly winds and low humidity, wildfire meteorologists are anticipating fire spread on Bolt Creek, Nakia Creek and Siouxon fires. The National Weather Service issued weekend red flag warnings for Oregon and Washington around the Cascade Mountains. Those will remain in effect from 11 a.m. Saturday through 5 p.m. Sunday.

While smoky skies in October in Eastern Washington may not be unprecedented, it’s a rarity west of the mountains, said Susan Woodward of the state Department of Ecology.

Unlike previous fire seasons, where smoke may have hung over the region for a few consecutive days, the wind patterns have been bringing intermittent smoke into the lowlands this fall.

The Compass Housing Alliance in Seattle will offer overnight shelter throughout the weekend to provide people relief from the smoke, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority said Friday.

The center, located at 77 South Washington St. in Pioneer Square, will be open 24/7 starting at 9 a.m. Saturday through Monday morning. Sixty beds will be available for overnight stays and all meals will be provided.

Dr. Catherine Karr, professor at the University of Washington who specializes in pediatric environmental medicine, said kids who breathe in wildfire smoke could experience chest pain and tightness, trouble breathing, irritation or a burning sensation in their nose, throat and eyes. They may develop a cough.

Kids with asthma, allergies or chronic health issues and infants are especially sensitive to irritants like the compounds in wildfire smoke.

That’s in the short term.

“One of the things I think about as a pediatrician is whether this affects the sort of normal growth and function of lungs of children,” Karr said. “Children’s lungs grow really rapidly… if there’s some exposure to air pollution that compromise that, their ultimate adult level function isn’t what it’s supposed to be.”

Karr recommends people keep an eye on regional air quality databases to assess their level of risk when heading outdoors.

People most likely to be affected by the health threats of smoke include those who have heart disease, or lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma; children; and those who are pregnant, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC recommends people keep windows and doors closed and run an air conditioner to keep indoor spaces smoke-free, if possible. In Washington state, people can keep tabs on air quality using the state Department of Ecology’s smoke forecast.

Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to rise to the mid- to high 70s Saturday and Sunday.

That’s after Seattle reached 70 degrees on Friday, totaling nine days in the month of October where temperatures have reached or exceeded 70. According to the National Weather Service in Seattle, that exceeds the previous record of eight days in 1987 and 1991. This includes both Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and downtown data dating back to the mid 1890s.

The next chance of rain is not forecast for at least another week.

While the smoke may seem especially bad this year, “the concentrations of smoke that we have seen, have not been consistently as high as we got in 2020,” said Phil Swartzendruber, air resources specialist for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. “That was the era we had a stretch that was really quite exceptional.”

Washington saw the least acres burned in a decade this year and that comes after the second- and third-worst fire seasons on record in 2020 and 2021.

Last week, state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announced that just over 140,000 acres have been touched by wildfires to date.

That’s compared to nearly half a million acres in 2021, and 842,000 acres burned in 2020. She said it was the mildest fire season in a decade.

But fire season isn’t over.

For Edgar Franks, Washington State Campaign and Political Director for the independent farmworkers union Familias Unidas por la Justicia, the late-season smoke has been a stark reminder of the disparities in workplace safety conditions for outdoor workers.

In mid-September the air quality was deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, but farmworkers in Whatcom and Skagit County continued to work 10-12 hours in the fields, according to Community to Community Development, an organization focused on food sovereignty and immigrant rights.

Late this summer, Franks’ organization and others called on Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a climate emergency and mobilize state agencies to ensure the health and safety of farmworkers.

The weekend will also be a busy one for Seattle sports fans. The Mariners, Seahawks and Huskies all have home games. The teams say they are monitoring forecasts but that the games are expected to go on as scheduled.

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Originally Appeared Here

With particulate pollution being a major problem in large urban centers, Audi is working on a solution to have its future cars clean the air around them both when they are driven and when charging. In order to achieve this, it has enlisted the help of one of its suppliers, Mann+Hummel, an industry leader in filtration, and so far the system has reportedly performed very well under testing.

Audi launched a pilot program to test out this technology in the real world in 2020, and it will keep running until 2024. According to Fabian Groh, Project Manager in Attachment System Development at Audi, such systems may even become mandatory in new cars at some point; he notes that

This particulate filter is an example of our pursuit of innovation for everyone’s benefit and a successful collaboration with specialized suppliers. We are already doing a lot today on our own initiative. We anticipate it will also become a legal requirement in the future.

Vehicles equipped with this system will filter particles out of the air in two different ways – passively, when the vehicle is being driven, and active filtering when charging. Given that these extra filters are placed in the front of the vehicle, air flows naturally into the inlets when on the move, so it doesn’t have to be drawn in through auxiliary means.

When the vehicle is stationary, though, this system of filtration employs a fan that brings air in and forces it through the filters. In this instance, it will basically act like the air purifier you may have in your home, and the manufacturer notes that the vehicle would only clean the air when charging, not every single time you stop, otherwise the fan would presumably drain the battery.

Audi says this system has been put through a 50,000-kilometer (31,000-mile) endurance test and that it was found to not affect the functioning of the vehicle in any way. The manufacturer believes that the system is so effective, that it is capable of filtering even more than the vehicle’s share of particles, in other words filtering particles created by other vehicles.

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Originally Appeared Here

Many have experienced burning eyes and dry throats while working at an office or at home. In heavily-populated offices, good ventilation is not always a luxury. This causes high levels of CO2 in the air, which can cause fatigue, headaches, and dizziness, and lessen your productivity and general feeling of well-being. This creates a challenge in maintaining healthy buildings and who wants to work in an office while not feeling their best?

While CO2 in the office is bad enough, there’s also the problem of particle pollution such as dust, dirt, soot, pollen, or smoke flowing into office spaces. According to the EPA,[1] extended exposure to that pollution can lead to many negative effects such as, coughing or difficulty breathing, decreased lung function, and in extreme cases, nonfatal-heart attacks, to name a few. To make matters worse, the solution to reducing indoor CO2 levels is to bring in more outdoor air, which increases the particle pollution (assuming the same air filter).

Pairing the effects of CO2 with particle pollution makes the office sound like a place you would rather avoid. Office spaces are supposed to be a welcoming area where employees can apply their skills to work as efficiently as possible. Building owners and managers grapple with this issue of occupant health to create healthy buildings while trying to stay within an operations budget. Luckily, the Energy Management Research Center has created a tool that can estimate the indoor air quality based on specific inputs.

Indoor air quality tool for healthy buildings

Introducing the Large Office Building Indoor Air Quality Calculator, Schneider Electric’s tool to easily estimate the trade-off between CO2, particle pollution, energy, and carbon emissions within a commercial office. A big thanks to Slipstream for allowing us to use their “Back-of-the-Envelope” calculator as the basis for the energy calculations in our air quality calculator.

The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) calculator is meant to be used by facility managers to assist in managing building finances while addressing feedback from the building’s occupants. This calculator is broken down into two main sections: inputs and results. The input section itself is broken into two subsections: building location & attributes and scenario variables.

Building location & attributes

Location: Consisting of 10 programmed locations, like Hong Kong, New York, Singapore, etc. The idea is to choose the location that best represents the climate in your own building.

Electric Cost: Cost of electricity for your location

Natural Gas Cost: Cost of natural gas for your location

Electricity CO2 Factor: The average amount of CO2 produced per kWh of electricity generated. You can change this value based on the emissions factor in your region.

Annual Avg Outdoor PM 2.5: This is the annual average concentration of particles 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller. A good level is 5 μg/m3 and below and is considered unhealthy when it rises above 35.5 μg/m3.[2]

Annual Avg Outdoor PM 10: A good level is 54 and below and is considered unhealthy when it rises above 155.

Annual Avg Outdoor CO2: A normal outdoor level is 350-450 parts per million (ppm). Acceptable indoor levels are less than 600 ppm and complaints of stuffiness come at around 600-1000 ppm.

Scenario variables

Air Filtration Level: This rating describes how well the filter removes different sized particles in the air. A MERV rating of 13 or higher (MERV 13+) means that the filter gets rid of at least 90% of the particles.

Occupant Density: This is the ratio between the number of occupants in a building and the total building’s total floor area.

Ventilation: A benchmark for good ventilation is CO2 readings 1000 parts per million (ppm) and below. If the benchmark readings are above this level, reevaluate the outdoor ventilation rate.[3]

Infiltration Level: Infiltration is ingress of outdoor air into a building through openings like cracks in the building shell. Choices are “leaky”, “average”, or “tight” corresponding to 0.5, 0.3, and 0.0 air changes per hour (ACH) respectively. This is based on infiltration due to the natural pressure difference between indoor and outdoor.

Minimum Return Air: Return air is the portion of the supply that is recirculated back through the vents. Increasing the minimum return air causes the indoor air to go through the air filters more frequently and increases fan energy.

Heat Recovery Ventilation System: Energy saving system that uses a heat exchanger to pre-heat the incoming cold ventilation air when heating energy decreases.

Each one of these sections have a more in-depth explanation when you click the question mark at the top right corner.

The “Results” section makes it clear as to how the specific inputs affect the calculated result. This section is designed to show the difference in the changes that were added in the “Alternative” subsection of the “Scenario Variables” inputs. As you change different inputs, you will see the “Baseline” and the “Alternative” values compared. This is the case for the “Annual Indoor Air Quality when Occupied” section as well as the “Annual Energy & Carbon” section. When evaluating the first section of the results, you’ll see that the meter will move and the results will give you a rating of “Good”, “Moderate”, and “Unhealthy”. This will allow you to see which inputs produce the best air quality for your building.

Cost efficiency vs indoor air quality

In the “Results” section, the “Annual Energy & Carbon” subsection includes the percentage increase or decrease in energy, emissions, and energy cost. If the percentage in the “Reduction” column is 0%, no change has occurred. If the percentage is negative, as shown in the image (e.g., “Other Energy” shows -37%), the annual energy, emissions, or cost has increased as a result of changes to the “Alternative” scenario. Positive percentages indicate a decrease or savings in the annual energy, emissions, or cost. The more positive percentages you see, the better your financial and emissions situation. However, you need to balance this with CO2 and particulate levels. With that in mind, use the IAQ calculator to find the sweet spot between your financial situation and building air quality.

Try out the calculator and other helpful resources for healthy buildings

Try out the Large Office Building Indoor Air Quality Calculator today! For more information on indoor air quality, read White Paper 505, Ensuring Occupant Health: Key Findings and Insights from Global Study of 21 Office Buildings and the blog titled “How HVAC and IAQ Optimization Supports Healthy Buildings in the Long-Term: Part 2”. For more information on the technology that can benefit the workspace, read “Healthy buildings: How technologies can reduce infectious disease transmission”.

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Originally Appeared Here

Bio

Party: Democratic

Office sought: Lake County Board District 5

City: Lake Villa

Age: 57

Occupation: Executive director, Orthopaedic Research Society

Previous offices held: Precinct committeemen #164, #162, #152, current precinct committeemen in #150.

Q&A

Q: Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

A: I am running for office to address specific issues the affect my constituents and all others within Lake County. These issues include mental health, fiscal stewardship, infrastructure and environmental responsibility.

Q: If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you’ve led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

A: As an executive director, I lead a health care society and have P&L responsibility. My experience in operational efficiency, sales, people management and relations building and preservation with key stakeholders are transferrable to the Lake County Board. If elected, I plan to bring this experience to my commissioner colleagues and in collaboration, ensure that key county matters (i.e., forest preserve, clean air (ethylene oxide issue), property taxes (find ways to reduce them within the board’s limited span of control), infrastructure, mental health, gun violence, and the opioid epidemic) are addressed to improve the well-being of the residents and the county as a whole.

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

 

Q: Given the recent history of flat tax levies, do you think the county/forest preserve have done good jobs of budgeting or do you see specific area that can be improved?

A: For the most part, the county has done a good job with the forest preserve. One area of improvement is to install more rest stop seating areas for people to rest while exercising (walking, biking, running) and plant more trees instead of allowing wildflowers/weeds to grow — this will all for more clean air.

Q: Would you support putting a referendum on the ballot for voters to decide if they wish to issue new bonds to preserve open spaces, restore habitats, create more trails and upgrade forest preserves?

A: I’m not sure. While the environment is very important to me, I want to assess all of the issues and prioritize the needs of the county.

Q: What is the single most important issue facing your district and how should the county address it?

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

 

A: Improving the opioid crisis, which is related to mental health. Having access to mental health facilities and being able to get support through the 211 program are important. Now, I know you said one issue, yet I would be remiss if gun violence was not mentioned as an issue. Whether it is an active shoot, crime of passion, or street violence, we must reduce the occurrences where people want to reach for a gun to solve a problem.

Q: Lake County officials want public feedback on how to spend portions of some $135 million in leftover federal pandemic funding. What are your thoughts on how the money ought to be spent?

A: In alignment with what has been mentioned in the questionnaire, the money should be spent on more mental health facilities and programs, forest preserve improvements, clean air and clean energy initiatives, and ways to give the residents a relief from increasing property taxes.

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

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Originally Appeared Here

The Mitsubishi MA-E85R-A is its premium air purifier offering covering a large 508m3 area and has some unique Japanese-made technology.

We will explore some of the unique features later, but it has automatic pre-filter cleaning and draws the air from the front sides behind quite an attractive flat panel. It ‘searches’ the room for pockets of contaminated (not purified) air.

And it is made in Japan – that has to count.

Most HEPA air purifiers can remove 99.97% of 3um (hair is about 70um) so we use Breathe easy this spring (air purifier guide) to review them.

Australian review: Mitsubishi MA-E85R-A air purifier

Website	Product Page and PDF Manual
Price	$1199 but shop around
From	Harvey Norman, Retravision, Bing Lee and other retailers
Warranty	2-year ACL
Country of origin	Japan
Company	Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Est. 1921, is a Japanese multinational electronics and electrical equipment manufacturing company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Its products include elevators and escalators, high-end home appliances, air conditioning, factory automation systems, train systems, electric motors, pumps, semiconductors, digital signage, and satellites.
More	Cybershack air purifier news and reviews

We use Fail (below expectations), Pass (meets expectations) and Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the class leader) against many of the items below. We occasionally give a Pass(able) rating that is not as good as it should be and a Pass ‘+’ rating to show it is good but does not quite make it to Exceed.

You can click on most images for an enlargement.

First impression – curious – Pass+

It is unlike anything I have seen before. For starters it is quite slim at 425 (W) x 547 (H) x 244 (D) x 9.9kg. The flat, white front panel is attractive, and the 9 LEDs indicate dust, PM 2.5, and odour levels. And it is quiet – not even a whisper on Automatic levels.

But overall, it lacks the aesthetics to be front and centre in the lounge room. At the top back are the air expulsion grills and a big warning sticker. My wife said, “It looks like a small piece of office equipment.” Never argue with a woman and their taste.

Fan speeds – Pass+

The fan has Silent, low, mid, high and turbo speeds. In addition, there are three auto settings – Normal, night (dims indicator lights) and turbo.

Air purifier – Pass+

Like most HEPA-based air purifiers, it captures 99.97% of up to 3um and has a 500g activated carbon for gases and odours. It is interesting to see the odour LEDs change colour while cooking!

App – none (good)

There is little reason to have an app unless you want to incorporate a device into the smart home.

Placement – Pass+

Mitsubishi says placing it at desktop height is best for odour removal and floor height for dust and pollen. It can be even more effective when used with an air conditioner.

Power/noise/room size – Exceed

• Strandby <1W/silent
• Silent – 6W/22dB and 102m3/h
• Low – 8W/27dB and 150m3/h
• Middle – 11W/33dB and 204m3/h
• High – 23W/43dB and 306m3/h
• Turbo – 86W/55dB and 510m3/h

Coverage – Good for larger rooms – Pass+

While it quotes 508m3 coverage that is on Turbo and uses 86W of power.

A typical room has a 2.4m ceiling

• 3 x 3m – 22m3
• 5 x 5m – 60m3
• 5 x 10m – 120m3
• 10 x 10m – 240m3

CADR of at least two times air turnover per hour means it can handle large rooms and open spaces quite well.

Maintenance – Exceed

• Auto-clean pre-filter places detritus into a dust bin for later emptying
• Pre-filter is washable
• HEPA filter can be gently vacuumed to prolong life. It varies between 1.6 and 8 years, depending on the environment.
• Odour and PM sensor – occasionally clean with a vacuum and cotton stick
• Platinum Catalyst – gently cold water washable and lasts for the life of the machine
• Activated Charcoal filter – as above and can be replaced if necessary

Unfortunately, we cannot locate any retailers of the replacement filters, so ensure you can get them before you buy this.

Child safety and moving – Pass(able)

It has a handle and, at 9.9kg, is not too heavy. There are a few too many handholds for toddlers, and it could be tipped forward if they use it to stand up. Take care.

CyberShack’s view – Mitsubishi MA-E85R-A is a no-nonsense, highly efficient, well-made air purifier

It is an excellent air purifier with very low running costs. It is quiet and has great flexibility.

The self-clean pre-filter is a gimmick, but it is a point of difference, as is the sensor seeking out pockets of unpurified air.

It gets our unreserved buy recommendation.

• Features 8.5 – has all you need and then some
• Value 8 – not cheap, but Japanese-made quality and low maintenance costs compensate
• Performance 9 – very effective air purifying even on auto modes
• Ease of Use 9 – push button control – no app
• Design 7 – little industrial for my wife’s taste

Mitsubishi MA-E85R-A air purifier

$1199

Pros

• Efficient
• Lots of fan and auto choices
• Self-clean pre-filter
• Smart seeking of contaminated air pockets
• Low maintenance costs

Cons

• Not cheap
• Little industrial looking

 

 

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Originally Appeared Here

The Lee County School District has identified 13 schools that meet the criteria set for reopening in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian and will be ready to begin classes on Monday, Oct. 17.

At a press conference Thursday, Lee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Bernier announced that as ide from the 13 Lee county schools that will reopen from Hurricane Ian on Monday (10/17), more schools will follow.

“We have … I heard it referred to as the Lucky 13 today. We have the Lucky 13 that will be opening Monday,” said Bernier. “As of 9 o’clock this morning, we had another 11 that will be notified today that they can reopen on Tuesday. That number is only going to go up. That number again, as those other lab tests, at least 38 that we expect to have by the end of the day on Friday. That will green light another 38 schools for Wednesday. And we will continue the rollout and we will get our kids back to school.”

A school district statement Thursday listed the following 13 schools—11 elementary and two middle—as the first to reopen to students:

• Bonita Springs Elementary School
• Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts
• Colonial Elementary School
• Diplomat Elementary School
• Franklin Park Elementary School
• Gulf Elementary School
• Fort Myers Middle Academy
• Orange River Elementary School
• Orangewood Elementary School
• Three Oaks Elementary School
• Tice Elementary School
• Trafalgar Elementary School
• Tropic Isles Elementary School.

A statement by Dr. Bernier School Superintendent Christopher Bernier described the methods and reasons for setting the criteria.

The District’s statement said daily updates would be provided on the schools cleared to open and the first day of class for the students. Schools that are cleared to open will provide their families more information about the return to school.

Criteria being used to determine when to open a school include the following elements. No school will be allowed to open until all nine criteria are met:

1. Reliable power: A school must have consistent electricity to operate the entire campus.
2. Potable water: A school must have a safe supply of drinking water.
3. Professional assessment: A building professional must assess the school buildings and determine them safe to occupy. Any safety concerns must be mitigated or resolved.
4. Leak secure: School windows and roofs must be able to prevent a severe intrusion of water.
5. Working air conditioning: A school must have an assessed and operating HVAC system.
6. Functioning fire alarm and intercom: A school must be able to activate its fire alarm and school intercom in case of an emergency.
7. Indoor air quality: A school must have the air quality assessed by an industrial hygienist.
8. Debris cleaned up: A school must have storm debris either removed or stored in a safe and secure location.
9. Ability to serve food: A school must be able to provide students with grab and go meals. We look forward to providing you further updates and information as we clear schools to open and welcome students back to their campuses.

Additionally, the district is opening temporary satellite Student Enrollment offices on Thursday and Friday to help families that were forced to move or take temporary housing by Hurricane Ian.

Displaced or relocated families will have the opportunity to enroll their students into a school in their new zone. The satellite offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or until the last person in line receives assistance.

There are two Student Enrollment satellite locations in each zone:

West Zone

• Cape Coral High School2300 Santa Barbara Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33991
• Island Coast High School2125 De Navarra Pkwy, Cape Coral, FL 33909

East Zone

• Lehigh Senior High School901 Gunnery Rd N, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
• Gateway High School13820 Griffin Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33913

South Zone

• Bonita Springs Middle School10141 W Terry St, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
• United Way of Lee County7273 Concourse Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33908

The Student Enrollment Office at Lee County Public Education Center at 2855 Colonial Blvd. in Fort Myers will also be open to assist families from any of the School District’s three zones. Social workers, Exceptional Student Education and bilingual support will be available at each location.

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Originally Appeared Here

Promotion: Finnish real estate agency Bo LKV has chosen paint brand Teknos’ range of air-purifying paints to furnish its new office facilities in Helsinki, which creates a “perfect balance of harmony and functionality”.

Called Biora Air, Teknos’ paints absorb and neutralise aldehyde pollutants in interior spaces, which are made to improve air quality and wellbeing for people.

Biora Air uses aldehyde-binding properties to capture formaldehyde and other impurities in the air, converting them into harmless components, according to Teknos.

The paints are intended to improve air quality in indoor spaces

“Biora Air is a smart tech paint developed especially for better indoor air quality,” said Teknos.

“Namely, Biora Air coatings catch and transform formaldehyde and other impurities from the air into harmless components with a technology based on aldehyde binding properties. Formaldehyde is one of the substances listed in the EU as being in high connection with indoor air quality, commonly used, for example, in the manufacture of building materials.”

The paints match the historical pigments of the site

Bo LKV chose the paints not only to improve its office air quality but also for their matt finish, which matches the historical appearance of the Kruununhaka area and provides a calming space for office workers.

“Last autumn, the company started to look for a new office space in Helsinki and found an interesting option from the street of historic noble houses in Kruununhaka,” said Teknos. “As a location, Kruununhaka is known for its community spirit and its lively and active lifestyle culture.”

“For Bo LKV, this kind of surrounding was a perfect match for the needs of a real estate agency. Not only was the accessibility well-suitable for the customers and employees of Bo, but also the classic style and elegance of the building perfectly suited the company’s image and profile,” continued the brand.

The pigments are intended to provide a calming atmosphere for the agency’s office workers

The agency’s chosen office had previously been a restaurant that allowed indoor smoking, leading to nicotine-stained walls.

Before applying the Biora Air paints, the addition of Teknos’ Timantti Stop insulation primer was added to prevent stains from penetrating the new coats of paint.

“After the very first visit to the new office premises, we knew right away that this was the one for us,” said interior architect at Bo LKV, Jenni Leikas.

“Even though we understood that the renovation for the place was going to be a long and hard one since the business space has served as a restaurant before, we wanted to start the project.”

The paints use aldehyde-binding properties to capture formaldehyde and other impurities in the air, converting them into harmless components

Biora Air paints can continue having their air purifying effect for five to ten years say Teknos, and have received a Nordic Swan Ecolabel for environmental friendliness.

Teknos began as a Finnish paint creator in 1948 and has since become a global coatings brand, offering paints and coatings for manufacturing, building and consumer use.

To view more about Biora Air paints, visit Teknos’ website.

Photography is by Juuso Soininen and the interior design is by Jenni Leikas.

The photography is by Juuso Soininen.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Teknos as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Oct. 12—WASHINGTON STATE — There are six large fires in Washington according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center as of Oct. 12. “It may be October, but it’s clear we’re not out of the woods when it comes to wildfire smoke and the dangers it can bring,” said Kaitlyn Kelly, Air Quality Policy Specialist in a release by the Washington Department of Health.

The NICC defines a large fire as any wildland fire in timber 100 acres or greater, and 300 acres or greater in grasslands/rangelands, or that has an Incident Management Team assigned to it.

There are six fires currently on the Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map:

—Kalama: Located 27 miles northeast of Kalama, started on Sept. 1, 9% contained, 461 acres burned.

—Goat Rocks: Located 7 miles east of Packwood, started on Aug. 9, 1% contained, 5,040 acres burned.

—Bolt Creek: Located 37 miles east of Seattle, Started on Sept. 10, 36% contained, 13,500 acres burned.

—Minnow Ridge: Located 25 miles north of Wenatchee, started on Sept. 10, 0% contained, 3,253 acres burned

—White River: Located 14 miles northwest of Plains, started on Aug. 11, 10% contained, 5,359 acres burned

—Nakia Creek: Located 9 miles northeast of Camas, started on Oct. 9, 10% contained, 190 acres burned.

A release by the Washington Department of Health states wildfire smoke will likely linger across Washington into the weekend and that there are ways for residents to be proactive and take steps to protect themselves from smoke.

The DOH stated in the release that it is important to avoid smoke exposure as much as possible because breathing in smoke is not good for anyone and days of consistent smoke exposure can take a toll on one’s health.

“While some parts of the state are experiencing unhealthy levels of air quality, we’re also worried about the impacts of lower levels of smoke for extended periods of time,” said Kelly. “Don’t wait until you start feeling symptoms to act.”

The release asks residents to do their best to stay indoors but if residents must be outside, limit physical activity and wear a properly fitted, NIOSH-approved particulate respirator, such as an N95 mask.

Residents can keep air clean in their homes by closing windows and doors when possible, filtering indoor air, not adding to indoor air pollution with things such as smoking or burning candles and setting air conditioning units to recirculate.

The release also states that during smoke events it’s also important to check on elderly loved ones and neighbors and keep pets indoors and those with pre-existing conditions are often affected the most.

Some symptoms of smoke exposure include:

Minor symptoms include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

More serious symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat. Wildfire smoke can lead to hospitalization and death.

The DOH advises residents to seek medical attention if their symptoms are severe.

Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at [email protected].

(c)2022 the Columbia Basin Herald, Wash.

Visit the Columbia Basin Herald, Wash. at www.columbiabasinherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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