Can All Metal Buildings Withstand An Earthquake

February 8th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


In certain areas of the world, it is crucial to build structures to withstand the massive shock and damage associated with earthquakes. Unfortunately, science has not yet developed an early warning system that can give immediate notice when an earthquake is imminent. Thus, we are completely at nature’s mercy to survive an earthquake, and buildings must be built to withstand an earthquake at any time.

Much research and study has been devoted to learning which types of structures fare best in an earthquake. Generally speaking the consensus is that metal buildings fare better than concrete.

However, one might ask: does this mean that all metal buildings can withstand an earthquake?

The answer is no. Just because a building is metal does not mean it will automatically do well in an earthquake.

Metal structures are more likely to survive earthquakes because they are more ductile — they can bend and flex without breaking. This characteristic is crucial in a serious earthquake.

The most common type of metal used to build earthquake-safe buildings is steel rebar. Steel rebar has the ductility that is critical to absorbing earthquake and is very strong, making it the best and most effective option for building in an earthquake zone.

Steel rebar has proven to be an excellent building material that can withstand earthquakes, but it is not fool-proof in and of itself. It must be applied with the correct engineering and architectural principles to maximize its effectiveness. If you are considering using steel rebar to build an earthquake-resistant structure, be absolutely sure your plans and methods are correct, or hire a builder who is familiar with such structures.

Other types of metal buildings are far less resistant to earthquakes, and can be quite unsafe in earthquake-prone areas. Many metal modular homes are not constructed to withstand the tremendous shock of an earthquake. These types of buildings would be very unsafe in an earthquake zone. Also, sheet metal buildings are very fragile and highly likely to collapse during an earthquake. Experts do not recommend either of these types of structures to be placed in an earthquake zone. Some zoning laws forbid them altogether.

Another very important factor that influences whether a building will survive an earthquake is the distribution of weight. A building that is top-heavy is more likely to fall than a building that is lightweight at the top. An earthquake-safe building not only should be constructed with steel rebar. It should be framed with lighter materials in the upper floors and have a heavily reinforced lower section.

The most important lesson to learn from this discussion is that just because a building is made of metal doesn’t necessarily mean it is earthquake proof. To be fully earthquake proof, a building needs to be built with the correct materials (like steel rebar) and be built according to the correct standards.

If you are building a commercial facility, you owe it to yourself, your customers, and anyone who uses the building to use the best materials and techniques available to you. You want to get the most out of your investment, so give it the attention it merits.
Steel buildings offer durability and protection for your storage needs. Choose from pre-fabricated steel buildings or customize to meet your storage needs. http://www.futuresteel.com/

How Much Can a Stay at Home Mom Really Do For the Environment

February 7th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


Why is it that when women talk about being a stay at home mother, many describe themselves as being “just” a stay at home mom? I’ve always felt that there’s nothing so simple about it. As a stay at home mom you have the power to make a big difference for your family or even for others.

I like to think about the environment, for example. There are plenty of things you can do around the home to make sure that your family lives in a more environmentally friendly way. Some of it can even save money, which is often near and dear to the stay at home mother’s heart.

You’re always home, so that probably means you’re always using some electricity. But at some times of the year you can cut down on your electricity usage by something as simple as opening the blinds during the day and letting the sun light the house. This may not work in the dead of winter or when it’s so hot during the summer that you’d have to turn on the air conditioning, but it can be effective.

You can think about the cleaning supplies that you use. Cut out the harsh chemical cleansers that probably aren’t all that good for your family anyhow and pick ones that are more environmentally friendly.

Think about how you’re cooking for your family. Some cooking methods are far more energy efficient than others. If you like, you can even cook multiple meals at once to save energy.

Remember that when you have the time to cook for your family, you don’t need to waste money on fast food, which also produces a lot of garbage. You can also avoid more prepared foods, thereby avoiding the excess packaging and preservatives.

You can drive less. Being at home means that if the school is within walking distance, you can walk the kids to and from school. Great exercise as well as not using your car.

For that matter, you may be able to walk to the store. I’ve been known to go to the grocery store, kids in a wagon, lock up the wagon outside the store just like a bike, then haul the load home. It does work. You just have to be sure that the store is close enough for this to be a comfortable activity for you.

You can plant an organic garden. Not only is this a great way to have fresh vegetables without pesticides, it’s a delightful way to teach your children about where food comes from. Sometimes the hardest part is keeping the kids away from the garden long enough to get the produce to the table.

There’s more you can do, of course. This is just a quick list off the top of my head to get you thinking. As a stay at home mom I find there are lots of little things I could do that would be much harder if I weren’t at home.
Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.greensahm.com/ about being a stay at home mom trying to be more environmentally friendly. Read about how she’s helping her family go green at her site.

Natural Born Mold Killers Can Save You And Our Environment From Chemical Exposure

February 6th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


While there are a lot of different commercial chemicals that are used to kill mold, a lot of people do not like to use a lot of household chemicals in their homes.

There is a belief that the more we use chemicals in our daily lives, the more harm they will end up doing us and since there may be some truth to this, some people have found other ways to kill mold besides the cleaners that we find in department and grocery stores.

Three natural ingredients have been found to kill mold quite effectively, but two of them are quite expensive and one is, well, kind of stinky.

The most widely available and inexpensive of the three natural ways to kill mold is vinegar. It is by far the cheapest natural method and the most simple to use. Distilled white vinegar is the best kind to use because it has no color to it and there is no risk of discoloring anything you might put it on.

Vinegar will reportedly kill around 82 percent of molds in your home. While it will not kill all kinds of mold, it will kill most of the kind that you find indoors and if it does not kill it, you will most assuredly know.

All you have to do is put the mold into a spray bottle, spray it on the area of mold and if you can stand the smell, let it stay on the surface without rinsing it. The smell should go away after a few hours and the mold should have died soon after.

Another way to kill mold, even if it is a bit expensive, is tea tree oil. You can find this at most health food stores and it has a little more broad of a spectrum of fungi that it will get rid of than vinegar.

Combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake it up to blend the two and spray on anything that has mold on it. Do not rinse it off. This should make about two cups and it should last indefinitely.

The last way to do this is by using grapefruit seed extract. The advantage of this is that grapefruit seed extract has no smell to it. 20 drops of the extract and two cups of water in a spray bottle should do the trick. Follow the same directions for the tea tree oil.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality Miami water damage restoration companies and mold remediation companies across the united states.

Smoking Signs An Essential Type Of Bar Equipment

February 5th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


As from the first of July 2007 England went smoke free including pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and cafes. Meaning that any customers wishing to have a smoke will have to do so outside.

Some venues will have outdoor areas where smoking is allowed but some will have to apply for planning permission to have outdoor smoking shelters erected, if you are considering providing a smoking shelter for your customers it is advised that you contact your local council before taking any action to ensure you meet with any health and safety regulations or planning legislation.

Where possible outside smoking shelters should ideally be sited away from private housing where the smoke or noise will not become a nusisance or an environmental issue, the licence holder will be held responsible for any nusiance created by paying customers in or around the smoking shelter. It is the responsibility of the staff to ensure that any noise in outside areas is kept to a minimum.

All outside smoking shelters should be provided with metal ashtrays and where possible you must provide permanently fixed heaters positioned so that they can not be tampered with or pose a burning danger to customers within the shelter. It is advised that gas heaters should not be used, as these could be easily tampered with and poses a fire hazard due to the gas cylinder supply. A smoking shelter must have 50% or more of its total surface area (excluding floors and ceilings) open to the elements, if your smoking shelter has no roof or ceiling then the 50% rule need not apply.

All businesses legally need to ensure their premises are smokefree and display no-smoking signs in prominent positions including all public entrances. All no smoking signs must have the red international ‘no smoking’ symbol and must be a minimum of A5 size or 210mm X 148mm in area, and all signs must carry the following wording ‘No Smoking. It Is Against The Law To Smoke In These Premises’ in characters that can be easily read.

Also businesses must take reasonable steps to ensure that customers and staff are aware that their premises are legally required to be smoke free, ultimate responsibility for compliance rests with the manager.

The penalties for non-compliance for those who have management responsibility is a fixed penalty of up to 1000 pounds for failure to display the minimum amount of no smoking signs, and failing to prevent smoking in a no-smoking area carries a fine of up to 2500 pounds. the individual or customer who smokes in a no smoking area can be fined up to 200 pounds.

No smoking signs are available in many different sizes and materials, self adhesive vinyl signs are designed to be stuck to glass surfaces and are handy for entrance doors that have glass windows. Rigid plastic signs with pre-drilled holes for fixing to exterior or interior walls are hard wearing and tamperproof.

Tabletop or free standing signs are also available but should only be used to complement your permant no smoking signs as removal of signs will mean that you are non-compliant and will be liable to a fine.

The legislation does not cover outdoor spaces. However the members may consider making it a policy not to smoke a certain distance from entrances so that people do not have to walk through a cloud of smoke to get into the club.
Shaun Parker works in the catering industry and helps advise people looking for catering equipment , bar equipment and bar supplies.

Protect Your Garden and Your Self From Chemical Spray Drift

February 5th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


About 25 years ago I was working on the farm where I live in Illinois. We were working on an implement of some type making some adjustments preparing to do some field work. A chemical spray truck backed up to a field not more than 16 feet away and began spraying herbicides. It is this stupidity on the part of applicators that is one of the most dangerous aspects of our chemical society.

Five or six years ago another chemical spray truck began spraying the field out in front of our house. That was not so strange but the problem was the current wind conditions were a steady 15 miles per hour directly at our house and yard. I filed a complaint. The Illinois Department of Agriculture sent a person out to take plant samples and subsequently sent the Applicator Company a warning letter.

What people have to do is complain when their person or property is exposed to the myriad number of chemicals sprayed into the environment every day. The chemicals are regulated to some extent and there are guidelines for their application. The steady 15 mile per hour wind was clearly a violation. If an applicator gets enough complaints they could simply be put out of business.

The blaze’ attitude evident in my two stories is prevalent in this agricultural area. It is an attitude fostered by chemical companies to take attention away from their poisoning of the environment. Also, it is an attitude held by farmers who really do not want to admit or think about the consequences of what they are doing, even to themselves.

But the blaze’ attitude permeates our society. I have seen countless times a young guy walking across a suburban yard with a hose trailing back to a truck. He is spraying out either herbicides or pesticides. Who knows? Then they put these little postage stamp signs on the corner of the yard the is supposed to warn people of the recent application.

I also have seen lots of times state owned trucks driving along the highway spewing chemicals along the roadside to kill everything except the grass. I speak of what I see here in the Midwest. I am sure there are other types of applications in other parts of the country. I know years ago there was a lot of complaint about spraying herbicides from airplanes over forest land.

In Illinois it is the Department of Agriculture that handles complaints about chemical applications. It may be another agency in your state. Probably a call to either the state department of agriculture or the state environmental protection agency will get you started in the right direction. If you know or you think you have been exposed to chemical contamination call them up and find out how to complain.
Michael Dappert is a co-founder of Winco, Inc., a provider of wireless internet access to small communities in West Central Illinois. More articles and discussion can be found at Mike’s Garden Blog and discusses a wide range of topics at Flyoverfolks.com.

The Future Of Electricity Center Of Gravity Shifting To Asia

February 4th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


The global electric power landscape is changing fast, and increasingly, the action in it has been shifting to Asia. On average, in each of the last three years, China alone has added as much new generating capacity as all of existing capacity in Texas. The shift to Asia will continue.

CERA’s Dawn of a New Age scenarios project that Asia will account for well over half of the increase in worldwide power generation capacity over the next 25 years. By comparison, North America will claim only a little more than 10 percent.

This move toward Asia has big implications for everyone connected to the power industry-plant developers, fuel suppliers, equipment vendors, engineering and construction companies, service providers and, of course, investors.

The biggest factor in this change is China, which is industrializing on the strength of its vast coal reserves. Over the past three years, China added 200 gigawatts of coal-fired power-generating capacity.

This is equivalent to two-thirds of total U.S. coal-fired capacity, which, by comparison, was installed over the course of half a century. The Chinese government has ambitious plans to build more hydro, nuclear, renewable and gas-fired power plants to diversify its electricity sources.

But coal-indigenous, cheap and abundant-is set to dominate new power capacity in China for years to come.

China’s current path is much like the one taken by the United States several decades ago. Rising Chinese power demand comes from both strong economic growth and increasing electricity intensity-that is, the amount of electricity consumed per unit of economic activity. In the 1990’s, one percent real growth in Chinese gross domestic product (GDP) corresponded to 0.7 percent growth in electricity consumption.

But today, one percent GDP growth corresponds to 1.4 percent growth in electricity usage. China’s recent record of 10 percent annual growth in real GDP thus translates to double digit annual growth in electricity consumption.

Many forces contribute to increasing electricity intensity: infrastructure development to sustain high economic growth; China’s move up the value-added chain into energy-intensive manufacturing; and rising middle-class incomes, which now support larger dwellings, with a full complement of air conditioners and modern appliances.

If we look at in those terms, this pattern starts to look familiar. And it should. The United States experienced something like it half a century ago. In the 1960’s, coal-indigenous and abundant- was the leading option for expansion of U.S. power generation capacity. Real GDP grew 4.2 percent annually during that decade, while electricity consumption grew 7.3 percent, driven by industrial expansion, and by widespread adoption of air conditioning and electric heating.

Electricity consumption continued to grow faster than real GDP during the first half of the 1970’s. But this changed quickly after the first oil shock of the mid-1970’s. High oil prices led to improvements in end-use efficiency, and the recession of 1980-82 shook up the manufacturing sectors and led to the closing down of less competitive factories. These forces pushed growth in electricity demand below the rate of real GDP growth, where it remains today.

But China is still at the stage the U.S. was in the 1960’s and early 1970’s and so is likely to move along its current path of rapidly growing power demand for the coming decade, and perhaps longer.

What does the shift to Asia mean to those in the power business? Sustained economic growth in Asia has strengthened Asian power developers and produced financial institutions capable of handling the expansion of the Asian power system. Homegrown Asian firms are increasingly winning businesses away from their Western competitors.

In addition, heightened concerns for energy security have reinforced the government’s role in the power sector and an emphasis on using power generation equipment and design, engineering and construction services provided by Asian companies or by Western companies that work closely with Asian partners.

For example, China’s objective of self reliance means that all the resources needed for coal-fired power plants-such as plant design, boilers and turbines, and construction-are coming from Chinese companies.

Nuclear power development is proceeding along two tracks: indigenous reactor designs and resources on one, and imports of Western technologies with heavy technology transfer requirements on the other.

Sustained growth of the Chinese power sector, combined with the government objective of self reliance and technology transfer, will likely lead over the coming decade to the growth of strong local companies in equipment manufacturing, design and engineering, construction, services and project development.

These companies will compete not only in the domestic Chinese markets, but also in the regional Asian market. The rise of strong Asian competitors in the power sector will intensify competition for Western firms. Some Western firms have sought business opportunities in Asia through partnerships, but many have found it difficult to get a foot in the door, and as they share technology, they fear that they also risk strengthening their competitors.

Eventually, Western firms will face the prospect of competing with Asian players in Western markets. How will Western power companies respond?

Western utilities focusing on domestic markets will source components and services worldwide. Western firms that provide equipment and services will strive to maintain their competitive advantage by staying on the innovation frontier. Even with their much faster GDP growth, China and India will still have lower per capita income than North America and most of Western Europe for the next two decades.

Higher incomes in the West will support research, development and the use of advanced technologies, giving Western firms opportunities to stay at the technology frontier.

We can think of North American companies that are doing well amid fierce competition from Asia. These companies flourish not because they can pare costs to the bone, surviving on high volumes and thin margins, but because they remain at the frontier of technology and product design.

If Western firms in the electric power business can follow this strategy, they will find it a very competitive approach in a world of intensified competition.
Daniel Yergin, chairman of CERA, received the Pulitzer Prize for “The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power” and the United States Energy Award for lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding. Vist CERA at http://cera.ecnext.com.

Why Buy Energy Efficient Appliances

February 3rd, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


When purchasing a new home appliance, a lot of people have the tendency to go straight to the discount department and select the cheapest models available. Sometimes the difference in price can be indeed significant, but is it really worth it?

You have to be aware that most of the time, the cheapest models of appliances are far from being the most energy efficient ones, which is why is highly recommended to select the model which is likely to produce future benefits, rather than just having a reduced price on the shelf. In other words, if you end up by buying a fridge that is more expensive than the discounted models, but has, on the other hand, the energy saving option available, you will discover that it is worth the extra money because the energy costs will be reduced.

In order to make sure the appliance you are about to purchase has the right kind of features there are some simple steps to follow: carefully read the label or the user guide; try to compare the energy consumption for apparently similar models; do not forget to consider both the price and the estimated energy consumption when deciding on a specific model.

The main reason, however, for which you should turn towards an energy efficient model, is related, first of all, to the amount you pay for your utility bills. However, it is as well, very important to keep in mind the fact that the use of all these appliances help reducing the pollution in the air and conserving natural resources.

Despite the fact the majority of the home appliance brands available on the market do meet energy conservation standards, you have to be aware that some models are more energy efficient than others, which is why you should not hurry into taking any decision, before reviewing all the possible options.
Detailed information about energy saving, including tips on household savings and environmental issues, are available at http://www.energyshack.com/

Natural Born Mold Killers Can Save You And Our Environment From Chemical Exposure

February 2nd, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


While there are a lot of different commercial chemicals that are used to kill mold, a lot of people do not like to use a lot of household chemicals in their homes.

There is a belief that the more we use chemicals in our daily lives, the more harm they will end up doing us and since there may be some truth to this, some people have found other ways to kill mold besides the cleaners that we find in department and grocery stores.

Three natural ingredients have been found to kill mold quite effectively, but two of them are quite expensive and one is, well, kind of stinky.

The most widely available and inexpensive of the three natural ways to kill mold is vinegar. It is by far the cheapest natural method and the most simple to use. Distilled white vinegar is the best kind to use because it has no color to it and there is no risk of discoloring anything you might put it on.

Vinegar will reportedly kill around 82 percent of molds in your home. While it will not kill all kinds of mold, it will kill most of the kind that you find indoors and if it does not kill it, you will most assuredly know.

All you have to do is put the mold into a spray bottle, spray it on the area of mold and if you can stand the smell, let it stay on the surface without rinsing it. The smell should go away after a few hours and the mold should have died soon after.

Another way to kill mold, even if it is a bit expensive, is tea tree oil. You can find this at most health food stores and it has a little more broad of a spectrum of fungi that it will get rid of than vinegar.

Combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake it up to blend the two and spray on anything that has mold on it. Do not rinse it off. This should make about two cups and it should last indefinitely.

The last way to do this is by using grapefruit seed extract. The advantage of this is that grapefruit seed extract has no smell to it. 20 drops of the extract and two cups of water in a spray bottle should do the trick. Follow the same directions for the tea tree oil.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality Miami water damage restoration companies and mold remediation companies across the united states.

Can All Metal Buildings Withstand An Earthquake

February 1st, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


In certain areas of the world, it is crucial to build structures to withstand the massive shock and damage associated with earthquakes. Unfortunately, science has not yet developed an early warning system that can give immediate notice when an earthquake is imminent. Thus, we are completely at nature’s mercy to survive an earthquake, and buildings must be built to withstand an earthquake at any time.

Much research and study has been devoted to learning which types of structures fare best in an earthquake. Generally speaking the consensus is that metal buildings fare better than concrete.

However, one might ask: does this mean that all metal buildings can withstand an earthquake?

The answer is no. Just because a building is metal does not mean it will automatically do well in an earthquake.

Metal structures are more likely to survive earthquakes because they are more ductile — they can bend and flex without breaking. This characteristic is crucial in a serious earthquake.

The most common type of metal used to build earthquake-safe buildings is steel rebar. Steel rebar has the ductility that is critical to absorbing earthquake and is very strong, making it the best and most effective option for building in an earthquake zone.

Steel rebar has proven to be an excellent building material that can withstand earthquakes, but it is not fool-proof in and of itself. It must be applied with the correct engineering and architectural principles to maximize its effectiveness. If you are considering using steel rebar to build an earthquake-resistant structure, be absolutely sure your plans and methods are correct, or hire a builder who is familiar with such structures.

Other types of metal buildings are far less resistant to earthquakes, and can be quite unsafe in earthquake-prone areas. Many metal modular homes are not constructed to withstand the tremendous shock of an earthquake. These types of buildings would be very unsafe in an earthquake zone. Also, sheet metal buildings are very fragile and highly likely to collapse during an earthquake. Experts do not recommend either of these types of structures to be placed in an earthquake zone. Some zoning laws forbid them altogether.

Another very important factor that influences whether a building will survive an earthquake is the distribution of weight. A building that is top-heavy is more likely to fall than a building that is lightweight at the top. An earthquake-safe building not only should be constructed with steel rebar. It should be framed with lighter materials in the upper floors and have a heavily reinforced lower section.

The most important lesson to learn from this discussion is that just because a building is made of metal doesn’t necessarily mean it is earthquake proof. To be fully earthquake proof, a building needs to be built with the correct materials (like steel rebar) and be built according to the correct standards.

If you are building a commercial facility, you owe it to yourself, your customers, and anyone who uses the building to use the best materials and techniques available to you. You want to get the most out of your investment, so give it the attention it merits.
Steel buildings offer durability and protection for your storage needs. Choose from pre-fabricated steel buildings or customize to meet your storage needs. http://www.futuresteel.com/

Natural Born Mold Killers Can Save You And Our Environment From Chemical Exposure

January 31st, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off


While there are a lot of different commercial chemicals that are used to kill mold, a lot of people do not like to use a lot of household chemicals in their homes.

There is a belief that the more we use chemicals in our daily lives, the more harm they will end up doing us and since there may be some truth to this, some people have found other ways to kill mold besides the cleaners that we find in department and grocery stores.

Three natural ingredients have been found to kill mold quite effectively, but two of them are quite expensive and one is, well, kind of stinky.

The most widely available and inexpensive of the three natural ways to kill mold is vinegar. It is by far the cheapest natural method and the most simple to use. Distilled white vinegar is the best kind to use because it has no color to it and there is no risk of discoloring anything you might put it on.

Vinegar will reportedly kill around 82 percent of molds in your home. While it will not kill all kinds of mold, it will kill most of the kind that you find indoors and if it does not kill it, you will most assuredly know.

All you have to do is put the mold into a spray bottle, spray it on the area of mold and if you can stand the smell, let it stay on the surface without rinsing it. The smell should go away after a few hours and the mold should have died soon after.

Another way to kill mold, even if it is a bit expensive, is tea tree oil. You can find this at most health food stores and it has a little more broad of a spectrum of fungi that it will get rid of than vinegar.

Combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake it up to blend the two and spray on anything that has mold on it. Do not rinse it off. This should make about two cups and it should last indefinitely.

The last way to do this is by using grapefruit seed extract. The advantage of this is that grapefruit seed extract has no smell to it. 20 drops of the extract and two cups of water in a spray bottle should do the trick. Follow the same directions for the tea tree oil.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality Miami water damage restoration companies and mold remediation companies across the united states.

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