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Unlike a torn screen or a squeaky door, plumbing and electrical emergencies demand immediate attention. Heres how to handle common plumbing and electrical emergencies in your home.

Plumbing Emergencies
One of the best ways to be prepared for a plumbing emergency is to have a plumbing repair kit located in an easily accessible place. This kit should include the following:

A working flashlight and spare batteries
A few rolls of Teflon tape
Plumbers putty
Epoxy putty
Pipe joint compound
Silicone caulk
A pipe repair kit

A set of plumbing hand tools:
Screwdrivers
Adjustable wrench
Sliding jaw wrench
Locking jaw wrench
Hacksaw
Tubing cutter

Its also a good idea to have spare faucet washers, as well as spare copper and PVC fittings. Youll also want to keep a plunger on hand as well as a bucket and some clean rags or towels for containing spills or leaks. Finally, in the case of a dire emergency, write your plumbers phone number on a piece of tape and attach this to the inside lid of your repair kit.

Most plumbing emergencies can be classified into one of two categories: clogs and leaks. Many clogs can be cleared with a plunger. Plungers come in two styles: non-flanged and flanged. I recommend keeping both types on hand: the non-flanged plunger for bathroom sinks and some tubs, and the flanged plunger for toilets and kitchen sinks.

Clogs, while unpleasant, don't create quite the excitement of water spewing out of a wall, floor or ceiling. In these instances, it's imperative that everyone in your home knows not only where the main water shut-off is, but also how to turn it off. Make sure there's a clear path to the shut-off valve so it's easy to reach. If you do encounter a leak, the first tasks are to shut off the water and then find the source of the leak. It some cases, it's apparent; the water is pouring out of a pipe that burst. At other times you'll have to do a little detective work to trace it down. Start by looking for obvious clues like a newly installed picture or an overflowing sink or toilet. If the source isnt obvious, try tracing the water flow back to the nearest fixture.

Small leaks can be temporarily plugged with epoxy putty or plumbers putty. You can find epoxy putty at virtually every home center and hardware store and for good reason. It's easy to use and it's waterproof. Most versions come in a Tootsie-Roll like log with two different-color inner and outer layers. When a piece is cut off and the two parts are massaged together, the epoxy is activated. Just apply it to the leak and let it set up before turning the water back on. If you don't have epoxy putty on hand, plumber's putty will temporarily staunch the flow from a small leak. Pull a generous chunk of putty out of the can and roll it around in your hand until it's flexible. Then apply it to the pipe. As with epoxy putty, plumbers putty is just a temporary fix until the pipe can be properly repaired. That is, until the damaged section of pipe is removed and replaced with new pipe.

Finally, if you notice a leak where a fitting threads onto a pipe, or vice-versa, you may be able to eliminate the leak by disassembling the connection, installing fresh Teflon tape or pipe joint compound, and reassembling the connection. Teflon tape is a thin membrane that wraps easily around pipe threads. Pipe joint compound is a paste-like substance that comes in squeeze tubes for easy application.

Electrical Emergencies
Youre enjoying your favorite TV show and suddenly the lights go out. What to do? First, stay calm. Second, grab your electrical emergency kit and start troubleshooting.

Your electrical emergency kit should be located in an easily accessible place.

Items to include in the kit:

A working flashlight with spare bulb and batteries
Electrical testers (like a circuit tester, or neon tester, with a bulb that lights when 110 volts passes through it)
A receptacle analyzer that will tell you the condition of a receptacle at a glance (to use one, you just plug it into a receptacle)
A digital multi-meter
Spare fuses or breakers
Replacement parts (receptacles, single-pole and 3-way switches)
Electrical hand tools
Screwdrivers
Wire strippers
Diagonal cutters
Needle-nose pliers
Fuse puller (if your home has cartridge style fuses)

Finally, write the power companys phone number on a piece of tape along with the number of your electrician (for dire emergencies) and attach this to the inside lid of your kit.

When lights go out or devices stop working, your first step is to determine the extent of the outage. If you notice your entire home is dark, look out the window at your neighbors homes. If theyre dark too, odds are its the power company. If the outage appears to be affecting just your home, try flipping on various lights to identify which rooms are affected. If power is out only to a specific device (a TV, lamp, or appliance), check to make sure its plugged in, someone hasnt flipped a switch to a controlled receptacle or the bulb hasnt simply burned out.

If the power is out house-wide, check the main breaker to see if it has tripped theres usually a visual indicator for this (youll see orange in the indicator window). Restore power by resetting the breaker: flip it off, then on. If you know power is out only to a portion of your home, its most likely a blown fuse or tripped breaker in a branch circuit. Check your fuses or breakers and replace or reset them as needed. If the main breaker isnt tripped and you still have no power, its the power company. Give them a call to see whats up and how long it will be until they restore power.

For hundreds of timesaving tips about plumbing, electrical work, and improvements to your home and hard, visit RonHazelton.Com, where youll also find printable, illustrated step-by-step instructions, free instructional videos, downloadable 3-D plans, and more.

Washington Mesothelioma Attorneys have a proven track record when it comes to securing compensation for those that have been wronged by asbestos manufacturers. In fact, most lawsuits filed by Mesothelioma attorneys settle quickly and result in a hefty cash award for the victim and their family.

Asbestos Mesothelioma lawsuit case studies have shown time and time again that asbestos manufacturers were aware that their products caused Mesothelioma cancer but covered it up in order to keep turning a profit. Today, approximately 3,000 new cases of Mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure are diagnosed. The law says asbestos manufacturers have to pay for this grievous mistake.

Where To Find A Mesothelioma Attorney In Washington

If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer due to asbestos exposure, the law limits the amount of time that you can file a lawsuit. That is why it is vital to seek a competent attorney as soon as a Mesothelioma diagnosis is made.

Often, the compensation earned from a Mesothelioma lawsuit is enough to cover the staggering medical costs associated with Mesothelioma treatment and to secure the financial future of the family.

To find an attorney with Mesothelioma experience in Washington, contact the following law associations. They can connect you with a skilled attorney in your area and provide you with valuable information to fight your lawsuit.

Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, 1809 7th Ave. #1500, Seattle, WA 98101, (206)464-0703, www.wstla.org.

Washington State Bar Association, 2101 Fourth Ave., Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98121, 1-800-945-9722, www.wsba.org.

Remember, if you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer, you need to act quickly to file your lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers. Contact a Washington attorney today.

Jon Butt publishes http://www.the-mesothelioma-guide.com With the web being packed with mis-information http://www.the-mesothelioma-guide.com is a leading free resource of Mesothelioma support, advice and legal help along with alternative remedies, natural supplements and more. Helping both you and your loved ones.

There are dozens, maybe even hundreds, of online financial calculators that you can use to figure out the amount of a monthly loan payment on a mortgage or a car loan.

What can you do to figure out a monthly loan payment amount if there is no computer or internet handy? And you have finally lost or tossed out that old HP12c you had in your top drawer since 1982.

The formula is simple but unless you can do logarithms in your head you need a calculator with a power function. That's the key with y^x (superscript x) on it. For example 2 raised to the 3 power = 8, or 2 x 2 x 2 = 8. On the calculator you would enter 2 then y^x then 3 then = to get the answer 8. If you have kids in school you probably have a calculator with a power function lying around the house. Some cell phone calculators will do the trick also.

A compound interest payment calculation is not rocket science but it is not trivial math either. Hence the need for the power function key. If you do the calculation half a dozen times you can probably commit it to memory. Worst case is the formula will fit on a small index card that you can slip into your wallet or purse.

You are watching the Sunday afternoon game and you see an ad from a local mortgage finance company offering 6% mortgage financing. You got your current $50,000 second mortgage 5 years ago at 8%. It is a 20 year loan. Is it worth checking out the mortgage finance company's offer to refinance the remaining balance of your 2nd mortgage for the remaining 15 years at a lower monthly payment? Let's do the math without leaving the couch.

The variables are:

N = loan period in months. i.e. 15 years = 180 months.

I = interest rate in whole numbers. i.e. 6% written as 6.

P = principal amount of the loan. The amount borrowed.

Q = the Q factor. An intermediate calculation.

M = monthly payment amount

Here's the entire formula for the monthly payment amount of a compound interest loan:

M = (P * I * Q) / (1200 * (Q -1))

Easy enough, but first you have to calculate the value of Q. Here is the formula:

Q = (1 + R/1200) ^N. Pretty simple, but you do need the power function key. N can get fairly large.

Your current monthly P + I payment on your second mortgage is $418.22. The pay-off on the remaining balance of the loan at the end of the 60th month is $43,763 (rounded)

The mortgage finance company is offering 6% on $43,763 for 15 years. What is the monthly payment amount?

Q = (1 + 6/1200) ^180 = 2.454

M = (43763 * 6 * 2.454) / (1200 * (2.454 -1)) = $369.31 (rounded).

In this example by refinancing your second mortgage at the lower rate you would pay off your current second mortgage at the same time and have almost $49 more cash per month in your pocket. Let's see. If you invested that $49 per month at a 20% annual return...

(c) 2006 Peter Boston is an attorney, writer, and the editor of the profacere.com website, a tips and resource site to refinance a second mortgage, get no fax payday loans, or improve your FICO credit score, updated daily on the profacere.com credit blog.

As a specialist in the Home Loans area in Australia I have been asked by a few clients recently about the range of "Special Offers" made by banks and lenders. Specifically, are they worth it?

First, banks may offer rate discounts of 0.7% or more depending on the amount you borrow. Usually the higher the loan amount, the greater the discount. Sometimes the offer is a little different, say 50 cents off a litre of petrol for a year.

My approach is simple, just work out the exact money savings to do the comparisons, don't just look at the rate or the offer itself. In other words, will I save money.

Here are some examples.

Say you are borrowing $300000 and the bank is offering a discount of 0.7% off the standard variable rate of 8.07%. This is offered as part of a professional package (all banks have their own name, but lets use this generic name), that attracts an annual fee of $300. At face value this means you get a rate of 7.37%.

Now, how does this translate into actual cash flow?

The monthly repayment on $300000 at 7.37% over 30 years is $2071
Add monthly component of package fee $ 25
Total $2096

Compare this with a similar loan from another bank at a rate of 7.4%

The monthly repayment on $300000 at 7.4% over 30 years is $2077
Nil monthly charge $ 0
Total $2077

This means that the loan at 7.37% is more than the loan at 7.4%! Another vital point about this is that the loan amount actually lessens as you pay it off, but the yearly fee does not, and so, the loan actually gets more expensive as the years roll by.

This is something to be very careful of.

I should mention, however, that with higher loan amounts the comparison may change in favour of the professional package, so the figures need to be worked out accurately for every loan scenario.

Now, what about cheap petrol?

One popular offer at the moment is that you will save 50 cents a litre for a year. The actual website quotes that you could save $2080 over a full year. Subject to the following conditions: Offer limited to 52 purchases over a 12 month period (maximum 4 per month except for December, March, June and August when a maximum of 5 purchases applies), up to a limit of 80 litres of fuel per individual purchase. Promotion applies to funded new money Standard Variable or Discount Variable loans of $150,000 or greater.

The petrol deal applies to loans currently quoted at either 7.99% or 7.59%, ie the Standard Variable Rate or the Discount Variable Rate respectively. Lets look at the best case scenario at 7.59%, and for the sake of comparison I will also assume there are no monthly fees.

Monthly repayments on $300,000 loan over 30 years at 7.59%: $2116.16
Monthly repayments on $300,000 loan over 30 years at 7.4%: $2077.14
Monthly cost of the free petrol: $ 39.02

On the strength of these figures it will take 4 and a half years until the cheaper loan starts to get ahead, so it looks like a reasonable deal, unless you dont use enough petrol! The bottom line is this. Dont just look at the rate or the money you might save. Do the figures accurately and compare apples with apples.

Michael is the owner of Home Loan Answers, the BEST site for Home Loan Information in Australia. You will also find great tips on how to get the best credit cards and personal loans plus an opportunity for you to get personally tailored information so you can choose the best deal to suit your circumstances.

So have you finally have given up on hand watering and want a in-ground system? Designing a sprinkler system may be easier than you think.

In this short tutorial you will learn how to create a simple garden plan and then estimate how much conduit and sprinkler heads you will need for your project.

Plotting your garden area
First, find a some graph paper. If you don't have any you can Google "printable graph paper" and print the example images. Depending on the size of your yard, establish the scale by referring to each square as 2 or more feet. (see our printable graph paper to skip this step)

Next, you will want to measure and draw your house and patio areas. Be sure to include side walks and other obstructions like trees and garden borders as well.

Locating your water source
Once you have define these areas and your garden boundary you will need to locate your water source. For this DIY project we will be using your outside spigot as the water source. Locate these on your plan with an "X".

Choosing a sprinkler head
Now we will need to decide on what kind of sprinkler head to use. In this tutorial we have selected Rotors for our project. These are a rotating gear driven heads and are a great choice for large lawn areas.

Rotor heads silently spray a water stream out to an average distance of 20 feet. They will minimize the amount of conduit required for you project.

Creating spray templates
Next, we will create a spray template. On a separate piece of graph paper draw 4 circles with a diameter (width of the circle) measuring 40 feet. Then cut each circle out with a pair of scissors. (note: see our predrawn sprinkler templates to skip this step)

Then we need to cut one of the sprays in half and another in quarters for smaller areas. Since our Rotors allow adjustable spray angles we can keep certain areas dry by simply spraying outward.

Tracing your spray patterns
Start with areas like the edge of house, patios or edge of street and use the half circles. With the spray templates simply trace around them using a pencil.

Each spray pattern should overlap at least 30% to ensure no areas in your lawn or garden will become dry. Once all half circles are drawn, fill in middle areas with full sprays and quarter spays where needed.

Defining your watering zones
Lastly, we need to draw in the conduit and create watering zones. Starting at your spigot, draw a gradual curve from one head to the next, making sure your conduit never overlaps. Be sure to avoid tight turns in your design.

For this tutorial we will use 3 heads for each zone. By connecting a series of 3 heads together you are establishing one watering zone. Repeat this process to the remaining heads on your plan.

Checking your Psi and Gpm
You will also want to check your Psi and GPM levels. A call to your water company will give you a good idea of how good your water coverage will be.

Other methods include using a pressure gauge (it easily attaches to your faucet) and a gallon bucket (For example if it takes 7 seconds to fill a gallon bucket then divided 60 by 7 .. or 8.6 GPM)

In Conclusion
We hope this tutorial has given you a better understanding about DIY Sprinkler Irrigation Design and Planning. You may have discovered that planning for a sprinkler system is much easier than you had originally thought.

Written by Erik Zetterberg

Erik is the webmaster of http://www.lawnbeltusa.com - a Sprinkler Site for the DIYer.

There's an old joke that asks "How do you get to Cargenie Hall?" The answer is "Practice." The same can be said for becoming a medical malpractice lawyer in New York.

My first boss, a well-known trial attorney in New York, told me one day after an exhausting and productive day, that trial lawyers are not born great trial lawyers. Rather, they must practice their trade day in and day out. Only through experience and practice can one become a truly good lawyer.

Becoming a lawyer

In order to become a lawyer in New York, you must attend four years of college. You then must take the LSAT (law school admission test) and apply for admission to law school. Law school is usually a three year program, and once you finish school- you must take the New York State Bar Exam. This is a two day exam that tests your knowledge of general and specific areas of law. Once you pass the bar exam, you must pass an interview with the character and fitness committee in the County in which you live. Once you have passed the interview you will be permitted to practice law in the State of New York.

Gaining experience

Most attorneys will go to work for a law firm to gain experience, and after a few years, move to a different firm. Some will open their own law firms, and some will remain where they started. One of the best ways to gain experience in medical malpractice law in New York is to work in a defense litigation firm that handles medical malpractice defense. There you will learn to handle the file, deal with paperwork, attend court conferences, deal with clients, take depositions, and if you're lucky, assist senior attorneys with trials. In years past, the younger associates at such defense firms could easily count on starting their own trials within one to two years of passing the bar. However, with malpractice cases being so complex, and physicians and insurance companies being weary of the young novice attorney representing such significant matters, it's unlikely that you will be handling your own trial until you are either a partner, or have many years of experience under your belt- even if you are the smartest attorney to come out of your class.

Medical malpractice law

Medical malpractice law is a sub-specialty of tort law- also known as personal injury law. The only way to become good at it is to gain experience by practice and guidance with a senior trial lawyer who handles these cases on a day to day basis. Not only do you need to learn the law specific to medical malpractice issues, but you also have to become somewhat of an expert on the medicine involved in the case.

Learning the medicine occurs by reading medical literature, medical textbooks, speaking with physicians, consulting with your medical experts, and treating doctors. Learning how to apply that knowledge to your case is what takes time and experience. Learning how to cross-examine a doctor at a deposition or question him skillfully at trial is what separates the good attorney from the excellent attorney.

Contrary to what we see on television, the key to being a good trial attorney who handles medical malpractice cases is preparation. Preparation of the medicine, preparation of your records, exhibits, your clients, and your experts; in a word: Preparation. You must know your case better than your own client does. You must educate the Court about your case, the law involved specifically in your case, and must convey your knowledge to the jury in a way that makes your case more believable than your adversary's case.

My own experience

In my daily practice, I truly enjoy handling medical malpractice cases. I enjoy speaking with potential clients who call to see whether they have valid cases that warrant investigating and prosecuting. The hardest part of my job is telling a potential client that I cannot accept their case. When that happens the natural question is "Why can't you take my case?" The answer to that question can be simple or complex depending on the type of case they're calling about.

Being able to help victims of medical malpractice is always rewarding, as many of these victims cannot help themselves and need legal help with rebuilding their lives, their finances and their frail bodies.

For those who call for tort reform, keep in mind that there are many instances of valid malpractice cases here in New York that so few contrarians even wish to discuss. Rather, they want to focus on a few bad apples who bring cases that are questionable. Instead of focusing on a few bad apples, keep your mind focused on what can be done to prevent malpractice from happening, and once it does happen, how to properly and fully compensate the injured victim.

Attorney Oginski has been in practice for over 18 years as a trial lawyer practicing exclusively in the State of New York. Having his own law firm, he is able to provide the utmost in personalized, individualized attention to each and every client. In our office, a client is not a file number. Client's are always treated with the respect they deserve and expect from a professional. Mr. Oginski is always aware of every aspect of a client's case from start to finish.

Gerry represents injured people in injury cases and medical malpractice matters in Brooklyn, Queens, New York City, the Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk Counties. You can reach him at http://www.oginski-law.com, or 516-487-8207. All inquiries are free and totally confidential.

The resourceful technology called VoIP has created a storm in the world of communication. More and more people all around the world are opting this technology at homes and at offices. There was a time when even a telephone was an awe inspiring concept. And now we, humans have grown and evolved to such a stage, where we can make international calls at the snap of a finger and enjoy a communication which is crystal clear and dirt cheap.

VoIP, as by now we all know, stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. And VoIP phones are telephones and cordless phones that are VoIP enabled. Today, markets all over the world, are brimming with VoIP phones and you can find all the well known brands like Philips, Siemens, Panasonic, etc. All these leading brands have different variety of VoIP phones, which are: Skype Phones, Wi-Fi phones, USB phones, Skype headset etc. Consumers choose as per their requirements and their usage.

VoIP, as said above, are used both at home and offices, with the help of an ATA box. The ATA box connects the phone and the computer to the modem, which connects to the internet. At home, one can plug in the main base of the telephone or cordless phone to the ATA box.

VoIP requires a high speed internet connection for which one needs cable or DSL. However, it would be best if you have broadband connection since the speed is pretty fast in such cases. There are many service providers who provide broadband internet connection. Although the technology with all the providers remains same, however, there is a big difference in the pricing and plans that each provider offers. You can choose your service provider as per your requirements.

After you get internet connection, all you have to do is just dial in the international or national number from your VoIP phone and get connected to any corner of the world.

Darlene Kaitlene is a renowned business writer who has years of experience in writing technical reviews, product descriptions and product feature analysis of technical gadgets and gizmos. He has won appreciation especially for enlightening people about the latest communication gizmos...the VoIP Phones and VoIP Technology.

1. Attend Every Class

Maybe this seems like second nature to you; if so, great! Good class attendance is worth mentioning, however, because for some students, the realization that no one is going to bust them for cutting class is so liberating that they begin skipping with abandon. If you fall prey to this tempting but very bad habit, you will be behind the eight ball when you have to prepare for a test. Even if you do all of the homework on your own, you will miss out on what your professor emphasizes -- and that's going to be the basis of the test. If you go to class, pay attention, and take notes, you will go a long way toward acing the test. If, on the other hand, you are reading this after a period of missing class from time to time, try to catch up with a classmate willing to share the notes with you.

2. Do Your Homework When You're Supposed To

Again, this tip might seem too simple to mention, but since it's a major part of a fool-proof strategy for acing a test, it's really not. Don't leave your reading assignments until the night before the test. There is no way you'll be able to absorb the information as effectively as you would have had you been doing the assignments as they were assigned. In addition, by doing your homework and being prepared for class, you will get more out of your experience in class, thereby increasing your chances of getting the coveted A.

3. The Days Leading Up To The Test

I really can't emphasize enough how helpful going to class and paying attention is. If you have done that, much of your preparation for the test is already done. What should you do in the days leading up to the test?

A. Review the notes you took. Make sure you understand them.

B. Your professor or TA might give you a review sheet with examples of questions, important concepts for the test, etc. Study this important resource and make sure you understand it as well.

C. Ask your professor about anything from your notes that now seems unclear to you. Your professor will probably have a review day, or at least a period for questions on the day before the test. Take advantage of this opportunity by asking prepared, informed questions.

Review more industry related articles by Elizabeth Saas at CareersandEducation.com Elizabeth Saas is a feature writer and often covers topics related to Campus degree programs and Career Advice.

Hows this for a challenge? Create a zero net source energy (as opposed to site energy) home as defined by the Department of Energys Building America program. Design it to operate in the extremes of Denvers unpredictable climate, using off-the-shelf, readily available technologies. Keep the mechanical systems as simple and uncomplicated as possible. Incorporate energy-efficiency strategies that dont require the home owners to be experts in sustainable building operations or conduct any maintenance beyond that required of a normal home.

Not overly difficult, you might say? Add that the design must be replicable for future Habitat for Humanity homes, utilize low-cost construction materials, and allow volunteer- friendly construction techniques. Still with me? The clincher: The target market is the affordable housing sector. Impossible, you might say? Challenging yes, but not impossible for an integrated design team of NREL engineers and Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers. The finished product is a 1,200 square foot, three-bedroom reduced income home that actually produces more source energy than it consumes!

Design Considerations

The combination of energy engineers, a construction manager a real estate development manager and Habitat volunteers on the design helped strike a balance between engineering ideals based on energy modeling, cost realities inherent in affordable housing, and considerations involved in a volunteer construction crew.

Habitats volunteer labor advantage steered the design team to approaches that favored low materials costs and high labor costs. While this approach minimizes the substantial labor cost, when combined with the affordable housing requirement it restricts the range of sustainable strategies available. For example, strategies such as structured insulated panels (SIPs) and insulated concrete forms were not considered because of their high cost. Similarly, the requirement for volunteer-friendly construction techniques and ease of replication eliminated the option of using Straw Bale. The design simplicity requirement eliminated the possibility of a combined solar space heating and water heating system. Finally, the zero energy requirement, given Denvers cold climate and the current high cost of PV systems, required some trade offs that some purists might consider controversial.

Design Approach - Envelope

Given the considerations described above, the design team decided to focus first on reducing the homes energy load as much as possible, and then size the PV system to meet the remaining electricity needs. The first place to look? Yes, you guessed it a passive solar orientation with a super insulated envelope. Starting with a standard Habitat three-bedroom, 26 x 46 square foot design with a crawlspace, the team increased the South-facing glazing area and reduced the North, East and West facing glazing area. Next, a double-stud wall with fiberglass batt construction was selected to take advantage of its relatively low cost, volunteer-friendly technique and Habitats low construction labor cost. Blown fiberglass installed in the attic achieved an R-60 rating and insulated floors achieved an R-30 rating. While the double stud wall design, with exterior structural studs spaced at 16 inches O.C. might not achieve LEED Homes Advanced Framing Techniques points, the interior studs spaced at 24 inches O.C. certainly meet the requirement. The R-3 fiberglass batts in the exterior wall cavities and the R-13 filling the space between the exterior and interior walls as well as the interior wall cavities definitely help optimize energy performance. An outer vapor-permeable house wrap and fiber cement siding, with and an inner poly vapor barrier plus drywall adds to a very tight whole-wall-R value. Blower tests yielded a natural infiltration rate result of 0.15 ACH, a very tight indication.

Heating and Ventilation

With the houses heating energy needs drastically reduced through this super-insulated shell, the design team then focused on the heating and ventilation system. Note that I didnt mention heating, cooling and ventilation system. Yet another design challenge! Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver has a policy of not equipping its homes with air conditioning. This meant that the final design had to maximize heat reduction (for example by maximizing solar gain) without increasing the cooling energy load.

To supply a proper amount of fresh air to the house while minimizing potential for energy loss, the team opted for an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system with efficient electronically commutated motors. The system exhausts air from the kitchen and bathroom, and supplies fresh air to the living room and bedrooms. Heat loss from ventilation is reduced because the ERV system heats the incoming air with warmth from the exhaust air.

The design team soon discovered that a very low heating load is a double edged sword. On the one hand very little energy is required to heat the house. On the other hand, most commonly available heating systems are oversized for such low heating needs, and overly complicated or expensive systems cannot be cost-justified. After carefully considering a variety of high-efficiency heating systems, and much internal debate, the team decided to follow a hybrid approach of electricity from the PV system, and natural gas.

Controversial Approach

Some of us who are purists may turn up our noses at the thought of a zero energy home using natural gas. However, the economics involved convinced the design team that a hybrid approach was the best solution (see side bar)

The PV system selected by the design team uses the local utility grid for storage, thus eliminating the substantial cost of the storage battery. When the system is producing more energy than is being used, it delivers energy to the grid. When the system produces less energy than it produces, it draws electricity from the grid.

When the system draws electricity from the grid, it is likely drawing fossil-fuel generated electricity. Although a larger sized PV system may minimize the volume of electricity drawn from the grid, the cost of larger systems is prohibitive. The design team opted to include natural gas in order to reduce the size of the PV system by 1.1 kW, making it much for affordable for a Habitat Home. The team designed the system to offset the natural gas used, thus achieving, and even surpassing, the goal of net zero source energy.

The hybrid approach allowed the team to size the PV system that is affordable, offsets the use of natural gas as well as any grid generated electricity, and thus allows the home to achieve (and even surpass) the goal of net zero source energy. The hybrid space heating system combines a pointsource direct-vent natural gas furnace in the dining room and living area, with small baseboard electric-resistance heaters in the bedrooms.

Water Heating

The design team selected a solar water heating system rather than a combined space/water hearing system for simplicity, backed up by a natural gas tankless water heater. The team calculated that the 96 square foot collector area and 200 gallon water storage would result in an annual solar-savings fraction of 88%. They opted for the tankless natural gas back up heater after finding that the tankless system uses zero heating energy whenever the solar water tank is at or above 115 degree water delivery temperature.

The Crowning Element

Having reduced all possible energy loads as much as possible, the design team zeroed in on the lighting, appliances and miscellaneous electric loads (MELs). They installed compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout the house, and ENERGY STAR label appliances. This left the miscellaneous electric loads, from TV, hair dryer, toasters, computers, and anything else that could be plugged in by the occupants. Using Built America benchmark assumptions on MELs, the team settled on a 4kW PV system. Because the Built America assumptions on based upon a national average of a typical American household, the actual occupant use and local climate may either block the home from achieving zero energy usage, or propel it to the ranks of net energy producer.

The Verdict

Initial test results were encouraging. From the February to July of 2006, the PV system produced 1,600 kWh more electricity than the house consumed. Factoring in the natural gas used for space heating and water heating backup, the house produced 75% more source energy than it consumed. Although a longer testing period is required, its a safe bet to say that the house will be an annual net energy producer rather than just achieve net zero energy user. However, this could change if the occupants begin using more than the average calculated into the Built America benchmark.

And the home owners? While it is true that the house is a net energy producer, they unfortunately are not free from utility bills. There is the monthly charge for the natural gas, as well as fixed charges for the electric grid and natural gas connection fees. From October of 2005 to May of the 2006, the owners shelled out an average of $18.25 per month in energy bills. Because the fixed monthly charges averaged 80% of those bills, in actuality the family used on average $14.60 worth of energy.

For those of us who suffered through $200+ monthly energy bills during that same period, those results are very compelling.

KEY RESIDENTIAL SUSTAINABLE FEATURES

Energy and Atmosphere

Passive Solar Design
The house was designed with increased glazing area on the long South facing side, and reduced glazing area on the North, East and West facing sides.

Renewable Energy
4kW Photovoltaic system using utility power grid storage to eliminate need for and associated high cost of, storage battery

Insulation
Raised heel trusses in attic allow 2 ft of blown fiberglass insulation, achieving R-60 rating for thermal envelope top
Floors insulated to R-30
R-3 fiberglass batts in outer 2 x 4 structural stud wall cavities, and a second, interior 2x4 stud wall with R-13 fiberglass batts placed horizontally between stud walls and vertically in interior wall cavities
Outer vapor-permeable house wrap and fiber cement siding
Inner poly vapor barrier and drywall

Space Heating
Hybrid natural gas/electric heating system, combining a pointsource direct-vent natural gas furnace in the living room and dining area, and small baseboard electric-resistance heaters in the bedrooms. This combination provides the added bonus of zone heating, as each appliance has its own independent thermostat.

Water Heating
Solar water heating system with 96 square feet collector area and 200 gallon water storage tank as primary water heating system, with natural gas tankless water heater as a back up system

Windows
Double glazed, low e glass installed in South facing windows, with U-factor of 0.3 and SHGC of 0.58. For the East, West and North facing windows, Double glazed, low e glass was also used, with a U-factor of 0.22 and SHGC value of 0.27. The U-factors of all windows exceed (ENERGY STAR requirements by 20%). Appliances
ENERGY STAR appliances were installed.

Lighting
Compact fluorescent light bulbs deployed throughout the house

Indoor Environmental Quality

Local Exhaust
Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system with efficient electronically commutated motors, exhausts air from the kitchen and bathroom, and supplies fresh air to the living room and bedrooms.

Outdoor Air Ventilation
The ERV system heats incoming fresh air with warmth of the exhaust air, thus significantly reducing heat loss from ventilation. Materials and Resources

Advanced Framing Techniques: Walls consist of inner 2x4 stud wall, 24 inches O.C.

Daniele Loffreda is Managing Principal of Plateau Enviro Associates, a consulting firm specializing in green building, sustainable communities and marketing communications. He serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Greenbuilding Council Colorado Chapter, and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional

If you work and are spending one third to one half of your day in an office setting then your surroundings there are as important as those in your home. Although we usually have little control over the buildings we work in, being aware of problems that can affect us will enable us to take counter-measures and may encourage the creation of stimulating and nurturing environments. Below are 10 steps that will help to provide an office that is balanced and conducive to good health and well-being, which will ultimately benefit your health and the health your company.

1) Ergonomically Correct Chair: Make sure that your chair is comfortable and has adjustable height and arms. When you are sitting straight with feet flat on the floor your arms should be at a 90-degree angle when typing on the computer. If you are having to strain or stretch to reach your computer then you are putting stress on the back and shoulder area. Chairs can certainly be expensive but in the long run it will cost much less than spending time at the chiropractor.

2) Green Plants: Plants do more than just enhance the beauty of your surroundings, many actually clean pollutants out of the air as they add oxygen and humidity to the indoor environment. New findings suggest, however, that they may add more than just color and interest. They also filter the air, and can fight against the common high-tech ill, sick building disease. Recent research undertaken by the NASA Space Administration in America has yielded some very interesting results. In a test lasting two years conducted by Dr. B.C. Wolverton at the Stennis Space Centre in Mississippi it was discovered that common houseplants are capable of converting chemical air pollutants into harmless substances. Ivy, one of the smallest of houseplants, does an excellent job of cleaning the air of toxins, especially benzene and TCE. The humble potted Chrysanthemum is another goodie. You can place a number of plants around your office or make up a high scoring clean-air cocktail by adding such plants as Peace Lilies and Parlour Palms. Better still are various forms of Dracaena, Dracaena Warnecki and Dracaena Janet Craig are real pollutant sucking types. Chinese Evergreen and the humble Philoderdron are also two to watch out for.

3) Lighting: Studies suggest that natural light increases human productivity and reduces fatigue and stress. By simply replacing your antiquated fluorescent tubes with full-spectrum tubes, you can instantly enhance your environment and your well-being! Full spectrum lighting emits a natural, balanced spectrum of light that is the closest you can get to sunlight indoors. Based on years of study not only do they bring out true, vibrant colors but they can also ease eye fatigue, improve your mood, reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels, slow aging of the retina and reduce glare.

4) Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. Not only does the aroma of the natural essential oil stimulate the brain to trigger a reaction, but the natural constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) of the essential oil are drawn into the lungs and can also supply physical benefit. Aromatherapy can help with a physical condition, can help with symptoms, can affect your mood, or help alleviate or temporarily eliminate stress or other psychological factors. Scenting your office with Lavender essential oil is said to reduce computer errors at least 25%. The following is a good blend to use in the office (must have an aromatherapy diffuser): 2 drops of lemon, orange or bergamot; 2 drops of grapefruit; 1 drop ylang ylang, rose or neroli. Multiply your blend by 4 to obtain a total of 20 drops of your chosen blend. Add your oils to a dark colored glass bottle and mix well by rolling the bottle in between your hands. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser by following the manufacturers instructions. There are also many recipes on the Internet to use during the cold and flu season when office-air can be extremely contagious.

5) Air Quality: The EPA informs us that 6 out of 10 buildings are "sick" and that indoor air quality is the United States' number one environmental health problem. A recent study by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture found that ionizing a room led to 52% less dust in the air, and 95% less bacteria in the air (since many of the pollutants found in the air reside on floating dust particles). The U.S.D.A. also performed another study to test the effectiveness of negative ionization at removing airborne Salmonella Enteritidis. The negative ions drastically reduced the airborne salmonella particles, prompting the following statement from the USDA. I recommend a negative ion air purifier for the office setting. These units are small enough to fit on a credenza or desk and are very modestly priced.

6) EMF Protection: Detrimental energies from electromagnetic fields emitted from high tension wires, industrial radar, microwave beams, electric current, computers, cell phones, televisions, fluorescent lights and other electrical appliances have been found to be dangerous to mental and physical health. When an individual sleeps or works for extensive periods within electromagnetic frequency zones, these energies create a constant source of stress (altering body polarity) which can lead to fatigue, frustration, tension and illness. Signs of exposure may include drowsiness, chronic aches and pains, sleep disorders, irritability, low energy and general malaise and may lead to more serious health situations such as cancer. These highly disruptive energy fields actually numb or dull our sense perceptions and adversely impacts brain wave activity. Studies have also shown electromagnetic fields (EMF) to induce mild depression in many subjects with the disruption of melatonin, dopamine, and serotonin levels. There are many devices that can be used in the office or put on the computer that will give EMF protection. I recommend the Safe Space II. It is designed to neutralize harmful electromagnetic fields, geopathic disturbances, as well as other detrimental vibrational energies in environments. It is a framed holographic grid (encased behind glass) 2 x 2 and can be attached to any surfaceespecially the computer monitor. The Safe Space II device clears a spherical area with a 9 radius. You can read more about it at www.ghchealth.com.

7) Colors: Color therapy has its roots in ancient Egypt. Scientific studies recognize that colors bring about emotional reactions to individuals. Our reactions and attitudes to colors differ from person to person. That color affects us all is an undoubted fact. Its significance has been investigated and the results utilized in merchandizing, selling, home decorating, the workplace environment, industry, plant growth, nutrition, physics, physiology, psychology, ecclesiasticism and art. In fact, color is so much a part of our lives that we tend to take it for granted. Colors that are useful in the office are: orange stimulates creativity; yellow intensifies the intellect and heightens motivation; red energizes; blue calming, fights physical and mental tension; green fights irritability and has a healing effect on the body. For the office, use colors that you are drawn to as these are the colors that will benefit your health.

8) Music: Just about all offices have some type of music playing in the background. Music can affect emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills. Music in the workplace, either from piped-in music or from a radio, is sometimes used to mask sounds. Music can provide mental stimulation while performing monotonous tasks, which can help to reduce stress levels in the office. Some people, however, find music in the office intensely annoying, especially if it is too loud or inappropriate. I have found that soft, up-lifting music is very essential to the office atmosphere. There is literally a mirage of good background music available on CDs. Search out the Internet on what is right for your office.

9) Breaks: Even the most focused person needs a break at least twice a day. Change of scenery also helps with emotions. One of the best ways to eliminate stress and recharge the body is to go outside for a ten-minute walk. Focus on your surroundings and take deep breaths. This will give you a renewal of energy and will also aid in Vitamin D production. Walk by yourself and focus on clearing your mind. Walking will also get the blood and the lymphatic system flowing.

10) Organization: It is an excellent idea to look into Feng Shui for the office. Feng Shui is basically an environmental science and gives advice on how to create environments in which we feel comfortable and supported. For example, water energy plays a significant role in Feng Shui. Having a small fountain in your office can give a sense of calmness and peacefulness. Keep your office clean and organized. There is no excuse for clutter. Make sure that your desk is clean and that everything is put away before you leave each day. A well-organized, uncluttered desk leads to clear thinking and reduces stress. Make a habit of putting items back in their original place after you are finished using them.

Putting in the extra time, effort and money in getting your office environment healthy will pay-off with a multitude of health benefits. Of course, it is assumed that when you are out of the office, you are also taking care of yourself by eating a healthy diet, exercising the body and mind, taking good supplementation and getting adequate rest. All of this goes hand-in-hand in getting and keeping the body healthy. Remember to address your attitude as you travel the path to good health, as negative attitudes are self-destructive. Good health requires desire, determination and discipline in every aspect of your life.

About The Author

Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CCN, HHP is a Doctor of Naturopath, Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Holistic Health Practitioner in the Houston, TX area and Vice President of Global Healing Center, Inc. A teacher and educator, she counsels Global Healing Center clients on the aspects of getting the body healthy and keeping the body healthy. As a cancer survivor, she is able to relate extensively, both as a patient and a practitioner, to clients suffering from disease. She is also involved in researching new alternative disease treatments and products. Dr. Lanphier is Assistant Editor and contributor to the worldwide newsletter Alternative Health & Healing. Visit us on the web at: www.ghchealth.com

staff@ghchealth.com

Direct mail marketing is now being used by many large retailers like Macys or Wal-Mart in order to reach their customers. These businesses often send out sales flyers that highlight what will be on sale in their store that week. Retailers also send them out if they have special sales.

You may not think that using the mail is the way to go if you own a small business. You should know that this type of marketing can be very effective in your community. It can reach a lot of people for little money, even if it may not be as flashy as television advertising.

You may not have noticed it, but direct mail marketing has always been around. Many people can still get their mail every day, even though they tend to use email for personal and some business correspondence. In the past, this method has been used by more companies, but only the smart companies still do it.

People can ignore both radio and television ads rather easily, but they regularly check what comes in their mailbox. Unlike commercials, direct mail marketing is less invasive, and they can put the flyers aside for when they have time to look through them.

You should remember that direct mail marketing gives you more say than television or radio spots if you are selling something. You can print anything you want on them, and you dont have to cram all your information into a thirty second spot. You can be sure that your information will reach your customers and potential customers. They will also have more time to read through what you have to offer.

Direct mail marketing is very effective, and people will receive ads and flyers by mail as long as they have postal service. You should make sure you get a bulk rate from the post office, if you want to use direct mail marketing. You can save more money if you send out more. You need to layout a flyer and have it printed, but it costs less than shooting a television commercial.

You can know what you need to do and how to go about an effective campaign by going into the post office and talking to them about direct mail marketing. The people at the post office might be able to discuss bulk rates with you. They may also have suggestions about the best day of the week to send out your materials along with any rules or regulations you may need to know.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Direct Mail Marketing. Visit our site for more helpful information about Direct Mail Marketing for Mortgage Company and other similar topics.

Acupuncture is an alternative medical treatment that has been around for more than 2000 years. Originating from the Chinese, the practice of acupuncture is based on the belief that a block in the vital energy flow in the body can cause chi imbalances, which is believed to be the root cause of most of the ailments suffered by human beings. These blockages can be cleared and the energy flow of the body can be restored by the insertion of thin needles into specific acupoints of the body. There are more than 2000 different acupuncture insertion points on the human body and the ailment determines which insertion points should be used. Acupuncture is now used throughout the world to treat a variety of conditions, like infertility, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, gastric hyperacidity, tonsillitis, intercostal neuralgia and paralytic ileus.

How Can Acupuncture Cure Infertility?

The use of acupuncture to treat infertility is a comparatively new concept for western societies. The theory behind acupuncture for infertility is that acupuncture will increase the amount of blood flow to the reproductive organs and harmonize the hormones present in the body. This practice is recognized to be effective by increasing ovarian effectiveness in women and aiding in sperm creation for men.

Using acupuncture for infertility treatment is most commonly applied when a couple is having functional issues, like fluctuating ovulation or erectile dysfunction. In some situations, acupuncture is used as supplemental procedure for in vitro fertilization, helping women to relax their uteruses during the embryo transfer process. A study conducted in 2002 by German researchers found that acupuncture improved the success rate of in vitro fertilization by up to 16% and reduced the amount of miscarriages in women receiving in vitro fertilization by 12%.

What's It Like To Go Through an Acupuncture Treatment?

Acupuncture is a pretty painless procedure and side effects are very uncommon. The most common negative events reported include the transmission of infectious agents, minor bleeding at the insertion point and needles broken beneath the skin. These risks will be greatly reduced if the acupuncturist is a licensed and accomplished professional that has undergone the required 2000 to 3000 hours of training and has passed the required board exam.

Acupuncture for infertility treatment can be a long-winded process. On average, acupuncture therapy requires 12 individual consultations, each about an hour in length and occurring weekly. During this hour long appointment, a physical examination will be given and any complications or issues that have arisen since the last appointment will be discussed.

Using acupuncture to treat infertility is rapidly gaining acceptance in the USA. Although whether the procedure is effective is fiercely argued among doctors, the fact of the matter is that it seems to work and it certainly doesn't hurt to try. For couples who have been trying to conceive a child without success, using acupuncture therapy to aid in infertility treatment may give them the boost they need to finally be blessed with a bundle of joy.

Natalie Williams is the author of Pregnancy101.net, a treasure tome full of pregnancy tips on fertility, pregnancy symptoms, breastfeeding, birth and conception issues. Be sure to discover a woman's infertility story on how she overcame multiple miscarriages to become pregnant in her thirties.

Dr. David Heber M.D., Ph.D. Graduate at the Harward medical School and esteemed Director of UCLA Centre for Human Nutrition, championing a worldwide battle against human obesity to a life one dedication to a science of the human nutrition.

Three decades of researched and commitment of helping save people's lives. Resulting of Dr. Heber's directions of the National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

Director of the Mark Hughes Cellular and Molecular Laboratories at UCLA, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of Herbalife International. And now hear directly form Dr. Heber how you can obtain your best possible Shape.

Today everyone is talking about obesity.

One of two Americans are overweight, one of three are obese. Countries like Japan who has always had an healthy diet, today finds that obesity has been increase to 5 % to 20 % of the population! This is a worldwide epidemic!

For the first time in human history there are 2 billion overweight people and 2 billion underweight people in the world with the two numbers equal for the very first time in human history.

So what's happened in the last 20 years?

I like to say: "it's not a fish, it's the aquarium", we haven't changed, our genes are the same, they have been in our body for 50.000 years, what's changed is our diet and our lifestyle.
We have fast food, we eat a lot of snacks, we spend a lot of time in our cars, we have sedentary job sitting at computers all day, if we can understand our body, understand how they work, we can solve this problem together.

So the first step is understanding your body shape, and understanding your body fat and understanding your body protein.

People comes out with all different shapes, man can get body fact mostly in the upper body, women get it either in the upper or in the lower body.

The upper body fat, is fat that allows you to hang on the calories while you search for food. You may resist whole days without food in the jungle with your upper body fat.

Women lower body fat is there to allowed them to breast feed infant. It responds to the female hormones. It too is an important organ in your body, just like your hearth, the kidney, or your brain.

Understanding how it works and understanding how your diet relates to your body shape, your body fat, your body protein, is the key of being successful.

I've got a lots of different patients in the last 30 years. Typically a big man with a lot of upper body fat tells me: " Oh, I can loose weight any time I want, I can cut my stake in half and I loose 20 pounds!"

The bad side of habits he thinks he can loose weight any time he wants. So he doesn't care of what he eats every day and he may continue to eat a 400 grams stakes with onions rings...
On the other hand of the spectrum, there is a small woman who wants to loose weight but can't. She follows all rules, eats the right food, but because her metabolism is slow, because of her low level or body protein, she is not able of loose weight as easily. Women usually loose weight more slowly than man.

So what's the key of understanding your body?

You have to know your body protein, match the protein in your diet to the protein in your body and understand that we each have a personal best shape.

One size is not for all. Understand your body shape is the first step for the loosing weight and setting your personal best shape in the most effective and easiest way possible.

So first thing is understanding your body, understanding your body shape, understanding your body fat and how it relates to your diet and life style.

The first thing I will do to teach you to understand your body is to determine the amount of protein that is in your body. Protein is extremely important, it helps to maintain healthy muscles and organs in your body. If you don't eat enough protein in your diet, your body steal your protein from muscles, leaver and other organs. If there is not enough protein in your diet you don't' have enough energy during the day. But if you eat enough protein you have a lot of energy and protein will help you to satisfy your hunger. So you won't be as tempted to eat the wrong foods.

Now, I am determining how much protein is in your body. I estimate your lean. For every pound of lean in your body, you need 1 gram of protein. So a woman with 100 pounds of lean will need 100 grams of protein a day, her husband with 150 pounds of lean, will need 150 grams of protein in his diet every day. And I can also determine the amount of calories you burn every day, with a very simple tool. Two electrodes on your hands and feet, fully painless, and in a few seconds using your electrical properties of your body I can determine how much lean and how much fat is in your body.

A woman with 100 pounds of lean burns 1400 calories per day since every pound of lean burns 31 calories per day.

Her husband with 150 pounds of lean burns 2100 calories per day.

So now I know how much protein you need in a diet and how many calories you burn per day.

How can I find out how quickly you loose weight on a diet? What turns out is, if I can give you a diet that's 500 calories lower I calculate to be resting calories burned per day, you loose 1 pound per week.

Finally I can determine your target weight, what will be your right weight for you at the proper range of body fat.

All of that information in a few minutes from this simple tools. So we are building a road map for you. If you are gonna go on a trip for a city for vacation, you'd like to know "which road do I take? How long will take me to take there? What's my final destination? Using this simple tool we found to map out your journey to your personal best body shape.

How many calories you burn per day? How much protein you need in your diet how quickly you loose weight, your ultimate target weight should be.

Now you know how much protein and how much calories you will need to loose weight properly.

But how we do it? How it will do during the day?

Well, it's very difficult for you to eat the right number calories just try to eat less of your favourite foods.

What I found works the best in the ideal meal. An healthy protein fortified shake tastes good and moody.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All Rights Reserved.

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