Did you know that the air you breathe inside your house or office building may be more polluted than the air outside? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality refers to the quality of the air within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Read more
Have you ever smelled a musty odor inside a commercial building or home? Usually that means mold is present. Mold is a fungus and is always present indoors and outdoors in small amounts. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), mold can be toxic to both humans and animals, depending on the type and amount of mold present. Read more
Allergies and asthma can wreak havoc on a family. Whether you’re in the doctor’s office for a flare-up or just miserable in your home, you may feel that there’s nothing you can do. However, there’s hope out there. There are several steps you can take to reduce the flare-ups and issues you deal with daily due to pollen, pet dander, mold or dust particles. Read more
If you’ve ever been involved in a home or commercial building fire, you’ll most likely agree that smoke alarms play a vital role in the safety of a building’s occupants. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), about three out of every five fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or the alarms aren’t working. According to a recent study, the death rate was more than twice as high in homes that did not have any functioning smoke alarms versus the death rate in homes with working smoke alarms. Read more
Carbon monoxide is more commonly thought of as a deadly poison in the winter. But it’s often the culprit of many incidents during other seasons as well. You probably know that when you use a gas or wood-burning appliance, such as a furnace, you increase the risk of carbon-monoxide (CO) poisoning. However, other appliances and equipment, such as a gas oven, stove or water heater can also produce CO. Read more
As a homeowner, have you ever thought about using solar power as an alternative energy source? With a 30 percent increase over the last year, solar power continues to be one of the fastest growing energy sources in the United States. Not surprising, residential solar installations continue to soar. Read more
When we picture the inside of a courtroom, we think of a place where serious and unfortunate issues are debated. But sometimes when you read or hear the news of a person suing another individual or group of people for something downright crazy, you can’t help but smile. Read more
When it comes to the environment, being a responsible global citizen starts at home. Making your home more earth friendly doesn’t have to mean starting completely over. From recycling to using alternative cleaning materials, minor changes at home can add up to real benefits for the planet, not to mention your own health and happiness, and save you money while you’re at it. Read more
For the last 100 years car drivers have relied on combustion fuels like oil and diesel to move their vehicles. This dependence on fuel will eventually create more problems in the future, especially since these types of fuel are limited and the reserves are running out. That is why many automobile companies are coming up with electric vehicles (EV) to meet our transportation needs.
If you ask a handful of fifth graders who Thomas Edison or Alexander Graham Bell were, it’s likely they will all know what these engineers are famous for. But chances are these grade-schoolers would not be able to name a single female engineer. Women have long played a significant role in engineering, many overcoming discrimination to bring some of the most significant advances to the field. Read more
