Many buildings constructed prior to 1973 were not energy efficient and relied on non-renewable energy sources, such as petroleum, natural gas and coal. However, a group of 12 oil-rich countries created the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which enacted a limit on the quantity of petroleum that other non-producing countries could purchase. Read more
Just as a surgeon relies on instruments to perform a successful surgery, so does an attorney depend on tools to win a case. One of these tools is an expert witness, or someone, such as a medical examiner, engineer, accountant or scientist, who has more knowledge on a particular subject than the average person and is capable of giving an unbiased opinion in court. Read more
Spring may seem like the perfect time to think about the maintenance of your air-conditioning system and how to improve its energy efficiency and dependability. However, many homeowners often wait until summer to have their AC system serviced or maintained, especially if it seems like there’s nothing wrong with it. Read more
Scott Friesen was recently promoted to president of Ivey Engineering.
Ivey Engineering, Inc., (IEI), a forensic analysis and engineering expert witness firm, recently
announced Scott Friesen, principal consultant, has been promoted to president of IEI.
Friesen, a mechanical engineer, has 21 years of experience designing, analyzing and testifying about HVAC, plumbing and fire protection systems and products. Read more
Being trapped in a building fire is one of the most dangerous situations you can find yourself in. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), between 2011 and 2015, an average of seven Americans died each day due to house fires. The leading cause of civilian home fire deaths during this period was smoking materials while cooking equipment was the second leading cause of home fire deaths. 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
Winter is on its way, and along with it, colder weather. As temperatures begin to drop, it’s not as easy to get out and do what’s necessary to protect your home from potential damage or energy leaks. So before temperatures start to dip, you may want to take on this list of 7 Doable Tasks to Winterize Your Home. 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
Are you staring at a clogged kitchen sink? Is the stagnating water in the sink making you feel sick? The good news is you can unclog the sink without calling a plumber or pouring hazardous chemicals down the drain.
You can use everyday materials you have at home to take care of this annoying problem. Read more
