How To Make Your Home Green

Many people these days are becoming concerned with making their homes green, and we aren’t referring to paint. Indeed, it’s possible to make your housevery eco-friendly. New homesare generally quite energy efficient, so it’s old houses that will benefit most from making a few simple changes. Here are a couple of easy tips that will help you turn your house into a more planet friendly place. Double Glazing Double glazed windows are a great starting point to make your house green. The thicker panes lock in heat reducing your heating needs significantly. This has numerous advantages as it will help save the planet, your wallet and keep your house significantly warmer in the winter. You can also invest in further insulation,which you can sometimes install yourself. This will provide some of the same benefits of double glazing without having to rip out your windows. Stop Wasting Water A low-flow water toilet is another good addition to an eco-friendly house. Homes currently use an enormous amount of water, much of which is wasted. By installing a low-flow toilet you can reduce your water use significantly. Go Solar Finally, you can install solar panels. While this may seem a little futuristic, it’s actually quite easy to do and can even be done with DIY kits. You can link the power gained through the panels to your water heating system. Once again you’ll benefit from lower bills and the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing a good thing for the planet. So there are a few handy tips to help you save the environment in your very own home. Above all don’t forget: by saving the environment you’re also cutting down on your bills,which is a winning combinationfor everyone.

Tucson Criminal Lawyer – Phoenix Dui Attorneys – Thrush Law Group In Arizona

PHOENIX DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence, it is defined as the act of operating a motor vehicle or any means of transportation after consuming alcohol beverages or other intoxicating substance that could alter a driver’s mind and ability to drive. DUI is considered a felony when it causes accidents such as severe injuries, fatalities, and extreme damage of properties. If you drive under the influence, it can expand to a serious crime and can possibly charge you of committing felony.

In September 2007, new Phoenix Dui laws went into effect and instituted new penalties for driving under the influence (DUI). These new DUI laws are being vigorously enforced by local police and prosecutors. It is more serious and expensive than ever if you are convicted on DUI charges. Therefore, it is important that you promptly consult with an experienced criminal defense PHOENIX DUI ATTORNEY who can assist you with any DUI charges you are facing. There is more mandatory jail time for convictions of Extreme DUI.

In addition, it is mandatory that drivers convicted of DUI have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle. Also, being charged with PHOENIX DUI can result in a suspension of your driver’s license for a time period of 90 days, and in some cases, up to a full year. When you are pulled over and arrested for PHOENIX DUI the police officer will take your driver’s license on the spot. If you refuse to take a blood alcohol test, your license is automatically suspended for a full year.

Thrush Law Group is a leading Arizona law firm. Our Phoenix Dui Attorney provide you with the service you deserve and promise to leave no stone unturned in our quest to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case. At Thrush Law Group we have a reputation of excellence. Our successes are the result of years of practice and learning. No matter what your legal issue may be, our tempe dui lawyer will strongly fight for your interests from :

Criminal Law/DUI
Misdemeanor Crimes
Felony Crimes
Misdemeanor DUI
Felony DUI
DUI Defense Strategies
Traffic Offenses
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Personal Injury
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Premises Liability/Slip and Fall
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Family Law
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Car Accidents
Premises Liability

Thrush Law Group our tempe dui attorney are staunch defenders of the innocent, passionate advocates for the disadvantaged, and firm believers that there is no greater calling than serving others and their community to the best of their professional ability, and their dedication to and compassion for their clients comes through in all they do.For experienced, knowledgeable legal help from a team of Arizona attorneys with a proven track record of success, there is no better resource than Thrush Law Group.

Common Techniques of Radon Mitigation for Your Home

Radon is a radioactive, tasteless, odorless, and colorless gas that occurs naturally. It is considered to be hazardous to health because of its radioactivity. This element can accumulate inside structures, particularly in confined spaces, such as basements and attics. Because of its dangerous nature, it is crucial to hire a specialist to take care of this matter before you purchase a home in Arlington real estate.

Levels of radon gas can be reduced by means if mitigation, which is a process that moderates or makes the gas less critical. There are various methods of radon mitigation; some keep the gas from going inside the house, while the other techniques lower the levels once it is inside.

According to the recommendation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, radon mitigation techniques are required to be utilized if the level of the gas in the home reached more than 4 pCi/L or 0.02 working levels (WL).

Some of the most commonly used radon mitigation techniques include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Soil Suction – This technique is carried out by means of extracting radon gas from underneath the house and then venting it out through pipes.

2. Sealing Openings and Cracks – In general, if this method is used alone, it cannot reduce the levels of radon. Sealing is usually utilized to support the other types of methods and make them more efficient, since it only restricts the flow of the radon gas inside a home and lowers the loss of air that has already been conditioned.

3. House Pressurization – This type of mitigation method makes use of a fan to create differences in pressure that assist in preventing the gas from going in the house.

4. Heat Recovery Ventilator or HRV – A method that uses this system increases ventilation by making use of the cooled or heated air being utilized to cool or warm the air entering inside. This heat recovery ventilator system is most efficient when it is utilized to circulate the air in the basement only. The expenses of cooling and heating will most probably increase if this is used.

It is possible that the radon gas in the homes comes from the water supply. If this is the case, you do not need to worry because there are means to fix this problem. There are available treatments that get rid of radon from the water before it goes into the home; such remedies use aeration devices or charcoal filters. The other techniques utilize point-of-use devices in which the gas is eliminated at the valve, so it would not be consumed. However, such tools do not reduce radon in unfiltered valves, such as tubs, laundry areas, and showers. This may possibly make the levels of radon gas remain high in the air inside the house.

If you are purchasing a property among the available Arlington homes for sale, its advisable to get a mitigation contractor to inspect for radon in the home. Once it is detected, as well as how it enters, the contractor will give a recommendation on the radon reduction system that will best suit the house. Installing such systems may cost from $1,000 up to $2,500.

Dunedin Real Estate Your Dream Property Is Within Your Reach

Sometimes referred to as the southern gem, Dunedin is the South Islands second biggest city, characterised by a unique Scottish feel and architecture imposed on it during the time of New Zealands colonisation. Surround by beaches, forests and dramatic scenery, Dunedin is noted for its youthful and charismatic population being attracted by the educational and tertiary facilities contained within. With a population of just over 125,000, the city is one of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere. Becoming a desired location for students, families and businesses alike, the demand for Dunedin real estate is increasing at above average rates.

According to the latest Quotable Value New Zealand figures, southern Dunedin real estate figures have surged, recording the highest percentage increase in the country. The southern region extends from Waverley to Green Island, including the suburbs of St Kilda and St Clair. The figures illustrate that the area has experienced an increase in home values by 8.7% with an average sale price of $264,000. Likewise, Dunedin overall, showed a 4.9% increase in property values with the average sale price rising to over $276,000.

The increasing prices are a direct result of increasing demand. As many of the main centres in New Zealand are experiencing continued growth in house prices and valuations, Dunedin is presenting itself to many as an attractive option. With the average house price in New Zealand just a little under $410,000, properties in Dunedin represent real value in the marketplace where many families are struggling to find suitable and affordable housing options. According to Glenda Whitehead from QV Valuations, some of the increase in market activity in Dunedin is due to a rise in purchases by existing homeowners, who realise the benefits of purchasing prime real estate at well below national averages.

There are many advantages to purchasing Dunedin real estate, apart from the scenic and natural beauty that the city is surrounded by. With the security of tenure, you will be able to enjoy the cycle of the real estate market, accessing capital gain as the property naturally appreciates. If, like most kiwis, you enjoy a little do it yourself (DIY), then additional capital gains can be achieved through renovations. There is nothing like the sense of pride that comes with homeownership. The freedom and ability to personalise your property to suit your tastes and requirements has long been an aspiration of nearly all New Zealanders. However, with the current price hikes in property prices, renting is fast becoming a reality for many who cannot afford the deposit or repayments on their first home. However, Dunedin is offering the consumer real value and choice. Why not consider a move to a new place, where the people are friendly, the amenities are first class and most of all, your dream property is within your reach.

Shredding Of Legal Documents

Legal companies might just accrue more paperwork than companies that operate with any other single sector. However, much of this paperwork they will not keep for long. While document records management policies will dictate that they keep and file some documents, there are many documents that come out of a legal office which will be destroyed at some point in time. Many people have an incorrect association with the notion of shredding important documents, and assume it is a way of hiding secrets. In fact, the opposite is often true, and the shredding of documents is about protecting privacy rather than hiding unlawful acts.

Every citizen’s information is their own. This is a basic truth that is part of the very complex set of privacy laws which govern the information which belongs to private citizens. This means that even when they choose to allow you access to certain types of that information, or provide it to you, it still belongs to them, not you. That means if you information in your possession that belongs not to you, but to that individual, you must protect it for them, or you could be held liable for failing to do so.

Legal firms obviously need to obtain a great deal of private information from people during the course of their business. Even when they need that information for a purpose though, and it is freely provided to them, it never belongs to them. Therefore, they must at some point consider shredding it so that it is no longer their responsibility to provide security over that provided information.

Most legal firms will hire a company to come to their location and destroy all their documents for them when they decide the time is right. This is a better option for several reasons. Primarily, it provides them with much better security, as they can be assured firsthand that the documents are all being destroyed in an appropriate manner. nnWhen a company comes to their location to shred documents, they will usually be required to sign an NDA to protect all that information even further.

Beyond the protection of information, cost is also a factor in paper shredding. If not destroyed, all that paperwork needs to be either filed, or stored in some capacity. Both of those services cost money, and are ongoing expenses, as opposed to document destruction, which will only cost the company money once.

Mysore Property Market Right Time To Invest

Mysore, the second largest city of Karnataka, is located in the vicinity of Indias IT hub, Bangalore or Bengaluru. It is barely 140 kilometres from the capital city, Bangalore and is widely known for its festivities during the festival of Dusshera. Mysore is fast emerging as the next most preferred IT destination after Bangalore due to the congestion and resulting saturation of the countrys IT hub.

In order to support the growth bandwagon of IT leaders, Mysore has been chosen as the upcoming software nucleus. According to analysis of real estate sectors, it is actually the prospering of IT sector that brings about a boost in real estate trends of a city. Mysore is witnessing the launch of various IT projects, thus, leading to infrastructural developments and generating needs for expansion of real estate sector. Therefore, as evident by the increase in demand for both residential and commercial property and the consequent hike in property rates, the trends of real estate development in Mysore are no different.

After flooding Bangalore with global software companies, IT majors are expanding their operations in the nearby city, Mysore. Undoubtedly, its favorable location i.e. being in proximity to the technology capital has proved highly advantageous to Mysore. When the focus of IT industry was Bengaluru, the property rates in Mysore were quite low and affordable while the real estate of Bangalore was flourishing. Since, this interest has now been displaced and shifted to Mysore, its real estate sector seems to be reaching an all time high. The modernization program has already begun with the primary task of improving connectivity of the city to other regions.

The revamping of airport, the doubling of railway tracks between the cities and the completion of Bangalore-Mysore expressway are some of the recent developments taking place to create a better communication network. Large numbers of residential and commercial developments are also under progress to accommodate the demands of both individuals and large-scale companies.

Some of the upcoming residential properties include Shalom Voyagers Central Park at Ideal Jawa; Brigade Groups Brigade Citadel in Yadavagiri, Brigade Horizon in Siddhartha Layout and Brigade Solitaire behind Lalitha Mahal Palace; Damden Properties Beryl, Square, Prithvi, Solar and Arbor and many others.

The commercial real estate of Mysore has become the hottest choice for many corporate giants for both carrying out business operations and as an investment destination. The properties in Landsdown Building, Devaraje Urs Road, Sajjan Rao Road, KT Street, 100 ft Road, Irwin Road and MG Road have the highest demand for building up of office spaces.

The price of property in Mysore have already doubled and even trebled in many of its important areas in last few years. It has been indicated clearly that the overall growth of the city that includes the speedy rise of real estate, information technology and retail sectors is all set to fuel up the property rates further. The special interest of NRIs in Mysore property is another major reason for the hike of property prices in the region.

Being the Cultural capital of Karnataka, Mysore attracts large number of tourists, especially at the time of Dusshera celebration that continues for 10 days. Mysore is also popularly known as the City of Palaces as it houses various beautiful palaces including the Mysore Palace. There is a unique ancient charm that prevails in the city, alluring people from everywhere to visit the city, making it an important tourist destination of the State of Karnataka.

It is, thus, suggested that if you are planning to buy or invest in Mysore property, the right time is now because prices still fall in moderate zone. They are only going to rise in the coming years and so, will definitely yield high investment returns.

Building A Poultry Shed The Cost Effective Solution For Raising Chickens At Home

Once you have decided that you are going to buy and look after some chickens the next stage before getting them is building a poultry shed for them to live in. You can of course buy poultry sheds, but this has many downsides, they generally come in flat-pack form (so need assembling anyway), they are a mass produced product and can work out very expensive and you rarely get one that suits your needs. When you build a poultry shed you get a far better quality chicken coop that will tick every box.

By looking after and protecting your chickens in the right way they in turn will look after you by providing you with a constant flow of healthy nutritious eggs for you and the whole family.

Predators can play a major part in chicken keeping and should not be overlooked or underestimated. Sadly by their very nature and make up your hens can appear as a very tasty food source to a variety of predators in your area.

This is yet another factor that they will benefit from by you building a poultry house for them. You will be able to custom build their home to incorporate features that will keep your hens safe and worry free.

Chickens are not only practical to keep due to the resources they can provide you with, but they are also friendly and easy to get along with and look after. One thing to keep in mind is that they will not just be around for five minutes and will be alive for years to come so by giving them an equally sturdy accommodation in the first place will save you time and money in the future by not having to continually upkeep and maintain their housing.

Try not to cut corners when building a poultry shed as this will also give you an inferior chicken coop. You will not only gain a great sense of accomplishment from building a poultry shed, but by involving family members can be a great project for all involved. When the time comes to move the chickens into their new home not only will you be very happy, but they will too.

Real Estate in Greater Noida – Things That Are Shaping The Techno City

Preventing Loading Dock Door Damage And Dock Drop-offs

by
Sophie Bureau

Two common problems at loading docks are damage to the loading dock door and dock drop-offs that involve an employee and/or a forklift. Both problems can easily be prevented if the issues causing them are completely understood.

Loading dock door damage

Loading dock door damage typically results from either a staging or hauling operation or a situation where the loading dock door is hit. When the loading dock door is hit, the mechanism that opens and closes the dock door may be damaged, resulting in the inability to completely open the loading dock door. A door that is not fully open offers a potentially unsafe condition because the door can drop on employees, cargo, or loading equipment.

Loading dock door drop-offs

Statistics indicate1 that every day there are over 260 forklift truck accidents at loading docks. In fact, every three days there is one fatal loading dock accident where a forklift drops-off of a loading dock. For each loading dock accident, there are approximately 600 near misses.

Many of these accidents can be serious. One loading dock door drop-off can impact a companys reputation and its responsibility to provide a safe work environment. The last thing a company wants to read about is a loading dock door drop-off that occurred in one of their facilities, especially if the accident could have been prevented. Nor does any company want to be a statistic in U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) Weekly Fatality/Catastrophe Report2. In addition, an investigation may follow to determine if the company was in compliance with OSHA’s applicable standards.

OSHA may cite the General Duty Clause, which requires, “Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.”

Another standard that could be cited is 1910.22(c), “Covers and/or guardrails shall be provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.”

Impact of loading dock door drop-offs and dock door damages on corporate profitability
Even a single loading dock door drop-off accident can greatly impact a companys profitability. Not only is the company responsible for the costs of the persons injuries, but significant costs, potentially thousands of dollars, may result from a lawsuit. In addition, if a fatality is involved, or there are three or more employees as a result of a work-related incident the company must report it to OSHA within eight hours (29 CFR 1904.39). This will most likely result in an OSHA inspection and investigation.

Profitability is also affected when the loading dock door is hit. Once impacted, the door cannot be opened or closed without further damage to the door mechanism, and sometimes the dock door cannot be opened or closed at all until it is repaired, leaving the company with one fewer loading dock in operation. Just to replace a damaged door panel costs between US$200-US$600. This does not include the downtime created by lost use of the door, the 2-3 hours of labor costs to install the new panel, or the cost of the repair persons travel time.

There may be additional costs related to product replacement if the loading dock door is also used to:

maintain proper refrigeration temperatures and keep the cold-chain from breaking during palletization, staging, loading and unloading of containers; or

protect products from exposure to environmental contaminants such as microbes, dust, moisture and other physical contamination, there may be additional costs related to product replacement.
The company may suffer additional losses resulting from the loading dock door being fully or partially opened for an extended period of time until the repair can be made.

The solution

Today many safety-minded companies are using safety barriers in place of a single chain across the loading dock door. The use of a chain is an outdated practice that offers minimal, if any, protection against loading dock drop-off when material handling equipment is involved.

The newest technology in dock door protection is the use of a safety barrier that provides a constant visual warning and a safety reminder. In addition, an audible alarm is triggered when the safety barrier is hit. This provides an additional warning to the dock employee, allowing for adequate reaction time to reduce the risk of accidentally hitting the dock door. If the barrier is struck, it safely detaches upon impact and can easily be reattached in just a few seconds. No special skill is required to reattach the barrier. This product can also help prevent forklift drop-off at raised docks and pedestrians from walking off the edge of the dock.
Below are supporting statements from several large distribution companies as to why they now choose to use loading dock door safety barriers in front of their loading dock doors to prevent loading dock door damage and dock drop-off:

Mario DAmours, Vice-President Distribution, Colabor L.P., an integrated food marketing and distribution network which warehouses food products until they are supplied to wholesalers: On a regular basis, we move a lot of skids full of products, as well as empty skids, through our dock doors. We were looking for a solution where there would be a safe distance between the door and the truck and where we could also alert the yard to any potential safety issue. Safety barriers are the perfect solution to support our companys commitment to safety.

Serge Guy, Director, Molson-Coors Brewing Company: Our situation is a little different. We have an interior loading dock and hence we dont have loading dock doors. Nevertheless, to secure our loading operation we decided to equip all of our interior loading docks with safety barriers. This has made our loading process significantly safer.

Denis Trois, Logistics Director at Colabor L.P., a Canadian integrated food marketing and distribution network operating in Quebec, Atlantic Canada and Ontario. Colabor warehouses food products that it supplies exclusively to wholesalers: To solve our costly loading dock door problem, we installed safety barrier at each loading dock door. Since that time we have not had a single loading dock door accident.

Summary

Loading dock door safety barriers, from companies like GMR Safety, are now considered the best solution to help protect loading dock doors from being hit and damaged and the best option to help reduce the need to replace overhead door bottom panels. They also provide a safer environment at the loading dock and aid in preventing loading dock drop-off accidents. Dock door safety barriers help reinforce a companys commitment to accident and injury prevention.

Concurrently, loading dock door safety barriers also:
Restrict access to the MTZ (material transfer zone).
Reduce employee and facility downtime.
Reduce maintenance and repair budgets and thus avoid loss of corporate profits.

About the Author
Sophie Bureau is the Marketing Manager at GMR Safety, Inc. in Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada.

1 U.S. Lasers Inc., Hazlehurst, Georgia. Three Causes of Truck Lift Accidents. Material Handling Management. August 2008, 6-7.
2 United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Weekly Reports of Fatalities, Catastrophes, and Other Events. 3 April 2010.
3 United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR 1910.23. 3 April 2010.