Bathtub Stickers

Bathtub Stickers Like You Remember Them
[via daddytypes] As everyone who lived through the seventies knows, anti-slip stickers for the bathtub should be shaped like groovy flowers. But since there's nothing grosser than 30-year old bathtub stickers, Funmade makes new ones. They're cheap and easy to use. They make dozens of other non-traditional styles, including the ducks we put in New York [we're a little crazy that way]. We got ours at Grometville, $10 for a pack of ten. Non-slip Bath Appliques

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Duckplanet.com ("Serving rubber duck collectors since 1999")
Rubber Duckie a guidebook by Jodie Davis (a collection of "more than 275 rubber ducks.")

Home Hindenburg

[via bookofjoe]
Barry Stone is "The House Detective," and he writes a weekly syndicated column that appears in the Saturday Washington Post Home section. It's quite interesting and sensible advice he gives, though he mentions things that sometimes are a bit scary and perhaps over-the-top unlikely.

For example, last Saturday a homeowner asked the following question:
Q. My vacation home sits vacant for months at a time. When I return, the water always has a strong sulfur smell, like rotten eggs. What could be causing this problem? Is it unsafe? How can I keep it from happening?
A. Water heaters contain a specialized metal rod known as a sacrificial anode.

Its purpose is to absorb the corrosive effects of minerals in the water and thereby prevent deterioration of the water tank. Gradual deterioration of this rod produces small quantities of sulfur and hydrogen gases. When the water heater is used daily, these gases pass from the plumbing system without being noticed. When the house is vacant and no water is drawn from the tank, the sulfur and hydrogen accumulate. The sulfur dissolves in the water, causing the rotten egg smell you notice.

The way to eliminate this smell is to drain the tank to the yard, by way of a hose. The sulfur itself isn't harmful; hydrogen, however, is highly combustible. Hydrogen accumulates at the top of the water heater tank. When it is released through open faucets, it can ignite or explode if exposed to a flame or spark. For example, if the dishwasher is the first fixture you operate after you have been away from the property for a long time, the fixture can become filled with hydrogen. A spark from the electronic controls can cause the appliance to blow up. For this reason, draining your water heater to the exterior is doubly recommended.

To prevent the formation of gases in your water heater, you can winterize the plumbing system.
This involves opening all faucets, turning off the main water supply valve to the building, and draining the water heater.

Sound deadened walls

QuietRock is a multi-layer engineered drywall panel composed of gypsum, viscoelastic polymers and proprietary sound isolation layers.

Unique patent-pending embedded polymer layers absorb sound waves and vibration unlike any other construction material on the market today.

Lower total cost than other methods (less labor for installation, re-work costs, materials, floorspace, and liability). Outperforms resilient channels.

For floors, exterior walls, roof sheathing. The patent-pending QuietWood line significantly reduces unwanted noise between exterior or adjacent room sources. QuietWood is a multi-layer product, and is ideal for use in existing or new construction. It can be used in place of standard plywood. With the highest STC rating of any wood product - walls, floors, and roofs containing QuietWood will exceed your expectations in producing a quiet environment.

Solid prefab wall system

Dry and untreated massive timber elements for a long-lived and maintenance-free construction from LenoTec, the carcass of Soleno houses. They have built over 300 houses (from the single family house to the housing estate) with this method. LenoTec® elements consist of untreated, domestic resinous wood, which is crosswise glued symmetrically, depending upon thickness from 3 - 17 layers.

Yamaha "MyRoom"

Yamaha is manufacturing a room-within-a-room concept called the Avitecs "MyRoom" -- a thoroughly soundproofed add-in room.

Practicing music, listening to DVDs and just making a noisy ruckus is no longer a problem.

Lacing a shoe

How many possible ways are there to lace an average shoe? This simple question, when answered with mathematics, results in some surprisingly big numbers -- a staggering total of almost 15 BILLION ways of running a shoelace! Here are 22 of the better techniques.

Power tool racing

In the Bay Area you may want to check out the Power Tool Drag races. The pictures they have from last year are pretty impressive and include a wide assortment. See the website here [courtesy of BoingBoing via QuenteCafe]. And for no reason at all, here's a skateboard with a motor that looks better than most.

Handling batteries

NiCad cells build up crystalline formations, as they are manufactured and later as they are cycled. These crystals cause tiny bridges to form between the plates inside the cell. The more crystal formations the harder it becomes for the cell to absorb and release energy effectively. This is refereed to as IR or Internal Resistance.

A "Zapper" is a transformer and capacitors that store up a large charge and then releases it through the cell in a couple microseconds. This tends to shatter the crystals breaking down the IR in the cell and making it more efficient. Commercial zappers are very expensive and can pass as much as 30,000kva through a cell. There are less expensive "maintenance" zappers that put up to 90volts at up to 1kva through a cell to help keep crystals from building up.

There is still some debate on whether or not zapping actually does anything for NiMH though. There is also still discussion on whether or not "Zapping" cells will shorten the life. People have shown as much as a 14% improvement in NiCad cell performance with high current draw (above 40amps) applications. But again it may shorten the cell life and number of times the cells can be cycled.

Memory Effect

Nicads in every application suffer "memory effect" to varying degrees, the newer sintered cells are affected less but NiMh do not suffer this phenomenon at all. The problem with NiMh is that for a given current the output voltage is less than NiCd, because of the voltage drop across the higher internal resistance of NiMh cells. That's why one or two extra cells are added to increase the voltage when using NiMh. Note that some NiMh cells are becoming available whose internal resistance is approaching that of NiCd cells.

By InvertedFlying and terrys01, here's a partial rundown about NiCad and NiMH batteries at this aero-robot site.

Here is an article about why car batteries fail quickly.

Here is a battery powered device called Zap-a-Pet that may be as immoral and inhumane as early electrical medical devices and are most probably illegal if this little firm were to be contacted by appropriate authorities such as the County or District Attorney in his region: Fairplay, CO 80440. This device has outrageous claims such as the ability to fix a retarded dog or a sick cat. Get this quote from this vendor site: "About halfway through the zapping, he relaxed and let his head rest on my arm. When I was done I let him go under the covers to hide. I came back a half hour later and zapped him again for 7 minutes. When I had finished he didn't go under the covers. He sat out and ‘smiled' and made eye contact, and seemed to be the best of his old self. I have no idea what was wrong with Walter, but it is clear that the Zapper made a dramatic change in him, like nothing I have seen before."

Intelligent buildings

Why Smart Buildings=Green Buildings
Excellent article at the Technology Review website about the growing use of smart building systems as a method of increasing energy efficiency. The details of the diverse mechanisms employed won't come as a real surprise to most.... [via WorldChanging]

In the late-1970's, California adopted a certification program for energy mangers and technicians via the Energy Commission. I became the 84th certificate and started a firm called Energy Management Group. With this team we built the premise of 'intelligent buildings' which included telecom as well as energy systems and demonstrated to some of California's largest real estate firms that using control systems was equivalent to adding a new sector of revenue. In one multi-building complex, Sierra Point, we proposed a commercial utility company designed to provide each tenant with energy- and tax-managed billings.

Sawsall offset tool

Get into all those hard to reach places with minimal damage to materials, as well as extend the life of those expensive blades.

Simple and Practical. Costs $40.

Works great in tight spots.

Fits most any reciprocating saw as easily as a blade.

View our "VIDEO" link to view a demo video...
View our "PRICES" link to purchase our products...
View our "PICTURES" link to see our new accessories in action...

Additional recipro accessories from FlushCut Inc.:

In-wall pipe restoration

The ACE DuraFlo system is based on “in-place” pipe restoration technology. That’s right. We restore pipes right within the walls, without tearing them out. This revolutionary technology has been used by homeowners, the US Air Force, hospitals, universities, major hotels, resort facilities, apartments and industrial facilities.

The ACE DuraFlo system restores piping systems in half the time and with virtually no destruction when compared to a repipe. Your newly restored pipes will never corrode, pit or scale.A permanent, safe solution, in potable water systems ACE DuraFlo uses only coating materials that are NSF approved and UPC listed for safe use. Once restored, your system will no longer leach lead or copper contaminants. Your water stays pure, clean and safe to drink. pdf info

Walnut oil wax

Mahoney's Walnut Utility Oil finish is just the thing for bowls, butcher blocks, salad tongs, and even wooden kitchen knife handles. It is pure California walnut oil which is heat-treated to penetrate deep into the wood, harden and leave long-lasting protection without toxic driers. Like raw walnut oil, it imparts little or no flavor or odor, nor will it go rancid. Unlike mineral oil-based finishes, these will not evaporate over time. And it leaves a beautiful surface!

This $10.00 Mahoney Oil Wax Finish is a honey-colored blend of heat-treated walnut oil, beeswax and carnauba wax. Used alone, or in conjunction with Mahoney's Walnut Utility Oil, it gives wood a lustrous, warm finish.

Anyone making wooden bowls, butcher blocks, or other utensils should take a look at Mahoney Finishes at BowlMaker Inc.

Thin-kerf bandsaw blade

Super Sharp Thin-Kerf Precision Resawing Blade start at $33.00

Fine Woodworking April 2004 has just rated Highland Hardware's Wood Slicer blade as “Best All-Round Performer” in their independent test for speed, flatness and smoothness!

Wood Slicer bandsaw blade cuts smoother and quieter than any other resawing blade on the market. Its outstanding performance is due to its new variable tooth pitch design, in which uneven spacing between the teeth nearly eliminates vibration during a cut. The Wood Slicer's tooth pattern damps harmonic resonance extremely effectively; the result is superlatively smooth cuts and much, much quieter operation than ordinary blades. In tests here at the store, our new Slicer averaged 8 decibels quieter than a popular brand-name 1/2", 3-tooth blade cutting 2" walnut, and 14dB quieter in 6" walnut. Since noise intensity is halved with each 3dB decrease in sound level, our new Slicers will subject your ears to no more than 1/4 of the sound intensity of the noisier blade, and at best can reduce nose intensity to less than 1/16 of what you might usually endure. Unless you're actually fond of listening to a blade scream though thick stock, our new blade design will be the best you've ever heard on your bandsaw. Quality of cut is simply fabulous. Resawn surfaces are extraordinarily smooth, with few torn or broken fibers and nearly invisible tooth marks. Testing the blades here at the store, we've produced 9" wide veneers no thicker than 1/32", clean enough for glue-up and ready to begin sanding at 100 grit.

Hide glue powder

Even with all the modern adhesives on the market, animal glues are still the right call for many applications. Since animal glues can be debonded at any time with gentle heat, they are an obvious choice for sensitive restoration and repair jobs, and the choice for Luthiers. Bone and hide glue also offer high strength, good low-pressure gap-filling ability, high initial tack, and fast cure. Forget their reputation for being smelly and messy; held at the proper temperature in an electric glue pot, hide glue stays ready to use all day with minimal attention, as opposed to the noxious fumes and short pot life of other adhesives. Choose bone glue for a rigid bond; rabbit skin glue for elasticiy. For a good general purpose glue, we recommend regular hide glue, a light-colored, high grade odorless glue. Instructions included. About $5 - 7.00 per pound.

Tools for woodworking

Good set at a good price: $37

Highland Hardware started out as a small, ordinary hardware store in downtown Atlanta in 1978. It was founded by a young couple who met at Georgia Tech, and after graduating and getting married, went to work together for an old Atlanta company known as King Hardware (which incidentally had the distinction in 1886 of selling to the druggist next door the washtub used to mix the first batch of Coca-Cola). After a four year bootstrap education in the tool and hardware business at King, the couple took out an SBA loan, rented a storefront near their home and cast their bread upon entrepreneurial waters.

Good fortune in the form of loyal customers and bright, hardworking sales people led to a prospering business which soon identified itself as a specialist in woodworking tools and supplies. Part of Highland Hardware's mission over the years has been to fan the flames of interest and excitement in the craft of woodworking, and contribute to its growth throughout the country.

Photovoltaic Cells

Source: Earth Policy Institute
World Sales of Solar Cells Jump 32 Percent
"World production of solar cells—which convert sunlight directly into electricity—soared to 742 megawatts (MW) in 2003, a jump of 32 percent in just one year. With solar cell production growing by 27 percent annually over the past five years, cumulative world production now stands at 3,145 MW, enough to meet the electricity needs of more than a million homes. This extraordinary growth is driven to some degree by improvements in materials and technology, but primarily by market introduction programs and government incentives."
See: World Photovoltaic Annual Production, 1971-2003

Neighborhood by Toyota

The Toyota home can be found on www.toyotahome.co.jp where the graphic details are displayed of the construction of a typical Toyota home. Starting at 9.00am by 10.00am the first floor is complete, by 11.30am the second floor is completed, and by 3.00pm the roof is on and the structure enclosed. Within one day 85 per cent of the construction is complete. The chassis of the building is a series of lattice steel frames that link together to give sufficient rigidity for earthquakes and typhoons. Special corners are available for a curve or 45-degree cuts, as are cantilevers to overhang a car parking space.

Prefab dwellings available now

OSHA residential site

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a Web page containing information and tips specifically related to safety and health for workers in the residential construction industry. The Web site was created with guidance and assistance from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

To visit the OSHA Residential Construction Safety and Health Web page, go to http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/residential/index.html

New airless roller

Speed Rollers™ is a revolutionary accessory for pump and airless paint systems. It dramatically outperforms all other paint applicators on the market today. Easy to assemble, light-weight, and amazingly simple to operate... and you get a perfect coat of paint every time! Dual rollers offer even spread and comprehensive coverage. Provides 90+% transfer efficiency. Covers 100 square feet per minute in field tests. Disposable parts allow quick and effortless cleanup. No roller cleaning required. Because our prices on replacement parts are so low, you have the option to throw away the fluid lines and rollers after each use.

Speed Rollers™ is not a Pressure Roller. It is a low pressure, externally fed dual roller applicator. It requires a minimal flow rate of 0.31 gallons per minute to achieve higher production. Speed Rollers™ apply acrylic, alkyd, epoxy, block filler and urethane coatings to interior and exterior surfaces. It features an actuated paint delivery system that coats a top roller and then a second roller to maximize surface coating time while providing an even finish.

Speed Rollers™ adapts to your existing 0.31 GPM pump and airless systems with the added benefit of applying higher solids surface materials with smaller GPM pumps. Kit starts at $350

Avoid construction disputes

Eight ways to prevent war
[via BuilderNews] Construction projects are among the most complicated of human enterprises. High levels of art and craft are required to translate an owner’s vision into plans and specifications, then into a real building—one that fits the needs of the people who live or work there. In addition to technical skills, the ability to coordinate the diverse efforts of many individuals is crucial to success. The players on any significant project include the owner, architect, engineer, project manager, prime contractor, several subcontractors, suppliers of materials and equipment, materials manufacturers, insurance companies, bonding companies and the owner’s lender. In most instances, these players arrive at the project as a member of a staff or crew of distinctly different companies. Problems crop up during construction projects—delay, unexpected additional or extra work, defective work, cost overruns, structural failure and accidents involving personal injury and even death. Inevitably so, too, do disputes.

When disputes arise among such a large cast, they are rarely simple or easy to resolve. Emotions are one barrier to quick and rational resolutions of disputes. People become both emotionally and financially invested in securing particular outcomes.

What can anyone do to prevent disputes from arising? The short answer is probably not that much. But an owner or contractor can do several things to reduce the number of disputes and to manage disputes that do arise so that they do not become protracted and drain time and money.

• 1- Only deal with good people.
• 2- Have a clear idea of what you are building.
• 3- Tailor the contract to the parties and the job
• 4- Plan for the worst to happen.
• 5- Make sure everyone gets paid.
• 6-Do not ignore problems.
• 7- Try to be reasonable.
• 8- Develop a theme.

Waterproof wainscot

Parkland Plastics… Wall Appeal™. 100% Waterproof, 100% Mold and Mildew Resistant Wainscot.

Concrete subflooring

If your basement isn't as comfy and cosy as the rest of your home, blame the floor. Concrete floors are porous and can be cold and damp. But now there's a quick, easy way to take the chill off concrete: Subflor ADVANCE.

Subflor ADVANCE is a new flooring product that's ideal for basements or rooms built over concrete slab. Designed after its predecessor - "Subflor", it still consists of 2 ft. x 2 ft. (nominal) panels just 7/8" in height that interlock to create a smooth, solid surface, ready for the installation of virtually any finished floor covering. So what's new? Subflor ADVANCE features an improved moisture barrier, with a built-in channellng system to channel away moisture and keep your floor dry!

Stainproof Grout

Home Depot has begun selling TrafficMaster® Stainproof Grout featuring Scotchgard™ Protector. The premixed product features a 25-year warranty, guaranteeing that the product will resist most common household stains such as wine, coffee, ketchup and shoe polish, as well as mold, mildew and color fading.

Hi-Tech irrigation

Today's irrigation controllers have become extremely sophisticated, incorporating computer technology to improve timing and diagnostics. However, as advanced as the technology becomes, you cannot escape the necessity to connect the controller to each and every valve with a bundle of dedicated wire.

And that can turn into a lot of wire. Unless you are installing valves on a small, regularly shaped piece of land, you can literally have miles of buried wire. Worse yet, the arrangement of these wires is usually a disorganized web spread out throughout the site.

A contributor to this problem is the nature of conventional controllers, which typically have dedicated wires that connect to each valve they control. Each controller is equipped with a terminal strip that has one common wire and one hot wire for each valve. These hot wires—up to 42 of them (and even more on a few heavy-duty models), are run out to the individual valves. The common wire, on the other hand, runs from valve to valve, throughout the array. In a large installation, there could be well over a mile or so of wire going to a single valve.

But this communication technology from the controller to the receivers makes the 2-wire process different from conventional controller technology.

In HIT's 2-wire system, the controller applies 24 volts to the entire path of wires. The valve stations, each containing a receiver, have their own unique address.The controller sends a signal with a sort of telephone number, in search of a particular valve. If the first receiver has that telephone number, it closes the switch and allows the 24 volts to pass through to activate the solenoid.

Tucor had an idea to add a modem (a device used on computers to communicate over telephone lines) to its irrigation controller. The Tucor controller comes with the software that allows you to call up that controller from anywhere in the world, and turn it on and off. And for a bit more investment, you can even buy a software management package that allows you to monitor multiple controllers.

Hydronic Radiant Heat

Hydronic Radiant Heat Makes a Comeback
Did you know that radiant floor heating was big in the U.S. until the 1950’s? Did you know that today’s radiant heat equipment is designed to last 40 to 100 years? Did you know that radiant heat can shave approximately 30% off your energy costs?

Neither did I. That’s just a few of the informative things you’ll learn reading this great story on the radiant heat comeback that is taking place across the country. Now that fall is in the air, the topic of heat is on everyone’s mind.

Though expensive to install, it could cost 30 percent less to operate.

Read the story at BuilderNews [via eUpdate]

Benefits of hydronic radiant heating systems:

• - Quiet (no motors, moving air)
• - Healthier (improved air quality and allergen-free) and draft-free
• - Even heat since heat is generated from the floor up
• - Easy to maintain (no filters to change)
• - Versatile (can be installed in new construction or retrofitted)
• - Can be zoned (install throughout the home, or only in a few areas)
• - Saves space with no ductwork
• - Invisible (no vents or cold air returns)
• - Energy-efficient
• - Rooms retain heat longer

Government foreclosures

HomeSales.gov
You buy low and sell high.
OK, great, we all know that.
But what do we buy?
Property.

More specifically, a home.
You simply have to jump on board, even if you think you're not ready.
I'm reminded of something Eleanor Roosevelt used to say to people trying to slow her down: "If we wait till we're ready, we'll never get started."

Here is where you get started.
The United States government has, for the first time ever, combined the bulk of the repossessed properties it owns - under the authority of the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Veterans Affairs (VA), and Agriculture - into one website.

The government hasn't yet officially announced the site's existence, but it's up and running and ready to sell you a house.

Every year, over 100,000 homes end up in the hands of these agencies because of borrower defaults and foreclosures. These are not McMansions. They are not for the faint of heart. You can buy them only "as is." But - they're priced to sell fast, are marked down promptly when they don't, and you can always see the full appraisal report supporting the asking price, a feature you won't get anywhere else in the market. [via bookofjoe]

Caster guard

CASTrGARD:

A truly great invention.

It's a hard plastic cylinder,
open on both top and bottom,
which eliminates wheel obstruction
when moving a machine.

Fans

Choose the correct fan for any application at FanTech:

• inline duct fan
• dryer booster fan
• exhaust fan
• axial fan
• radon fan
• whole house fan
• heat recovery fan
• air curtain fan
• gril fan

Hot melt glue

Complete line of Hot Melt Glue Guns, Glue Sticks, and accessories at Glu-Stix

Solderless

SOLDERLESS COPPER PLUMBING
Ridgid has introduced the 320-E — a new 14.4-volt cordless crimping tool designed to squeeze gasketed copper fittings around conventional K-, L-, and M-copper tubing. [via JLC]

Carpenter's site

Information and "how-to instructions" in the fields of roof framing, home building, home repair and general woodworking.

Envelope details

HOUSES THAT WORK
The Building Science Consortium — a partnership of Building Science Corporation and many top homebuilders operating under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Energy's Buiding America program — have developed complete energy and moisture-management details for homes in every climate zone. The practical details of these prototypes are based on insights gained during the construction of more than 8,000 homes from across the country.

Harvard Design School

Manufactured Housing: A Double-Wide Analysis
[via space and culture] "In all its history, the mobile home has evolved not through the expertise of professional designers but through the needs and desires of owners and users. Components are engineered and physical characteristics change, but manufactured houses are not subject to fundamental tectonic or aesthetic thought. Though there has been interaction between architects and the mobile home industry, these have not had lasting impact. In the early postwar period, architects developed a wide variety of designs for manufacturers trying to shift to a peacetime economy. In the intervening years, however, interaction between architects and the industry have been only sporadic. Opportunities that might arise from the involvement of professional designers who understand the positive qualities of manufactured houses have not been tested."

In Disassembly, "methodical cutting and peeling of a thirty-year-old mobile home reveal the thinness of its construction, offering clues to spatial, aesthetic and tectonic possibilities of manufactured housing."

Studio Projects include Mimi Hoang's hybrid dwelling and Patricia Rhee's convertible house.

Backwoods Solar

Backwoods Solar Electric Systems specializes in solar generated electricity for remote homes where utility lines are not available or not practical to access (over 1/2 mile distant from the site).

Discover answers to solar electricity:

Remote Home Independent Electricity
Overview of Home Solar Power
Appliances for a Solar Home
Planning/Sizing/Pricing Examples
Wiring A Solar Electric Home
Recreational Vehicle or Boat
Environmental Protection
Electric Bill is too high
Survival and Self-Reliance
Getting Through Utility Outages
Sell Excess Power To Your Utility

Seed grinder

TINYTECH Oil Mill
Mill is suitable for crushing all types of oilseeds whether edible or non edible.

• Filtration of oil is better than bigger oil mills giving transparent pure natural & "at a stretch convincing" appearance to the oil.
• Decorticator has special provision for shelling groundnut for seed purpose without breakage.
• Yield of oil is as high as big mills because of highly scientific worm sequence inside the chamber cage.
• Maintenance expenses are negligible. Diesel consumption in engine is only 1.25 litre per hour.
• Technology is so simple that person can be trained only in 3 days to operate the mill.

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Greasel.com -- THE information source for running your diesel engine on free, waste vegetable oil. If you're the do-it-yourself-er, a kit-runner, or just investigating this crazy veggie-fuel thing you've discovered, then this site can help.

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Here's a site listing the oil yields of various crops. Biodiesel = oil yield x 0.8 approx.

Trees increase pollution

[via NewScientist] Industry has dramatically cut its emissions of pollutants, called volatile organic compounds. But those cuts have been more than offset by the amount of VOCs churned out by trees. The revelation challenges the notion that planting trees is a good way to clean up the atmosphere.

When fossil fuels used in industry and automobiles fail to combust completely, they generate VOCs, which react with nitrogen oxides and sunlight to form poisonous ozone in the lower atmosphere. In the past few decades, the introduction of more efficient engines and catalytic converters has dramatically reduced these emissions.

But trees also produce VOCs, which tend to be ignored by scientists modelling the effects of ozone on pollution. So a team led by Drew Purves at Princeton University investigated the impact of newly planted forests on VOC levels in the US.

They calculated that vegetal sources of monoterpenes and isoprene rose by up to 17% from the 1980s to the 1990s – equivalent to three times the industrial reductions.

Farmland reverting to scrub, pine plantations and the invasive sweetgum tree were behind most of the increases in the US.

Who would've thought so?

Causes of color

Causes of Color
Why is the sky blue? Why is fire yellow? What about flamingos or emeralds?

Scholars have learned that all the colors in the universe originate from a mere fifteen fundamental physical causes. These causes appear over and over, lending color to the world around us. Some common causes seem logical -- for example, both light bulbs and candles are colored by incandescence -- and others are surprising -- did you know that the colors of peacock feathers and bubbles are both caused by interference?

These fifteen causes of color derived from a variety of physical and chemical mechanisms are summarized in five groups in this exhibit. Vibrations and simple excitations explain the colors of incandescence (e.g., flames), gas excitations (neon tube, aurora), and vibrations and rotations (blue ice and water). Ligand-field-effect colors are seen in transition-metal compounds (turquoise, chrome-oxide green) and impurities (ruby, emerald).

Molecular orbitals explain the colors of organic compounds (indigo, chlorophyll) and charge-transfer compounds (blue sapphire, lapis lazuli). Energy bands are involved in the colors of metals and alloys (gold, brass), of semiconductors (cadmium yellow, vermilion), doped semiconductors (blue and yellow diamond), and color centers (amethyst, topaz).

Geometrical and physical optics are involved in the colors derived from dispersive refraction (rainbow, green flash), scattering (blue sky, blue eyes, red sunset), interference (soap bubbles, iridescent beetles), and diffraction (the corona aureole, opal).

Grounding and Bonding

The National Electrical Code has been modifying its rules lately.
Article 250. Grounding and Bonding
No other article can match Article 250 for misapplication, violation, and misinterpretation. In fact, we commonly see Article 250 violations as requirements! For example, many industrial equipment manuals require violating 250.24(A)(5) as a condition of warranty. The manuals insist on installing an "isolated grounding electrode," which is an electrode without a low-impedance path back to the source neutral, other than through the earth itself. That means the ground-fault current return path to the source neutral (utility transformer) is on the order of several ohms rather than a fraction of an ohm that the typical NEC-compliant installation would provide.

If you apply basic physics and basic electrical theory, you can clearly see Article 250 is right and equipment manuals that require isolated grounding are wrong and other references agree. IEEE-142 and Soares Book on Grounding use the same physics and electrical theory as Article 250. This article isn't a "preferred design specification." As with the rest of the NEC, it serves the purpose stated in Article 90 to be sure the installation is, and remains, SAFE!
Article 250 covers the requirements for providing paths to divert high voltage to the earth, requirements for the low-impedance fault current path to facilitate the operation of overcurrent protection devices, and how to remove dangerous voltage potentials between conductive parts of building components and electrical systems.

Over the past two Code cycles, this article was extensively revised to make it better organized and easier to implement. It's arranged in a logical manner, so it's a good idea to just read through Article 250 to get a big picture view-after you review the definitions. Then study the article closely so you understand the details. The illustrations will help you understand the key points. [via MikeHolt]

Mistake Insurance

Do You Have Mistake Insurance?
The financial consequences of lawsuits, including the cost of defending them, can be severe. Complete story

Self stick roofing

Protecto Wrap. Rainproof peel-and-stick roofing underlayment is a rubberized asphalt sheet that is reinforced with a non-woven polyester fabric. Specifically made for low-pitched roofs, the waterproofing product has a white reflective coating for added safety, heat reduction, and short-term UV protection, says the maker. 800-759-9727. http://www.protectowrap.com/

More self-stick roofing products are listed here at eBuild.

Construction directories

Construction Site News
Building Trades Directory

Wine caves

By 2003, about 115 of the man-made caverns have been built in Napa and Sonoma Counties. They range in size from a few thousand square feet to around 50,000.

Particularly in California’s wine country, where the geology consists largely of volcanic rock, modern wine caves are usually dug with roadheaders. Consisting of a rotating array of cutting bits, these machines grind away the earth at rates ranging from 2 feet to 15 feet per day, depending on the site’s specific makeup. Typically 13 feet in diameter, the tunnels are laid out in various configurations such as rectangular grids or wheel spokes. The inner surfaces of the caverns are usually covered with sprayed-on concrete for waterproofing and structural stability. Visit Wine Caves of the Wine Country’s Wine Cave Construction page for an informative, illustrated description of the entire process.

Also see "Top Ten Reasons to Bury a Building" at SubSurface Buildings.

Solar shingles

[via Earthtoys energy newsletter]
SOLAR SHINGLES -- SUNI-SOLAR offers shingles that look and install just like ordinary shingles, but allow your roof to evolve from mere protection from weather, to a source of solar electric power. These shingles have been honored with the Popular Science Grand Award, “Best of What’s New,” and with Discover magazine’s “Technological Innovation Award.” http://www.smartroofsolar.com/shingle.htmll

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The small WINDSTREAM BASIC wind generator, in continuous production for over twenty years, is one of the most field-proven small wind turbines in existence. The Windstream is portable and easy to mount and connect. With its direct-drive permanent-magnet generator and efficient one-piece rotor, it is durable enough to handle the toughest weather conditions. The Windstream is designed to charge 12- or 24-volt batteries. Rated power 120 watts. Cost: $497

Period houses

Learn about 19th and 20th century architectural styles such as Gothic, Arts and Crafts, and Edwardian, understand why your house looks as it does, including architecture, brickwork, plaster, fireplaces, paint and wallpaper, furniture and fabrics.

A web site if you are looking for an older house, own one, or just love them.

And, 30 years later...

[via AlternativeEnergy Blog] English national newspaper, the Guardian reports that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has demanded that all new homes built in Britain be designed so that they can receive solar power. Draft building regulations from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, due to come into effect in January 2006, stipulate the change.

The move is significant since the government is on the brink of a major housebuilding drive. The government's own agency, the Energy Saving Trust, is trying to ensure that all new homes will be powered in part by solar power before the end of 2010.

Last month Prime Minister Tony Blair said sustainable development would be incorporated in all new schools and public sector buildings.

Last August California proposed to add solar power to a million homes in the next 10 years, paid for by a surcharge on electricity bills equivalent to about 15p (27 cents) a month. Germany has increased its target for putting solar panels on roofs from 10,000 to 100,000, and spent £66 million (around US $120m) last year to install 121 megawatts of photovoltaic panels.

Although the UK has invested £25m in solar power - £9m this year - only 10 megawatts of electricity was produced in 2003, about the same as a small wind farm and only 1 per cent of the output of the Sizewell nuclear power station in Suffolk. Improvements in solar technology have fueled demand for it but the industry needs significant investment to increase production.

Guardian article on UK Solar Energy

Suspended fireplace

Says GoodHunting:

Straight off the set of the Jetson's, Fireorb is a 3 foot wide steel fireplace that's suspended from the ceiling.

Presumably all you need to do is put a hole in your roof and, poof you get a fireplace.

Horridly obscure Flash site, but it says what it has to say if you are patient and can wade through more 'groovy design' than real information. Plus, generously, they'll provide an email and address if you want to know more. Geesh. I'd rather have a price and a shopping basket and let's get on with it.

Winter gear

Cloudveil has SoulFocus:
I was wondering about the bravado of trademarking a term such as 'SoulFocus' and saw their explanation: "Living in a mountain community [Jackson Hole] we hear little comments about every piece of clothing we make damn near every day and we take notes. Importantly, we use this information and we take action to improve upon each and every style, each and every year. Basically, unlike every one of our major competitors - we don’t work outside the bubble - we are intimately involved in the mountain culture every day of our lives."

I looked around a little more and perhaps it's true. These are fashionable and robust designs with more-than-adequate good looks and lots of engineering.

This lofty cold-weather insulator survives wet mountain conditions, packs super small and conserves precious heat, and costs a not-too-snuggly $200.

You might save money looking for discounts, closeouts, last season and seconds at Sierra Trading Post, a purveyor, so to speak.

The Post and the Screw

KRINNER's
Ground Screw U-Fix

I am posting this gizmo again because I ordered a couple and turned them into summer hard clay adobe in Californi