Categories
Driveways Dublin

AP Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy

Word Count:
615

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Although solar energy is known to be very environmentally friendly it doesn t only has advantages but also some disadvantages. Let s discuss some advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.


Advantages Solar Energy,Disadvantages Solar Energy,Solar Energy,solar power, solar

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Solar energy can be used and is used for electricity, central heating, hot water, cooking, for producing salt and even for desalination. Solar energy comes from the sun s rays. Solar energy is known to be very environmentally friendly. However, when the sun rays enter the earth s atmosphere it is quite dilute.

Although solar energy is known to be very environmentally friendly it doesn t only has advantages but also some disadvantages. Let s discuss some advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.

Let s start with the main advantage of solar energy. Solar energy is clean. To produce electricity or heat with solar energy you only need the sun rays. There is no need to use fossil fuel in combination with sun rays to produce electricity or heat. You just need a solar energy collector or solar power panels in order to collect solar energy.

Solar energy is cheaper than electric heating. That is another big advantage of solar energy. By just using solar energy you can save a lot of money on heaters. In return you will get lower electric bills and it also means that you don t have to maintain heaters.

If you live in a remote area where there are no power-lines solar energy can be the solution. There are remote areas where power companies have no means to access your home. Solar energy is a great alternative because it provides you with anything from heating water, electricity, and even cooking.

Another great use of solar energy is for desalination in areas where fresh, drinkable water is scarce. Solar energy evaporates brine and leaves the salt crystals in the bottom of the basin. The water in turn condenses back in another basin where it is now drinkable.

Although all of the above is very useful solar energy also has some disadvantages. These disadvantages also need to be discussed to paint a better overall picture.

The main disadvantage of solar energy is that it s dilute. This means you have to have a lot of solar collectors installed around your house. Solar energy may be very cheap but the solar collectors are relatively expensive and require regular maintenance in order to work properly and efficiently. If you decide to use solar energy you need to calculate the return on investment in order to know if the investment will be worth it.

One big disadvantage is that you need the sun rays to make use of solar energy. If you are situated in a part of this beautiful planet where there is not much sun light then this could be a problem. In other areas, the sun rays are almost always covered in clouds making solar energy collectors less efficient. You should first know if the sunshine in your area is abundant for the most part of the year. Of course if you live in desert areas like in Arizona or Mexico the sun produces a lot of sunshine for the most part of the year and is ideal for solar energy collecting.

Lastly the sun only shines during the day. Therefore if you need electricity or hot water during the night, like many of us do, it can be a problem. You will need a backup system like the old utility grid or you will need to store the electricity for later use. There are battery systems that can store solar energy for later use.

Solar energy is very clean and an alternative to conventional heating and electrical systems. Although this is true it is also good to mention the disadvantages of solar energy. If you are considering using solar energy you must read this first to make a balanced decision .

Categories
Patios Dublin

L2L MEASURING FOR YOUR VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS

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1192

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Learn how to properly measure for your new vinyl replacement windows.


vinyl windows, replacement windows, how to install windows, installing vinyl windows, retrofit windows, replacing wood windows, replacing aluminum windows

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Let’s say you’re tired of those old wood windows, and you decide it’s time to upgrade to vinyl replacement windows. You get 2 or 3 contractors to come out and give you an estimate. After they leave, you can’t believe windows can cost so much. I mean, having to get financing to replace your windows just doesn’t seem right. Let me explain to you why the windows are so expensive. You have to pay the salary of the salesman who comes over to give you your “free” estimate. Then, you have to pay the salary of the installers. Finally, you have to pay the owner of the company. In some cases there is a broker who acts as a middleman, and he or she gets a cut too. No wonder you need financing! Now, imagine if you already knew how to shop for windows, how to measure for new windows, how to remove the old windows, and how to install the new windows. You just eliminated everybody except the owner. All of a sudden you can afford to replace your windows without taking out a loan! The next few articles are going to cover this process. This article is going to discuss the proper way to measure for your double hung replacement windows.

It’s important to properly measure for your windows. If you order them too small, you’re going to end up having to improvise in order to get them to work. Even if you do get them to work, you’re probably going to have problems. And if you order them too big, you’re really in trouble. Chances are you will be ordering more windows. So, measuring is very important. Fortunately, it’s also very simple. We are dealing with old double hung wood windows here, so if that doesn’t apply to you, don’t worry. Future articles will discuss other types of windows. In the case of the wood sash windows, you want to measure the width first, and height second. When you go shopping for windows, always give the dimensions as WIDTH X HEIGHT. To measure your width, you want to pull a tape measure from the top right corner to the top left corner. Put the tape measure in that 1 1/2″ pocket where the window frame slides. Measure to the sixteenth of an inch. Do the same thing at about the midway point,right above where the window locks. Then, raise the bottom sash and take the same measurement at the bottom. If you can’t raise the window for whatever reason, go outside and measure from there. You will have to remove the screen though.

The majority of the time all three of those measurements will be the same. If they’re not the same, use the SMALLEST measurement. Now subtract 1/4″ from that measurement. This is your width for the new window. The height is a bit tricky. If your window sill outside slopes downward for water drainage, you have to make sure that you measure from the HIGHEST Point of the sill. You want to measure from the top right corner to the bottom right corner. Put your tape at the top where the upper sash closes. If the bottom has a 5/8″ high inside wood sill piece to prevent water from coming inside, you need to raise the bottom sash and run the tape past the 5/8″ sill and down to the high point of the sloped sill. Do this in the middle and on the left. Once again, take the smallest measurement, but this time deduct 3/16″. This is your height. If you order your windows using these dimensions,they will fit right in, and leave just enough room to adjust if needed. The final step is to measure the depth of the pocket where both sashes slide. By depth, i mean from the point outside where the top sash rests against the outside wood stop to the point inside where the inside bottom sash rests against the inside stop. This measurement should be between 3 1/4″- 3 1/2″. The reason you need to know this dimension is because not all replacement windows have a 3 1/4″ depth frame. You want a replacement window that’s going to fit right into the existing pocket of the wood frame. If you purchase a window with a 2 5/8″ frame depth, you’re going to have approximately 3/4″ to fill. That means buying new wood stops for the inside of the house that are 3/4″ wider than the existing stops. Get the 3 1/4″ frames and save yourself a lot of extra work. Now, if you’re on a really tight budget, the lower grade windows will be the 2 5/8″ frame, and you will have to get the wider trim. But that’s something you should weigh in your mind, whether the money saved on the lesser grade window is worth the extra expense and time of installing new stops around the inside of all your windows.

So, now you have the measurements and it’s time to go shopping. What should you look for to know you’re getting quality windows? A top quality double hung replacement window will have tilt-in sashes that allow you to clean the outside glass from inside the home. All double hung windows have a mechanism that keeps the window in the open position. The better windows use a state of the art mechanism known as a constant force balance coil. All replacement windows will have double glazing, meaning there will be two panes of glass in each sash separated by a 1/2″-5/8″ spacer material around the edge of the unit. A quality window will use an intercept spacer or something called a super spacer. Find out the U-Value of the window. The lower the number, the better insulating properties. You want a window with a U-Value under .40. There is a special glass called LowE that will lower that U-Value number. In fact, most quality windows include LowE as standard. Those are the main things to ask about when window shopping.

On the opposite end of the quality spectrum, you can buy an economical replacement window that will not have the tilt-in feature.The mechanism that holds the window open will consist of a block and tackle assembly made up of a spring and string. Another mechanism in lower quality windows is called a spiral tube balance. These lesser grade assemblies are notorious for failing after 5-10 years. The spacer material used on lower quality windows will be aluminum or something called swiggle seal. And many times the U-Value of these lower grade windows will be up around .50. The thing to remember is that a window that uses a super spacer more than likely isnt going to use a block and tackle balance system. It would be like buying a new car with leather interior and no power window and door locks. Follow those guidelines and you will have a good idea what quality you are buying. Once you make the decision and purchase your windows, it’s time to get them home and take out your old windows. Next week I will tell you how to remove the old wood windows..

Categories
Landscaping Dublin

APD Tips In Choosing Area Rugs

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527

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A house or office may be very minimalist but what can make it an eye pleaser are the accessories and furnishings, properly used and coordinated with the other furniture in the room. One such furnishing that can be used to achieve an over-all effect is the use of area rugs.

Area rugs are available in all shapes and sizes and definitely in all colors. Area rugs need not be expensive to serve their purpose. It all depends on the creativity of the decorator.

The art of usin…


area rugs, carpets, design

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A house or office may be very minimalist but what can make it an eye pleaser are the accessories and furnishings, properly used and coordinated with the other furniture in the room. One such furnishing that can be used to achieve an over-all effect is the use of area rugs.

Area rugs are available in all shapes and sizes and definitely in all colors. Area rugs need not be expensive to serve their purpose. It all depends on the creativity of the decorator.

The art of using rugs has been in existence thousands of years ago when the weavers incorporate religious or tribal symbolisms in the rug designs. In fact, rug styles and designs have been named after cities like Kashan and tribes like Bakhtiari due to the strong influence of these tribes and places to the rug designers.

The Persian rugs became famous among royal courts, thanks to the European traders who bartered the rugs to Europe s rich and powerful families. From then on, the Europeans learned from the Persian rug techniques and later on created their own designs and rug motifs. The evolution of rigs is really a good example of cross cultural influences.

Modern day rug makers may have all the high technology equipment but ancient rug makers had to contend with their creative hands to create hand-woven rugs that characterized great artistry. The invention of chemical and commercial dyes made the rug making industry better and more colorful since rig makers can now experiment on a variety of colors.

When buying rugs, always consider its purpose and where it will be placed. One can opt for antique rugs which comes in traditional designs and styles or modern rugs which are available in all shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Aside from the design consideration, your choice of rug should also be based on where the rug is to be placed. If you need a rug for your private rooms then an antique rug would be fine. However, an antique rug may be frail and easily damaged so it should not be placed in areas with maximum exposure. Antique rugs will definitely cost more than modern rugs so you must also make sure that you have researched on the authenticity as well as the proper price of antique rugs.

Rugs that are to be placed in areas with high people traffic should be in colors that are more dirt resistant. The material should also be taken into consideration since a soft and fragile rug may be out of place in a room often visited by people. Unless of course, you want to gamble on the rug s toughness.

Modern day rugs are not only machine-made but they can also be hand-knotted or hooked, or the rugs can be a product of needlepoint. Rugs made of machines are available in all designs and quality.

While the type, design and color of the rug is of paramount consideration when buying rugs, the price of the rug should also be a primary concern. A more expensive rug made of sturdier and quality materials would be more cost effective than a cheap rug that can easily be damaged.

Categories
Locksmiths

RL 9 Tips To Selecting A Good Contractor

Word Count:
577

For the best Car Keys Wexford, Fire Exits Wexford, Padlocks Wexford, Smart Locks Wexford, Safes Wexford, call Rapid Locksmiths.

When it comes to home repairs or improvements, many people find themselves at a loss because they are either unable to complete the needed repairs or they simply do not have the time. In either situation, the best thing to do is to hire a professional contractor. But, what qualities should one look for in a contractor and how can you be sure that he/she wiRL be the best person for the job? These are common questions and should be answered prior to hiring a professional contra…


home repair, building, improvement

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When it comes to home repairs or improvements, many people find themselves at a loss because they are either unable to complete the needed repairs or they simply do not have the time. In either situation, the best thing to do is to hire a professional contractor. But, what qualities should one look for in a contractor and how can you be sure that he/she wiRL be the best person for the job? These are common questions and should be answered prior to hiring a professional contractor.

Below are 9 tips that wiRL help guide you through the process of selecting the best man, or woman, for the job.

1) Before hiring a contractor, find out how long they have been in business. It s best to look for an established company and make sure to check out their reputation with the local Better Business Bureau for any outstanding or unresolved complaints.

2) Always make sure that a contractor is licensed to work in the state in which the work is to be done. The best way to find out about your state s licensing procedure is to contact your local building department and/or consumer protection agency. If your state requires that a contractor be licensed, always ask to see a contractor s license prior to hiring him/her for the job.

3) When considering potential contractors, ask for a list of recently completed projects that are similar to the one you are in need of help with. Hiring a contractor that is experienced in projects similar to yours wiRL help to ensure that aRL goes smoothly and that the job wiRL be done correctly.

4) Be sure to ask your contractor, prior to the commencement of work, whether or not the job wiRL require any type of permit. ARL permits must be obtained before the actual work begins, when required, or the homeowner may face a fine. It is best to discuss who wiRL be responsible for obtaining permits, either you or the contractor, in the beginning.

5) Always ask for the name of the individual who wiRL be in charge of the project, often called a supervisor, and the names of those who wiRL be working on the construction crew.

6) Once you are familiar with the supervisor, ask him/her about their crew. You wiRL need to know whether or not they are trustworthy and make the decision as to whether you want them working on/in your home. WiRL they need keys? If so, you need to know that they are honest and can be trusted near your family and/or children.

7) Every professional contractor should carry a certain amount of insurance coverage, including personal liability, property damage and worker s compensation. You wiRL need to request copies of aRL insurance certificates and confirm that they are current before work begins. Do not do business with a contractor who cannot provide this documentation as this may result in your being held liable for any injuries and/or damages that occur during the project.

8) Always check with the contractor s references before deciding to hire him/her for your project. This is important for aRL of the obvious reasons and wiRL give you an idea as to their work ethics and end results.

9) When you and your contractor come to an agreement on payment terms, get everything in writing and have the agreement signed and notarized. ARL parties involved should have a copy of the agreement for future reference.