..of the thermostat in your new home.
California utilities would control the temperature of new homes and commercial buildings in emergencies with a radio-controlled thermostat, under a proposed state update to building energy efficiency standards.Customers could not override the thermostats during "emergency events," according to the proposal, part of a 236-page revision to building standards. The document is scheduled to be considered by the California Energy Commission, a state agency, on Jan. 30.
The description does not provide any exception for health or safety concerns. It also does not define what are "emergency events."
In the Tampa area, Tampa Electric (TECO) has a volunteer program called Prime Time. During a time of high use, instead of firing up another plant TECO would shut down air conditioning in selected homes to save energy. This is done so rarely that many Prime Time customers forget that they are on the program. In exchange for being on this program TECO customers get a discount on their electric bill.
This California proposal however, would be mandatory for new homes.
I know what you are thinking, and I am sure that there is a mechanism which would warn the powers to be if you should replace their thermostat with one controlled by you.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
California Cracking Down on Ozone
Last September the California Air Resources Board voted to prohibit indoor ozone generators from putting out more than 0.05 ppm.
Robert Baker, Chairman & CEO, RGB Group, Tampa, FL, writing in Indoor Environment Connections, believes this is one of the Worst AND Best Indoor Air Quality Event of 2007:
In my opinion, this represents one of the worst IAQ events of the year because it is an example of our private enterprise system and democratic processes failing to protect the health and welfare of American citizens and a regulatory authority being forced to step in.It ranks as one of the best of the year, however, because it appears that, after decades of debate and litigation involving manufacturers of such devices, one of the nation’s most influential bodies has initiated decisive action.
Mr. Baker continues:
Not only is ozone a respiratory irritant, but recent studies demonstrate that it can react with volatile organic compounds indoors and produce aldehydes and other harmful breakdown products.
And here are the comments of Jay Hoover, the president of Integrity Air Conditioning on the subject of ozone:
In general I agree. I am also happy that Florida still allows that air quality tool. ....So ozone can cause some volatile organic compounds to change into more harmful compounds. It however causes other known harmful organic compounds and other chemicals to be rendered harmless. For example carbon monoxide changes to carbon dioxide and O2 in the presence of O3. That can be great for people working in auto repair shops. We recommend a low level CO detector as a start for auto shops.
Robert Baker, Chairman & CEO, RGB Group, Tampa, FL, writing in Indoor Environment Connections, believes this is one of the Worst AND Best Indoor Air Quality Event of 2007:
In my opinion, this represents one of the worst IAQ events of the year because it is an example of our private enterprise system and democratic processes failing to protect the health and welfare of American citizens and a regulatory authority being forced to step in.It ranks as one of the best of the year, however, because it appears that, after decades of debate and litigation involving manufacturers of such devices, one of the nation’s most influential bodies has initiated decisive action.
Mr. Baker continues:
Not only is ozone a respiratory irritant, but recent studies demonstrate that it can react with volatile organic compounds indoors and produce aldehydes and other harmful breakdown products.
And here are the comments of Jay Hoover, the president of Integrity Air Conditioning on the subject of ozone:
In general I agree. I am also happy that Florida still allows that air quality tool. ....So ozone can cause some volatile organic compounds to change into more harmful compounds. It however causes other known harmful organic compounds and other chemicals to be rendered harmless. For example carbon monoxide changes to carbon dioxide and O2 in the presence of O3. That can be great for people working in auto repair shops. We recommend a low level CO detector as a start for auto shops.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Are There More Spores Outdoors?...
…and do they have human health effects?
Below are excerpts from an article in the December 2007 issue of Indoor Environment Connections by Dr. Harriet Burge Director of Aerobiology, EMLab P&K, San Bruno, Calif. She is an expert in the field of Indoor Air Quality. You can read the entire article here. - Way Cool
Yes, they do. Several papers in the literature document the relationship between asthma outbreaks and especially high concentrations of specific spore types. “New Orleans Asthma” is a syndrome blamed on basidiospores. Thunderstorm asthma has been blamed on a particular type of ascospore. In addition, clear relationships have been found between increased hospital admissions for asthma and outdoor spore concentrations. In the American Southwest, outdoor Alternaria exposure may actually initiate asthma in children.
Also consider the fact that gardening is considered to be a healthy form of exercise. You are outdoors breathing the “fresh” air (assuming you don’t live in the Los Angeles basin!) and are encouraging things to grow. You happily pull weeds and dig holes for the plants, breathing in the wonderful odors of the microbial volatiles responsible for the odor of new-turned soil along with all the spores (including those of Stachybotrys) that are growing on the dead leaves you are digging up.
On the other hand, gardening has never been reported to cause “toxic” symptoms such as headache, fatigue (other than that induced by using your muscles), memory loss, etc.
Below are excerpts from an article in the December 2007 issue of Indoor Environment Connections by Dr. Harriet Burge Director of Aerobiology, EMLab P&K, San Bruno, Calif. She is an expert in the field of Indoor Air Quality. You can read the entire article here. - Way Cool
Yes, they do. Several papers in the literature document the relationship between asthma outbreaks and especially high concentrations of specific spore types. “New Orleans Asthma” is a syndrome blamed on basidiospores. Thunderstorm asthma has been blamed on a particular type of ascospore. In addition, clear relationships have been found between increased hospital admissions for asthma and outdoor spore concentrations. In the American Southwest, outdoor Alternaria exposure may actually initiate asthma in children.
Also consider the fact that gardening is considered to be a healthy form of exercise. You are outdoors breathing the “fresh” air (assuming you don’t live in the Los Angeles basin!) and are encouraging things to grow. You happily pull weeds and dig holes for the plants, breathing in the wonderful odors of the microbial volatiles responsible for the odor of new-turned soil along with all the spores (including those of Stachybotrys) that are growing on the dead leaves you are digging up.
On the other hand, gardening has never been reported to cause “toxic” symptoms such as headache, fatigue (other than that induced by using your muscles), memory loss, etc.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Refrigerant Changes You Need To Know...
....when choosing a new air conditioning system.
What most folks have now
Currently, the vast majority of residential central air conditioners use a refrigerant called R-22. Some systems already use the newer, more environmentally friendly refrigerant called R-410a, but R-22 far and away is the most common refrigerant in homes.
What’s happening in 2010
Starting in 2010, a little over two years from now R-22 systems will no longer be available. Also, starting in 2010 the manufacturing of new R-22 will start to be limited until the only R-22 available by 2020 will be recycled refrigerant. This will cause repairs involving refrigerant for R-22 systems to be more expensive.
What this means for those looking for a new system today
If you need a new air conditioning system, Integrity Air recommends that you get an R-410a system. In most cases the prices are comparable. Also if you have a mix-matched system, that is, a system where one section is much older than the other, you may want to replace the older section before 2010.
What most folks have now
Currently, the vast majority of residential central air conditioners use a refrigerant called R-22. Some systems already use the newer, more environmentally friendly refrigerant called R-410a, but R-22 far and away is the most common refrigerant in homes.
What’s happening in 2010
Starting in 2010, a little over two years from now R-22 systems will no longer be available. Also, starting in 2010 the manufacturing of new R-22 will start to be limited until the only R-22 available by 2020 will be recycled refrigerant. This will cause repairs involving refrigerant for R-22 systems to be more expensive.
What this means for those looking for a new system today
If you need a new air conditioning system, Integrity Air recommends that you get an R-410a system. In most cases the prices are comparable. Also if you have a mix-matched system, that is, a system where one section is much older than the other, you may want to replace the older section before 2010.
Securing Units Before a Hurricane
The photo on the left is the rooftop of a local school. Integrity Air replaced a failed air conditioner with a new ductless mini-split system (the outdoor section can be seen in the right foreground). The original unit was set on 4' by 4' lumber laying on the roof. As you can see, the new outdoor section has been secured to the wall on a stainless steel bracket.
Securing the outdoor unit in this fashion is much stronger for our hurricane-prone area......also makes for easier roof replacement when needed.
You Can't Smell It, But It Kills
The US Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that between 8,000 to 15,000 people are examined or treated in hospitals for non-fire related CO poisoning each year.The smartest way to confirm there are no dangerous levels of CO gasses in your home is to have a complete home CO check by a certified contractor. During the process your contractor should check every combustible appliance using a properly calibrated Carbon Monoxide Analyzer. Your contractor should also be checking for correct chimney draft on your fireplace, furnace and hot water heater.
Low concentrations of CO breathed over long periods of time may contribute to other illnesses.
First level (that is, most - Way Cool) U. L. approved Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms are made to go off at 70 parts per million (ppm). (these are the type sold at home centers- JH) However, lower levels of CO can be harmful.
Low-level Exposure (less than 35 ppm): of carbon monoxide poisoning can be confused with flu-like symptoms, food poisoning, or other illnesses and can have significant long-term health risks if left untreated.
High-level Exposure (more than 35 ppm; less than 70 ppm): Severe throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate.
Crisis-level Exposure (more than 70 ppm): Unconsciousness, convulsions, cardio respiratory failure, death.
9 ppm - Maximum allowable CO in living space for 8 hours per the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
9 ppm - Maximum allowable outdoor 8 hours per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
15-30 ppm - First level reported to cause harmful affects per the World Health Organization (WHO)
30 ppm - Earliest onset of exercise induced angina (WHO)
50 ppm - The maximum allowable concentration for continuous exposure for healthy adults in any 8 hour period, as recommended by the Occupation and Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ina work environment.
(As you can see, the most common types do not protect - alarm at these levels. - Way Cool)
70 ppm - First level U. L. approved alarms must go off 2-4 hours.
200 ppm - Slight headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea after 2-3 hours.
400 ppm - Frontal headaches within 1-2- hours, life threatening after 3 hours.
800 ppm - Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 minutes. Unconsciousness within 2 hours. Death within 2-3 hours.
These symptoms are typical for healthy adults. The critical or chronically ill, pregnant women, infants and others with respiratory difficulties can be impacted earlier and experience more adverse effects.
The excerpt above comes from Page 4 of the NSI 3000 Low-Level CO Monitor Owner's Manual.
Commercial Buildings and Hurricanes
Take a close look at the picture above. Which of these two objects would be most likely to blow away or cause projectiles during a hurricane?
The air conditioner in the background weighs 600 pounds. It has a center of gravity near the middle and low to the ground. It sits on a curb that is fastened to the roof and is wrapped by the hooked-shaped frame of the air conditioner.
The satellite dish weighs about 100 pounds and sits on a framework that is temporarily held down by another 200 pounds of bricks. Does it look more like a sled, a sail or a catapult?
You are probably asking yourself, "why is the 600-pound object securely fastened to the roof while the wind-catching dish is only held down by six bricks?"
The Florida building code regulates the installation of central air (both residential and commercial) is strictly regulated in the building code for safety and hurricanes.
The installation of satellite dishes is not covered by the building code. This should not prevent the responsible home or business owner from demanding that their satellite contractor secure the dish to withstand 120 miles-per-hour winds..
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