More Environmental Jobs coming to PA

According to Solar Thermal Magazine today there was an award of a 5 million dollar Pennsylvania grant for Becon Power corporation to build an energy storagfe facility in Hazle Township PA

Another Loyal Client

Testimonial for Tom Lowy 8-19-2011


Tom Lowy is the type of realtor who handles his clients with a high degree of professionalism and at the same time incorporates a personal touch to give you that “peace of mind”. Thank you Tom, for taking care of my real estate needs when I needed a true professional who understands the market. Please know that you will be recommended as the “PREFERRED” realtor to all of my family and friends looking to purchase or rent a home.



Edith Walters.

Housing foreclosure rates decline

This article is excerpted from the CRS Weekely on-line news letter:
Foreclosure Activity Continues to Decline


Foreclosure filings, including default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions, were reported on 212,764 U.S. properties in July, a 4 percent decline from June and 35 percent from a year ago, according to the latest data from RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosures. One in every 611 U.S. homes had a foreclosure filing during July, marking the 10th straight month of annual decreases in foreclosure activity and the lowest monthly total since November 2007.

“This string of decreases was initially triggered by the robo-signing controversy back in October 2010, which forced lenders to substantially slow the pace of foreclosing, but the downward trend in foreclosure activity has now taken on a life of its own,” says James J. Saccacio, RealtyTrac’s CEO. “It appears that the foreclosure processing delays, combined with the smorgasbord of national and state-level foreclosure preventions efforts — including loan modifications, lender-borrower mediations and mortgage payment assistance for the unemployed — may be allowing more distressed homeowners to stave off foreclosure,” he says.

Default notices fell 7 percent during the month from June and decreased 39 percent from July 2010. Foreclosure auctions fell 5 percent from June and declined 37 percent from a year ago. While bank-owned properties slipped 1 percent from the previous month, they were 27 percent below July 2010.
For the 55th straight month, Nevada posted the nation’s highest foreclosure rate, with one in every 115 homes receiving a foreclosure filing during the month. California had the nation’s second highest foreclosure rate, with one in every 239 homes receiving a foreclosure filing, followed by Arizona, with one in every 273 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing. Thu, Aug 11, 2011

5 Indoor plants which help air Quality in your Office

This is excerpted from the Ecofriend Web site:

Indoor plants are generally grown for decorative purposes and for refining the air too. According to a research carried out by NASA, some plants serve as better air purifiers than others. Here is a list of some commonly grown indoor plants which serve as natural air purifiers:

1. English Ivy

Botanical Name- Hedera helix

English Ivy is an evergreen plant and has a long life span. It is a trailer and can be grown on the sides of wall and fences. The plant needs indirect sunlight and average to cold temperature for its growth. It prefers cool soil, sufficient moisture and good drainage. Use balanced fertilizers for the soil and guard the plant against mites. The plant proves to be dangerous and can cause skin irritation. So, it is advisable to wear gloves while handling the plant. Also, make sure that the plant is kept away from pets. The plant can be propagated by stem cutting.

English Ivy removes some common pollutants, like benzene, toluene and formaldehyde.

 

2. Spider Plant

Botanical Name- Chlorophytum chlorosum

It is a preferred and suitable house plant. The plant produces long stems as it grows. The leaves along with the flowers give the impression of spiders hanging from the strings. The plant is easy to grow and can tolerate extreme conditions of temperature and moisture. But, sufficient bright light is the prime requirement for the plant. The plantlets can be easily propagated and look beautiful when grown in hanging baskets along with other plants. Do not expose the plant to cold draft.

Pollutants removed by Spider plant - Formaldehyde

 

3. Peace Lily

Botanical Name- Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’

This is a popular house plant and can grow in little sunlight. Watering can be done just once in a week. Over-watering can cause browning of leaf tips. Peace Lily can be easily propagated and it blooms in early summer. The plant should be fed monthly with liquid fertilizers in summers and spring season. One plant should be grown in an area of 10 meters square and fertilization should be done only in summer and spring season.

Pollutants removed by the plant - Benzene, formaldehyde and others.

 

4. Chinese Evergreen

Botanical Name- Aglaonema sp.

This is an ornamental and a long-lasting plant. The plant is easy to grow and requires indirect sunlight and high humidity. Keep the plant in warm condition and in heavy and moist soil. The plant should be guarded against low temperatures as it cannot tolerate cold. If the leaves start turning yellow, it might mean that too much sunlight is falling on it. Immediately remove the yellow leaves and transfer the plant to low light area. Aglaonema can be easily propagated. Make sure that you clean off the leaves regularly.

It is a useful plant and removes benzene, toluene and ammonia from the air.

 

5. Reed Palm

Botanical Name- Chamaedorea sefritzii

Another name of this plant is Bamboo Palm. It is a long-lasting, small or medium sized plant and can grow to a height of six meters. The plant can flourish best in medium light and high humidity. The palm should be planted in a pot which has a hole so that the soil is uniformly moist and continuous drainage takes place. Rain water is best for watering this plant. Palms are easily infected by mites and bugs indoor. The plant should be fertilized regularly during its growing season.
Reed plant purifies the indoor air against trichloroethane, benzene and toluene.

Latest newsletter from Ecofriend is out.

Here is a link to the current Ecofriend website where you can sign up to receive their weekly newsletter.

10 eco friendly gadgets that produce water from air

This was reposed fro the Blog Ecofriend

10 eco friendly gadgets that produce water from air

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 10:52 PM PDT

Balakrishnan Ramachandran:



atmospheric condensationwater vapor in air condenses when it cools below dew point

Water availability has already become a major concern area for humankind. Some UN studies already estimate that some 1 billion people worldwide do not have access to adequate drinking water. Water borne diseases already account for over 50% of preventable human ailments in the poorer regions of the world.Even in the more advanced regions of the world, municipal water supply is no longer considered safe enough to drink. This has spawned a $ 50 billion packaged drinking water industry.

The atmospheric air always has water vapor present in it. This is part of the Hydrologic cycle, where water evaporates from the seas and other water bodies, the vapor is carried by air into the upper atmosphere where it forms clouds which then condense into water as rain or snow. The total water vapor in the atmosphere is so large that it can meet all of human water needs.

Scientists and engineers are attempting to find means to extract water from the air without waiting for the natural rain cycle. The two basic processes to extract water from air are cooling condensation and wet desiccation. Cooling condensation is the familiar sight we see of water droplets forming on the outside of a bottle or glass of any cold liquid. The air in the atmosphere is cooled below its dew point by contact with the bottle or glass,causing the water vapor in the air to condense. Desiccant cooling is illustrated by the fact of common salt in a salt shaker becoming damp by absorbing water vapor from the air.Many commercial air-to-water devices have now become available. Some alternative approaches are also being attempted. An air-to-water industry appears to be developing

Condensation cooling

1. Using natural stone structures for condensation

Examples of condensation cooling exist even from early human civilization. In some parts of Europe and the Middle East, there are 10 meter tall beehive-like stone structures dating from the 19th century, called air walls. The stones cool rapidly in the night. When moist air comes in contact with these stones, the condensation yields water that is collected in troughs inside the structure and used for drinking and washing.In France, these structures were also used in some vineyards.

2. Using water nets for condensation

This is the modern adaptation of the ancient stone walls for water harvesting. At a village named Cabajane in sub-Saharan Africa, a team from the South African Agricultural University helped the villagers string up plastic nets across a mountain pass. The clouds and fog through the pass, condensed water on the nets, which ran down through plastic pipes to be collected in a tank. Several hundred liters of potable water became available to the village from this simple device , where they earlier had to walk over 2 km to the nearest stream. This experiment is now being replicated in other villages in sub-Saharan Africa and also in Chile and in some places in Nepal.

3. Foldable structure for water harvesting

Two Israeli architects, Joseph Cory and Eyak Malka have designed this foldable triangular structure, named WatAir, that is said to imitate the leaves of a tree to condense atmospheric water vapor and collect it into a tank. The structure folds into a a package of 1 meter maximum dimension and 3.5 kg weight, that the designers claim can be erected anywhere, to harvest atmospheric water.

4. Max Whisson’s Gust Water Trap

Dr Max Whisson of Perth, Australia has come up with a wind turbine design that produces water by condensation, instead of electricity. The wind turbine has vertical blades and is mounted on a swivel with a wind vane tail, so that it can turn to face the direction of the wind. When the turbine turns, the wind gets forced into the hollow tower. The air passes over a refrigerant compressor driven by the wind turbine and condenses into water, that flows into tanks at the base of the tower. A company named Water UN Limited has been formed to commercially apply this technology.

5. Windmill to make water from air

The company Dutch Rainmakers of Netherlands has installed a windmill Surinam to produce water instead of electricity. In their design, the air is forced through a heat pump, where the water vapor condenses. This heat pump replaces the refrigerant compressor. The wind mill is said to produce 5000-7000 liters a day, a real boon in a place where the groundwater is brackish.

6. Refrigerant based condensation

The modern condensation cooling devices, generally use a refrigeration coil to provide the cooling. Many manufacturers worldwide have come up with condensation cooling machines that work on the following principle.Inlet air is filtered to remove dust and suspended particles using fabric filters. This air is passed over coils containing cold refrigerant gases. The condensate water is collected in a stainless steel tank and exposed to ultraviolet light for about 30 minutes to remove bacteria and then filtered through an active carbon filter. The typical cost for a model that produces 20-25 liters a day is about $ 1500 and these machines consume about 500 watts of electricity. These condensation machines are styled like the conventional water coolers installed in offices and public places, and are intended to be used in such locations.

One of the largest companies in this field appears to be Air Water Corporation of Miami Beach, Florida which makes a range of machines from the 25 liter per day single office type capacity to larger 2500 liter per day trailer mounted machines complete with their own diesel power generator that can be installed at a construction site or even in a village as they have done in Jalmudi in India. Air Water Corporation says that its products are sold in 21 countries through local affiliates.

Another company that has targeted the home user with this technology is Element Four Technologies Inc.,of British Columbia, Canada which has launched an attractively packaged product they have named the WaterMill. The home model is dsigned to produce 11 liters of water per day enough to meet the drinking needs of a small family. The air intake and condensation is planned to be mounted outside the home and the potable water tank inside the home ( like a split air-conditioning unit). An upgraded model for 20 liters per day in planned. However, there are many companies with product variants for this market.

7. DRIPS for growing crops with water from air

Two high school students from San Francisco, with mentoring by professors from the University of California, Berkeley, have proposed this system for water harvesting from air. DRIPS stands for Deep Root Irrigation Precipitation System and is made of a 1 foot diameter, or larger, plastic or aluminum conical surface mounted on a hollow tube that is buried 1.5 feet into the ground. The plastic or aluminum surface cools in the night and in contact with air, causes water droplets to condense. This water, by capillary action aided by small ribs on the cone, drains into the ground. The depth of 1.5 feet prevents this water from evaporating back into the atmosphere and helps nourish the roots of plants. This method of water harvesting has been demonstrated to grow potatoes.

8. Fraunhofer Institute’s brine tower

The Fraunhofer Institute of Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (ICB) in collaboration with the company Logos Innovationen is working on this concept of a tall tower like structure down which hygroscopic brine solution runs down. This brine in contact with air absorbs moisture and runs into a tank at the base of the tower which has a slight vacuum. The tank is heated with solar collectors that causes the brine solution to boil. The vacuum in the tank lowers the boiling point of the brine solution.The water absorbed from the air evaporates and is led out through a tube filled with water. This water column maintains the vacuum in the tank without the need for a vacuum pump. The brine is recovered and pumped up again to flow down the tower.

9.Liquid desiccant for water harvesting from process air

Sciperio Inc., an Orlando, Florida based technology is working on using liquid Lithium Chloride as the desiccant to remove water from air. Their finding is that this is more energy efficient than using refrigerant based water harvesting technology and have proposed using this for water extraction from air in process plants for industrial use, rather than for drinking.

10. Use of solar energy for regenerating the desiccant

One variant of the use of wet desiccation by the company A2WH of Atlanta, Georgia which uses a proprietary desiccant for water vapor absorption. This desiccant is heated by solar energy to expel the absorbed water. The unit, installed outdoors, also has photo voltaic panels to generate the electricity needed for operating the units pumps and valves. A2WH says it has models both for the individual home and for irrigation of farms.

Energy production from the sun

IT feels so good to know our family is harvesting power from the sun each day it is sunny.  In a few short days our power generation will have been more than 1000 kWh generated just from our system  For July our production was :

Green Bicycles and not just using them

10 Green bikes that have non-metallic frames

Greener transportation is at the forefront for many eco-enthusiasts. Walk, bike, take public transport, carpool, anything you can do to help reduce carbon emissions and decrease our reliance on fossil fuels is a positive step toward a more sustainable future. Biking is great because promotes both physical health and the health of the environment. If you’re a cycling fan, check out this article for 10 unique eco-friendly bikes.  Just follow the link from the green page it is the second

This link was obtained from the Go Green Expo LinkedIn newsletter

Local Post office may be closing

Here in Radnor the St Davids Post office is on the list of "endangered offices"  To read the full article from the Radnor Patch click here.  To see the full list of offices on the "endangered list"  click here

Newer Owners Tend to Price Their Homes Higher When Selling

In a study reported by Zillow as relayed by the CRS magazine "Member Connect" a weekly CRS update page,Current home sellers who purchased their homes after the housing boom overprice their homes at a higher rate than those who purchased before or during the boom, according to a recent Zillow survey. Home sellers who purchased their home in 2007 or later overprice their homes by an average of 14.1 percent while those who purchased a home before 2002 price their homes approximately 11.6 percent over market value. Those who bought between 2002 and 2006 price their homes 9.3 percent above market value.

 Here is a link to the rest of the short article.

Staging your home is it important?

Staging your home is it important?   Barb Schwarz says ...“The investment of Staging your home is less than your first price reduction”

Ran across this article on Coaching your daughter through the friendship swamp

I was reading article on a real estate web site.  Once in a while there is an article on life and family.  Since I have a daughter I found this one interesting.  Article like this apply when you are moving and ghange schools too.

Moving during these Summer Months?

This is excerpted from a coulmn by Amy Velte -Summer Series...


Moving Topic #2: Preparing for Delays Should They Occur

By Amy Velte

It’s a fact: delays happen. During the busy summer months when the moving companies are experiencing very high volumes, and occasionally during non-peak moving times, moves can be delayed for weather related reasons, shortage of trucks, mechanical failure or other unforeseen circumstances. Being prepared for this outside possibility will help you in this event. Here are a few pointers:



• Take things that you cannot afford to be without.

• Bring essentials to make you feel comfortable while you wait for your belongings

• If you are starting a new job, take business clothes with you

• If you are shipping your computer, bring your important files with you

• If you are self employed, take any important work related documents that you may need

• Be sure to have all important personal documents such as passport with you at all times

• If you have children who will be attending school shortly after your arrival, take the things they will need to start school.

• If you have pets, bring dog beds, toys, leashes, litter box etc.

• Bring extra medication with you if needed

• If you have a baby, be sure to pack extra formula, diapers etc.

• Items to keep you occupied: a good book, magazines, radio

Think of it like camping while you are waiting for your delivery. This could be a fun and exciting way to introduce the kids to their new home. Set up a blowup mattress in the living room and have a slumber party. Pack a cooler full of easy to make food and if you are a coffee drinker, bring or purchase a french press.

Through CRS if there is a delay and your shipment is over 3,500lbs., the movers are required to reimburse you for a percentage of hotel and meal expenses. Be sure to save hotel and meal receipts during this time. You should receive a delay claim form from the mover upon your request. This is handled separately from a damage claim and must be handled promptly: the claim must be filed within 30 days of delivery. A delay claim does not pertain to shipments that are delivering to a public/self storage unit or into mover storage or from a mover or public storage facility.

It is not likely that a delayed shipment will occur, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Being prepared for the unlikely will provide piece of mind during your move and make it less stressful than it needs to be.

10 Measuring Tips for Decorating from Lisa Fury

Answers to Some of Your Most Often Asked Questions

• A 36 inch wide rectangular table is perfect for conversation. A round table with a diameter of 48 inches seats six; a 60 inch round will handle eight standard dining chairs or 10 ballroom chairs.

• To determine the correct size of an overhead light, add the length and width of the room in feet. Whatever the total is, in inches, is your guide for a fixture's diameter. For instance, a 15 by 15 foot room would need a 30 inch chandelier.

• One gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet of wall.

• Mount curtains as high as possible to give a room more height, and let them break 1 1/2 inches on the floor.

• Kitchen islands should be about 36 inches high - a little taller than countertops - to be comfortable for prep.

• Curtains should be 2 1/2 to 3 times the width of a window. If you are doing two panels, each should be 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 times the window width. Buy a rod that is 20 inches wider than the window to make your window seem larger than it actually is.

• The bottom of a dining room chandelier should hang 36 inches above the table.

• Install light switches 36 inches above the floor and 1 1/2 to 2 inches to the side of the door trim.

• A standard 84 inch sofa with exposed legs and a tight back will require 14 yards of plain 54 inch wide fabric. Add two additional yards if you want to skirt it.

• The distance from the bed to the wall should be at least 24 inches.

• To allow any door to open easily, there should be 36 inches between the bed and the door.

Lisa Furey -
barefoot interior design
610-389-5231

PA Bans Private Transfer Fees

Private Transfer Fees


Pennsylvania became the 36th state to ban private transfer fees. On June 24, Governor Tom Corbett signed HB 442 into law, becoming Act 8 of 2011. Private transfer fees are part of a covenant attached to a property deed that forces the seller to pay 1 percent of the purchase price to a private third-party entity every time the property sells over the next 99 years. These fees would have cost unsuspecting homeowners thousands of dollars in additional closing costs.

Something to do with Blueberries this weekend

As a subscriber to the Radnor Patch  I came across this information for the Linvilla Orchards Blueberry Festival.  Reads like it could be a lot of fun especially if you like blueberries.

Where: Linvilla Orchards, 137 W Knowlton Rd, Media, PA 19063 Date: July 9, 2011 Time: 9:00am Come hungry and join the pie-eating contest featuring Linvilla pies or just watch the contestants.


Events will include appearances by costumed characters, pony rides and face painting.

Don’t forget to leave plenty of time for picking blueberries from the orchard. With 10 varieties to choose from, you should have plenty to make cobblers, pies and jellies.

Rain date July 10.

Features: Families, Free, Kids, Open to All, Outdoor, Seniors, Teens Website: http://www.linvilla.com/events/blueberry_festival.php
 Phone: 610-876-7116
Email: info@linvilla.com  Price: Free

TYwo local establishments make the top pics locally

Two Restaurants as reported by the Radnor Patch have made a local top 50 list Check out the slide show Georges for Gruyere and marinated tomatoes
Vic and Dean's fopr Prosciutto,Roasted Peppers and eggplant

New Green Jobs Training available

Just read an article whic is about Green Jobs training coming to the Philadelphia area.

Home Ownership still has a KEY place in the American DREAM

Home ownership according to a recent survey still plays an important part in the American Dream.  Here is the link to the articel found in RIS Media.

658 Mailin Road just on the Market for the first time in 10 years- Newtown Square post office Radnor Township School District

Radnor Girls Crew Coach sums up the season

Another year for the record books! Every one of our boats had a phenomenal season, leaving a mark on history for RGCC. To have both our freshmen boats in the final at Cities is unheard of and a huge accomplishment. Then, to have two boats win Cities (2V8 and F8) and the other place second was an indication that this small team is truly comprised of a very special and talented group of kids. The win for the V8 at Stotesbury was icing on the cake, but, as a team, having the 2V8 in the final (I believe for the first time) and the F8 placing 2nd solidified the strength of our team.


This team of 40 girls has managed to produce results that are usually only seen of a team with much more depth, and for that I am in awe of these young women. They are a very special group, and losing 10 of them to college will be upsetting, but, nonetheless, I think it’s safe to say these 40 girls have left a mark on Radnor Girls Crew Club unlike any other team before.

Seniors, I want to thank you for the last four years. Personally, you have helped me grow as a coach exponentially. You never let any of my slips turn into falls. Through the good and the bad you trusted me, and for that I am eternally thankful. You have done for this club maybe more than you will ever know, setting the standard for all the future classes at the top of the spectrum, and for that you should be very proud. I am so excited to see what the future holds for all of you. I send all the best wishes in the world with you as you move on in life.

Megan

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” — Dr. Seuss