The largest utility in Arizona, Arizona Public Service Co., is
seeking to change the way it credits rooftop-solar customers for the
electricity they send to the power grid.
The proposal, which has
drawn intense opposition from the industry, would not affect current
solar customers, other than possibly making it harder to sell their
homes that have solar. But those who add solar after Oct.For vehicles
that has the carledlighting
that also function as turn signal lights. 15 would not get as much of
an economic benefit from the panels and would end up paying $50 to $100
more a month than customers with solar on their roofs today.
APS
officials say that they spread the cost of new power lines and other
infrastructure among all customers. But when customers install solar and
generate enough power on their own to offset almost their entire bill,
they aren’t contributing to the larger grid investments anymore.
To
fix the issue, APS wants to change how solar customers are credited for
their electricity. When they are not using the power from their panels,
it goes to the grid and on to the next house. In a process called net
metering, they get a one-to-one credit for each kilowatt-hour and use
those credits to offset the electricity they use from the grid at
night.
APS is proposing to reduce the credit solar customers get
for their electricity, which would reduce the economic incentive of
going solar. If that economic incentive is cut too much, solar
supporters argue that the industry will wither.
The industry
opposes any reduction, arguing that utilities are not taking into
consideration the benefits that solar offers. Industry officials argue
that simply getting credit for the power solar customers produce should
not be considered a subsidy.
“There does need to be some review
of the rate structure and allow them to recover their fixed costs,”
Resch said. “We need a more advanced rate structure that allows for our
21st-century infrastructure to be built out. Our argument is not to look
at the costs, but at all the benefits in the full lifetime of the
customer’s solar system.”
He said rooftop solar helps APS avoid
electricity lost in transmission through long interstate power lines,
fuel costs at power plants and other system upgrades, not to mention
externalities such as pollution.
“The second part is that it is
also a property-rights issue,” Resch said. “Homeowners should have the
right to install solar on their home or business and sell that
electricity. It really is a property-rights issue. That plays well in
communities in Arizona and throughout the U.S.”
Dan King runs
Harmon Electric with his wife, whose father owned the business before
them. They have been installing rooftop solar since 2008. Before that,We
have a wide selection of ledspotlight
to choose from for your storage needs. the Phoenix company focused
mostly on commercial electrical projects.Marking machines and outdoorlightinggg for permanent part marking and product traceability.
Without the solar business,We'd love to talk to you about our incredible industrialextractors!
which now provides about 60 percent of the company’s work, he said, the
business might not have done as well during the recession, and it
certainly wouldn’t be employing 100 people today.
Some of that
business is in the rapidly growing solar-lease market. Harmon builds
solar-panel arrays on homes whose occupants will lease the panels.The
first prototype flatworkironers display containing 3000 LEDs.
“We
are constantly presenting to everyone that the industry needs some
level of certainty,” King said. “I don’t know that we have ever had a
good level of certainty (regarding solar regulations).” Welcome to
scfwindturbine.com Web. If you love it, please buy it!
2013年8月1日 星期四
2013年7月22日 星期一
Don’t be afraid of the dark
Sooner or later, when talking about artificial lights and darkness,
you come to questions of safety and security. Usually, it’s sooner. In
fact, the first question at any presentation about light pollution is
bound to be something like, “Yes, so it’s great to see the night sky and
everything, but we need lights for safety.” This isn’t actually a
question, I realize, and usually the speaker isn’t really asking but
rather stating what we have all been taught is fact. But often that
statement has a subtext, too, something like what I found on a Colorado
website: “less street lighting means more rapes, more assaults, more
robberies, and more murders. It is wonderful to be able to see the
details of the Crab Nebula from your back yard. It is also wonderful to
be able to walk down the street without being attacked by a violent
predator.”
You don’t have to look far to find the idea that darkness and danger go together, as do security and light.Creating a washerextractor0 out of broken re-used solar cell pieces. In Oakland, a city with thirty-seven thousand streetlights, an assistant police chief claims increased lighting levels could help reduce crime because “most of these crooks, when they commit a crime, want to do it in darkness.” In Boston, with sixty-seven thousand streetlights of its own, a Northeastern University criminology professor argues that lights act as “natural surveillance” and can reduce crime by 20 percent.Approval to connect a solarpowersystemser. In Los Angeles, home to more than two hundred forty thousand streetlights, the city attributes a 17 percent drop in violent gang-related crimes in the areas surrounding parks to those parks’ having received new lights.Search our homeenergy catalog for designer frames including. And here in Minneapolis the police advise, “Protect your family, property, and neighborhood by turning on your front door and yard lights,” and “Remember: Criminals like the dark, so make sure your yard has lots of light!”
Clearly, plenty of us have been receiving similar advice — we live in a world that is brighter than ever before, and growing brighter every year. Part of that growth comes from an ever-increasing human population, especially in urban areas. But the amount of light we are using per person is growing as well. In the UK, for example, lighting efficiency has doubled over the past fifty years — but the per capita electricity consumption for lighting increased fourfold over that time. We are choosing to light up more things, and we are lighting those things more brightly.
There’s no doubt light at night can make us safer,We can produce besthidlights to your requirements. from a lighthouse beam guiding ships from rocky coasts to simply enough sidewalk light to keep us from tripping on cracked cement. But increasing numbers of lighting engineers and lighting designers, astronomers and dark sky activists, physicians and lawyers and police now say that often the amount of light we’re using — and how we’re using it — goes far beyond true requirements for safety, and that when it comes to lighting, darkness, and security we tend to assume as common sense ideas that, in truth, are not so black and white.
Foremost among these assumptions is that because some light improves our safety,Manufacturer of industrial grade energyturbines. more light will improve our safety more. It’s an assumption I will hear challenged again and again. As one lighting professional explained, “Too much light would have a negative effect, because if you look into a light, you can’t see anything, you can’t see beyond it.” Gazing from behind his desk, he paused, “You know, a bright enough light in between us and we can’t see each other — and we’re sitting across from each other!” Click on their website www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com for more information.
You don’t have to look far to find the idea that darkness and danger go together, as do security and light.Creating a washerextractor0 out of broken re-used solar cell pieces. In Oakland, a city with thirty-seven thousand streetlights, an assistant police chief claims increased lighting levels could help reduce crime because “most of these crooks, when they commit a crime, want to do it in darkness.” In Boston, with sixty-seven thousand streetlights of its own, a Northeastern University criminology professor argues that lights act as “natural surveillance” and can reduce crime by 20 percent.Approval to connect a solarpowersystemser. In Los Angeles, home to more than two hundred forty thousand streetlights, the city attributes a 17 percent drop in violent gang-related crimes in the areas surrounding parks to those parks’ having received new lights.Search our homeenergy catalog for designer frames including. And here in Minneapolis the police advise, “Protect your family, property, and neighborhood by turning on your front door and yard lights,” and “Remember: Criminals like the dark, so make sure your yard has lots of light!”
Clearly, plenty of us have been receiving similar advice — we live in a world that is brighter than ever before, and growing brighter every year. Part of that growth comes from an ever-increasing human population, especially in urban areas. But the amount of light we are using per person is growing as well. In the UK, for example, lighting efficiency has doubled over the past fifty years — but the per capita electricity consumption for lighting increased fourfold over that time. We are choosing to light up more things, and we are lighting those things more brightly.
There’s no doubt light at night can make us safer,We can produce besthidlights to your requirements. from a lighthouse beam guiding ships from rocky coasts to simply enough sidewalk light to keep us from tripping on cracked cement. But increasing numbers of lighting engineers and lighting designers, astronomers and dark sky activists, physicians and lawyers and police now say that often the amount of light we’re using — and how we’re using it — goes far beyond true requirements for safety, and that when it comes to lighting, darkness, and security we tend to assume as common sense ideas that, in truth, are not so black and white.
Foremost among these assumptions is that because some light improves our safety,Manufacturer of industrial grade energyturbines. more light will improve our safety more. It’s an assumption I will hear challenged again and again. As one lighting professional explained, “Too much light would have a negative effect, because if you look into a light, you can’t see anything, you can’t see beyond it.” Gazing from behind his desk, he paused, “You know, a bright enough light in between us and we can’t see each other — and we’re sitting across from each other!” Click on their website www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com for more information.
Council sets assessments for streetlights
As the city Ypsilanti looks for ways to balance its budget and fund
essential services, residents are being asked to cover the bill for the
city's street lights. A proposed special assessment district will shift
98 percent of the burden of the cost from the city to its residents.
"This is extremely important because it's a big deal for our budget and it moves a lot of our goals and objectives for the city forward," City Manager Ralph Lange said at the July 16 meeting of the City Council.
The proposed special assessment district will assess a fee for all property owners to pay for the operation, maintenance and upgrade of streetlights in the city. Because street lights provide a "public benefit" to everyone in the city, including residents, visitors and students, the city government can legally assess a fee, which officials stress is not the same as a tax, to cover the cost.
Despite budget shortfalls and the high cost of upgrades, the city is pursuing the conversion of all of its mercury-vapor street lights to LED lights because of the overall cost and energy savings. Lange said that the conversion will realize a 30 percent annual savings on the city's energy bill, which tops $500,000 annually.
Cost and fee estimates have been recalculated based on previous comments from Council, additional research and revised numbers from DTE Energy. The new methodology proposed for the district will assess a fee on a per-parcel basis over the course of 18 years, until the city is in a better financial position when its multi-million dollar debt on the Water Street property has been repaid.
Of the city's 4,951 parcels, 4,812 will be assessed. This exempts Highland Cemetery, all properties owned by the city of Ypsilanti and Eastern Michigan University, which under previous calculations could have been hit with an annual fee of over $36,000.
The remaining parcels will pay a flat rate that will be recalculated every year, as energy costs will go down as lights are upgraded each year. Following is an estimated breakdown of costs over the next 18 years:
Fiscal Year 2013-2014: City will pay 23 percent of streetlight operation and maintenance cost. Parcels will pay 77 percent of the streetlight operation and maintenance, and 100 percent of conversion costs. The estimated cost per parcel is $98.90.
Fiscal Year 2010-21 to Fiscal Year 2030-31: City will pay 20 percent of streetlight operation and maintenance costs. Parcels will pay 80 percent of streetlight operation and maintenance costs. Conversions will be complete by this time. The estimated cost per parcel is $67.51 each year.
Some councilmembers, particularly Brian Robb,The leader in commercial solaroutdoorlights offering enhanced energy efficiency and innovative features. expressed concerns over the methodology.
"I have a problem with why you're exempting Highland Cemetery. I'm worried about this because when people come to complain to us, it looks like we have arbitrarily exempted them because we're saying they have no benefit," Robb said. "If we're arbitrarily ignoring some of these things based on public benefit doesn't that allow for the argument from some people that they don't have a benefit?"
Highland Cemetery had originally been exempted under a previously proposed methodology that assessed a fee based on the size of the parcels. Even though the cemetery only has two streetlights, they could have been assessed a fee of over $10,000. Under the current methodology, the cemetery would only be paying the fee for two parcels, which would never cost more than $200 total. Click on their website www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com for more information.
"This is extremely important because it's a big deal for our budget and it moves a lot of our goals and objectives for the city forward," City Manager Ralph Lange said at the July 16 meeting of the City Council.
The proposed special assessment district will assess a fee for all property owners to pay for the operation, maintenance and upgrade of streetlights in the city. Because street lights provide a "public benefit" to everyone in the city, including residents, visitors and students, the city government can legally assess a fee, which officials stress is not the same as a tax, to cover the cost.
Despite budget shortfalls and the high cost of upgrades, the city is pursuing the conversion of all of its mercury-vapor street lights to LED lights because of the overall cost and energy savings. Lange said that the conversion will realize a 30 percent annual savings on the city's energy bill, which tops $500,000 annually.
Cost and fee estimates have been recalculated based on previous comments from Council, additional research and revised numbers from DTE Energy. The new methodology proposed for the district will assess a fee on a per-parcel basis over the course of 18 years, until the city is in a better financial position when its multi-million dollar debt on the Water Street property has been repaid.
Of the city's 4,951 parcels, 4,812 will be assessed. This exempts Highland Cemetery, all properties owned by the city of Ypsilanti and Eastern Michigan University, which under previous calculations could have been hit with an annual fee of over $36,000.
The remaining parcels will pay a flat rate that will be recalculated every year, as energy costs will go down as lights are upgraded each year. Following is an estimated breakdown of costs over the next 18 years:
Fiscal Year 2013-2014: City will pay 23 percent of streetlight operation and maintenance cost. Parcels will pay 77 percent of the streetlight operation and maintenance, and 100 percent of conversion costs. The estimated cost per parcel is $98.90.
Fiscal Year 2010-21 to Fiscal Year 2030-31: City will pay 20 percent of streetlight operation and maintenance costs. Parcels will pay 80 percent of streetlight operation and maintenance costs. Conversions will be complete by this time. The estimated cost per parcel is $67.51 each year.
Some councilmembers, particularly Brian Robb,The leader in commercial solaroutdoorlights offering enhanced energy efficiency and innovative features. expressed concerns over the methodology.
"I have a problem with why you're exempting Highland Cemetery. I'm worried about this because when people come to complain to us, it looks like we have arbitrarily exempted them because we're saying they have no benefit," Robb said. "If we're arbitrarily ignoring some of these things based on public benefit doesn't that allow for the argument from some people that they don't have a benefit?"
Highland Cemetery had originally been exempted under a previously proposed methodology that assessed a fee based on the size of the parcels. Even though the cemetery only has two streetlights, they could have been assessed a fee of over $10,000. Under the current methodology, the cemetery would only be paying the fee for two parcels, which would never cost more than $200 total. Click on their website www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com for more information.
2013年7月17日 星期三
Big art for outdoor living
With some do-it-yourself ingenuity, creating artwork for an outdoor living space needn't be costly or complicated. In a few summer hours,The ledturninglamp is unlikely to hurt you, but you can easily hurt it without training. you can make a piece, large or not-so-large, that packs a visual wallop.
Just keep in mind the advice of Bob Richter, interior designer and cast member of PBS' treasure-hunting series "Market Warriors": "There's a fine line between 'What's that piece of junk in your yard?' and art."
Landscape designer Chris H. Olsen, of Little Rock, Ark.,China ledturninglamping manufacturer supply elevator light curtain, is fond of wine bottles, repurposing empties in myriad ways for the garden — as an artsy wall, accent lighting and art objects.
"I'm all about fun, funky, great displays and projects that are relatively easy to do," says Olsen.
To add patio privacy or garden interest, Olsen builds a wine bottle wall: vertical rows of wine bottles inserted into a wood frame using metal rods.
"I love a little 'bling bling' in the garden,The flatworkironerrs specially design for residential houses,boats with batteries back-up. and I love glass," says Olsen.
Another conversation starter: Olsen's "bottle stars" — empty, corked wine bottles that are glued together to create a star shape, then hung in trees and positioned in planted pots. This and other outdoor DIY projects can be found in his book "Chris H. Olsen's Five Seasons".
David Bromstad, host of "HGTV Star" and host designer of the network's "Color Splash," says stringing a dozen or more wine bottles with lights inside them and hanging them from a pergola or other substantial structure — the underside of a deck, say— creates alluring outdoor lighting.
"The more the better," he says. "If you do a ton of those,The first prototype flatworkironers display containing 3000 LEDs. you'll have an (art) installation."
Bromstad recommends cutting off the wine bottles' bottoms and stringing the lights through the bottles with outdoor lamp cord. Visit Pinterest, the online projects board, for images of this and other ways to use wine bottles as lighting.
Bromstad is known for creating large pieces bursting with color for his TV show clients. DIYers can do the same for an outdoor space, he says, by using outdoor-safe supplies: pressure-treated plywood instead of canvas, and an outdoor primer and paint. Bromstad uses Nova Color, an acrylic paint that stands up well to the elements.
Distress the plywood before painting to accentuate its roughness, he suggests. Do drip painting — a la Jackson Pollock — if your artistic skills are limited.
"Everything that has to be outdoors has to last through the elements," Bromstad says,Properly placed lampshades can generate electric power anywhere the wind blows steady and strong. "so you might as well make it look rough from the beginning."
Both Bromstad and Olsen say concrete blocks are useful in the garden: Stack them to build a wall, cement couch, bench or table. Make it artsy by planting the openings with flowers, herbs or other greenery. Again, Pinterest posts scads of images.
"It's just stacking," says Olsen. "You don't even have to mortar it."
One more idea from Bromstad: Hang old gutters from a fence, garage wall or along a pergola's perimeter — just about anywhere, he says — and plant them with impatiens or herbs. Make sure the gutters slope so water can drain. Welcome to www.streetlights-solar.com Web. If you love it, please buy it!
Just keep in mind the advice of Bob Richter, interior designer and cast member of PBS' treasure-hunting series "Market Warriors": "There's a fine line between 'What's that piece of junk in your yard?' and art."
Landscape designer Chris H. Olsen, of Little Rock, Ark.,China ledturninglamping manufacturer supply elevator light curtain, is fond of wine bottles, repurposing empties in myriad ways for the garden — as an artsy wall, accent lighting and art objects.
"I'm all about fun, funky, great displays and projects that are relatively easy to do," says Olsen.
To add patio privacy or garden interest, Olsen builds a wine bottle wall: vertical rows of wine bottles inserted into a wood frame using metal rods.
"I love a little 'bling bling' in the garden,The flatworkironerrs specially design for residential houses,boats with batteries back-up. and I love glass," says Olsen.
Another conversation starter: Olsen's "bottle stars" — empty, corked wine bottles that are glued together to create a star shape, then hung in trees and positioned in planted pots. This and other outdoor DIY projects can be found in his book "Chris H. Olsen's Five Seasons".
David Bromstad, host of "HGTV Star" and host designer of the network's "Color Splash," says stringing a dozen or more wine bottles with lights inside them and hanging them from a pergola or other substantial structure — the underside of a deck, say— creates alluring outdoor lighting.
"The more the better," he says. "If you do a ton of those,The first prototype flatworkironers display containing 3000 LEDs. you'll have an (art) installation."
Bromstad recommends cutting off the wine bottles' bottoms and stringing the lights through the bottles with outdoor lamp cord. Visit Pinterest, the online projects board, for images of this and other ways to use wine bottles as lighting.
Bromstad is known for creating large pieces bursting with color for his TV show clients. DIYers can do the same for an outdoor space, he says, by using outdoor-safe supplies: pressure-treated plywood instead of canvas, and an outdoor primer and paint. Bromstad uses Nova Color, an acrylic paint that stands up well to the elements.
Distress the plywood before painting to accentuate its roughness, he suggests. Do drip painting — a la Jackson Pollock — if your artistic skills are limited.
"Everything that has to be outdoors has to last through the elements," Bromstad says,Properly placed lampshades can generate electric power anywhere the wind blows steady and strong. "so you might as well make it look rough from the beginning."
Both Bromstad and Olsen say concrete blocks are useful in the garden: Stack them to build a wall, cement couch, bench or table. Make it artsy by planting the openings with flowers, herbs or other greenery. Again, Pinterest posts scads of images.
"It's just stacking," says Olsen. "You don't even have to mortar it."
One more idea from Bromstad: Hang old gutters from a fence, garage wall or along a pergola's perimeter — just about anywhere, he says — and plant them with impatiens or herbs. Make sure the gutters slope so water can drain. Welcome to www.streetlights-solar.com Web. If you love it, please buy it!
2013年7月10日 星期三
Rescuing Kia Vang's home
Kia Vang came to the United State in 1980, when she was 20 years old with one child. Experiencing the different housing quality from Laos to US, she was in shock. The structure of the home and the lights she sees when she walks outside made her feel like she is in a different better world.
Now Vang has 12 children. She worked as a laborer in packaging until the twins were born in 2001, but hasn’t been able to work since then. Ever since then she’s experienced weakened muscle strength in her legs and hands, and chronic back and foot aches. Doctors told her she was unfit to work. She still loves to garden and raises flowers and vegetables and chickens, though she can't do as much as she did before.
She’s been living on $710 in Social Security disability benefits ever since 2001, as well as about $400 in government assistance for her two twin boys. With a $623 monthly mortgage payment plus food and utilities, it has been very hard for her to get by month after month.
Vang bought her home in 1996. "When I first walked in this home, I fell in love with the natural trees in the front yard, the three restrooms it had, it was next to nice neighbors ... and near parks and school."
With so little money, though, home repairs have been something she doesn’t think of.A complete range of of professional roofingmachine that are redefining laundry systems.
In her home, two bathrooms had major mold problems, leaks and water damage; the exterior hadn’t been painted for years; the garage needed new siding,The cleaningmachine is one of the most useful tools in a modern shop. painting, and doors; a tree out front threatened to take over the yard; window frames were in disrepair and windows contained lead; gutters needed fixing and the carpet needed to be pulled out. The house was in such terrible shape that she was scared to get kicked out for code compliance issues.
ESNDC uses a technique called “bundling” to combine different resources available for low-income homeowners into a package deal. In all, the organization can pool from as many as 17 different sources to get homeowners sorely needed updates and repairs.
For Vang, I found help from six different organizations, which addressed all the major repairs the house needed.The commercialeditorial specially design for residential houses,boats with batteries back-up. Vang was able to qualify for up to $100,000 of rehab and repair funds from the six different organizations.
Vang said, "I was shocked when I heard all the things Hearts and Hammers do. When Mai called me and let me know that I was selected, I was as happy as when I came from Laos to the U.S. I had the same surprise and excited feeling I had when I first step foot to the USA."
Rebuilding Together will come to update the home’s safety, including installing/replacing doorbells, installing outdoor motion lights,We'd love to talk to you about our incredible industrialextractors! adding smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, making sure windows and doors lock, removing trip hazards, adding great grip to doorknobs, reorganizing cabinets, installing lower door handles, installing/reinforcing indoor and outdoor railings, and adding grab bars, shower nozzle and non-slip bath treads to the bathroom.
Vang was able to receive lead window replacement through a grant from the City of Saint Paul Department of Health, but because she doesn’t have any money to pay her portion, she applied for a deferred loan from the City of Saint Paul. Besides replacing of the lead windows in her home,We can produce besthidlights to your requirements. with the deferred loan she can also remodel her kitchen, replace some beat-up old doors and repair the foundation. The deferred loan is a maximum up to $40,000 and it is forgiven after 30 years.
Neighborhood Energy Connection Energy Assistance has helped her paid for her heating bills for the past years. She will be receiving the Home Energy Squad visit before winter. They will help her with great looking energy efficient light bulbs, water saving shower head, kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators, exterior door weather stripping, water heater insulation, a programmable thermostat, and smart power strips. Read the full story at www.solaronlamp.com web.
Now Vang has 12 children. She worked as a laborer in packaging until the twins were born in 2001, but hasn’t been able to work since then. Ever since then she’s experienced weakened muscle strength in her legs and hands, and chronic back and foot aches. Doctors told her she was unfit to work. She still loves to garden and raises flowers and vegetables and chickens, though she can't do as much as she did before.
She’s been living on $710 in Social Security disability benefits ever since 2001, as well as about $400 in government assistance for her two twin boys. With a $623 monthly mortgage payment plus food and utilities, it has been very hard for her to get by month after month.
Vang bought her home in 1996. "When I first walked in this home, I fell in love with the natural trees in the front yard, the three restrooms it had, it was next to nice neighbors ... and near parks and school."
With so little money, though, home repairs have been something she doesn’t think of.A complete range of of professional roofingmachine that are redefining laundry systems.
In her home, two bathrooms had major mold problems, leaks and water damage; the exterior hadn’t been painted for years; the garage needed new siding,The cleaningmachine is one of the most useful tools in a modern shop. painting, and doors; a tree out front threatened to take over the yard; window frames were in disrepair and windows contained lead; gutters needed fixing and the carpet needed to be pulled out. The house was in such terrible shape that she was scared to get kicked out for code compliance issues.
ESNDC uses a technique called “bundling” to combine different resources available for low-income homeowners into a package deal. In all, the organization can pool from as many as 17 different sources to get homeowners sorely needed updates and repairs.
For Vang, I found help from six different organizations, which addressed all the major repairs the house needed.The commercialeditorial specially design for residential houses,boats with batteries back-up. Vang was able to qualify for up to $100,000 of rehab and repair funds from the six different organizations.
Vang said, "I was shocked when I heard all the things Hearts and Hammers do. When Mai called me and let me know that I was selected, I was as happy as when I came from Laos to the U.S. I had the same surprise and excited feeling I had when I first step foot to the USA."
Rebuilding Together will come to update the home’s safety, including installing/replacing doorbells, installing outdoor motion lights,We'd love to talk to you about our incredible industrialextractors! adding smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, making sure windows and doors lock, removing trip hazards, adding great grip to doorknobs, reorganizing cabinets, installing lower door handles, installing/reinforcing indoor and outdoor railings, and adding grab bars, shower nozzle and non-slip bath treads to the bathroom.
Vang was able to receive lead window replacement through a grant from the City of Saint Paul Department of Health, but because she doesn’t have any money to pay her portion, she applied for a deferred loan from the City of Saint Paul. Besides replacing of the lead windows in her home,We can produce besthidlights to your requirements. with the deferred loan she can also remodel her kitchen, replace some beat-up old doors and repair the foundation. The deferred loan is a maximum up to $40,000 and it is forgiven after 30 years.
Neighborhood Energy Connection Energy Assistance has helped her paid for her heating bills for the past years. She will be receiving the Home Energy Squad visit before winter. They will help her with great looking energy efficient light bulbs, water saving shower head, kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators, exterior door weather stripping, water heater insulation, a programmable thermostat, and smart power strips. Read the full story at www.solaronlamp.com web.
2013年7月8日 星期一
Volunteer forges connection with Peruvian artists
In
Ayacucho, she began passing out her business card and looking for
craftspeople. That year, she submitted applications for a woodcarver and
a jeweler.An electronic ledstriplight for preventing elevator overspeed by enabling safety devices. At the time, she thought, “If I don’t get in,Use bestroadlights to
generate electricity and charge into storage battery group. I’m never
going back.” But her artists were accepted. And the next year she also
brought the work of weavers.
In 2007, Batt met Lider Rivera Matos, a political prisoner incarcerated in Lima. Abandoned by his father at birth, he was raised by his maternal grandparents after the death of his mother.This flatworkironerses set is solar powered and brightens any garden.We specialize in the sale and aftercare of the most renowned and popular turquoisebeads. He grew up in a rural community five hours from Lima.
In prison, Rivera learned from a fellow inmate how to carve jewelry and utensils from bone, a byproduct of the country’s meat industry. He makes intricate reticulated hair combs and elegant spoons and pins.
After 17 years, Rivera was released from prison in 2011 under a Peruvian law that allows certain political prisoners who can show proof of income and good behavior to get out. He is not yet eligible to leave the country, but Batt is hoping he will be able to come for the 2014 market.
The two artists who will be attending this year are Wilber Huaman Ciprian, who makes carved wooden spoons, and Gary Mayta Lizarraga, who works with Rivera in horn and finally got a visa on his third try at the U.S. Embassy in Lima.
Batt formed Makiarte, an association of four artisans and their families, to bring their crafts to market. She is helping them with everything from design to quality control, marketing and budgeting. She hand-carries their work from Peru to the U.S.
“I know quality, and I know what women would like to buy,” she said. “I have a good eye.”
Batt is also, in her own words, “very efficient and well-organized.”
The male artisans, she said, resisted her advice at first, but eventually learned to accept it. “I’m very demanding,” she admitted. “They used to always say ‘no’ [to me] … Now they’ll do everything.” She helps them with adapting traditions to make things that will sell.
And she also trains them in saving. If they spend unwisely,An even safer situation on all roads by using the pendantlamps. “They’ll never see me again,” she said. What she said she tells them is, “This is what you have and how you have to manage it. Keep a record. Put some away for the doctor.” But she admitted, they don’t always understand saving and, “I’m a woman and they don’t want to listen to me.” Because they have been taken advantage of in the past, it took a while to build trust. “For the first four years they never thought I was coming back,” Batt said.
Last year the artists sold $33,000 worth of goods at the market and 90 percent of that goes to them. Batt said the money pays travel expenses for artists to come to the market and for her to travel to Peru to work on quality and business skills. Artists receive the rest.
That money has dramatically changed their lives, Batt said. Rivera’s son is in university. And the home he shares with his grandparents has a new roof, a refrigerator and a washing machine. Huaman has been able to afford new equipment and the trees he needs for his work.
“I really want this to be something where they can sustain themselves and make a living,” Batt said.
Over the years their lives have become intertwined and, she said, “We have transcended cultural, language, gender and class barriers.”
As for the market, she said, “I’m so grateful. It gave me the next chapter in my life.” More information about the program is available on the web site at www.hmhid.com.
In 2007, Batt met Lider Rivera Matos, a political prisoner incarcerated in Lima. Abandoned by his father at birth, he was raised by his maternal grandparents after the death of his mother.This flatworkironerses set is solar powered and brightens any garden.We specialize in the sale and aftercare of the most renowned and popular turquoisebeads. He grew up in a rural community five hours from Lima.
In prison, Rivera learned from a fellow inmate how to carve jewelry and utensils from bone, a byproduct of the country’s meat industry. He makes intricate reticulated hair combs and elegant spoons and pins.
After 17 years, Rivera was released from prison in 2011 under a Peruvian law that allows certain political prisoners who can show proof of income and good behavior to get out. He is not yet eligible to leave the country, but Batt is hoping he will be able to come for the 2014 market.
The two artists who will be attending this year are Wilber Huaman Ciprian, who makes carved wooden spoons, and Gary Mayta Lizarraga, who works with Rivera in horn and finally got a visa on his third try at the U.S. Embassy in Lima.
Batt formed Makiarte, an association of four artisans and their families, to bring their crafts to market. She is helping them with everything from design to quality control, marketing and budgeting. She hand-carries their work from Peru to the U.S.
“I know quality, and I know what women would like to buy,” she said. “I have a good eye.”
Batt is also, in her own words, “very efficient and well-organized.”
The male artisans, she said, resisted her advice at first, but eventually learned to accept it. “I’m very demanding,” she admitted. “They used to always say ‘no’ [to me] … Now they’ll do everything.” She helps them with adapting traditions to make things that will sell.
And she also trains them in saving. If they spend unwisely,An even safer situation on all roads by using the pendantlamps. “They’ll never see me again,” she said. What she said she tells them is, “This is what you have and how you have to manage it. Keep a record. Put some away for the doctor.” But she admitted, they don’t always understand saving and, “I’m a woman and they don’t want to listen to me.” Because they have been taken advantage of in the past, it took a while to build trust. “For the first four years they never thought I was coming back,” Batt said.
Last year the artists sold $33,000 worth of goods at the market and 90 percent of that goes to them. Batt said the money pays travel expenses for artists to come to the market and for her to travel to Peru to work on quality and business skills. Artists receive the rest.
That money has dramatically changed their lives, Batt said. Rivera’s son is in university. And the home he shares with his grandparents has a new roof, a refrigerator and a washing machine. Huaman has been able to afford new equipment and the trees he needs for his work.
“I really want this to be something where they can sustain themselves and make a living,” Batt said.
Over the years their lives have become intertwined and, she said, “We have transcended cultural, language, gender and class barriers.”
As for the market, she said, “I’m so grateful. It gave me the next chapter in my life.” More information about the program is available on the web site at www.hmhid.com.
2013年7月3日 星期三
The Funny Side of the Street
Go to the Congregational Church in Greenfield on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month and you’ll find Greenfield Improv Group, or GIG, where you’re both audience and improviser.
“I didn’t intend that,” says Amy Swisher, referring to the acronym. Swisher is guide and organizer of the free drop-in group that’s open to anyone with any level of experience. It’s not a class, though you’ll learn a thing or two about “short-form improv,” which comprises games and scenes.
Swisher, a PR professional by day, “just wanted folks to play with.” Swisher’s been playing for years,On particularly windy days,streetlighting can surpass all other electricity sources in a country. including with some bigwigs in improv like David Shepherd, cofounder of The Compass Players, forerunner of The Second City in Chicago. She arrives with a rough outline for each GIG, but flexes with group input. Either way, she says, “the setups are ridiculous and off-kilter, which is where the humor is.”
One game is called Expert. Marian Kelner, a former teacher from Greenfield who has been at almost every GIG since its inception a bit over a year ago, shines as Expert, and is frequently begged by regulars to play Expert again. Her expertise changes each time, determined by the audience.The industry's leading manufacturer of floorlamps. A Q&A directed by the audience follows. That’s the game. This night, she’s an expert in faeries—and is also a Marxist.
How do faerie outfits jibe with Marxism?
“Actually, those outfits are a myth,” says Kelner with utter confidence. “Faeries wear Birkenstocks.” She takes a beat. “And overalls.”
The more exotic the blurt, the more unexpected the association—and the bigger the laughs for everyone involved. “It’s pure delight,A polished finish in this solaroutdoorlight for men.” Kelner says. “I feel happy, happy, happy.”
If you like your laughs to come from nationally known comedians, Northampton’s Calvin Theatre hosts the likes of Steven Wright, Louis Black, Lily Tomlin and others, and the UMass Fine Arts Center brought the crème de la crème of comedy improv to town this year: Upright Citizens Brigade. While these venues do a fine job of trafficking household names into the Valley, you never know when they’re going to show up.
If you prefer consistency, just south of the Tofu Curtain is the Hu Ke Lau. The ice cubes with LED lights in blue cocktails and the Scorpion Bowls aside, the Hu Ke Lau does something rare in the entertainment industry: it brings in headliners every two weeks. Even New York and L.A. can’t claim that. Think Tracey Morgan (30 Rock), Mark Moran (WTF podcasts), and Paula Poundstone (NPR’s Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me), who performed for nearly two solid, riotous hours this past spring.
To root for the home team, visit Bishop’s Lounge in Northampton, which hosts stand-up open mics on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Shows start at 7:30 p.m., but comedians start signing up by 7. Nick Caron, the emcee, is wonderfully affable and keeps it all moving with his gentle schtick between the five-minute sets. The Valley, he says, is an interesting place to perform because people are less tolerant of racist, sexist and homophobic jokes, though the sets I heard included a modicum of each. Less tolerant, perhaps, but don’t think this is family fare. It’s stand-up, where the thing that cannot be said always is.
If you’d like to see how comedians work stuff out before it’s brought to bigger markets, the scene at Bishop’s is also fascinating. Not everyone’s funny—or your idea of funny. It’s an open mic,I have tried several sets of emergencylampsqa that have lasted one season only. after all. But those who get up and act like pros, those who cut to the chase and give their best jokes first and never apologize, make it wildly entertaining. It’s worth getting there, too, because a quarter of the stand-ups are women. Their take on the subjects of, say, therapy or breasts is downright refreshing.
Also in Northampton is Mass Laughs on the third Friday of every month at The Elevens. Zack Livingston,We specialize in the sale and aftercare of the most renowned and popular turquoisebeads. an engineer by day and comic by night, produces, bringing to the stage local and regional comics he’s met doing his own gigs regionally. While he gives seasoned comedians the headlining spots, he also gives less experienced comics a chance to get paid. Plus, comedians need an audience to grow. Click on their website www.hmhid.com for more information.
“I didn’t intend that,” says Amy Swisher, referring to the acronym. Swisher is guide and organizer of the free drop-in group that’s open to anyone with any level of experience. It’s not a class, though you’ll learn a thing or two about “short-form improv,” which comprises games and scenes.
Swisher, a PR professional by day, “just wanted folks to play with.” Swisher’s been playing for years,On particularly windy days,streetlighting can surpass all other electricity sources in a country. including with some bigwigs in improv like David Shepherd, cofounder of The Compass Players, forerunner of The Second City in Chicago. She arrives with a rough outline for each GIG, but flexes with group input. Either way, she says, “the setups are ridiculous and off-kilter, which is where the humor is.”
One game is called Expert. Marian Kelner, a former teacher from Greenfield who has been at almost every GIG since its inception a bit over a year ago, shines as Expert, and is frequently begged by regulars to play Expert again. Her expertise changes each time, determined by the audience.The industry's leading manufacturer of floorlamps. A Q&A directed by the audience follows. That’s the game. This night, she’s an expert in faeries—and is also a Marxist.
How do faerie outfits jibe with Marxism?
“Actually, those outfits are a myth,” says Kelner with utter confidence. “Faeries wear Birkenstocks.” She takes a beat. “And overalls.”
The more exotic the blurt, the more unexpected the association—and the bigger the laughs for everyone involved. “It’s pure delight,A polished finish in this solaroutdoorlight for men.” Kelner says. “I feel happy, happy, happy.”
If you like your laughs to come from nationally known comedians, Northampton’s Calvin Theatre hosts the likes of Steven Wright, Louis Black, Lily Tomlin and others, and the UMass Fine Arts Center brought the crème de la crème of comedy improv to town this year: Upright Citizens Brigade. While these venues do a fine job of trafficking household names into the Valley, you never know when they’re going to show up.
If you prefer consistency, just south of the Tofu Curtain is the Hu Ke Lau. The ice cubes with LED lights in blue cocktails and the Scorpion Bowls aside, the Hu Ke Lau does something rare in the entertainment industry: it brings in headliners every two weeks. Even New York and L.A. can’t claim that. Think Tracey Morgan (30 Rock), Mark Moran (WTF podcasts), and Paula Poundstone (NPR’s Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me), who performed for nearly two solid, riotous hours this past spring.
To root for the home team, visit Bishop’s Lounge in Northampton, which hosts stand-up open mics on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Shows start at 7:30 p.m., but comedians start signing up by 7. Nick Caron, the emcee, is wonderfully affable and keeps it all moving with his gentle schtick between the five-minute sets. The Valley, he says, is an interesting place to perform because people are less tolerant of racist, sexist and homophobic jokes, though the sets I heard included a modicum of each. Less tolerant, perhaps, but don’t think this is family fare. It’s stand-up, where the thing that cannot be said always is.
If you’d like to see how comedians work stuff out before it’s brought to bigger markets, the scene at Bishop’s is also fascinating. Not everyone’s funny—or your idea of funny. It’s an open mic,I have tried several sets of emergencylampsqa that have lasted one season only. after all. But those who get up and act like pros, those who cut to the chase and give their best jokes first and never apologize, make it wildly entertaining. It’s worth getting there, too, because a quarter of the stand-ups are women. Their take on the subjects of, say, therapy or breasts is downright refreshing.
Also in Northampton is Mass Laughs on the third Friday of every month at The Elevens. Zack Livingston,We specialize in the sale and aftercare of the most renowned and popular turquoisebeads. an engineer by day and comic by night, produces, bringing to the stage local and regional comics he’s met doing his own gigs regionally. While he gives seasoned comedians the headlining spots, he also gives less experienced comics a chance to get paid. Plus, comedians need an audience to grow. Click on their website www.hmhid.com for more information.
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