Everyone knows just how effective fish meal baits are for catching literally thousands of big carp and being of fish, they supply the essential stimulatory nutrition that carp need – and can be used to make very economical baits too! But how can you make very cheap baits with those vitally important competitive edges over other baits? Read on to find out much more!

One of the most significant aspects of fish meals is that they have large quantities of energy per unit weight while containing very little carbohydrate. They are excellent sources of protein, lipids (oils), minerals, and vitamins and other factors very useful in making successful carp fishing baits. Trout pellet meal, salmon pellet meal, halibut pellet meal, and all kinds of other fish meals can be used for bait-making; including cheap standard fish meal much higher in cereal content!

Just a few decades ago developments in treating fish to make far more digestible and so more nutritional, (to provide poorer countries with better quality food,) has made a revolutionary difference to so many carp baits and not just limited to fish meal baits! The use of the famous enzyme-treated fish protein and soluble fish protein called LO30 among others are fantastic fish-catchers. Often other feeding trigger-rich marine protein sources are included alongside fish ingredients with benefits such as their lipid-richness and stimulatory amino acids (plus other extremely notable other amines etc!)

All these whole, predigested and water-soluble products can be utilised to create highly nutritionally attractive baits soaks, dips and complexes and many forms of outstanding ground baits and paste baits too as well as boilies and pellets! Please note that very many of the cheap pellets are often predominantly very poor biological value cereals-based and many companies will merely coat them with more nutritional feeding stimulants and attractors, such as various fish oils, or bloodworm extract and so on. (The very best fish meal pellets are made predominantly from high levels of quality fish meals and water-soluble predigested extracts although the low-oil carp pellets are far better for carp in the long-run that the much over-used high oil halibut pellet varieties!)

Among the effective bait ingredients and additives you might choose to add to your fish meal bait are the following: tiger nut flour, roasted peanut meal, Super Gold 60 (predominantly maize protein,) Ccmoore Red Venom, Carophyll Red, limestone powder, Robin Red additive, blood powders, crushed oyster shell and kelp meal, (among many others.) Carp love sweetened baits and you might like to try out the Supersweet product and fructose concentrate or even nutritional molasses available from Ccmoore instead of the much-used Talin to give your bait an extra edge.

Some of the best most easily available examples of fish meals include sardine and anchovy meal, herring meal, and the so-called LT94 – which is a hugely popular economical choice. Capelin and tuna have also been highly successful and there are many others if you have a will to source them! With fish meals you have so much choice and you are guaranteed with them to make highly nutritional homemade baits that will just keep on catching for years!

The huge benefits of fish meal ingredients has been over-stated in certain sources more recently and yes they are awesome, but please not get the idea that they absolutely have to be used in order to catch carp! Due to the over-fishing of larger fish species that prey on smaller fish, many smaller fish such as the anchovy and sardines of South America are thriving compared to previously but this ignores the horrifying drop in world-wide fish stocks and over-looks over-fishing disasters such as that of the once legenday British herring fishery.

But the most famous example of the idiocy of man in regards to over-fishing was the wipe-out of what was once the most productive cod fishery in the whole world at the Grand Banks. Over all, each year fish stocks around the world just keep getting lower and now vast areas of the seas and oceans of almost barren; the factory ships with their echo-sounder technology gave the fish no chance and under-sized immature fish are constantly killed further reducing future breeding stocks!

So fish as a whole is a rapidly diminishing natural resource and it is your personal responsibility to do your homework on using it for fishing bait. Did you know that now the vast proportion of cod we eat in our traditionally English fish and chips comes from not British waters but from Scandinavia? In fact the European Union has just announced that the rules regarding commercial catch quotas linked to fish conservation (to ensure fish stocks for the future) are failing! All this means that if you have a conscience and you want to not only be eating fish in the future and be using it in your baits in the futures then think about other alternatives right now too!

In fact, a paste of stupidly cheap wheat flour, eggs, sugar, salt, sunflower oil and a quality concentrated flavour very predominantly consisting of natural esters, (as opposed to synthetic flavours and solvents,) will still catch you loads of fish – when fished right of course!

Alternatives to fish and fish-derived ingredients that can be used to supplement the nutritional profiles of baits so they contain the 10 essential amino acids carp require in their natural diet to make nutritionally-stimulating baits include; Super Gold 60, (mostly maize protein,) poultry protein meal and concentrated yeast plus very many others that are far more sustainable that fish are, even including roast peanut meal, and tiger nut meal and corn steep liquor powder!

Whether you include in a homemade base mix perhaps 3 ounces or 10 ounces of fish meal or fish pellet powder per pound in your baits, it you will still catch fish. You might choose to base your baits on any of the many fish meal and fish derivative-based pet foods available and boost these with actual fish meal additves and ingredients. To boost your baits nutritionally why not add Ccmoore Cyprivit which is a specially designed vitamin supplement to supply carp daily vitamin requirements and include vitamins which are specifically not only water-soluble, but are actually digestible and usable by carp!

You can make your homemade fish meal boilies, pellets, pastes and treated super-boosted particle baits, and readymade boilies and pellets preparations, more or less attractive and digestible, depending upon your level of bait-making knowledge and experience.

It is advantageous to make baits extremely highly digestible by not only choosing those ingredients and additives with very high biological values but boosting your baits by exploiting many other aspects of your baits; including factors that provide many more reasons that make carp pick up your bait when fished against competing quality baits! When your bait is very highly digestible they can be far more fully digested and assimilated by carp when consumed. This provides very powerfully beneficial instinctively-based carp reference points and competitive bait advantages with such baits due to their baits extreme energy-efficiency!

However, you need plenty of experience in working with many products and be very technical in your approach in order to sort out your baits levels and ratios so your bait provides the correct concentrations of the first 3 limiting amino acids. In fact there are many very simple ways of making incredibly attractive fish meal baits that have extremely high digestibility and nutritional value but you need to think about things creatively to produce such baits and these come with time and very much deeper understanding of baits workings inside carp added to experience in combining ingredients etc and actually making practicable baits within a sensible budget!

Just remember if you are a beginner that very usually the better quality protein products that will catch you far more fish. These will often cost you more than inferior products and it so often far better to make less baits with more of these quality products than make lots of baits using inferior products that catch very little or very few big fish by comparison. You can mix fish meals with so many other ingredients, additves and liquids you will never before have associated with savoury or fishy type baits it will surprise you.

Fish meal baits containing more suitable ingredients for cold temperatures are very effective in winter but I believe in including betaine and wheatgerm and metabolic stimulants of various kinds (just for starters) to really give you the edge over those anglers who are very lazy and insist on putting a halibut pellet on their rig! Why not contact Phil at CW Baits or at carpfishingpellets for a liquid lecithin emulsifier feeding trigger product, that will hugely boost your bait digestion and cold-water (and warm-water) performance?!

Fish meal baits are proven big fish baits. But you need to think about what you are doing if you want the most competitive baits that will out-fish those other homemade baits and popular readymade baits you will be fishing against. But this is very possible to do with enough desire and very many anglers fishing their own homemade baits catch outstanding numbers of big fish when fished against readymade baits that very often simply do not match them in many factors, not least in the levels of natural nutritional carp feeding triggers included! Why not now take a look at my unique baits secrets ebooks at Baitbigfish for more details on super-boosting homemade and readymade baits of all kinds for big carp and giant catfish!

By Tim Richardson.

About The Author

Now why not seize this moment to improve your catches for life with these unique fishing bibles: “BIG CARP FLAVOURS FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CARP SENSES EXPLOITATION SECRETS!” “BIG CARP AND CATFISH BAIT SECRETS!” And “BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!” For these and much more now visit: baitbigfish; the home of world-wide proven readymade and homemade bait success secrets bibles and further free information on big fish success based on secrets from leading bait bosses and high profile anglers…

Custom made radiator cabinets not only add a significant amount of visual grace and elegance to a room, but serve a very practical benefit as well, one which could cut costs and help warm your rooms in a much more energy efficient manner. Bespoke radiator cabinets are always to be preferred to those which may be sold as standard, as they will be very much more robust, last very much longer, and perform in a much more efficient way. A wooden radiator cabinet is exposed to a great deal of heat, and in many cases a good deal of moisture as well. This places much more stress on the wood and the joints, which is why radiator covers made specially to order will perform far more efficiently and provide years of style.

In the past virtually every house would have a welcoming open fireplace around which the family would congregate. From the point of view of interior decoration we would refer to this as being a focal point of the room. However, with more effective central heating now available, in many cases the only focal point that can be identified is the widescreen TV! Being quite honest, standard radiators don’t introduce much of beauty or sophistication to a house, and it’s no wonder that they become disguised.

But bespoke radiator cover grills are not about hiding radiators or hiding them from view. Instead, it’s about making them look more welcoming, adding grace and flair, blending in with the decor of the home and managing to compliment the theme or ambience which you, or your interior decorator, is trying to create. Steel radiators can’t easily be varnished or styled without looking even worse, but a bespoke cabinet can be made in such a way that the decor or theme of your room is enhanced ideally.

A wooden radiator cabinet can be varnished, stained or painted to blend in perfectly with the rooms, instantly lifting the overall impression and sense of completion. Very little seems more depressing than spending all your time and energy redecorating a living space only to find an ugly dominating block of stark metal clinging to your wall, sneering at your efforts elsewhere! Radiator covers can be produced in a range of themes, with the grills available in several sizes and shapes. From small slits to trefoils, from clovers to delicate renaissance style patterns, the improvement is immediately apparent.

The top of a radiator can be a challenging place, simultaneously able to gather a scary collection of dust and debris, whilst being entirely inappropriate for placing photographs or tokens of interest. Made-to-order radiator cabinets include a ledge that resides along the top, lifted up a couple of inches above the top of the radiator itself. This ledge both protects the radiator from collecting dust, as well as offering an ideal surface on which to site a few decorations or photographs. Because the ledge is a little above the radiator, the heat should not affect the items placed on top. Tailor-made radiator cabinets manage to achieve this perfectly, and if it is your intention to place items on top of the radiator cabinet then it will be particularly important to make sure that it has been custom made for this design.

But it is not just about the visible improvements to a room that people prefer custom made radiator covers. A wooden radiator cover is able to make considerable improvements in the way the radiator works, raising its efficiency. This means that your rooms can be more efficiently, lowering heating expenses quite significantly. The reduction in fuel alone may well negate the price of the radiator cabinet itself in a few years.

How is this efficiency managed? Quite simply the radiator cabinet turns the radiated warmth of the radiator into convected heat, which is then redirected into the room. Usually a radiator’s warmth rises up, reaching the ceiling, cooling and then dropping again. However, a wooden radiator cover draws colder air in at the bottom, and then directs the heat forwards through the radiator cover grills and into the room. Far less energy is lost, and the heat that is produced is delivered to where it is most required.

When deciding whether to buy a radiator cover or radiator cabinet it will be essential to make sure that you choose one which will be perfectly matched to the purpose and to your particular needs. No two properties are wholly the same, and there are always likely to be personal issues such as fabrics, furnishings, fixings and general use of the room that will impact on the suitability and success of your wooden radiator cabinet. Custom radiator covers take into account the specific dimensions of your room, the radiator, and the ways in which you want the radiator cabinet to be co-ordinated into the design of the room. Having the right custom-built radiator cabinet will make a massive difference in terms of home decoration as well as heating efficiency.

About The Author

Myles McHenry is a professional interior design expert based in the UK. For further information about radiator covers he recommends http://www.kingstoncabinets.co.uk/designer_radiator_covers_designs.php, or for more general information about how cabinets can enhance your home visit http://www.kingstoncabinets.co.uk.

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency

Things To Consider When Purchasing Sunroom Kits
 by: Andrew Caxton

Adding a sunroom kit to your home can offer you the warmth of the sun year round. A sun room gives you outdoor access while offering you indoor comfort. The benefits of sunlight are numerous. Exposing our bodies to the sun boosts vitamin D production. Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb the calcium necessary to keep bones strong. Throughout the winter months, many people’s bodies can’t keep up with the necessary vitamin D production. As a result, our bones suffer from diseases like osteoporosis. A sunroom kit would allow you to enjoy the benefits of the sun without having to endure the cold winter weather. There are several options to consider when thinking about a sunroom.

The first thing you must think about is whether you want to build this room yourself or have it installed. If this is a project you want to engage in creating on your own, be aware that a poorly installed sunroom kit can reduce your home’s energy efficiency rating. Moreover, it can reduce the value of your home. If you are capable of installing it properly, though, be sure to choose a kit that is right for you. Sunroom kits come in many shapes and sizes. Be sure you research your choices before you make your purchase. If you plan to have a contractor built your sunroom, a kit probably isn’t the right way to go. Most contractors have ideas about what they do and do not want to install. Talk to him or her about what works best for the both of you.

Outdoor access with indoor comfort can be yours with a sunroom kit.

The second thing to consider is the best location for your sunroom kit. Installing it in the wrong location can cost you a bundle on your energy bills during the cold winter months. Conversely, installing it in a location that gets full sun may make it unbearably hot during summer months. Most likely, this is a purchase you’ll want to enjoy year round. Do some research to decide where your sunroom kit would best be located.

The final thing to consider is the type of sunroom kit you wish to purchase. There are basic kits that offer aluminum frames and plastic windows. These are easy to throw together, and they usually convert to a screened in porch during the summer months. There are also more complicated kits that arrive at your home pre-assembled. Choosing the right sunroom kit will help you get the best fit for you.

About The Author

Andrew Caxton contributes adding articles to http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com. Your guide on home decorating and how to choose from hundreds of decorating ideas and tips. Andrew will inspire you to capture the look you wish for your interior designs and home additions at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com/sunroom-kits.html.

At Home on the Range Cooker? As bastions of Britishness fall by the wayside year on year, and the Country struggles to re-establish itself in a new World Order in uncertain times, it is a great tonic to read about an unshaken image of Britain standing the test of time for over 200 years.

It is almost inconceivable now to imagine a world where the United States of America was only one year old, freshly independent from Great Britain. But in 1777 Warwickshire, this was the world of the enterprising John Flavel. In that year, he established a foundry specialising in vapour baths, inspired by the spas of Leamington, soon moving on to manufacturing cooking stoves. In 1803, the enterprising manufacturer moved to Leamington Spa, where generations of the Flavel family were to become civic leaders in the town and the factory became a major local employer.

The company, later to be known as Rangemaster, was responsible for the manufacture of the historic Kitchener, pictured opposite.   Notable owners of this British built domestic institution of the 19th Century included Queen Victoria, Edward VII, the King of Italy and the Emperor of Germany.

But how is this relevant in today’s Britain, and how could it offer benefits for your home in the 21st Century?

As the need for efficiency grows, it’s easy to lose sight of the style and elegance of the historic cookers and stoves of our past. But their imperial origins have laid a rect path to the Rangemaster Range Cookers we see today.

Rangemaster Range Cookers have inherited all the elegance and style of the cookers and stoves of bygone years, and combined them with the efficiency and functionality that is demanded of today’s products.

Rangemaster is a subsidiary of the historic Aga Group, offering superb modern quality alongside a famous British Heritage.   Appliance City is a registered Rangemaster Design Centre, qualified to advise on the full spectrum of usability and design options for Rangemaster Range Cookers.

Included in “Which” best buy Range Cookers 2008, Rangemaster Range Cookers are perfect for all styles of kitchen, and complement both traditional and contemporary furniture.   Go for a classic design if you have a country style or period kitchen, or choose something ultra-modern for a more hi-tech look.

Appliance City also actively promotes the use of Induction Hobs with all the Rangemaster Range Cookers, which use electro-magnets to create heat, rather than traditional element heating.   Gas-powered kitchens have long been favoured by many professional chefs, but when it comes to energy efficiency and protecting the environment, induction heating wins hands down.

And our Conclusion?

For reliability, British build quality and the heritage of a famous pedigree, together with top-drawer design centre support, you need look no further than Rangemaster and Appliance City to point you in the right direction to begin enjoying years of culinary bliss!   Appliance City has the full Rangemaster Range on display in the company’s Nottingham based showrooms, and one of their friendly sales advisers would be happy welcome you for a tour that will take you through the all benefits of Rangemaster Range Cookers. It’s easy to arrange and you can get in touch today. You can reach appliance city on 0808 1444357 or on the Web at: http://www.appliancecity.co.uk/rangemaster-range-cookers.asp

About The Author

James McCartney writes, on all things British and related to home appliances!

http://www.appliancecity.co.uk

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency

Expanding on the elegance of the HDX series, the HP Pavilion HDX16-1160US Notebook delivers in a design that balances performance and mobility. The HP Pavilion HDX16-1160US Notebook is defined by fluid, modern lines and metalized finishes with surprising innovations inside and out. The HDX series Fluid Imprint features a flowing linear pattern that enhances the reflective qualities of the metallic finish. And touch media controls light up and become visible only when the system is powered on further enhancing the clean appearance.

You’ll enjoy high-definition video content on the 16-inch widescreen HD BrightView Infinity display. Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics/video card. Enabled by PureVideo HD, movies come to life with outstanding picture clarity, ultra-smooth video and vivid color. Delivering state-of-the-art graphics performance, The GeForce 9600M GT graphics card is sure to give you the power and performance you crave to play the hottest DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 titles. The Altec Lansing speakers provide exceptional sound. You’ll be able to privately share.

HP Pavilion HDX16-1160US Notebook is powered by the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 includes a quick 1066 MHz front-side bus and 3 MB of L2 cache. Experience improved energy efficiency and expanded wireless connectivity with the 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor featuring Intel Centrino 2 technology. The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor.

The extra-large 500 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection. HP’s ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection locks your 500 GB hard drive into place when it senses abrupt motion to help prevent data loss. And the built-in eSATA/USB combo port enables fast backup to an external hard drive. The 6 GB of installed RAM helps boost the amount of available video RAM that’s shared with this notebook’s video card.

For more information about HP Pavillion notebooks please visit Buy Notebooks Site

About The Author

Amauri Lewis is the owner of buy notebooks site http://buy-notebooks.blogspot.com

While proper materials and quality installation are crucial aspects to a durable roof, your Lake Oswego roofing installation can last much longer with regular maintenance. Learn the importance of upkeep for your Lake Oswego roof. Find out how often you should schedule regular maintenance and what you should expect from OR roof repair.

Lake Oswego Maintenance Roofing to Protect Against Weather Deterioration

Lake Oswego is located just south of the highly precipitous city of Portland, Oregon, and as a result, experiences similar climate conditions, along with periods of rain and snow. Additionally, while rainfall contributes to the beautiful green landscape in Lake Oswego, the damp climate is the perfect environment for algae, moss, mold and mildew.

If left unchecked, overabundant moisture and the growth of moss and fungus can cause your Lake Oswego roofing structure to rot. Scheduling regular maintenance with a roofing contractor in Oregon can help keep your Lake Oswego roof in tact and prevent extensive weather damage.

Routine OR Roof Repair and Maintenance Saves Money in the Long Run

Hire a qualified roofing contractor in Oregon to perform routine inspection and maintenance in order to maintain the energy efficiency of your Lake Oswego roofing installation. The condition of your Lake Oswego roof directly corresponds to energy costs for heating and cooling your home. Routine OR roof repair will prevent damage to your home insulation and ensure proper ventilation, allowing air to circulate more efficiently.

Regular maintenance also keeps your Lake Oswego roof in tip-top shape. With routine inspections, your roofing contractor in Oregon can detect any leaks and other signs of decay and damage at the onset. Immediate repairs and restoration to the condition of your roof can prevent costlier repairs down the road.

Schedule Routine Maintenance With a Qualified Lake Oswego Roofing Specialist

When it comes to quality OR roof repair, expertise counts. Hire a professional roofing contractor in Oregon with several years of experience in Lake Oswego roofing. Check references thoroughly and verify that sure your prospective contractor is licensed, bonded and insured in the State of Oregon.

In order to ensure the longevity of your Lake Oswego roof, schedule routine inspection, maintenance and OR roof repair about once each year. With regular upkeep, you can enjoy the benefits of an efficient, long lasting roof.

About The Author

Mark Starr covers articles on Lake Oswego roofing for Elements Roofing, an Oregon based company specializing in new roof installations and OR roof repair in the Portland area. Learn more about materials, repair and how to hire a qualified roofing contractor in Oregon through their website.

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency

Green is good, and right now, energy efficient lighting is all the rage. With the looming phase-out of old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs in many developed countries, people are faced with choosing between a handful energy efficient forms of lighting – compact fluorescents (CFL) and light emitting diodes (LED). This article will help you make good decisions when buying residential LED light bulbs.

CFLs are good for now, but…

You have likely already adopted energy efficient compact fluorescents (CFL) as part of your effort to reduce your carbon footprint. While CFLs are energy efficient, they have drawbacks such as mercury and relatively short lifespan. Also, CFLs are not available in sizes that replace track light bulbs, such as MR16 and GU10. It is unlikely that CFLs will be available in these sizes.

CFLs have made giant inroads over the last couple of years. The low cost and high energy efficiency of CFLs have made them favorites with people replacing incandescent lights. According to the Energy Information Administration, a government agency, 9% of a household’s energy costs are related to lighting. People are genuinely concerned with lowering their energy consumption, and lighting is one of the easiest things a person can improve on. With worldwide support from mass-market retailers, governments, and citizens, energy efficient lighting is seeing a new dawn. While CFLs provide a good combination of efficiency and cost, there is an even better option on the horizon – LED light bulbs.

Introducing the next generation of ultra energy efficient light bulbs – LEDs

LED light bulbs are semiconductors, just like the chips in your computer. These semiconductors emit energy in the form of photons of light. LEDs have come a very long way since they were invented in the 1960s. You have seen LED lamps for decades in the form of indicator lights on electronic products. Now, these LED lamps light bulbs have evolved to the point produce enough light for household and commercial applications. LEDs are extremely energy efficient, and have lifetimes ranging from 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours. LED light bulbs are the perfect complement to your collection energy efficient lighting products.

Tips for Buying LEDs

There are several varieties of residential LED light bulbs on the market. Presently, LEDs best replace track lighting and flood lights, both of which take advantage of the directional nature of LED light. Below are some tips for buying LED light bulbs.

• The Basics

You want to find an LED bulb that produces a healthy amount of light, but at the lowest possible power consumption. A good metric that equalizes your search is “lumens per watt”. To derive this figure, simply divide the bulb’s number of watts into the number of lumens. Right now, a good LED bulb should have at least 40 lumens per watt, but preferably more.

The question is often asked about comparisons between normal light bulbs and LEDs. Here are some examples to guide you:

5-watt, 3 high power CREE LED, MR16 ~ 25-watt MR16 Halogen

5-watt, 3 high power CREE LED, E27 spot ~ 30-watt E27 spot Halogen

6-watt, 165 traditional LEDs, PAR38, ~ 50-watt PAR38 incandescent

• Lifetime of Bulb

Many manufacturers of LED bulbs claim lifetimes of 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours. The lifetime of an LED lamp is generally considered to be the point where the light output has declined to 70% of it’s initial output, measured in lumens. So, a 300 lumen LED bulb with a lifespan of 50,000 hours will have 210 lumens at the end of it’s lifetime. However, the lifetime of a bulb does not mean it is unusable, only that it’s light output has degraded to a certain point. The LED bulb may continue to be useful for several thousand hours past it’s stated lifetime. Unlike old-fashioned light bulbs, it is extremely rare for an LED light to simply burn out. Rather, it will gradually fade over time.

• Color

As a general rule, you should use warmer light indoors, and whiter light outdoors. A color temperature of 2500-4000 Kelvin works great indoors. You should use a bulb with a color temperature of 5000-7000 Kelvin outdoors, as the whiter light allows your eyes to see better at night.

White light in the 5000-7000 Kelvin range is also excellent for display cases, boutiques, artwork, or other settings where you need excellent color rendition.

• Type of LED lamp

LED light bulbs use one or more tiny semiconductor lamps to produce very focused light. Contrast this with normal light bulbs that generate light in all directions. LED lamps are currently available in two forms: traditional LEDs (typically 5mm), which are smaller, and high power LEDs. Light bulbs using traditional LEDs require a large number of LED lamps to produce sufficient light, whereas high power LED bulbs use one or more lamps to generate light.

In general, the more LEDs, the better the light dispersion. Always get LED bulbs with more than one LED. You will find that single LED bulbs produce a very conspicuous outline, similar to a halo. Unless you enjoy halos across your walls, it’s better to buy light bulbs with multiple LEDs.

Here are some common track light and flood light bulb types, and suggestions for the LED arrangements:

For track bulbs such as MR-type and GU-type, try to get bulbs with 3 high power LED lamps (preferably using CREE or Nichia lamps). Avoid buying track bulbs using an array of traditional LED lamps, as these are not as effective as high power lamps.

For flood light bulbs, such as PAR-type, you can find reasonably priced traditional LED arrangements. High-power LED flood lights produce good light, but are also very expensive. In my experience, a PAR bulb using 120 or more traditional LED lamps works just as good, at a fraction of the price.

• Cost and energy savings

LED bulbs have a higher upfront cost, but they pay for themselves several times over their lifetime. Because LEDs have lower power consumption and a very long lifetime, they are very energy efficient. Let’s take an example of a $45, 5-watt, 50,000 hour MR16 LED bulb. Let’s assume a constant electricity cost of $0.10 per kilowatt hour, and a 0.61 electrical grid CO2 output factor. Compared with a similar $8, 25-watt halogen MR16 bulb, the LED will save $255 and reduce carbon emissions by 1,345 pounds. Not bad for a light bulb.

As energy costs continue to rise, the cost savings and carbon reduction from using LEDs will become far more pronounced.

Buyer beware – LEDs cannot replace general illumination bulbs (yet)

Right now, there are plenty of options for LED light bulbs. And that’s a bit of a problem. Several sellers of LED bulbs claim their bulbs are powerful enough to replace general illumination bulbs such as incandescent and CFL. This is simply untrue. Many of these “replacement” bulbs cost nearly $100 and use over 10 watts of power. You are much better off using a $3.00, 10-watt CFL for now. However, keep an eye out for LED general illumination bulbs over the next few years, as they will become very competitive with normal light bulbs.

Start today with LEDs

As LED technology rapidly advances, you will see them replace all other forms of light bulbs, including CFLs. If you have track lights or flood lights, you can begin incorporating LED light bulbs right away. Remember, now is the time to take steps to save energy and money. Your wallet and the planet will both thank you.

About The Author

Joseph Reis is co-founder of Lumoform and TheBestLEDs.com, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Lumoform is the premier manufacturer of LED light bulbs. For more information, please visit http://lumoform.com and http://thebestleds.com

Creating Metabolic Efficiency: The Three Internal Metabolic Thermostats
 by: Phil Goglia

Metabolic efficiency is governed by three internal thermostats:

(1) the metabolic thermostat, which uses calories as heat energy units, (2) the hydration thermostat, which uses water to create a consistent temperature pattern internally, and (3) the insulatory thermostat, which stores fat below the skin. It is important to understand how each of these three internal metabolic thermostats works because they ultimately regulate how efficiently the body utilizes caloric heat to provide our bodies with nutrients for energy and tissue repair. When they are not working efficiently, the result is weight gain in the form of body fat.

The Metabolic Thermostat

This thermostat controls caloric heat patterns. To see how it works, you need to understand three things:

Metabolism is a function of heat.

The definition of a calorie is a heat energy unit.

Fat converts to a lipid for energy only in a hot place.

To create enough heat to release fat effectively as energy, you need establish a consistent caloric heat pattern. This means figuring out how many calories you must ingest daily to bring your metabolism to peak efficiency. Most people don’t understand the crucial importance of maintaining an optimum heat pattern through proper food intake. When you start a new food program, it takes a total of forty-eight hours to create enough consistent internal caloric heat to establish metabolic efficiency.

If you are consistent with your food program, your body will maintain its caloric temperature and your body fat will drop. If, because of a particular mood or event, you under-eat or skip a meal, you will have undermined your caloric management system for that day—your body will lack sufficient calories to efficiently utilize fat and repair muscle tissue. Having lost that day, it will take you an additional forty-eight hours to get back on track with your current food program. That means a total of three days lost: the day that you got off track and the two days that it will take you to reestablish metabolic efficiency through being consistent with your food program. If you under-eat twice in one week, you will have lost the entire week.

Food programming is like a business in which you are trying to maintain a high level of performance in order to develop the physique and energy you want. As with any successful business, it requires a management system to which you hold yourself accountable. To fuel your body efficiently, you must eat nutritious foods consistently throughout the day.

The Hydration Thermostat

Most people don’t really understand the importance of proper hydration. Since the body is composed of 70 percent water, water is critical for everyday functioning. Water serves a number of purposes:

Water enables nutrients to get to your cells. For example, you need a minimum of 3.8 grams of water to utilize one gram of carbohydrate. If you are insulin resistant, that number can potentially double.

Water is essential for maintaining proper blood viscosity (density and balance of nutrients) within your vascular system.

Sufficient hydration extracts toxins in the form of waste products from the body.

Water helps to insure a good electrolyte balance. Muscular strength and co-ordination are directly related to proper hydration. Just try running or playing any sport without drinking water beforehand. You will discover that your body will not respond as efficiently or with as much co-ordination as it does when hydrated.

Water controls body temperature. Acting as a thermostat, water allows your body to regulate temperature through perspiration and sweat as it relates to the environment. With proper hydration, your body maintains a temperature that allows for optimum performance and the regulation of fat and carbohydrate use. Lack of water will cause your body to regulate its temperature in an alternative way by hoarding fat, using its insulatory thermostat. This is just one of the many ways the body uses adaptation to ensure survival. Remember, though, the more your body has to adapt to survive, the less it can focus on performance, energy, and physique.

Ideally, the amount of water necessary for proper hydration is ½ to one ounce of water per one pound of body weight. This may seem like a lot, but you will be surprised at how easy it is to adjust to this amount. If you begin your day with a few glasses, have a few with every meal, and carry a bottle of water with you, staying properly hydrated will become an easy part of your routine. You will also notice that your body feels better when you drink enough water, and that you actually experience mild discomfort or thirst when you are under-hydrated.

There is a lot of controversy among medical practitioners about correct water intake. For years, the standard advice given by doctors has been to drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day. However, when you look at how widely people vary in size and weight, it makes no logical sense to recommend that every single person require the same amount of water per day!

Keep in mind that the coffee, tea, and diet soda you drink throughout the day, which contain many chemicals such as caffeine and tannin that the body must process, are not the same as pure water and should not be included as part of your total water intake, and may at times because of caffeine content produce an adverse diuretic effect.

Is possible to over-hydrate? Drinking twice as much water will not give you twice the benefit. But if it is a hot day and you have just had a strenuous workout in the gym, played tennis for an hour, or jogged two miles, your body will undoubtedly require a bit more water that day to replenish itself and rebalance your electrolytes. On physically active days, when you are perspiring more than usual, pay attention to your level of thirst. Something you should not do, however, is to come to the end of your day, realize that you have only had a third of your daily water intake, and then quickly drink three more quarts right before you go to bed.

The Insulatory Thermostat

If your daily intake of water is too low, your body then moves to the third internal thermostat, the insulatory thermostat. Water acts as a heat regulator to control your core body temperature, helping you to maintain the proper internal temperature for optimal functioning. If you do not drink enough, your body will automatically adapt the survival strategy of storing fat subcutaneously to act as insulation in order to maintain a constant core temperature. Even if your nutrition is completely on target, if your water intake is low, you will still hoard fat. On the other hand, if you are drinking the correct amount of water daily, and cheat a bit on the foods, you will still continue to drop body fat. That clearly shows the sensitivity of this third metabolic thermostat. The insulatory thermostat is a survival mechanism that is used when your body experiences trauma and needs to adapt in order to survive.

When these three internal thermostats are kept in balance, your metabolism should be working at peak efficiency, repairing and maintaining lean muscle tissue and burning fat.

About The Author

Philip Goglia is a Los Angeles-based nutritionist, trainer, and author. Goglia has just released SmartJourney, a metabolic food program that is personally tailored for each individual. “There is no one-size-fits-all diet,” says Goglia. “We realize that everyone has their own unique metabolic type, and we design a program just for you.” For more information about nutrition that will help support a healthy body composition, please visit his website www.SmartJourney.com.

Copyright © 2005 Summit LifeNutrition, LLC. All rights reserved. SmartJourney is a trademark of Summit LifeNutrition, LLC. Please consult your physician before beginning any weight loss effort; nothing herein should be construed as medical advice or diagnosis.

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency

Glass is comprises of mainly silica that is found from sand. Glass is used in various applications as doors, windows, conservatories, bottle, and vision glass.

These glasses when used in windows (double glazing window) can act as energy exchanger and can reduce the efficiency. To increase the efficiency of the room, the energy exchange should be measured either from window frames or glass.

Pilkington K glass has a special coating on the inner glass surfaces facing the air gap which reduce the energy emission to the outer glass.

A thin coating helps to reflect back the energy and maintains the internal temperature towards the colder outer atmosphere. This coating helps to reflect back the energy and also allows heat from sunlight to enter the house so keeping the residence warm. Thin coating on the inner glass sheet makes it at room temperature and provides larger usable space.

Pilkington K glass helps to maintain the internal room temperature with or without heating making it greener by energy saving to home so with Pilkington K glass you can achieve higher efficiency.

In colder atmosphere the window region is the coldest part of the house but with Pilkington K glass it is not the case. It can also be used in conservatories as it maintains the heat from sunlight and make the inner atmosphere pleasant.

Pilkington K glass can also be laminated or toughened to increase its strength and durability. Due to its energy efficiency it becomes the first choice for architects and also raises the energy ratings and saves on energy bills.

About The Author

Ryan Marley shares about glass, Pilkington K glass, window, door, conservatories, uPVC, composite.

http://www.evergladetrade.co.uk

I would like to begin this brief exposition with a bizarre fairy tale that was confected by two well known energy experts, Amory Lovins and Joseph Romm, and published in Foreign Affairs (1992-93), which is the prestigious journal of the (United States) Council on Foreign Relations. It goes like this:

“For example, the Swedish State Power Board found that doubling electric efficiency, switching generators to natural gas and biomass fuels and relying upon the cleanest power plants would support a 54 per cent increase in real GNP from l987 to 2010 – while phasing out all nuclear power. Additionally, the heat and power sector’s carbon dioxide output would fall by one-third, and the costs of electrical services by nearly $1 billion per year. Sweden is already among the world’s most energy-efficient countries, even though it is cold, cloudy and heavily industrialized. Other countries should be able to do better.

I called that statement completely wrong the first time I saw it, while in my new energy economics textbook (2007) I suggest that it and similar contributions are misleading bunkum. For example, there are a number of questions that must be answered in detail before biomass can unambiguously be classified a large- scale fuel of choice for the near or distant future. As for renewables such as solar and wind, and probably hydrogen, they will undoubtedly increase in quality and quantity, but it will not be at the expense of nuclear.

As David Schlageter pointed out in the important forum EnergyPulse (2008), “Renewable energy sources only supplement the electric grid with intermittent power that rarely matches the daily electrical demand.” He continues by saying that “In order for an electric system to remain stable, it needs large generators running 24/7 to create voltage stability. Wind and solar generation are not on-line when needed to meet energy demand, and therefore to help decrease system losses.” In the promised land of wind energy, Denmark, voltage stability is attained by drawing on the energy resources of Sweden and Germany (and perhaps Norway). The Danes pay for the imported electricity, but not for the stability.

Every member of the nuclear booster club, to include myself, should make it his or her business to memorize the quotations in the previous paragraph, because they provide an excellent contradiction to the tiresome delusion that it is economically feasible to largely supplant nuclear energy with ‘renewables’. They also suggest why – with electric demand on the verge of increasing faster than supply in many parts of the world – more nuclear capacity is now scheduled for introduction than at any time during the past 3 decades.

Deeper Meanings

For those readers who have been exposed to secondary school algebra, the above reference to things like voltage stability is superfluous. Sweden and Norway produce, on the average, the lowest cost electricity in the world. Norway, however, generates almost all its electricity with hydro, which is generally recognized as the lowest-cost power source, while Swedish electricity is produced in almost equal amounts by hydro and nuclear. As I show in a forthcoming paper (2008), with this as a background, elementary algebra indicates that the unit cost of Swedish nuclear power is equal to the unit cost of Norwegian (and Swedish) hydro. This is not a welcome conclusion for many pseudo-scholars.

But what about nuclear waste, which is repeatedly portrayed as a malicious and unavoidable cost of nuclear based electricity because, ostensibly, it will have to be locked up for hundreds of thousands of years? An argument that is sometimes presented however is that the costbenefit of no carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions from nuclear facilities. For instance, the International Energy Agency has calculated that for France – the country with the largest production of nuclear energy (as a per cent of the total output of electric power) – the average person is responsible for 6.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which e.g. is one-third of the U.S. average. of disposing of nuclear waste is balanced by the

The cost-benefit trade-off mentioned just above is probably worth remembering, however I prefer for students (and anybody else) to inform me that France intends to treat its ‘waste’ as a potential fuel, and to explain why. (A similar strategy has been proposed in the UK by their energy minister.) For that reason a law has been passed in France stipulating that toxic waste is to be stored in such a way that it can be comparatively easily accessed and recycled if, at some point in the future, “new” technologies appear which will allow it to be used as a satisfactory input in the nuclear fuel cycle.

The latter provision is, as the reader might guess, partially intended to appease or possibly bewilder nuclear sceptics, because technology is already available for recycling this ‘déchet’, and in the event that the price of newly mined and processed uranium escalates, it would almost certainly be utilized without further debate. Of course, as noted by many comments to EnergyPulse, few persons who work with or near uranium believe that there will be a shortage of this commodity in the foreseeable future, even if the forthcoming nuclear revival eventually assumed the dimensions of a Manhattan Project.

There are occasionally long discussions of the cost of nuclear relative to the cost of renewables in the technical literature. An item that frequently appears is the capacity factors of windmills and solar generators. In simple terms, the capacity factor gives the amount of energy (in e.g. kWh) that is actually obtained, as compared to that made available if maximum output (= ‘nameplate’ capacity x time) were realized. It appears that in the U.S. wind generation works at maximum efficiency about one-third of the time, but this is confusing. With capacity factors between 0.25 and 0.35, the energy actually obtained as a percentage of maximum energy is less than one-half for many long periods.

It might also be useful to cite some figures for the cost of nuclear relative to gas and coal. The Economist (July 9, 2005) presents estimates from several sources for average electricity costs. For German utilities the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) gives 1.5 cents/kwh for nuclear, 3.1-3.8 cents for gas, and 3.8-4.4 cents for coal. Similarly, they give 1.7 cents/kwh for nuclear in the US, 2 cents for coal, and 5.7 cents for gas. The International Energy Agency (IEA), employing a discount rate of 5%, argues that nuclear is $21-31/Mwh, while gas ranges from $37-60/Mwh. Other sources (e.g. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Britain’s Royal Institute of International Affairs) disagree, however I specifically make a practice of ignoring everything originating with the energy economists of MIT and the RIIA, especially the latter, and advise everyone reading this to do the same.

So much for cost, but what about price of nuclear electricity – especially to private enterprises and households? In the case of Sweden, the low cost of nuclear and hydro power, and fairly smart regulation, made it possible to provide electricity to the industrial sector at perhaps the lowest price in the world. This being the case, nothing is more offbeat than hearing about the “subsidies” paid the nuclear sector. Cheap electricity meant the establishment of new enterprises, and just as important the expansion of existing firms. The tax income generated by these activities, and used for things like health care and education, more than compensated taxpayers (in the aggregate) for any ’subsidies’ that might have been dispensed by the government.

An antithetical situation may prevail for wind and biofuels. In Germany the energy law guarantees operators of windmills and producers of solar energy an above-market price for power for as long as 20 years. This is an explicit subsidy, although it may be both economically and politically optimal due to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. More important, inexpensive electricity for plug-in hybrids is made available.

A more complex subsidy involves the exploitation of biofuels. Research newly carried in the United States, and reported in the influential journal Science, claims that almost all biofuels used today result in more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the pollution directly and indirectly caused by producing these ‘green’ fuels is taken into consideration. In addition, there would be a substantial loss of ‘consumer surplus’ throughout the world due to a likely increase in food costs. Some of the intricacies of this important issue have been examined on an elementary level by Clay Ogg (2008).

In these circumstances, it might be argued that France’s total acceptance of nuclear power makes a great deal of sense. As noted in the Financial Times (October 6, 2006), nuclear power has provided “an abundance of cheaply-produced electricity, made the country a leader in nuclear technology worldwide and reduced its vulnerability to the fluctuations of the turbulent oil and gas markets.” France can also supply some electricity to neighbouring countries, which helps counterbalance the short sighted and unthinking foolishness being promoted by the European Union’s directors and its Energy Directorate.

Strange Behaviour

I’m a social scientist, Michael. That means I can’t explain electricity, or anything like that, but if you want to know about people I’m your man.

–J.B. Handelsman in Cartoonbank.com (The New Yorker Collection, 1986)

My situation is somewhat different, Michael. I knew enough about electricity to work on power lines for the U.S. Army during a brief period, and later to design terminal installations for the U.S. Navy, but although I have taught social science (i.e. economics) in 14 universities, I am still unable to understand why so many people are willing to risk the economic futures of themselves and their families because of the drivel being put into circulation by persons with a psychotic hatred of technological excellence, although they are quite capable of enjoying its material advantages. Something to be aware of here is that the rich will never be without reliable and plentiful energy, regardless of its availability or lack thereof to the less fortunate. One of the reasons that they will never be without it is that they are fully aware of its importance.

Perhaps the clearest argument for nuclear power has been presented by Rhodes and Beller (2000), which is similar to the basic contention of this article. They say that “Because diversity and redundancy are important for safety and security, renewable energy sources ought to retain a place in the energy economy of the century to come.” The meaning here is clear, especially if you add that we probably will never possess what is known in intermediate economic theory as the optimal amount of nuclear power. But they do state that “nuclear power should be central….Nuclear power is environmentally safe, practical and affordable. It is not the problem – it is one of the solutions.”

Velimir Lackovic

http://www.energetika.co.yu

About The Author

Velimir Lackovic runs internet portal “Energetika” ( http://www.energetika.co.yu ) dedicated to renewable energy sources,oil gas and energy efficiency. Velimir has completed gratuadte studies in power systems engineering and has industry experiance of over 20 years in this field.

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency

Depending on how much hot water you need, the hot water system you already have, your budget and where you are located there are a few ways you can put a system together. Below we outline some of the system designs that you could implement.

In an active Direct open Loop System the water you use in your bath and taps would be the same water that at one time would have been heated by the sun in your solar panel (or other collector).

Colder water is taken from your hot water cylinder and pumped (the active part) to the solar collector to be heated. Hot water is then returned to the cylinder. In the UK to protect from freezing we install a controller that will shut off the supply to to the collector once the outside temperature drops to a certain level. You can click on the picture to see a bigger picture of how this system fits together.

We often recommend Active “Direct” Open Loop systems when customers are looking for a simple or low cost solution. In many cases an Active “Direct” Open Loop system can be installed using existing hot water stores and cylinders, most of the existing pipework remains the same and these systems integrate nicely with existing boilers.

Active Drain-Back System (with Water)

With an active Drain Back system using water the temperature of the water in the cylinder is monitored, once the temperature drops below a certain level water is pumped up to the Solar Collectors to be warmed. When the water is not being used it drains back into the system to avoid freezing.

Drain Back systems are also popular due to their ease to install and simple design.

Active “Indirect” Closed Loop (With Antifreeze/Glycol)

Active “Indirect” systems use a dedicated loop to transfer a fluid such as Glycol between the Solar Collector and the hot water storage cylinder. The fluid is heated up in the collector, this heat is then transfered to the water in the cylinder via a heat exchanger (often a heating coil similar to a heating element in a kettle).

The second coil in this kind of system is used to transer heat from other heating methods such as boilers and immersions when the Solar Collectors aren’t being used.

Active “Indirect” Closed Loop systems are very popular in the UK but slightly more expensive then the direct systems as a twin coil cylinder will need to be installed if you don’t already have one and there is more pipework.

Passive Thermal Siphon

This is where a water storage tank is placed higher then the solar collectors to allow the heat captured by the collectors to rise into the tank and warm the water. This is not a very efficient system but as it doesn’t expend any energy it may be useful in some situations.

Batch Heaters

This is where the storage tank or cylinder is the collector, the water is warmed by the sun as the cylinder warms up. With this type of system thought needs to be given about what happens to the stored heat at night.

In Summary

We hope this article has helped outline some of your options, has explained some of the systems that are available and what could be implemented in your Solar Thermal system.

About The Author

Glen Freeman is a renewable energy systems designer and co-owner of In Balance Energy Ltd. In Balance are specialist designers, suppliers and installers of bespoke energy systems for homeowners, businesses and communities in the UK. Their website can be found at http:// http://www.inbalance-energy.co.uk

Use The Summer To Winterize And Update Your Heating Equipment
 by: News Canada

(NC)-When the sun is shining and temperatures are skyrocketing, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is your heating equipment. But, according to the Canadian Oil Heat Association (COHA), the summer months are the best times to update your system and get ready for the winter months ahead.

“Homeowners often wait until the last minute to decide to improve the energy efficiency of their homes or get their heating equipment serviced or updated,” says COHA president John Butt. “What they forget is that distributors are generally slower during the summer months which can usually result in them being more accommodating to your schedule.”

COHA recommends investing some time during the summer making sure your home is well insulated and energy efficient. The following tips will not only keep your home warm and comfortable in the winter, but they can also help keep you cool in the summer:

Check for leaks around doors and windows
Install a programmable thermostat. You can cut over 10 per cent from your bill if you reduce your thermostat by just five degrees overnight.
Have your ducts cleaned. It will improve indoor air quality and airflow so your equipment doesn’t have to work as hard.
Ensure that your all your insulation is in place and covers your entire attic.
Install storm windows.
Move furniture away from registers. Blocked registers make your equipment work harder, therefore costing you more.
Make sure air filters are cleaned/ replaced: This ensures maximum efficiency and a system that will work to its potential.

If a system is over 20 years old, COHA suggests that homeowners consider replacing it. Even simply upgrading to a high efficiency burner will provide savings in energy and money.

“You could experience a 20 per cent fuel saving after upgrading to a high-efficiency system,” says Butt. “For additional savings homeowners can also ask their service providers if the nozzle on their oil-fired appliance can be downsized. Smaller nozzles allow the system to run longer while burning the same amount of fuel. This increases the operating efficiency.”

For more information on oilheat, visit www.newoilheat.com. For a list of dealers in your area, visit www.coha.ca and click Find your dealer.

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency

University of Essex is one of the U.K’s leading academic institutions, known for its international reputation of teaching and research .University of Essex received its Royal Charter in 1965. University of Essex is ranked 8th for its quality of teaching. Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) is a leading research centre for the analysis of panel data in Economics and Sociology Center. Economics department of Essex University is ranked 3rd among all other departments in U.K. Psychology courses of University of Essex are recognized by the British Psychology Society. Department of Sociology has been awarded highest rating by National Research Assessment. Department of Computer Science & Electronic Engineering is ranked 5th for student satisfaction in national Student Survey. University of Essex is the first university to establish postgraduate degree in International Human Rights Law in U.K.

University of Essex is ranked top for its Social sciences Department. University of Essex has achieved matrix standard for its student support services. University of Essex has achieved Energy Efficiency Accreditation for its continued investment into energy efficiency. University of Essex provides first class IT facilities and online learning material so that students can study while sitting at home. University of Essex provides online training to teach basics of window and office up to the level required for European Computer Driving License. study in UK university of Essex is a national centre to collect data related to social and economic affairs from academic, governmental and commercial sources in order to make the data available for further analysis. University of Essex is involved in the development of cultural hub strategy. This strategy aims to build rich cultural activities in town and surrounding area. University of Essex has Albert Sloman Library (ASL).This library is equipped with one million books, pamphlets, e-publications and microforms. Library provides 1,115 reader places for students. Computer laboratories of University of Essex are equipped with 500 modern Window PC’s.

Essex University’s student support offers advice on many welfare issues including finance and funding, benefits available to students etc University of Essex provides counseling services to its students. Counseling staff offers assistance with educational, social, personal or emotional concerns. All counseling’s are kept confidential. Essex University is highly concerned about the health of its students. There is health centre which offers National Health services including appointments with male and female doctors, nurse for emergency, specialist nurse clinics including asthma, diabetes & sexual health .University of Essex provides state of art dental education unit. This unit offers free dental care service to its students. University of Essex provides paid work placement .This placement helps students in developing employability skills. Essex University provides online vacancy service for its students. University of Essex post vacancies for work experience, internships, gap year and voluntary work positions. University of Essex provides flexible degree courses to its students. In first year students can study four or five subjects and they can study other subjects in next year. Science degrees of University of Essex provides an optional year of industrial placement. Accounting and Finance of University of Essex is ranked 2nd by research assessment exercise. PALLAS programme of University of Essex is ranked as 6th best LLM course in Europe and 10th best in world. School of Law is ranked 5th by research assessment exercise. Department of History of University of Essex is placed 2nd in U.K.

About The Author

Sidharth Gupta of Global Opportunities is a well known consultant for graduate and postgraduate study in UK. He has written several articles on topics like, Why Study in UK, Australia etc.His company provides active assistance for graduate and postgraduate study in Essex University among others.

Choosing the right permanent heater for your garage or small shop can be a daunting task, given the fact that there are so many options now available. So How do I choose just the right garage heater for my space? To help narrow down the choices, ask yourself the following questions.

1) Do I have a gas line available or easily accessible? What about adequate gas pressure?

2) If there is no gas, do I have 240V electrical power available or easily accessible?

3) What are the energy costs of gas versus electric in my area?

4) Do I want forced air or radiant?

5) Is my garage insulated?

6) What is the ceiling height?

7) Is there adequate clearance at the ceiling or on the wall to mount the heater?

What is my budget?

9) How big is my garage?

10) Will the heater I choose require installation by a heating professional or can I do it myself?

11) Will I set the thermostat to keep the garage comfortable 24/7 or will I use the heater for only short periods?

First, if no gas line available or there is no practical way to get gas to the garage space, your selection process just became a lot easier. That’s because your only choice is an electric heater and there are only a few good options. There are several electric heater manufacturers to choose from including Chromalox, Qmark and Fostoria (TPI). These brands offer reliable forced air models suitable for residential and commercial heating. These eletcric space heaters are normally suspended from the ceiling or side wall with optional mounting brackets.

Most two or three car garages require between 25,000 and 35,000 BTU’s. An electric heater with a rating of 10.0 KW is about right (Note: to convert watts into BTU’s, multiply the total watts – in this case 10,000 watts, by 3.413). Remember, electric heaters draw a lot of amps and usally require a dedicated circuit from the electrical panel. Older, smaller homes sometimes have panels that are too small to expand and are unable to accomodate the power requirements of a high amp heater. Check with your electrician to help determine if your panel is adequate. A panel upgrade may be necessary.

In most areas of the united states, the cost of electricity is higher than the cost of gas. Even so, electric heaters do offer advantages. First, Electric heaters require no flue. If you are concerned about running a new flue through your roof or side wall, an electric heater suspended from the wall or ceiling may be the answer. Second, electric heaters are quieter than gas forced air heaters and produce little vibration. A common concern with forced air is that they are noisier and can transfer vibration through the structure of the house.

Gas forced air heaters do require 120V power, in addition to the gas line, yet the electrical draw is much, much less than with an all electric heater. What about energy consumption? Costs of gas verus electric varies all across North America. Your local utilities can help you figure out cost differences. That said, natural gas heaters have always been much cheaper to operate. Propane fired heaters can cost a bit more to run.

If a gas heater is what you’re after, you have a bunch of options. Forced air heaters, or “unit” heaters, are very common. They heat up quickly and are generally more energy efficient than electric unit heaters (comparing BTU for BTU). Choose from brands such as Enerco, Modine and Reznor.

For gas radiant heat, Enerco and Superior Radiant are two excellent brands that offer residential approved gas infra-red radiant tube heaters. Unlike forced air heaters, radiant tube heaters offer the benefit of increased creature comfort, a lot less noise and higher energy efficiency. They are a bit more expensive initially, but they can pay themselves back in a very short time. For the budget minded, Enerco offers the HeatStar H25N (Nat. Gas) or H22L (LP Gas) vent free high intensity infra-red heater. This heater is designed to heat 550 sq. feet or more, depending on insulation. It comes with wall mounting bracket, thermostat and thermostat wire and operates on a millivolt control, so it requires no electricty. Just hang the heater, connect the thermostat, run the gas line and you’re done. Total installation cost can be as little as $500.00. The H25N/H22L is one of the most popular garage heaters in North America.

Other options for heating the garage include wall mounted infra-red radiant and forced air heaters. For options, consider Rinnai, a manufacturer of residential vent free radiant heaters, forced air vent free heaters and vented wall heaters. While designed primarily for the dwelling space of the home, these heaters are excellent for garages, small shops, greenhouses, out butildings, cabins and more. When installed in garages, we recommend mounting them at least 2 feet off the floor, which should meet or exceed local codes in most areas of the U.S.

As for heater sizing, keep in mind that it can cost 80 to 90 percent more to heat an uninsulated garage compared to one that is well insulated. If you intend on maintaing a comfortable termperature inside the garage during the cold months, insulating is a must. Some homeowners may simply want to take the chill off when tooling around for short periods of time near a workbench or other spat within the garage. In such cases, insulation is not as critical. If insulation is poor, we recommend choosing a heater that is not forced air. In other words, choose an infra-red radiant heater, which produces no drafts and standing beneath it feels just like standing in the sun.

Whatever you do, DO NOT skiimp on safety. The above mentioned heaters are designed to mount safely from the ceiling or high up on the wall. Many homeowners choose to use portable propane or kerosene heaters located at the floor level to heat their garages. These heaters are unsafe around children and pets. In addition, gasoline and other flammables stored at ground level could be easily ignited in the presence of a spill. Spending a few dollars more for a permanent heater that is high and out of reach is worth that extra cost. Always use a residential garage approved heating appliance, especially for attached garages. Check local codes and use a qualified licensed heating professional for installation. Doing it the right way will add value to your home and give you peace of mind.

About The Author

Scott Workman is owner president of Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc., located in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit http://heatersunlimited.com or http://infraredinfo.com

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency

When it comes to diesel fuel efficiency, there are a number of opinions. As with anything else, people have their preferences and experiences both with diesel and gasoline engines. Myths abound when it comes to buying and owning a vehicle powered by diesel fuel, and while many of these myths may have been true once upon a time, energy efficiency and new innovation have changed the way most diesel engines operate.

1. Diesel Fuel Efficiency vs. Expenses

Myth: The thought now is that it is too expensive to own a vehicle powered by diesel. Diesel fuel used to be cheaper than gasoline, but that has changed over the years. Additionally, a diesel vehicle costs more at initial purchase, making it seem like a more expensive option overall.

Fact: While the price of diesel has in fact gone up, the efficiency still remains the best in most situations. If you are the type of person who puts at least 100,000 miles on a vehicle before selling or upgrading, the initial costs of purchasing and operating a diesel car or truck will be offset by better mpg, higher Blue Book value and more often than not, fewer mechanical repairs.

2. Cleaning Diesel Fuel

Myth: It is still believed by some that diesel fuel can clog up fuel injectors or build carbon deposits on the cylinders. For this reason, it is sometimes suggested to add alcohol or mix a gallon of regular gasoline with a full tank of diesel.

Fact: Once upon a time it may have been true that diesel fuel could cause problems for engines, it is no longer the case. Clean diesel fuel has been innovated to perform much more efficiently without the added problems. Adding gasoline or other substances for the purpose of ‘flushing’ fuel injectors or cylinders can actually do more harm than good. Gasoline will actually destroy the lubricity of diesel fuel. This can lead to corrosion and other damage to the nozzles and fuel injection pump.

3. Smoke, Smog, Fumes and Noise

Myth: People unfamiliar with the concept of diesel fuel efficiency and even some who have owned a diesel in the past may associate the running of this type of vehicle with an unavoidable puff of black smoke, fumes and a noisy engine. The larger truck versions such as semis or towing vehicles are prone to a lot of noise whiles idling. They will also generate a lot of smoke and smog while accelerating.

Fact: With the changes in technology, concern for the environment and implementation of diesel engines in passenger cars and trucks, this myth no longer holds completely true. Currently, you are able to buy a car or truck that runs on diesel and does not produce as many harmful effects such as pollution and fumes. Diesel engines have become much quieter to operate and they produce less carbon dioxide than a conventional car. Like gasoline, diesel fuel does produce other harmful pollutants that are less visible.

About The Author

Rickey Pearce has a love for automobiles. From the classic ‘57 Chevy to the fuel-efficient and hybrids of today, if it runs on 4 wheels, he is a fan. While in the market for his latest purchase, he went to http://www.carsdirect.com/research/ for their new car buying guide. As one of the most trusted names in the industry, CarsDirect offers a large selection of new and used cars.

Ceiling light is the most common and fundamental type of lighting for homes and businesses as it’s the main source of ambient light – the main illumination for a room. Adequate ambient light is essential for indoor living and working so it has to be high quality. Fortunately, you have a wide choice as ceiling lights take many forms such as fluorescent strips, chandeliers, recessed and non-recessed down lights, pendant lights and track lights. Here’s your guide to getting this vital form of illumination right to create that desirable blend of beauty and function.

When most of us enter our homes and offices, the first thing we do is to switch on the ceiling light. The ambient light it produces plays the same role as natural light in providing overall illumination to a space. At one time, you were pretty much limited to a standard shaded bulb or fluorescent strip. These are still common, but nowadays you can also find a whole range of ceiling lights offering the ultimate in style and functionality.

Popular nowadays are down lights. These are mounted in the ceiling and can be used in all the rooms in a home. Downlights produce a soft, even illumination which creates a relaxing atmosphere in any room. You can get them with many different types of fixtures. Recessed down lights are very sleek and stylish. You can get bezels in a range of shapes and the lights are typically finished in white or brushed chrome for a clean, modern look.

Down lights fitted with a gimble make excellent accent lights to highlight special objects or areas in a room. The rotatable design allows you to focus the beam on the desired object such as painting or porcelain item.

When it comes to bulbs you have many choices including compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) or halogen. CFLs are most suited to areas such as kitchens and dining rooms or external use where the lights need to be on for extended periods.

Halogen ceiling lights are very popular nowadays owing to their combination of energy efficiency and stylishness. These were originally designed for use as accent lighting; they’re now popular as task lights for illuminating cooking spaces in kitchens for example.

The most celebrated types of ceiling lights are chandeliers which date back to medieval times and grace some of the world’s most glorious buildings. Their enduring popularity is due to the shimmering blaze of luminescence they produce. Often, they’re bought for their decorative value as much as their illumination. The good thing is, you don’t have to live in a palace to grace your home with a chandelier; you can find affordable items to fit any room, whether coloured or crystal, in antique gold or polished brass.

Other popular options are pendant lights. These hang down from the ceiling and are perfect as task lights above a kitchen work space or a dining table, for example.

So, how to choose the most suitable ceiling lights?

In your home, each room will have different demands. Every room requires ambient lighting and your living room demands the kind of gentle relaxing light that downlights provide along with strategically placed task lighting, in the form of track lighting or pendant. You kitchen needs effective task lighting for cooking and your bedroom needs soft lighting that down lights provide to create the bedtime mood.

For commercial lights, it depends on the kind of business you’re in. If you have an office that uses a lot of computers such as a graphic design company, you’ll need to keep your main ambient lighting low to avoid screen glare and use accent lighting to fill in.

For an up market restaurant, chandeliers add that touch of glamour that really sets off a room. If you’re the owner of a high end boutique, you’ll want to maximize the use of accent lighting to bring out the best in your merchandise. You could set up track lights to shine a spotlight on key areas, and you’ll probably want to experiment with coloured bulbs.

You have a vast choice when it comes to ceiling light. The best way to get ideas is to visit an online lighting wholesaler and browse the offerings of domestic and commercial lights. You can choose the best lighting for your particular needs and buy chandelier or track lights as you need. After ordering online, your goods will be delivered in a few days.

About The Author

Kathryn Dawson writes articles for Lite Craft, a leading supplier of a range of ceiling light and other lighting for any requirements. http://www.litecraft.co.uk/ Buy energy efficient commercial lights cheaply today, and get them delivered to you directly. http://www.litecraftcommercial.co.uk/ Modern conveniences allow you to buy chandelier with a click of the mouse.

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency

Single Storey Extensions:

Extending your home with a single storey extension as opposed to moving to a new house can prove to be a more economic and satisfactory solution that suits your family’s present and future needs. A new extension is a sensible investment that can add to the value of your home and provide the additional internal space required enabling you to make the most effective use of your accommodation.

Double Storey Extensions:

A two storey extension can make a substantial difference to your home, not only giving you extra space in your lounge, kitchen, dining room or other living areas, but also increasing the available bedroom accommodation or providing an additional bathroom. This type of extension often gives you enough space to avoid having to move home, at a cost which is far more affordable.

Side Return Extension:

A side return extension is usually used to create extra space in existing rooms or to re-arrange your interior floor plan to create extra space that could include: bedrooms, bathrooms or living space. Side return extensions can also be combined with rear extensions to form a wrap-around extension.

Conservatory Extensions:

Investing in a conservatory extension is a wise move that will add value to your property and provide room that is flexible enough to be used in a variety of ways. By purchasing a conservatory, you’re not just buying another room… ‘you’re investing in a whole new way of life.’

The Cube:

‘The Cube’ design has been developed with the following key functions in mind; sustainable development, pre-fabricated construction methods, visual impact and cost efficiency. The major benefit of The Cube extension is that it can be installed for the same cost as a glass roof conservatory, which means you get the benefit of thermal mass construction providing great energy efficiency, large glazing with bi-fold doors and frameless skylights, allowing maximum day light penetration and amazing opportunity for evening star gazing when relaxing or entertaining.

House Extension prices:

An extension to your house can be a easier option to moving for gaining more living space, but how much will it cost for types of extension of different sizes? As a rough idea you can typically say that it will cost £1000 per m2 or 93 per ft2 including basic plumbing and electrician work. This price is per unit area of internal floor space and so a 5×4m single floor extension will have a total floor area of 20m2 and a double storey will have 40m2.

Typically, single storey house extension costs will cost more per metre squared than a double storey. In theory a triple storey would cost less still. In practise the difference in cost may be small though. The price per square metre also depends on the size of the property. There are basic costs that don’t increase too much with size and hence the cost per square metre will decrease as the floor area increases.

Where do I start:

A general process for getting an extension built might be

1. Sketch out some plans/ideas yourself

2. Approach an architect and get some detailed drawings made

3. Apply for planning permission

4. Get some quotes in (can be done before planning permission if not sure on budget I guess)

5. Agree contract with builder.

A useful suggestion that some people have done is to break down the payment into different sections based upon completion of job.

This is just a simplified overview, you will also need to get building regulations approval and permission (at least no dispute) from your neighbours as well.

About The Author

This article was written by Simon Lewis, Director of Plan-it Construction, http://www.plan-itconstruction.co.uk/house_extensions_wigan_bolton_manchester.htm

uPVC is a high impact modified polymer that has been used to craft home fittings for several decades. uPVC stands for uplasticised polyvinylchloride. Also known as PVCu, this material is now the prime choice for a range of home fittings including windows, conservatories and doors.

Available in a broad range of attractive colours and finishes, uPVC doors offer outstanding blend of resilience and security which makes if the best material for front doors and patio doors.

uPVC front doors will stand years of heavy use while requiring minimal maintenance. Traditional timber doors need to be treated every few years to keep them looking good. Your uPVC front doors only require wiping with a damp cloth to keep them looking great. They’ll never warp, rot or splint and will stand up to all weathers which makes them perfect for use in the UK.

A front door is what makes every Englishman’s home his castle. To sleep safe at night, you really need to confident that your front door is impregnable. Fortunately, uPVC front doors offer exceptional security to prevent break-ins. They’re also non-flammable.

Of course you want your home to look good. You front door is the point of entry for guests into our home. uPVC front doors are extremely elegant and available in a wide range of styles and colours. White is the traditional colour but you don’t have to limit yourself to it. Modern vendors offer a dazzling array of hues and finishes including wood grained mahogany and golden oak. Your visitors will be hard pressed to tell these wood finishes from natural wood. A classic door style in uPVC adds a real touch of distinction to your home.

As a bonus, your uPVC front door will also help improve the energy efficiency of your home. You’ll have the benefit of lower energy bills and the satisfaction of living in an eco-friendly home. Plus these doors also offer benefits for people who require assisted mobility. All UPVC doors from reputable manufacturers are available with low-threshold options for full disabled access.

uPVC patio doors offer the same blend of durability, security and attractiveness with some added benefits. When it comes to the patio door, you’re looking for large, attractive high-security doors to brighten up your living space. This is the place where you relax and enjoy the sun so you need large doors with glass panelling.

For patio doors, you have two main options – sliding patio doors and hinged patio doors. Sliding doors are perfect for maximizing views, along with air and light. They comprise two or more individual panels which slide along on hidden rollers. Other options include combining sliding panels with fixed panels. Hinged patio doors work in the same way as standard entry doors.

Insulation is another consideration and this is an area where uPVC excels. uPVC patio doors are available with a full range of glazing options including fully panelled, half-glazed or fully glazed

When looking to buy doors for your home, the main qualities you should be looking for are durability, security, and an attractive appearance. uPVC doors offer all these qualities and more. You just need to order uPVC doors which are precision manufactured to the highest quality standards and the best place to look is online.

So whether you’re installing front doors, a patio door or French doors, look into choosing doors made of uPVC. By buying from a reputable online supplier you’ll get quality items that will give your years of pleasure and satisfaction. Most quality suppliers offer web sites with comprehensive illustrated information on their uPVC doors and offer swift deliver to the UK mainland

About The Author

Chris Coxon writes articles for Plastmo, UK’s leading manufacturer of durable, attractive and secure UPVC doors. http://www.plastmo.co.uk/upvc-doors.html The company produces UPVC front doors and patio door systems suitable for conservatories, sun rooms and porches, providing customers with high-security locking systems with added reinforcements for peace of mind. http://www.plastmo.co.uk/replacement-upvc-door.html

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency

According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) environmental jobs “reduce the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors ultimately to levels that are sustainable.” Furthermore, green jobs are defined as “work in agriculture industry services, and administration that contributes to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment.” However, categories of environmental jobs are as diverse as the biodiversity they serve.

The UNEP study goes on to state that universally green jobs are casual and most do not provide a living wage. Many of these low end green workers are, for example, scavengers who pick through trash to find recyclables to sell to other areas in various countries where below sustainable wage green jobs, in bio-fuels and construction where wages may be on a subsistence level or below. Therefore, the UN, labor unions, and many governmental agencies world-wide have made sustainability part of the definition of what constitutes an environmental or green job.

Collaboration between governments, private business, labor unions, community groups, and profession organizations etc., are crucial to create environmental jobs. Without such collaboration a strong foundation for the environmental economy cannot be built; informal jobs will continue to grow, but the growth of a sustainable environmental job will not. Additionally, the complexity of the factors that require the coordination may not always be fully understood therefore this needs to be a formal process.

It does help that “going green” has become good for the bottom line. Early on Ben & Jerry’s, Nike, SC Johnson, Johnson & Johnson, PG & E, Shaklee, Canon, and Unilever PLC adopted socially responsible policies and practices. Currently, it is not uncommon to find even local businesses touting their eco-friendly adaptations in advertising. Many grocery stores will give nickel/bag incentives for bringing in your own reusable bag and others may even charge you if they supply your grocery bag.

Awareness through education has also helped efforts to develop environmental jobs that contribute to a growing green economy. In 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin set April 22nd as the first Earth Day. That first celebration included an environmental “teach-in” that 25 million people participated in. Now, schools and communities around the globe organize lesson plans, activities, and festivals. Activities range from clean up the local park field trips to presidential campaign stops and speeches. Here again we can see obviously the informal jobs created, but it requires coordinated efforts to help develop sustainable green careers.

Investors are also looking to green technologies and its rapidly growing global market. Clean technology investment has increased by 50% from 2006 to 2007 (92.6 billion to 148.4 billion.) Areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, mass transit and green construction, all create and redeploy jobs. The investment that creation of these jobs requires is a miniscule part of the GDP of industrialized countries, and we are not yet close to getting this amount, but it is entirely attainable. Furthermore initiatives for green business do not take a lot of extra capital investment. They can be quick and easy to accomplish; paying for themselves in a short amount of time.

The future of environmental jobs is ours to create. Through collaboration, awareness, direction education, and economic development incentives, we can foster an environment in which green jobs are not only available, but highly desirable.

About The Author

Elizabeth Nichols is Content Manager for the Green Research Council, which is a research and advocacy group with a mission to provide empowering information and to be at the cutting edge of green technology, environmental sustainability and energy conservation issues. The GRC has just published a comprehensive Green Jobs Guide, now available via download.

Central Humdifiers: Harmful or Helpful?
 by: John E. Bishop

Cold weather brings dry homes. And dry homes bring itchy skin, scratchy throats, and irritated sinuses. To counter the effects of “dry house syndrome,” the first thing homeowners and contractors often reach for is a central humidifier.

If you happen to be an admitted germ-phobe, central humidifiers aren’t for you. Think swamp-environment. That’s the best way to describe the conditions inside your furnace-attached humidifier; a breeding-ground for bacteria, viruses, and molds.

If you have leaky ducts that run through an unconditioned area, such as the attic, warm “humidified” air is able to escape and condense on the cold roof-deck, causing costly moisture-damage and/or rot.

If you want to maintain comfortable winter humidity levels (+-40 percent RH), here’s a more “holistic” approach:

1.) Reduce your homes air-leaks. Cutting the homes air-infiltration rate reduces the amount of moisture that gets lost to the outside. Reducing air-leaks also reduces drafts and saves energy.

CAVEAT: In our opinion, there’s no such thing as an “overtight” home. That said, if you don’t have adequate ventilation, excess moisture can be a problem in tight homes. Additionally, overtightening the home in a manner that seals-off a furnace’ or water-heaters source of combustion air increase the risk of back-drafting the chimney and introducing carbon monoxide into the home.

2. Consider an energy-recovery ventilator (ERV). ERVs like their close-cousin, the heat-recovery ventilator (HRV), are ‘balanced’ ventilation systems. Conventional exhaust-only ventilators (i.e. standard bathroom fan) get their make-up air by pulling it through the cracks and leaks in the home. Not a very well-controlled method, and certainly not the best for indoor air quality.

Balanced ventilators, like ERVs and HRVs, bring fresh air into the home by way of dedicated ducts. As an added bonus, HRVs ‘recover’ a portion of the heat that normally gets exhausted and returns it back inside the home, a nice energy-efficiency feature. ERVs have an added-added bonus. They recover heat AND humidity and help keep clean, fresh-air circulating through the home without drying-it out in winter. Controls prevent the unit from causing excessive humidity-levels that can lead to condensation build-up on windows, or more serious moisture problems.

Balanced ventilators, like ERVs and HRVs, also help minimize the risk of chimney back-drafting. Some models have built-in HEPA filters for even better indoor air quality.

You’ll have to spend more money in the short-term, but the benefits of this two-pronged approach are multi-fold — cleaner air, a safer home, lower energy bills, and greater comfort. And believe us, the goopy, sticky stuff that’s sticking to the bottom of your humdifier is nasty.

About The Author

John Bishop is vice president of Enhanced Living, Inc. (www.enhancedliving.net), heating, cooling and indoor air quality specialists based in the Albany, NY-area. Extensive experience in the field of building science and residential energy-management, John was formerly the state marketing coordinator for New York’s award-winning Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and New York ENERGY STAR Labeled Homes Program.

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency