Refinishing kitchen cabinets is a relatively tedious, tiresome and tricky task than you expect it to be. However, in fact we know at some time or other we do need to refinish our kitchen cabinets. This may be because either we wish to make our kitchen cabinets look better or simply they actually need refinish or facelift as compared to other cabinets or racks at home.

Practically, as we see, heat, water, grease and food residue can take their toll on your kitchen cabinets. Obviously, you cannot compromise with the cleanliness and hygiene of your kitchen at any cost. After all, what we eat is what we feel.

Apart from normal washing and cleaning, we need to scrub the residue of dust, smoke, oil and other food particles. Scrubbing can do wonders when it comes to refinishing kitchen cabinets. However, you should be prepared mentally as well as physically before you actually start refinishing kitchen cabinets. Here we are providing some useful tips when you are ready to clean your cabinets, to clean your cabinets effectively.

Generally, doors are removable from the bracket or frame. So if you choose to remove the doors, be sure to label or number the doors so they will go back in the right place. The holes for the hinges (door and frame) need to match too, so you can easily determine which door goes where. Lay plenty of drop cloths, plastic sheets or just news papers to protect countertops, appliances and floors.

Additionally, remember while refinishing kitchen cabinets, as you aren’t professional in this game, so proper care should be taken to protect you hands, eyes and other body parts from grease, oil, and even paint or polish. To do so, you should wear gloves and eye protection when using a cleaner or strong detergent cleaner. While cleaning, you should clean thoroughly. You should also follow the cleaner’s instructions or guidelines.

Therefore, while refinishing kitchen cabinets, keep a clean surface of the cloth in contact with the cabinet for best results. Rinse the cabinets. If the rinse water looks dirty, repeat the cleaning process. As most of these cabinets are wooden, so chances of damage are higher as compared to metallic or plastic sheets. So while cleaning, you should allow the wood to dry properly.

However, refinishing kitchen cabinets is not a rocket science, but we should be careful and well planned. First, we must understand the difference between kitchen cabinets and any other cabinets, cupboards or racks at home. Simply saying mostly just a matter of degree, bent of mind; however, when going into deep it is much more than that. Let us see why?

No doubt, our kitchens are a large project, so refinishing kitchen cabinets will take more of everything than a single project or cabinet would. That includes a lot time, energy and patience. We use them more frequently than other cabinets, as for most of us eating is a regular practice (not just an option), so we need to cook food regularly.

Moreover, we need to keep them safe, clean and hygienic. They are often exposed to strong steam, grease and water, so we need to wipe and scrub them on a regular basis. Even we keep them clean and clear every time, chances of dirt and damage are more here on these cabinets.

Refinishing kitchen cabinets starts with a higher degree of crud on them that must be removed before any other steps. Utmost care should be taken so that they are safe and scratch less otherwise food particles would be accumulated there eventually that would result in bad odor/smell.

Lastly, you must note that in kitchen cabinets the interior surfaces are used more and this is only interior part which is visible than most other cabinets at home. Therefore, it may need a fair bit of attention and carefulness paid to them to get best results and less damage.

Martin Applebaum

To ensure your home is warm and energy efficient it is important to choose a heating system that fits the room or house size. If the system is too small it will have to work too hard and will be inefficient and expensive to operate. If you are looking for a more cost and energy efficient way to heat your home, radiant heating is a popular choice. Not familiar with it? Check out the benefits of radiant heating.

When you are buying a heating system you need to compare energy ratings between systems to find the system that will be most cost effective for you. If you choose the most energy efficient system it will save you money over the long term.

Radiant heating is an excellent heating option. Here is a system that emits from a hot surface such as a bar heater or gas heater or electricity. Radiant heat works best in rooms that are large open spaces and that are drafty. More than 50% of all new construction in Europe uses radiant heat.

In Norway and Sweden it is by far the most popular form of heating and in recent years it has become popular throughout the United States. That’s because it’s affordable and it’s functional.

1) Comfort – Radiant heat is by far the most comfortable form of heat because it heats objects rather than the air. Think of how the sun heats: warming objects on the earth that then warms the air. That’s just how radiant heating works. The heat radiates to your body making you feel warm and cozy. And unlike conventional heat where most of the heat is on the ceiling, instead the floors are the warmest part of the room, so that your feet are warm.

2) Quiet and Clean Operation – There is no sound or noise off of radiant heat systems and there are also no drafts or air movement so dust and germs are not spread thus decreasing sickness and disease.

3) Energy Savings – Because it is electric, it uses a very low-voltage to heat your flooring. Radiant heat is so efficient it will save you 20-40% of the cost of heating over the cost of conventional methods. And because it warms your body instead of the air you feel comfortable at a lower temperature so you can turn your thermostat down to 65 degrees Farenheit. That means you’ll not only save but you will also feel comfortable and cozy.

4) Decorating Freedom – Radiant heat is a lot more attractive than conventional heat and you don’t have to worry yourself with the location of a huge heating system. The system is small and out of the way allowing you maximum freedom in how you design your home. It has particular application in areas with limited wall space or excessive heat loss, such as kitchens, solariums, or baths.
You can see why radiant heating is becoming the main stream around the planet. After all it has so much to offer and it is so affordable that you’d have to wonder why anyone wouldn’t make the switch.

There are many benefits to using radiant heating and now that you know what some of those are you can certainly see its potential. So what are you waiting for?

Terry Fitzroy
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/benefits-of-radiant-heating-119012.html

“Solar living“, “green” houses, “smart” appliances, “going green” – these aren’t just “the day’s” catchwords; these are all phrases used to describe a way of life.  In the past decade or so however, they’ve also come to describe a way of working.

If you’re new in the field and looking for a career, or if you have a career but you’d like to increase your knowledge and skills base, you’re in luck.  Your position doesn’t have to be high technology, like a PV Project Engineer.  Thanks to the new federal incentives for solar energy, more than 440,000 jobs for installation and manufacturing will be opening up within the solar industry. 

Even without the federal incentives, the need for people with solar training grows each year.  Environmental groups argue against carbon pollution; homeowners looking for lower energy costs pay roofers with solar training to replace their old asphalt tiles with solar panels and PV arrays; companies and individuals who use solar energy receive tax credits.  As the demand for products from the solar industry rise, so does the need for those who can develop, manufacture and install those products.

This remains true even through the current economic crisis; having a green job ensures job security in a shaky economic climate.  Billions of dollars are being spent on solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing, installation and maintenance, green building and any number of energy efficient and sustainable energy methods.  According to Greenpeace and the Worldwatch Institute, green jobs may be one of the keys to economic stabilization.

People in the construction industry, such as general contractors, are some of those that could take advantage of solar courses and certification.  Most solar training for general contractors isn’t so much learning about new things, as learning a new way to do old things.  For instance, a trained general contractor will ensure that new buildings meet the high performance standards necessary to receive Green certification. 

In addition, retrofitting old buildings to become energy efficient adds jobs for solar trained workers, engineers, electricians and others.  Retrofitting may actually turn into a more lucrative position than building, as there are more non-compliant buildings than there are Green certified buildings.

The lack of workers with solar training isn’t confined to one area:

• Connecticut just created a $9 million fund for investments in starting companies focused on clean technology jobs.
• Hawaii plans to stop using fossil fuels within the next ten years, moving to renewable, sustainable energy.  An agreement to allow customers with solar panels to sell power back to the Hawaiian Electric Company was signed in November of this year, though not brought into law.
• In Oregon, over 1,700 solar jobs are either available or opening since Gov. Ted Kulongoski began luring renewable energy jobs to the state.

Everywhere across America and the globe, solar jobs are opening up and people with solar education are needed.  If you don’t have a field yet, or would like to expand your field, look into solar training.  The opportunities are endless!

Unitek Collge
http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/paint-your-career-with-a-green-job-692096.html

Bernd Upmeyer, Editor-in-Chief, August 2009

Contents MONU #11:

Sci-fi Greenery …or just Responsibility? By Samo Pedersen
Clean Cities – Dirty People By Matteo Muggianu
Dirty Consumerism By Nikonus Pappas
Coming Clean By Randall Teal
Domes over Manhattan – Interview with Gerd Hauser By Bernd Upmeyer
Rendering the Clean By Nathalie Frankowski and Cruz Garcia (WAI)
The Mobile Library Unit By John Southern
Where the Grass Is Greener By TomorrowsThoughtsToday
Clean around the Edges By Lee Altman
Bio – Port By Greg Keeffe and Simon Swietochowski
Zeekracht – The North Sea Masterplan By OMA
Scarcity: Bipolar Urbanism in the Sonoran Desert By Felipe Correa
Regenerative Ecologies By Claudio Astudillo Barra
Clean Energy is Dirty Business By Aleksander Tokarz
Dystopic Verdure By Jacob Ross Boswell
How to Win Poetic Praise and Influence Architects By Amanda Webb
The Cooperative City By Rogier van den Berg
Mania By Bryan Norwood and the Jackson Community Design Center

Duration : 0:2:41

Technorati Tags: clean, magazine, monu, on, sustainable, urbanism

Duration : 0:3:15

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Technorati Tags: biomass energy, carbon management, clean energy financing, clean energy technology, energy asset management, energy capital placement, energy consulting, energy management, energy market, energy regulations advisory, energy renewable development, energy resources, energy risk management, energy strategy, Solar Energy, Wind Energy

The law that gave priority to renewable energy sources, guaranteed access to the grid for renewables and included a comprehensive feed-in-tarrif system became known as “Scheers-Law” around the world. Today it has been introduced to some extent by over 60 countries and states around the globe.

Since this historic push for a 100% renewable energy supply began, there have been countless developements & success stories in the field of clean energy & energy efficency around the world.

But the most important success of “Scheers-Law” is without doubt the commercialization of photovoltaic technology. In the middle of the last decade many companies around the world started to massivly expand their production capacity for silicon & other materials required to make PV-solar systems. This solar gold rush that lead to investments around the globe was mainly driven by demand in Germany up untill recently. The first effects of this developement?
Since 2009 the prices for PV-solar systems have fallen by up to 70% and continue to decline.

Today industry experts claim that photovoltaic & multi-kWh energy storage will become the cheapest source of electricy even in OECD countries within the next 10 years.
This will lead to a very fast structural change of the entire world economy. Huge parts of the fossil energy market will disappear and people around the world become energy independent. The energy corporations that dominate the fuel market, will loose significant parts of their revenue.. perhaps they will even get marginalized by this developement.

This developement has just started, but with 24.5 GW of PV-Solar capacity installed on more than 1 million roofs in Germany, the first signs of this new industrial revolution can already be observed.
For example even during the dark & windy winter month of January, PV-solar produced up to 7 GW or 10% of peak-load demand in Germany.
When a deadly cold wave brought the fossil & nuclear dominated energy system of France close to collapse, german PV-solar kept many gas & oil fired powerplants offline, which significantly lowered the spot-prices at the European Energy Exchange.

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Sources:
www.transparency.eex.com/en/
www.entsoe.net/
www.unendlich-viel-energie.de/en/homepage.html

Duration : 0:2:58

Technorati Tags: EEG, Energy, germany, hermann, photovoltaik, power, pv-solar, renewable, revolution, scheer, solar, Solar Energy (Industry)

Schwarzenegger quote: ” I think the people are outraged about the fact that texas oil companies are trying to change laws and policies in california. it is outrageous. This is why I think all of us — environmentalists, and ordinary citizens — we are all out here defending AB 32.”

MORE INFO: The Texas-based oil company Valero Energy Corp. is funding a deceptive initiative for the November 2010 ballot designed to kill Californias leading clean energy and air pollution control standards. The company claims its measure simply suspends AB 32, but in fact their initiative would halt the implementation of clean energy and pollution standards until Californias unemployment level drops below 5.5 percent for an entire year a market condition that has occurred just three times in the last 30 years!

Valero wants us to return to the dirty energy economy that pollutes our environment, jeopardizes our health and puts us at a global competitive disadvantage in the trillion dollar field of clean energy.

Valero was named one of the worst polluters in the U.S. (Source: The Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts, http://www.peri.umass.edu/Toxic-100-T… The company was hit with $711 million in fines by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2005.

For the latest news and developments, visit us at http://www.NoOnValero.com.

Duration : 0:1:55

Technorati Tags: 32, ab, air, california, clean, economy, Energy, Green, job-killing, jobs, kcra, pollution, schwarzenegger, tech, tesoro, valero

Duration : 0:43:28

Technorati Tags: clean energy, Energy (Dimension), Energy Alternatives, fossil fuels, global warming, Hulk, Mark Ruffalo (Film Actor), TCG, The Common Good, TheCommonGood, Water Defense Fund

Why Victory Bonds?

During the First and Second World Wars, the US government sold bonds in order to finance the costs of war. These war bonds were dubbed “Victory Bonds” because of the crucial role they played in the war effort. In the spirit of patriotism and national sacrifice, Victory Bonds generated $185 billion during World War II (over $2 trillion in today’s dollars). They gave ordinary Americans ownership in the efforts of their military overseas and afforded individual and institutional investors access to a risk-free asset. We can learn from that experience.

From coal to nuclear to oil, no new energy source was ever developed without significant government funding. As the fossil-fuel driven economy falters, the need for an alternative path forward becomes ever more urgent.

Around the world countries are competing to develop and deploy the next generation of clean energy technologies at an astounding pace. China alone is investing up to $12 billion per month in its clean energy sector. Meanwhile American clean energy capacity languishes for lack of financing and companies are unable to develop cutting edge technologies or create employment for American citizens. Clean Energy Victory Bonds are designed to play a role akin to the Victory Bonds of wartime — to mobilize Americans towards the common goal of a globally competitive U.S. clean technology industry and, ultimately, a greener economy.

Wartime Victory Bonds often yielded interest rates lower than the going market rate, but Americans found them hugely popular as a way of investing in their collective future. Clean Energy Victory Bonds, however, will pay interest equal to or greater than the market interest rate on regular government bonds. Clean Energy Victory Bonds will provide a competitive government-backed investment vehicle that Americans will be excited to purchase, and a chance to invest in our collective future.

Duration : 0:0:56

Technorati Tags: bonds, clean energy, climate, Energy, Green, jobs, solar, Treasury Bonds, wind

Duration : 0:10:1

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Technorati Tags: Bloom, Box, clean, Energy, systems