TUCSON, AZ — A Tucson, AZ, home is the first Mold Proof home ever featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, according to a press release.
Mold Proof, based in both Kernersville, NC, and Taylors, SC, donated its permanent mold prevention system backed by a lifetime warranty to the Bell family whose daughter was born with a rare blood condition, Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, which is characterized by a failure of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells, the release stated.
The products and practices used by the Mold Proof professionals are non-toxic, environmentally friendly and volatile organic compound (VOC) compliant, the release noted.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Tucson aired on the local ABC affiliate KGUN-TV channel 9 on March 22, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Norovirus hits Babson College
BABSON PARK, MA — The Babson College campus closed at 5 p.m. on Saturday and will remain closed until Wednesday due to an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, according to a press release.
All classes, meetings, athletic events and similar events are cancelled until Wednesday morning; all non-essential personnel should refrain from reporting to campus, the release stated.
Since last Wednesday, more than 100 students and staff have reported symptoms consistent with those of norovirus, the release noted.
Custodians at Babson College are working diligently to clean and sanitize all high-touch surfaces in all campus facilities, and students have been given appropriate cleaning supplies to clean and sanitize their rooms, the release added.
According to the release, students have been asked to remain on campus and avoid congregating in groups to reduce the risk of further spreading the virus.
All classes, meetings, athletic events and similar events are cancelled until Wednesday morning; all non-essential personnel should refrain from reporting to campus, the release stated.
Since last Wednesday, more than 100 students and staff have reported symptoms consistent with those of norovirus, the release noted.
Custodians at Babson College are working diligently to clean and sanitize all high-touch surfaces in all campus facilities, and students have been given appropriate cleaning supplies to clean and sanitize their rooms, the release added.
According to the release, students have been asked to remain on campus and avoid congregating in groups to reduce the risk of further spreading the virus.
Chartwell School receives LEED Platinum certification
SEASIDE, CA — Chartwell School, an award-winning private school, has become the educational campus to be awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, according to a press release.
LEED Platinum certification, the highest honor available from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is awarded to high-performance facilities that have taken steps to be significantly greener, healthier, more energy efficient and sustainable, the release stated.
Christoph Kubitza, district manager with Waterless Co Inc., which provided the no-water urinals to the school, said: "This is a 45-year-old school that made a commitment to go green and become more sustainable, and do it in a very big way. It shows that the challenges facing an older facility can be overcome if the desire is there. Even with a difficult economy, the momentum for water conservation appears to be picking up."
Some of the steps Chartwell took to achieve LEED Platinum certification are: Incorporating more natural light to save on electricity, reduce HVAC needs and enhance the learning environment and selecting paints, finishes, furnishings and cleaning products that have reduced or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the release noted.
Chartwell was able to reduce water consumption by more than 60 percent by installing waterless urinal systems and low-flow fixtures, the release added.
LEED Platinum certification, the highest honor available from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is awarded to high-performance facilities that have taken steps to be significantly greener, healthier, more energy efficient and sustainable, the release stated.
Christoph Kubitza, district manager with Waterless Co Inc., which provided the no-water urinals to the school, said: "This is a 45-year-old school that made a commitment to go green and become more sustainable, and do it in a very big way. It shows that the challenges facing an older facility can be overcome if the desire is there. Even with a difficult economy, the momentum for water conservation appears to be picking up."
Some of the steps Chartwell took to achieve LEED Platinum certification are: Incorporating more natural light to save on electricity, reduce HVAC needs and enhance the learning environment and selecting paints, finishes, furnishings and cleaning products that have reduced or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the release noted.
Chartwell was able to reduce water consumption by more than 60 percent by installing waterless urinal systems and low-flow fixtures, the release added.
Greening the White House
WASHINGTON — Following suit with past residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, President Barack Obama wants to make the White House more environmentally friendly, according to an Associated Press story hosted by Google.com.
Building on former President Bill Clinton's "greening the White House" project of 1993 and former President George W. Bush's solar panel and recycling efforts are Obama's plans to have the housekeeping staff switch to greener cleaning supplies and to have complex managers ask engineers and groundskeepers to use greener products whenever possible, the story stated.
According to the story, Obama promised before he took office that he wanted to sit down with White House staff to evaluate what can be done to conserve energy in the 132-room building that has a EEE-sized carbon footprint.
Obama said: "Part of what I want to do is to show the American people that it's not that hard. I'm not going to be obsessive about it. But I do that in my current house. So there's no reason why I wouldn't do it in my next one."
Architect Jean Carroon, an expert on green strategies for historic buildings, said the White House isn't the "energy hog" that people might think as older buildings often have thick masonry walls that provide good insulation and big windows that let in lots of daylight, the story noted.
In following the environmentally preferable trend, the Obamas have installed an environmentally friendly wooden swing set for their children that has cushioning made from recycled rubber tires, the story added.
Building on former President Bill Clinton's "greening the White House" project of 1993 and former President George W. Bush's solar panel and recycling efforts are Obama's plans to have the housekeeping staff switch to greener cleaning supplies and to have complex managers ask engineers and groundskeepers to use greener products whenever possible, the story stated.
According to the story, Obama promised before he took office that he wanted to sit down with White House staff to evaluate what can be done to conserve energy in the 132-room building that has a EEE-sized carbon footprint.
Obama said: "Part of what I want to do is to show the American people that it's not that hard. I'm not going to be obsessive about it. But I do that in my current house. So there's no reason why I wouldn't do it in my next one."
Architect Jean Carroon, an expert on green strategies for historic buildings, said the White House isn't the "energy hog" that people might think as older buildings often have thick masonry walls that provide good insulation and big windows that let in lots of daylight, the story noted.
In following the environmentally preferable trend, the Obamas have installed an environmentally friendly wooden swing set for their children that has cushioning made from recycled rubber tires, the story added.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Truck crashes and spills portable toilet sewage
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC — About 1,300 gallons of waste from portable toilets spilled onto the road when a truck carrying them crashed, according to The State.
South Carolina health officials say the sewage did not leak into the nearby Chechessee River because a runoff drain was blocked with sediment and debris, the story stated.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control likely will not issue a fine for the spill because it did not contaminate anything and can be cleaned up, the story noted.
Eyewitnesses told investigators the driver was speeding and driving erratically before the crash, the story added.
South Carolina health officials say the sewage did not leak into the nearby Chechessee River because a runoff drain was blocked with sediment and debris, the story stated.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control likely will not issue a fine for the spill because it did not contaminate anything and can be cleaned up, the story noted.
Eyewitnesses told investigators the driver was speeding and driving erratically before the crash, the story added.
Dallas jails fail inspection seventh straight time
DALLAS — After spending millions of dollars and several years improving the jail system, the state deemed the Dallas County jails unacceptable for a seventh straight time, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Inspectors noted broken toilets, dirty and "severely clogged" air vents, remote-controlled doors that wouldn't open or close properly, broken intercoms, a slow response to fire drills, inadequate smoke detection and removal systems, inadequate staffing, improper mixing of high- and low-security inmates and numerous plumbing problems, the story stated.
Sheriff Lupe Valdez said: "It is important to note that our staff continues to work tirelessly each and every day to provide the best service to the community. We accept responsibility for areas that we can improve upon."
The Dallas County jail system is the seventh largest in the nation and hasn't passed a state inspection since 2003; in addition, the jails remain under a federal court order to improve medical and mental health care, sanitation and fire safety systems, the story noted.
If the violations are serious enough, the state jail commission can shut down the facility and force the county to spend millions of dollars to send its prisoners elsewhere, the story added.
According to the story, the county has 30 days to submit a written response regarding the problems, and when the Texas Commission on Jail Standards holds a regular meeting in May, Dallas County officials will be expected to appear with an update.
Inspectors noted broken toilets, dirty and "severely clogged" air vents, remote-controlled doors that wouldn't open or close properly, broken intercoms, a slow response to fire drills, inadequate smoke detection and removal systems, inadequate staffing, improper mixing of high- and low-security inmates and numerous plumbing problems, the story stated.
Sheriff Lupe Valdez said: "It is important to note that our staff continues to work tirelessly each and every day to provide the best service to the community. We accept responsibility for areas that we can improve upon."
The Dallas County jail system is the seventh largest in the nation and hasn't passed a state inspection since 2003; in addition, the jails remain under a federal court order to improve medical and mental health care, sanitation and fire safety systems, the story noted.
If the violations are serious enough, the state jail commission can shut down the facility and force the county to spend millions of dollars to send its prisoners elsewhere, the story added.
According to the story, the county has 30 days to submit a written response regarding the problems, and when the Texas Commission on Jail Standards holds a regular meeting in May, Dallas County officials will be expected to appear with an update.
Employee steals over $87,000 from maintenance company
WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN — A woman in charge of handling payroll for a building maintenance company is charged with embezzling over $87,000, according to the Pioneer Press.
Dorothy Wessel, who worked for Carlson Building Maintenance, stole $37,172 in 2007 and $42,245 in 2008 by generating 127 fraudulent payroll checks for terminated employees and pocketing the money, the story stated.
Wessel is already on probation for two counts of felony theft stemming from a 2003 incident in which she still owes $281,000 in restitution to a former employer, the story noted.
Wessel earned a gross salary of $50,000 from Carlson Building Maintenance, the story added.
Dorothy Wessel, who worked for Carlson Building Maintenance, stole $37,172 in 2007 and $42,245 in 2008 by generating 127 fraudulent payroll checks for terminated employees and pocketing the money, the story stated.
Wessel is already on probation for two counts of felony theft stemming from a 2003 incident in which she still owes $281,000 in restitution to a former employer, the story noted.
Wessel earned a gross salary of $50,000 from Carlson Building Maintenance, the story added.
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