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Efficiency and resale value
In the U.K., they have the Energy Performance Certificate, which building owners must obtain by law before they can sell their buildings. The E.P.C. gives the building an overall grade (just like taking a test in school) and the potential buyer will use this to beat the seller over the head on price. Because of this, the focus of the Energy Saving Trust is on resale value, and not necessarily on what the building owner is going to save on fuel. Little by little, as rental properties change hands, the systems get upgraded. It's a left-pocket/right-pocket thing. The seller is going to have to pay one way or the other, and in a competitive market, it's best for him or her to pay for the improvements. This answers the problem we face in the U.S. with landlords who don't care how old the heating equipment is because they're not paying the fuel bill. Here's more.
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Just one piggy joke
I thought there would be more in this article about the straw-house experiment at the University of Bath in England. Lots of interesting news in this one. I learned a lot. Enjoy!
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Speaking of baths
A lovely article about the vanishing bathtubs 'round the world. Some nice history here as well. Shower up!
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Send us your trees!
Hey, could it be that U.S. tree stumps will fix this balance-of-trade problem we've been having lately? According to this article, Europe is looking longingly at our waste wood, as we continue to buy as much oil as we possibly can from folks who are trying to kill us. Hmm.
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Underground storage
Here's another one of those interesting projects where they take the normally wasted heat from human beings and machines and store it in the ground so that they can call it back up during the winter to heat those same human beings. I love this stuff.
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Heating Alerts!
If you're looking for more news on product developments, industry legal issues, or product recalls, check out Heating Alerts! I update this section almost daily and there's always something interesting there. If you're a manufacturer, send me your press releases (dan@heatinghelp.com) and I'll be happy to post them. No charge!
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Hydronic super computers
If you're a long-time subscriber to this e-newsletter you may recall that I told you about IBM's plan to cool their new super computer by flowing water through tiny channels within the computer. Well, it's up and running and here's the story, along with some pics. Good boost for hydronics!
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Hammer time
I liked this story about Miwa Mori, a young Japanese architect. It gave me insight into the housing market in Japan, and how things are (slowly) changing there. Traditionally, Japanese houses had no heating systems. Families would gather around the kotasu, a low table that has a heater beneath it. A blanket would cover the legs of the family and the rest of the house went unheated. You want to be warm, you've got to sit with your parents. Times change and, well, you can read about it here. Note her comments about how long the Japanese expect houses to last.
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Rube redeux
Absolutely nothing to do with heating, but I'm not sure a homemade Rube Goldberg machine can get any better than this. Like me, these people have no lives.
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Hug your kids!
Dan
If you like what we're doing, your friends will too!
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