New Bathroom Faucets

Franke Announces Partnership with Scotsman Industries to Introduce Exciting …

Sat, 12 May 2012 20:22:12 +0000

CHICAGO--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Franke Foodservice Systems today announced a partnership with Scotsman Industries, the largest commercial ice machine manufacturer in the world, to introduce an exciting new technology that takes sanitation of ice machines to a new level. The new invention offers an effective and affordable way to cut the cost and hassle of keeping ice machines clean, and to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and pathogens sometimes found in ice.

“We look forward to working with the team at Scotsman to successfully bring this technology to the marketplace.”

in the partnership, Franke will provide the technology and manufacturing for a compact device which fits to new or existing ice machines. Scotsman Industries’ global family of ice machine brands will be the exclusive distributor beyond Franke’s core foodservice customers.

during the National Restaurant Association Show this week in Chicago, the new product is set to receive the coveted “Kitchen Innovations Award,” bestowed each year by a panel of foodservice operations and technology experts. “We are honored by the judges’ recognition of this breakthrough technology,” said Thomas Campion, President of Franke’s equipment business in the Americas. “We look forward to working with the team at Scotsman to successfully bring this technology to the marketplace.”

David McCulloch, Chairman and CEO of Scotsman Industries, added, “This device will significantly ease the burden of ice machine cleaning routines, and give customers peace of mind regarding ice in the bin.”

The device will easily attach to the water line of many ice machines. Its unique, diamond-based electrolytic cell creates precise levels of dissolved ozone to safely sanitize the ice-making path and holding bin without chemicals. Ozone is approved by the FDA as a means to rapidly eliminate a broad spectrum of microorganisms - including most bacteria, viruses and mold. Independent lab tests show the device can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria like E. coli by more than 99.99% and dramatically slow the formation of biofilm.

“Until now, ice machine sanitation products made too little or two much ozone, or introduced it in the wrong places, for them to be both safe and effective,” said Jeff Cook, President of Franke Innovations, the company’s product development arm. “Our new has been proven to solve those problems in a device that’s very efficient in terms of space, cost and results. We keep the machine clean, the consumer safe, and the ice tasting great.

“Ozone is an incredibly effective sanitizer—faster and more powerful than chlorine, for instance—but it leaves no residue or harsh odors,” Cook added. “Now we have a way to produce just the right amount with a small device located right at the ice machine.”

After a period of six months to one year, depending upon local water quality and ice production volume, the unit signals the foodservice operator that it’s time to exchange the electrolytic cartridge with a new one.

Preproduction units will be available through Scotsman or Ice-O-Matic for evaluation by major foodservice operators, who are encouraged to visit the Franke exhibit at NRA, number 3648, or the Scotsman, Ice-O-Matic or Kitchen Innovation Awards exhibits.

Franke Innovations is a business unit of Franke Foodservice Systems Division, headquartered in Smyrna, Tenn., which manufactures and distributes a wide variety of foodservice equipment and supplies for leading restaurant chains around the world. The company is part of Franke Artemis Group based in Aarburg, Switzerland. other Franke divisions produce diverse items such as household sinks and kitchen fixtures; automated commercial coffee machines; brewed beverage kegs, and public washroom fixtures.

Scotsman Industries, based in Vernon Hills, Ill., is the largest commercial ice machine manufacturer in the world, with six manufacturing facilities, 10 major sales offices, 1,000-plus distributors, more than 5,000 service technicians and sales in over 100 countries.

Franke Announces Partnership with Scotsman Industries to Introduce Exciting ...

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DTE Offering Home Energy Consultations

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:22:14 +0000

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DTE Offering Home Energy Consultations

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Faucet parts stolen from Lawrence cemeteries

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:22:05 +0000

LAWRENCE, Mass. (WHDH) -- Police say thieves stole 150 brass spouts from faucets used by mourners from two cemeteries in Lawrence last week.

“I was shocked, a bit disgusted. I just couldn't understand why somebody would do such a thing,” said Thomas Ferris, Bellevue Cemetery custodian.

A member of Ferris’ staff noticed brass faucets were missing on the watering system.

“As I drove around I realized the problem was bigger than I expected,” said Ferris.

Fifty faucet heads were stolen from the Bellevue Cemetery last weekend, and 100 were stolen from nearby St. Mary's Cemetery. the faucets are used by mourners to water flowers and plants placed at grave sites.

While the thieves may only get a few dollars by selling the faucets as scrap metal, replacing the faucets is costly and time consuming.

Police and cemetery custodians have stepped up their presence at the cemeteries.

“It is sacrilegious to come out here, and this is a sacred burial ground. It’s been here since 1847 -- pre-Civil War,” Ferris said.

Faucet parts stolen from Lawrence cemeteries

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Trendspotting: Brass Is Back

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 07:22:06 +0000

The tropical fruit can help you lose weight and regulate your blood sugar levels.

Plus: a wine-fueled lunch at Graffiato and waffles for dinner.

FotoDC, in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, is presenting the second annual Photography Contest to honor the 100-year anniversary of the gift of trees. We're showing off some of the beautiful photo entries here.

These ten spots are a stone’s throw from the finish line and will satisfy runners and observers alike.

Trendspotting: Brass Is Back

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Stop Blowing Your Hard-Earned Cash On That Energy Bill

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 08:22:17 +0000

Since the groundhog saw his shadow a few weeks ago, we have been enduring an extended season of cold, winter weather.

In fact, some parts of the US will be expecting snow for another couple months or longer.

According to Ecomall, the average American produces about 40,000 pounds of CO2 emissions a year and together we use nearly one million dollars worth of energy every minute.

We know that money is often tight right now, so in order to stretch your dollar further, here are some helpful tips that can lead to cutting down on your overall energy costs:

Heating and Cooling

When it comes to keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, increasing your home's insulation should be a top priority. Insulating your home's walls and ceilings and using caulk and weather stripping to plug air leaks near doors and windows saves 20 to 30 percent on your home's heating and air-conditioning bills.

One of the easiest ways to cut down on heating and cooling costs is to simply turn your thermostat's heat down a few degrees cooler than your normally would in the winter and turning your air-conditioning up a few degrees warmer than you normally would in the summer. For every degree that you adjust your home's temperature by, you will reduce your home's energy use by 1 to 3 percent each month and will see a similar price reduction when you receive your monthly bill.

Close the doors of any rooms that aren't being used to contribute to a reduction in the amount of heating or air-conditioning that you will need in your home. Keep large pieces of furniture away from any heating registers or air-conditioning ducts and if you have a chimney, make sure that the flue is closed when your chimney is not in use to keep large amounts of air from entering or exiting your home.

Around the House

Clean or replace air filters every few months since more energy is lost when air conditioners and furnaces have to work harder to push air through a dirty filter. This simple task can cut down on 5 percent of the energy that you use in your home.

Replace your home's current light bulbs with energy efficient florescent bulbs. although these bulbs do cost more initially, they only use 1/4th of the energy of regular incandescent bulbs and last up to twelve times longer, therefore significantly cutting costs in the long run.

According to Consumer Reports, setting your computer on sleep mode after a few minutes of not being in use decreases your computer's electrical use by an estimated 80 percent. Better yet though, if you have a laptop that is not in use, unplug it from its charger. Most homeowners don't realize that that 75 percent of the electricity that their home electronics use is while the electronics are turned off, but still plugged in.

If you like lamp lighting, consider either positioning a lamp in the corner of the room, which reflects off the walls and gives the appearance of more light, or take part in "task lighting," which is the process of only turning on a light in the area where you are working or relaxing.

Water, Water Everywhere

Wrapping your home's water heater in an insulated jacket costs about fifteen dollars, but similar to energy-saving bulbs, can result in a lot of savings over time. The US Department of Energy states that an insulated jacket reduces standby heat loss from a water heater by up to 45 percent and saves up to 9 percent of water heating costs.

It is also important to note that once your water heater is insulated, its thermostat must be decreased from a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit to less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is usually a welcomed task for homeowners since dialing back the thermostat in itself will contribute to additional savings on energy costs.

You also might want to consider purchasing an energy efficient, low-flow shower head. at a cost of about twenty dollars, these shower heads decrease the overall amount of water used every time you take a shower and can save about $150 a year on your electricity. Most importantly though, make sure that none of your faucets are dripping since a dripping water faucet can waste up to a shocking 212 gallons of water a month.

Home Appliances

Most homeowners don't know that a refrigerator accounts for 20 percent of their home's total electricity use. Make sure that your refrigerator temperature is at 37 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer is at 3 degrees Fahrenheit to lower energy costs. Also, clean your refrigerator's coils every few months, which is similar to cleaning your home's air filters and can cut overall energy costs.

Wait until you have a full load of clothes before you use your washer and dryer and try to only wash your clothes in cold water since a full 90 percent of the energy used in washing clothes goes just towards heating the water. When drying clothes, dry at least two loads in a row to take advantage of your dryer's retained heat.

Similar to your washer machine, wait until your dishwasher is completely full before you run it and if possible, allow your dishes to air dry by manually turning off the drying cycle. not using the heat needed to dry your dishes will reduce the energy use of your dishwasher by 20 percent.

Follow these tips towards improved energy use, and you may just see yourself with more cash in your pocket at the end of each month.

DON'T MISS: Just How Much more Will Your Light Bill Cost In 2015?

Stop Blowing Your Hard-Earned Cash On That Energy Bill

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Give your laundry room a new, squeaky-clean look

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:22:23 +0000

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Boxy house with the whole package

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:22:23 +0000

One day you’re in a little 14-foot sailboat on Fern Ridge Lake, the next you’re aloft in a cool dream home overlooking the whole, sprawling reservoir.

In fact when you first visit Tim Gift, 49, Sarah Peterman, 48, and their preschool daughter, Ada, it’s hard to say what commands your attention most: what shows outside their IMAX-size windows, or the home’s boxy, precision architecture with artistic contrasts, such as raw and sometimes rusted dark steel beams against soft, whitish plastered walls, and downstairs floors crisply divided between golden wood and smooth, grayish concrete.

Leave it to a couple of artists — he’s a computer-game programmer, she’s an accomplished metalworker and jewelry maker — to envision a 2,900-square-foot house like this on a 30-acre hillside property they came to know from sailing the lake.

“Our first design was a cube, because we wanted to keep costs down,” says Tim when asked about the home’s modernistic form.

Whenever he and Sarah “got stuck” on one of their computer mock-ups of the house, they turned to avant-garde Eugene architect Jan Fillinger for solutions.

“We would be scratching our heads, go back to Jan, and of course he would have about 10 solutions for our problems,” Tim says. once OK with the home’s basic form, the couple let Fillinger, principal of Studio-E Architecture, take the helm for final design and structural details.

He had fun, like with the odd mix of exterior sidings. most striking, corrugated metal — suggested by Tim and guaranteed to withstand the elements for 50 years — enshrines the home’s upper level, making it stand out like a big silver toaster. Blend that gleam with siding on the opposite end of the spectrum — old, weathered barn wood in faded paint colors, and cement-fiber panels of charcoal gray — and the eclectic home exudes contrasts inside and out.

“Tim and Sarah are artists themselves; they create things,” Fillinger says. “They’re able to see opportunities ...

“I think really good design is based on really good contrasts between materials. Color, textural contrast and material contrast make for really good design.”

Yet make no mistake: This home is all about view, too. by stacking sleeping and office quarters above the daily living cube, just about every room peers south to a lake-scape of meandering, forested shorelines and, at least on this late January afternoon, swollen brown waters.

“Trying to get everyone with a view was not working on one story, so we went up,” Tim explains.

With such tall and wide front windows — the 19-foot-high living room wall is mostly glass — only industrial-strength steel beams sufficed for framing the home against tremors of nature. “That huge steel frame is what keeps the house from deflecting laterally if there are strong winds or an earthquake,” Fillinger explains.

Behind that sheer strength, however, lurked a rustic artistic opportunity.

Rather than concealing the steel frame behind plastered walls, builder Rick Robertson, a partner with Dave Veldhuizen in six Degrees Construction co. of Eugene, suggested leaving the beams exposed.

Tim and Sarah loved the idea — nuts, bolts, rust and all.

“It rained, and when (the steel frame) rusted, they said, ‘Oh, we like the rust.’ So Sarah went around and put wax on all of the steel,” Fillinger says. “So all of the steel beams are rusted steel.”

Organic elements subdue a modern home’s “Miami Vice” effect, Fillinger says: “We need a connection to natural materials every day. When it’s just glossy and lacquered and glass and steel, it’s really hard to get that connection to the warmth of the earth.”

Conifer woods help soften the Gift/Peterman home, starting with an entire upstairs ceiling of wood. Douglas fir laminated beams and a solid backdrop of hemlock ceiling decking shelter living spaces below while framing the home’s white, sun-reflecting roofing membrane.

Fir also frames interior windows and doors, and black oak, milled from trees on the property, fashions cabinetry, bathroom pedestals and rustic treads on the open steel stairway. Floors from an old bowling alley — little diamond markers for throwing a straight ball still showing — serve as kitchen counters.

Yet the home’s biggest splash of wood creates a decorative tsunami.

Engineered white-oak floors — that is, thin strips of wood glued together for resistance to expansion and contraction — lay like a golden island in the living room. Concrete floors, extending from the kitchen and dining room, surround the hardwood on three sides.

But rather than contained downstairs, the hardwood continues right up the living room’s monolithic back wall, creating a chic backdrop for the modern welded steel staircase as it goes.

“It’s a feeling of having the floor become the wall,” says Fillinger.

Impeccable undertaking

Money saved by the home’s boxy form — “a cube is the most efficient home to build, other than a sphere,” Fillinger allows — surely got spent on high-end custom finishwork and precision building.

“From a detail standpoint, it needed to be perfect,” says homebuilder Robertson. “They (the owners) don’t like trim; they didn’t want trim of any sort, really. there was no margin for error. Everything was scribed or straight or true enough, that whatever you put up against it was tight.”

Steel beams are crisp to window mullions; window mullions are crisp to doors below. Walk-in showers are absolutely flush to the bathroom floors.

“A lot of people think, ‘Oh, modern architecture. There’s nothing ornamental, so it’s real easy to put together,’” Fillinger says. “But when you look at this house, we’re putting together all of the materials in a very elegant, simple, subtle way without imperfections.”

Even the site work had to be impeccable. Peterman and Gift did not want any elevation difference between their home, the adjacent workshop/office/guest space, and the large, perfectly flat wood deck in the front yard. in fact only a single step can be found on the wheelchair-accessible property’s entire lower level.

Tim says that Sarah, especially, favors modern architecture and fixtures — from sleek lighting and sinks to black paint on the cabinetry by mark Gaechter Custom Woodworking of Creswell — in the spirit of Dwell magazine. “My wife is heavily into modern, especially the mid-century modern of the ’50s and ’60s,” he says.

He favors traditional design as well as modern. But all things considered, the couple’s boxy home has the whole package.

Staff writer Kelly Fenley can be contacted at sp.feedback@registerguard.com.

Boxy house with the whole package

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Handmade lamps from recycled material

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:22:18 +0000

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Handmade lamps from recycled material

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Keep Blanco Beautiful: How does your garden grow?

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:22:31 +0000

Happy new Year! We hope your holidays were wonderful. It’s time to think about 2012, and there is much to do.

If you purchased a tree to use as a Christmas tree, you should be thinking about taking it outside to use as a patio plant or to plant in the ground. be sure to keep it damp and don’t plant it too deep. Add 2-4 inches of mulch around it.

If you purchased or received plants for Christmas, remove the foil from the plant. In the sink, water it well and let it drain before placing it back into the foil. Check the plants every few days to see if they need to be watered. keep the soil damp, but not soggy. Move the plants to the brightest light; low light can cause the plants to grow leggy and slowly decline.

This week we will begin the process of removing Christmas decorations from Bindseil Park and the Pecan Bottom. The decorations were enjoyed by many visitors. It kept Retta Martin busy, keeping all the lights burning. We haven’t had rain in December for several years and the moisture kept popping the lights off. if you would like to help, call Retta at 833-4720 or Judy at 833-5663. The weather will make the working decisions.

We have begun trimming the tops of frozen plants. Prune the plants to the firm portion of the plant. Wait until we have a hard freeze to cut them back to the ground. Add mulch to the shrubs and trees. Perennials and shrubs have a better chance of coming out in the spring if they have two to four inches of mulch.

Tommy Vallone, Pat Vallone’s husband, had an accident on the 23rd of December. He fell from a ladder and broke his leg in three places. He is now at Seton Hospital in Austin. He has had a difficult time. keep him and Pat in your prayers.

Keep Blanco Beautiful: How does your garden grow?

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Home's energy-saving design is first of its kind in Augusta

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:22:26 +0000

Building a house is a process chock-full of decisions, but Jim and Heidi Mayfield took it one step further when they decided to build the Augusta area’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified home with Ivey Residential home builders.

The Mayfields have been working on their home plans for the past 20 years, Jim said. The major ice storm that hit Augusta a few years back convinced them to look into building an energy-efficient home. Their family was without power for a week. they realized their dependence on electricity could be a handicap in bad times, and an energy-efficient home could mitigate those effects. Their LEED journey began.

“This comes out of a need to be sustainable and have a good, durable home,” Jim said.

LEED is a rating system that awards points for certain “green” building criteria in sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation and design.

Enterprise mill and the Kroc Center are among commercial properties in Augusta that are LEED certified, but the residential sector has been slower to take to the energy-efficient model. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, there are more than 10,000 LEED homes in the U.S. so far.

The Mayfields’ house has high-quality caulk and foam insulation and low-flow faucets and toilets to conserve energy and water. The Mayfields also put a lot of thought into details including what direction the house faces and ceiling height.

“It’s a lot of fun when you get homeowners who are as enthused about the project as you are,” said Mark Ivey, a co-owner of Ivey Residential with his brother Matt. “Jim and Heidi have thought through every part of the process.”

Vaulted ceilings throughout the six-bedroom house on Old Stevens Creek Road keep cool air low and hot air up high above people, and the 3.5-acre lot will be landscaped with drought-resistant plants in order to conserve on irrigation water.

Abe Kruger, the president of Kruger Sustainability Group, is the one who will give the final LEED stamp of approval on the home. Taking a little more care and expense in the building process will save utility expenses and will also improve the air quality and toxicity of their home.

“It’s a sound business investment,” Kruger said.

Mark Ivey estimates that the Mayfields’ home will be up to 40 percent more energy efficient than the average new home, saving that much in energy costs every month.

They are also planning on installing solar panels on the southern-facing side of the roof, which will provide up to 40 percent of the energy they will use in a normal day.

“We put a little extra up front for a lot more in the long run,” Jim said. “And it makes the livability so much better.”

Both the Mayfields’ enthusiasm and Ivey Residential’s energy consciousness has impressed Kruger. Ivey Residential was already building all of its homes with Energy Star approval, so the jump to LEED certification was not a major one.

“Some markets are very homeowner-driven, and some builders are the ones who really carry the flag,” Kruger said. “Ivey is a leader in energy-conscious building, and this was kind of a logical progression for them.”

Mark Ivey said as they looked over the LEED checklist, Ivey already enacted many of the suggested policies.

“When we looked through, it was amazing how many things we already do,” he said.

Jim Mayfield said he interviewed several builders before settling on the Ivey brothers, and it’s a decision he hasn’t regretted.

“It’s a lot easier when you have good builders,” he said.

They broke ground in November and expect to move in with their three children in June or July, just in time to see the effects of LEED design in their air conditioning bill.

Home's energy-saving design is first of its kind in Augusta

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