September 14, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
It seems like every single day Savoy Engineering Groups telephone rings with contractors who have just learned that their municipality now requires an ACCA Certified Manual J8 load calculation. These hard-working individuals are intimitaded by the new IECC requirements that are sweeping the US.
After having completed over 3000 Manual J projects that have been submitted to LEED, EnergyStar and numerous permit offices, Savoy Engineering Groups wants to let you, the homeowner, know that the ACCA Certified Manual J process is involved, but should not scare you.
Let us look at what are the required inputs for a Single-Family House when you see cooling equipment must be sized by an ACCA Certified Manual J8 load calculation following ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals.
Exact Building Orientation must be used instead of worse-case scenerio. Building Orientation can have a large impact on room loads depending on the time of day and season.
Winter/Summer Indoor/Outdoor design temperatures. IECC recommends 72 F heating, 75 F cooling. Outdoor design temperatures are based on ASHRAE weather tables and geographical location.
Sensible Heat Ratio is the sensible/latent split for the total equipment load. Most municipalities use a 70/30 sensible/latent split or 0.70
How tight is your House? For new construction, average or semi-tight is the proper selection. SIP and ICF buildings is tight, while older construction are semi-loose or loose. Does your residence have a fireplace?
How many people and appliances in your home? ASHRAE recommends # of bedrooms + 1. Is your home mechanically vented? ASHRAE recommends not to exceed 0.35 ACH.
Where is your Duct located? Ductwork located outside the thermal envelope will have duct gains and losses. The amount depends on whether its a crawlspace, basement, garage or unconditioned attic. Ductwork located inside the thermal envelope should not have duct gains and losses. Also duct length is important.
Window losses and gains are critical. Do you have single- or double-pane glass? Do you have insect screens, interior shading, overhangs? What about skylights?
Walls, ceiling and floors all have thermal losses and gains. Is your wall masonary or frame? Is your roof flat or sloped? Light or dark shingles? What about walls next to a garage? The roof floor above a garage or basement? Use the exact, relevant materials in calculating the Manual J load analysis.
A good quality set of houseplans begins the ACCA Certified {Manual J8 process. The more accurate the data received by your Manual J8 engineer, the more accurate your HVAC load calculation. Make sure your HVAC Manual J provider is qualified, is using ACCA certified software, isnt over diluted (does ten other things besides Manual J load calculations, has easy to understand pricing and ACCURATE!
September 14, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
As a blended family, you have likely already identified activities that everyone loves doing. Going to the beach or the pool, outdoor activities like softball or lawn darts, going for drives, to the movies, theme parks, camping, visiting relatives; any or all of these might be something your family is looking forward to doing this summer. Whenever you find something that everyone likes to do together, try to fit it into your schedule.
Family game days
A day at home does not have to be boring or spent in front of the television or the computer! If your blended family ground rules prohibit overuse of electronic equipment, offer alternative activities. You might like to set up a scavenger hunt for the step siblings in your stepfamily.
These hunts might be limited to the house and yard, or you may feel comfortable sending off teams or pairs of step siblings to find and carry home the items on their scavenger lists. Items on the list might include things like a tennis ball, a pink shoe, an empty tin can, a maple leaf, etc., things that can fit into a plastic garbage bag. If you like, make the game more challenging and include things like a seed for an oak tree, or a tube of dentifrice. Appropriate rewards for finding the most items might be presented, such as a pass on nightly chores.
Board game or computer game marathons are always a good way to spend a day or two locked in competitive fun. You may want to check online for ideas of free family computer games that are appropriate for your step family. It really does not matter whether you and your step family enjoy monopoly, checkers or a fast-action computer game together. What matters is that you enjoy doing something together. Having fun together builds bonds and memories.
Share laughter
A movie or television show that makes everyone laugh is a free ticket to blended family fun. Sharing a laugh is among the best bonding activities a blended family can have, so take advantage of every opportunity to share a laugh with your step family members. Building a blended family based on shared laughter and enjoyment of each other makes for bonds that endure.
Step family group projects
Summertime is a great time for a group project within your blended family. Building or erecting a swing set or tree house, taken from planning sessions at the kitchen table to the home building supplies store to the backyard, are the kinds of projects that can keep step parents and their kids involved, communicating, and accomplishing something together.
Choose projects that encourage teaching moments, such as measuring, cutting, hammering, and problem solving needed to construct a swing set. When step kids learn something useful from a step parent, and have fun at the same time, bonds are created while life lessons are learned.
The most important project for step family summers is to enjoy being together. Whatever you do as a blended family, make it satisfying for everyone, make it family-focused, and make it fun. Although step kids may not spend their entire summer vacation with you, make time for a project; something that takes planning, execution, and has a definite accomplishment factor so you can celebrate it together. A blended family that plays together stays together.
September 13, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
When getting married, it can sometimes be difficult to understand the proper etiquette involved with many of the wedding functions. The bridal shower is no exception. Many brides-to-be are left uncertain of the proper procedures to follow when planning a bridal shower and who to invite. In addition, the proper role of different guests on the list can become confusing. With a few simple rules of thumb, however, you are guaranteed to have a memorable and proper bridal shower.
Who Hosts the Bridal Shower?
The maid or matron of honor, and never the bridesmaids, traditionally hosts the bridal shower. It is, however, acceptable for another close friend of either the bride or the groom to take on the responsibility. For the most part, it is considered unacceptable for a close relative of the bride, such as the mother or siblings, to throw a bridal shower. This is because it gives the appearance that the family is scouting for gifts. In some areas of the country, however, it is customary for a close relative to throw the bridal shower. In addition, if the bride does not have anyone else to throw the party for her, it may be acceptable for the mother or a sister to throw the party. The family members should, however, try to have as little involvement as possible. It is never considered acceptable for the bride to throw her own bridal shower.
Sometimes, the coworkers of a bride-to-be also decide to throw a bridal shower. A group of coworkers or just one coworker may host this shower. So far as etiquette is concerned, this is perfectly acceptable. Just be sure to limit the guest list to coworkers. Inviting friends and family to a bridal shower hosted by coworkers is tacky.
Who should be invited to the Bridal Shower?
You can invite whomever you want to your bridal shower. Your guest list should certainly include your mother, your future mother-in-law, and your maid or matron of honor. If the bride or the groom has a stepmother, she should also be invited. Traditionally, a bridal shower involves only women. But, co-ed bridal showers are gaining in popularity. This decision is one you will have to make when creating your guest list.
Typically, brides-to-be invite their immediate family members to attend their bridal showers. They also invite all of the female members of the bridal party, and the male members if the bridal shower is co-ed, and other close relatives. Close friends are also invited to the bridal shower. As a rule of thumb, only people who have been invited to the wedding itself should be invited to the bridal shower. It is uncouth to invite someone to the shower without also inviting him or her to the wedding as it implies you are only interested in receiving his or her gifts. You are not, however, expected to invite everyone who will be attending the wedding. Of course, bridal showers hosted by co-workers are the exception – you are not expected to invite you co-workers to your wedding, even if they do throw you a bridal shower.
If you are having a difficult time deciding who to invite to your bridal shower and who not to invite, take a look at your wedding guest list. First, eliminate all of the females with whom the bride does not know directly, such as the wives of male friends. Next, cross off people who were invited to the wedding simply because it is “proper,” but who are not close to the bride. This can include distant relatives or female friends of the bride-to-be’s parents.
What if there will be more than One Bridal Shower?
If you will be having more than one bridal shower, mothers, stepmothers, and female siblings on both sides, as well as the maid of honor, should be invited to every shower. None of these women, however, should be expected to provide a gift at each shower. In addition, the female siblings of the groom should have the option of choosing to attend only one of the showers. Any other guests should be only invited to one of the showers. If you do choose to invite someone to more than one shower, be sure to make it perfectly clear that the person is not expected to bring a gift each time.
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September 12, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
If you are finding the job of being a step mom or step dad difficult, you are not alone. Movies and television shows would have us believing that success is inevitable when two adults with children meet, fall in love, and decide to blend their two families. And it all happens within a one- or two-hour time frame! In blended family life, real life, making it happen does not always come so quickly or easily.
The joys of blended family living
A blended family with two sets of step kids has great potential for being that great big happy family you and your spouse envision, and the rewards of being a step mom and a step dad are boundless. Finding an entirely new set of people to love and to love you is always worthwhile; and the simple act of expanding compassion, affection, and interest in others can have far reaching effects. It is not, however, all sunshine and roses. Being a step mom or a step dad can be gratifying, but try not to expect too much.
Step sibling challenges
Try not to expect that your particular set of step kids, no matter what their ages, will automatically get along. Most step siblings do have one important thing in common: none of them asked to be there. Blended family step siblings, whether they like it or not, have to share a home and learn to get along, despite seeing each other only on weekends or holidays when one set of kids lives with another parent.
One set of step kids may be older and live away from home, joining the step family only occasionally. It really helps to be patient and understanding, and to have reasonable expectations of how quickly step siblings want to, and then manage to, become a unit.
Territorial issues
In a step family, territory is often an issue. Kids who have had their own rooms in a previous house may find sharing accommodations, even for short visits by step siblings, difficult to manage. In some blended family homes accommodations can be very crowded, but do try to make sure everyone has at least some private or personal own area in their shared room. Having their own place to put toys, books and clothes where no one will bother them can go a long way toward making visiting step kids feel more welcome and resident kids feel less intruded upon.
Respect
You must expect, and receive respect from each member of your step family, and each member in turn must be able to expect, and receive respect from you and everyone else. When you set your ground rules for living as a blended family, make treating each other in a respectful and caring manner an absolute and non-negotiable decree.
As step parents in a step family, even-handed and fair treatment is vitally important, because step siblings notice if someone gets preferential treatment or is not challenged when they refuse to follow household rules. Speaking or acting out in disrespectful ways among step siblings or between step kids and step parents, in either direction, must never be tolerated.
Love
Step parents often feel they ought to love their step kids in the same way they love their own. The time may come when everyone in the blended family knows they are wholly loved and accepted, and it is lovely when it does, but to expect indistinguishable love right away is an unreasonable expectation.
Initially, all you can do is to be fair in your dealings with both bio and step kids, and to take a genuine interest in your step kids. It is usually easier, and a lot more genuine, to love someone for whom they really are and not just because you think you should. Remember, you choose your new spouse, and if those step kids seem very un-loveable at times, then love them through your spouse.
September 12, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
What pain are you experiencing because of your disorganization?
Wasted time Wasted money – buying items you already have but can’t find Stress Lost income – due to unproductive time, lack of follow-up, missed opportunities No confidence and feelings of failure – you can’t seem to “get it together” Missed family/friend time – you can’t have people in your home Low energy – your stuff is sucking the life out of you and more…
There is never a better time than NOW to take action, turn your pain into joy and start the journey to get organized. Organizing is a journey. Take these 5 “must-haves” on your trip to ensure success! You may even have some fun, gain confidence and see huge changes in other areas of your life!
5 “must-haves” for the journey:
1. Right ATTITUDE 2. Clear VISION 3. PLAN to follow 4. TEAM for support 5. Big PERSPECTIVE
The right ATTITUDE is key! Do not have an “all or nothing” attitude. I love what Geralin Thomas said on the Nate Berkus Show, “Go for good enough!” Just do something! It doesn’t need to be perfect! You don’t need to wait until all the stars align to get started. It’ll never be the perfect time. Start with the 5X5 challenge on the right! Have a clear VISION! Write down the answers to these questions because you will need to go back to them when you are making decisions. What do you want? How do you want to feel when you walk into your space? What do you want it to look like? Smell like? What do you want your life to be? Talk about this to family and friends to clarify the details and create a unified vision. Create a PLAN. Do you want to spend a 3 hour chunk of time once a week or 15 minutes every day? Will you use a timer? Will the family help? Will you be accountable to anyone? How will you stay motivated?
Follow my SPASM acronym and keep on task! Have a TEAM to support your progress. A team is always better than loner-ville. Can you and your family do it together? Ask a friend that has good style to help you in your closet. Enlist a professional who will know what to do and keep you going. Find a support group (meetup group, Freedom Coaching program) to keep you accountable. Keep your PERSPECTIVE in check. Throughout the process go back and review your vision. Be ready to live in the present, ready for the future, NOT stuck in the past! Let it go and trust that you will have what you need tomorrow! Be grateful for where you are, what you DO have and your physical ability to take this journey! We have so much to be thankful for! Remembering that organizing is a journey will remind you to enjoy each step. When you get overwhelmed, and most likely you will, take one thing at a time. Focus directly on that task and do not think of anything else.
You CAN do it! Get help where you need it so that you can turn your pain into JOY! Take Action: Which of the 5 “must-haves” are you missing? What will you do to get it?