Tube Elevator
PVE52 Vacuum Elevator
I think this elevator has a lot of potential due to its small footprint, but I’m a little disconcerted by the similarity to the drive-up window tubes at a bank. Ha! It appears to only go up and down and not travel horizontally across the ceiling, but then you never know!
This is a vacuum lift from Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators, LLC. It is a self-supporting structure with a footprint of only less than 53″. This still provides an internal cab diameter of 43″. It can rise up to 35′ and have up to 4 stops. Door openings can be arranged in line or at 180 degrees. It requires no mechanical room and no added headroom.
A standard lift requires a constructed shaft with an interior dimension as large the exterior dimensions of this one. That could be an advantage in the residential applications that this is designed to accommodate.
Often we use stair climbing lifts in residential applications. This is fine for homes with wide stairs and for users that are still ambulatory. Unfortunately that option doesn’t work well for someone who is wheelchair bound. There is no way for the rider to move the chair from floor to floor.
The Pneumatic Elevator is a aesthetic and life style choice. The cost is similar or greater than a standard cab style chairlift elevator. it would be something to consider in the right application, but it is designed to be a feature and not something hidden or disguised as is often the goal in home elevator installations.
MCCF 12-12-12 Event a Success
The Marshall County Community Foundation’s 12-12-12 fundraising event was a huge success bringing in over $500,000. That’s over 5 times the goal originally conceived for this event! Congratulations to the volunteers that made this possible and Thank You to all those that contributed!
12-12-12
The Mayan Calendar says the world will end 12-21-12
I’m guessing the numerologists are having a field day with 12-12-12. I read where it’s a great day for weddings in Las Vegas. How could you forget your wedding date if it was 12-12-12? But then if you’re into those kind of things, you probably also aren’t worried about remembering anniversaries since the Mayan Calender says we’re toast in another 9 days… Oooooo… more 1’s and 2’s…For those of you thinking that we have a little more time on this planet, you might want to participate in the Marshall County Community Foundation‘s 12-12-12 event today. Any contribution of $120 or more to one of the foundation’s permanent funds will receive a match of 12%.
The community foundation has just completed a nearly year long evaluation of financial advisers and has chosen to make a change. I think this is a positive move. As the community foundation moves forward, the returns and reporting should improve. Now is a good time to give!
I often feel like the community foundation misses an opportunity in not marketing the tax benefits as well. The Marshall County Community Foundation is a 501c(3) so donations to the community foundation and the underlying funds are tax deductible. A donation of $100 may actually only cost you $75 in after tax dollars! (Depending on your tax status.) Nothing like a 25% return!
Check out the event below if you’re interested. There will be food and fun throughout the day from noon to midnight!
Happy Indiana Day!
In 1925, the Indiana General Assembly provided for the designation of December 11 as Indiana Day. By law (Indiana Code 1-1-10) “The governor shall issue a proclamation annually designating the eleventh day of December as Indiana Day” and citizens are urged to celebrate “in appropriate and patriotic observance of the anniversary of the admission of the state of Indiana into the Union.” Reference here.
Energy Saving ROI’s
Nest Thermostat
$249 at Amazon
A couple of weeks ago I discussed the Nest Thermostat. (See that article here.) One of the questions I have when I see something like this is whether there is return on investment (ROI) or in the case of green technology, is it Green That Saves Green?
According to Remodeling Magazine a programmable thermostat has a payoff in 1-10 years depending on the thermostat installed and the situation in which it will be used. I’ve included some bare bones excerpts here, but for the complete article, check out page 40 in the November 2012 issue of Remodeling Magazine here.
Programmable Thermostat – Materials: $50-$350, Labor: 1-3 hrs, Estimated ROI: <1yr – 10yr
Low Flow Faucets & Fixtures – Materials: $1-$500+, Labor: 15 min – 4 hrs, Estimated ROI: <1yr – 5yr
Tankless Water Heater – Materials: $1,500-$3.500, Labor: 4-8 hr, Estimated ROI: 5yr – 15yr
Air Sealing – Materials: $50-$6,000, Labor: 4-40 hrs, Estimated ROI: <1yr – 8yr
Insulation – Materials: $200-$10,000, Labor: 4-100 hrs, Estmated ROI: 5yr – 15yr
On Demand Circulation Pump – Materials: $50-$150, Labor: 4-6hrs, Estimated ROI: 1yr – 2yr+
* The labor estimates above do not include travel time.
