Dewstop Fan Switch
Excessive condensation is an issue in bathrooms, particularly those with showers. The Dewstop Fan Switch by GTR Technologies is designed to prevent this problem. Code requires that all new bathrooms have exhaust fans. Often the fan does not get turned on when it is needed. Conversely, it may get left on and forgotten. The old solutions to this problem are motion sensors and timers, but neither of those solutions actually run the fan for the correct amount of time.
The Dewstop switch has a “Condensation Sentry” which detects condensation on nearby surfaces and automatically activates the exhaust fan, airing out the room until it reaches an acceptable humidity level. The fan then automatically shuts off. This means that the fan runs the correct amount of time and doesn’t waste energy by running too long and doesn’t risk moisture problems by not running long enough. That makes this a green solution to the problem.
The fan can be activated manually as well, so it can be run at other times as well. It is also available in a Fan/Light combination.
What’s missing here is a timer or motion sensor for the light switch. This would make it truly hands-free device. That would enhance it as a green device as well. Possibly that’s something that will be coming down the pike.
Culver Wine Fair – 2012
The Culver Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Wine Fair at the Culver Cove September 15, 2012. This is the first year of what will hopefully be an annual event in Culver. You can purchase tickets online and get a $5 discount off the event price. The advance purchase price is also available if you want to pick up tickets at Brockey Insurance in Culver. Check the bottom of this post for some additional links to find out more and get your tickets.
Updates, Menus, and More on our Facebook Page! Search “The Culver Coffee Company” and become a fan!
Save 5$ and print tickets online! Click http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4145721966
Interested in Culver Cove Wine Fair Package? Click“yes!”
VTAC
I had the opportunity last Tuesday night to visit some of the founding members of VTAC, Veterans Therapeutic Art Center. I sat down with Larry, Terry, Richie, and Dan at the MoonTree Studios facility (MoonTree Community Studios is a Ministry of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ) where they have been allowed to use the woodworking shop as a start up location. The organization is going to cover a seven county area serving veterans and their families. Their information shows that there are over 50,000 veterans in this area and they are conservatively estimating a clientele of around 150,000 when they include families. These four men are all veterans and they shared with me some of the struggles in coming back and reintegrating into society. They explained that many veterans tend to pull into a shell, never leaving home, and often end up resorting to the bottle to cope. The organization is very young and just recently received their 501(c)3 designation. Despite this they are already working in multiple venues beyond the woodworking, providing culinary arts, an art studio, music studio, multimedia computer lab, photography studio and metal sculpturing. Currently experts in these fields are volunteering their time to provide these services. They have hopes of expanding into auto mechanics and other hands-on fields as well.
Veteran working at VTAC site provided by MoonTree Studios
Picture borrowed from MoonTree Studios blog
They are hoping to set up facilities throughout their territory with various opportunities to draw out the veterans. Their feeling is that by including families, family involvement will encourage the veterans themselves to participate. They know that veterans are very independent and often introspective. In many cases they have skills that are valuable but they have issues that prevent them from integrating into a regular workplace. One of their other plans is to form a barter system where veterans can share their skills on a peer to peer basis. For example they discussed the possibility of being able to have a veteran electrician do work at a home in exchange for something like accounting services if the recipient has those types of skills. The possibilities are somewhat unlimited with that type of program so it could be a huge resource. This is also another way to get the veterans involved in a sub-community, if not the greater community at this point, and should help them integrate back into society. As the organization is young they do not know exactly what they will morph into but their long range plan is to expand the group into additional 7 to 8 county hubs throughout the region and eventually nationally.
They discussed with me the problems with the current veteran programs that are out there. These programs often are available, but they are not run by veterans, so there is no connection of shared experience. They surprised me when they told me that in these programs, even including the VA (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs ), the personnel are rarely veterans. Often the programs are known, but the details on how to access them are vague. Not only will VTAC be providing their in-house services, but they also hope to be a clearing house where a veteran can come and find out about other services. VTAC will try and connect them to someone who has been through the paperwork and other requirements to apply for help.
They showed amazing enthusiasm and energy for getting this project off the ground. It truly looks like they have found a need that can be answered and they have found a unique way to address it. It will be interesting to follow their progress. I want to wish them every success!
They are having a silent auction and open house event October 20th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at MoonTree Studios. They are hoping that this will be a way to bring veterans together and inform the community about their programs. The auction will then be a fundraiser for the program and will include some of the furniture pieces that they have refurbished in their woodworking shop. Mark your calendars to be there!
Random Thought: Leaky “Life” Boat
Sometimes it seems like I’m in a leaky “life” boat. I’m so busy bailing that there’s no time to man the oars and row toward shore…
Color Matching Apps
Sherwin Williams and PPG Industries (Olympic Paint) have color matching applications for Android, iPad, iPhone and iPad Touch. Both applications allow a comparison of colors snapped with the device’s camera where applicable or from pictures downloaded or found online. Olympic Paint’s version is ColorClix. Sherwin Williams has ColorSnap.
I haven’t tried either of these yet, but I’m intrigued. I will try the ColorSnap since Sherwin Williams is in Plymouth and easily accessible. It is generally our go-to place. I’ll try to report back when I’ve tried it. I have it on my phone, so we shall see!
Follow up 10-8-12: I tried it and it has flaws. See details in a post here.
