Carbon Monoxide Poisoning fron Furnace

NOTE: CO detectors only alarm at high levels. Chronic low level poisoning is often misdiagnosed by Doctors, or missed by untrained technicians. The best primary defense is to have your Furnace maintained annually in the Fall by a reputable Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor ...hint, hint :-)

Home energy upgrades get U.S.-backed loans

Home energy upgrades get U.S.-backed loans

Many U.S. homeowners are now eligible for up to $25,000 in federally-insured loans to make energy-efficient upgrades such as adding insulation, sealing ducts or replacing windows, the Obama adminitration announced Thursday.
Consumers with good credit scores, manageable debt and some equity in their homes can get "PowerSaver" loans at or below market rates to finance efficiency measures that also include new HVAC systems, water heaters, solar panels and geothermal heating/cooling.
"We're making it easier for American homeowners to save money by saving energy," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu, noting they spend an average of $2,000 each year on utility bills.

Eighteen regional and national lenders, including Quicken, have signed on to the two-year pilot program, said Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, who joined Chu in making the announcement. Donovan said he expects the loans will serve about 30,000 homeowners and will not only save them money on energy bills but also reduce pollution and create at least 3,000 construction jobs.

The loans are part of the Obama administration's broader efforts to improve home energy efficiency. In November, Vice President JoeBiden announced a pilot program in which nine communities will test a new Home Energy Score, which ranks a home's efficiency on a scale of one to 10.
Similar to the miles-per-gallon label for cars, the score will also tell consumers how their homes compare with others and how much money they could save with efficiency upgrades based on an energy audit.

Donovan said the Home Energy Score could help prove the payback for various upgrades and the PowerSaver loans could expand demand for them that will prompt greater private investment.
The Federal Housing Administration will cover up to 90% of the loans' amount in the case of default, leaving the remaining risk to the lenders. The participating lenders include:

1. Admirals Bank
2. AFC First Financial Corporation
3. Bank of Colorado
4. City of Boise, Idaho
5. Energy Finance Solutions
6. Enterprise Cascadia
7. HomeStreet Bank
8. Neighbor's Financial Corporation
9. Paramount Equity Mortgage, Inc.
10. Quicken Loans
11. SOFCU Community Credit Union
12. Stonegate Mortgage Corporation
13. Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc.
14. The Bank at Broadmoor
15. University of Virginia Community Credit Union, Inc.
16. Viewtech Financial Service

17. WinTrust Mortgage
18. W. J. Bradley Mortgage Capital Corporation

L.A. County health officials are investigating a possible respiratory infection outbreak after dozens of illnesses are reported by people who attended a recent fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion.

A Feb. 3 fundraiser was held at Hugh Hefner's Holmby Hills home. Many attendees have reported falling ill after the event and suspect that their symptoms are related to legionellosis, or Pontiac fever. Legionellosis is caused by a bacterium that grows in warm water and can take root in hot tubs or parts of air-conditioning systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria are not spread from person to person, according to the CDC, but are instead inhaled in water vapor.

How is Legionellosis spread?

Outbreaks of legionellosis have occurred after people have inhaled aerosols that come air-conditioning cooling towers contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Bacteria can thrive in a variety of conditions and, like mold, can be easily spread throughout your home by the heating and cooling system.

What is the Solution?

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has been used by hospitals and restaurants for years to help disinfect and prevent the spread of germs. I install an excellent home ultraviolet treatment system which applies UV technology to your heating and cooling system to zap and kill airborne and surface contaminants to create a better home environment for your family.

What is UV-C light and how does it kill bacteria?

UV-C is the invisible, ultraviolet, C-band radiation that makes up part of the sun's light spectrum. UV-C light prevents growth and germination of microorganisms by altering the DNA and RNA and effectively sterilizing the organisms. Once sterilized, they cannot reproduce and with their short life cycles, they are effectively killed.

Since 1936, UV has been used to sterilize air. It was first used to purify air in a surgical operating room. UV has been used in schools to decrease the growth of epidemics such as measles and tuberculosis. Other applications include: churches, beauty salons, restaurants, incubation rooms, veterinary clinics, and hospitals.

You can effectively combat airborne germs and bacteria by having a UV system installed in your home. Call to find out more.