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6.13.2013

Solar Impulse Leg 4: Flight St. Louis to Washington



Dear Scotts Contracting,
Solar Impulse will be taking off from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (MO) for Washington Dulles (VA) tomorrow Friday June 14th around 4 AM CDT (UTC-5). Piloted by AndrĂ©, it's expected to be a challenging flight due to high cross and headwinds. Because of this, Solar Impulse will do a pit stop at Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport (OH) in order to change pilots, rest and take-off the following morning with better weather conditions. With Bertrand at the controls, the solar airplane will take-off the next morning, Saturday June 15th around 8 AM EDT (UTC-4) and land in the nation's capital sometime after midnight EDT (UTC-4). 


Follow this flight live streaming and virtual cockpit on our website with key interviews and highlights about previous flights. The show start one hour before scheduled take-off. Content is constantly added to the site throughout the flight such as photos, blog articles and flight updates on the flight chart below the live video!


After the Ask Me Anything (AMA) on Reddit.com, our pilots André and Bertrand will do a live Hang-Out, from the air and from the ground, with Google Science Fair. The Hang-Out will open a couple of hours after take-off and will last 30 minutes; the exact time is yet to be determined. If you want to join this unique event, click here. The Hang-Out will be moderated by Olga Garcia of Google Science Fair while Gavin Ovsak, AB Duke Scholar and Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science student at Duke University, will be asking questions.


The fun part is that you too might get a chance to ask something! Just post your question on the Hang-Out page; three of them will be drawn and submitted to Gavin to ask the pilots. The Hang Out will be an international event with Olga moderating from Austin (TX), one pilot in St. Louis (MO), one in the air, Gary, the technical coordinator from Scotland, and David of Solar Impulse TV from Payerne (Switzerland)!


Also, as a token of appreciation to all our supporters, we will be drawing at random 5 names to speak to the pilot while flying! More information will be added on our website and during the live streaming of the flight.
Please be aware that the flight schedule could change before Friday if the Flight Director orders to fly another day or change the itinerary.  You can regularly check the Solar Impulse website for the latest news concerning the flight or other updates.


Reaching the capital of the United States is very symbolic as it will be the first to last stop of this coast-to-coast journey in a solar airplane. It's also the nation's central nervous system where political decisions are made and bills are passed. Solar Impulse will present its Clean Generation initiative, meant to inspire people and incite politicians, policy makers, businessmen and the public to adopt clean technologies. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz will visit the airplane during the prize giving ceremony by the Solar Energy Industry Association for the category Solar Innovator Award this coming Monday June 17th while a breakfast will be held on Capitol Hill on Wednesday June 19th.


The Solar Impulse team will organize an Open House, Sunday 16th of June, come whenever you want between 1PM and 5 PM! The HB-SIA will be at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, free entrance. Get the directions here.

Solar Impulse Team
PS.  You can also follow AndrĂ©, Bertrand or Solar Impulse directly on their Twitter pages



Join us


Solar Impulse is a people-powered movement challenging conventional thinking to inspire innovation, hope and action among citizens and policymakers.

6.12.2013

StLouis Fed Bank starts promoting Green Buildings

  • results of this study demonstrate that when homeowners correctly operate their home’s energy-efficient features, they can realize a significant cost savings

  • In an effort to stabilize housing by enhancing affordability, the St. Louis County Office of Community Development (OCD), in partnership with Laclede Gas Company and a private developer, launched an energy study to determine the best combination of green building techniques to control utility costs.

  • The study, which was the first of its kind on a national platform, examined traditional building methods and various Energy Star features by means of a 10-home project known as Patrician Place.


Save Energy, Save Money: Making Homeownership More Affordable

For many low- to moderate-income (LMI) households, homeownership remains one of the only avenues to building personal wealth, albeit with limited success due to the ever-present challenge of rising living expenses. 

Focusing on what can be changed as opposed to what cannot may help homeowners meet this challenge. Although it can be difficult to influence the cost of maintenance, food and transportation, utility costs are a financial strain that can be partially controlled through structural and behavioral modifications.
In an effort to stabilize housing by enhancing affordability, the St. Louis County Office of Community Development (OCD), in partnership with Laclede Gas Company and a private developer, launched an energy study to determine the best combination of green building techniques to control utility costs. 
The study, which was the first of its kind on a national platform, examined traditional building methods and various Energy Star features by means of a 10-home project known as Patrician Place. Funding for this endeavor was provided by a regional bank and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Natural lighting-Patrician Place Home Green Floor Plan-Scotts Contracting
Patrician Place Home Basic Floor Plan
Energy-efficient natural lighting helps lower utility costs.
Patrician Place was designed to provide relevant comparisons. Therefore, all 10 homes share a common floor plan. The goal was to maximize utility savings through smart architectural design, such as strategically placed windows that allow for natural lighting versus costly artificial lighting. The control home was designed to meet the energy efficiency requirements of the 2003 International Residential Code (IRC), as adopted by St. Louis County, and contained standard-efficiency HVAC equipment—a natural gas furnace and water heater, and an electric air conditioner. The design of the nine green homes incorporated a number of different energy-efficient components, including increased air sealing and insulation, Energy Star windows, and high-efficiency natural gas and electric HVAC systems. The Energy Star ratings for the green homes ranged from 59 to 69, compared to the control home at 150 (lower scores are considered more energy-efficient). Furthermore, all of the green homes were certified to either the National Association of Home Builders’ Model Green Home Building Guidelines or LEED for Homes.

Data Collection

All 10 homes were sold to LMI persons willing to participate in this study. Each buyer received training on the energy-efficient features of their home and completed a survey designed to capture their energy-related behaviors. The data tabulated from this survey were supplemented by observations from quarterly visits. Laclede Gas Company employees visited each home regularly to ensure strategically located data loggers were operational and to extract the data stored on each device. The data loggers recorded temperature and humidity readings in five- to 15-minute intervals over the course of one year. Additionally, natural gas and electric utility bills were collected to analyze energy consumption relative to homeowner preference and general home operation.
The results of this study demonstrate that when homeowners correctly operate their home’s energy-efficient features, they can realize a significant cost savings. Compared with the control home, the average green home saved approximately $200 annually; however, residents of some green homes experienced nearly twice the savings. Not surprisingly, the homeowners with less energy-conscious preferences and those who did not properly utilize their home’s energy-efficient features, such as the programmable thermostat, did not experience the full savings potential. This powerful information fuels the following policy recommendations to motivate and educate existing homeowners and future homebuyers about energy-efficient behaviors and habits in the operation of their households.

Policy Recommendations

The first recommendation gleaned from the evaluation of Patrician Place calls for a shift regarding homebuyer education. All homebuyers receiving federal assistance currently undergo a mandatory eight-hour homebuyer counseling course; unfortunately, this curriculum does not adequately address energy-conservation practices. All homebuyers, especially first-time purchasers, should be exposed to an energy-saving program that is easy to understand and execute. Doing so will help them achieve greater cost savings while simultaneously preserving valuable resources. In response to this data, OCD has created an energy-savings curriculum, Saving Money by Saving Energy, which will be delivered to all homebuyers benefiting from any federal, state or locally funded grants administered by OCD. The curriculum is also available to other agencies, lenders and residents upon request.
The second recommendation is to examine policies that will promote and expand voluntary green building certification programs in order to integrate the most cost-effective green building procedures into local building practice. Patrician Place findings indicate that these techniques are centered on smart architecture, energy-efficient mechanical systems, Energy Star products and appliances, insulation, air sealing, use of recycled materials, low-flow plumbing, and landscaping. Many of these procedures may already be integrated into construction practices across the nation; however, failing to promote these elements through green building programs provides incentives for builders to adopt lowest-cost, least-efficient construction techniques.
The final recommendation is to encourage the implementation of energy-saving home features. Currently, homeowners have access to many different resources that have the potential to help them utilize cost-saving measures that will lower their debt-to-income ratios and increase homeownership affordability—for example, federal, state and local tax incentives; utility rebate programs; low-interest home improvement loans; and the use of Energy Efficient Mortgages.
Improved energy efficiency and the subsequent cost savings are achievable and sustainable by all. The recession and depressed housing market are issues that affect every community. But by continuing to come together to help one another seize opportunities to save money, we will in turn make our communities stronger and more prosperous.


Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

Repairing the Brick Hole from Tree Damage

The tree roots having been long removed from the brick wall.  The Crew and I moved onto laying the bricks in the hole in the wall.  We laid 2 courses of bricks in the hole.  I estimated that there was between 550-650 bricks used to fill this spot and 10 bags of Pro Mix Mortar from Raineri Building Materials.


Setting up the Scaffolding for Brick Repair
Setting up the Scaffolding for Brick Repair-StLouis Brick Home

Scotts Contracting-Applying a stucco finish after the brick wall repair
Applying a stucco finish after the brick wall repair

Thursday-With just a few more spots to finish the stucco finish and a clean up- we've almost got this project under wraps.  In the next post I will share a little History of the Building.  {Hint} Its quite interesting and goes back to the Horse-Buggy Days and Firemen.





Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

6.10.2013

We Got to the Root of the Problem

In the prior Green Blog posts I have been sharing the Activities of Correcting the Damage from a Tree that had been growing in a StLouis Brick Building- and Getting to the Root of the Problem.  Well today we removed the Invasive Tree Root, Tuck-pointed the Brick Wall and then added a layer of Stucco to help add a layer of Rigidity and create a Uniform Look to the Brick Wall.

Exposing the Trees Root System prior to Removal-Scotts Contracting
Exposing the Trees Root System prior to Removal

The Root of the Problem Removed from the Brick Wall -Thus Eliminating the Invasive Tree Roots from Further Growth in the Brick Wall
The Root of the Problem Removed from the Brick Wall
-Thus Eliminating the Invasive Tree Roots from Further Growth in the Brick Wall


Invasive Tree Root Removed-Brick Wall Tuck-pointed and  then a protective layer of Stucco added for Strength and Uniformity
Invasive Tree Root Removed-Brick Wall Tuck-pointed and
 then a protective layer of Stucco added for Strength and Uniformity

Incredible the Invasive Tree Root is longer than the  Little Work Truck!
Incredible the Invasive Tree Root is longer than the
Little Work Truck!

The next photos of this Masonry Brick Wall repair will cover the final brick laying and stucco finish.


June 12-See the Final Video on You Tube Help Theres a Tree Growing in my Brick Wall

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

6.09.2013

Getting to the Root of the Problem

Do You Need Help with a Tree Growing in your Brick Wall? Scotts Contracting will get to the Root of the Problem!

Photo collection of Removing a Tree from a Masonry Brick Wall in StLouis and repairing the damage the Tree Roots had caused  to the Brick Building.

Do You Need Help with a Tree Growing in your Brick Wall? Scotts Contracting will get to the Root of the Problem!
Do You Need Help with a Tree Growing in your Brick Wall? Scotts Contracting will get to the Root of the Problem!
Side View showing Bulge in Brick Wall  caused by the Trees Root System
Side View showing Bulge in Brick Wall
caused by the Trees Root System                                                                  
Outer Course of Brick Wall removed exposing the Trees Root System
Outer Course of Brick Wall removed
exposing over 8feet Tree Root System
Getting to the Root of the Problem
Getting to the Root of the Problem


The crew guesstimates that this Tree had been growing in the brick wall for at least 5 years and had been previously cut at least one time prior to this permanent fix.  

When  we  are  finished  this  tree  will  never  grow  again-Scotty  


Getting to the Root of the Problem

is the first step.  Repairing the Masonry Brick Wall is the next step.  Stay Tuned for the upcoming Green Blog Posts that will be published June 2013.

  • Jun 10, 2013,-Well today we removed the Invasive Tree Root, Tuck-pointed the Brick Wall and then added a layer of Stucco to help add a layer of Rigidity and create a Uniform Look to the Brick Wall. We Got to the Root of the Problem

Scotts Contracting specializes in repairing older brick homes, investment properties, and residential and commercial buildings throughout the Greater StLouis Region.  

Schedule a free estimate with the contact form on the right of the web page.




June 12-See the Final Video on You Tube Help Theres a Tree Growing in my Brick Wall

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

6.08.2013

Do you have a Tree Growing in your Brick Building

Scotts Contracting will get to the Root of the Problem


Scotts Contracting- Will Get to the Root of the Problem
Scotts Contracting Repairs Brick Walls with Tree Damage

Read the Second Blog Post on Getting to the Root of the Problem


Added June 12-See the Final Video on You Tube Help Theres a Tree Growing in my Brick Wall

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

6.04.2013

Solar Impulse Lands in StLouis Lambert Field

For those who have not been following the path of the Solar Powered Airplane, Solar Impulse.  The Solar Powered Airplane safely landed in StLouis at Lambert Airport last night. After a 21 Hour 21 Minute Flight!

Solar Impulse Visit at Lambert - St. Louis Int Airport - 6-7th of June 2013 
Solar Impulse St Louis, MO

With the severe weather we have been having in the region lately, I have been concerned for the planes and pilots safety for this monumental occasion.  I'm sure that there was some turbulence that the pilot and staff were forced to navigate on the 3rd Leg of the Journey across America from Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas to Lambert Field in StLouis.  Nevertheless the plane landed safely and can be viewed at the impromptu hanger that was built for the solar powered plane-41 Banshee Rd 63145


Time Line of the Trip Flight: Dallas KDFW - St. Louis KSTL
  • Pilot: Bertrand Piccard, Initiator and Chairman
    Take off time: June 3nd 04:06AM CDT (UTC-5)
    Landing time: June 4th 01:28AM CDT (UTC-5)
    Flight duration: 21h21min
    Average ground speed: 49 km/h (26.3 kt)
    Highest altitude reached: 7,315 m(24,000 ft)
    Flight Distance: 1040 km (~562 NM)

Here is a link to the directions / map for the Solar Impulse viewing at the Lambert Field 

Directions:
Take 1-170 to Exit 9A Airport Rd.
Go west to McDonnell Blvd.
Go north (right) to Banshee Rd.
Go west (left) on Banshee for approximately .6 miles
Signs will be in place at event entrance. 

41 Banshee Road, StLouis MO 63145

Viewing Times Thursday and Friday-6-7th of June 2013- While the viewing is free pre-registration is required.

Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse Visit at Lambert - St. Louis Int Airport - Thursday 6th of June 2013 

St Louis | View map
Come and see Solar Impulse's solar airplane, HB-SIA, at Lambert - St. Louis International Airport.

Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse Visit at Lambert - St. Louis Int Airport - Friday 7th of June 2013 

St Louis | View map
Come and see Solar Impulse's solar airplane, HB-SIA, at Lambert - St. Louis International Airport. 














Keeping the pilot awake
Bertrand landed at Lambert-St. Louis International airport at 01:28 AM CDT (UTC-5), Tuesday June 4th, completing his longest ever flight (21 hours 21 minutes).
The mobile hangar, a concept developed by Solar Impulse and being used for the first time during a mission, is setup and waiting to welcome the solar aircraft in its cocoon as soon as the Ground Crew haul it off the runway. This inflatable hangar was deployed after the one provided by Lambert-St. Louis was rendered inoperable by violent storms that struck the city and the airport this past weekend.
St. Louis was chosen as the destination for the third leg of this Across America mission for historic and symbolic reasons. St. Louis is best known for the “Spirit of St. Louis” who, piloted by Charles Lindbergh in 1927 completed the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris. This flight was made possible by St. Louis businessmen including the namesake of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Albert Bond Lambert.
During today’s flight, there were a couple of memorable calls from the ground to the cockpit. This first one was from Erik Lindbergh, Charles’ grandson. They had a chance to discuss the importance of exploration and of inspiring younger generations to take a chance and become pioneers of and for the future. They also got to exchange thoughts on the future of aviation while they spoke about meeting again in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum under Erik’s grandfather’s “Spirit of St. Louis” and Bertrand’s “Breitling Orbiter”.
The other call was from Alan Nichols, President of the Explorer’s Club. He said he wished he could be up there, with Bertrand. At every stopover, chapters of the Explorer’s Club organized visits to see the solar airplane and they will hold a reception for Solar Impulse in New York City. Flag n°50 of the Club is travelling with AndrĂ© and Bertrand Across America – The same flag travelled to Morocco onboard HB-SIA during the 2012 Crossing Frontiers mission.
The best part of the flight, however, was the incredible response rate we got from Solar Impulse supporters who took to heart the call to “Keep the Pilot Awake”. A campaign launched by our Social Media and Community Engagement manager, ElĂ¢ Borschberg, over 600 people (and counting) responded with words of encouragement, via email, to the pilot and, more importantly, jokes to make him laugh. 


In keeping with the green and eco friendly nature of the Solar Powered Plane I plan to take my girls grand-kids to the event via the StLouis Metro Transit use the Metro Trip Planner for a green alternative to view the Solar Powered Plane




Added June 13, 2013
Solar Impulse will be taking off from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (MO) for Washington Dulles (VA) tomorrow Friday June 14th around 4 AM CDT (UTC-5). Piloted by AndrĂ©, it's expected to be a challenging flight due to high cross and headwinds. Because of this, Solar Impulse will do a pit stop at Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport (OH) in order to change pilots, rest and take-off the following morning with better weather conditions. With Bertrand at the controls, the solar airplane will take-off the next morning, Saturday June 15th around 8 AM EDT (UTC-4) and land in the nation's capital sometime after midnight EDT (UTC-4). 




























Stay Tuned for Further Details on the #Solar Powered Airplanes StLouis Visit.

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

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