The Buildings Site

Going Green: What is “LEEDs?”

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:58:16 -0500

'An Overview of LEED Compliance' Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED is an internationally recognized certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council USGBC to designate buildings which are notable for stewardship of our resources and for sensitivity to the structure's impacts. It is a voluntary program that measures how well a building or community performs in the following key areas: 'the choice of sustainable sites and managing the site during construction. Development on previously undeveloped land is discouraged. The goals are to minimize a building's impact on ecosystems and waterways; to encourage regionally appropriate landscaping; to reward smart transportation choices; to control storm water runoff; and to reduce erosion, light pollution, the heat island effect as well as construction-related pollution. 'water efficiency. Since buildings are major users of our potable water supply, the aim is to encourage smarter use of water,...

LOG HOME BASICS

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:36:46 -0600

As we start to research log homes, it quickly becomes apparentthat there is much more variety than one would ever think. Notonly do log homes come in all shapes and sizes, but the logsthemselves come in as many variations as you can imagine. Onceyou decide on the look you want, you can start eliminatingmanufacturers that don't provide your system.There are two categories of log homes: handcrafted and milledlog homes. Initially, you may not realize what you are lookingat, but there are some basic guidelines that will clarify thedifferences. A handcrafted log home is just that; the logs arepeeled by hand, notched by hand, and in many cases, each log isscribed to fit exactly on top of another log. In manyhandcrafted homes, the logs are stacked alternately, so thelarge end of a log is stacked on top of the tapered end of thelog beneath. A milled log home will feature logs that areuniform in shape, and the logs will be cut to fit together, suchas with a tongue-and-groove or...

How to be Protected by Surveillance Cameras

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:53:33 -0600

There are a lot of ways different to make use of surveillance cameras; it can be used with closed circuit television technology, digital technology or computers. Basically, surveillance cameras are video cameras connected to monitors for protection and safety. The technology known as video surveillance cameras was started by Siemens AG. They first installed this at Test Stand VII in Germany back in so that they can observe launches of V- rockets from a safe distance. German engineer Walter Burch is credited for the invention, design and installation of this system which records rocket launches to observe for any malfunctions or other causes of problems. Today, this technology is still used on launch pads around the world and for other purposes. Video surveillance cameras are installed in public areas such as parks and roads, inside office buildings, casinos, banks and government installations. It can be for crime watch purposes, traffic monitoring, transportation safety or indu...

How to Value Commercial Real Estate

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:06:18 -0600

One of the first questions you'll ask yourself when you are looking at a new property to purchase is: What is this property worth? That is a different question then: How much can I pay? And it's still different then: What can I get this property for? But all of those questions need answers before you put in an offer to purchase a new property.How an investor chooses to value a property can depend on the size of the property or the sophistication of the purchaser. We rely on the simple methods, both because we are new to commercial investing, and because we're looking at small properties. But, simple doesn't mean less reliable or less accurate when it comes to commercial valuation.Essentially, there are three ways to value a commercial property:. Direct Comparison Approach. Cost Approach. Income Approach which includes the DCF method and the Capitalization Method.The direct comparison approach uses the recent sale details of similar properties similar in size, locati...

Park Home insurance: What to look for in an Insurance Policy

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:25:06 -0600

Do you have or are you contemplating buying a Park Home? Modern Park Homes feature all the modern inclusions of the traditional home and can be a great investment. Just as you insure your home against accidental and natural damage, theft and vandalism with a comprehensive home insurance policy, Should protect your park home with Park Home Insurance. The two things to look for in your Park Home Insurance policy are its cost and coverage. You may find that a low-priced policy is virtually worthless, with so many loopholes and omissions in its coverage that it is practically no coverage at all. Or you may find that a fully comprehensive coverage is prohibitively expensive. Then again, you may find Shield insurance and discover that you can get fully comprehensive coverage at a great price. Before you make your decision about who you are going to buy your insurance policy from, look at the plain English policy that Shield provides on its website. Some of the key features include the follow...

Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation - have we ignored this for

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:13:36 -0600

Domestic and Commercial FiresIn the UK alone there are in excess of , accidental firesin populated buildings resulting in over fatalities. Manybelieve these figures are unacceptable and that a fairpercentage of fire related injuries and deaths are alsoavoidable. So what can be done to save more lives?The LawFire safety is now being given extra legal focus which isreflected in new Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order which comesinto force in April . This new legislation includes therequirement for employers to carry out a fire safety riskassessment and act upon its findings.Risk AssessmentsThere are many changes organisations can employ to make theirbuildings safer and escape procedures better and theseimprovements are best identified by carrying out a fire safetyrisk assessment.If you have the time and expertise to do this 'in-house' thenall when and good but often this task is best left to theprofessionals. Make sure that any company offering this servi...

Wood Shed Kits; Saves you Both Time and Money

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:20:27 -0600

Wood shed kits can be an awesome way to save some money when looking for a storage solution for your back yard. Normally when you buy a kit it will come with all the hardware, fasteners and pre-cut lumber which will save you cutting time and most times will be cheaper than buying everything separately. Most wood shed kits usually come with everything you need to build your shed but sometimes; they won't include any consideration for the foundation. You need to make sure that your foundation is level and conforms to your local building codes. Sometimes it is easy not to give much thought to the foundation but it is one of the most important components of your project. It must be able to support the weight of your shed and it also needs to be able to support the weight of the shed contends as well. The foundation, if not done properly, can ruin not only the looks of your project; it can also shorten the longevity if your shed collapses from lack of proper support. Another thing you will ...

Austin Texas Real Estate: Two Exciting Projects

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:17:15 -0600

"Two Austin office buildings have been purchased by a California company. Triple Net Properties LLC bought both the ,-square-foot property on Congress in the downtown area, and Avallon, a ,-square-foot set of office buildings in the northwest district of Austin. Both properties were purchased from Crescent Real Estate Equities Co for . million. Crescent itself was bought by Morgan Stanley Real Estate for . billion.The office building at Congress is a very distinct and prized office building in downtown Austin. Renovated in and originally constructed in , this story Class A office tower is very close to the historic Texas Capitol. Offices on top floors have excellent views of the Capitol, and everyone in the building enjoys the elegant lobby, with itslimestone flooring and walls, polished marble, stylized stainless steel planters, attractive lighting, comfortable seating areas, and much more. An outdoor area adds an elegant touch to those walking ...

Planning for Emergencies in Your Cleaning Business

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:24:19 -0600

On an average day your staff will go to work and the time willpass routinely, without incident. But unexpected events canhappen. Whether the incident is life threatening, a small spill,or the building loses electricity, you need to make sure yourstaff is prepared and knows how to respond. When the lights go out. Most cleaning is normally done in theevening hours, so when the electricity goes out your staff willnot be able to do their jobs. But that does not mean they shouldimmediately leave the building. Many buildings have emergencylighting, but if it is totally dark, your staff should maketheir way to the entrance so they can see. Employees shouldcontact their supervisor. They may have to use a cell phone asthe building's phones may not be working. If an employee doesnot have a cell phone, they should wait minutes to see if theelectricity is restored. If not, then they can leave thebuilding and go to a phone to contact a supervisor. Spills. Cleaning companies deal ...

Outdoor Storage - Steel Sheds

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:23:58 -0600

For homeowners or anyone else who has managed to accumulate a lot of extraneous items and is in need of some extra storage, outdoor storage sheds can be a great solution. There are many options in terms of sizing, materials, and pricing on the market these days, and it is worth taking the time to do a little research into what type of shed could be the best fit. Building Materials Used in Outdoor Storage ShedsOutdoor storage sheds come in a great deal of materials, including the following: Metal - The sturdiest of materials means your equipment will be safe in any sort of outdoor conditions. Wood - Cedar is a classic type of wood used in the construction of sheds, offering a clean finish, building strength, and woodsy aroma. Vinyl - Vinyl storage sheds are affordable and built to be weather resistant. Plastic - Available in all colors and sizes, plastic sheds are a portable and functional solution to outdoor shed needs.Uses for Outdoor Storage Steel ShedsMade to be used year-ro...