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How safe are solar batteries for your home?
One of the best ways to take full advantage of solar energy is to install an energy storage system along with your solar panels. Solar batteries allow you to store the excess energy produced by your solar system for later use when the sun isn’t shining. Batteries are complex products, and it is important to understand the safety implications of installing a home solar battery.power inverter module
In general, solar batteries are very safe. Lithium ion, salt water, and lead acid batteries are the main types of solar battery systems available, and are all safe to pair with a home solar system. These three battery categories have their own advantages and disadvantages, but all share the distinction of being a safe home storage option.
While all three battery types are safe, lithium ion batteries, the most popular type of solar battery, do pose a slightly higher safety risk than alternate technologies. Problems can arise if they are installed incorrectly or the battery quality is low. This is because of the chemical makeup of a lithium ion battery, which makes them more prone to overheating and combustion. However, with a proper installation and reputable product, even lithium ion batteries rarely pose any health or safety risk to homeowners.
To reiterate, solar batteries are safe, and the concerns that may arise due to lithium ion battery chemistry will only ever be an issue in the case of poor installation work or faulty battery construction. These two problems can be avoided easily by working with a reputable battery manufacturer and a high-quality, trusted installation company.
The best way to make sure you are hiring a safe and reputable solar installation company is to talk with solar installers to find one that you trust. EnergySage’s network of over 500 installers are pre-screened and certified, ensuring you will get the best service and installations quality for your solar + storage project when you compare your options through the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.Fortunately, most (if not all) established battery manufacturers produce batteries that meet standardized industry safety regulations. Batteries from reputable companies often comply with industry standard certifications. The following batteries are quality products following important industry guidelines to ensure safety:
The Safety Question Persists as Energy Storage Prepares for Huge Growth
The safety of energy storage systems is under scrutiny after firefighters were injured in an Arizona battery plant explosion in April, and it emerged that at least 23 South Korean plants caught fire in a series of incidents dating back to August 2017.safe power battery
For now, many experts continue to stand behind energy storage's track record on safety in the context of the broader power market.
When testing energy storage technologies, safety is not viewed as part of a hierarchy of requirements, but is “a simple pass-fail,” said David Kane, technology development manager at the energy company Centrica in the U.K.
“If we cannot be satisfied that the system is safe, then we just can’t pass go,” he said. “That doesn’t just apply to the final product design. It applies to the installation, the service, the decommissioning [and] the various steps in the supply chain.”
Arizona Public Service (APS) still has not revealed the cause of a blast that the Associated Press last month claimed had “sent eight firefighters and a police officer to the hospital.”However, as previously noted by GTM, the utility has one of the most aggressive energy storage adoption strategies in the U.S., with plans to install roughly a gigawatt of battery capacity by 2025.
Pressures associated with a hasty build-out of battery capacity appear to have been the cause of numerous lithium-ion facility fires in South Korea.
Last month, S&P Global reported that a five-month investigation into the blazes had put the blame on faulty installations and poor operating procedures rather than the batteries themselves.
Home solar system: Renewable energy solutions for residential users
Solar energy is a renewable source of energy that is gaining ground because of the benefits it offers. In India, sunlight is available in abundance and there is technology available to harness this energy and convert it into electric power. Solar power panels serve the purpose of absorbing solar energy and converting it to electric power through the photovoltaic (PV) effect. Most homes have a roof or a backyard which can be utilized to install solar panels and produce electricity. solar energy solution
A home solar system must provide enough electric energy to fulfil all the power requirements of a home. It should also be capable of providing AC power as traditionally all homes use AC power to operate lighting systems, gadgets, appliances and equipment such as computers, refrigerators, mixers, fans, air conditioners, TVs and music systems.
It requires the adequate number of solar panels to absorb as much solar energy as possible. When exposed to direct sunlight a typical home solar panel produces about 300 watts in one hour which means that in a normal day during summer, comprising 10 hours of sunlight, it can produce around 3000 watts or 3 kWh per day. This could vary depending on the number of hours of sunshine received during the day.
The system requires a battery which can be charged by the solar power generated and also can store electric power to be used in the night. Batteries are typically used in off-grid systems.
The system needs an inverter to convert the DC power generated to AC power so that it can be used by the appliances or devices in the home.
The entire home solar power system is interconnected with adequate and appropriate cabling and wiring to channelize the energy into a usable form.When sunlight falls on the solar panels it gets absorbed by the PV cells and the silicon semiconductors in the cells convert the solar energy into electric energy through the PV effect. This electric energy is in the form of DC power which can directly charge the battery. The DC power in the battery is sent to an inverter which converts it into AC power. This AC power is now sent to the mains in the home which in turn can power all necessary applications.
Wayfair is having a massive two-day sale on furniture this weekend
Our editors review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. However, our picks and opinions are independent from USA Today’s newsroom and any business incentives.Furniture
Wayfair is arguably the best place to buy furniture online. Not only is it more affordable than other big names (looking at you, Crate & Barrel), but you can shop from such a huge catalogue of options to find pieces that fit your style. And the quality tends to be passable at worst and impressive at best, especially give the lower price points.
It's an even more magical place to shop when you can get a big old discount too. And this weekend you have that opportunity. Wayfair is running a massive 48-hour clearance sale right now and we are here for it. You can find crazy good prices on everything from mattresses and bedroom furniture to couches, rugs, lighting, and more, with discounts as high as 70%. If you're not looking for something specific and just want to browse and be inspired, we rounded up 23 highly rated, trendy pieces from the sale.
I literally gasped aloud when I saw this coffee table—it’s that gorgeous. With a round glass surface and classic gold legs, this retro-modern coffee table will add an instant touch of glam to any room. Personally, I think it would go perfectly next to a dark velvet chair or sofa or fit well in a Millennial pink color scheme, but let your imagination run wild. Aside from its aesthetic appeal, reviewers appreciate that it's super easy to assemble and comes at a reasonable price.
Want a worn vintage rug, but don’t want to pay the vintage price? Look no further than this area rug, which features light, faded hues that make it seem like you’ve had it for years. Over 28,000 reviewers love the look of this rug, but recommend getting a rug pad so it lays completely flat.
Semitrailer catches fire, forces ramp closure and FrontRunner delays in Davis Co.
A crash involving a semitrailer forced officials to close part of I-215 in southern Davis County Tuesday afternoon.Semi Trailer
The crash occurred near the southbound I-15 ramp to westbound I-215, and the semitrailer involved in the crash caught fire.
Preliminary information from the Utah Highway Patrol indicated the semitrailer left I-215 and landed on the train tracks below.
Because the semitrailer landed on train tracks, Utah Transit Authority activated a bus bridge to transport FrontRunner passengers between the Woods Cross and North Temple stops. Northbound and southbound FrontRunner trains are delayed between Woods Cross and Ogden
The Utah Department of Transportation reports the ramp is expected to be closed until 1:45 p.m.
Back in the 1960s, Hugo Kumitz had a tile and marble company in Memphis. His top employee was a man named Thomas Cox.
After several years, Kumitz had a suggestion for Cox that bordered on
an order: Go out on your own, Kumitz told him, you’re too good at this
to not start your own company.
Today, as the company celebrates its
50th anniversary, son Ricky Cox is the president and runs the show.
Ricky’s two older brothers chose other careers, one recently retiring
after 35 years in corporate with UPS, and the other still operating a
restaurant public relations firm in California.Artistic Tile And Marble
Dad, Ricky says, still helps out. But at 76, Thomas Cox can afford to set his own boundaries and he does: He’ll run a job for his son if it’s close to his home, in the same ZIP code.
The industry has changed dramatically with each passing decade. In fact, Ricky Cox, 45, says, “Back in the ’90s were the best years. Dad ran 10 crews. He had 25 or 30 employees. It was a much bigger company. We do half of what he used to do. Honestly, I don’t know how he did it. Man, he was working 16-hour days.”
Cox says his days are closer to 12 hours. The work is still hard, the business is still competitive, but in a different way. One decision the elder Cox made has continued to pay dividends for the company. He became very involved with the National Tile Contractors Association, even sitting on the board for a couple of years.
The company has continued a close relationship with NTCA, and recently Ricky and three of his employees earned advanced certification on installing ceramic tile.
“It’s a test and it’s not easy,” Cox said. “A guy that’s been laying tile for two years couldn’t pass it.”
That level of expertise in combination with the company’s 50-year track record and relationships have kept business at a good level, even though the company today has 12 employees.Ryan McClain, owner of McClain Construction, strictly does remodeling jobs. He’s been using Memphis Tile and Marble Co. for several years.
“They show up when they say they’ll be there,” McClain said. “The people he has working are all respectful. If there’s an issue after the fact, they come back and take care of the issue.”
When Ricky’s father got the business really going, cultured marble – a man-made material – was very popular. Cox says no grout was used so it was easy to clean.
“That’s why everybody liked it,” he said. “But nobody does it anymore. It all transitioned to tile and the tiles are getting bigger. When I started out the biggest tile was an 8-by-8. And now they’re making porcelain tile 10 foot by 5 foot. Mainly for commercial walls.”
Granite kitchen countertops are still the most popular countertop choice in our market. It is the benchmark of what people expect to spend on a counter. Budgets start there, and then alternatives are looked at above or below the price of granite. It is very elegant, and the beauty of the stone is stunning with almost any cabinetry you choose. It is extremely durable and heat resistant. Granite is a natural stone that comes in a range of beautiful colors. An important consideration is that granite is a natural rock, variable by nature, and the color or pattern will NOT be consistent; therefore, there can be surface pits in the rock. Yet, this is what makes granite countertops so beautiful — every counter is like a work of art. You should seal granite once a year, and depending on edge design of the stone you select, know that edges may chip due to normal wear and tear around the sinks and dishwashers where heavy pots may hit the edges going in and out. Some stone is harder and may not chip at all.
Engineered Stone/Quartz Countertops are available in a dazzling range of colors and have a nonporous scratch-resistant surface. For those who love the look of granite but are concerned with its lack of consistency, Quartz is a very hard material and can give you a natural stone look with consistent color and texture throughout the quartz countertop. Each slab looks the same, which helps minimize the visible seams that you will get in granite countertop installations. Quartz is easy to maintain and doesn’t require the annual sealing required by natural stone.
Marble has a timeless allure that has been attracting fans for millennia and is currently a very popular trend for use throughout the home. Formed by the crystallization of sediment from years of heat and pressure, marble is a metamorphic stone like granite and soapstone. As with all-natural stones, every slab of marble is completely different, just like a fingerprint, which makes it a great choice for homeowners trying to make their homes unique.Classic Marble And Stone
While classic white is the most popular type of marble, there are hundreds of varieties in a number of different colors. Italian stones are generally the most well-known, like the bright white Calacatta and the greyer, more affordable Carrara, but marble comes from all over the world, including Danby from Vermont and Yule from Colorado.
One of the challenges of using marble as a countertop is that it is much more porous than other stones. This allows oils and liquids to seep into the stone and possibly stain it. If used in the kitchen, wine and coffee spills should be wiped up as quickly as possible, and if used in the bathroom, makeup and remover can leave stains as well. However, if marble is professionally sealed when installed it will be less likely to take a stain. If it is a surface that gets a lot of use, like a kitchen countertop, it should be re-sealed every year or so. While this will help to protect the marble by making it a little less porous, it is still vulnerable to etching. Because marble is comprised of calcium carbonate, it reacts easily to acids, and liquids like lemon juice or vinegar can eat away at the surface, leaving a dull, white mark.
A lot of marble fans actually like the etchings, and they love to watch their marble weather over time, letting each little scratch and chip tell a story. Because marble is a softer stone than granite, it does allow for a lot of stories as knives can scratch the surface, and it is more prone to getting chipped than some other natural stones. Many homeowners try to circumvent this by choosing a honed finish.
Yet with all of the challenges and vulnerabilities, there is nothing quite like the elegance, warmth, and character of marble. Also heat-resistant, it is a wonderful surface for baking, and its versatility makes marble a beautiful choice for any design style in the kitchen, bathroom, office, or a fireplace mantle. For owners who know what to expect, marble can be a wonderful investment for any home.
An estimated 48 million Americans suffer from some form of hearing loss—the vast majority of them older adults. Almost one-third of people ages 65 to 74 report difficulty hearing, and the number rises to about half by age 75, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Digital Hearing Aids Cheap
Evidence is mounting that untreated hearing loss is a significant
national health concern, and studies have linked it with other serious
health problems, including depression, a decline in memory and
concentration, and perhaps even dementia.
The most common type of
hearing loss, called sensorineural, often stems from damage to the tiny
hair cells that line the inner ear. These cells convert incoming sound
waves into electrical signals that are then shuttled to the brain. The
brain interprets the signals as meaningful sounds.
Aging and chronic
exposure to loud noises are the most common causes of damage, but
certain medications, illnesses, and a family history of hearing loss can
also increase your risk.
Although sensorineural hearing loss is often not reversible, it can be managed with hearing aids, which selectively amplify sounds. Cases of severe hearing loss or hearing loss in only one ear can be managed with cochlear implants, which electrically stimulate the auditory nerve by bypassing the damaged portions of the hearing system.This is less common and often occurs as a result of a physical blockage or malformation in the middle or outer ear. Impacted earwax, fluid buildup in the middle ear from an infection, and certain disorders can block sound from reaching the inner ear and brain.
Removing the wax buildup in the outer ear, treating infections in the middle ear, and, in the case of malformations, having corrective surgery typically restore hearing. If not, a hearing aid may be used.
Older adults sometimes have a mix of both types of loss. For example, age-related hearing loss plus wax in the middle ear can interfere with sound conduction to the inner ear.Once hair cells in the inner ear are dead, there’s no bringing them back. But hearing aids may significantly improve your ability to hear by making sounds louder and easier to understand.
Hearing aids have a microphone to pick up sound, an amplifier to make sound louder, and a receiver that sends the sound into the ear canal. In modern digital aids, microphones transmit sound to a computer chip, which adjusts the volume and amplifies the sound frequencies needed to help improve your hearing. (Though analog aids are less common and less complex than digital aids, they do have advantages, including fewer advanced features. That can make them more user-friendly.)
A hearing professional can program a digital aid to filter out wind and other background noise, as well as fine-tune the aid to match your specific hearing loss pattern. More and more models can sync wirelessly with your smartphone, enabling you to take calls, stream audio, and even adjust your aid’s settings using an app.
Phonak Appoints Gunnar Peterson as Lyric Ambassador
Phonak announced the appointment of fitness trainer Gunnar Peterson as a Lyric Ambassador for his role in raising awareness of the link between hearing health and total wellness during Men’s Health Month. Peterson wears Phonak Lyric, “the world’s only 100% invisible extended-wear hearing aid that can be worn 24/7 for months at a time,”1 according to Phonak. He credits the device for enabling him to improve his relationships at home and at work, where he trains celebrities, professional athletes, and everyday people from his gym in Beverly Hills, Calif. Peterson is also the Los Angeles Lakers’ Director of Strength and Endurance and is said to be recognized as an expert in functional training and innovative fitness techniques.ITE Digital Hearing Aids
We are thrilled to have Gunnar on board as a Lyric ambassador, especially during Men’s Health Month,” said Barb VanSomeren, Vice President of Marketing at Phonak US. “We know that men are more likely to experience hearing loss compared to women primarily because men are more likely to work in occupations and engage in activities that expose them to excessive noise levels. Gunnar’s story is a reminder why proactively addressing your hearing health is key to living well.”
In 2018, a large, comparative multi-country study on hearing loss and hearing aid use found men represented the clear majority of people affected by mild-to-moderate hearing loss.2 Furthermore, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that untreated hearing loss is closely associated with quality of life issues like sadness, depression, social isolation, and anxiety.3
“I’ve dedicated my life and career to helping people look and feel better through exercise and a healthy lifestyle,” said Peterson. “I’m proud to be working with the amazing team at Phonak to make hearing health a core component of total-body wellness, and to remind everyone of the importance of getting your hearing tested and taking action if you have hearing loss. Don’t just do it for your own benefit, but for your family and for all those around you.”
For more information, click here to watch a video of Peterson speaking about his personal experience with hearing loss and how he overcame it. For more information about Peterson.
In the June 2019 edition of Hearing Review, a retrospective review of Lyric and its use in a private practice is offered by audiologist Mark Sanford and Lizz Jensen.