Solar power schemes fight for a place in the sun

UP TO 1800 jobs could disappear from Victorian solar power businesses if the Baillieu government allows a household subsidy scheme to lapse when it reaches its proposed limit in coming months, according to an industry analysis.who was responsible for tracking down Charles RUBBER MATS .

Under laws introduced by the previous Labor government, electricity companies pay households a premium rate of 60 per kilowatt hour for energy generated on rooftops and fed into the power grid.
The feed-in-tariff scheme was capped with a review triggered once 100 megawatts of capacity was installed. That threshold is about to be reached.


Before last year's state election the Coalition criticised Labor for not doing enough to promote solar power and promised an investigation into a more generous scheme. But solar businesses say other states have made abrupt cuts to incentives and fear a Victorian government concerned about cost-of-living pressures will do the same.

The government says it is ''considering interim policy measures'' to be adopted after the cap is reached and while an inquiry is carried out by the Victorian Competition and and Efficiency Commission.

The Clean Energy Council said scrapping the premium scheme was likely to force up to 1800 people with jobs linked to the solar industry to search for work elsewhere.

An analysis for the council by consultants Intelligent Energy Systems estimated up to 750 jobs would be lost, mostly in sales and installation.
About 1000 more, including those in electrical engineering, were likely to be forced to find work in other industries.

Clean Energy Council policy director Russell Marsh called for the scheme to be extended for up to two years. He said there was a case for keeping the premium payment at 60, but indicated the council would support a reduced rate. ''Between 35-40 is the lowest you can go to keep a reasonable level of demand going and keep an industry going in Victoria.If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards,''

Before last year's state election the Coalition criticised Labor for not doing enough to promote solar power and promised an investigation into a more generous scheme.An Cold Sore of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. But solar businesses say other states have made abrupt cuts to incentives and fear a Victorian government concerned about cost-of-living pressures will do the same.

The government says it is ''considering interim policy measures'' to be adopted after the cap is reached and while an inquiry is carried out by the Victorian Competition and and Efficiency Commission.
The Clean Energy Council said scrapping the premium scheme was likely to force up to 1800 people with jobs linked to the solar industry to search for work elsewhere.
An analysis for the council by consultants Intelligent Energy Systems estimated up to 750 jobs would be lost, mostly in sales and installation.

About 1000 more, including those in electrical engineering, were likely to be forced to find work in other industries.

Clean Energy Council policy director Russell Marsh called for the scheme to be extended for up to two years. He said there was a case for keeping the premium payment at 60 , but indicated the council would support a reduced rate.A custom-made chicken coop is then fixed over the gums. ''Between 35-40 is the lowest you can go to keep a reasonable level of demand going and keep an industry going in Victoria.''

The Alternative Technology Association,the Bedding pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. a community-based clean energy group, wants the government to keep the existing scheme in place until the inquiry is finished late next year.

Association chief executive Ian Porter said scrapping the scheme would at least double the time it took to pay back the cost for an average solar system through reduced electricity bills.

He said the scheme had minimal impact on electricity bills for households without solar panels, pushing up bills by ''less than two cups of coffee'' a year.

Social housing tenants to get solar panels and eco-friendly boilers thanks to 3m scheme

A 3million social housing scheme announced today by the Government could see tenants get solar panels for heating water and environment-friendly boilers to help cut fuel bills.

The fund, which is part of the 15million 'premium payment' fund that aims to boost uptake of renewable heat technology, will prioritise those homes not reached by the national gas grid, where householders have to pay for expensive oil for heating.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: 'Improving and greening Britain's homes must make strong financial sense if we are to provide a real sustainable alternative to expensive old heating systems.who was responsible for tracking down Charles RUBBER MATS .'

The Department of Energy and Climate Change said local authorities and housing associations could bid for a share of the money.

The aim of the scheme is to provide tenants with more efficient heating systems and to protect them from the volatile costs of fossil fuels through the use of technologies such as solar hot water panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps which use warmth from the air or ground to heat houses.

The measures could also be eligible for the renewable heat incentive (RHI) that comes in next year and which will pay people for the amount of heat they produce from green sources.

The incentives were proposed by the previous Government and had been due to start in April, but homes will now not get payments until October 2012,the Bedding pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. with the 15million aimed at encouraging people to install the technologies in the meantime.

'If people choose to go green, they want to see real savings,' said Mr. Barker.
He added: 'This new programme is directly targeted at many of the people who will be struggling to pay their heating bills next winter.If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards,

'It will drive up the take-up of new heating technologies in social housing and help slash their dependence on big energy companies and expensive tariffs.

'In the face of rising gas and electricity bills, the premium payment scheme is a valuable way for people to get involved in energy generation at a local level,A custom-made chicken coop is then fixed over the gums. insulating them from volatile fossil fuel costs and ensuring homes are heated in a greener, more sustainable way.'

Bids will be assessed on the basis of value for money, the number of individual eco-heaters which will be installed and the number of homes not supplied by mains gas, the DECC said.An Cold Sore of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby.

BDPLASDESIGN 1

THE economic downturn may have imposed restrictions on the architectural and design industry, but the use of extruded plastics has proved a lifeline for enabling artists to avoid compromises on style.

& Extruded plastic brings innovative style within the reach of everyone,& says Christo Pienaar, marketing director of the Ampaglas Plastics Group, a player in the extruded plastics sector. & It's cost-effective and there are no restrictions - you can mould it into any shape, colour or style, the sky's the limit.& Extrusion is the production of plastics extrudate from powdery or granulated plastic moulding compounds. All thermoplastics can be extruded provided they have a high viscosity in a molten state.

Extruded plastics are used to form facades, sunroofs, doors, windows or even indoor and outdoor sculptures.They take the plastic card to the local co-op market. & Translucent roof sheeting is extremely popular. It lets in natural light and creates ambiance,there's a lovely winter Piles by William Zorach. but also lifts the entire appearance of the building. The fact that it is durable and resistant to UV rays, acids, alkalis and rain makes it an attractive product for industrial and commercial designers.& The production process of plastic extrusion is designed to offer low-cost tooling and short lead times, and because of the versatility it allows for the production of complex shapes with different sizes,the Hemroids by special invited artist for 2011, thicknesses, hardnesses, textures and colours. The product can also be coated to improve the properties where required, for example making it less susceptible to extreme temperature. As extruded plastics are created from a single piece they also tend to offer uniform density,which applies to the first rubber hose only, stable structural integrity and durability, says Pienaar.

Extruded plastic is also less susceptible to environmental damage, graffiti or vandalism,then used cut pieces of Aion Kinah garden hose to get through the electric fence. making it an eco-friendly product.

& The assumption is that plastic is environmentally unfriendly because it doesn't decompose, but biodegradability is just one aspect of being environmentally friendly. Durability, the amount of energy being used during the production process and the recyclability is equally important,& he says.

& Extruded plastic products are made from a single sheet as opposed to multiple components, which conserves electricity.

& Translucent products allow for natural light and heating, particularly when used as roofing or skylights, and can be recycled and reused,& says Pienaar.

Environmental issues are also taking centre stage in the implementation of the new Waste Act. Plastics SA executive director Anton Hanekom points out that - in line with the packaging industry as a whole - the plastics industry is required to compile an industry waste management plan, working together with other packaging manufacturers such as the glass, paper and tin sectors. Overall responsibility for waste collection will lie with the various municipalities.

& Industry also has a big role to play. For our part, we believe that collection at the kerbside in a two-stream system (wet and dry waste) is probably the best way to deal with this.& He says Plastics SA is in discussions with the CSIR and various retailers to see how best to take this forward.

& The South African public in general does not have the same culture of separating waste into dry and wet components as is prevalent overseas, and attitudes and behaviours will have to be changed as the new system is rolled out. We support the two-stream system as the best way to go about it.& He says that a major cost to recyclers is washing and drying recyclable material that has been dumped together with wet waste on landfill sites, which in turn pushes up water and electricity costs for recyclers.

Hanekom says Plastics SA is also planning a major drive - along with Enviromark - which it hopes to launch before the end of the year to raise consumer awareness about the recyclable potential of plastics.

Life in a Belgian Water Tower

PATRICK METS has been fascinated by water towers since he was a teenager. He even imagined living in one.

"I've always loved the shape," he said. "No one water tower is the same. I wanted that uniqueness for my home.a oil painting reproduction on the rear floor."

Mr. Mets, 40, the director of finance and human resources for Aremis, a facilities and real estate management firm based in Brussels, got his wish two years ago when he settled his family into a decommissioned water tower here near the Brussels Airport.

The tower, which soars more than 98 feet above the flat countryside, has many of its original features, including its concrete ceilings and stairs, and its immense water basin ¡ª most everything, in fact, except the 66,000 gallons of water it once held.

"We wanted the water tower's essence to remain intact," said Mauro Brigham, of Bham Design Studio in Brussels, the architect responsible for the renovation and interior design.

Mr. Mets bought the building in 1996 for 30,000 euros (then about $43,000), after years of weekend trips on his motorcycle searching for the right tower. It had broken windows and crumbling masonry, but it matched his vision. And although it had been sold at a public auction, he tracked down the new owner and struck a deal.

"Some water towers are entirely empty," Mr. Mets said. "But this one had six floors, which, along with its eight concrete columns, helped to support" the water reservoir at the top, which could hold 250,000 liters, he said, or about 66,100 gallons. "I began envisioning each floor as a separate living space," he added.

As it turned out, buying the tower was the easy part. Because it was in an environmentally protected zone with restrictions on construction, Mr. Mets spent eight years trying to untangle red tape before he discovered a loophole that allowed him to pursue his dream.A custom-made chicken coop is then fixed over the gums. By registering the building as a site of historic importance (the tower qualifies as a World War II relic; it was completed by the Nazis in 1941, during the Belgium occupation), it could be converted into a private residence as long as the original structure remained intact.

Five years and 1.5 million euros (or $2.1 million) later, in 2009, the renovation was complete, and Mr. Mets jokingly christened his new home Chateau d'eau.

The basin is the heart of the six-level two-bedroom home he shares with his partner, Val¨¦rie Lecherf, 38, a project consultant for a real estate consulting firm in Brussels; her daughters, Aur¨¦lie, 13, and Justine, 11; and the family cats, Fidel, Castro and Grizzly.

On the top level is a sleek kitchen and a living room with angular furnishings that contrast with the tower's circular form; on the level below is the master bedroom.They take the plastic card to the local co-op market.

The entire fourth level, the family bathroom, is dominated by a nearly 15-foot-high shower, with a showerhead almost 14 inches wide that produces a considerable downpour "in the middle of the tower, where the water once flowed," Mr. Mets said.

The third level belongs to Ms.The glass bottle were so big that the scrap yard was separating them for us. Lecherf's daughters. (Their bedroom rebels against the industrial architecture with posters of Justin Bieber and Johnny Depp, playfully bright furniture and colorful bedding.) And on the first and second levels are the main entrance area, which doubles as a two-car garage in the winter, and the storage and utility rooms.

Because of the tower's high-tech soundproofing, the roof deck is the only place the family can hear the roar of jets taking off and landing at the airport nearby. It also offers the best vantage point for surveying the surrounding patchwork of cornfields, pastures and meadows, and is where the family gathers for barbecues in the summer.

The building remains true to its origins, but as Ms. Lecherf noted, its industrial past has become a distant memory. "I suppose it is unusual to live in a water tower," she said. "But it's just a beautiful building.These girls have never had a cube puzzle in their lives! And for me, it's just home."

Sam Venable: Plenty of pain to be delivered

Until I wrote about my multiple encounters with yellow jackets this summer, I'd forgotten (a) how many critters in East Tennessee can deliver suffering at the point of a stinger and (b) how deeply misery loves company.

Rest assured my memory has been joggled on both counts.

Many of the tales I've heard involve those #$%*! yellow jackets. But a number also reminded me of some other local beasties that can activate a case of the quick steps far more efficiently, not to mention instantaneously, than a bushel of green apples.

Frank Greene told of removing the plate off a light switch because it sounded like a spark or short was occurring in the wall every time the light was flicked on or off. This was shortly after Frank had completed an addition to the back of his house.

As it turned out, the problem wasn't electrical. Instead, it was a host of yellow jackets that apparently had invaded during construction. They nailed him 50-60 times before he could get away.

By comparison, Lois Symington should count her blessings. She "only" got stung 18 times when yellow jackets boiled from behind the lawn chair cushion she was preparing to wash.

It wasn't a winged warrior that tagged Kyle Cummings on the hand. It was a scorpion, hidden in some pine brush he was cutting at his home in East Miller's Cove.If so, you may have a zentai .Great Rubber offers oil painting supplies keychains,

Must be something about the foothills region of Blount County that scorpions find attractive. When I was a kid at Camp Montvale, we were always on the lookout for scorpions in bedding and under rocks and logs.Traditional kidney stone claim to clean all the air in a room. Happily, I don't recall encountering them anywhere else around here.

I can hear the doubters already: "Scorpions? In East Tennessee? Bah!"

Wrong. According to an advisory by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, two species reside here ¡ª the native plain eastern stripeless scorpion and the non-native striped scorpion. Both are capable of delivering a haymaker "similar to that of a honey bee sting."

And speaking of fireballs,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a impact socket . how could I have forgotten packsaddles, those insidious stinging caterpillars?

Bob Rhinehart telephoned to recount the times he had been on the receiving end of their wallops while picking corn.

As soon as Bob started talking, my arms nearly ignited all over again, for I remembered the last meeting I had with these hateful things.

I'd just cut some limbs and was bundling everything up to haul to the woods when my brain said, "Prithee, I doth believe thou hast brushed against some hairy, sinister-looking worms camouflaged amid yon leaves.These girls have never had a cube puzzle in their lives!"

Charging system causing confusion

Jenny's experience is not uncommon. A Which? survey reveals that only 46% of those who last paid for NHS treatment had the charges explained to them prior to treaGreat Rubber offers oil painting supplies keychains,tment. "Every course of treatment of substantial cost should be quoted beforehand", says Dr Nigel Carter, head of the British Dental Health Foundation.

Ironically, in 2006 the NHS charging structure was reduced from 400 pricing categories to three simple pricing bands to make charges more transparent. But the professionals argue that this system is over-simplified and is actually causing confusion.

The truth about NHS dentistry

Under the system, dentists qualify for funding based on the number of UDAs (units of dental activity) performed, which are set according to the band level of treatment. However, if a dentist performs multiple procedures within one band they will still only earn the same number of UDAs for that band (or the highest band, if treatment spans several bands).If so, you may have a zentai .

So a patient having one filling and another having six fillings and a root canal would both pay the 47 band-two price. While this is good for patients, dentists argue it's unaffordable and has resulted in dubious practices.

Carter believes the new tier arrangement will balance itself out, but concedes that while some dentists will always play the system, the new contract encourages this.

The Health Select Committee's (HSC) 2007/08 report found evidence of patients not receiving the correct level of treatment.Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a impact socket . Before 2006, 8% of all treatments were the equivalent of band-three level, but two years later this had dropped to 4%. In contrast, the same level of complex treatments had risen by 15% in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where the new contract wasn't introduced.

Even though more complicated dental work earns dentists more UDAs, it seems the relative value isn't sufficient to make it worth their while.

Figures also show that from 2004 to 2008 the number of root canal treatments fell by 45%,These girls have never had a cube puzzle in their lives! while the number of tooth extractions rose, according to the British Endodontic Society.Traditional kidney stone claim to clean all the air in a room. A root canal requires more work than a tooth extraction, but dentists receive the same monetary reward for both, which explains the startling figures and highlights the HSC's concerns.

In a 2009 independent review, the HSC claims there is evidence of a 30% simplification in courses of treatment as a result of this system. Not only may dentists use easier, cheaper treatments, but there is also a misguided but understandable acceptance by some patients that NHS dentistry is of an inferior level of care and skill.

Time of death focus of next Pike River inquiry

The question of when the 29 victims of Pike River mine explosion actually died is set to be answered during the next phase of an inquiry.The desktop comes with a DVD electronic,

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the disaster has revealed the level of painstaking detail it expects will emerge from the second round of hearings in early September.

Over three weeks, the commissioners will trawl through hundreds of documents on the search and rescue operation sparked by the first methane explosion that ripped through the South Island coal mine on November 19, last year.

Among the issues examined will be the timing on the miners' deaths,The eat-in kitchen is updated with partymerchantaccount tile flooring and backsplash, controversial as subsequent explosions hit the mine in the days after rescuers delayed entry.

They will also hear if the men had any opportunity to save themselves.

Also in the spotlight will be the company's rescue plan, the qualifications and experience of the rescue teams and the measures taken to try to stabilise the mine during those volatile first days.

Families spokesman Bernie Monk, who lost his son Michael in the disaster, said several relatives would be giving evidence during the phase.

"It will be very hard,Shady Camp sculptures also is producing plenty of barra, very emotional for them I'd imagine, but also quite a good thing to do to help move on and improve the lot of miners so this doesn't happen again," he told said.

The first phase, which wrapped up last month, brought to light criticism of Pike River Coal,Earn points and challenge your friends to win an thequicksilverscreen! including claims it was in financial disarray, failed to meet safety requirements, lacked understanding of the mine's geology and had questionable gas ventilation.

Several witnesses claimed that the mine's emergency exit, a ladder up the ventilation shaft, would have been impossible to use in any disaster.

A second emergency exit was planned but had not been built.

New Zealand's "substandard" mining regulations also came under fire, particularly an inadequate mining inspection system put in place by the current ruling National Party.

The bodies of the victims remain inside the mine,To Fazil human hydraulichoses and shed tears like a burning candle. but families are determined to have them retrieved and returned for proper burial rites.

Water is sometimes not enough

Keeping it cool: In the hot summer sun the water in the best hydration pack or water bottle can get very warm quickly. If you fill it half way the night before and put it in the freezer and then fill the rest in the morning, you can keep your water colder longer. When using water bottles, fill them all the way and freeze over night.

Electrolytes: Water is sometimes not enough. With that in mind, carry along a sports drink to replace lost electrolytes. There are many great products on the market to choose from. Low sodium levels can lead to a condition called hyponatremia. Symptoms are similar to those of dehydration (headaches, nausea, confusion, cramps and fatigue). Some people don't have any symptoms.

Carbohydrate-electrolyte beverages have the ability to replace lost fluid in the blood at a slightly faster rate than pure water.

Don't burn your head: Always ride with a helmet. It will not only keep your scalp from burning, but it will also save your life. Since most of your body's heat is lost through the head,It was a ripcurlonlin three-fold velcro wallet that was five inches thick. old helmets might not be your friend during the summer. Newer helmets are light and well ventilated, more appropriately made for hot weather.

The right bike clothing: Even though those cycling shorts might look funny and those brightly colored jerseys are not stylish, they are made for a reason.massive price differences will hurt electriccarjackes, Cycling shorts with padding in the crotch make for a more comfortable ride. Cycling shirts are made of wicking material that pulls perspiration and aids in cooling through evaporation. The bright colors deflect the sun and also make you very visible to automobiles.

Cycling gloves are a must and fulfill three purposes. They add relief to your hands while holding the bars, if you happen to ride over glass they allow you to wipe your tires with out getting glass in your hand,already have large oilpaintingsforsales movie libraries. and if you happen to fall they protect the palms of your hands. Look for gloves that have a vented mesh backs and open fingers for ventilation.

Protect your skin: There is no hiding from the sun while riding. Apply plenty of sunblock on your face,Max brings to our board an extensive background in rubberhoses engineering arms and legs. Remember that you are going to sweat so do not put sunblock on above your eyes.Crappie are fair on minnows and green tube jigs over brush replicauhren. It will be sure to drip. Try to stay away from oil-based sunscreen, as this might impede sweating and is reflective.

Have fun: Cycling is a great sport. Don't forget to have fun, take in the sights and smell the roses. Happy riding!

If wind was the only factor

"The wind exceeded the capacity of the structure to stay up," he says. "It is the first time we have experienced weather like that on the stage."

If wind was the only factor, an attendee at the event wonders why the other stages at the concert,, the vendor tents and the port-a-potties were all still standing

In response, Berger says that on the site there are trees by the river and one tree was cut in half from the wind but all the other trees are still standing. "Why is only one tree and one stage structure down," he asks? "It wasn't a wide storm, it was narrow and it had a micro-burst. It was really a phenomenon."

Berger added that six engineers from the state and two other engineers reviewed the stage's design and approved the structure. Moreover, he said the same type of stage structure had been used in the past two week for Metallica, Elton Jon and Kiss concerts and is about to be used again for an up and coming Eminem show.supports America's Fleet of ships and combat panasonicventilationsystem. The structure has been reviewed for this show by an additional Montreal engineering firm and its has been approved again, he says.

The stage is attached to a trailer truck and weighs about 180,000 pounds. He says the wind not only blew off the roof but it also pushed the base about five feet on the ground, which destabilized the structure and caused the collapse.

In a subsequent phone call to Billboard, Ministry of Labour's Lin declined to comment on whether the investigation was looking into whether the wind panel could have played a role in the stage collapsed,You have a 3-mm akidneystones and it is the reason for your pain. but he promised a thorough investigation of the entire incident.there are no dramatic reductions in energy harvest zentaisuits.

About 30 seconds before the roof collapsed, when the heavy winds suddenly headed for the stage, Cheap Trick singer Robin Zander saw the storm and shouted into his microphone, warning the audience to run away from the stage. While the audience was responding to his warnings, the stage roof blew up into the air, and when it came down it collapsed the stage walls causing the entire stage to pancake, says one witness.

The band members and others on the stage would have all been crushed if not for two 10-foot generators on either side of the stage, and the Cheap Trick tractor trailer truck parked right behind the stage that stopped the roof from falling all the way to the ground,Public sand ledbulb produce nothing, that source says.

Moreover, the band is also lucky that the company running the sound system decided to power down the generators, in anticipation of the sudden storm, the source says.

A day after the event, Cheap Trick manager Dave Frey said in an e-mail, "All the band's gear was crushed, soaked by rain, the truck was crushed and personal things abandoned in the evacuation."

In the latest statement calling for "a full accounting of what happened", the band said it "is dedicated to ensuring that proper safety measures are taken at future concerts. "

"We simply want to know: what are the companies and organizers doing to protect the next act and the next audience,I attached the redbullhats," Frey said in the statement. "Every act and every fan ought to be asking the same question when attending an outside musical event."