Window Cleaning News

Solar power in the Coachella Valley takes another leap forward today and Friday as two commercial-scale projects come online, both using the latest technology. C.J Orlando of A+ Window and Gutter Cleaning uses an extension device to clean one of Granite Construction's concentrated solar installations.

Frank Gagliardi: Medina Sun 'Person of the Week' - Frank Gagliardi, a family man with many interests, certainly stays busy and happy. Serving as a Cleveland firefighter for 26 years, Gagliardi has found himself in plenty of unique situations. He loves helping people, as well as recounting interesting stories to his family. He once carried two people down a 110-foot aerial ladder from the old Bond Court Hotel when it was on fire. Gagliardi’s family — wife Marie, son Sam, 17, and daughter Mary, 15 — enjoy his sense of humor and excitement. “If there’s even a glimpse of sun he will be out on his motorcycle,” Mary said. He’s also a big fan of the Browns and the Tribe, and the latter is definitely making him happy these days. He also enjoys playing poker. Mary professes that he’s “amazing” at the game.
When he’s not cruising on his bike, helping others or watching Cleveland sports, Gagliardi puts in time at his business, Squee-Gee Clean, a window-washing company he started in 1990. All of that keeps him pretty busy and he enjoys every moment. He and his family also look forward to winter, when he covers their house in Christmas lights and displays a dazzling flying Santa Claus that also impresses the neighbors.

The window washer was out Friday morning at Towson Commons, hanging by straps before the big glass panes out front above the entrance to the AMC movie theater, which will go dark in a week. There's a big red-white-and-blue "FOR LEASE" sign hanging up on the building facade now, and those who do business around the center of the county seat are waiting for the owner's next move.

Downtown Vernon merchants are getting in to the spring spirit. The annual Spring Clean-Up and Sparkle Day takes place Wednesday. “The event gives businesses the opportunity to make the downtown area more visually appealing for customers,” said Earl Hansen, with the Downtown Vernon Association. There will be two main areas of activity occurring during the event.  The first part will see merchants with brooms, dust pans, window cleaner and scrub brushes cleaning the front of their building and their sidewalk area. “Merchants are also being encouraged to think green and place a planter outside their store or do a new window display,” said Hansen. The second part of the program is the placement of hanging baskets on the lampposts in heart of the downtown area. “That’s  a true sign of the start of spring,” said Hansen.

Smoke from a huge Everglades fire is likely to hang over South Florida for the next two days or so, prompting health officials to urge people to limit strenuous outdoor activities. An absence of wind or rain has created conditions that will allow the smoke to linger at least through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Although the smoke is most likely to affect vulnerable people such as children and the elderly, health officials urged everyone in areas with smoke to avoid outdoor exercise that would draw air deep into the lungs. Early Wednesday, however, South Floridians were being spared the pungent odor of smoke because winds were blowing from the east. But that wind pattern can change.

Wood smoke can carry fine particles of as many as 200 chemicals, capable of traveling far into the respiratory system. "Why expose yourself to that?" asked Dr. Mike Feinstein, program director at the American Lung Association office in West Palm Beach. "It's similar to secondhand cigarette smoke.""It's terrible," said Randy Feinman, 44, of Miramar, as he began his job of washing windows shortly before dawn at a Dunkin' Donuts on Broward Boulevard. The professional window cleaner suffers from allergies and said because he works outside most of the day, he is concerned about his health. "Usually I only get sick when I get a bad cough, but in conditions like this, well, it really doesn't help," he said. "It's worse today than yesterday. I hope it doesn't get even worse."

It ain't easy, keeping the species going. Especially if you're a bird. Of all the threats and dangers breeding birds have to contend with, storms rank right up there. When the first egg she laid was knocked off the ledge by her mate -- accidently, it's presumed -- members of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation leaped into action to provide the young, inexperienced pair with safer accommodations. They hired a window washer to rappel down from the roof and set a special nest tray on-site. After filling it with gravel lowered to him in a bucket, he gently placed the second egg inside, then disappeared down his dangling rope. Quest and Kendal, the peregrine pair, watched the 15-minute operation from a roof across the street, then carried on nesting.

Bogus window cleaners are burgling Warwickshire homes: Burglars posing as window cleaners around Warwickshire are being sought by police. The county’s force is asking for people to help them identify the group, who are believed to be all men and possibly Eastern Europeans. They are reported to have touted for window cleaning work, but no ladders or buckets have been seen. Anyone who thinks they have seen this group or who may see them in the future with or without a silver BMW 1 series, is asked to contact Pc Louise Parker on 415000, voicemail 10653. The car’s registration number is particularly valuable information Pc Parker is seeking. People can also pass on information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Redmond mom develops trash can cleaner: It's the final frontier in the battle against household germs: Your trash dumpster. Redmond mom Emily Wiewiorka has developed a new steam sterilization service to keep your trash can clean and germ free – Steam and Clean. The company’s green truck grabs dumpsters and steam cleans them, inside and out, leaving behind sparkling clean trash bins. “Garbage cans are the single-most unhygenic part of any home -- a thousand times dirtier than the toilet,” says Wiewiorka. “As a mother, I’ve grown increasingly wary and concerned about the germs and bacteria that grow in these areas and have always hoped to find a service like this one. When one never emerged, I created it myself.” Wiewiorka spent 8 months and $300,000 developing this trash truck, which recycles all of its water and purifies it to near drinking water standards.

The service is currently available in the Bellevue-Redmond area but Wiewiorka plans to expand later this year from Everett to Tacoma and Redmond to Seattle. Each service will be timed to immediately follow normal trash pickup so that cans may be conveniently cleaned at the curb. The cost for this every-week service is $3 per can, per week. Additionally, homeowners can opt to have the outsides of their windows cleaned  monthly at a cost of $60 with no limit on the number of panes. The process involves no chemicals and leaves each window spotless. The company also offers cleaning of sidewalks, walkways and even the exterior of homes to improve curb appeal. Wieworka admits some people may not see the need in sterilizing dumpsters, but she’s optimistic that the germ-conscious will appreciate the service. She says trash can sterilization services are standard in the U.K., where she is from. “The economy is down but more and more people are spending time at home,” she says. Story from previous blog here.

Tom Zupancic has opened Fish Window Cleaning, 195 Lehigh Ave., Unit 13A, Lakewood. The business provides window cleaning services to commercial and residential customers in Howell, Jackson, Neptune, Manasquan, Point Pleasant Beach, Brick Township, Lakewood, Asbury Park, Toms River, Belmar, Mantoloking and Seaside Heights. Before opening his business, Zupancic worked for Credit Suisse, where he managed regional and global IT teams. Fish Window Cleaning has 239 locations in the United States and is the largest window cleaning company in the country. 

David Essex makes EastEnders debut... 37 years after first No1 music hit. David Essex in 1974 - the year he released no 1 hit Gonna Make You A Star on the left and, right, on his window cleaning round in Becton, east London nine years beforehand.

Adam Ant has been many things in his time. King of the wild frontier, dandy highwayman, Prince Charming, Goody Two Shoes. In his prime in the 1980s he was Britain’s biggest pop star and was voted the sexiest man in America by viewers of MTV. But fame can also take its strain. When an attempt to forge an acting career in Hollywood foundered, he suffered a series of breakdowns and, at his lowest ebb, he was sectioned and spent six months in psychiatric care. Today he seems in fine fettle. Now 56 years old, he’s just days away from a long promised comeback tour and the signs are encouraging. “I love it when kids of 16 years old say, ‘I love you – my dad had it round the house’,” he says. He got into Gene Vincent the same way. He remembers how gratifying it was to hear a window cleaner outside his house in 1981 singing Stand and Deliver. “He changed the lyrics; I didn’t mind – it means you’ve reached people.” He was delighted when they used Goody Two Shoes in the film Shrek 2 and when Robbie Williams covered Antmusic. “That paid the rent for a few months.”

Lyndon Fire Department To Begin Billing For Services: Some Jefferson County residents are about to be billed for services provided by their local fire department. The Lyndon Fire District will begin sending out bill for some services in the next couple of months in an effort to make up a budget shortfall. They said it is a last resort, but unless the cap on taxes collected in the district is raised by the legislature, it is their only option. "Without the program there's going to be a reduction in services or a reduction in personnel. We have cut to the point that there is nothing left to cut," said Lyndon Fire Major John Stich.

Already at minimum staffing levels, Stich said the district is in a dire financial situation, looking for ways to make a more than $100,000 shortfall. "What we can do today, to keep the trucks going out the door and keep it properly staffed is we can look at cost recovery methods on certain types of runs," Stich said. Beginning July 1, the Lyndon Fire District will be billing for services where they say the services provided exceed the basic cost of providing that service.

The rescue of two window washers hanging off the side of a Hurstbourne Park office building Tuesday after their pulley system failed would generate a bill between $1,900 and $2,000. "That is a special rescue and had we utilized extra types of resources on that, then that would have been the type of call where we would have been billing for the cost of the extra service," Stich said. The bill for a typical motor vehicle accident where spill clean-ups are involved come in just under $400. Major structure fires at homes and businesses with substantial damage result in bills well over $500. Story from previous blog here.

Glass, Film & Covering News - Window Cleaning Knowledge Bank

Las Vegas Hotel Causes Severe Burns: Plenty of visitors to Las Vegas can leave town feeling burned. But, guests at one hotel are feeling especially hot under the collar. Turns out, the design of the Vdara hotel is leaving some pool visitors with severe burns. The Vdara was built in a concave shape, and its all-glass front collects the Nevada sun, and reflects it down onto the pool area. Things get so hot down below, even plastic bags are melting in the heat. A spokesman for the hotel, says they are aware of the issue and are working to come up with a solution. In fact, they even claimed that designers knew about the issue before the hotel was ever built. They thought they had solved the problem by installing a high-tech film on the glass. But, the solution has not worked. While designers work on fixing the problem, the hotel is looking at getting some larger, thicker umbrellas to provide better shade for guests.

"Glasses and plastics are mysterious materials. We knew how the molecules moved in a liquid, but we didn't know how they moved in a glass or plastic – no one did," said Dr. Nunzi. "We discovered the way motion takes place at the molecular scale in a glass or plastic." Dr. Nunzi compares the findings to cars in a crowded parking garage. If the garage is full of cars, without any space between them, then a car cannot move unless another one moves with it. The same can be said for molecules – the light causes them to move slightly, but it is the cooperation with other molecules that enables them to move significantly. When plastic is exposed to light from a laser, the molecules under the light move together, changing the shape of the solid material. The molecules that are not exposed to the light remain stable. The result is a dramatic change in the shape of the solid material that is visible to the naked eye. The findings, published in the Journal of Chemical Physics, build on a study done at Queen's in 1995 that showed it was possible to make solid materials fluid, or movable, using light.

LUMENHAUS uses responsive architecture: Imagine waking up on a cold winter’s morning to light streaming in through your bedroom window and the smell of fresh coffee. The concrete floor is warm and your favorite music starts to play as you eat your breakfast. As you drive away the house automatically locks, the thermostat reduces and the insulation panels close as the house goes into hibernation until you return. All of the systems have been designed to work together to balance occupants' comfort and energy efficiency. The house maximizes occupants’ exposure to bright light during the day through its open, flowing spaces and at night radiates it back via a low-energy LED lighting system in the insulating panels. Solar (or photovoltaic or PV) panels cover the roof and the house uses passive energy systems, radiant heating and building materials from renewable and/or recyclable sources. The prefabricated construction process reduces waste and increases efficiency. A meter records the usage of energy throughout the day. If the house produces more energy through the photovoltaic panels than it uses, the net energy gain provides an opportunity to sell energy back to the power company or to power an electric car. Lumenhaus.

On opening day at glasstec 2010, Lisec unveiled new equipment that builds a coil-fed warm-edge spacer directly on the glass. Infinite Edge Technologies, the White Bear Lake, Minn., company founded by Eric Rapp, partnered with Lisec, Austria, to build the new IG warm-edge applicator featuring a flexible metal spacer made of ultra-thin stainless steel and a corrugated I-beam construction. The new spacer creates superior compressive resistance using 50 percent less secondary sealant than most spacer technologies, according to the company. Guardian's Scott Thomsen, group vice president for North American flat glass operations, confirmed that the equipment was bound for the float glass manufaturer's Webster, Mass., fabrication plant and would be directed to its low-e customers and the residential window and door market.

New York Glass Company Contributes to Record-Breaking Solar Cell: Corning Inc., a glass company based in Corning, New York, announced September 7 that it had helped German solar-module company Oerlikon Solar break the record for silicon-tandem solar cell efficiency. Oerlikon Solar's record-breaking silicon-tandem cell used ultra-thin Corning glass in its manufacture. The cell achieved conversion efficiency of 11.9 percent, beating the previous record of 11.7 percent set in 2004. Silicon-tandem technology uses layers of semiconductor material. Each layer is sensitive to a certain spectrum of sunlight, so silicon-tandem cells can theoretically have conversion efficiency far greater than that achieved by conventional solar modules. The best silicon-based cells are about 20 percent efficient. Oerlikon Solar is applying silicon-tandem technology to thin-film solar cells. If it can make its silicon-tandem cells commercially viable, it could produce highly efficient cells at a low cost - the holy grail of any solar-module manufacturer. 'We look forward to continued work with Corning on a roadmap to advance this technology to cell efficiencies of 12 percent and beyond,' Oerlikon Solar CEO Jurg Henz said. Soon, inexpensive, high-efficiency panels could be widely available - and the cost of going solar would be even more enticing.

Overseas demand offers new window of opportunity for AGT: A raft of orders from the Middle East and Asia has propelled London based security glazing business, Advanced Glass Technology (AGT) into the global arena for the first time. In response to increased demand from organisations and businesses wanting to mitigate risk to buildings and occupants in the event of a natural disaster, civil unrest or a terrorist attack, AGT has formed partnerships in Jordan and India regarding the installation of its ISO-approved anti-shatter blast containment film. Embassies, Non-Governmental Organisations and a number of private enterprises are among a growing list of buildings that will undergo protection fitment under the expertise of AGT over the next few months.

First established within the retail automotive sector, offering a solution to the increased level of ‘smash and grab’ vehicle crime through the retrofitting of its anti-shatter security film, AGT expanded its expertise into architectural applications during 2009. With security films starting at a thickness of 50 microns up to 450 microns, the multi-laminate polyester membrane can be applied to any glass surface. It is bonded with an aggressive pressure sensitive adhesive system resulting in any broken glass adhering to the film. AGT also offers installation with a range of specialist anchoring and edge retention systems for enhanced levels of protection, according to the client’s requirements.

Commented Martin Westney, Managing Director, Advanced Glass Technology: “With architects increasingly pushing the envelope in terms of building design, it’s vital that building owners seek to protect not only their investment but also the lives of occupants against any eventuality. We are pleased to be able to take our expertise into new markets and provide a bespoke and cost effective solution that’s proven to provide significant levels of protection and security.”

Scheuten Solar is introducing solarfloat HT (High Transmission) glass: This state-of-the-art glass features a proven innovative quartz- hard Anti-Reflection Coating – improving power output and energy yield. Solarfloat HT glass is a joint venture by Scheuten and Interpane on one of Europe’s most advanced float glass productions lines, ensuring the highest quality available in the market. The cover glass of Scheuten Solar’s new modules exists of highly transparent, very low-iron float glass resulting in improved light transmission. Combined with the innovative anti-reflection coating PV modules fitted with f | solarfloat HT Glass will provide an up to 3% higher energy yield. Further more these new Scheuten Solar PV modules feature a premium look & feel, are very resistant to acid or salt, have a high mechanical strength and are less prone to pollution from algae or calcium.

Every home now-a-days try to make use of renewable energy in order to save up on power costs. There are many devices available in the market now that may help in this regard. One simple device would be this unique Solar Window Light. The Solar Window Light is a multipurpose solar powered light that you can use around the home. You can stick it onto glass windows during the daytime to recharge its batteries by solar power and can use it as a light source for as long as 8 hours during the evenings. It can serve perfectly as an emergency light source when you go camping or bring with you in your mobile home, boat or a cabin. The Solar Window Light is available at Nigel’s Eco Store for 20 UK Pounds.

Spray-on technology turns windows into solar modules: New Energy Technologies has debuted its SolarWindow technology, a spray-on coating which turns ordinary windows into electricity-generating solar modules. According to New Energy Technologies, the technology utilises both natural and artificial light sources, and outperforms today’s commercial solar and thin-film technologies by as much as a factor of 10 under low-intensity irradiance. New Energy Technologies demonstrated SolarWindow at the University of South Florida, claiming a milestone in the development of the technology, which has the potential to create a fundamental paradigm shift in how power is produced worldwide. The researchers are now preparing for eventual full-scale production of SolarWindow. They are targeting low production costs, improved manufacturability, and increased power performance.

Key to these advances is the development of new methods and technologies for applying the electricity-generating coatings to glass surfaces. The spraying process allows SolarWindow coatings to be applied onto glass at room temperature, eliminating expensive and often cumbersome high-temperature or high-vacuum production methods typically used by current solar manufacturers. Until now, most solar modules have remained opaque with the prospect of creating a see-thru glass window capable of generating electricity limited by the use of metals and various expensive processes which block visibility and prevent light from passing through glass window surfaces. Researchers are also working to bolster the electrical power output of SolarWindow, generated from both natural sunlight and artificial sources such as fluorescent lighting.

When a Hurricane Warning Is Issued: Protect your windows. Ensure you have hurricane shutters or 3/4-inch outdoor plywood boards for each window of your home. Install anchors and pre-drill holes for the plywood, so you can put it up quickly in the event of a storm.  Prepare your home. Window glass covered with protective film will not shatter if it breaks. Install window wells and window well covers to improve drainage around basement windows and help prevent water from entering your basement.

A new line of window films from Window Film Association of Australia and New Zealand (WFAANZ) offers protection to building residents from disruptions caused by electromagnetic interference (EMI).  All electronic devices emit electromagnetic radiation. While being useful for wireless computer networks and mobile phone towers to send data, there are undesirable effects too of transmitting information this way. Data transmitted on an internal wireless network can be accessed from outside the building, and mobile phone towers can emit high levels of this invisible radiation. Electromagnetic interference or EMI is the disruption of electromagnetic radiation. Moderate or high-powered wireless transmitters are key causes of EMI. People living near radio or television transmitters or in a large city usually face disruptions to their cordless telephones, home entertainment systems, computers and even medical devices. He adds that only experienced professionals should install the film since it demands precision.

Silicone seals were removed from each window frame and the film fitted to the edge of the glass. A glazier reinstalled the silicone seals once the window film had been applied. Maximum coverage of glass was achieved, plus the silicone sealed the film onto the glass to help prevent corrosion. Damien says that one of the primary benefits of window film is that it can be retrofitted quickly with minimal inconvenience to the resident. It took two installers four hours to complete this specific job. The film they installed was almost clear so that it did not impede the view. Additionally, the window films also offer 55% heat reduction.Rob Hamilton, President of the Window Film Association of Australia and New Zealand says that the films act as a barrier in the form of a transparent metal layer blocking the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Films with a high metal content give the best shielding values. The metal type also influences shielding properties with more conductive metals showing better electromagnetic attenuation.

Builders working on a tiny Saxon church have unearthed Britain's oldest working window, dating back to pre-1066. The wooden-framed window was built 1,000 years ago but lay buried in the wall of St Andrew's Church for about 150 years after it was covered up by Victorian renovations. It has now been revealed after shocked workmen spotted the distinctive frame while renovating the Saxon building, in the village of Boxford, near Newbury, Berkshire. Archeologists and historians have studied the workmanship of the window and have found that it dates back to before the Norman Conquest. It is one of just a handful of windows in the country that pre-dates 1066 but is the only one that opens. 'It is believed to be a Saxon window, dating back to pre-1066, and is therefore one of the oldest in Britain. 'The window is cut from a single timber and has a shutter, making it the oldest working window we are aware of. 'The Romans would have built some windows using glass, but none of these exist in Britain any more. 'It has been covered up for very many years and was only discovered during building work - it is a very important find.'

The guy next door, however, has a rather older home with what looks to be single-pane windows. In the wintertime he installs plastic window insulation, which I have never fully embraced. Personally, I find them to be a little tacky. As I understand it, installing window plastic can potentially save a homeowner $20 per window over the season. It's not a gigantic savings, but it's something. And that combined with a few other energy-saving moves can make a pretty big difference over the colder months. The real upside to window plastic? It's a pretty inexpensive purchase and dead simple to install: clean the glass, measure and cut the film to fit, apply adhesive and film or tape the plastic in place and then use a hair-dryer to shrink-fit the film tightly across the window.

Woman pleads guilty to glass-eating scheme - Boston Couple collected over $200,000 in their multi-state fraud scheme. A woman who prosecutors say ate particles of glass and then falsely claimed the glass was in food she was served pleaded guilty to a 23-count federal indictment yesterday. Federal prosecutors say Mary Evano, along with her husband, Ronald Evano, collected more than $200,000 in insurance claims and left more than $100,000 in unpaid medical bills in several states between 1997 and 2005. Yesterday, Mary Evano pleaded guilty to 23 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy and identity theft in connection with a scheme in which the couple ate glass particles and then claimed the glass was in food they had been served.

A 15-story glass tower opened in Frankfurt this July promises to be a world-class energy miser, using half as much energy as a conventional office building in Europe and as little as a third of the U.S. average. The Westarkade tower glows with natural light and offers windows that open, but a first-of-a-kind "pressure ring" facade and sophisticated, sensor-rich control scheme promise to consume no more than 100 kilowatt-hours of energy per square meter per year, reports Discovery News. Horizontal Venetian blinds installed outside of the tower's glass envelope reject unwanted summer heat, while a pane of glass installed over the blinds and ventilated at the top and bottom protects the blinds from high winds. However, when the windows are opened, winds create a pressure differential around the tower, sending everything flying. So the firms installed 180 vertical ventilation flaps in the outer skin to manage airflows, creating what they call a pressure-ring facade.

The building's control system takes constant feedback from a rooftop weather station and from 40 sensors deployed throughout the building that measure temperature, pressure, and sunlight. It continually opens and closes individual flaps to maintain a ring of consistent positive pressure around the structure, preventing strong winds from entering. And in the fall and spring, air from the open windows should eliminate the need for mechanical ventilation altogether. Oregon architect Perepelitza cautions that the double-skin design was overhyped but is nevertheless bullish about the pressure ring's potential. He thinks it could point the way forward for glass towers as natural ventilation and energy efficiency grow in importance.

Armour for precious window: How do you protect an irreplaceable stained-glass window made with some of the finest handmade English glass? Peter Mackenzie says polycarbonate is the way to go. The Otago stained-glass artist has used Lexan XL10, which is so strong it can withstand a bullet from a .22 calibre rifle, to protect a restored stained-glass window at Highgate Presbyterian Church this week. "The window is made of some of the finest handmade English glass from Sunderland. "This glass is now irreplaceable because the company no longer exists.

An air conditioner plunged from a building and slammed onto a man who was just walking below in Manhattan Tuesday morning. Tony Franzese, 67, was walking his dog around 8:30 a.m. as he did every morning. That’s when an air conditioner fell out of a 6th floor window at 2nd Avenue and 3rd Street and landed on an awning — apparently bouncing off and hitting Franzese in the head. Franzese suffered a severe head laceration and was taken to Bellevue Hospital. Carmen Barreto lived in the building for 38 years and told CBS 2′s Mark Morgan her son helped clean blood off the victim. “He was very upset and nervous. He said ‘Ma, the air conditioner fall down onto the head’ and I said ‘My God he must be dead’,” she explained. One tenant told Morgan that the resident in question told her, in his words, “the window just flew open.” CBS 2 also learned that inspectors for the city’s Department of Buildings found that the air conditioner was not supported properly. A violation was issued to the owner of the building — Zenon Chernyk — for failing to properly maintain the building. Chernyck was told to make sure all air conditioning units were immediately secured with metal brackets or the units would be removed.

Window tint allows Haitian boy to be in the light: Job, 9, has xeroderma pigmentosum, a rare genetic disorder that inhibits cells from repairing after exposure to ultraviolet rays. He was named Job by workers at a Haitian orphanage. The Beach family, of Kemah, took in Job from Haiti four months after an earthquake in January devastated Port-au-Prince. 3M and Houston-based Sunset Glass Tinting this week donated and installed ultraviolet-blocking window film at the Beaches house so Job could walk into a sunlit room without receiving severe burns. The film allows sunlight in while blocking 99.9 percent of ultraviolet rays. People with the disorder are more susceptible to getting skin cancer even from slight sun exposure. Protective suits, hoods that block ultraviolet light and sunscreen must be worn during the day outside or inside where there is no protection from sunlight.

Glass Houses, Speakers, News - Emerging Markets & News For The Window Cleaner

Glass Speakers: Created by Greensound Technology the glass speakers create a 360 degree audio experience from flat glass. Inspired by the ice of a glacier the glass speakers are available in a number of different configurations and even have the option of an added subwoofer. Each speaker can output 25 watts of power and offers 300Hz-15kHz frequency range. This can be increased by adding the Bravura subwoofer to give you lows down to 40Hz, driven by up to 150-watts of power.



Steve Hermann has completed his newest project in Montecito, California. He holds recognition for his contemporary designs. Steve Hermann is a Los Angeles-based architect. His latest project is named Glass Pavilion. Steve Hermann's project is basically a glass house which Steve considers his opus. "Here I have complete privacy," Mr. Hermann said while commenting on his latest project. "It allows you to be one with nature inside the house", he added. The area covered by the project is around three and a half acres.



The space gave Steve Hermann the freedom of creating a home with glass walls. Steve Hermann's home has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, a kitchen, a wine room and an art balcony. It has been learnt that Steve Hermann has an obsession for mid-century contemporary fixtures. He also designed some of the home's furniture. Steve Hermann at first intended to construct the home for himself. He says he changed his plan while his six years undertaking was on the move. Steve Hermann's glass home is now listed for $35 million, while the fixtures and equipments are open to discussion.



Rotating Solar House Generates Five Times The Energy It Consumes: What’s cooler than a rotating house? One whose solar panels produce five times the energy the house uses. That’s pretty incredible, considering that even zero-energy structures are rare. German architect Rolf Disch built the home, called Heliotrope, to follow the sun throughout the day. The structure features triple panes of thermally insulated glass to strike a balance between letting light in and keeping the house cooler inside. A giant 6.6-kilowatt-capacity rooftop solar panel called the Sun Sail slurps up the rays of energy, pumping them into the home and grid. Solar thermal collectors on balcony railings act as water heaters and radiators. On cloudy days, the house can be heated with wood chips and solar thermal heating.
The Sun Sail itself rotates separately from the house, adjusting itself to the best possible position at all times. This gives it a 30% to 40% advantage in energy production over traditional rooftop solar panels. The house is green inside as well. Waste water goes through a purification system for reuse, and rain water collects in a rooftop basin. The toilet system turns human waste into compost. Is it nice to live in? Disch must think so, as he resides in the prototype himself. Two other Heliotropes have been built to date, each costing about $2 million to build.



Rooms at the top: Sweden's stylish new treehouse: Treehouse holidays are going up in the world, but the new Treehotel in Sweden's Lapland, with its futuristic pods, aims to soar above the rest. Like the hotel's other treehouses, the facilities here are fairly basic, not stretching much beyond an environmentally-friendly toilet (some treehouses have ones that freeze the waste and others have ones that burn it into ash) and a sink – meals and showers are taken at the guesthouse, 10 minutes' walk away. At well over £300 per treehouse per night, this is likely to remain a dream for many would-be guests. Over a lunch of reindeer meatballs back at the guesthouse, Britta and Kent explained how deeply rooted their commitment to the forest is. Though the hotel has been designed with fun in mind, it has a serious side too. "The forest for us is a relaxing place, a source of mental peace," said Kent, adding that the couple want to share this passion for the environment with guests. The Treehotel has duly been built as sustainably as possible – the Mirrorcube has even been fitted with an infrared film, visible to birds only, that stops them flying into it – and environmentally unsound activities such as snowmobile safaris are out.

LG Hausys, the LG Group's affiliate engaged in the industrial material manufacturing business, has agreed to launch a joint venture to manufacture energy-efficient glass with Germany’s glass processing specialist Interpane. The move came as part of the group’s strategic efforts to develop its future revenue sources. According to LG, the main products coming from the venture will be low-emissivity glass or Low E-glass. Low E-glass is energy-efficient, designed to block ultraviolet and infrared rays from outside. The product controls heat transfer by about 30 to 60-percent, which LG believes will help building occupants spend less on air-conditioning. It is 15 percent more efficient in heat transmission than non-coated glass, which is capable of transmitting 85 percent of heat. Thanks to such technological advancements, the glass can easily be found at most window suppliers and only costs some 30 percent more than normal tempered glass, according to industry watchers. Interpane is the Germany’s biggest glass manufacturer, which has already realized the ``vertical integration’’ from coated glasses to Low E-glasses, said a LG spokesman.

Glass is main commercial focus of emerging solar technologies in 2010: This year has seen several projects and collaborations by emerging solar cell start-ups to apply their technology to glass, in order to exploit the potentially lucrative building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market. The most recent partnership announced is an initiative between Norwegian company EnSol and the University of Leicester in the UK. EnSol has patented a thin-film solar cell technology that it aims to develop commercially by 2016. The company has begun working with Leicester's Department of Physics and Astronomy to develop a coating for glass and other surfaces, to produce power on a large scale. The thin-film material is based on metal nanoparticles, embedded in a composite material. Following some modest investments by EnSol, equipment installed at the university department is now able to produce small amounts of the material for prototypes. One application for the coating is windows, as the coating provides a high degree of transparency. The coating can also be optimised further for other building envelope components such as roof tiles, where transparency is not an issue.

Novaglaze Gardner and Newton wins glass contract for the London Eye: IT’S brilliant news that a Huddersfield glass company has landed a contract to provide replacement glass for the landmark London Eye. It is one of the top tourist attractions in the UK and Novaglaze Gardner and Newton must have fought off some stiff competition during the tender process to win such a prestigious job. Novaglaze Gardner and Newton is a testament to the talent, ingenuity and skill we still have in Huddersfield.

A pane of glass has fallen 50 metres from a building at The Rocks in Sydney's CBD. The toughened glass pane shattered and fell from the 17th floor of a residential apartment on Harrington Street just before noon, raining small shards of glass on to the road below, Superintendent Phil Sheedy of the NSW Fire Brigades said. The glass - about the size of a broadsheet newspaper page - had become loose from a balustrade at Cove Apartments. Superintendent Sheedy said it was not known why it had come loose. "It's very lucky that no one was injured," he said.

Glass magic - a film that changes what glass can do: Fogged or frozen windows are the bane of drivers' lives in winter. Researchers have developed a process that allows them to manufacture not just transparent, but heatable films. These films also prevent condensation, ensuring ice cannot build up on the windscreen overnight – and, once and for all, consigning the ice scraper to the trash can. "Our new film is extremely resilient", says Dr. Bernd Szyszka from the Fraunhofer IST. "Temperatures up to 900 degrees Celsius are no problem, and even if you bend it aggressively – the film remains intact." The coating can therefore also be used in large industrial plants where transparent protective heaters are often required to monitor the process chain safely.
What can the new film do that tin oxide cannot? "Our coating system is based on nanocrystalline indium tin oxide (ITO)", says Szyszka. "This material doesn't just have outstanding optical and electrical properties; it is also mechanically and chemically much more stable than tin oxide."
While the advantages of the ITO coating have been known for many years, it is only now – thanks to the Fraunhofer engineers – that these kinds of film systems can be manufactured industrially for a much larger range of applications.

Glass maker Romag said its performance since May had been disappointing and it expected to make a loss this year, despite it winning a £10.2m contract. In a trading statement yesterday the firm, based in Consett, County Durham said disruption caused by the death in June of its popular chief executive, Lyn Miles, 57, after a long illness, had been exacerbated by delays in supplies of key materials as well as the funding squeeze on customers, which left it unable to complete sales until they have had sufficient funds on hand to pay for goods they have ordered.
In addition the company said "erosion" in prices in the photovoltaic market meant it would have to write down the value of some of its inventories before its year end in September. In June the firm, which has seen global attention for its PowerGlaz solar glass, won a deal worth £10.2m to supply solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to North-East affordable energy provider Community Energy Solutions (CES). "The order book currently stands at £16m, including the contract with Community Energy Solutions."

Wine producer Williams Selyem has announced the opening of a new 28,000-square-foot winery in Healdsburg, Calif. Created by the D’Arc Group, the new winery is designed to reflect Williams Selyem’s minimalist approach to winemaking and respect for the environment. The building is organic to the site, reflecting the natural resources of the area. It is also in sync with the style of the wines produced. The overall design theme is based on the image of a barrel. The front exterior of the building showcases an arching barrel wall and features large windows that provide views of the Russian River Valley. Once inside, visitors find themselves in a glass and metal atrium area that looks up into the barrel vault, giving the feeling of being truly inside the wine. Every element of the building design is meant to represent the vernacular of wine. The atrium area features an enormous wall of glass bottles, sourced from Vetreria Etrusca in Italy and designed by Alessandro Belli, an Italian architect who graduated from U.C. Berkeley. Each piece of glass is sealed by a stainless steel champagne crown cap to reinforce the vernacular of wine-design philosophy. In addition to the glazing, the winery also features solar panels on the roof of the parking structure.



Inside the Popemobile: Glimpse of the holy customised Merc that will transport Benedict XVI around the UK. No papal tour would be complete without the sight of a Popemobile. Yesterday saw the unveiling of the official vehicle to be used on Pope Benedict XVI's first official visit to the UK. The Popemobile is a media-coined nickname for the specially customised motor vehicles used by the Pope during outdoor public appearances. Some Popemobile were open topped but the possibility of an assassination attempt led Vatican officials to adopt a new design with a bulletproof glass enclosure for the pontiff. The vehicle's security features include bulletproof glass windows and roof and reinforced, armoured side panels and chassis and it has a top speed of 160mph but while in on papal business in Britain the Popemobile. is expected to travel at a more sedate 6mph.

Demand For Soda Ash Expected To Increase: CASPER, Wyo. ― Soda ash producers in Wyoming and around the world saw an 8 percent drop in consumption last year, but demand is expected to grow over the next five years. An industry report by the London-based research and consulting group Roskill forecasts released Monday forecasts demand will rise by 3 percent through 2015 thanks to glass production in emerging economies in Asia and South America. Soda ash is used in glass, soaps and detergents, as well as in some industrial chemicals. Southwest Wyoming is home to nearly all of the nation's supplies of the mineral mined to make soda ash — trona. The Casper Star-Tribune says the five soda ash producers in the Green River Basin make up about 93 percent of the American industry. Demand for soda ash had grown for nearly a decade but fell in 2009 partly because consumers cut back on glass purchases. The report said the 10.9 million tons produced by Wyoming last year accounted for 24 percent of worldwide production. China accounted for 42 percent of global production. It surpassed the United States as the world's top producer of soda ash in 2003. It's also the largest consumer of soda ash.

Crown Operations International, a Sun Prairie company involved in making energy-efficient window glass, has been purchased by Southwall Technologies of Palo Alto, Calif., for $3.3 million. Crown applies energy-saving films to a plastic layer that can then be sandwiched between two sheets of glass, creating windows that reflect heat and block ultraviolet rays. Southwall, founded in 1979, makes films and energy-saving glass for homes, commercial buildings and vehicles and has about 160 employees worldwide. Its shares are publicly traded on the over-the-counter bulletin board.

NEW YORK—Corning Inc. lowered its estimates for third-quarter glass volume, saying panel makers are pulling back production to deal with excess inventory. Despite the warning, Corning shares continued their recent rebound Tuesday, rising 5.3% to $17.70 as investors were relieved the guidance cut wasn't worse following recent commentary about LCD demand. Shares have climbed 13% in September, rising for two straight sessions, but they still are off 8.3% this year.

Chandler Intellifilm installs window tint that blocks radiant heat: Intellifilm, a new company in Chandler, installs in cars, homes and businesses a new type of window films, technology manufactured by 3M. It is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. It is one of the 3M multi-layer optical films (MOF), which are invisible window films for auto, home and commercial use. They block almost all radiant heat from entering a car, home or business through windows, resulting in a car being 40 degrees cooler after being parked in the sun than it would be with normal tinting. It also lowers fuel costs because drivers use less air conditioning.
Intellifilm was opened in May by owner Adam Carangelo.
COST: Putting the film in a car would cost $499 and up, although that figure is negotiable, depending on how busy the installers are. The company plans to install film in a house in Sedona for $6,500. Some house installations could cost $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the windows.
TECHNOLOGY: Carangelo says it enhances safety in autos because it reduces glare, and it reduces heat in case children or pets are left in cars. The film, a product of 3M's renewable energy division, has been in use in Asia and was recently introduced in the U. S. The technology is similar to that used in TVs, liquid crystal displays and phones. The film for autos is Crystalline, and the film for homes and offices is Prestige.

MPI launches electronic reporting system for glass claims: Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) launched a Web application that enables glass repair facilities to register claims on behalf of customers. ‘eGlassClaim' interfaces with MPI's claims systems and enables customers to initiate glass claims at the repair shop of their choosing. Under the old system, customers were required to report claims to MPI's call centre first. Glass repair shops will also be allowed to submit invoices to MPI electronically and get paid automatically. Participation in the new program is open to all glass repairers, but is optional.

Police are warning drug dealers are increasingly using a "lethal cocktail" of "dangerous" and "unpredictable" substances to bulk out recreational drugs. A BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast investigation found that dealers sometimes use substances like cut glass to maximize profits. Here a number of dealers, former dealers and drug users in the North West of England and South Wales talk about the practice of "cutting drugs".

Unsuspecting birds fly into the windows, often at great speeds, and suffer severe neurological damage or death. Due to the trauma of the window strike, one of the ovenbirds is unable to perch or stand without falling over. The tiny warbler has shown little improvement in behavior even though it has been receiving pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs for several days. Since the bird is unable to stand upright to self feed, it must by hand fed by clinic staff several times throughout the day.
Another common injury seen in animals that have collided with a window is extreme swelling of the head. Such is the case with the second ovenbird we are caring for. The bird’s head is so swollen it is unable to blink; it is also having difficulty swallowing. It is receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Due to the swelling around the eyes it also needs eye drops and lubricating eye gel several times a day to keep its eyes moist. This ovenbird must also be hand fed several times through out the day in order to maintain a healthy weight. If you have a window that birds may fly into, alert them to the reflecting glass by placing decals on the windows. Closing window shades at times during the day when the sun causes the most reflection will also help. Hanging a windsock outside the window may help break the reflection as well. Many large office buildings are constructed of glass. Be aware when visiting these establishments; if you find a bird that has hit a window and is still alive, call the Conservancy Wildlife Clinic for advice on the proper course of action.



Apple’s Glass Temple, Made in China: The tubular glass entranceway to Shanghai’s new Apple Inc. shop may be its most high-tech feature, considering the iPad hasn’t officially arrived in China. Twelve rounded glass panels stand over 12.5 meters (41 feet) to form the cylindrical dome. Inside, the computer maker’s distinctive bitten-apple logo is suspended above a glass stairway that corkscrews into the underground retail space. The atrium foyer is also a crystalline sign of the times: It was made entirely in China, establishing a fresh benchmark on workmanship for the world’s largest glass industry.
Glassmaking is a rare ancient craft with limited history in China. It got a boost in 1954 when Mao Zedong urged more production of building materials during a visit to a Hebei Province glass factory. In 1971, China’s building materials bureau proclaimed its development of a version of the established “float glass” manufacturing process. By the early 1990s, China had overtaken the U.S. in flat glass production, and its 28.7 million-ton output last year was six times Ducker Worldwide managing partner Nick Limb’s estimate of 2009 U.S. shipments. Now the Chinese industry is ascending the technology ladder.



Brian Clarke: rock star of stained glass: Paul McCartney and David Bailey are fans and friends; Francis Bacon chose him to look after his estate; and later this month the Pope will bless his work. Meet Brian Clarke, the world's grooviest stained-glass artist. For all his famous friends and success as a painter, it’s for his stained glass that Clarke is best known. He has, he says, done ‘more stained glass than anyone, probably ever’, and it’s found in settings as diverse as the Pyramid of Peace in Kazakhstan, the Pfizer building in New York, the Holocaust memorial in Darmstadt and the lobby of the Apax Group in Jermyn Street – the last a shimmering mix of deep blues, greens and carnation reds that is, Hadid says, like a ‘window to the outside world, very controlled, very strong’.
Right now, though, Clarke is having an ecclesiastical moment, having fled the overpowering shadow of church architecture 25 years ago: last weekend, in Linköping Cathedral, Sweden, three of his windows are being unveiled in a medieval church that has never before had stained glass in it (‘They went on a tour of Europe, the bishop and his mates and advisers from Swedish Heritage, to look at contemporary stained glass. And they saw a Cistercian Convent I’d done in Switzerland and commissioned me’). And in 12 days’ time the Pope will be blessing a stained-glass window, suffused in ultramarines and ruby reds, which Clarke has done for the Papal Nunciature in Wimbledon. ‘I’d said it wasn’t really my bag: I’m definitely not holy. But the Papal Nuncio is a genuinely cool guy, he really is; he’s everything you want in an archbishop. It’s a small work, but I’m very, very pleased with it – it’s a winner.’

A stained glass expert from Bristol has died after falling from a ladder while working on an installation at Durham Cathedral. Michael Lassen, above, who was 61, fell from the ladder last Friday when he was working on the installation of a new stained glass window dedicated to the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey. Mr Lassen, who is understood to have lived near Bristol, was taken to Newcastle General Hospital, where he died on Wednesday. News of his death was announced in a brief statement issued yesterday by the cathedral's Dean, the Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, which said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr Lassen's family and friends following the very sad incident in the cathedral. The cause of his fall is not yet known and cathedral staff are co-operating fully with the relevant authorities as inquiries continue."
The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr Lassen's death. He was working on the installation of a new "Transfiguration" window, given by the Friends of Durham Cathedral in memory of former Archbishop Michael Ramsey, which was due to be dedicated on September 25. Mr Lassen, who was vastly experienced in his field, had trained in Germany before becoming a glass painter in Bristol. The stained glass window Mr Lassen was installing was designed by Gloucestershire artist Tom Denny and was donated by the Friends of Durham Cathedral to mark their 75th anniversary in 2008. An HSE spokesman confirmed it was investigating.

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association, Schaumburg, Ill., officially launched the new AAMA FenestrationMasters professional certification program. The program was introduced on Sept. 15 during one of the educational seminars. The program coursework covers a wide range of subject matters including performance standards, product and material types and code requirements. Coursework is accessed through My Window Class owned and operated by the National Glass Association, McLean, Va. The online education format allows professionals to complete the coursework at their own pace and convenience, simply through access to any computer with an Internet connection.
There will be two different credentials available through the program:
* Certified FenestrationMaster: To qualify for advanced certification, a 4-year degree in engineering, architecture or applied sciences and 4 years of full-time fenestration-related experience is required or 72 months of full-time experience in the fenestration industry. This credential level requires successful completion of 50 hours of coursework, as well as achieving the required score on the certification exam.
* Certified FenestrationAssociate: To qualify for entry-level certification, a 4-year degree and 12 months of full-time fenestration-related experience is required or 36 months of full-time experience in the fenestration industry. This credential level requires successful completion of 30 hours of coursework as well as achieving the required score on the certification exam.