Author Archives: dzadmin

08.16.17
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Fix Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows: The Case of the Door That Would Not Close

Fix Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows – Are You Cooling Your Neighbors Space?

The Case of the Door that Would Not Close

Recently, in a meeting with my web designer, she complained about the gap in her front door and the fact that it was allowing so much cold air out of her home.  After a brief inspection of the door, I concluded that my friend was doing more than her fair share to cool Mother Earth.

What was the problem you may ask? Warped door jambs?  Missing Insulation?  Threshold loose?  NOPE, none of the above.  My friend’s problem was the result of two screws that had come Fix Air Leaks Around Doors and Windowsloose.  Not to the point where they were sticking out and noticeable but just enough to let the strike plate slide forward preventing the door from closing tightly against the weather-stripping. The result of these two loose screws could easily add up to hundreds of dollars on her electric bill over the course of a year.

As a General Contractor, I am asked into homes to look at renovation projects and often see things like the loose screws mentioned above.    I mention the various things that I see to the home owners and the responses I get typically fall into one of two categories; 1) oh yeah, I’ve been meaning to fix that, or 2) Oh man, I have never seen that before, I’ll have to look into it.  Each response, while different, are essentially saying the same thing; “thanks for pointing that out, I’m not going to do anything about it right now”.  Knowing the normal reaction, I asked my friend why she chose to fix the “minor” “maintenance” issue.  “I do not wish to pay for cooling my neighbor”.  Now here is someone that truly understands the indirect costs of home ownership.

In Florida, your utility bill, or how much you pay to cool your home, is one of biggest drains on your bank account.  I was a bit shocked to learn that you might be paying as little as $0.35 cents per hour and as much as $0.75 cents per hour to cool your home (all depending on how old your AC unit is and how much you are currently paying for electricity).  I found a great article to explain to me how to calculate how much I was paying to cool my home per hour; check it out yourself.

Fix Air Leaks Around Doors and WindowsMy friend had the right idea; see a problem?  Fix it before it becomes a major problem!  Picture yourself getting up from your couch every hour, walking to the front door and reaching into your pockets and pulling out $0.60 and just throwing it out the door.  After a short 24-hour period you will have thrown out $14.40.  Would you reach down and pick this up or would you want to wait a few more days?

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08.04.17
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Vanessa Puleo of Led2Serve Announces Outreach Partnership with Basket Brigade Central Florida

vanessa puelo

vanessa pueloORLANDO, FL (PRWEB) MAY 26, 2017

Led2Serve, a Florida based non-profit organization, is pleased to announce a partnership with Basket Brigade Central Florida to lead the administration, planning and logistical execution of its yearly Thanksgiving food drive. Now in their 20th year, Basket Brigade has led a community effort to deliver baskets full to the brim with love and their signature note which reads, “This is a gift from someone who cares about you, all we ask is you take good care of yourself, and do this for someone else…someday.” Last year nearly eighteen-hundred families in the Central Florida area received a tailor-made food basket delivered to their door.

“We started Basket Brigade twenty years ago with the notion that one small act of generosity on the part of one caring person can transform the lives of so many people. We’ve grown this annual event to feed thousands of families. This new partnership will help the local serve event in so many ways. We can also now offer corporate sponsors the opportunity to give back to the local community through tax-deductible donations for Thanksgiving meals. We can only imagine this partnership with Led2Serve will allow significantly more families to be helped each year as a result,” said Joetta Raylots, Founder and creator of Basket Brigade Central Florida. Raylots continues to say, “I would like to thank the Central Florida community for making a difference to families in need over the last two decades. Basket Brigade is a global initiative that started from hearing motivational speaker Tony Robbins speak twenty years ago”.

Led2Serve has mobilized thousands of individuals to join in serving events both locally and on a global scale. Supporting Basket Brigade will provide the capability of accepting tax-deductible donations from corporate and individual sponsors for continued expansion and growth of this yearly event.

“We couldn’t be happier,” says Vanessa Puleo, Founder and Executive Director of Led2Serve. “I’ve known Joetta Raylots for many years and know what a huge heart she has for helping others. We’re thrilled to facilitate the growth of this meaningful event and look to years ahead of giving back to the community together. Taking a vision like Basket Brigade of feeding families, linked with Led2Serve’s mission to serve others, we will accomplish amazing things in the Central Florida area.”

Raylots and Puleo are in the planning stages of how to take the foundational process and success of the Basket Brigade program and duplicate it across the USA.

This year’s Basket Brigade will be held on Saturday, November 18th where over 300 volunteers will gather for the event. The goal of feeding 2500 families is becoming a reality.

About Led2Serve:

Founded in 2009 by Vanessa Puleo, Led2Serve was created to equip, inspire, and mobilize individuals and teams to serve others locally, nationally, and in regions of Costa Rica. Led2Serve’s customized Journeys provide the opportunity for team members to give of their time and talents by taking part in meaningful community projects such as building a ramp for the disabled, painting a school, or participating in an environmental clean up effort. Their journey is balanced with fun activities such as zip-lining, hiking, snorkeling and white water rafting. Since Led2Serve is a 501(c)(3) organization, team members pay a tax-deductible journey fee to cover the cost of their travel. Led2Serve coordinates all aspects of travel, from food and lodging to project materials and transportation. Teams travel to the same locations throughout the year bringing groups from schools, churches, non-religious organizations, sports teams and corporations to support established community partners. Led2Serve also helps to create, implement, and oversee the logistical parts of one day service projects in communities across the USA.

07.26.17
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THE INS AND OUTS OF YOUR DOG’S PEARLY WHITES

How much do you know about your dog’s teeth? Well, let’s get serious, how much do you even know about your own teeth? Not much?  You should, since those pearly whites in your mouth not only look great in photos, but they make it so you can enjoy your favorite foods! It’s important you care about them, whether it’s your own set or your dog’s.

 

Below, we wanted to share some fun facts about your dog’s teeth that you may not know:

  • Dogs have 42 permanent teeth and puppies has 28 teeth.
  • By age 3, 80 percent of dogs show signs of gum disease
  • Small dogs have a bigger chance of developing periodontal disease than larger dogs.
  • Dogs, who spend a lot of time outdoors, are known to break teeth often from carrying objects in their mouths.
  • Dogs don’t usually get cavities, because they don’t consume sugar like humans do, and the surfaces of their teeth are different than ours. Dogs’ saliva also has a high pH, which helps prevent demineralization in the teeth
  • A dog dental visit is just like a human’s; the vet will give them an exam, a cleaning and x-rays.
  • Like humans, a dog can have extra teeth and need them removed.

 

 

First and foremost, it’s essential you bring your dog in regularly to get a dental check in with the vet. Once a year is usually enough for a professional checkup, but some breeds need more visits. It truly is essential to bring your dog in for teeth cleanings by a vet. Otherwise, you run the risk of your dog developing a periodontal disease that can cause him pain, destroy the teeth, gums, and bones, and even cause damage to other parts of the body. If your dog has extremely bad breath, irritated gums, is reluctant to eat, or has bumps in the mouth, you should get him checked out by a vet to rule out anything serious.

 

In between dental visits, there’s plenty you can do to prevent plaque and tartar build up throughout the year. You can brush your dog’s teeth with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste, use a special dental oral rinse, or use dental chews and water additives.

 

Ark Naturals and Gray Muzzle offer a few different dental products for dogs.

 

  • Breath-Less Chewable Brushless Toothpaste – These are natural dental chews for dogs that help keep plaque, tartar, and bacteria under control. These also help reduce bad breath and stained teeth. No brushing needed!
  • Breath-Less Plaque Zapper – This is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless natural water additive that helps prevent dental decay, plaque, tartar, and bad breath.
  • Brushless Toothpaste – This is a natural, senior-friendly dental chewable that helps control plaque, bad breath and tartar. This is also good for dogs with tender gums or missing teeth.

 

Your dog’s dental health is just as important as yours! With the proper dental care, you can keep your dog smiling and pain free all year round. For more dog wellness products, visit Ark Naturals’ Dog page. Ark Naturals takes pride in creating products that promote pet health so they can live healthier and happier lives.