Philadelphia Prevention Partnership, Communities Committed to Empowerment and Leadership
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he Philadelphia Prevention Partnership is a coalition of community partnerships sharing the common goal of preventing substance abuse. This multicultural partnership addresses critical addiction issues by providing education, information, and training programs to individuals, families, agencies, and local community and cultural groups.; In order to reach effectively key ethnic population groups, the Philadelphia Prevention Partnership has forged close working relationships with organizations representing the Latino, African American, and working-class EuropeanAmerican communities. They include: The Institute for African American Mobilization The Institute for African American Mobilization (IAAM) works to build sensitivity around alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs used within the African-American communities of Philadelphia and trains professionals in cultural sensitivity.
lAAM’s primary target audience is African Americans who work in prevention and treatment programs and as social workers. Statecertified training is provided for addiction counselors and prevention specialists. (Non-African American counselors and specialists who work with African American constituents are also encouraged to attend). IAAM’s secondary target is African American youth. The Latino Partnership Initiative Formed in 1995, the Latino Partnership Initiative (LPI) was established to strengthen Philadelphia’s Latino communities, which suffer disproportionally from high rates in poverty, unemployment, high school dropout, and low household income. These social factors lend themselves to increased use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Today, LPI works across the diverse Latino communities of Philadelphia to develop a community-based prevention system that empowers communities and individuals to address alcohol and other drug problems.
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And the Award for Most Energy Efficient State
Goes to…
Each state is awarded a total score out of 50, based on their performance and record in each of these catevery year, the American Council for an Energy- gories. So without further adieu, here are the listings for Efficient Economy (ACEEE) puts out a scorecard 2014*: ranking states according to how well they did in terms 1. Massachusetts of energy efficiency. There are six categories on which 2. California states are scored: 3. Rhode Island; Vermont; Oregon 6. Connecticut • State Government Incentives 7. New York 8. Washington • Buildings 9. Maryland • Combined Heat and Power (CHP: a system by 10. Minnesota which multiple usable energy outputs (both electricity 11. Illinois and steam/heat) are derived from a single fuel supply 12. Michigan using an integrated system) 13. Colorado 14. Iowa • Utilities 15. Arizona 16. Maine • Transportation 17. Hawaii; Wisconsin 19. New Jersey • Appliance Standards 20. Pennsylvania
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21. District of Columbia 22. New Hampshire 23. Utah 24. North Carolina 25. Delaware; New Mexico; Ohio 28. Florida 29. Nevada 30. Idaho 31. Montana; Arkansas 33. Kentucky 34. Texas 35. Georgia; Virginia; Oklahoma 38. Tennessee 39. Alabama 40. Indiana; Kansas 42. South Carolina; Nebraska 44. Missouri; Louisiana 46. West Virginia 47. Mississippi; Alaska 49. South Dakota 50. Wyoming 51. North Dakota For a detailed breakdown of the criteria on which the states were judged, visit the ACEEE website. To learn more about how you can make your home more energy efficient, talk to your local certified RESNET Home Energy Professional.
*Source: http://www.aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard
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Exploring Alternatives to Traditional Roof Shingles
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hen it comes to wear and tear on your home, your roof is one area that takes a constant pounding from the elements. Wind, rain, snow and sleet are constantly prying at the roof shingles and moisture will sooner or later start seeping into the plywood sheets that mostly like form the shell of your home’s top-most protective covering.
reflective the roof. Insulation: Does the roof come with additional insulation? Eligibility for tax breaks: Energy efficient roofing may qualify you for tax credits on the cost of materials for a new roof, providing they meet ENERGY STAR requirements.
Eventually every home will need a roof replacement. By exploring new opportunities, you can choose There are several options available for roofing a roofing material that will provide you with an energy materials that will increase your home’s energy effiefficient solution that will not only be aesthetically plea- ciency: sing, it will save your money through reduced heating and cooling costs. Metal roofing: This is a long-lasting alternative to traditional roof shingles. Metal roofing has different When considering which material is suitable for both qualities that will reduce energy costs determined by your budget and energy efficiency, there are four factors your region. The installation of unpainted or reflecto be consider. tive metal roofing will reflect solar radiation that is normally absorbed into the attic and can save up to Emissivity: The rate at which a roof will release heat 40 percent of summer cooling costs. that it has absorbed. Reflectivity: The higher the rating number, the more 24 - LATINO CONSTRUCTOR Magazine
Tiles: Tile roofs are typically made from clay or
concrete. These corrugated tiles are laid in such a way as to encourage air floor on the surface of the roof and will reduce the temperature of a home during the summer. Although they are an attractive and efficient alternative to roof shingles, they are more appropriate in warmer climates where the risk of damage due to hail is minimal. Polyurethane foam: This type of roofing is most commonly used on buildings with flat or low-sloping roofs. The polyurethane foam is sprayed on then covered with an elastomeric coating. While this application is highly efficient and has no seams, it is not the most attractive product on the market so many homeowners will opt for something different. However on homes that have hidden roof areas, it is a viable and energy efficient alternative. Another option, if you decide to re-shingle your home, is to use recycled roof shingles. These are produced using reclaimed materials and come with a longterm life-span guarantee. If you think it’s time to finally replace your old roof, a RESNET Qualified EnergySmart Contractor can offer you the best advice on which replacement roof will be best suited to your needs and provide you with long-term cost savings.
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Finding a Business Mentor
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n the first months of opening your business, you’ll need to make many important decisions. But you don’t have to make every decision on your own. Ultimately, you’re responsible for your business, but you can always consult a mentor for advice.
What is a mentor?
de management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. SBDC services include financial counseling, marketing advice and management guidance. Some SBDCs provide specialized assistance with information technology, exporting or manufacturing. SBDCs are partnerships primarily between the government and colleges, administered by SBA.
Women’s Business Centers: WBCs provides business A mentor is someone who has been down the same path you’re taking. He or she is experienced, successful training and counseling with the unique needs of women and willing to provide advice and guidance — for no entrepreneurs in mind. WBCs are a national network of nearly 100 educational centers designed to support woreal personal gain. But how do you find a mentor? men who want to start and grow small businesses. Here are some steps for finding and working with a Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers: VBOCs provimentor for your new small business venture. de veterans with entrepreneurial development services 1. Government-Sponsored Mentor Organizations such as business training, counseling and mentoring. Minority Business Development Agency: MBDA The government offers a great deal of free resources advisors help minority business owners gain access to and services to support small business owners, both oncapital, contracts, market research and general business line and in person: consulting. SCORE Mentors: Sponsored by SBA, SCORE proAdditional federal counseling programs can be found vides free and confidential counseling, mentoring and advice to small business owners nationwide via a net- on Business.USA.gov. work of business executives, leaders and volunteers. 2. Trade Associations You can connect with a SCORE volunteer through inperson and/or online counseling. Many trade associations operate mentor-protégé proSmall Business Development Centers: SBDCs provi- grams that provide guidance to help you build a business. These mentoring programs are often conducted 26 - LATINO CONSTRUCTOR Magazine
through a combination of formal one-on-one mento- be as simple as having a one-on-one meeting once a ring sessions and group networking with fellow proté- month to discuss business goals, obstacles and regulagés. Business owners might be connected with multiple tory requirements that you don’t understand. mentors for a more holistic experience. Take notes, create action items and be prepared to Most industries are represented by trade associations, review progress during your next session. as are genders, ethnic groups and business types. If you Thank your mentor for his or her time and assistance need help finding a trade association, consult your lowith your business decision-making skills. cal SBA district office. 3. Mentoring for Government Contractors If your business plans to sell products and services to the federal government, you may need specialized mentorship. The General Services Administration (GSA) offers a Mentor-Protégé Program that is specifically designed to encourage prime contractors to help small businesses participate in government contracting. The SBA also has a Mentor-Protégé Program for small businesses. 4. Look to Your Network Who do you know? Do you have a previous boss who inspired you or a friend who is a successful business owner? Ask that person to be your mentor, and learn from his or her advice and best practices. Just be prepared to share with them why you chose them in particular, your goals and what you are looking for from them. 5. Working with a Mentor If you decide to work with a mentoring organization, ensure there is a formal mentor-protégé structure in place. If you work with an individual, you’ll need to establish a mutually beneficial, structured relationship. Remember these tips about mentoring: Be organized, prepared and consistent. Make sure you are respectful of your mentor’s time. Do not expect your mentor to run your business for you or make decisions for you. You should have realistic expectations about what a mentor can provide you. Plan your mentoring sessions in advance. These could LATINO CONSTRUCTOR Magazine -
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Foundations – the Basics on Repair
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f all the home repairs, probably nothing strikes a Improper or inadequate compaction of non-clay soils chord of fear into a homeowner more than hea- when preparing to lay a foundation. ring, “You have a problem with your foundations.” If A home foundation that has become unstable will you need a new roof, shingles are easily removed and replaced, but the foundation is a whole different side of present subtle hints in the home both inside and out. home repairs – literally. After all, the foundation supInterior signs include: ports your entire home and everything in it. A floor that is not level When it comes to foundation repairs, the source of the problem is almost always one thing – water. The Doors or windows that don’t close properly constant expansion and contraction of water in the soil surrounding the foundation can cause it to heave and Cracks that appear – especially over doors and winbuckle. This is turn can create cracks in the concrete that dows will allow water to seep into the foundation and directly Cracks where walls meet or where a wall meets the into the home. ceiling The two most common problems causing a foundaCracks in vinyl or ceramic floors tion to shift or move are: Soil is too high in clay. Clay tends to expand with water content and this accounts for the common problem of heaving.
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An exterior examination may show: A bulge or divot in either a block or poured foundation
Deteriorating concrete Significant sized cracks. Most homes develop cracks in the concrete or even in the walls as part of a normal settling process so there is no need to assume your house is about to be swallowed up by a giant sink hole any day. Fairly simple repairs can solve many foundation problems. If you find water seeping into the basement or suspect your home’s foundation may be settling improperly, it is better to have it taken care of sooner rather than later. Find a professional who can inspect your property and give you the best advice on how to remedy the situation before it becomes worse and costs you a lot more in repairs. A certified RESNET EnergySmart contractor or builder will be able to explain what your best avenue of attack would be to solve the problem. They can also give you some sound advice on how to make sure the foundation of your home meets energy efficient standards when it comes to eliminating unwanted drafts and the exchange of air through gaps in your building construction.
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Heating Energy Assessment Tool™ by AREVS
Eliminates need for on-site inspections. nderstanding home heating energy performance just got easier. The new Heating Energy AsOffers opportunity for en masse initial ratings. sessment Tool (HEAT) from AREVS is a RESNET Pre-qualified leads sent directly to your sales team. Approved, easy-to-use web-based application that tells home energy professionals, homeowners, and renters Use HEAT as a complement to asset-based rating whether or not a home is in need of energy retrofits or programs. upgrades. Using patented algorithms that are normalized for house size and geographical location, and inAdvantages for Homeowners: formation from its utility bill, HEAT provides a heating energy audit for a home in less than 5 minutes. A simple Economical and easy-to-use. A+ through F grade range gives instant understanding of home heating performance. Information from a single energy bill results in a custom HEAT Assessment in less than 5 minutes. Advantages for Professionals: Determine energy consumption and costs for heaA “first line� assessment tool to determine if a home ting, air conditioning and hot water. needs further envelope assessment. Provides an accurate assessment of whether a home Can be used for performance-based quality assurance is in need of energy retrofits or upgrades. verification for homes that have undergone weatherization upgrades. Provides an accurate assessment of whether a home is in need of a further envelope assessment from a cer-
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tified RESNET professional. Verify energy savings achieved through weatherization and energy upgrades. Know a home’s PITI+E payment: Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, and Energy – the true cost of home ownership. RESNET is offering both home energy professionals and homeowners a one-time free Heating Energy Assessment to demonstrate how HEAT works. Afterwards, you can purchase a detailed HEAT Rating Report from AREVS outlining your home’s exact alpha grade, Energy Rating Number, and heating and cooling fuel consumption and cost data. To learn more about HEAT, visit https://www.arevs.us/heatpartner. php?partnerid=A12bck98W4342Z AREVS develops software and data sets for the Home Performance, Real Estate, and Energy industries. HEAT is available for all customers as a stand-alone web application, a white label web application, or a website plugin.
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How to Plan an Energy Efficient Home Renovation
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f you’re going to renovate your home this year, consider taking the energy efficient route. Start by contacting a RESNET Home Energy Auditor or Rater for an energy audit or rating to determine where and how your home is losing energy. If you opt for an energy rating, compare your home’s before and after HERS Index scores to see the difference that energy-saving measures can make.
Efficient Ones
When it comes to high utility bills, your refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, washer and dryer can all be major culprits. So when you’re renovating, swap out those older models for newer, energy-saving ones – you’ll notice the change in your energy bill immediately! As for those old appliances, don’t stick them in the garage or pass them down to friends and family – you’re not doing them or Here are 5 areas that you can target specifically to yourself any favors. Instead, you’ll find that most counmake your home renovation as energy efficient as pos- ties or states have programs that collect old appliances. sible: They’ll properly recycle, or repair and refurbish and donate them to a family in need. 1. Fix Dripping Faucets 3. Replace Old Windows with New Energy EffiIt’s a small thing, but repairing dripping faucets can cient Ones save you up to 2,082 gallons of water annually, which is a significant amount of money. Also, think about insNearly 20% of a home’s energy loss can be attributed talling high efficiency showerheads in bathrooms. With to windows. Energy efficient versions have an invisible high efficiency showerheads, you can expect anywhere coating, which reflects heat back into your home, thus saving both energy and money. If your budget doesn’t up to a 400% return in the course of one year. stretch to window replacement, consider putting in 2. Make All Your Kitchen Appliances Energy 32 - LATINO CONSTRUCTOR Magazine
storm windows or even just simple weather stripping. 4. Energy Efficient Lighting Replacing the lighting in your home with energy efficient versions will not only make your home look great but also save you a significant amount of money! For example, LED lights can last up 10 years (or 50,000 hours) and use only a fraction of the electricity of incandescent ones. Another good option is compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which are six times more energy efficient than their incandescent cousins. 5. Invest in an Energy Efficient Roof You can actually make your roof more energy efficient depending on the shingles you choose. Start by selecting light colored shingles rather than dark ones to reflect heat. This prevents your home from overheating in summer, which reduces the load on your air conditioning. Some estimates claim that a lighter colored roof can reduce heat absorption by up to 40%. Also consider using alternatives to traditional asphalt roofing shingles such as metal, clay or slate, which can be more energy efficient. Whatever you do, make sure you invest in ENERGY STAR qualified products, and work with certified RESNET home energy professionals and contractors who are specially trained in energy efficiency measures. You’ll see the results in your next energy bill!
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How to Repair Damaged Ductwork
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hat network of ducts that snakes through your house and delivers air from the furnace to all your rooms may be what keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer, but if your ductwork is damaged then you are wasting energy, which is onlycosting you money. Damaged ductwork allows air to escape instead of delivering it to the intended area in your home. If you think your system is damaged or not working as efficiently as it should, contact a certified RESNET Home Energy Rater or Auditor who will inspect your house to identify areas that need repair or are leaking. Home ductwork, while strongly built, is easily damaged under certain conditions. There are several ways ductwork can be damage: Home maintenance: if you have workers in your house installing plumbing, cable TV, or just about any work that requires crawling into the attic or crawl space, damage can occur due to a misstep that can crush or damage ducts.
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Home repairs: whenever you carry out home repairs that involve ripping out or installing floors, ceilings, walls, or fixtures, there is a possibility of damage. Quite often this happens near the vent area or in joints in the ductwork. Rodents and animals: for some reason animals like to chew on duct work, especially the flexible plastic designed units. This will cause holes and tears. Age and corrosion: if you live in an older home, your ductwork may show signs of age if it has never been replaced or repaired. Repairing damaged ductwork can be a simple or more complicated task depending on the type and extent of the damaged area. For small openings or tears, simply cover over the hole with duct tape. This requires the use of certified duct tape made for this specific type of repair. If you use the tape commonly called ‘duct tape’ that is inexpensive and found at the local discount store, you will be disappointed with the results as this tape will
dry out and become brittle. If you have larger areas of damage including crushed areas, broken joints, or missing attachments, the best course of action is to replace the unit altogether. Trying to repair a crushed circular tube is almost impossible. Call a RESNET Qualified EnergySmart Contractor who has the experience to replace or install ductwork and ensure it is sealed and properly insulated for maximum home energy efficiency. According to ENERGY STAR, properly sealed ductwork will increase home heating and cooling efficiency by up 20 per cent – and possibly more. Insulated and properly maintained ducts and vents in your home will save you money on your heating and cooling costs, and will also ensure a high level of home comfort.
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