Image Resources' financial returns for its North Perth Basin mineral sands project just got a whole lot better with increases in the prices of titanium dioxide and zircon mineral sand products.
Tellingly, the increases would boost the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of the project to 47% at the current A$/US$, up from 43%. The net cash flows for life of the mine to $381 million, up from $259 million.
The capital for the project would be repaid from cash flows after just 13 months of operation, previously 18 months.
Capital costs are estimated at $84 million.
The project would produce some 1,393,000 tonnes of ilmenite, 85,000 tonnes of rutile, 193,000 tonnes of zircon and 93,000 tonnes of leucoxene over a twelve year mine life.
Image has commenced a Feasibility Study on the North Perth Basin project.
Environmental consultants are carrying out baseline studies and the environmental permitting of the Atlas deposit, the first of the deposits to be developed.
Bulk samples from the Atlas and Red Gully deposits are being collected in preparation for further metallurgical test work to be carried out during the first quarter 2012.
This test work is expected to demonstrate that metallurgical recoveries for these resources can be improved.
There has been an 80-85 per cent increase in rutile prices and 85-90 per cent projected increase in synthetic rutile prices next year. While zircon prices are expected to flatten early next year after strong increases the last few years.
The pigments are used in paints and other building materials and then on-sold to China and other developing countries.
While new supply is coming on stream, the new suppliers will simply help satisfy the demand growth out of China.
The key markets for zircon, a product used in ceramics and tiles, are generally outside of the regions affected by the current sovereign debt issues. zircon in particular, the ceramic-centric cultures, the tile-centric cultures tend to be Latin American, Asian, Islamic and the Middle East.
With very strong demand for minerals sands products the outlook for Image's North Perth Basin mineral sands project is very solid based on projected financial returns.
If Iluka is anything to go by, Image presents a real opportunity for investors with booming mineral sands prices and demand for rutile and zircon.
Iluka is up more than 470 per cent since the lows of July 2009 and is up more than 86 per cent since January. In comparison, the ASX 200 index is down about 13 per cent this year.
While Iluka is an industry leader, it was not always the case and in 2009 was down and almost out. For keen investors, there is an opportunity to potentially catch a wave with Image riding high demand for minerals sands products as it moves closer to development of its Perth Basin mineral sands project.
2011年12月29日星期四
2011年12月28日星期三
Family’s new home plea over asbestos
A FORMER soldier fighting a legal battle against a housing association has received the backing of Melton Royal British Legion.
Nigel Grant, of Winster Crescent, Melton, is making a desperate plea to the Loughborough-based De Montfort Housing Society to re-home him and his family from their current property which he claims is ‘covered’ in black mould. He is also concerned about levels of asbestos in the property’s flooring.
At Mr Grant’s request the society has made the decision to rip up all the tiles from the dining room, living room, downstairs hallway and cupboard under the stairs. It also plans to rip out the fireplace, which has patches of black mould, and inspect the living room floor for damp.
However, the association has refused to rehome Mr Grant’s family while work is being carried out for a week from January 9, and once work is finished it will not be providing replacement tiles.
The father-of-three, who served his country in Iraq during 2008, fears his family’s health may be affected if they are forced to remain in the property and is working with the Royal British Legion to try to resolve the issue.
He said: “I have researched the affects of asbestos and mould exposure and am very concerned.
“My children suffer from chronic asthma and my four- month-old son Lochlan has developed a bad cough.
“I am doing all I can to ensure my family has somewhere safe to live but feel like I’m just going round in circles and it’s putting an unimaginable amount of stress on myself and my partner Elaine Godfrey.”
Mr Grant has raised his concerns with Melton Council. Environmental protection and safety manager Victoria Clarke said: “Asbestos should not be removed unnecessarily as it can be more dangerous than leaving it in place. We are therefore liaising with the housing association to ensure the work is carried out safely.”
Said Gurmeet Virdi, director of operations for De Montfort Housing Society, said: “We have discussed with the family whether or not they would prefer to stay in a bed and breakfast at our expense on the first night while the tiles are removed and will carry out air tests to check that it is safe before they move back in.”
Nigel Grant, of Winster Crescent, Melton, is making a desperate plea to the Loughborough-based De Montfort Housing Society to re-home him and his family from their current property which he claims is ‘covered’ in black mould. He is also concerned about levels of asbestos in the property’s flooring.
At Mr Grant’s request the society has made the decision to rip up all the tiles from the dining room, living room, downstairs hallway and cupboard under the stairs. It also plans to rip out the fireplace, which has patches of black mould, and inspect the living room floor for damp.
However, the association has refused to rehome Mr Grant’s family while work is being carried out for a week from January 9, and once work is finished it will not be providing replacement tiles.
The father-of-three, who served his country in Iraq during 2008, fears his family’s health may be affected if they are forced to remain in the property and is working with the Royal British Legion to try to resolve the issue.
He said: “I have researched the affects of asbestos and mould exposure and am very concerned.
“My children suffer from chronic asthma and my four- month-old son Lochlan has developed a bad cough.
“I am doing all I can to ensure my family has somewhere safe to live but feel like I’m just going round in circles and it’s putting an unimaginable amount of stress on myself and my partner Elaine Godfrey.”
Mr Grant has raised his concerns with Melton Council. Environmental protection and safety manager Victoria Clarke said: “Asbestos should not be removed unnecessarily as it can be more dangerous than leaving it in place. We are therefore liaising with the housing association to ensure the work is carried out safely.”
Said Gurmeet Virdi, director of operations for De Montfort Housing Society, said: “We have discussed with the family whether or not they would prefer to stay in a bed and breakfast at our expense on the first night while the tiles are removed and will carry out air tests to check that it is safe before they move back in.”
2011年12月27日星期二
Sanderson Street fire one of many this season
Thirty-one people have been left homeless in a rash of fires throughout the area since Christmas Day. This morning 13 more people were added to that list after some Sanderson Street residents woke up to find the three family home on fire just before 6:30 this morning.
"I woke up to my dog barking and then I came outside and the alarms went off. And in the kitchen the furnace was on fire," fire victim Coral Carattini said.
Carattini lives in the first floor apartment where the fire started. Officials tell CBS 3 Springfield the furnace duct work overheated, igniting the first story home and sending flames throughout the building.
"I could see them coming through my wall in the outside," second floor resident, Pedro Torres, said.
The fire was put out in just about 30 minutes. And although all the residents escaped they're now left homeless as the Red Cross assists in getting them shelter.
"This morning with the 13 we helped them meet their emergency housing needs. If they didn't have a place to stay we were able to find them lodging where they're safe and warm," Red Cross Director of Disaster Services, Mary Nathan, said.
According to Nathan, the winter months tend to be the most challenging.
"We're averaging about 100 fires a year and most of them are from Nov. 1 to March. It goes along the heating season," Nathan said.
But there are ways to make yourself safer during these cold months. Here's a list of safety tips courtesy of the Red Cross:
If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.
Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
Never leave cooking food unattended.
Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
If you are simmering, baking, boiling, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
Keep kids away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of three feet around the stove.
Keep anything that can catch on fire—pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen. Contact your local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.
Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.
Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.
Remember that lit candles are fire. Keep them at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, such as curtains, bedding, mattresses, paper, books, flammable decorations, clothing, and upholstered furniture.
Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed. Do not leave a room before blowing out all candles.
Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
Place candles where they cannot be reached or knocked over by pets and children.
During an emergency, always use flashlights and not candles as light sources.
Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. And keep all matches and lighters out of reach and out of site of children.
Visit www.redcross.org/homefires for more information on how to keep your home fire safe.
Tips like these could prevent you from losing your home to a devastating fire.
"I woke up to my dog barking and then I came outside and the alarms went off. And in the kitchen the furnace was on fire," fire victim Coral Carattini said.
Carattini lives in the first floor apartment where the fire started. Officials tell CBS 3 Springfield the furnace duct work overheated, igniting the first story home and sending flames throughout the building.
"I could see them coming through my wall in the outside," second floor resident, Pedro Torres, said.
The fire was put out in just about 30 minutes. And although all the residents escaped they're now left homeless as the Red Cross assists in getting them shelter.
"This morning with the 13 we helped them meet their emergency housing needs. If they didn't have a place to stay we were able to find them lodging where they're safe and warm," Red Cross Director of Disaster Services, Mary Nathan, said.
According to Nathan, the winter months tend to be the most challenging.
"We're averaging about 100 fires a year and most of them are from Nov. 1 to March. It goes along the heating season," Nathan said.
But there are ways to make yourself safer during these cold months. Here's a list of safety tips courtesy of the Red Cross:
If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.
Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
Never leave cooking food unattended.
Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
If you are simmering, baking, boiling, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
Keep kids away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of three feet around the stove.
Keep anything that can catch on fire—pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen. Contact your local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.
Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.
Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.
Remember that lit candles are fire. Keep them at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, such as curtains, bedding, mattresses, paper, books, flammable decorations, clothing, and upholstered furniture.
Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed. Do not leave a room before blowing out all candles.
Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
Place candles where they cannot be reached or knocked over by pets and children.
During an emergency, always use flashlights and not candles as light sources.
Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. And keep all matches and lighters out of reach and out of site of children.
Visit www.redcross.org/homefires for more information on how to keep your home fire safe.
Tips like these could prevent you from losing your home to a devastating fire.
2011年12月26日星期一
A view of Italy
Today we wrap up our discussion on balconies with a little construction strategy.
First, your balcony will consist of a cantilever-style structure, which, like the nose on your face, will simply protrude from the exterior wall.
Supporting a balcony via pillars or fibreglass columns from below would certainly be an easier strategy to follow, construction wise, and would certainly suit a home where the balcony was placed over the front entrance, however, pillar support is not quite the style we're shooting for.
Will our balcony not need some type of support system? Of course, if you're in the blueprint stage of your future new home, your architect will be able to modify the floor system so that the engineered joists extend past the exterior wall the desired number of feet, or that the joists be designed to accept some form of steel framework.
When adding a balcony to an existing home, whereby the use of columns underneath is not possible, or just not desired, then the manner of installation will have to be examined by a contractor and further okayed by an engineer, in order for you to get a permit.
A cantilever-style balcony isn't like any other deck, since the outer perimeter will seemingly be defying gravity. Realizing that nothing defies gravity, at least not for long, a support structure (as unintrusive as possible) will need to be installed underneath the balcony platform. This support structure should, no doubt, be made of steel, to ensure a long lasting, maintenance free quality.
If the steel's angled support structure isn't in line with the style or decor of the home, the beams could be easily covered with foam mouldings. These mouldings would, in turn, be coated with a stucco-type product that would duplicate the texture of stone or concrete.
Or, you could conceal the supports in true Italian fashion with the always classic statue of Zeus or Atlas, whereby the statue's form, usually starting at the waistline, protrudes from the wall.
The stylish effect of your platform resting on Atlas' shoulder, with arms raised in support, would be impressive indeed.
Now, if the likes of Zeus, Atlas, or any of the Greek or Roman gods, don't hold any great historical or ancestral significance to you, but you still like the statue idea, perhaps the likes of Big Joe Mufferaw, or Canadian strongman Louis Cyr, or Cornwall's legendary football great Moe Racine, would provide that statuesque, yet closer to home, desired effect.
The challenge, of course, would lie in finding a sculptor, a profession that really lost its market about 500 years ago.
Balcony framework?
I like the steel frame, poured concrete floor best.
Steel is forever, and so is the concrete, especially if it's coated with a porcelain or slate tile.
Railing systems?
Again, consider the maintenance free, everlasting quality of steel, aluminum or cast iron spindles.
What about glass?
Glass looks great, but may not suit your traditional or formal stone type home, and would definitely clash with your Moe Racine, dueling statue support system. However, for a contemporary home, glass panels are perfect.
First step to balcony success?
Contact your contractor and explain your vision. If this initial visit is positive, meet with your engineer, since the project will require some structural expertise.
If all goes as planned, you're well on your way to a very special home feature indeed.
First, your balcony will consist of a cantilever-style structure, which, like the nose on your face, will simply protrude from the exterior wall.
Supporting a balcony via pillars or fibreglass columns from below would certainly be an easier strategy to follow, construction wise, and would certainly suit a home where the balcony was placed over the front entrance, however, pillar support is not quite the style we're shooting for.
Will our balcony not need some type of support system? Of course, if you're in the blueprint stage of your future new home, your architect will be able to modify the floor system so that the engineered joists extend past the exterior wall the desired number of feet, or that the joists be designed to accept some form of steel framework.
When adding a balcony to an existing home, whereby the use of columns underneath is not possible, or just not desired, then the manner of installation will have to be examined by a contractor and further okayed by an engineer, in order for you to get a permit.
A cantilever-style balcony isn't like any other deck, since the outer perimeter will seemingly be defying gravity. Realizing that nothing defies gravity, at least not for long, a support structure (as unintrusive as possible) will need to be installed underneath the balcony platform. This support structure should, no doubt, be made of steel, to ensure a long lasting, maintenance free quality.
If the steel's angled support structure isn't in line with the style or decor of the home, the beams could be easily covered with foam mouldings. These mouldings would, in turn, be coated with a stucco-type product that would duplicate the texture of stone or concrete.
Or, you could conceal the supports in true Italian fashion with the always classic statue of Zeus or Atlas, whereby the statue's form, usually starting at the waistline, protrudes from the wall.
The stylish effect of your platform resting on Atlas' shoulder, with arms raised in support, would be impressive indeed.
Now, if the likes of Zeus, Atlas, or any of the Greek or Roman gods, don't hold any great historical or ancestral significance to you, but you still like the statue idea, perhaps the likes of Big Joe Mufferaw, or Canadian strongman Louis Cyr, or Cornwall's legendary football great Moe Racine, would provide that statuesque, yet closer to home, desired effect.
The challenge, of course, would lie in finding a sculptor, a profession that really lost its market about 500 years ago.
Balcony framework?
I like the steel frame, poured concrete floor best.
Steel is forever, and so is the concrete, especially if it's coated with a porcelain or slate tile.
Railing systems?
Again, consider the maintenance free, everlasting quality of steel, aluminum or cast iron spindles.
What about glass?
Glass looks great, but may not suit your traditional or formal stone type home, and would definitely clash with your Moe Racine, dueling statue support system. However, for a contemporary home, glass panels are perfect.
First step to balcony success?
Contact your contractor and explain your vision. If this initial visit is positive, meet with your engineer, since the project will require some structural expertise.
If all goes as planned, you're well on your way to a very special home feature indeed.
2011年12月25日星期日
When it comes to flooring, it’s comfort vs. cost
Watch any episode of HGTV’s House Hunters and it’s clear that hardwood floors provide the ‘wow’ factor for those in pursuit of a new home.
Local flooring salespeople agree, saying that hardwood floors, or their look-a-like laminates, are top sellers.
Real hardwood floors are still big in newly constructed homes, said Vicki Crook, office manager at Valley Carpet in Bay City.
But homeowners that are remodeling and upgrading floors prefer laminates, Crook said.
Laminate floors look like real wood, are one-half-inch thick or less, and with their floating, tongue-in-groove, snap-in construction, can be easily installed overtop of existing floors.
But their best feature may be that they are scratch and dent resistant, making them ideal for families with children, pets, or both.
“The only thing more durable than a laminate is ceramic tile,” Crook said.
A home may have an existing wood floor that has been carpeted for many years and is in poor condition. Covering the floor with a laminate is often easier and not nearly as messy as tearing the floor out or sanding it down.
Laminate floors cost less, too, Crook said.
“They’re less expensive than real wood, which has to be nailed, stapled or glued,” she said.
Don Grubb, owner of D & R Floor Covering, 515 Vance Road, said that while he sells a lot of wood laminate floors, the real deal is the first choice for his customers.
“It’s a good value,” Grubb said. “It’s something that is pretty much a permanent floor for the home, as compared to carpeting or vinyl, which would be more temporary. Wood also has a natural beauty and warmth that you can’t get with vinyl.”
But vinyl has become a more popular option over the last year or so, Crook said. Vinyl is less expensive, is durable and easy to maintain, she said. Another reason for its comeback may be that in an uncertain economy people often will go back to something they know and trust, she said.
Engineered wood flooring is made by pressing and gluing several layers of plastic laminate veneer and real wood together. It is different from a laminate floor in that laminate does not contain any real wood.
It’s advantage is that it has the beauty of a solid wood floor, but is more stable in areas where there is high humidity, Grubb said. It is perfect for homes that are located next to lakes, he said, and can be used in basements.
But it’s not necessarily less expensive, he said.
“It really takes more of a manufacturing process to create them,” he said.
When buying engineered flooring, look for a surface layer that is at least two millimeters thick, he said.
Whether installing a hardwood, laminate or engineered floor, a homeowner will have to decide what color to use. In general, light-colored woods may be more stylish in casual rooms, while darker stains may look better in more formal rooms. But, as with most decorating choices, a homeowner’s budget and personal style are what matter most.
The hardness of the wood is also important, with Brazilian cherry being one of the most durable flooring woods, according to the Janka system, which assigns a rating based on how much force is needed to embed a steel ball into the wood.
Flooring is also graded on things such as color, grain and markings. Wood that is harder and more consistent in grain and color tends to be more expensive.
While hardwood and laminate floors remain the No. 1 choice for homeowners, carpeting also remains a top seller, Crook said, especially in bedrooms.
“People like the warm and fuzzy under their feet when they get up in the morning,” she said.
Rubber floors made from recycled tires and floors made from cork are also being used in more homes, Crook said. Both eco-friendly choices are attractive, are easy to clean and maintain and feel warm, offering some insulation.
Local flooring salespeople agree, saying that hardwood floors, or their look-a-like laminates, are top sellers.
Real hardwood floors are still big in newly constructed homes, said Vicki Crook, office manager at Valley Carpet in Bay City.
But homeowners that are remodeling and upgrading floors prefer laminates, Crook said.
Laminate floors look like real wood, are one-half-inch thick or less, and with their floating, tongue-in-groove, snap-in construction, can be easily installed overtop of existing floors.
But their best feature may be that they are scratch and dent resistant, making them ideal for families with children, pets, or both.
“The only thing more durable than a laminate is ceramic tile,” Crook said.
A home may have an existing wood floor that has been carpeted for many years and is in poor condition. Covering the floor with a laminate is often easier and not nearly as messy as tearing the floor out or sanding it down.
Laminate floors cost less, too, Crook said.
“They’re less expensive than real wood, which has to be nailed, stapled or glued,” she said.
Don Grubb, owner of D & R Floor Covering, 515 Vance Road, said that while he sells a lot of wood laminate floors, the real deal is the first choice for his customers.
“It’s a good value,” Grubb said. “It’s something that is pretty much a permanent floor for the home, as compared to carpeting or vinyl, which would be more temporary. Wood also has a natural beauty and warmth that you can’t get with vinyl.”
But vinyl has become a more popular option over the last year or so, Crook said. Vinyl is less expensive, is durable and easy to maintain, she said. Another reason for its comeback may be that in an uncertain economy people often will go back to something they know and trust, she said.
Engineered wood flooring is made by pressing and gluing several layers of plastic laminate veneer and real wood together. It is different from a laminate floor in that laminate does not contain any real wood.
It’s advantage is that it has the beauty of a solid wood floor, but is more stable in areas where there is high humidity, Grubb said. It is perfect for homes that are located next to lakes, he said, and can be used in basements.
But it’s not necessarily less expensive, he said.
“It really takes more of a manufacturing process to create them,” he said.
When buying engineered flooring, look for a surface layer that is at least two millimeters thick, he said.
Whether installing a hardwood, laminate or engineered floor, a homeowner will have to decide what color to use. In general, light-colored woods may be more stylish in casual rooms, while darker stains may look better in more formal rooms. But, as with most decorating choices, a homeowner’s budget and personal style are what matter most.
The hardness of the wood is also important, with Brazilian cherry being one of the most durable flooring woods, according to the Janka system, which assigns a rating based on how much force is needed to embed a steel ball into the wood.
Flooring is also graded on things such as color, grain and markings. Wood that is harder and more consistent in grain and color tends to be more expensive.
While hardwood and laminate floors remain the No. 1 choice for homeowners, carpeting also remains a top seller, Crook said, especially in bedrooms.
“People like the warm and fuzzy under their feet when they get up in the morning,” she said.
Rubber floors made from recycled tires and floors made from cork are also being used in more homes, Crook said. Both eco-friendly choices are attractive, are easy to clean and maintain and feel warm, offering some insulation.
2011年12月22日星期四
Shaw Achieves LEED Gold Certification for Georgia Facility
Shaw Industries Group, Inc. today announced it has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for Plant 95, an administrative facility on its corporate campus in Dalton.
Plant 95 is the first building in Dalton to achieve certification under the LEED Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance rating system, and the second Shaw facility to achieve LEED certification. The 32,335 square foot facility was previously first privately owned building in Dalton to achieve the US EPA Energy Star rating.
“The social and environmental responsibility of all our facilities is a fundamental part of our commitment to sustainability. We are continually assessing the infrastructure and processes at all our facilities to find new ways to increase water and energy efficiency, and to reduce the overall impact of our buildings,” Shaw Corporate Facilities Director Jason Bowling said. “Plant 95 is a great example of this commitment – our consistent investment in improving the environmental responsibility of this facility made LEED certification a logical next step.”
According to Bowling, the high level of energy efficiency that helped the building garner Energy Star also made a significant contribution towards the building’s LEED rating. Shaw Corporate Facilities Manager Rhonda Allen, one of the project leaders, agreed. “Thanks to the building’s already high efficiency, achieving LEED certification did not require extensive capital investment; instead, we simply had to work with USGBC to provide the appropriate documentation and tracking for the work we had already done,” Allen said.
In addition to energy efficiency, the building scored very highly in several other areas of the rating system, including water efficiency, water efficient landscaping, environmentally responsible sourcing and purchasing, green cleaning, waste reduction and recycling, and lighting, according to Allen.
“Plant 95 is now serving as a model for moving other Shaw facilities towards the LEED standard,” she said.
“Sustainable organizations require sustainable facilities,” said Shaw Vice President of Sustainability Paul Murray. “Achieving LEED certification for our key buildings is one of the many ways we are working to ensure we’re upholding the most rigorous standards for environmental efficiency in all facets of our business – from product to manufacturing to our physical infrastructure.”
Shaw’s Patcraft brand achieved LEED Gold certification for its Chicago showroom in early 2010, and several other Shaw facilities are currently at some stage of the LEED certification process, including two additional facilities in Dalton and the Shaw Contract Group showroom in Shanghai, Murray said.
Shaw Industries, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is the world's largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor covering provider with more than $4 billion in annual sales and approximately 24,000 associates. Headquartered in Dalton, Ga., the company manufactures and distributes carpeting, rugs, hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile for residential and commercial applications worldwide.
Plant 95 is the first building in Dalton to achieve certification under the LEED Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance rating system, and the second Shaw facility to achieve LEED certification. The 32,335 square foot facility was previously first privately owned building in Dalton to achieve the US EPA Energy Star rating.
“The social and environmental responsibility of all our facilities is a fundamental part of our commitment to sustainability. We are continually assessing the infrastructure and processes at all our facilities to find new ways to increase water and energy efficiency, and to reduce the overall impact of our buildings,” Shaw Corporate Facilities Director Jason Bowling said. “Plant 95 is a great example of this commitment – our consistent investment in improving the environmental responsibility of this facility made LEED certification a logical next step.”
According to Bowling, the high level of energy efficiency that helped the building garner Energy Star also made a significant contribution towards the building’s LEED rating. Shaw Corporate Facilities Manager Rhonda Allen, one of the project leaders, agreed. “Thanks to the building’s already high efficiency, achieving LEED certification did not require extensive capital investment; instead, we simply had to work with USGBC to provide the appropriate documentation and tracking for the work we had already done,” Allen said.
In addition to energy efficiency, the building scored very highly in several other areas of the rating system, including water efficiency, water efficient landscaping, environmentally responsible sourcing and purchasing, green cleaning, waste reduction and recycling, and lighting, according to Allen.
“Plant 95 is now serving as a model for moving other Shaw facilities towards the LEED standard,” she said.
“Sustainable organizations require sustainable facilities,” said Shaw Vice President of Sustainability Paul Murray. “Achieving LEED certification for our key buildings is one of the many ways we are working to ensure we’re upholding the most rigorous standards for environmental efficiency in all facets of our business – from product to manufacturing to our physical infrastructure.”
Shaw’s Patcraft brand achieved LEED Gold certification for its Chicago showroom in early 2010, and several other Shaw facilities are currently at some stage of the LEED certification process, including two additional facilities in Dalton and the Shaw Contract Group showroom in Shanghai, Murray said.
Shaw Industries, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is the world's largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor covering provider with more than $4 billion in annual sales and approximately 24,000 associates. Headquartered in Dalton, Ga., the company manufactures and distributes carpeting, rugs, hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile for residential and commercial applications worldwide.
2011年12月21日星期三
"Survivor South Pacific" Finale Recap And Final Thoughts
After 39 days of close challenges, blindsides, dumb moves, and a whole lot of Bible-thumping, we finally have our winner for "Survivor: South Pacific." We have two hours of events to talk about so let's get right into it.
We start with Brandon arriving at Redemption Island and explaining his dumb move in the last episode. Ozzy notes that Brandon wasn't playing a game built around loyalty, but rather around blind faith, and that blind faith was not in God but in people that wanted to win a million dollars way more than he did.
Over at Te Tuna, the remaining Upolus try to gather themselves after a very turbulent Tribal Council, and Albert angers Coach when he says he had no idea that Brandon was going home. This, of course, is not true, since Coach and Albert had discussed who they were going to vote out at that Tribal Council and Coach had told Albert in no uncertain terms that he was targeting Brandon no matter what. Coach then goes off on a rant about how he is sick of people "being holier-than-thou" and not owning up to their deception, and he yells at Albert for not being straight with him. The entire discussion can be summed up like this:
The next day, Ozzy and Brandon receive tree mail telling them that they are about to compete in the final Redemption Duel. They head over to the arena where Jeff Probst explains that the challenge is a simple endurance test: cling onto a pole for as long as you can. They will start at the top of the pole, and there are several notches along the pole for them to slide down onto in case they lose their footing. Last person standing gets back in the game. After 45 minutes, both players were struggling to hang on, but Brandon fell down first and became the seventh juror, while Ozzy returned to the game for a second time.
Brandon left the game saying he forgives the people that backstabbed him and will leave the game with his head held high. After all the emotional turmoil he experienced in this game, I hope Brandon will be able to take this and become a better person, but let's face it: until he made that final dumb move, he made for horrible television. Hopefully this will convince the casting team to stop being lazy and picking people based on nepotism. I don't want another Hantz on this show, and neither do a lot of people.
With Ozzy back at the Te Tuna camp, Coach immediately sits down with him and reaffirms the final three deal he made with Ozzy on Redemption Island. He tells Ozzy that if he wins the next immunity, he will give him his hidden immunity idol and keep him safe. Ozzy nods his head through the whole discussion, but in an confessional he admits he does not buy anything Coach says. Coach thinks it is his game to lose because everyone wants to take him to the final three. Did it ever occur to him that the reason everyone is sticking with him is that, one, he has the idol and therefore no one dares to target him, and two, the jury probably doesn't like him because of his honor speeches?
Now it's time for the first of two immunity challenges. In this challenge, the players must use their left arm to pull down on a pulley that will level out a balancing board. Then, using their right hand, they must use wooden tiles to create a tower tall enough to pass a red marker. They each have a limited number of tiles, and if they do not keep the pulley steady, the board will tilt and the tower will fall over. First player to create a tower tall enough to reach the required height wins immunity.
The game starts, and Coach, Sophie, and Ozzy pull away from Albert and Rick. Then, Coach's tower falls over while Ozzy and Sophie run out of tiles to use, forcing them to take apart some of their tower and find a new approach. In the process of rebuilding, both Ozzy and Sophie lose some tiles as they fall to the ground and out of their reach. Sophie asks Albert to drop his stack and help her by picking up her tiles. Albert refuses and Sophie begins yelling at him until Probst reminds her that this is an individual challenge and no one is allowed to help each other. "If you want Ozzy out of this game," he says, "Beat him."
Eventually, Sophie's tower falls again, leaving it race between Ozzy and Coach, and in a season filled with close, riveting challenges, this one was incredibly fun to watch. You can see the sweat pouring down both of the vets' faces as they slowly place more tiles on their stacks. After a long, tense struggle, Ozzy finishes his stack first, and with a victorious punch to destroy his stack, celebrates another challenge victory while the Upolus prepare to do some scrambling.
Back at camp, Coach and Albert discuss voting out Rick, since both of them feel that the jury would vote for him because they like him and his work ethic. Ozzy, however, isn't going to let it be that easy, and he plans to sow seeds of discontent amongst his competitors. He proposes to Albert that they vote out Sophie because she is a brat, and he uses her behavior at the challenge as an example. He then tells Albert about his final three deal with Ozzy. When Albert confronts Coach with this information, Coach simply responds by saying that he can't wait to get Ozzy out of the game.
At Tribal Council, everything is put out on the table, including the Coach/Ozzy deal and Ozzy's belief that Sophie is a brat. The latter especially hurts Sophie, as Ozzy tells her that while he was on Redemption Island, every person that talked with him called her arrogant, spoiled, and childish. That was a little brow-raising for me. I never saw Sophie that way, but it could be because I was too focused on people like Brandon and Cochran to notice. Sophie breaks down and says this is the first time she has ever been called such things, and that it is really hard to hear Ozzy make such personal statements.
We start with Brandon arriving at Redemption Island and explaining his dumb move in the last episode. Ozzy notes that Brandon wasn't playing a game built around loyalty, but rather around blind faith, and that blind faith was not in God but in people that wanted to win a million dollars way more than he did.
Over at Te Tuna, the remaining Upolus try to gather themselves after a very turbulent Tribal Council, and Albert angers Coach when he says he had no idea that Brandon was going home. This, of course, is not true, since Coach and Albert had discussed who they were going to vote out at that Tribal Council and Coach had told Albert in no uncertain terms that he was targeting Brandon no matter what. Coach then goes off on a rant about how he is sick of people "being holier-than-thou" and not owning up to their deception, and he yells at Albert for not being straight with him. The entire discussion can be summed up like this:
The next day, Ozzy and Brandon receive tree mail telling them that they are about to compete in the final Redemption Duel. They head over to the arena where Jeff Probst explains that the challenge is a simple endurance test: cling onto a pole for as long as you can. They will start at the top of the pole, and there are several notches along the pole for them to slide down onto in case they lose their footing. Last person standing gets back in the game. After 45 minutes, both players were struggling to hang on, but Brandon fell down first and became the seventh juror, while Ozzy returned to the game for a second time.
Brandon left the game saying he forgives the people that backstabbed him and will leave the game with his head held high. After all the emotional turmoil he experienced in this game, I hope Brandon will be able to take this and become a better person, but let's face it: until he made that final dumb move, he made for horrible television. Hopefully this will convince the casting team to stop being lazy and picking people based on nepotism. I don't want another Hantz on this show, and neither do a lot of people.
With Ozzy back at the Te Tuna camp, Coach immediately sits down with him and reaffirms the final three deal he made with Ozzy on Redemption Island. He tells Ozzy that if he wins the next immunity, he will give him his hidden immunity idol and keep him safe. Ozzy nods his head through the whole discussion, but in an confessional he admits he does not buy anything Coach says. Coach thinks it is his game to lose because everyone wants to take him to the final three. Did it ever occur to him that the reason everyone is sticking with him is that, one, he has the idol and therefore no one dares to target him, and two, the jury probably doesn't like him because of his honor speeches?
Now it's time for the first of two immunity challenges. In this challenge, the players must use their left arm to pull down on a pulley that will level out a balancing board. Then, using their right hand, they must use wooden tiles to create a tower tall enough to pass a red marker. They each have a limited number of tiles, and if they do not keep the pulley steady, the board will tilt and the tower will fall over. First player to create a tower tall enough to reach the required height wins immunity.
The game starts, and Coach, Sophie, and Ozzy pull away from Albert and Rick. Then, Coach's tower falls over while Ozzy and Sophie run out of tiles to use, forcing them to take apart some of their tower and find a new approach. In the process of rebuilding, both Ozzy and Sophie lose some tiles as they fall to the ground and out of their reach. Sophie asks Albert to drop his stack and help her by picking up her tiles. Albert refuses and Sophie begins yelling at him until Probst reminds her that this is an individual challenge and no one is allowed to help each other. "If you want Ozzy out of this game," he says, "Beat him."
Eventually, Sophie's tower falls again, leaving it race between Ozzy and Coach, and in a season filled with close, riveting challenges, this one was incredibly fun to watch. You can see the sweat pouring down both of the vets' faces as they slowly place more tiles on their stacks. After a long, tense struggle, Ozzy finishes his stack first, and with a victorious punch to destroy his stack, celebrates another challenge victory while the Upolus prepare to do some scrambling.
Back at camp, Coach and Albert discuss voting out Rick, since both of them feel that the jury would vote for him because they like him and his work ethic. Ozzy, however, isn't going to let it be that easy, and he plans to sow seeds of discontent amongst his competitors. He proposes to Albert that they vote out Sophie because she is a brat, and he uses her behavior at the challenge as an example. He then tells Albert about his final three deal with Ozzy. When Albert confronts Coach with this information, Coach simply responds by saying that he can't wait to get Ozzy out of the game.
At Tribal Council, everything is put out on the table, including the Coach/Ozzy deal and Ozzy's belief that Sophie is a brat. The latter especially hurts Sophie, as Ozzy tells her that while he was on Redemption Island, every person that talked with him called her arrogant, spoiled, and childish. That was a little brow-raising for me. I never saw Sophie that way, but it could be because I was too focused on people like Brandon and Cochran to notice. Sophie breaks down and says this is the first time she has ever been called such things, and that it is really hard to hear Ozzy make such personal statements.
订阅：
博文 (Atom)