Once you’ve narrowed down your decision to type of shingles and brand. Ask your roofer if they have samples or where you can get sample boards. The sample board will have a few rows of the actual shingles glued to a board. This is a good place to start. Narrow your choice down to 3-4 colors you…

With a little TLC, the grass can always be greener in your front yard. Although there are challenges when it comes to creating the perfect lawn, simple steps can make a difference in the appearance and health of your grass. For example, using a grass common to your area results in the healthiest…

Oriental rugs are an exotic and sophisticated touch to any home or apartment. The addition of an Oriental rug to a room significantly alters the feel and character of your living space. Oriental rugs, despite their name, describe meticulously crafted rugs from Iran, Turkey, India, Southeast Asia and…

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shares his know-how for central air and window units. Dirty filters kill your AC's efficiency, so install a new one every month during the cooling season for central and window units (or clean them if you've got the washable type). Look…

Question: How do you decide which professional is best for your project? Answer: The best way is to check them out. Ask for references, and contact them. Ask to see some of their work; if you cannot see it in person, then at least ask to see their portfolios. Keep an eye open for successful…

Question: How do you know when an asphalt shingle roof needs replacement? Are there clues to look for before telltale water stains appear on our plaster ceilings? Answer: There are several clues, and the biggest one is age. If your roof is more than 20 years old, there's a good chance it's due for…

Question: How do you decide which professional is best for your project? Answer: The best way is to check them out. Ask for references, and contact them. Ask to see some of their work; if you cannot see it in person, then at least ask to see their portfolios. Keep an eye open for successful…

I believe residential roofing contractors have the opportunity to sell their customers products they don’t know that they want.

An innovative 3-D printing technology has been developed that could revolutionize important biomedical equipment, enhancing treatment for everyone from premature babies to patients needing implants.

Roundy’s Inc., a leading grocer in the Midwest, announced that it is joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) GreenChill program, a partnership between the EPA and food retailers to reduce emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change.

Asian citrus psyllids are loathed by orange farmers because they spread a pernicious foe: the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, which cause citrus greening, which turns the trees' leaves a sickly yellow and makes the fruit bitter and stunted. There is no cure, and the infected trees…

pinta acoustic

Diamonds may not be as rare as once believed, but this finding won't mean deep discounts at local jewelry stores.

Engineers have identified a new approach for the storage of concentrated solar thermal energy, to reduce its cost and make it more practical for wider use.

Energy service company (ESCO) work in the United States already has a solid foundation in the public sector, backed by policy and economic drivers. However, in order to achieve more aggressive growth, the industry is expected to seek new opportunities in the private sector.

A dust extraction unit that exploits the laws of nature has made the indoor climate on the ‘shop-floor’ of the Thamshavn smelter in Norway 75 percent cleaner.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Educational Institute (ACCA-EI) Standards Task Team announced that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has recognized the new ANSI/ACCA 14 QMref - 2015 (Quality Maintenance of Commercial Refrigeration Systems) standard.

In the future, surgical assistants could be relieved by surgeons, to devote their time instead to their own patients. This is expected to be made possible by a device which has been developed by researchers from the project group for automation in medicine and biotechnology.

The new Women & Infants Specialty Health Clinic on the new campus of Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas has received LEED Gold Certification.

Technical textiles have unique requirements to meet. Compression bandages, for example, should put pressure on the human tissue, therefore the stretchability of the material has to be right. Materials for protective jackets need to have a certain bending stiffness: If something hits them, the…

Representatives from participating industry associations, refrigerant producers, and manufacturers of refrigeration equipment and components also provided progress reports detailing the steps they’ve taken over the past year to meet the goal of reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) use 80 percent by…

Scientists have developed ultrasensitive gas sensors based on the infusion of boron atoms into the tightly bound matrix of carbon atoms known as graphene.

The two family-owned wholesalers believe the business decision will strategically help their companies going forward.

BASF Corporation

Converting solar or wind into carbon-based 'fossil' fuels might seem anything but green, but when you start with carbon dioxide -- which can be dragged out of the air -- it's as green as it gets. The technology that makes it economically feasible isn't available yet, but a recently published paper…

When you’re traveling and check into a hotel, you expect the room will be clean, reasonably quiet, and — most of all — comfortable. Multiply those expectations by the millions of travelers staying in hotel rooms across the country each day, and you can see why the hospitality industry faces some…

The global home automation market was valued at $4.41 billion in 2014, and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.3 percent from 2014 to 2020, reaching $21.6 billion by 2020, according to a report by Transparency Market Research.

One way to monitor impacts to the ecosystem is by observing the changes in occurrence or distribution of sea birds and marine mammals. So a team of researchers is 'eavesdropping' on marine mammals within the Arctic to monitor their presence year-round.

A new method dates documents within a period of up to five years using a more accurate and less invasive technique, report scientists.

From building automation systems, chillers, compressors, temperature control valves, and more, here’s a look at some of the equipment commercial contractors working in this sector may want to consider.