â€œCutting Your Energy Bill Nowâ€ with Bruce Harley

02:09PM / Monday, December 01, 2008Print Story | Email Story

The North Adams Public Library and Take Charge will host “Cutting Your Energy Bill Now” with Bruce Harley on Thursday, December 11 at 6 P.M.

Mr. Harley will give a presentation about his latest title Cut Your Energy Bills Now, 150 Smart Ways to Save Money and Make Your Home More Comfortable and Green written to help everyone reduce their heating, cooling, and electrical expenses. The presentation will include a question and answer period.

Bruce Harley is a nationally recognized authority on energy efficient residential construction and retrofit. As Technical Director of Conservation Services Group (a non-for-profit energy services company located in Westboro, MA), he is involved in research, consulting, technical and program policy, and training around energy and building issues. He is a board executive and chair of the Technical Committee for the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), a non-profit organization that oversees the Home Energy Rating industry.

Mr. Harley’s first book, Insulate and Weatherize, published in September 2002 and his new book, Cut Your Energy Bills Now is being released December 9th. He is a regular contributor to Fine Homebuilding, The Journal of Light Construction and Energy Design Update. In 2007 he received a Legacy Award from the Energy and Environmental Building Association, for pioneering work in the field of building science.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

All programs are free and open to the public and registration is not required. For more information about library programs, call Robin at 662-3133. You may also visit us at 74 Church St. North Adams, or on the web at www.naplibrary.com.

The library is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9 to 8, Wednesday and Friday 9 to 5 and Saturday 9 to 1

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How To Reduce Your Energy Bills / Energy Conservation Begins at Home Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan or AC Return, a fireplace or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day. These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause heat to pour out and the cold outside air to rush in -- costing you higher heating bills. Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, etc. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits caulk and weatherstripping provide to minimize heat loss and cold drafts. But what can you do about the four largest â€œholesâ€ in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan or AC return, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes. Attic Stairs An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add an attic stair cover. An attic stair cover provides an air seal, reducing the air leaks. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling. Whole House Fans and AC Returns An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a whole house fan cover. Installed from the attic side, the whole house fan cover is invisible. Cover the fan to reduce heating and air-conditioning loss, remove it when use of the fan is desired. Fireplaces A recent study showed that for many consumers, their heating bills may be more than $500 higher per winter due to the air leakage and wasted energy caused by fireplaces. An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a fireplace draftstopper. Available from Battic Door, a company known for their energy conservation products, a fireplace draftstopper is an inflatable pillow that seals the damper, eliminating any air leaks. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after. Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ducts An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal. This will reduce unwanted air infiltration, and keep out pests, bees and rodents as well. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape. If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan, an AC return, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, you can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes. Mark D. Tyrol is a Professional Engineer specializing in cause and origin of construction defects. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover, an attic access door, and is the U.S. distributor of the fireplace draftstopper. To learn more visit www.batticdoor.com
from: mark tyrol	on: 12-05-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

SteepleCats Fall to Upper Valley Nighthawks

By Ben McDonoughFor iBerkshires.com
10:16PM / Friday, June 12, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams SteepleCats were unable to overcome a pair of multi-run innings Friday night at Joe Wolfe Field, falling 5-1 to the Upper Valley Nighthawks.

North Adams pitcher Jakob Foster was making his first start after throwing only two innings earlier in the season and looked sharp early. The right-hander struck out two in a scoreless first inning before punching out three more hitters in the second, allowing just a hit batter to reach base.

Upper Valley broke through in the third. Alejandro Puig opened the inning with a single before James Love doubled with two outs. A two-run double by Magoulik gave the Nighthawks a 2-0 lead before Foster escaped the frame.

The SteepleCats struggled to generate offense against Upper Valley starter Trey Sejnoha, who retired the first nine North Adams hitters in order. Nick Lamelo finally reached in the third, hustling into second on a ball misplayed in right field.

North Adams put together its best threat of the game in the fourth. Bobby Stang reached on an error and Nelphie Lopez worked a walk to put two runners aboard. Chris Diaz moved both runners into scoring position with a groundout, but Sejnoha induced a foul fly ball to end the inning and strand both runners.

The Nighthawks added to their lead in the fifth. After an error extended the inning, Upper Valley loaded the bases before a hit batter forced home a run. Jake Bell followed with a two-run double, pushing the Nighthawks’ advantage to 5-0.

The SteepleCats answered with another opportunity in the bottom half of the inning. Shawn Stephenson and Owen Arias recorded back-to-back infield singles, and a walk to Evan Meier loaded the bases with two outs. Reliever Nick Tamburro entered and escaped the jam with a strikeout, preserving the shutout.

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