Swimming Pool Safety: A little common sense can avoid a nightmare
Missing the obvious can lead to tragedy
By John D’Annunzio, Columnist, UnionvilleTimes.com
We learn early on in life about common sense issues. When I build a house or garage or just about any thing that arises in life common sense helps me avoid problems. Should I add another joist over here? Strengthen this wall here? Check the air in the tires when leaving on a long trip?
The answers to these...
Lightning, Ben found out the hard way
You’d be shocked how much damage lightning can cause
By John D’Annunzio, Columnist, UnionvilleTimes.com
This article is about lightning strikes to buildings and lightning rod systems. To understand the way a lightning rod works, however, we should first take a look at how lightning develops.
It all starts when a cold and warm air mass clash together causing a thunderstorm. There is positive...
Solar power comes in a lot of flavors
From small to giant installations, there’s a lot of options, but you need to know what works for you
By John D’Annunzio, Columnist, UnionvilleTimes.com
There are different types of solar energy panels, each different in terms of use and practicality. First let me give you an idea of how much they cost. Solar energy costs about $ 10 to $ 12 a watt to install. An average sized system to...
Going green can also mean saving green
Paying attention to the environment when replacing appliances or renovating your home can also fatten your wallet
By John D’Annunzio, Columnist, UnionvilleTimes.com
We hear things like a green cars, green homes, green initiatives etc. but what does it all mean? Well, green homes are environmentally friendly homes; homes that preserve energy. The more heat and air conditioning loss occurring...
Window shopping for new windows
Checking the numbers on new windows could save you a lot of money down the road
By John D’Annunzio, Columnist, UnionvilleTimes.com
I remember driving with my father in his 56 Ford pickup to the local lumberyard some time around 1960.
My dad was a home builder, and like most builders at the time he would buy windows at the lumber yard. At that time these windows were made of yellow pine, real...
Stop and take a breath
Proper ventilation can — literally — be the difference between life and death
By John D’Annunzio, columnist, UnionvilleTimes.com
Seated at my desk one day at the township building, I could not help but to overhear a conversation between the township secretary and a resident. What I heard was troubling. The resident told the secretary that her daughter was having heath problems after she moved...
Watch Your Step: Deck Safety 101
What you don’t know about wood might end up killing you
By John D’Annunzio, Columnist, UnionvilleTimes.com
Roughly 2.5 million decks were built last year; some by contractors, others home owners.
Improperly installed and aged materials create a dangerous situation. I understand that money is tight right now and people want to do their own projects, however, most people aren’t familiar with...
