Items You’ll Need This Winter

January 19th, 2012 admin

If you live in northern areas of the U.S., you are no doubt aware that winter has truly begun. The northeast has just experienced its first snowfall and there is always more where that came from. Areas are bracing for even colder temperatures than what we’re already experiencing and there are definitely preparations that need to be made to deal with these types of conditions. It’s never too late to gear up for winter, so here are some items you may need around your home:

Firewood Racks – In the winter months, many people like having fires in their home as a natural heat source to add to not only warmth, but also to give homes some ambience. However, where do you put all of the wood you need to keep the fire going? That’s where firewood racks come in.  Inside or out, a 4’ Covered Firewood Rack is an excellent place to store your logs. It can hold an 1/8 cord of wood up to 24” in length and also has an adjustable black polyester cover.

Animal Shelters – As you know, the winter can bring some seriously cold temperatures that are not only dangerous for people, but for our furry friends as well. Faced with the cold, animals can sometimes develop frostbite, leading to serious medical issues. Portable animal shelters such as kennels provide a great way for you to protect your pets and even livestock. For instant shelter from the elements, a 4x8x4 dog kennel with a green polyethylene cover will have your pet safe from the storm. Don’t forget a run-in shed for your horses too!

Barn Style Portable Garage – A portable garage is an excellent item for anyone needing to store a vehicle or space for hay storage. Ratchet tie down systems and durable covers keep any snow away from your expensive farm equipment.  A barn style portable garage is perfect for any farmers wanting to store things away during the winter.

 

Solar Panels Being Added to More Carports

January 13th, 2012 admin

The carport is an incredibly useful portable item to have at your home or your business place. It is adaptable and can be used in a number of ways. For one, you can obviously use your portable carport as a place to store your various vehicles in times of bad weather. Another way to utilize your carport is to use it as storage for anything you can’t fit in your home. On a much bigger level, businesses are beginning to build carports over parking lots for two reasons: to keep employee and customer cars protected and to generate solar energy.

As you know, solar photovoltaic panels can absorb the rays of the sun and convert them into energy for use anywhere. By affixing these panels to rooftops, they are able to collect as much sunlight as possible. For instance, carports have become an incredibly popular place for solar panels, especially with the growth of the electric car industry. This type of installation is occurring in Branchburg, N.J., where the township is working on such a project. According to NJ.com:

“The Township Committee agreed on Dec. 12 to install carports topped with a 50 kw solar array in the north parking lot of the municipal building rather than retrofit the roof of the Department of Public Works garage with a 22 kw system. According to Township Administrator Gregory Bonin, both projects had approximately the same price tag, about $400,000,…”

Initially, the panels would have been affixed to the roof of the garage, but extra support would have been needed, making that option less profitable. The article says that a major part of this decision was also the number of years it would have taken to generate money from the project. By installing the panels on carports, the amount of time has been lessened:

“… the time it would take for the township to recoup its investment would have been 17 years — compared with a six-year span for the carport project…”

I would expect that more of these solar carport projects will be springing up over the next few years, especially with the rising cost of gasoline and prominence of electric vehicles.

Portable Shelters Spring Up in India

January 6th, 2012 admin

The many uses of portable buildings and shelters have long been a topic in this blog. You can use them to store items you do not have room for in your home or you can use them to store your motorcycles during the winter. You can also use canopies to protect your boats or RVs from the harsh effects of the cold winter. No matter what you use portable buildings for, you can definitely see their potential as a tool for many uses. However, portable shelters are becoming a more prominent feature in many cities where the homeless are looking for a place to stay.

I’ve mentioned this before in a previous post and the premise behind setting up homeless in portable buildings has spread to India, where portable shelters are springing up. According to The Pioneer, the government is behind a large installation of new shelters:

“With biting cold conditions sweeping across the national Capital, the Delhi Government has swung into action with construction of 54 new temporary night shelters in the city. The government on Monday informed the Delhi High Court that the temporary night shelters will be in addition to its existing 64 permanent night shelters.”

In addition to new shelters being installed, the article says that government officials were asked to open a number of night shelters that had been closed due to costs and low attendance. Disagreement has arisen due to the reasons for the lack of usage:

“The counsel appearing for the Government said, ‘Mobilization of people is very low, people are not going there (night shelters).’ But the court hit back at the counsel’s argument saying the poor and the needy were not showing up at the night shelters because of lack of proper infrastructure. ‘There is no proper infrastructure, that’s why people are not going in the night shelters,’ the Court said.”

Currently there are over 110 night shelters available for the homeless to utilize in case of cold nights in Delhi. Hopefully the city government can figure out if there need to be more before it gets colder over the next few months.

 

Ice Fishing Tools

December 30th, 2011 admin

If you live in any cold area of the United States, you probably know how cold it is already getting outside. Of course, it is supposed to be cold in the winter time and since winter has started, this should be no surprise to anyone. If you’re anything like me, when the frigid air rolls in, you begin to think about ice fishing, one of the great pastimes that comes along with the harsh weather of December to April. There are a number of tools you should have to help aid in your quest to catch the biggest fish during the coldest months. Here are a few of them:

-          Choose an appropriate amount of clothing to keep yourself warm and dry during your ice fishing excursion. The options you need to choose from include waterproof suits, insulated suits to keep heat in and a host of other temperature-based accoutrements.

-          Along with your ice fishing suit, you may want to consider getting some pads for your elbows and your knees. Depending on how your fishing goes, you may be kneeling and using your arms as a brace on the ice to help pull catches out of the water. You don’t want your arms and legs to hurt too badly the next day.

-          You’ll need to get yourself a portable shelter to put on the frozen lake or pond. Although portable buildings are not essential to ice fishing, they can truly make your experience much more enjoyable in the long run. Make sure you get in touch with the local town hall to find out what types of shelters and buildings can be put on the ice.

-          Ice fishing is most successful when the participants are willing to be patient and drill a lot of holes. You cannot just drill a hole and hope that it works out for your whole day of fishing. You need to try out a number of spots – only then will you bring home a lot of big fish.

Florida Has Trouble Over Anchor Problems

December 14th, 2011 admin

One of the most important features of any portable structure is the support that holds carports, garages and even mobile homes down when rough weather threatens to take them for a ride. Imagine if a huge blizzard came through your town and brought large gusts of wind along with it. You would be concerned about the stability of your carport. Properly installed canopy anchors are the best way to ease your fears about airborne portable shelters. Although these canopy accessories are an essential safety feature with portable buildings, Florida probably doesn’t like them too much right now.

According to a story in St. Petersburg Times, Florida set up a program years ago to provide mobile home owners with anchors to destruction in the face of gale-force winds. Unfortunately, the well-meaning program didn’t quite work out:

“Of the more than 23,000 mobile homes retrofitted so far, few appear to have received enough anchors to bring them up to the state’s tough safety standards. Mobile homes requiring a dozen or more new tie-downs instead got just a handful. And state-mandated devices that keep a home from sliding end to end were not always installed.”

Even though Florida spent $33 million on the 23,000 outdated homes, it seems that many of these homes are beginning to fall apart. The article says the problem lies within the legal constructs of the program, which has lax installation standards:

“Despite some homeowners’ expectations, the program does not require [the anchor installation] company to make old mobile homes comply with today’s installation standards. Instead, it lets the company determine how many anchoring devices can be installed. State inspectors randomly check the retrofitted properties to see if equipment is installed correctly. But they do not determine whether the number of anchors meets state rules.”

This is problematic, especially if you have dealt with wicked weather and portable buildings. Anchors and other canopy accessories are extremely important when considering the safety of your carport, which isn’t even a home. Let’s hope Florida can work out its issues.

Portable Buildings Being Used For Tourism

December 8th, 2011 admin

One of the major upsides to utilizing portable buildings is the adaptability of such a structure. For instance, portable garages don’t necessarily need to be used as a garage at all. Keep the cars outside and put extra items from your home you have no room for in the portable building. Furthermore, some people have found ways to use portable garages as a room of sorts – however, we don’t recommend that. It just goes to show you that the flexibility of these buildings can be a huge benefit.

This is absolutely true in the case of Tauranga, a city in the North Island of New Zealand. According to SunLive, the waterfront in Tauranga will be home to a new playground and a number of portable buildings:

“The playground, along with a boardwalk through to Pilot Bay, and the upgrade of Greerton Library, are plans going out for public consultation in 2012. Tauranga City Council is also applying for resource consent to install 10 portable buildings of 18sqm to cluster around the Edgewater Fan.”

Part of a $4.9 million plan to help boost tourism at the Waterfront, the $300,000 playground is only the beginning of bringing people into the area. The article says that town authorities are hoping that additional spending on portable buildings will not only drive the local economy through the lease of land, but also by bringing tourists to the city walkway:

“Priority One city centre manager Duarne Lankshear says the portable buildings are an opportunity for the tourism, hospitality and recreation industries to provide commercial activities in various areas of the waterfront. ‘They can be used by food and hospitality sectors, for tourism type operations like jet boat tours and water taxis, and a place for events and activity.’”

Although the costs of the buildings will be a major undertaking for private businesses, the yearly rental is inexpensive, costing only about $2000 – 10,000 a year. The driving force behind using portable buildings is the ability for these structures to be used by any business that is interested.

Protecting Horses and Livestock with Shelters

December 1st, 2011 admin

Portable Run in Sheds

When it comes to portable shelters, we usually jump to the conclusion that they are for inanimate objects, especially considering the need to protect lawnmowers, vehicles and other items that simply won’t fit in your house. Weather conditions can be damaging to these products and they need shelters to act as a shield. However, farmers use shelters for the protection of a totally different reason – their horses and livestock.

The most common way of sheltering horses and other livestock on farms from adverse weather is inside their barns or stables. This may seem obvious, but it raises an interesting point – how do these animals get the exercise and fresh air that they need to be healthy. Luckily for these animals, portable horse shelters allow animals to get outside without being totally exposed to any harmful weather like sleet or torrential downpours.

The features of these shelters are impressive, especially when you consider the lifelong benefits for your livestock. Not only do they provide enough head room for comfort, but the open areas of the enclosure allow for movement and ample ventilation.  Portable horse shelters are also wonderful for the farmer, particularly when the shelter needs to be moved to a different location. The easy-to-install shelter is also a breeze to relocate.

Run-in sheds are also a wonderful way to provide your animals with the ability to move around outside in nasty weather. If it is getting really hot outside, it can be detrimental to your animals. Setting up a run-in shed with a food and water source is one way to help your horses stay healthy without the heat bearing down on them. A primary element of run in sheds is your horse’s ability to move freely in and out of the shelter when it needs shade or needs sunlight.

If you are using a run-in shed or portable horse shelter as a semi-permanent residence for your horse or livestock, make sure there are gates that will keep your animals inside for extended periods of time.

 

 

 

Police Station Uses Carports for Protection

November 23rd, 2011 admin

This blog has covered a lot of stories about carports and how they can affect your life. As you know, having a carport comes with a number of restrictions and rules, depending on where you live. You may need to set up your carport in a specific area due to your local laws. Carports may not even been legal where you are unless you pay for a permit. Nonetheless, carports can come with a number of huge benefits for you and your storage needs. Not being able to have one on your property can be a big problem, especially if you need a place for your vehicles.

Luckily, people in the Town of Oakland Township shouldn’t have any problems installing a carport on their property. According to a story in The Romeo Observer, the police force has one of their own:

 “A carport will soon be added to the Oakland Township substation of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The Oakland Township Board of Trustees approved a proposal for the construction of a carport shelter at its meeting Oct. 11. The carport will allow deputies to respond to emergencies faster, especially in the summer.” 

The primary reasons for this carport – the article says – are due mostly to weather concerns. For one, the heat of the summer sun has the ability to render police equipment useless from overheating. The carport also has financial implications, namely gas savings from the removal of needless idling. On the other end of the weather spectrum, the sheriff’s carport will protect the cars from the wrath of winter as well, by cutting down any falling ice and snow removal in emergency situations.

“Oakland Township resident John Markel stated that the carport would make the deputies’ jobs much easier. ‘This is one of the best things the township could do,’ he said. The board approved the proposal with an amendment to look into proper drainage, gutters and lighting for the carport.”

 

 

Students Using Portable Shelters to Raise Awareness

November 18th, 2011 admin

Using portable structures like carports, canopies, greenhouses, etc. is useful beyond your own personal storage or adding space to your property for valuables. Some students in Morrisville, NY, are using handmade portable shelters as a way to observe a national awareness week for homelessness. According to the Madison County New York News, events regarding the cause will be happening all over Morrisville State College Campus:

“…faculty, staff and students on the Morrisville State College campus are doing [much] to raise education, action and awareness about hunger and homelessness during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Nov. 14-20. The campus will be hosting food drives and other associated activities, including a hygiene drive challenge.”

The most interesting part about this campus’s involvement is one professor’s decision to include a design-specific class as a pivotal part of the efforts. The article says that one architecture class has been tasked with designing homemade portable shelters that will act as a home for one night of the week-long observation. The shelters have a few stipulations that will act as a learning experience for many of the students:

“In preparation, Englot’s students have been researching rural homelessness and will design individual makeshift shelters on a shoestring budget. Innovativeness, like using donated and recycled materials, scraps and castoffs will be an important consideration in their design. The task comes with rules and guidelines—shelters must be habitable, portable, resistant to moisture and cold, provide light and ventilation to the interior, and must be aesthetically pleasing.”

As the winter approaches, I don’t expect any of our readers to develop and create their own personal shelter solutions for your property. You should always purchase portable storage sheds and temporary garages from reliable sources to ensure not only proper protection, but also safety.

Developers Seeking Plastic for More Solar Canopy Development

November 10th, 2011 admin

The advent of solar canopies around the world has been a topic I have covered at length in this blog, especially since green technology has become a major component of monetary savings. Many companies are looking to solar panels as a major way of using renewable resources as a way to create energy for physical locations. This is especially true for colleges, many of whom have installed solar canopies and wind towers to put a dent in electric bills for campuses. Many towns are also in the green market, putting up charging stations that not only generate electricity from the sun for powering vehicles, but also generate cash for the local economy.

However impressive solar canopies are, I have failed to look at the actual solar technology behind these products. Interestingly enough, the plastics industry is being hit pretty hard by solar technology development and have needed to develop new plastics for certain standards for charging stations. According to Plastics Today:

“…charger manufacturers are turning towards plastics as they take different approaches to developing covers for the outside. Outdoors, charging stations must remain durable in northeastern Europe’s icy winter weather as well as heat resistant in the southwest deserts of the United States. They also need to allow unhampered communications, as more are operating with wireless…some charging stations now contain links to databases that will accept and keep track of payments.”

The article says that some of the newer charging stations are being made from materials like wood-composite plastic, which is also used for decks and patios. Although one might think that indoor charging stations might have looser regulations, the industry actually demands the opposite. They must be insulated, lightweight and fire retardant in case of emergency situations. One company out of Europe is actually using a type of plastic that can be used indoor and out:

“…their pole and wall-mounted electric vehicle chargers are used in both indoor and outdoor private and commercial locations, and can power electric cars, bicycles, or scooters. The new plastic they use from Bayer MaterialScience is a recyclable halogen-free PC+ABS bend.”

How does this affect the canopy industry in the future? It still stands to be seen, especially since the solar technology being developed is advancing very quickly. However, canopies and metal carports are certainly strong enough to deal with the restrictions from government bodies, so only the plastics need to be tampered with.

 

 

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