Thursday, June 30, 2011

Corpus to Brownsville See Angry Edge of Arlene While East TX Bakes at 99

The weather is beginning to remind me of those hokey disaster movies, but for real. Protecting our buildings is becoming a priority to deal with it.

We've had triple vortex tornadoes running wild in places where they are rare, more than double the usual number of these killers in a season.

We have one of the longest Droughts on record, baking places like (formerly wet) Houston, while the Midwest suffers the worst flooding in recorded history from big rivers Missouri and Mississippi. Isn't it strange to have ALL of them happening at the same time?

Because warmer air means the molecules can hold more moisture, some snow caps are three to seven times larger than normal. More snow to melt leads to record flooding in the big rivers when the heat melts it. 500 year floods could become a regular event, even annual! But that snow doesn't do a thing to dent a spreading drought in the southwest.

Nor does it impact hurricanes, which are posing a greater threat as the waters that fuel them get warmer. Hurricanes are earth's mechanism to cast off excess summer heat from its equator to the cooler poles. The warmer the earth, the greater the fuel, the bigger the storms. Adding heat to the ocean waters is like throwing gas on fire for these State-sized tornadoes. The hotter air generates more energy, more energy that has to be spun off by the hurricanes whirlpools of screaming winds. CAT 3 and 4 storms could become "normal." Compare that to Houston's IKE, which was a CAT 1.

Houston was 99 and dry as a bone today. Houstonians couldn't see what Corpus saw this morning - the dark edge of Tropical Storm Arlene which is whipping Mexico with 15 inches of rain. If they could have seen it, it would have been a reminder not to delay in armoring their shelter from strong winds yet to come. Hurricanes are an annual threat for half of the year, every year. Coastal resident cannot afford to be complacent or assume nothing will happen.

The Atlantic from where most U.S. storms come from is 2 degrees warmer than normal. That may not sound like much, but 2 degrees is jet fuel to a hurricane. The warmer the water, the greater the energy feeding the tropical depressions that form over the ocean before they become a Katrina or a Rita, or another threat to our castles.

2011 video is evidence of a record number of multiple vortex, mile-wide tornadoes that stayed on the ground for up to hundreds of miles. If tornado season is that bad, what's hurricane season going to be like?

And we haven't even gotten to the dangerous part yet.

Hurricanes (and tornadoes) will blow down the houses of today's little piggies (and humans) that don't have protection on their weakest link - their windows. The"Project Safe Windows" study of the 2004 four hurricanes that hit Florida showed that it is window breach caused by wind-borne debris that led to structural failure, not to mention internal damages from water, etc.

The choices are limited. )nly one solution makes economic sense.

The choices are either
(1) super expensive shutters (that wont cut UV or save energy or stop a burglar in the up position) or
(2) heavy, expensive impact glass that looks like a coke bottle, requires special frames and can't be made very big, OR
(3) a high tech security film that keeps hurricane winds and burglars from breaking in, prevents water and wind intrusion so you don't have months of mold and water issues to deal with, and pays for itself by cutting solar heat, and protects you from the fading and skin cancer caused by UV rays. That's the Armor Glass security film solution.

With Armor Glass protection you never have to "board up" again!

How COOL is that? (Unless of course, you LIKE the idea of trying to bench press 100 lb. large boards up a ladder to a second story window in a high wind! We'll look for you in the next county!)

Or the hospital..! No, don't go there. Protect your class act with Armor Glass.

Stay tuned.


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Growing Costs of Extreme Weather

A study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research estimates that the bottom-line cost of all the meteorological craziness is a staggering $485 billion per year in the U.S. alone, as much as 3.4% of the country's GDP.

"It's clear that our economy isn't weatherproof," Jeffrey Lazo, the study's lead author, said in a statement. "Even routine changes in the weather can add up to substantial impacts on the U.S. economy."

Which is a good reason for business owners and homeowners to "Armor Their Glass" the weakest link of buildings. Hurricane IKE, for example, caused billions in damages from bother rising water and window breaks - the Chase Tower sustained over $5 million in damages when windows were sucked out of their frames by the vortex winds created by IKE. Armor Glass film with frame attachment would have kept those windows in place, even if they were broken.

90% chance of first Tropical Storm next 48 hours

Weather experts at NOAA say that there is a 90% chance that the tropical wave will become a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico within the next 48 hours. Most likely target: Eastern Mexico, unless it makes a turn to the north.

Stay tuned during the 4th of July weekend...

Monday, June 27, 2011

Tropical Wave - Near Cancun, Mexico


Tropical wave forms in Bay of Campeche. May or may not strengthen into Tropical storm...

"A broad area of low pressure over the Bay of Campeche associated with a tropical wave is producing disorganized cloudiness and showers. Upper-level winds are currently not conducive for development, however these winds are forecast to become more favorable over the next couple of days."

Details at the link...

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

In the Clouds Watching Spinning Wheels...

Today I found myself in the clouds, watching spinning wheels. On the top of a Houston skysraper we went through a maze, a prestigious law office, ladders, a steel door - and the top cooling tower machines that keep a modern building alive in the 21st century.

And there were no windows, just the rush of air flowing by, at the very top.

It was a scene from another planet, but it was all too real in downtown Houston. If these machines malfunction, the building dies.

The scene was so fascinating. Alice in Wonderland is not much better. One small ladder led to a wood door, which led to another small wood door, one after another. And in each room, above us a giant spinning wheel spun furiously, rushing the wind past us. Below us, shallow water swirled. When I looked up, the sky was spitting water on us, like an errant sprinkler, as we got our first kiss of rain in months from fickle skies. I wondered what a full thunderstorm would feel, pounding the place where I was standing, next to giant machines doing mysterious things.

That was what I did today. It was fascinating, even when it required climbing ladders straight up into the next level of Alice in Wonderland...

Life just keeps getting more interesting. Never would I thought I'd spend a day in the clouds, watching spinning wheels keep thousands of people below comfortable in their artificial world...

Monday, June 20, 2011

Architects in Texas Still Lagging on Technology Florida Knows Well

Last week I gave a presentation to AIA architects in Houston. At the beginning I asked the group of about 25 people "How many know about 'security window film'?" About four hands went up.

That's a pretty low percentage. It is only slightly better then the one person who raised his hand when I asked the same question during a similar presentation to AIA members a year or so ago.

When I bought my Clear Lake condo in January of this year, the real estate agent I worked with was originally from Florida. When he saw my car signs he started telling ME about security window film!

Very interesting - real estate agents from Florida are more familiar with the latest Hurricane protection technology then Texas architects. How can that be?

If the architects don't know then how can a client building a building know how to protect it?

However, how can they know if no one informs them? The editors at Texas Architect magazine in Austin have shown no interest in publishing an article we submitted, explaining what security window film is. This is despite the fact my co-author works for NASA and went into detail on the engineering aspects of it. The article wasn't about our company; it was about the technology and how it pays for itself in energy savings while protecting people and property from window breaks caused by wind-borne debris, burglars and explosions.

Impact glass is too expensive for most projects and its impossible to design impact windows in large panes. We are building glass palaces in a hurricane zone with ZERO protection from window blow outs. Heavy plywood is not an option, nor are expensive shutters on glass towers.

The windows of Chase Tower, for example, were SUCKED OUT by Hurricane IKE, costing millions in damages. Our Armor Glass security film, with frame bonding, would have kept all of them in place, even if broken! That is, it would have saved countless offices from being destroyed by the hurricane, along with the destruction of the surrounding buildings caused by the flying glass shrapnel.

I will say this. At least this year they seemed to be listening.

We are in the high tech 21st century. If we aren't technology leaders then we are in serious trouble if we expect to compete with the rest of the world. Security window film has been on the federal buildings in Washington DC for a decade now! It was first used in the 70's in Northern Ireland when the IRA was setting off car bombs that blew out windows.

I'd like to see more curiosity by our professionals to stay on the cutting edge of technology. By doing so, we could save billions in future storm losses, simply by incorporating technology like ours in existing and new buildings...

Second Pacific Hurricane Spinning


It's early in the Hurricane season and the eastern Pacific off Mexico has already produced two storms - Beatriz is pounding Acapulco so don't plan a trip there this week!

And there are signs that the Atlantic is starting to get active. Are you prepared?

With record high temperatures and the thought of lugging heavy plywood in the heat, think about a more civilized alternative - a hurricane film that also cuts the HEAT!

Contact us for a free quote today - BEFORE the next hurricane fires up. It's a LONG way before the season ends November 30...

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Vancouver Riots - Stopping Breakin's



Too bad the businesses in Vancouver did not have Armor Glass security film on their store fronts - it would have kept the rioters from breaking in and carrying off inventory.

We recently installed it on a major pharmacy that had a break in - in 3 minutes the thieves walked out with thousands of dollars of narcotics. Glass walls are no barrier to theft. But they are if you "armor" them with Armor Glass security film...

Friday, June 17, 2011

Armor Glass Officially Trademarked! Yes!

It's OFFICIAL. Armor Glass® is now officially registered as a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. I highly recommend Wendy Buskop's law office (www.buskoplaw.com) which helped make it happen.

“ARMOR GLASS is a U.S. registered trademark of Armor Glass International, Inc.”

YES!

Monday, June 13, 2011

How Do You Get Relief from HOT HOT HOT ?

The temperature forecast for Houston this week is: NO rain, and highs of 99, 99, 98, 99 etc. See a pattern?

So HOW do you get both hurricane and burglar protection AND solar HEAT relief? With Armor Glass security film. Check out this 30 second video...

Sunday, June 12, 2011

How to Get a $85 electric bill

My last month's electric bill: $85.07! It came after we had at least four days of 104, 105 degree temperatures!

I attribute it to "Green" technology - a WHITE roof that was installed after Hurricane IKE, AND energy-saving Armor Glass hurricane film I had installed on the condo windows...(The film cuts 50% of the solar heat from getting inside the unit, and also cuts 99% of UV that causes fading and skin cancer).

Go Green and save with Armor Glass security film! And get protection from hurricanes, tornadoes and burglars at the same time...

Friday, June 10, 2011

Hardening Your Space in a More Dangerous World

WHAT causes a house to explode in a hurricane or tornado? What technologies are available to protect occupants of buildings facing the ultimate threats from Mother Nature’s relentless attacks to burglars and intensifying solar heat 365 days/year?

The latest Hurricane reports are for an “above average” season for hurricanes threating the nearly 54% of our population who live near the coasts. By 2025 two thirds of the world’s population will live within 100 miles of a coast. This comes as we have an abnormal DOUBLING of deadly tornadoes in the U.S. The AP reports that the conditions this season are similar to 2005 – which produced Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, storms that Gulf Coast resident still remember and fear.

The week’s Global American radio program explores these questions and provides some answers. HOW do we armor our spaces (houses and work) from these increasingly dangerous threats? What does each technology achieve versus its cost? What technology has been overlooked that could save property and lives?

We have been witnessing some of the most dangerous, weird weather not just in the U.S. but worldwide -- breaking decade’s old, and historic, records globally. From freak Tornado monsters a mile wide with multiple vortexes staying on the ground for hundreds of miles, turning cities like Tuscaloosa and Joplin into matchwood while sucking debris 18,000 feet into the air and dropping it over 60 miles away.

We have seen unprecedented freak tornadoes appearing in Massachusetts – fierce hurricanes and droughts worldwide, sweeping from Australia in the southern hemisphere to Russia in the north. The first four days of June Houston had record 104 and 105 degree temperatures. This week Minneapolis hit 103 (how close to Canada can you get?) and New York 99 degrees – August weather -- and it is not even summer yet!

Are people prepared for the bigger storms generated by the greater heat of an Atlantic ocean that is 2 degrees hotter, which produces larger storms? Is your personal space secure from the increasingly freak storms of greater intensity? Or from human intrusion?

Get the facts, and solutions, on this timely, unique program. Even FEMA has benefited from --and funds -- hazard mitigation technology that it fails to mention it in its preparedness reports!

Will global warming, regardless of the debate of whether it is “normal or manmade,” make today’s freakishly hot and violent weather the “norm” we have to prepare for?

For details and answers, tune into the Global American radio program on Saturday at 9 am central US time on Business 1110 AM, streamed on www.Business1110KTEK.com and Podcast 24/7 on www.GlobalAmerican.org (click on ‘favorite program’ and click the title above).

Michael Fjetland

Global American Series

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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Texas Energy Efficiency legislation - Some Good, some Bad

The Texas legislature did manage to pass some energy efficiency bills this session. Here is a link to the Texas Environment Blog which gives the rundown. It also lists a couple bad bills that got through...

Bills Still Standing
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With just a few days left in the session, here are some of the key environmentally-related bills still moving.

Good Bills

Fracking Chemical Disclosure (HB 3328) - passed Senate, going to conference committee. More.

Solar Leasing Bill (SB 981) - passed House. Once the bill's author - Sen. John Carona - concurs with the House amendments, it'll go to the Governor

State Energy Plan (HB 3595) - The bill to create a state energy plan was amended on to HB 3595 (a good energy efficiency bill) in the Senate, but without the anti-renewable energy language ("section P"). Other amendments to HB 3595 include the language from SB 981 (see above), language to create an Energy Efficiency Coordinating Council and improvements to the Power to Choose website. This bill will go to conference committee and with the coal industry gunning to kill it, its fate is uncertain.

HOAs and Solar (HB 362) limits the power of homeowner associations to restrict solar installations. It has some problematic language, but hopefully it helps make it easier for people to install solar. - sent to Governor.

TCEQ Sunset (HB 2694). The bill raises the cap on penalties up to $25,000 a day for polluters, but it makes some changes to the penalty policy that will blunt the impact of that change. The conference committee rejected an amendment by Rep. Chisum that would have shifted the burden of proof from the polluter to a citizen contesting a permit, but accepted another Chisum amendment which weakens the rights of Texans to influence upcoming decisions about mercury pollution from power plants. - on its way to Governor

Mandatory TV Recycling (SB 329) - on it was to Governor

A number of energy efficiency bills are on their way to the Governor's desk. These are mostly pretty modest bills, but still a good step forward for efficiency:

Utility Energy Efficiency Incentives (SB 1125) - sent to Governor

Green State Buildings (HB 51) - will soon be sent to Governor

Local Government Energy Conservation (SB 898) - sent to Governor

Municipal and Cooperative Utilities Efficiency Program Reporting (SB 924) passed House and the bill's author - Sen. John Carona - either needs to concur with the House amendments or call for a conference committee.

Non-ERCOT Utility Efficiency (SB 1150) - sent to Governor

Energy Efficiency for Churches and Non-profits (HB 2077) - sent to Governor

Energy Efficiency Performance Contracts for Schools (HB 1728) - sent to Governor

Light Pollution (HB 2857) regulates outdoor lighting of municipalities and counties located within a 57 mile radius of any major astronomical observatory of the McDonald Observatory - passed Senate and Rep. Gallego needs to either concur with their amendment (pushing back implementation date to January) or go to conference.

Bad Bills

Limiting Rights of Texans to Fight Greenhouse Gas Pollution (SB 875) Rep. Bonnen added an amendment to make this bad bill even worse, but the Dallas Morning News reports indicate that provision will be stripped out. - in conference committee.

Energy-wasting Light Bulbs (HB 2510) - sent to Governor

Monday, June 6, 2011

First Tropical Storm - Arlene?


Hurricane season has barely started and today there is a 40% chance of our first tropical storm forming south off Cuba - not way off in the Atlantic. If it does form it will be "Arlene."

Models right now show it going every which way, so it will be a few days before we know if it is a threat. The longer it stays in the Caribbean the more chance it will come into the Gulf of Mexico.

Yesterday we had a record 105 degrees! They are predicting 103 for today. This heat will lead to more and BIGGER storms.

Saturday we covered the hurricane events at the GR Brown and Pasadena. No one we talked to knew that our technology would eliminate the need to "board up" with heavy plywood - and would also protect them from solar heat and burglar break-ins.

Are you prepared? Email us today for a free quote.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Don't wait for the wolf blowing at the door to call

Now they are having tornado warnings in NYC!

What a strange year it has been - Major Droughts like Texas next to areas of record tornadoes--the worst in recorded history--from Tuskaloosa to Joplin, record hurricanes in Australia, and more.

What kind of wake up call do you need? All this extra heat is generating hellacious storms.

I'm reminded of the 3 little pigs story - people facing storm wolves with houses built of straw. Until people armor their glass - their weakest link - windborne debris and fierce winds will continue to knock out windows and explode buildings from internal wind pressure caused by window breach.

Armor Glass security films prevent that disaster from happening. It would have kept millions in damages to Chase Tower in Houston as windows were sucked out during Hurricane IKE. It would keep windows from blowing in from TORNADO winds hurling debris at speeds up to 175 mph and debris up to 4.5 lbs (Large Missile). And it will also cut 99% of UV that destroys your furnishings, prevent break ins, and save energy at the same time.

What is their not to love about that?

And for people in hurricane zones, Armor Glass security film eliminates the need to "board up" each time a storm threatens - a tedious chore, difficult and dangerous if not impossible one if a house has multiple stories.

Are you prepared? Don't wait for the wolf blowing at the door to call for a free quote...

It's HURRICANE season officially

Are you prepared?

In 2004 "Project Safe Windows" study of four Florida hurricanes discovered the cause of structural failure in hurricanes - windborne debris.

They found that windborne debris that breaks a window in a high-wind event causing the wind to pressurize the inside of the structure. Wind rushing in looks for a way out. The easy way out is to uplift the roof. Basically the wind explodes the building once it gets in from a break.

Our security film is designed to prevent that breach. Keep out the wind, keep on your roof. It also keeps out the rain and water damage that causes mold and extensive internal damage. And you don't have to "board up" for each storm.

We've also found that it keeps out burglars. It's solar heat reduction saves energy - enough to pay for itself.

Are you prepared? Contact us for a FREE quote today...