Preparing Your Home for Wildfires

Posted by STN Admin on

If you live in rural California during the wildfire season, you should be aware of wildfires and how to properly prepare for their arrival. While many rural settings are prone to wildfires, California’s combination of elevation and dry climate make it more likely that wildfires will occur. The question is, what can homeowners do about protecting their property and families from the ravages of a wildfire? 

Wildfires damage homes in three different ways. By direct contact with flame, the embers that are generated by the fire, and the radiant head pushed by the winds into your home. The action you take to protect your property will depend on the following scenarios. 

Identifying the Risks

Places subject to wildfires means they will have fire seasons established which identifies the time of the year for higher risk. In California, fire season is from May to October with the combination of summer heat, high winds, and lack of rainfall that comes with that time. However, wildfires can happen at any time of the year under the right conditions. 

Next is location. How close is your property to areas that are prone to wildfires? The closer it is, the more precautions you should take and check to see the vulnerability of where you live to wildfires. 

Taking Appropriate Action 

There are steps you can take to make your property more resilient to fire damage. Taking these steps will reduce the potential damage to your home. 

Remove Combustible Materials: This includes leaf litter, lawn furniture, and garbage during fire season. The less fuel a fire has, the less damage it can do. 

Place Fire-Resistant Materials: There are materials used in home construction that resist embers and even direct contact by fire. Such materials should be incorporated into the walls and roof of your home. 

Create Defendable Space: This is an area that surrounds your home where firefighters can place their equipment to minimize the fire damage. It also provides a way out of the property if a wildfire appears suddenly. It also buys time as the wildfire must cross the space to reach your home. 

But such barriers and the use of non-combustible materials do not provide complete protection. You will need to leave if a wildfire is in your area. 

Have an Evacuation Plan 

Even the best prepared homes may not be enough to prevent wildfires from consuming your property. You will need to have an evacuation plan that can be executed at a moment’s notice. While many wildfire warnings allow for some time to prepare and leave, others do not. You will need to be ready to go immediately if a wildfire threatens your area. 

  • Have Emergency Kits in Your Home and Vehicle 
  • Keep Extra Gas in Your Vehicle to Avoid Stopping at the Nearest Gas Station
  • Train Family to Leave within a Moment’s Notice 
  • Know Your Evacuation Routes 

Proper preparation and leaving immediately can save you and your family from a wildfire. The preparation work you put into your property beforehand will do its best to prevent wildfires from damaging your home. Your presence on the property only puts you in danger. Do what you can before a wildfire begins and know to leave immediately once a wildfire heads in your direction. 

Contact Brickley Environmental Today 

With numerous dangers facing your home or business, calling the professionals at Brickley Environmental is a good place to start. We offer our knowledge and experience along with the tools to detect and remove infestations of various types. The services provided by Brickley Environmental include the following. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Mold Remediation
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal 
  • Demolition 
  • Hazardous Waste Removal

If you are facing any of these issues, call Brickley Environmental today. Our friendly, courteous staff will take your call and answer your questions, so you can make the best-informed decision about what to do next. At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help you

How to Prepare Your House for Hurricane Season

Posted by STN Admin on

 

A hurricane cloud forming over land.If you live near the ocean, then you are subject to the possibility of a hurricane or other powerful storm striking your area. Even if you live in a location that only sees powerful storms occasionally, you should prepare your house and have a plan for hurricane season. 

Creating a Plan 

The first step in any plan is to assess what may happen and what you need to do. What follows are a few steps that will help you best prepare should a hurricane threaten to strike. 

Emergency Phone Numbers: Write down emergency phone numbers which should include the police, fire department, and all emergency services. If it’s 911, that not only makes it easy, but you should put that in your phone contacts list if it isn’t already there. 

Emergency Supply Kit: You should keep an emergency supply kit in the home and a smaller one in each vehicle. The kit should consist of the following. 

  • Food & Water: 72 hours for each person
  • Medicine: Primary medications for each person
  • Flashlights & Batteries 
  • Full Gas Tank
  • Personnel & Safety Items: Items that protect you and provide comfort.
  • Documents: Including passports, wills, personal identification, and medical documents 
  • Fire Extinguisher: Fires are a big danger after hurricanes. Have at least one in your home 

Having these items ready will help you cut down on preparation time.

Shelters: Get to know the location of shelters that are designated to protect people both during and after a hurricanes. Knowing this before a hurricane strikes can save you valuable time. Also, if you have relatives who are out of the hurricane strike zone and within driving distance, plan on staying with them and leaving your home well before the danger builds. 

Pets: Some shelters may not take pets, so identify a pet-friendly shelter or hotel. This is where having a good friend or relative out of harms way can help as well. 

Getting Your Home Ready 

Now that you, your family, and pets are ready, it’s time to make your home ready for the hurricane. 

Remove Loose Objects from Your Yard: Take in anything that can blow around during the hurricane. Including lawn furniture, bicycles, grills, building materials, and the like. If you can pick it up, then it should be moved inside. 

Cover Windows & Doors: If you have storm shutters installed or have access to plywood, cover the windows so that the glass is protected. Same is true for doors so they are not blown off their hinges. 

Have Plenty of Water: Purchase five-gallon containers for your drinking water. Fill sinks and the bathtub for cleaning. 

Power Switch: Turn the power off if you see downed power lines or flooding that is approaching your home. If you evacuate, turn the power off before you go to lower the chances of a fire occurring. 

Finally, know when to leave. Keep in mind that the later you decide to evacuate, the more traffic you will run into. Either leave early or stay for the duration. But make the choice that is best for you and your family. 

Contact Brickley Environmental Today 

With numerous dangers facing your home or business, calling the professionals at Brickley Environmental is a good place to start. We offer our knowledge and experience along with the tools to detect and remove infestations of various types. The services provided by Brickley Environmental include the following. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Mold Remediation
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal 
  • Demolition 
  • Hazardous Waste Removal

If you are facing any of these issues, call Brickley Environmental today. Our friendly, courteous staff will take your call and answer your questions, so you can make the best-informed decision about what to do next. At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help you.

How Batteries are Helping San Diego Battle the Heat This Summer

Posted by STN Admin on

With the power grid in California struggling under the intense summer heat, one solution to alleviate the problem has arisen in San Diego. The use of battery power to compensate for shortages in electricity during peak use times. The ion battery provides a strong backup for electrical grids that are under stress. 

The search for alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar are on the rise, but even with more power generators in action, the chances of the electrical grid becoming overworked increases in the summer. Identifying the solutions starts with examining the potential power sources available. 

How Does Battery Power Help?

The nonprofit organization running California’s electrical grid, California ISO, reports a 75% increase in battery capacity compared to last year. What that means is when solar power is maxing out during the day, the batteries can store the energy for twilight and nighttime use when the sun goes down. 

What that means is battery power fills the gap when solar and wind power are fading, so the electrical grid can remain strong. The more batteries available, especially the reliable ion battery, the greater the storage capacity and the less likely a brownout or blackout takes place during the evening hours. 

This is crucial because while the sun goes down, the temperatures often remain near peak levels for a few hours. This means air conditioners are still running, which pulls more power from the grid. When solar and wind power are fading, the charge in the batteries takes their place. 

Other advantages of enhanced battery power include not contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. This means that instead of relying more on fossil fuels, batteries can alleviate the pressure on power plants to increase capacity and emit more greenhouse gases. 

Noise mitigation is another powerful reason why battery power is being expanded across the state. Because batteries operate silently, there is no noise pollution generated. Currently, eleven new battery storage sites are being planned for the state with San Diego being one of the locations. 

Why the Ion Battery? 

The ion battery represents one of the best available batteries on the market. For large storage capacity and ability to recharge many times before needing replacement, the ion battery provides a viable solution to the solar and wind gap while remaining online for quite some time. 

Batteries are mostly used in large storage banks next to solar and wind farms, but they can also be used locally by individual homes and businesses that use solar power. The batteries maintain power once the sun goes down, and since the wind often dies down at night, they can be used there as well. 

With the goal of eliminated greenhouse gas production by 2045, residents of San Diego know that the intense summer heat no longer means automatic brownout or blackout conditions thanks to the ion battery. With backup battery power, cities such as San Diego can handle greater amounts of electricity at peak times while lessening the chances of an overload. 

Contact Brickley Environmental Today 

With numerous dangers facing your home or business, calling the professionals at Brickley Environmental is a good place to start. We offer our knowledge and experience along with the tools to detect and remove infestations of various types. The services provided by Brickley Environmental include the following. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Mold Remediation
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal 
  • Demolition 
  • Hazardous Waste Removal

If you are facing any of these issues, call Brickley Environmental today. Our friendly, courteous staff will take your call and answer your questions, so you can make the best-informed decision about what to do next. At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help you.

How to Safely Drink Water

Posted by STN Admin on

Nearly all the faucets in the US that dispense drinking water contain chemicals linked to cancer and other health issues. Known as “forever chemicals,” they can be found in the drinking water of cities, towns, and communities across the US. The chemicals themselves come from a wide range of items from food-packaging, water-resistant clothing, and nonstick pans that make their way into the groundwater. 

Despite the discoveries of forever chemicals in drinking water, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) report does not make any recommendations about what to do. What can be done is to have your drinking water tested and get more information from local and state authorities about the presence of unwanted chemicals. While the US Environmental Protection Agency has made proposals, no action is expected to be taken for at least a year, if not longer. 

US Drinking Water Research

Concerns about forever chemicals in the drinking water have been around for decades. But it was only in the past several years that federal and state officials began heavily testing for these chemicals. The testing ranged from water sources in schools, offices, residential areas, and even national parks that have no known source of forever chemicals. 

The results from the studies show that an estimated 45% of the water faucets tested showed elements of forever chemicals. The areas with the greatest concentration were found along the coastal areas, particularly the Eastern Seaboard and California. The Great Lakes and cities in the Great Plains also show concentrations of unwanted chemicals.

The areas with the least amount were rural areas of the country. In fact, many rural areas showed no traces at all. 

What Can You Do? 

The most important step is to have the water tested in your home. Since signs of disease or illness caused by the forever chemicals may take years or even decades to appear, you should not wait for any symptoms to appear. 

If you live in an urban area, along the coast, or near the Great Lakes, then you should have the water tested. That’s because the distribution of harmful chemicals is more robust in urban areas, meaning that even if you are far away from a potential source, your water may still be contaminated. 

If you live in a rural area, particularly if you have well water pumped into your home, then you are probably safe. The only exception is if you live near a potential source of chemicals which may range from manufacturing plants to poultry processing operations that may use such chemicals. 

If the drinking water tests positive, you can use filters to remove the contaminants. This includes detachable sink filters which are connected directly to the faucets to refrigerated filters that clean the water you have drawn from the faucet and placed into a container. 

You can have safe drinking water in your home when you use the right filters. Whether you use filters attached to the faucet itself or refrigerated filters, you can protect your family from the forever chemicals found in drinking water across the US. 

Contact Brickley Environmental Today 

With numerous dangers facing your home or business, calling the professionals at Brickley Environmental is a good place to start. We offer our knowledge and experience along with the tools to detect and remove infestations of various types. The services provided by Brickley Environmental include the following. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Mold Remediation
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal 
  • Demolition 
  • Hazardous Waste Removal

If you are facing any of these issues, call Brickley Environmental today. Our friendly, courteous staff will take your call and answer your questions, so you can make the best-informed decision about what to do next. At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help you.

Protecting Our Oceans

Posted by STN Admin on


As pollution becomes a growing concern, especially for the oceans, many families are looking for ways to reduce the pollutants and trash that they generate. And while many steps have been taken over the years, the growing population combined with greater use of disposable items has made protecting the oceans more difficult. 

You may think that there is little which can be done, at least by a single family. But when the efforts of one family are combined with many others, that can make a huge difference in protecting life in the ocean. All it takes is starting small and doing what you can to help sustain marine life. And it makes for a fun family project as well. 

With the recent celebration of World Ocean Day, here are a few tips you and your family can follow to help protect our oceans. 

Reduce Single Use Plastics 

One of the biggest pollutants in the oceans is single use plastic items. From water bottles to plastic bags, straws, and packaging, over eight million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year. By reducing the number of plastic products that we use, families can keep more of it from winding up in the ocean. 

Start by assessing how much plastic is being used in your home and then take steps to curb its use. Refillable bottles, not using straws, and properly disposing of plastic packaging can go a long way towards protecting our oceans. 

Respect Sea Life

The ocean was made for everyone to enjoy. But you and your family can help protect marine life by being respectful of nesting sea turtles, coral reef systems, and the like when on vacation. In addition, you can reduce the usage of materials from the ocean by not purchasing items made from coral, tortoise shells, or sharks which are common at seaside retail businesses. 

The less you purchase such items, the less in-demand they will be, the more such creatures will be left alone. 

Purchase Sustainable Seafood Products

Overfishing is one of the greatest concerns that many have with protecting ocean life. You can help contribute to protecting such life by purchasing seafood that came from fisheries and farms. It’s easy to tell by looking for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) labels.

By purchasing seafood from fisheries and farms, you can help reduce fishing in the oceans. This reduction will help protect marine life. 

Learn More about the Oceans

Perhaps the best way to initiate change is to learn more about life in the ocean and what effect we have on it. From watching videos and documentaries to visiting museums dedicated to ocean life to art exhibitions and more, there is much you can do to help educate your family on how we can protect the ocean and its inhabitants. 

There is much you and your family can do to protect marine life. By reducing the use of plastics, purchasing sustainable seafood products, and educating yourself more about the impact of pollutants, the more your family can contribute to protecting life under the sea.  

Contact Brickley Environmental Today 

With numerous dangers facing your home or business, calling the professionals at Brickley Environmental is a good place to start. We offer our knowledge and experience along with the tools to detect and remove infestations of various types. The services provided by Brickley Environmental include the following. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Mold Remediation
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal 
  • Demolition 
  • Hazardous Waste Removal

If you are facing any of these issues, call Brickley Environmental today. Our friendly, courteous staff will take your call and answer your questions, so you can make the best-informed decision about what to do next. At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help you.