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Thermometers Make Unique Christmas Presents

With Christmas quickly approaching, chances are that you’re trying to think of unique Christmas presents for friends and family. Finding the perfect gift can be a stressful and time – consuming task which can sometimes take the fun out of Christmas shopping.

If you find yourself in this position then one idea could be to buy your loved one a thermometer. Although it might sound a bit strange at first, a thermometer can have many different uses and is a handy tool to have around the home. Just like with anything these days, you now get a large variety of them all of which can do a range of different things.

A cheap and basic variety is a disposable thermometer. These are very handy to have around the house especially if you have young children. You can use them to take temperatures when people aren’t feeling very well which saves you going to the doctor to get it done. This is a great way of saving money in the long run because rather than making a trip to the doctor every time you think you or child might have a temperature, you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

If you would like something that lasts longer then a glass thermometer could make a great Christmas present. They can be used for anything from taking temperatures to monitoring the temperature outside or in your home. The great thing about them is that the glass covering provides them with more protection so they are likely to last longer and there is less chance of them getting damaged.

If you are looking for Christmas presents that are a bit more special, then a digital thermometer could make a great gift. These have a variety of uses from measuring the temperature of your fridge and freezer to checking the temperature of your food to ensure that it is cooked properly. Therefore they make great Christmas presents for chefs or anybody who loves to cook.

If you know somebody who has a swimming pool then getting them a thermometer which tests the temperature of the water could be perfect. This means that they will be able to ensure the water is always at a comfortable level when it comes to swimming. Another reason why you might want to test the temperature of water is if you have a baby or young child and you are giving them a bath. What doesn’t feel too hot to you may be too hot for a baby so a thermometer is a much safer way of testing the water temperature than doing it yourself.  

You can even get a really clever thermometer that measures the humidity in a room. This is actually a really good reason to buy a thermometer because if the humidity levels in your house are too high or too low it can have damaging effects on your home and your health.

Regardless of who you are buying for, a thermometer can make a great Christmas present or stocking filler. As well as this, it is a very unique idea so you can be sure that nobody else would have bought the same present or that the person will already have it.

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Indoor Air Quality and Mold: Past, Present and Future Considerations

Mold and Moisture Susceptibility

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term referring to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Indoor air quality, like energy management, is a fairly young industry. In fact, many of today’s IAQ issues stem from the energy-conscious building practices used in the 1970s. Structures were built virtually airtight in order to conserve electricity, causing ventilation problems and, thus, breeding some of today’s IAQ concerns.

Continuing media attention given to the health effects of toxic mold, the outbreak of infectious diseases such as swine flu, and the increase in chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma have resulted in a growing interest and attention to indoor air quality in homes, commercial buildings, schools, and hospitals.

IAQ can be affected by microbial contaminants such as mold and other bacteria, or any mass or energy stressor that can induce adverse health conditions. Indoor air is becoming more of a health threat than outdoor air. Determination of IAQ involves collecting air samples, monitoring human exposure to pollutants, collecting samples on building surfaces, and computer modeling of airflow inside buildings.

There are two procedures involved when IAQ concerns are raised: investigation and remediation. Mold investigation is the process of identifying the location, existence, and extent of a mold hazard in a structure; mold remediation is the process of removal and/or cleanup of mold from an indoor environment.

Mold as a Causitive Agent

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) suggests that there has been a significant increase in public concern about Indoor Environment Quality. This is reflected both in the number and percentage of evaluations conducted in relation to Indoor Environment Quality by NIOSH over the past 20 years.

Recently, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) conducted a survey to determine what level of concern exists for IAQ. The findings revealed that 95% of those surveyed thought air quality was important, compared to 41% in the previous year. Over 75% of those surveyed were concerned with the quality of air and potentially harmful emissions in residences, offices, and other buildings, and more than one-third of the respondents were very concerned. The study also found that 80% of respondents were willing to spend their own money on IAQ testing and improvements in their own homes.

The findings of the UL study indicate that the desire for good IAQ is present in all building sectors. Evidence suggests that markets for IAQ solutions are significantly under-penetrated compared with their potential, which means significant business opportunities exist. The UL study also found that certain IAQ markets like Memphis are five to seven years behind the adoption curve. This provides further evidence that IAQ markets in different metropolitan areas are nearly untouched and that the potential for IAQ investigations and remediation are prolific.

The World Health Organization and the Chelsea Group, a leading provider of consulting services to the engineering, architectural, and industrial hygiene industry, estimate that approximately 30% of all commercial buildings in the United States and Canada have significant IAQ Problems and that there is no lack of opportunity for IAQ services in the residential and commercial markets. It is estimated that they have the potential to grow up to five or six times their current size.

Mold-Help.org, a not-for-profit website dedicated to educating the public on the effects of indoor mold, maintains that over 25 million Americans suffer from allergic reactions caused by indoor mold exposure. Furthermore, scientists at Manchester University in the UK reported in 2005 that severe asthma attacks are often triggered by an allergic reaction to mold. This asthma link to mold has been confirmed recently by researchers at the Harvard Medical School. As national asthma rates among children and adults (9.4 % and 7.3 %, respectively) show no signs of subsiding, health-related mold concerns should continue to drive the testing market. Adding to concerns in the U.S and abroad, individuals have been forced to evacuate their homes, schools and offices due to growth of indoor molds. This, along with the detrimental health effects of black mold, amply demonstrates the market need for better and more cost-efficient methods for estimating mold levels and exposure in indoor environments.

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Unusual Presents: A Top 5

I like unusual presents. They’re so much more fun than usual presents. Opening unusual presents is like tucking into a pie without knowing about its filling, or boarding a place whose destination remains unknown. You might love what you find, you might hate it. But regardless, it’s way more exciting than receiving a voucher or a CD. Plus, unusual gifts show that you’ve put some thought into it, so on that basis take a look at some of our suggestions…

St Andrews Golf Course Hickory Putter

If you’re having difficulties buying for a golf geek, this will solve all your problems. This classic hickory putter was particularly popular during the 1880s and consists of a maple head, hickory shaft and either a leather or suede grip. It’s completely handmade, finished in the St Andrews workshop and includes personalisation of up to 15 characters engraved on the shaft.

Personalised Classics

Unusual gifts, unique gifts, daft gifts – call them what you will, personalised classics will undoubtedly raise a smile, whether you’ve got them starring in Dracula, Treasure Island or Wuthering Heights. All in all, there are 12 masterpieces to pick from, with every one of them allowing you to change the names of six lead characters to those of your choice.

An Acre of Moon

Here’s an opportunity to own a piece of real estate on the moon. It’s absolutely for real, thanks to a loophole in The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 that was discovered by American, Dennis M. Hope. You’ll get an acre of our moon, along with a pack containing the lunar deed, sight map, the lunar constitution and Bill of Rights, and a Declaration of Ownership transcript.

Personalised Retro Sweets

Cola bottles, flying saucers, jelly beans – you name it and chances are you’ll find your retro sweet of choice in the collection of personalised sweet jars available online. There are all sorts of combinations available, with 1.8 and 4.5 litre jars to choose from, both of which feature your chosen name on the label. Or if you want to be really indulgent, you’ll even find a couple of hampers, too.

Personalised Beano Goodies

Unusual gifts don’t get more menacing than something from the personalised Beano range. An ideal match for youngsters and reminiscers alike, you’ll find birthday books, calendars, mugs and posters, all of which can be personalised with the chosen name so that they become ‘The Menace’.

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