Ed Newman

We are lovers of Goldens and we never just get one golden puppy - always get 2 boys from the same litter and we have found out that the ones born in the middle of the litter have always had a greater chance of them being close to being "identical". So we always end up calling them the "twins" and so do people that meet us on the lake or in the mountains. When we are up on the boat we always use doggie life jackets. One thing we figured out early on was a "dripping wet" Golden Retriever looks just like any other wet Golden so every dog gets a different color life jacket so we know which one to holler at. Also when they are covered in snow they look alike as well, maybe we need different color handkerchiefs.

These guys burrow under the snow like gophers when the snow is too deep. There is something picturesque about dogs in the snow. My photographer wife is always send in photos of our dogs into magazines and this year they are Orvis cover dogs. http://www.orvis.com/coverdog

A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; create less waste; and is healthier for the people living inside. The first step into retrofitting your Utah home towards a greener home is to have a comprehensive infrared audit performed to discover the "tightness" of your home or building. With the pictures taken high resolution triple fusion infrared cameras you can had your energy audit report to any retrofitter and can prescribe the correct action to sealing and insulation your home. You can stay warm this winter while you are enjoying lower utility bills. Don't wait for cash for caulkers, your first step starts this weekend by scheduling your infrared energy audit with Utah Energy Audit - www.utahenergyaudit.com

As the full moon rose over the Utah Wasatch Front last night I grabbed a FLIR high resolution infrared camera and snapped this thermal image of the moon at around 10:00PM.

These high end FLIR cameras have the triple fusion capability and also highly accurately measure the temperature of everything in the field of view. Below the horizon are some 13,000' mountains and from my backyard I can set a pointer on the peaks and can tell you their temperature. I can look up at at jet aircraft and tell you the exhaust temps a mile away. So I decided to turn on the temperature measuring feature and target the hottest spot in the field of view - guess what! From 238,857 miles away the moon is showing to be 158 degrees - awesome. In the right hand side of the photo you will see the temp range from 158 to -40 degrees. The minus 40 is the atmosphere, usually around FL380 or flight level 38,000 feet or higher.

Pretty cool, eh? These are the same high precision infrared cameras we use on all home inspections.

There are two of these cameras in Utah, I have one and our Alamo Infrared affiliate in Ogden has the other one. If you live up in northern Utah and need a top quality home inspection or energy audit contact Brandon Clark at Alamo Infrared Ogden 801-781-0224

Energy efficiency in your Utah home or business is more important today than ever before. There are many ways to cut energy costs this winter not to mention staying warmer. The very first step is to schedule an infrared energy audit using calibrated blower doors. In Salt Lake County, Utah the largest and most expeerienced energy auditor is www.utahenergyaudit.com Visit the 'Energy Audit Page" for all kinds of information. The phone number is 801-661-2198. If you live in Davis or Weber County call 801-781-0224

This infrared thermal image shows just how lucky this Utah homeowner was not to put a screw into a drain line from upstairs. Pictures, shelves, mirrors and now flat panel TV mounts are being mounted on interior walls without any knowledge of what may be behind the sheetrock. You can not see through sheetrock, but todays high resolution infrared cameras can find drain lines, water lines, termites and even mold.

Here is a photo of twin drain lines from the upstairs master bath that run directly behind a 42" flat panel mounted on the wall of the family room

The photo below shows what happens when you do hit a drain line. The red is the hot water flowing down the drain line. The blue area at the bottom of the wall show an accumulation of waste water building up as a result of the drain leak. After about 2 months the black stacybotrus mold will begin to grow. Keep in mind the exterior of the sheetrock showed no visual signs of moisture - this new homebuyer would have been thoroughly ticked off at a visual inspector who would have missed this with their flashlight. It pays to "Always Insist on Infrared"