Latest news with #duct
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
CRIKEY! Alligator caught in front of Hartford home
HARTFORD, Ala (WDHN) — How many cops does it take to catch an alligator? The answer: one brave chief to grab and one gator-trapping state trooper to give advice. On Tuesday afternoon, officers responded to a home on Bigbee Street in Hartford after a small alligator from a nearby pond had found its way into the front yard of a home. The alligator was around 2 feet long and missing one of its back legs. Officers lovingly named the reptile '3-legged Fred' in a Facebook post. Once on the scene, Chief Zachary Cooke called Alabama State Trooper Jere Jenson, who has experience capturing and releasing alligators. Popular R&B artist to perform in Dothan After a quick phone call and some good advice, Chief Cooke was able to pick up the gator quickly and duct tape its mouth so as not to get bitten. While 3-legged Fred is small, he still could do damage with his powerful jaws. Chief Cooke and the other responders on the scene safely transported their new friend to a swamp around County Road 38 and released the small gator. 'Be good, little buddy,' the chief said before returning the gator to the water. The chief says they wanted to relocate the alligator to a new home so residents in the neighborhood would not be frightened. Sergeant Miller and Officer Burch with the Hartford Police Department also responded to help keep 3-legged Fred and those around safe. They were joined by GCSO Deputy Lindsey, Hartford City Utilities, and Hartford's Animal Control Officer. No alligators or police officers were harmed in this experience. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
28-04-2025
- New York Post
Not-so-talented ‘Mr. Ripley' allegedly had trouble killing roomie in ID fraud scheme: ‘Why won't you die?'
A man in Australia tried to pull a not-so-talented 'Mr. Ripley' by killing his wealthy female roommate, cramming her corpse into a 'body box' and then stealing her identity to net $700,00, authorities say. 'Why won't you die?'' annoyed sicko Yang Zhao hissed as he fatally choked Qiong Yan, 29, according to prosecutors. Zhao, 30, who went on trial in a Queensland court Monday for the slaying, allegedly killed Yan in the Brisbane suburb of Hamilton in 2020 and took over her identity to pay off his heavy gambling debt and market losses. His twisted scheme included bilking his dead victim's unsuspecting mom out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by posing as her daughter — and selling off Yan's $300,000 Porsche Panamera SUV, officials said. Advertisement 3 Qiong Yan, 29, was fatally strangled, and her body was then stuffed in a large tool box. Queensland Police Service '[Zhao] needed money. He lost money. He killed [Yan]. He posed as her for a while. He took her money,' Crown prosecutor Chris Cook told the court. 'Murdering for money can be a profitable crime if you get away with it.'' Advertisement Zhao, a Chinese national who overstayed his student visa, brutally beat and strangled Yan, also a Chinese national who worked as a migration agency director, reports said. The jury Monday watched video from Zhao's interrogation with police after cops discovered Yan's body in July 2021. 'I sat in front of her and hit her on her head three times,' Zhao said in the chilling footage. 'I think I go crazy. I ask her why she wouldn't die.'' 3 Authorities say this is the blue tool box where the victim's remains were hidden. 9 News Australia Advertisement He went to a nearby hardware store at some point, bought a large toolbox, workman gloves and duct tape — and went about concealing his victim's body, according to prosecutors. He later told cops he stashed the corpse in a 'body box,'' what he called the oversized 6-gallon toolbox in which police found Yan's badly decomposed remains. While keeping the victim's body hidden and pretending to be her, Zhao used Yan's phone and banking apps to steal and also con her family and friends, authorities said. 3 Suspect Yang Zhao is taken into custody. 9 News Australia Advertisement The unemployed Zhao allegedly sent 2,000 texts pretending to be Yan to carry out the plot, which involved ID theft akin to the 1999 hit eerie flick 'The Talented Mr. Ripley.'' Zhao's scheme only unraveled when one of Yan's friends thought some of those texts were growing increasingly odd and went to police. The jury saw a photograph that investigators took of Yan's body when they found it in the toolbox in July 2021 — shoved under a black sheet with one of her feet exposed. Zhao originally told police that the killing was part of a suicide pact. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but copped to interfering with Yan's corpse. His lawyer, Andrew Hoare, encouraged the jury to pay close attention to how Zhao described Yan's death during the police interviews. 'You may think that event is unique to Mr Zhao to such an extent that those facts out to be etched indelibly in Mr Zhao's memory,' Hoare said. 'Some parts of the interview got to the point that Mr. Zhao's memory was not as indelible as you would expect from a person who was recounting true events.'
Washington Post
14-04-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Why it's hard to save money making your house more energy efficient
Upgrades will cut carbon pollution, but even with tax credits, it can be difficult to save money. Loading Loading Nestled in a quiet suburb of Maryland, it's about 1,500 square feet, with three bedrooms across two floors. In an average year, the family in this home spends around $3,483 on utilities: Utilities cost and emissions per year Gas (heating and cooking) $1,590 5.1 tCO₂ Electricity (cooling, water heating and appliances) $1,893 3.3 Total $3,483 8.4 All that energy creates around 8.4 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year, or the equivalent of more than eight round-trip transatlantic flights. Like many Americans, these homeowners want to cut their bills and carbon emissions. But even with generous state and federal tax subsidies, the economics of home retrofits don't always pencil out. Here's how we evaluated the pros — and cons — of electrifying this home. Share Comment on this story Comment Add to your saved stories Save and By Simon Ducroquet and Shannon Osaka April 14, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Residential buildings in the United States emit around 975 million metric tons of CO2 each year, or approximately 15 percent of the country's total emissions. For the United States to hit its climate goals, those millions of tons have to go to zero. The Inflation Reduction Act created generous tax credits and rebates for homeowners who install solar panels, retrofit their homes, or buy heat pumps — but a Republican-controlled Congress may soon eliminate those subsidies. President Donald Trump has already taken aim at the $8.8 billion in home energy rebates authorized by the IRA. But even with those subsidies, there are complications. Every house is different, and factors like weather, age of construction and duct work can dramatically change the costs and benefits of upgrades. Story continues below advertisement Advertisement The Washington Post asked researchers at Harvard's Graduate School of Design to simulate the potential cost savings and emissions reductions of updating this home. Holly Samuelson, an associate professor of architecture, and Mayuri Rajput, a lecturer and fellow, modeled the home and possible improvements. Local contractors provided cost estimates on those upgrades. The results show that, while there are a few easy and cost-saving upgrades, any final decision may depend more on a homeowner's comfort — and desire to cut carbon emissions — than saving money. Solar panels Let's start with solar panels — one of the most popular upgrades. Right now households can get a federal tax credit equal to 30 percent of their panels' cost. In 2023, more than 752,000 Americans used that program for rooftop solar, for an average of around $8,000 back on their taxes. According to a quote from local company NovaSolar, the house's roof could fit 17 solar panels. The south-facing part of the roof – which, in the Northern Hemisphere, gets the most sunlight throughout the year – only has space for six panels. The others would have to be placed in less efficient spots. Those panels would generate 7,811 kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first year – covering roughly 70 percent of the home's overall use. The panels cost around $22,300 – but generous state and federal incentives would cut that cost to just $10,127. With yearly savings of $1,829, the solar panels would pay for themselves in just over five years. Utilities cost and emissions per year Without solar panels $3,483 8.4 tCO₂ With solar panels $1,654 6.1 Savings $1,829 2.3 But there's a catch: Two large oak trees shade the house, blocking most of the roof's sunlight, especially during the summer. Summer is also when the panels would be producing the most electricity – and when the house needs more power for air conditioning. Because of the trees, the panels would produce 40 percent less energy. Yearly savings would drop to $1,116. It would take eight and-a-half years to justify the investment. Utilities cost and emissions per year Without solar panels $3,483 8.4 tCO₂ With tree-shaded solar panels $2,367 7 Savings $1,116 1.4 The homeowners could remove or cut back the trees – but that could reduce the value of the home and make it warmer. And removing the trees would make the outside of the house uncomfortably hot during the summer. According to modeling, removing the trees would add an additional 800 hours during the year – or more than one full month – where the yard temperature is more than 79 degrees Fahrenheit. The solar panels could provide real benefits, but they aren't a slam dunk. Peter House, energy adviser at EnergySage, a clean energy company, says most homeowners like to see payback in around seven years. Tree shade, he added, is one of the main reasons that homeowners decide not to switch to solar. Payback solar panels Cost and return on investment for solar panels $12,173 Covered by state and federal incentives $10,127 Paid by homeowner $1,116 annual savings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Homeowner's investment returns after 8 years Cost and return on investment for solar panels $12,173 Covered by state and federal incentives $10,127 Paid by homeowner $1,116 annual savings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Homeowner's investment returns after 8 years Cost and return on investment for solar panels $12,173 Covered by state and federal incentives $10,127 Paid by homeowner 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 $1,116 annual savings Homeowner's investment returns after 8 years Heat pump What about installing a heat pump? Many houses around the country still rely on natural gas, propane or oil for heat — with each home functioning like a little fossil fuel plant. In this Maryland census tract, 83 percent of homes are still heated by natural gas. According to The Post's modeling, installing a minimum-efficiency heat pump would lower bills by approximately $252 per year. Utilities cost and emissions per year With gas heating and central AC $3,483 8.4 tCO₂ With heat pump $3,231 5.7 Savings $252 2.7 But installing it would cost around $12,000 after rebates, making the payback period around 48 years. heat pump payback Cost and return on investment for heat pump $1,100 Covered by state and federal incentives $252 annual savings $12,000 Paid by homeowner Homeowner's investment returns after 48 years Cost and return on investment for heat pump $1,100 Covered by state and federal incentives $252 annual savings $12,000 Paid by homeowner Homeowner's investment returns after 48 years Cost and return on investment for heat pump $1,100 Covered by state and federal incentives $12,000 Paid by homeowner Homeowner's investment returns after 48 years $252 annual savings A higher-efficiency heat pump could save more money — around $755 per year. And if their gas furnace had reached the end of its life, homeowners would have to pay only the difference between the cost of a new heat pump and a new furnace — bringing the payback time closer to eight years. Because a heat pump heats and cools the home, it could also replace the traditional air conditioning unit. That could make sense for this home. But in colder climates, the calculus changes. While there are new, high-efficiency models that can take on frigid temperatures, they often cost more to purchase and run. According to the modeling, if this home was subject to Chicago's weather and prices of utilities, switching to a heat pump could actually lose money, to the tune of $1,221 added to bills each year. 'It's a relationship between the outdoor temperature, your rates and the efficiency of the heat pump,' said Lacey Tan, manager in the carbon-free buildings program at the energy think tank RMI. Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Heat pumps are much more efficient than fossil fuel furnaces, which work by burning energy and converting it into heat. A gas furnace, for example, might take 1 kWh of natural gas and generate 0.96 or 0.98 kWh of heat — an efficiency of 96 or 98 percent. A heat pump, on the other hand, doesn't use electricity to make heat — it uses electricity and a complex system of refrigerants to move heat from the outside of the home indoors. Moving heat takes less energy — just 1 kWh of electricity can pull 3 or 4 kWh of heat indoors. As a result, heat pumps can have an effective efficiency, or 'coefficient of performance,' of 300 to 400 percent. But electricity, in many parts of the country, costs much more than natural gas. In Maryland, electricity is about three times the cost of gas, sapping most of the benefits of switching to a heat pump. 'Heat pumps save energy, but they don't always save money,' said Elliot Firestone, a project manager at Elysian Energy, an energy efficiency firm in the D.C. and Maryland region. Map of savings for heat pump Impact on annual utilities cost when switching from gas furnace to heat pump Savings Cost increase -$2,000 0 $2,000 Costs estimated for the house in Maryland's suburb, when replacing a 70 percent efficient gas furnace with a minimum efficiency heat pump. For more details, see methodology at the bottom of this article. Impact on annual utilities cost when switching from gas furnace to heat pump Savings Cost increase -$2,000 0 $2,000 Costs estimated for the house in Maryland's suburb, when replacing a 70 percent efficient gas furnace with a minimum efficiency heat pump. For more details, see methodology at the bottom of this article. Impact on annual utilities cost when switching from gas furnace to heat pump Savings Cost increase -$2,000 0 $2,000 Costs estimated for the house in Maryland's suburb, when replacing a 70 percent efficient gas furnace with a minimum efficiency heat pump. For more details, see methodology at the bottom of this article. Experts say you are most likely to save money if you're switching from an older, less efficient gas furnace (The Post's modeling estimated this home's furnace had an efficiency of 70 percent) and if you live where the gas isn't much cheaper than electricity. In some states, like Maine, homeowners could save money switching from fuel oil, which is relatively expensive, but not from gas. Still, there are other benefits. 'Unlike oil or gas systems, a heat pump becomes greener over time as the grid decarbonizes,' Samuelson said. 'It can offer long-term carbon benefits, even if the short-term savings don't add up.' Another type of heat pump would benefit the house right away — a heat pump water heater. The existing water heater runs on electric resistance, heating a wire with electrical energy. That's expensive to run and only 100 percent efficient. Switching to a heat pump version, energy auditors found, would save $240 per year and cost just $978 after local utility rebates. So the new water heater would pay for itself in just four years. Sealing and insulation Another way to improve efficiency is adding insulation to improve the home's 'envelope' — the barrier between outdoors and indoors. But that might not pencil out. The Post asked a local energy auditor to analyze how to limit the home's air leaks. The auditor performed a blower door test — setting a large fan in the sealed front door of the house and tracking air as it flowed through the home. The test revealed several areas of the house where conditioned air could leak out, leading to costly energy bills. Using a thermal camera, auditors found that warm air was flowing through the hatch to the attic. That's a common problem — most homes lose energy through what's known as the 'stack effect.' Warm air rises through the home, creating a vacuum in the lower floors and basement. Outside air then seeps in through cracks and holes in the lower floors, and air that's been cooled or warmed escapes through the upper floors. With major leaks homeowners have to constantly heat or cool their homes to counteract this effect — which can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. 'It's kind of like money just flying out of your house,' said Josh Friddle, president of Terra Insulation, the company that performed the energy audit. Friddle recommended adding insulation to counteract this effect — first, by adding polyurethane foam to leaky points in the attic to keep air from escaping, and then by sealing and conditioning the crawlspace to prevent outdoor air from coming in. Adding insulation to the walls would also help, he said. 'We call it the ABCs,' he said, of the priorities for sealing up a home. 'Attic, bottom floor, crawlspace.' All told, those improvements would cost around $9,187, after local utility rebates, and would save around $320 a year. That would give the improvements a payback time of almost 29 years. According to the modeling by Harvard researchers, a more state-of-the-art envelope upgrade could save almost three times that. But, achieving that level of insulation would require replace the sidings, at a much higher cost. Utilities cost and emissions per year With current insulation and infiltration $3,483 8.4 tCO₂ With upgraded insulation and reduced infiltration $2,433 5.2 Savings $1,050 3.2 'The math on retrofits is horrible,' said Nate Adams, a home energy consultant. 'And also there's no addition to resale value in most markets.' But, he added, most people are not doing retrofits to save money on bills — they are doing it to improve comfort. One room, for example, might be freezing in the winter and burning hot in the summer. Fixing insulation could make it more comfortable year round. Multiple retrofits can also be done at the same time. If the homeowner needed to replace the vinyl siding of the house, for example, it would be cheap to add better insulation. That better insulation, in turn, could add to the savings of a heat pump — lowering bills to the tune of around 45 percent. Still, the cost of upgrades show the challenges for many families hoping to make their homes more efficient — and the challenge for the country as a whole as it struggles to eliminate buildings' carbon pollution. Adams said that while some Americans have adopted these new technologies, the country can't hit its climate goals without changes to how the United States retrofits homes. 'We're going to burn another decade that we don't have if we don't figure out how to get to the mass market,' he said.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Stolen car with 7 teens inside crashes after multi-county chase in Orange County: deputies
The Brief Deputies said a multi-county chase involving a stolen vehicle with seven teenagers inside ended in a crash on Lee Road in Orange County early Thursday. The vehicle had been reported stolen on Wednesday in Osceola County. The driver of the stolen vehicle is facing charges, along with another occupant of the vehicle. Additional charges are pending. ORLANDO, Fla. - A multi-county chase involving a stolen vehicle with seven teenagers inside ended in a crash in Orange County early Thursday, according to deputies. At least two people inside the stolen vehicle are facing charges, though additional charges are pending, a spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriff's Office said. As of Thursday morning, both eastbound and westbound lanes of Lee Road near Adanson Street, where the crash occurred, are closed. The backstory Just after 1 a.m. Thursday, Polk County deputies were alerted by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office about a stolen gray 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander involved in one of their investigations near the intersection of Ronald Reagan Parkway and Champions Gate Boulevard in Polk County. The vehicle was reported stolen in Osceola County on Wednesday. Polk County deputies, along with a sheriff's office helicopter and Florida Highway Patrol troopers, began a pursuit as the vehicle continued into Osceola County and eventually Orange County. Troopers spotted the Mitsubishi traveling eastbound on Interstate 4 and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued, exiting I-4 onto Lee Road, east of Adanson Street. MORE NEWS: Search for Jesse Kirk: Remains found 11 miles from missing Titusville woman's condo It was there that troopers attempted a PIT maneuver. However, the driver continued fleeing in the wrong direction, going eastbound in a westbound lane, according to troopers. The Mitsubishi ultimately crashed into a 2019 Honda Insight and a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu at around 1:39 a.m., authorities said. The teenagers in the Mitsubishi, and the drivers of the other vehicles involved in the crash, were taken to local hospitals. The Polk County Sheriff's Office said the driver of the Mitsubishi, 18-year-old Christopher Lee, of Altamonte Springs, and another occupant are facing charges. Once cleared from the hospital, they will be booked into the Orange County Corrections Center. Lee is facing charges of burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, fleeing law enforcement, and driving without a valid license. Authorities said he also has multiple active warrants in Orange County. It remains unclear what charges the other occupant will face. MORE NEWS:Tavares child abuse case: Florida boy was tied with duct tape, had dumbbell on him, deputies say The suspects may also face additional charges from the Florida Highway Patrol and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, as the vehicle was allegedly stolen from their jurisdiction. Inside the Mitsubishi were a 13-year-old, a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old, two 17-year-olds, the 18-year-old driver and another person whose age is unknown. Everyone except the driver is from Orlando. The conditions of the occupants in the Mitsubishi, as well as those in the other two cars involved in the crash are unknown. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol on March 6, 2025.
