This disclosure provides for new low density, open cell polyurethane (PUR) foams, which can be prepared using a combination of precursors and conditions, for example, an off-ratio A-side:B-side volume ratio (v:v) which includes a higher volume of A-side than the volume of B-side, an aromatic polyisocyanate component having an isocyanate functionality of from about 2.5 to about 3.0, and an Isocyanate Index of from about 20 percent to about 40 percent. Using the processes and precursors disclosed herein, polyurethane foams having a density of from about 0.25 lb/ft.sup.3 to about 0.45 lb/ft.sup.3 can be obtained.

The disclosure includes a method comprising determining that solar heat gain exists in trapped air between a window shade and a window and opening a controllable damper to exhaust the trapped air. The method may also include obtaining occupancy data about an occupant based on at least one of a home automation system or a security system. The method may also include forecasting, using a sky camera and historical sky conditions, sky conditions associated with a building; and determining, based on the forecasted sky conditions, a setting for at least one of a lighting system or an HVAC system associated with the building. The method may also include changing a timing of an automation routine for adjusting window shades to minimize an impact on peak demand energy usage.

An energy-saving building system using a porous silicate material for thermal insulation, comprises a foundation, a retaining wall body, and a roof system. The foundation comprises a ground ring beam and columns, and a porous silicate thermal insulation material is cast around the ground ring beam and the columns; the porous silicate thermal insulation material is composed of an organic lightweight aggregate and a lightweight inorganic matrix, and the lightweight inorganic matrix is provided thereon with a plurality of micropores; the retaining wall body comprises an outer wall disposed on the ground ring beam, the outer wall comprises an outer side support body, an inner side support body, and the porous silicate thermal insulation material cast between the inner and outer side support bodies, and the outer side support body and the inner side support body are connected therebetween by means of a heat insulating connection member.

A hanger apparatus is provided for attaching and securing building materials to a structure, such as attaching fibrous insulation to a wall or a cladding system on a building. The hanger includes a selectively deployable securing element such as a bendable barb to impale the building material and to secure the impaled building material to the hanger. The hanger may include a sealing fastener to secure the apparatus to the structure and to form a air, vapor, or weather seal between the fastener, hanger apparatus, and structure. The hanger is configurable for use with a single securing element or may be interlocked with additional hangers to create a chain of securing elements to secure a large portion of building material to a large section of a building. The hanger may include relief notches or apertures to reduce the force required to bend portions of the apparatus.

A facade panel conditioning system for installation on a new or existing building is disclosed. The system includes modular panels, a structural anchor, hydronic piping, and ductwork. The panels attach to each other around the exterior of the building forming an insulated shell. The anchor attaches the panels to the building structure forming an air cavity between each individual panel and the exterior. The hydronic piping transfers heat to the air cavity and individual units of the building. The ductwork delivers ventilated air and exhaust air to the air cavity and individual units. The hydronic piping of a panel connects to the hydronic piping of an adjacent panel forming a hydronic piping system that distributes heat or cool throughout the shell. The air duct of a panel connects to the air duct of an adjacent panel forming an air duct ventilation system that distributes air throughout the shell.

Packaging with a safety opening, for containing products with restricted access. The packaging comprises an outer casing (4) with an outer body (5) equipped with a front portion with a front opening (6), a container (1) with a container body (3) with a front portion and which is intended to contain a product (2), the container (1) being slidable within the housing (4) through the opening (6) and at least one elongated protrusion (7) protruding from the container body (3) in the front portion of the container body (3). The casing (4) comprises, in correspondence with each protrusion (7), a recess (8) in the front portion of the outer body (5) in order to house the corresponding protrusion (7). In the closed position, each protrusion (7) does not protrude from the recess (8) thereof or from the outer body (5).

The smart window for the smart home and smart grid can harvest energy and supply power to the home, grid and window itself. The smart window for the smart home and smart grid has all the Electrochromic panel, Solar panel and Multimedia panel been the same full window wide view and aligned with each other in IGU. To be a home automation system, the smart window has local/remote access/control capabilities. There are several types of smart windows working as master device or slave device. The operation of smart window automation system has three modes, normal/open mode, shut/tint mode and smart phone mode. The tube of air circulation system is hidden inside the frame surrounding IGU. Most of the electronic components are integrated to be FPSOC Field Programmable System On Chip that all the electronic component is hidden in the frame surrounding IGU, too. Therefore, the smart window doesn't have any blockage of window view with the Solar panel, Electrochromic panel, Multimedia panel and air circulation system. The smart window has the clean outlook as the conventional dual panel IGU does. The master device of the smart window system is similar to the huge screen working as a smart phone. In normal/open mode, the smart window is similar to the conventional dual panel window having the full-panel clean and clear view. For the different architectures of the smart homes, the smart window must have versatile alignments and system control that the smart window has to be implemented with the Field Programmable System On Chips of Anlinx, Milinx and Zilinx made of the W5RS advanced FPSOC chip technologies.

A thermal-break assembly including a thermal-insulation block configured to be installed between a first floor section and a second floor section. A weight-receiving device is configured to receive the thermal-insulation block. Spaced-apart reinforcing bars extend through, and beyond, the thermal-insulation block; this is done in such a way that the spaced-apart reinforcing bars, in use, extend into the first floor section and into the second floor section (once the thermal-insulation block is installed therebetween). The spaced-apart reinforcing bars are in intimate contact with the weight-receiving device.

An exterior insulation panel for installation in an exterior building envelope of a building. The insulation panel has an interior face for facing toward an interior space of the building, an exterior face lying opposite the interior face for facing away from the interior space of the building, and a foam core laminated with a perforated exterior facer on one or both faces of the panel, at which the exterior facer defines an uncovered outermost layer of the panel. Each perforated facer comprises openings therein through which moisture is migratable into the foam core during moisture-rich environmental conditions, for temporary holding of the excess moisture until such conditions subside.

A wall anchor for use in a cavity wall configured to connect to a veneer tie that joins an inner wythe, and an outer wythe of the cavity wall is disclosed. The wall anchor includes an elongated shaft having a first longitudinal axis, a fastening end section, a receiving end section, and a middle section. The wall anchor system further includes a panel including an interior positioned between at least two end surfaces, and a first insulating member spanning at least a portion of the interior of the panel. The receiving end section of the wall anchor system includes apertures defining an aperture wall for accepting sections of the veneer tie. The wall anchor system further includes a plurality of insulating members covering the aperture wall configured to reduce the transfer of thermal energy by the veneer tie between the inner wythe and the outer wythe.