Profit Interests Essay Example for Free

Profit Interests Essay Over the years the law governing partnership and the payments to be allocated to the partners either for the services offered or for the property was being treated like a transaction. This aspect of partnership laws includes but not limited to payments received as interests of profit made in the partnership as payments for services rendered and this could either be viewed either as a capital or profit interests. This has for many years caused rows which are taken to the corridors of justice, courtesy of the existing substantial uncertainty and in the same vein the conflicting precedents of tax laws cases on decisions on whether profit interest should be taxed and at what rate. Albeit, in 2005 May, the IRS( Internal Revenue Service) formulated a proposal of regulations touching on the alteration of and creation a distinction profits interests and capital, establishing section 83 which determines the general rules on interest that is issued in connection with service performance, the timing, amount and income of the service provider and the issue of partnership deduction in relation to amount and timing, the recognition of gain and losses on the partnership interest and lastly the provision of a safe harbor which based on the assumption that the value of fair market equals to the liquidation value (Blum 1). The current regulations provide for regulations of taxation. The issue unclear provisions on treatment of a service partner contributing service to a partnership and receives interests in the partnerships future profits. The issue has been that when a partner receives profit interest only and not capital interest, for services rendered, is it the aggregate or the entity concept that should be applied? The courts have attempted to solve this conflict and to clarify the situation only to come up with contradicting decisions. Case law on revenue ruling. The laws were explored and revisited in the famous case of William G. Campbell v. Commissioner 943 F. 2d 815(CA 8,1991) and also in the case of Sol Diamond V. Commissioner 492 F. 2d 286 (CA-7, 1974) on profit interest taxation (Englebrecht 1). In the Diamond case a taxpayer was restrained from converting capital gains from ordinary income. Diamond entered a joint venture with a partner for purposes of purchasing a building to be used as an office. The appellant did not contribute any capital but they made an arrangement where he would be the financier for the project and in return he receives 60% interest on the future profits. The appellant after the purchase of the building, sold off his interest to the partner and did not declare income he received from the profit interest. Nevertheless, he reported a short term capital gain the sale resulting to him to offset this gain. The seventh circuit concurring with the tax court ruled that no laws were clear on provision that profit interests which are compensatory receipts are free from taxation. The decision in both case in favour of the commissioner, in the later case it cited the tax rule section 83. was clear and that property received in compensatory to be income on receipt and falls within both the capital interest and profit interests According to section 1. 21-3 (e) excludes unfunded and /or unsecured promises from income recognition. Tax court ruled that profit interest per se is property thus taxable as under the provisions of section 83. On appeal to the eight circuit though it considered that there was no proof that Campbell did not receive his partnership interest for purposes of tax avoidance the circuit did not overturn the decision of the tax court but pointed out that when deciding such cases other factors should also be considered (Englebrechtc3). The loophole in the revenue regulations is the cause of the there is no clear cut rule to be applied when deciding revenue cases. This could be a factors that led to the proposal of the new regulations by the IRS. Profits interest Profits interest can be defined as an interest with a zero capital account and in case of liquidation of a partnership on a material date of transfer then such an account will be entitled to nothing (Bartlett 1). Notice 2005-43 (section 83 principles apply) This is the proposed revenue procedure regarding partnership interests transferred in connection to service performance. Under these new rules the provisions are that a person who receives a partnership interest will be liable to pay income tax rates which rate will have its basis on fair market interest value at the specific time when the interest was received and a consequent corresponding deduction made to the partnership. Apparently, in the partnerships there is no recognition of loss or gain in connection to the issuance of the interest (partnership interest) to the specified service provider. According to Bruce Hood if there is a substantial risk of forfeiture of the partners interest at the time of issue, then it cannot be subjected to current taxation rules until the time it vests 30 days from grant date, then the recipient has an option to be taxed under section 83(b) which has provision on non-vest interest (12). Distinctions between capital and profits interests. Capital interests is interest obtained when existing partners in a partnership opt to retain their rights wholly to the partnership assets in the marker value that is current, while profit interest occurs when new partners are granted right to receiving (shares of)future profits. The later can also be referred to as carried profits ( Cain 8). The two scenarios occur when partners enter into an agreement to divide the components of their existing equity interest. In a nutshell the guidance of the proposed regulations eliminates the stated distinction between capital interest and profit interest. In this regard interest in the partnership issued and in connection to the service performance are treated in a like manner as such and thus are taxable in accordance to section 83. In summary the major distinction between the two is that capital interest are clearly taxable while the has been a conflict on provisions on whether profit interest should be taxable depending on if it falls under service provision or otherwise. Safe harbor (for profits interests) election based on liquidation values. The provision for safe harbor is under section for of the new IRS regulations, this can generally be described to be a statute provision either reducing or eliminating a partys liability, so long as the party acted in good faith and it is a methodor option by which patnerships would incur tax. Specifically, the procedure effectively permits a patnership to elect under its terms and qualify to value its interests depending on the liquidation value of the patneship interests. Arthur Willis and his co- authors explain that under the Safe Harbor, the fair market value of a Safe Harbor Partnership Interest is treated as being equal to the liquidation value of that interest and thus, liquidation value is determined without regard to any lapse restriction (as defined at 1. 83-3(i)) this means that the deduction is available in accordance with the service recipient’s method of accounting(Willis et al,13). Vested and non-vested profit interests (what happens when vested) According to section 83 a non-vested interest should not be subjected to taxation unless it becomes vested. The non-vested interest which no election has been made under section 83 (b), will not be treated as ownership of the recipient and at the same time the recipient cannot be treated like a partner and thus not allocated partnership tax until the time when vesting will occur or a subsequent election for it to be taxed in current state is made. Vested interest are expounded on as being governed by section 83a and non-vest interest under section 83b of the revenue regulations (Haufler 21). Section 83(b) and its election The proposed regulations make clear that both capital and profits interests in a partnership are property subject to the rules of Code section 83. 30 . According to Rubin the proposed regulations also clarify that the non-recognition rules of section 721 (applicable to receipt of a partnership interest in exchange for property) are inapplicable to the receipt of any partnership interest ( Rubin 3). For capital account created for maintenance purposes, proposed regulations thus increase the capital account of service provider by the amount the provider takes into income as provided under Code section 83 including the amount paid for the interest, if any. RP 93-27 -when someone is qualified (qualifications) and status as a partner. The aforementioned procedure revenue procedure 93-27 as provided for in the regulation, alters the historic view on profit interests but in the spirit elaborates that issuing of profit interest made by a partnership in exchange of services does not result to it being a current income while if the capital interest was issued and it was not subject to a risk of forfeiture which was not substantial then it can be said that it was a recognition of income by the service provider resulting to a deduction from the partnership or depending if it is applicable a currently capitalized expenditure (Blum 4). What should taxpayers do now in response to the proposed regulations? In concluding this discussion, due to the absent guidance from the IRS then it is recommendable and advisable for partners to know how they can deal with the profit interests. First, the partners can together scrutinize section 707 and ensure that their arrangements to be structured in such a way that it avoids in total appearance of stated income in the section. This will help reduce the risk of the transaction being treated as a taxable receipt of income (Englebrecht 4). Secondly the interest received should ideally be classified as subordinate to other classes and the agreement should not mention the value of the services to be provided by the recipient partner. Another credible advise is that the partners should not leave the partnership after sell of his/her interest this will help to minimize the risk the interest received being placed on a value and lastly the partner should avoid receipt of distributions which would indicate an immediate return on the interest and thus a determinable value.

Politics and the Environment :: Environmental Climate Change

The July 9, 2002 release of the World Wildlife Fund’s third â€Å"Living Planet† report - which asserts that the human race is currently consuming resources at a rate 20% percent greater than the Earth’s ability to regenerate - coincided unsurprisingly with the simultaneous release of two counter-dispatches by the Cato Institute. In conjunction with an additional counter-argument published in the Institute’s August 26 edition of â€Å"Policy Analysis,† these two dispatches serve as a fairly accurate example of Conservative/Libertarian criticisms of the environmentalist movement or at least as examples prominent enough to merit scrutiny. The August 26 piece, written by Jerry Taylor, draws heavily on evidence presented by Patrick J. Michaels, a professor of meteorology whom William K. Stevens of the New York Times regards as arguably one of â€Å"the two most persistent and visib!le† scientists skeptical of climate change. The other two dispat ches, written by Reason magazine’s science correspondent Ronald Bailey and the late anti-Malthusian environmentalist critic Julian L. Simon, though both originally published prior to the WWF’s â€Å"Living Planet† report are still relevant because of the prominence of their critique within policy circles advocating free markets and limited government. The Living Planet report, itself, is divided into two distinct parts. The first is the Living Planet Index, which was calculated by measuring population data from 1970 to 1995 for three abstracted categories of wildlife - forest, freshwater, and marine. The data used for the Index was gathered by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). The Living Planet Index is primarily an indicator of ecosystem health as a function of species decline and as such will not be focused on in depth here as it does not pertain directly to the global warming debate. The second part of the report (the WWF’s assessment of humanity’s Ecological Footprint) hopes to measure the amount of the Earth’s biologically productive land that the global population, a nation, and an average member of that nation inhabits in one year. The footprint is measured in Global Hectares: a measurement defined by the WWF as â€Å"one hectare of biologically productive space with world average productivity.† There are currently 11.4 billion hectares of biologically productive land total - one quarter of the planet’s surface. Of these 11.4 billion hectares: 2.0 bil is ocean, 1.5 bil is cropland, 3.5 bil is grazing land, 3.8 bil is forest cover, .3 bil inland water, and .

Elements of Energy Efficient House

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY Elements of an Energy-Efficient House You have much to consider when designing and building a new energy-efficient house, and it can be a challenge. However, recent technological improvements in building elements and construction techniques also allow most modern energysaving ideas to be seamlessly integrated into house designs while improving comfort, health, or aesthetics. And even though some energy-efficient features are expensive, there are others that many home buyers can afford. While design costs, options, and styles vary, most energy-efficient homes have some basic elements in common: a wellconstructed and tightly sealed thermal envelope; controlled ventilation; properly DOE/GO-10200-1070 FS-207 July 2000 This house in Illinois has many energy-efficient features, including advanced framing techniques, insulated sheathing, and an advanced ductwork system. It was built by Town and Country Homes as part of DOE's Building America Program. DEP A NT OF ME EN RT ST A AT E S OF M ER This document was produced for the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a DOE national laboratory. The document was produced by the Information Services Program, under the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC) is operated by NCI Information Systems, Inc. , for NREL / DOE. The statements contained herein are based on information known to EREC and NREL at the time of printing. No recommendation or endorsement of any product or service is implied if mentioned by EREC. Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste ICA Photo by Sara Farrar, NREL/PIX07134 CLEARINGHOUSE GY ER sized, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems; and energy-efficient doors, windows, and appliances. Thermal Envelope A thermal envelope is everything about the house that serves to shield the living space from the outdoors. It includes the wall and roof assemblies, insulation, air/vapor retarders, windows, and weatherstripping and caulking. Wall and Roof Assemblies Most builders use traditional wood frame construction. Wood framing is a â€Å"tried and true† construction technique that uses a potentially renewable resource—wood— U N IT ED to provide a structurally sound, long-lasting house. With proper construction and attention to details, the conventional wood-framed home can be very energyefficient. It is now even possible to purchase a sustainably harvested wood. Foundation walls and slabs should be as well insulated as the living space walls. Some of the available and popular energyefficient construction methods include the following: Optimum Value Engineering (OVE). This method uses wood only where it is most effective, thus reducing costly wood use and saving space for insulation. The amount of lumber has been determined to be structurally sound through both laboratory and field tests. However, the builder must be familiar with this type of construction to ensure a structurally sound house. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). These sheets are generally made of plywood or oriented-strand board (OSB) that is laminated to foam board. The foam may be 4 to 8 inches thick. Because the SIP acts as both the framing and the insulation, construction is much faster than OVE or stick framing. The quality of construction is often superior because there are fewer places for workers to make mistakes. Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF). Houses constructed in this manner consist of two layers of extruded foam board (one inside the house and one outside the house) that act as the form for a steel-reinforced concrete center. It’s the fastest technique and least likely to have construction mistakes. Such buildings are also very strong and easily exceed code requirements for areas prone to tornadoes or hurricanes. Insulation An energy-efficient house has much higher insulation R-values than required by most local building codes. An R-value is the ability of a material to resist heat transfer, and the lower the value, the faster the heat loss. For example, a typical house in New York might have insulation of R-11 in the exterior walls and R-19 in the ceiling, while the floors and foundation walls may not be insulated. A similar, but welldesigned and constructed house will have insulation levels that range from R-20 to R-30 in the walls and from R-50 to R-70 in the ceilings. Carefully applied fiberglass batt or rolls, wet-spray cellulose, or foam insulation will fill wall cavities completely. Foundation walls and slabs should be as well insulated as the living space walls. Poorly insulated foundations have a negative impact on home energy use and comfort, especially if the family uses the lower parts of the house as a living space. Also, appliances—such as domestic hot water heaters, washers, dryers, and freezers— that supply heat as a byproduct are often located in the basement. By carefully insulating the foundation walls and floor of the basement, these appliances can assist in heating the house. While most new houses have good insulation levels, it is often poorly installed. In general, gaps and compaction of insulation reduce its effectiveness. Photo by Craig Miller Productions, NREL/PIX02452 Air/Vapor Retarders Water vapor condensation is a major threat to the structure of a house, no matter what the climate. In cold climates, pressure differences can drive warm, moist indoor air into exterior walls and Workers install a structural insulated panel. 2 This house in Arizona features a passive solar design with overhangs above the south facing windows. The best windows are awning and casement styles because these styles often close tighter than sliding types. ttics. The air condenses as it cools. The same can be said for southern climates, just in reverse. As the humid outdoor air enters the walls and encounters cooler wall cavities, it condenses into liquid water. This is the main reason why some buildings in the South have problems with mold and rotten wood after they’re retrofitted with air conditioners. A vapor retarder is a material or structu ral element that can be used to inhibit the movement of water vapor, while an air retarder can inhibit airflow, into and out of a house’s envelope. How to design and install vapor retarders depends a great deal on the climate and on the chosen construction method. However, any water vapor that does manage to get into the walls or attics must be allowed to escape. Regardless of climate, water vapor migration should be minimized by using a carefully designed thermal envelope and sound construction practices. Systems that control air and water vapor movement in homes rely on the nearly airtight installation of sheet materials on the interior as the main barrier. The Airtight Drywall Approach (ADA) uses the drywall already being installed along with gaskets and caulking to create a 3 ontinuous air retarder. In addition, seams where foundation, sill plate, floor joist header, and subfloor meet are also carefully sealed with appropriate caulk or gasket material. Consult your local building codes official on the best vapor retarder method to use in your area. Windows The typical home loses more than 25 percent of its heat through windo ws. Even modern windows insulate less than a wall. Therefore, an energy-efficient house in a heating-dominated climate should, in general, have few windows on its northern, eastern, and western sides. Total window area should also not exceed 8 to 9 percent of the floor area for those rooms, unless the designer is experienced in passive solar techniques. If this is the case, then increasing window area on the southern side of the house to about 12 percent of the floor area is recommended. This is often called solar tempering. A properly designed roof overhang for south-facing windows will help prevent overheating in the summer. North, east, Photo by Sara Farrar, NREL/PIX08155 and west windows should have low Solar Heat Gain Coefficients (SHGC). South windows with properly sized overhangs should have a high SHGC to allow winter sun (and heat) to enter the house. The overhang blocks the high summer sun (and heat). If properly sized overhangs are not possible, a low SHGC glass should be selected for the south windows. At the very least, you should use windows (and doors) with an Energy Star ® label, which are twice as energy efficient as those produced 10 years ago, according to regional, climatic guidelines (note: houses with any kind of solar tempering have other guidelines). The best windows are awning and casement styles because these often close tighter than sliding types. In all climates, window glass facing south without overhangs can cause a problem on the cooling side that far exceeds the benefit from the winter solar gains. when compared to other houses of the same type and age. You can accomplish most air sealing by using two materials: caulking and weatherstripping. Caulking can be used to seal areas of potential air leakage into or out of a house. And weatherstripping can be used to seal gaps around windows and exterior doors. Controlled Ventilation Good air sealing alone may reduce utility costs by as much as 50 percent. Since an energy-efficient house is tightly sealed, it needs to be ventilated in a controlled manner. Controlled, mechanical ventilation prevents health risks from indoor air pollution, promotes a more comfortable atmosphere, and reduces air moisture infiltration, thus reducing the likelihood of structural damage. Furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, and bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans expel air from the house, making it easier to depressurize an airtight house if all else is ignored. But natural-draft appliances may be back-drafted by exhaust fans, which can lead to a lethal buildup of toxic Weatherstripping and Caulking You should seal air leaks everywhere in a home’s thermal envelope to reduce energy loss. Good air sealing alone may reduce utility costs by as much as 50 percent Ceiling light fixture Electrical wires penetrating vapor barrier Joints at attic hatch Vents from bathroom and kitchen Joints at interior partitions Joints between wall and ceiling Joints at windows Electric meter Electrical service entrance Electrical panel Electrical outlets and switches Plumbing stack penetration Chimney penetration of ceiling Holes through air-vapor barrier Joint between bottom plate and floor Cracks around doors Joint between joists and basement wall Service entrance for cable TV, telephone, fuel, etc. Air leakage can occur in many places throughout a home. 4 Heating and Cooling Systems Stale room air return Specifying the correct sizes for heating and cooling systems in airtight, energy-efficient homes can be tricky. Rule-of-thumb sizing is often inaccurate, resulting in wasteful operation. Conscientious builders and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning contractors size heating and cooling equipment based on careful consideration of the thermal envelope characteristics. Outside air inlet Fresh air supply Air-to-air heat exchanger Exhaust air Heat recovery ventilation. Generally, energy-efficient homes require relatively small heating systems, typically less than 50,000 Btu/hour even for very cold climates. Some require nothing more than sunshine as the primary source of heat along with auxiliary heat from radiant in-floor heating, a standard gas-fired water heater, a small boiler, a furnace, or electric heat pump. Any common appliance that gives off â€Å"waste† heat can also contribute significantly to the heating requirements for such houses. If an air conditioner is required, it’s often a small unit and sufficient for all but the warmest climates. Sometimes only a large fan and the cooler evening air are needed to make the house comfortable. The house is closed up in the morning and stays cool until the next evening. Smaller-capacity heating and cooling systems are usually less expensive to buy and operate. This helps recover the costs of purchasing more insulation, and other energy-efficient products, such as windows and appliances. Always look for the EnergyGuide label on heating and cooling equipment. The label will rate how efficient it is as compared to others available on the market. In climates where summer cooling requirements dominate, light-colored materials and coatings (paint) on the exterior siding and roof can help reduce cooling requirements by up to 15 percent. Carefully selected and placed vegetation in any climate also contributes to reduced cooling and heating loads. ases in the house. For this reason, sealedcombustion heating appliances, which use only outside air for combustion and vent combustion gases directly to the outdoors, are very important for ventilation energy efficiency and safety. Heat recovery ventilators (HRV) or energy recovery ventilators (ERV) are growing in use for controlled ventilation in airtight homes. These ventilators can salvage about 70 per cent of the energy from the stale exhaust air and transfer that energy to the fresh air entering by way of a heat exchanger inside the device. They can be attached to the central forced air system or may have their own duct system. Other ventilation devices, such as through-the-wall or â€Å"trickle† vents, may be used in conjunction with an exhaust fan. They are, however, more expensive to operate and possibly more uncomfortable to use because they have no energy recovery features to precondition the incoming air. Uncomfortable incoming air can be a serious problem in northern climates and can create moisture problems in humid climates. Therefore, this ventilation strategy is only for arid climates. Other systems pull outside air in with a small outside duct on the return side of the furnace. Generally, energyefficient homes require relatively small heating systems. 5 Energy-Efficient Appliances Higher efficiency appliances provide a measure of insurance against energy prices and emit less air pollution. Appliances with relatively high operating efficiencies are usually more expensive to purchase. However, higher efficiency appliances provide a measure of insurance against increases in energy prices, emit less air pollution, and are attractive selling points when the home is resold. Home buyers should invest in high-efficiency appliances—such as water heaters, clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators—especially if these appliances will be used a great deal. Because all major appliances must have an EnergyGuide label, read the label carefully to make sure you buy the most efficient appliance. To help you choose wisely, major appliances with an Energy Star ® label exceed the federal government’s minimum efficiency standards by a large percentage. Energy-efficient lighting helps keep energy bills down by producing less heat and reducing cooling requirements. Fluorescent lighting, both conventional tube and compact, is generally the most energyefficient for most home applications. always done before. They may need more training if they have no experience with these systems. Building and Buying Before you start a home-building project, the building site and its climate should be carefully evaluated to determine the optimum design and orientation for the house. There are energy-related computer software programs that can help with these evaluations. The design should accommodate appropriate insulation levels, moisture dynamics, and aesthetics. Decisions regarding appropriate windows, doors, and heating, cooling and ventilating appliances are central to an efficient design. Also the cost, ease of construction, the builder’s limitations, and local building code compliance should be competently evaluated. Some plans are relatively simple and inexpensive to construct, while others can be extremely complex and, thus, expensive. An increasing number of builders are participating in the federal government’s Building America and Energy Star ® Homes programs, as well as local home energy rating programs, all of which promote the construction of energy-efficient houses. Many of these builders construct energy-efficient homes to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Construction costs can vary significantly depending on the materials, construction techniques, contractor profit margin, experience, and the type of heating, cooling, and ventilation system chosen. Because energy-efficient homes require less money to operate, many lenders now offer energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs). EEMs typically have lower points and allow for the stretching of debt-to-income ratios. State and local government energy offices can be contacted for information on region-specific financing. In the end, your energy-efficient house will provide you with superior comfort and lower operating costs, not to mention a higher real estate market value. The building site and its climate should be carefully evaluated to determine the optimum design. Advantages and Disadvantages Houses that incorporate all of the above elements of energy efficiency have many advantages. They feel more comfortable because the additional insulation keeps the interior wall at a more comfortable and stable temperature. The indoor humidity is also better controlled, and drafts are reduced. A tightly sealed air/vapor retarder reduces the likelihood of moisture and air seeping through the walls. They are also very quiet because the extra insulation and tight construction helps to keep exterior noise out better. But these houses also have some potential disadvantages. They may cost more and take longer to build than a conventional home if there’s a lack of builder familiarity with new construction techniques and products available on the market. Even though the house’s structure may differ only slightly from conventional homes, the builder and contractors may be unwilling to deviate from what they’ve 6 Resources The following are sources of additional information on energy-efficient houses: The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC) P. O. Box 3048 Merrifield, VA 22116 1-800-DOE-EREC (1-800-363-3732) E-mail: doe. [email  protected] om Web site: http://www. eren. doe. gov/consumerinfo/ EREC provides free general and technical information to the public on many topics and technologies pertaining to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Building Technologies Department MS 90-3111 Berkeley, CA 94720 USA Phone: (510) 486-6845; Fax: (510) 486-4089 Web site: http://eetd. lb l. gov/btp/btp. html Provides information on past and current research in buildings energy efficiency. National Renewable Energy Laboratory The Center for Buildings and Thermal Systems 1617 Cole Blvd. Golden, CO 80401 Web site: http://www. nrel. gov/buildings_thermal Provides information on energy-efficient buildings. Organizations American Solar Energy Society, Inc. (ASES) 2400 Central Avenue, G-1 Boulder, CO 80301 Phone: (303) 443-3130; Fax: (303) 443-3212 E-mail: [email  protected] org Web site: http://www. ases. org A national advocacy organization dedicated to the use of solar energy in buildings. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Buildings Technology Center P. O. Box 2008, MS-6070 Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6070 Phone: (865) 574-5206; Fax Number: (865) 574-5227 Web site: http://www. ornl. ov/ORNL/BTC/ Provides information on research in buildings energy efficiency. Building America U. S. Department of Energy Office of Building Systems, EE-41 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D. C. 20585-0121 Web site: http://www. eren. doe. gov/buildings/ building_america/ Works with the home building industry to produce quality homes that use up to 50 percent less energy without costing more to build. Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) 1331 H Street, NW, Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20005-4706 Phone: (202) 628-7400; Fax: (202) 393-5043 E-mail: [email  protected] org Web site: http://www. bicouncil. org Promotes the use of energy-efficient and passive solar building design and construction. Web Sites Building Energy Software Tools U. S. Department of Energy Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs Web site: http://www. eren. doe. gov/buildings/tools_ directory/ Describes many energy-related software tools for buildings, with an emphasis on renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Efficient Windows Collaborative Alliance to Save Energy 1200 18th Street NW, Suite 900 Washington, D. C. 20036 Phone: (202) 857-0666; Fax: (202) 331-9588 E-mail: [email  protected] rg Web site: http:/ /www. efficientwindows. org/ Provides unbiased information on the benefits of energy-efficient windows, descriptions of how they work, and recommendatio ns for their selection and use. Cool Roof Materials Database Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Web site: http://eetd. lbl. gov/coolroof/ Assists with the selection of roofing materials that reflect instead of absorb the sun’s radiant energy. Energy Star ® U. S. Department of Energy and U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Phone: (888) STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937) E-mail: [email  protected] gov Web site: http:/ /www. nergystar. gov/ Provides lists of Energy Star ®-qualified products, including appliances and windows, as well as information on its energyefficient homes program. Green Buildings Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development Web site: http://www. sustainable. doe. gov/buildings/ gbintro. htm Provides information and links on energy-efficient buildings. (Continued on page 8) 7 Continued from page 7 The Residential Energy Efficiency Database Web site: http://www. its-canada. com/reed/ Provides a wide-range of information on energy-efficient houses, includ ing house plans. The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, M. Crosbie (ed), J. Wiley, 1997. Available for purchase from ASES (see Resources). Residential Windows: A Guide to New Technology and Energy Performance, J. Carmody, S. Selkowitz, and L. Herschong, Norton Professional Books, 1996. Phone: 1-800-233-4830; http://www. wwnorton. com/npb/. Insulation Fact Sheet, U. S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1997. Available from ORNL in PDF and HTML at http://www. ornl. gov/roofs+walls/insulation/. Print version is available from EREC (see Resources). Zip Code Insulation Database Oak Ridge National Laboratory Web site: http://www. ornl. gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome. html Provides information by zip code on the most economic insulation levels for new or existing homes. Reading List The following publications provide further information about energy-efficient home elements. The list is not exhaustive, nor does the mention of any publication constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Periodicals Energy Design Update. Published by Cutter Information Corporation, 37 Broadway, Arlington, MA 02474-5552; Phone: (800) 964-5118 or (781) 648-8700; Web site: http:// www. utter. com. This monthly newsletter contains information for professionals interested in energyefficient building technologies. Product reviews appear regularly. Environmental Building News. 28 Birge Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301; Phone: (802) 257-7300; Web site: http://www. BuildingGreen. com. This bimonthly newsletter covers a wide variety of topics. The Journal of Light Constru ction. Published by Builderburg Partners, Ltd. , 932 West Main Street, Richmond, VT 05477; Phone: (800) 375-5981. This monthly journal often features articles on energy conservation techniques for the home builder. Home Energy Magazine. 2124 Kittredge Street, #95, Berkeley, CA 94704; Phone: (510) 524-5405; E-mail: [email  protected] org,; Web site: http://www. homeenergy. org/. It’s a source of information on reducing energy consumption in the home. Solpan Review. Published by Drawing-Room Graphic Services, Ltd. , P. O. Box 86627, North Vancouver, BC V71 412 , Canada; Phone (604) 689-1841. This bimonthly newsletter features articles on energy conservation for the building industry, including information on new products and energy-efficient practices in residential construction. Books, Pamphlets, and Reports Buildings for a Sustainable America Case Studies, B. Miller, ASES, 1997. Available from ASES or SBIC (see Resources). Building Green in a Black & White World, D. Johnston, Home Builder Press, 2000; Phone: (800) 223-2665; http://www. builderbooks. com. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, A. Wilson and J. Morrill, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 2000; Phone: (510) 549-9914; http://aceee. org/. The Efficient House Sourcebook, R. Sardinsky, Rocky Mountain Institute. Available from SBIC (see Resources). Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home, U. S. Department of Energy. Available in PDF and HTML at http://www. eren. doe. gov/consumerinfo/energy_ savers/ or print version from EREC (see Resources). Fine Homebuilding: Energy-Efficient Houses, Fine Homebuilding magazine. Available from SBIC (see Resources). Moisture Control Handbook: Principals and Practices for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings, J. Lstiburek and J. Carmody, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. , 1993. Available from the Building Science Corporation at (978) 589-5100 (phone); (978) 589-5103 (fax); or http://www. buildingscience. com. 8

The Concincing Character Develpoment in Nora Helmer of A...

Tennessee Williams and Henrik Ibsen both beautifully illustrate their characters in their plays. Although characters Nora Helmer of A Doll’s House and Laura Wingfield of The Glass Menagerie are incredibly different, the authors used very similar techniques of creating them as convincing characters. Nora and Laura both undergo convincing character development with specific motivations behind their actions. Williams and Ibsen also use direct and indirect characterization to further develop Nora and Laura. Without such qualities, the characters would fall short of being memorable. Laura is a static character, like every other character in The Glass Menagerie. From beginning to end, she is described as â€Å"terribly shy† by two people—Tom and†¦show more content†¦Unlike Laura, Nora is developed as a very round character through the use of indirect presentation. Over time, Nora builds up the confidence to leave her husband, who treats her like a plaything, a doll. Little things built up to make her marriage unhappy. In the beginning, Nora seems a bit ditzy, even a bit unintelligent, and not much of an intriguing character at all. She allows her husband to call her ridiculous things like his â€Å"sulky squirrel† or â€Å"little lark† and doesn’t seem the tiniest bit offended by it. She also seemed childish when her husband refused to give her spending money but exclaims, â€Å"Money!† when Helmer says â€Å"Nora, guess what I have here.† It’s like offering a little child a small present like candy to lift their spirits a little. And she poses to be a little scatterbrained when she couldn’t help but be a little prideful and slightly insensitive while talking to Mrs. Linde, who had almost nothing and was pretty miserable. At first she realized what she was doing and said â€Å"Oh, but thoughtless me, to sit here, chattering away. Sweet, good Kristine, can you forgive me?† but reverts back to doing so. Although Mrs. Linde insisted â€Å"No, no, no, tell me about yourself,† it seemed like she was saying that out of politeness as Mrs. Linde doesn’t seem like the kind of person to sit there and spill out all of her pains and sorrows. However, the ditzy side of Nora is really only skin deep. She is truly a round character. It can be seen that she is willing

The Film Production Of The Movie Production Industry

In the film production industry, the main goal is to produce a film that appeals to the audience and incorporate elements of the certain time period. In doing so, the production film must keep in mind the current trends and views of society. Stereotypes have been commonly present in society for as long as our history dates back to. Among these stereotypes, I will be focusing primarily on Asian stereotypes- the primary reason being that I am an Asian American myself. The portrayal of these common stereotypes however, does not imply or mean that Americans view it in a positive light. Some of the most renowned and racist films in history are Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Sixteen Candles. In addition to these films, I will be examining and analyzing the television series Gossip Girl and Fresh off the Boat to access a different perspective on the subject of how minorities are seen in American society. Asian America is known to be comprised of immigrants, the ninjas, the kung-fu maste rs, small business owners, eastern mystics, Chinese restaurant waiters and people who can’t pronounce their Ls and Rs properly. It’s also land of slanted eyes, buck teeth, and incorrect grammar. It’s a land of the yellow menace taking America’s money. But we will dive deeper into that subject as this extended essay progresses, this is only the introduction portion of course. Today’s lack of Asians on movie screens can be traced to the very beginning of American film. Back then, minorities—includingShow MoreRelatedFilm Production Of The Movie Industry1042 Words   |  5 PagesMovie Industry Statistics Entertainment is a big business in most countries, particularly in America, and it even become bigger with the innovations and development of new technologies that allows easy film making, as well as the increasing interest of numerous individuals. 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Analysis Of The Book The Lord Of The Rings - 2028 Words

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Throughout Tolkien’s first novel of The Lord of the Rings series, The Fellowship of the Ring, the One Ring of Power is able to exert a powerful influence over the main protagonist of the novel, Frodo Baggins, which ultimately causes a moral conflict for Frodo. Over the course of his life, J.R.R. Tolkien had three great loves that influenced his life and writing greatly. Philology, the study of the structure and development of language, and the Catholic Church were Tolkien s first two loves; his mother, Mabel was able to introduce them to him before she died of diabetes in 1904. Tolkien, whose father had died in 1896 of rheumatoid fever, was now an orphan and taken in by Father FrancisShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book Lord Of The Rings 771 Words   |  4 Pagescheerful evenings in a hotel to intense battles in the middle of a doomed volcanic-evil-orc-ridden land, Lord of the Rings is an exhilarating adventure through the lands of Middle Earth. 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Information Technology Ethics Principles

Question: Discuss about the Information Technology Ethics Principles. Answer: Introduction The article describes a website that is in use by many Australian individuals; the site is known as Hackers for hire. Most of the people in Australia are looking for such hackers to hire them with their legal or illegal works. Some individual wants to hire hacker professionals to perform such task that is completely illegal and completely illegal. Recently one lady from Australia has hired a hacker to know about her husband if he is cheating on her, so she wanted the hacker to hack his WhatsApp to check if he his cheating on her or not. The article also describes that how ethical and unethical is hacking in Australia. But it is also true that some people in Australia are the real need of hackers for their legal work, but somehow it can be said to unethical as well. Here the article is argued based on two ethical theories as described below (Pro et al., 2015). Overview of some moral principles: There are some ethical principles that need to be considered when reviewing and addressing the given article. The report says that hacking is a crime in Australia, and the Australian government does not evolve in such activities and can take some serious action against the person who is hiring the hackers or the person who is committing the crime. Three classical ethical theories need to be considered such Consequentialism, Deontology and Virtue Ethics (Sandler, 2013). Based on the ethical principles we can argue how right is hacking and if it is not then how hacking is completely unethical. Understanding the Two Ethical Theories (Consequentialism and Deontology) The two terms Consequentialism and Deontology are two classical ethical theories that need to define a particular task or action that is performed in any context. Consequentialism refers to any work or action where the individual does not think about the job if it is wrong or right, the only thing he or she remembers is that the outcome needs to be achieved at any cost because at the end of the project they will be paid a handsome amount (Carlson, 2013). So here the hacker and the individual who is a service buyer think about the outcome rather than thinking about whether the task performed his wrong or right. On the other hand, Deontology is exactly opposite to it, and it is a set of rules that need to be followed before performing any task. It refers to work where the individual needs to think that whether the job that he or she is doing is appropriate or not (Sunstein, 2013). Because here the outcome does not matter for the individual, here it is observed whether they performed a task is right or wrong, and then they will complete the work. Overview of Deontology on Hacking The deontology, when applied to the given article, refers that some individuals are there that think about the work before they perform the task, and there are also some people who hire such hackers for their legal works (Jetha, 2013). Deontology explains about the action that will be carried out whether the work is right or wrong. The ethics say that the individual and the hacker need first to think whether they performed a task is correct then only they can carry out the work. Let us consider one example to understand Deontology in much better way. In this article, the hacker Jarmaa tells that the function that is performed should not affect any particular person then it is entirely legal to play. So here the consequence does not matter, but it is important to understand whether the task is right or wrong (Thomas, 2015). Overview of Consequentialism on Hacking Here in this ethical theory as describe earlier that the hacker is not going to think if the work that they are doing is completely illegal. The outcome is the only thing they are going to be considered in the task is that the outcome (Vossen, 2014). For an example, if an individual is asking a hacker to hack some companys database so that they can review it and can know what they the best and what are kind of pricing they are offering to their customers. Let us see one more example, a student from Australia hired a hacker so that they can change their grades from the college university. So here the individual is only looking for self-benefits rather thinking about the consequences, they don't even bother to understand whether the task that is performed is entirely unethical. This ethical theory defines that the hacker and the service buyer both are only focused on the consequences, and they both don't even care whether the task is ethical or unethical (Hiller et al., 2013). Figure 1: Argument Mapping (Source: Created by Author) Recommendations Jail sentence and penalty: The Australian government needs to take some serious actions against such criminals who perform such activities. The Government should pass a law that will conclude that whoever is going to perform such illegal activities will be sent to a long jail sentence along with fine or penalty depends on upon the crime. This includes both the service buyer and the service provider. Immediately action required: In Australia hacking is completely banned but still there are some similar activities been going by using online service. The government needs to take to block such sites and warn the site owners for publishing such illegal services online and showcase them a notice stating that if its continue then some serious consequences need to be faced. No Customers Trust: Those who are looking for some illegal work done, they should use such sites because there will be some hackers who can access your personal data files that will lead to serious consequences. Conclusion The document describes the ethical theories based on the given article that is provided. The report explains how the Consequentialism and Deontology theories are applied in the performed task and what its outcomes are. We always think about the outcome and in this case, hackers also do the same they only perform a task because of the outcome they don't even think if the job is wrong or right to act. The article explains about how the theories are related to the selected topic. References Carlson, E. (2013). Consequentialism reconsidered (Vol. 20). Springer Science Business Media. Hiller, A., Ilea, R., Kahn, L. (2013). Consequentialism and environmental ethics (Vol. 25). Routledge. Jetha, K. (2013, January). Cybercrime and Punishment: An Analysis of the Deontological and Utilitarian Functions of Punishment in the Information Age. In Proceedings of the Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law (p. 17). Association of Digital Forensics, Security and Law. Pro, I., IT, S., addresses, R. (2015).Rent-a-hacker site leaks Australian buyers' names and addresses.The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 May 2016, from https://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/rentahacker-site-leaks-australian-buyers-names-and-addresses-20150529-ghca3f.html Sandler, R. L. (2013). Environmental Virtue Ethics. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Sunstein, C. R. (2013). Is Deontology a Heuristic? On Psychology, Neuroscience, Ethics, and Law. On Psychology, Neuroscience, Ethics, and Law (August 1, 2013). Thomas, A. J. (2015). Deontology, Consequentialism and Moral Realism. MinervaAn Open Access Journal of Philosophy, 19. Vossen, C. (2014). Cyber Attacks Under the United Nations Charter. Critical Reflections on Consequentialist Reasoning. Critical Reflections on Consequentialist Reasoning.(August 11, 2014).