The DIYer's Blog

When it comes to creating ambiance and warmth in a home, nothing can beat a fireplace, especially during this time of year. But are you aware that the right fireplace or stove can also help reduce your heating costs? Or that your existing fireplace’s efficiency can be boosted significantly by installing an insert, and for less money than you might think?

Here are five facts about fireplaces and stoves that may surprise you.

1. You can conserve energy, live a greener lifestyle and combat volatile heating costs with a high efficiency fireplace or stove.

Do you use every room in your house every day? If not, try zone heating the areas where you spend the most time with an efficient fireplace or stove. It will cut down on the amount of fuel consumed by your furnace and can reduce home heating bills by 20 to 40 percent, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. Simply turn down the central thermostat and let the fireplace heat where you live. This works whether your fireplace is fueled by natural gas, liquid propane, wood, pellets or other materials.

Renewable fuels like cord wood, pellets and other plant-derived materials are excellent sources of heat. The key is burning them in a high efficiency fireplace or stove, which makes the process much easier than it was for our grandparents. For example, a load of quality wood in a standard Quadra-Fire EPA-certified wood stove can produce heat for up to 15 hours, and in pellet stoves a single 40-pound bag of pellets can produce heat for up to 24 hours. In both cases, the amount of emissions and ash generated by these units has been dramatically reduced. There is also a U.S. tax credit in 2010 of up to $1,500 for the purchase of qualifying wood and pellet stoves.

2. A fireplace can be installed in your existing home without the hassles of adding a traditional chimney.

Don’t have a fireplace?  In most homes, a beautiful and efficient gas fireplace can be added for as little as $3,500, including installation. Made possible by direct vent gas technology, the fireplace is vented to the outdoors via a single pipe that runs through the side of the house to the outdoors, drawing air needed for the fire and expelling its byproducts. Direct vent gas technology has brought warmth and ambience to millions of homes.

3. Your inefficient wood burning fireplace can be transformed into a powerful and beautiful heat producer.

If you have a masonry-built wood burning fireplace that is drafty and inefficient, consider updating it with an energy efficient fireplace insert. “It is a fairly simple process to transform these fireplaces into energy efficient powerhouses,” says Jeni Forman of Quadra-Fire. “Professional installation can be completed within four to six hours, and it could make your fireplace up to 85 percent more efficient.” The cost of adding an insert, including installation, can be as low as $2,900 for gas and wood-burning units, and $3,200 for pellet-burning inserts.

4. You can control the heat produced by today’s fireplaces.

Many fireplaces and stoves can be thermostatically controlled – you decide how much heat you want and change it as desired. Some models also allow you to control the height of the flames and have LED lighting in the embers, which can be turned on or off. Controls are accessed either via remote control, on the unit, or they are wall-mounted.

5.  Modern fireplace design is pushing traditional boundaries.

If you prefer a traditional fireplace that burns real wood, or simulates it with gas, manufactured logs and burning embers, there are literally hundreds of models from which to choose. However, if your design style leans toward contemporary and you want some new options, today’s modern style fireplaces offer simplistic beauty and elegance. Inspired by European design, many modern style fireplaces are linear in shape, showcasing a panoramic view of the flames that dance in unison with colored glass, shiny metal or other innovative materials like black onyx. Placement is also being redefined, as modern style fireplaces are often positioned at eye level, evoking a living piece of fine art.

It’s winter and there’s nothing better than cozying up to a warm fireplace. Investigate the possibilities at fireplaces.com. The site includes an online program that walks you through the process of designing your fireplace, mixing and matching options with rooms, flooring and wall colors.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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So you finally got the flat panel TV of your dreams. Sleek, compact and high definition, it’s the crowning glory of your home entertainment system. So how do you best showcase this jewel? The experts advise – take it to the wall.

Wall mounting a flat screen has become one of the most popular ways to display a TV; it makes a stunning impression, gives everyone a great view and keeps delicate electronics out of the reach of little hands. And thanks to some innovations by mount designers, hanging your flat screen has never been easier, or afforded you so much flexibility in terms of decor and use.

Here are some hot trends in wall mounts to help you show off and enjoy your new flat screen TV:

Look Mom – no cables!

In the early days of wall-mounting, your appreciation of how great your flat screen looked hanging on the wall might have been diminished by the tangle of cables connecting the TV with auxiliary units like cable or satellite boxes, DVD players and surround sound systems. A new generation of “cable-free” wall mounts eliminates the problem with in-arm cable channels that protect and conceal cables the entire length of an extension arm.

Don’t take this laterally

Older mounts allowed you to hang the TV on the wall – and there it stayed, unmoving, regardless of the seating arrangement in your room or where you happened to be when you wanted to watch. If you weren’t sitting right in front of the TV, you might not get the best view in the house. New mounts allow you to move a TV laterally – left or right on the wall bracket – so it’s positioned how you want it on the wall. It’s also a useful feature if your wall studs are off-center.

Other mounts allow for a full range of movement, so if your flat screen is mounted over a console table, but you happen to be sitting in the recliner on the left side of the room, rather than on the sofa in front of the table, you can move the TV for the best view from wherever you’re sitting.

Lighten up

Old-style heavy steel mounts were often unwieldy to manage and mount, especially for do-it-yourselfers. Mounts made of extruded aluminum compare to steel in terms of strength and durability but are much lighter, making installation easier. Plus, they’re eco-friendlier since aluminum is an easy to recycle material.

Get your motor running

Not only can your mount move, it can move by itself, thanks to motorized versions that allow you to adjust the position of your TV without ever leaving the comfort of your armchair. A new mount, debuting from Sanus, supports 37- to 56-inch flat panel TVs weighing up to 110 pounds. A remote control allows you to move the TV by extending the mount up to 9 inches from the wall and swiveling it up to 120 degrees. Fully retracted, the mount sits just 2 inches from the wall, unlike older, bulkier motorized models that require more depth for the motor. The 35-decibel motor is quiet enough for a library. Visit www.Sanus.com to learn more.

You can never be too slim

Super slim is the hottest trend in flat panels and a new generation of wall mounts continues the minimalist concept by keeping super slim flat screen TVs closer to the wall than ever before. Mounts like the VisionMount LL11 Super Slim mount emphasize the sleek look of ultra-thin LCD, plasma and LED TVs by placing them just over half an inch from the wall. Proprietary technology makes the mount easy to install and allows easy cable access without removing the TV from the mount.

More cable news

HDMI cables can make all the difference in how great the picture is on your high-definition flat screen TV. Good quality cables deliver images so crisp and clear you might think you’re looking through a window, rather than at a TV screen. But until now, the cables have been unsightly and awkward to use in tight spots, or with super slim screens. The next hot thing in HDMI cables is a head that pivots 180 degrees, making it easy to connect to hard-to-reach ports in tight places and behind TVs mounted on low-profile wall mounts.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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The powder room – it’s one of the smallest rooms in the house, but also the room that typically sees the most traffic, especially when you’re entertaining guests.

So, is your powder room “worthy” of guest traffic? Just because it’s the smallest room doesn’t mean it needs to be small in style. Rather, it is the perfect opportunity to take a risk and design a space your guests won’t soon forget.

Getting started

If the floor plan of your space isn’t going to change (plumbing won’t move, walls won’t be knocked down, etc.), updating your powder room can be simple and affordable. To start your room redesign, you’ll need to identify your personal style.

Start by looking at the rest of your house. Determine whether you prefer contemporary or traditional decor and imagine how your new powder room will fit in with the rest of your home. To spark new ideas and keep current on trends, visit a local kitchen and bath showroom, a model home or a show home that features bath and powder rooms. Flipping through magazines or visiting home improvement Web sites can also inspire great ideas. Articles on recent room makeovers and new bath products can help you determine which elements you want to be part of your room.

Selecting the pieces

You’re working with a relatively small space, so every styling detail counts. Some manufacturers are making it even easier for homeowners to coordinate their pieces by designing complete suites.

“Danze recently introduced several suite options that make decor coordination much easier for homeowners,” says Jennifer Lee, Danze director of marketing. “The Orrington, Cirtangular and Ziga Zaga Collections are each meticulously designed to provide room elements that perfectly match each other.”

So what elements comprise that suite? In addition to accessories and a mirror, here are a few of the imperative pieces you’ll need to choose for your room:

Lavatory sink

Many designers and homeowners try to maximize space in their powder room. A pedestal sink might be the best way to do just that. And because storage is less critical in this room, a pedestal sink provides a clean, open look to the area.

If a pedestal sink isn’t your style, explore the wide range of vessel sinks available. These “bowls” sit on top of a vanity cabinet and can bring a unique design expression to the room.

Design tip: Select an interesting material for your vessel bowl like stone, timeless vitreous china, blown glass or hammered metal to create an attention-getting, distinctive look for your sink.

Faucet

The faucet you choose will help pull the decor together and can serve as an extra piece of “jewelry” for the room. There are many different styles of bathroom faucets, but popular powder room versions include vessel fillers (to accommodate vessel sinks), wall-mount faucets and wide-spread faucets. The faucet’s finish and scale is also a critical selection to attain the mood you’re hoping to create.

Design tip: If you’re considering a wall-mount faucet, have your plumbing professional mount it through the glass of your mirror. What a reflection of style!

Toilet

While maybe not the sexiest piece in the powder room, the toilet is arguably one of the most important elements. There’s no doubt that performance should be at the top of your checklist when selecting this piece, but you don’t need to sacrifice style. Some toilets are now designed as part of a collection, matching your sink and the other pieces in your room. In addition to style and performance, look for ergonomic design and water efficiency when making your selection.

Design tip: Choose a toilet lever that matches the style and finish of your faucet and bath accessories. They’re easy to switch out and can be a noticeable design detail. You’ll look like a pro.

“Homeowners appreciate it when it’s easier to coordinate every aspect of their powder room decor,” says Lee. “Matching styles of the sink, toilet, vanity, faucet and accessories brings a noticeable cohesiveness to the entire room.”

For more information on Danze room solutions and its entire line of kitchen/bath faucets, showerheads and accessories, visit www.danze.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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With winter rapidly on its way, the government is asking you to think about cost-effective and environmentally responsible ways to heat your home. In fact, it is encouraging eco- and cost-conscious families to consider efficient wood stoves or inserts by offering a 30 percent tax credit, up to $1,500, for the purchase of a 75 percent efficient biomass-burning stove in 2009 and 2010.

With the government behind this national movement from foreign oil to renewable and domestically produced fuel, it’s time to consider the advantages both to the environment and to your wallet of owning a new, efficient wood-burning stove or insert.

“This tax credit comes at the perfect time – when people are trying to make their homes more energy efficient and less reliant on foreign oil, but are having difficulty making the transition due to the economy,” says Bret Watson, president of leading cast iron wood-stove and insert maker, Jotul North America. “This credit essentially gives 30 percent off the purchase price of the stove or insert – up to $1,500 – making them much more approachable to everyone. Not only will taxpayers save money now through the tax credit, but they will save money on their heating bills in the years to come by buying an energy efficient wood stove or insert.”

This tax credit makes it very easy for people to purchase new, efficient woods stoves or inserts. In fact, www.smartmoney.com recently calculated that by using a wood stove to heat a home, a homeowner could recoup the cost of the stove within two to three years with the tax credit.

Once a new wood stove is installed, homeowners will reap the cost-benefits of heating with wood for years to come. To help compare the cost of various home heating fuels, free fuel cost calculators are available online for consumers. Visitors can see how much they would save by using wood instead of oil, gas, coal or electric.

Homeowners save money with new clean burning wood stoves or inserts because of the efficacy of the stoves to heat homes with the least amount of fuel. New wood stoves or inserts have been built to optimize the heat of the wood. Older stoves let gases go up the chimney unburned and leave large amounts of ash. Gases and unburned particles can represent 60 percent of the potential heat of the wood. To avoid this, new, efficient stoves have designs that bring secondary air to the combustion chamber to burn gases and particles that would normally go up the chimney unburned. This is normally called clean burning technology and will increase the efficiency by almost 40 percent.

Cast iron has long been the preferred wood stove material. All the cast iron used by Jotul is recycled. Cast iron is extremely durable and long lasting. Also it is excellent at heat radiating; heat is stored and distributed more evenly and for a considerably longer period than any other material.

Another way wood stoves help lower costs is by directing the heat where it is used most. According to the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association, people regularly use less than 40 percent of their home. If a family uses a wood stove to warm the rooms used most, they can heat more efficiently by turning down their central thermostat, and save money — potentially 20 to 40 percent of their fuel bill.

In addition to the cost savings of wood stoves or inserts, the new efficient models are also much better for the environment. The fuel is renewable and supports American businesses, and the stoves release far fewer greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than ever before.

Many wood stove and insert dealers, such as the more than 300 authorized Jotul dealers across the U.S., will make it easy for taxpayers to receive the 30 percent credit on their new efficient wood stoves. They will provide a certification statement at the time of sale. This statement is all that is needed to receive the tax credit at tax time.

With the government encouraging everyone to make the move, now is the time to consider warming your home and office with energy efficient wood stoves or inserts.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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With more Americans downsizing their household budgets, larger-scale renovation projects are out and frugal remodeling is in.  And when it comes to saving money, experts say home improvement projects that increase energy efficiency are among the best investments to deliver paybacks — now and in the future.

The average return on investment for midrange home improvement projects focused on aesthetic appeal, such as kitchen or bathroom remodels, is down since 2007, according to “Remodeling” magazine.

“Energy efficiency upgrades provide homeowners with the rare opportunity to see a return on their investment almost immediately and at resale,” says Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit dedicated to promoting energy efficiency. “We can’t always predict how the market will impact home prices over the long term, but all homeowners can improve their home’s energy efficiency to increase its value.”

Heating and cooling can account for nearly half of a home’s energy bill, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, and with temperatures dropping, it’s the right time for homeowners to focus on ways they can trim costs and energy consumption.

“The reality of the new economy is that homeowners want to save money while maintaining the value and comfort of their homes,” says Mike Lawrence, vice president and general manager of Insulation Systems for Johns Manville, a manufacturer of building products. “There are economical and smart steps homeowners can take that will positively impact their monthly energy bills today and their home’s value tomorrow.”

Homeowners can tackle projects that are low in cost and high in value and return on investment, either as do-it-yourself projects or by hiring a professional contractor.

To get started, homeowners should first estimate the current performance of their home by using an online energy efficiency assessment tool, such as the Home Energy Analysis test available at JMHomeowner.com.  Online assessments help gauge the savings that could be realized by making efficiency upgrades.

“After evaluating their home, most homeowners will find that adding insulation to their attic is a smart and cost-effective first step, since most homes are under-insulated,” Lawrence says.  “When adding insulation, homeowners should also consider weatherizing their attic to help eliminate any holes or gaps that may exist in the floor or walls.  By using caulk, spray foam or weather stripping to close such gaps, homeowners can further decrease wasted energy.”

A programmable thermostat is another cost-effective option that helps boost home energy efficiency.  Programmable thermostats let homeowners regulate the temperature of their home to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.

A triple return on your remodeling investment

Compared to other home improvement projects, energy efficiency upgrades typically come with a considerably smaller price tag, compared to aesthetic-focused renovations like kitchen and bathroom remodels. In addition, there’s a triple return on these remodeling investments over the course of home ownership:

* Save on your energy bill today: According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with a properly air sealed and insulated home, homeowners can reduce their heating and cooling costs by as much as 30 percent. The average U.S. home needs 19 inches of attic insulation for maximum energy efficiency.

* Save up to $1,500 with a tax credit: Through 2010, insulation purchases qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit for energy-efficiency improvements, which reimburses homeowners up to $1,500 for the cost of materials.  Additional incentives from adding insulation or making other energy efficiency improvements may be available from state and local governments and utilities.

* Save for the long term: Investments made in home energy efficiency pay dividends for the lifetime of a home and improve the home’s resale value. According to the Appraisal Institute, for every dollar saved in annual utility costs, homeowners can expect to add $20 to their home’s market value.

For more information on energy efficient home improvement projects and to take advantage of local incentives, visit www.jmhomeowner.com/insulation/energytaxcredit.asp.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Ice dams may not be something the average homeowner has ever heard of, but they occur all too frequently during the winter months, resulting in costly damage. Left unaddressed, water seepage from ice dams can ruin ceilings, walls, attics and roofing.

Ice dams usually form when heat from inside a home causes snow on the roof to melt and trickle to the roof’s edge, where it refreezes on cold eaves, blocking gutters and drains. Since water cannot flow over the built-up ice, it backs up behind the ice, creating pools, and seeps into the home under the shingles.

“A typical U.S. winter will generate more than $500 million in property damage from ice dams,” says Mike Convery, chief claim officer for MetLife Auto & Home. “By taking a few proactive measures in the fall, homeowners can often prevent ice dams and save themselves a lot of time, money and frustration.”

Steps to take in the fall:

* Keep all gutters and downspouts clear. Make certain that leaves, sticks and debris are removed completely from your home’s gutters and downspouts.

* Keep your attic chilly. The most effective way to eliminate ice dams is to stop snowmelt by making the roof colder. This can be achieved by insulating the floor of the attic and under the roof, and by blocking all crevices (known as bypasses) where warm air from the interior can rise into the attic.

* Identify water entry points within the home. You may wish to contact a contractor to locate these entry points and take the appropriate actions to create a waterproof barrier.

* Protect your roof with some extra help. If you’re still getting ice dams after insulating and ventilating, consider installing extra protection along your eaves. An ice belt, a solid, metal flashing, allows snow to easily slide off it while providing a barrier for melted snow. Electrical heat tracing can help if an ice dam starts forming, melting it away with one flip of a switch.

Steps to take in the winter:

* Keep a lookout for giant icicles. One of the first warning signs of possible ice dams – and definitely poor insulation and ventilation – are giant icicles hanging from the eaves.

* If possible, keep snow off the roof with a roof rake. Use a roof rake or push broom to reduce the amount of snow that could melt. Do not climb on the roof to clear the snow as serious injury may result. Also, be cautious of electrical wires.

* To melt the ice, bring new life to an old set of legs. Placing old nylon stockings filled with ice melt – containing magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and/or calcium chloride – on an ice dam is an effective way to melt the dam and create a channel for the water to run off. Be certain to lay the stockings perpendicular to the gutter near the edge of the roof.

In an emergency situation, where water is seeping into the house, the best advice is to notify a professional contractor.

For a free brochure, “Protecting Your Home Against Damage From Freezing Weather,” call (800) 638- 5433 (800-MET-LIFE).

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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With the return of colder weather, you may be hesitant to turn on the furnace again – especially if you want to put off winter’s high energy bills. And, as you start shutting the windows to keep out the cold, the quality of your home’s indoor air can make it hard to keep the family healthy, especially when flu season kicks in and allergies act up. But whatever the weather, you have the power to control the world inside your home. Here are some steps you can take to ensure total home comfort and energy efficiency this season.

Make sure your furnace is the right size for your home. Unfortunately many people have heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment that is too large for their homes, which means they’re paying to heat space that isn’t even there. An HAVC professional can accurately calculate whether your current system is the right size for your home.

The age of your furnace can also impact how much it costs to heat your home. If your furnace is more than 10 years old, it may make sense to replace it with a newer, more efficient model. Manufacturers such as Trane offer furnaces that can save as much as 40 percent on energy consumption. For example, the XC95m is one of the most efficient gas furnaces and the first to attain up to a 96.7 percent Annual Fuel Utilization rating, which is nearly 20 percent higher than the government minimum standard.

Clean the air of pollutants and flu virus. With every breath, your family’s health is at stake. Approximately 87 percent of Americans are unaware of indoor air pollution. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Indoor levels of many pollutants may even be higher than outdoor levels. These pollutants include airborne particles that enter your home through the doors, windows and roof from various outside sources including fires, fossil fuel burning in vehicles, power and manufacturing plants and from indoor activities such as smoking and cooking.

Add an extra layer of protection for your family by installing an effective air cleaner. New studies conducted by Environmental Health and Engineering and professors from the Harvard school of Public Health show that installing Trane CleanEffects, a whole house air cleaner, may help reduce the risk of asthma attack, stroke, heart attack, respiratory disease and other serious illnesses as part of an overall prevention plan. The unit can be installed as an attachment to your furnace. In addition to removing up to 99.98 percent of allergens and particles from the filtered air – such as dust, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, mold spores and smoke, it also removes more than 99 percent of the common flu, or influenza A virus from the filtered air. Since the swine or H1N1 virus is a form of Influenza A, it can also remove more than 99 percent of this form of the virus from a home’s filtered air.

Take a whole-house approach to heating. There are many additional things you can do throughout your home for winter comfort. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you keep draperies and shades open on south-facing windows to allow sunlight to enter during the day, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows. In the kitchen and bath, turn off ventilating fans within 20 minutes after you’re finished cooking or bathing to retain heated air. And in every room of your home, make sure that all warm-air registers aren’t blocked by furniture, carpeting and drapes.

By taking these steps, you’ll not only keep your home warm, comfortable and energy efficient this winter, but you’ll also gain another precious commodity – peace of mind.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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If you’re dreaming about upgrading your kitchen, you have plenty of company. As people spend more time at home, they’re feeling a pent-up desire to change things up, especially in the kitchen.

Only two in 10 consumers say they’re completely happy with their kitchens and 42 percent say they’d like to change a few things, according to the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence.

With trends leaning toward warm colors inside the home, many homeowners long for the look of cherry and other rich woods in everything from furniture to cabinetry, but are hampered by the high price point of such products. The good news is this high-end look can be achieved easily and economically while creating a custom appearance and gaining design flexibility in the process.

Hardwood finishes for firm budgets

If you’re only changing the cabinetry in your home, choose woods, colors and finishes that will work with other changes you may wish to make later. For example, one versatile type of wood that offers the rich look of cherry without the high cost is Alder, combined with a deep, rich finish. This wood type is found in relatively few kitchens, so it offers an exclusive look with added design flexibility.

Diamond Cabinets’ expanded finishes line, which includes delicious new colors such as Chocolate, Cider, Cranberry and Harvest Wheat, is available on the company’s new Alder wood cabinets, as well as on its classic Rustic Alder cabinets. Another idea is to choose a cabinet finish that crosses over into a variety of wood types. A Chocolate finish, for instance can be used on either Alder cabinets or on ever-popular Maple cabinets. All of the finishes are designed to blend easily with a variety of home interiors, including those with classic, contemporary, coastal or cottage-style design themes. Even if you modify your home’s design over time, your cabinetry can transition beautifully. To see what your new kitchen cabinets could look like, without having to step into a showroom, try the visualization tool at DiamondCabinets.com.

Greater design flexibility inside and out

As you look for greater design flexibility on the exterior of your cabinets, think about the interior of your cabinets as well. If you’re only installing a few new things, with a little extra planning you can squeeze every inch out of your existing kitchen footprint by making the most out of every cabinet.

Some cabinets are designed with fashionable exteriors that can be modified with an extra interior drawer of space in an area that usually goes to waste beneath the cabinet. An ingenious cabinet design called a Toekick Drawer can be added to a kitchen base cabinet, bringing valuable extra space to stash hard-to-organize items such as cookie sheets, baking pans or table linens.

For more information and cabinet design ideas, visit DiamondCabinets.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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