The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/777735
30 FEBRUARY 2017 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com HVAC/HYDRONICS NEWS OESP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2017 SCHOLARSHIPS OESP's Dave Nelsen Scholarship Program was established in 1999 to provide scholarships to students interested in pursuing their careers in the energy service industry. Since 1999, more than $250,000 in awards has been presented. To be considered a candidate, applicants are required to write a 500-word essay telling the committee about themselves, including their background that has prepared them for the success in their chosen field of study. Each year we receive hundreds of applica- tions that are reviewed by our dedicated scholarship committee. For eligibility requirements and to download an application, go to http://thinkoesp.org/education/future-energy-professionals. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Thursday, March 16, 2017. In addition, corporate sponsors can help continue this worthwhile program, OESP said. OESP awards $5,000 per qualifying student per year. The Association contributes $2,500 and is seeking sponsors to match that award. Scholarship sponsors receive: Your logo on the scholarship page for the year Your logo in OESP's e-blast solicitation of applicants Your logo in OESP's monthly e-blasts and newsletter when- ever the scholarship program is mentioned Your name in press releases of scholarships following the conference Featured article of scholarship sponsors in printed conference issue of the OESP News Recognition & signage at the OESP awards dinner, May 23, 2017, in Hershey, Pa. Contact OESP at 888-552-0900 or lstrug@thinkoesp.org to confirm your company's sponsorship of the Dave Nelson Scholarship program. SELLING SOLUTIONS TO DRY AIR As the cold weather moves in, humidity levels naturally drop. That's because cold air can't hold as much moisture as warm air. Ideal indoor humidity during winter should hover around 45%. But dry winter air can cause your humidity to drop substantially, to levels of 15% or less. With this humidity imbalance come a number of potential problems that can affect health, home and especially comfort, according to Lennox Industries, Richardson, Texas, a manufacturer of residential and commercial HVACR systems. The company issued tips on how to talk to customers about dry air problems in the home and what can be done to resolve them. Dry air tries to absorb moisture wherever it can find it. This means that during cold winter weather, dry air can start to pull moisture from the structure of a home. As a house dries out, customers might notice that floors, particularly hardwood floors, will begin to creak more. Dry air can also pull moisture from the wood in the frame of a home, causing walls and door jambs to shift. This can make doors hard to open and close, and cause gaps between ceilings and walls. These gaps can also form in windows that are made entirely of wood. This lets in cold winter air, thereby increasing the cost of heating. As the air in a home becomes drier, it can start to damage not only the home, but the things in it. Wood furniture can start to bend and even crack. Musical instruments can lose their shape and their tune. Even paper items such as books and artwork can become brittle, warped and wrinkled.