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Protecting your home against crime

Although the U.S. Department of Justice cites a 20-year decline (since 1973) in the rate of property crimes nationally, law-enforcement experts still urge residents to take home security precautions rather than rely on optimistic statistics to keep family and property safe. Burglary and theft are crimes of opportunity, so the more difficult you make getting into your home, the more likely it is that a burglar will go elsewhere. Keep in mind that burglars don’t want to be seen while breaking in, so they are most likely to select a means of entry that is hidden from view: a rear entrance, a window shrouded by shrubs or trees, or a side door not visible from the street. While trees and fences offer homeowners a sense of privacy, they also give burglars the shield they need to gain illegal entry. Read More »Protecting your home against crime

Thin film solar

Thin film solar cells (TFSC) generate electricity from sunshine or bright indoor lighting. The first TFSCs were introduced in the 1990s to power hand held calculators. TFSCs are made by attaching extremely thin photovoltaic (PV) materials such as amorphous silicon. The thickness of the PV materials is measured in nanometer or micrometers. These materials are applied to a base such as glass, metal or plastic. Before the PV materials are attached, the base surface is treated with a layer of transparent conducting oxide.

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