Juneteenth: A Day of Freedom, Respect, and Reflection

June 19th, known as Juneteenth, is more than just a historical milestone. It’s a powerful reminder of freedom delayed, resilience tested, and progress still in motion.

On this day in 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver a message that should have been heard years earlier: Slavery had been abolished.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect in 1863, many enslaved African Americans in remote areas of the South had not yet been informed, or freed.

For the 250,000 still enslaved in Texas, freedom finally became real on June 19, 1865.

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 Why Juneteenth Matters

Juneteenth stands as a nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. It represents:

• Freedom: Honoring those who endured slavery and those who never gave up fighting for justice.

• Education: An opportunity to learn the full story of America...including the parts left out of history books. Proper education will ultimately bring respect. 

• Reflection: A time to recognize how far we've come and how far we still have to go in the pursuit of character over color, impartiality, and fairness. 

In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, marking an important step in acknowledging this vital chapter in our country’s journey.

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 What Can You Do?

• Learn about the history of slavery, Reconstruction, and civil rights.

• Support Black-owned businesses and creators.

• Celebrate the culture, contributions, and strength of the Black community.

• Reflect on how you can help build a more just and inclusive future.

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Juneteenth reminds us that both freedom and respect of humanity must be fought for, protected, and honored, not just on one day, but every day.

- The Weatherized Brat 🛠

Don’t Rock the “CAZ”-bah!

🎸 The song, “Rock The Casbah”, by The Clash, was a popular hit from the 1980's. Punk rock at its finest. A song widely interpreted as a critique of oppressive regimes and a celebration of freedom and  expression. But, what the heck do we mean by don’t rock the “CAZ”-bah? 

Known as the Combustion Appliance Zone, the CAZ is very important with regard to the safety of your home. The CAZ does become a bit more relevant depending on the style of your gas-fired mechanical systems. We’ll comment on that shortly. First, let’s understand what the CAZ is and why it’s important.

 What Is the CAZ?

The Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) refers to any area in a home that contains combustion appliances, such as:

• Gas furnaces
• Water heaters
• Boilers
• Wood or gas stoves
• Fireplaces
• Gas Dryers

This zone is where combustion occurs to create heat, and where the byproducts (like carbon monoxide) must be safely vented out of the home.

 Why the CAZ Is So Important

Improperly functioning combustion appliances or poor ventilation in the CAZ can lead to serious health and safety hazards. Here’s why the CAZ matters:

1. Carbon Monoxide Risk

If combustion gases are not vented properly, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) can backdraft into the living space. Testing the CAZ ensures CO stays outside where it belongs.

2. Backdrafting Hazards

A depressurized CAZ can cause combustion gases to flow back into the home instead of up the flue. Weatherization activities (like tightening the building envelope) can unintentionally increase this risk.

3. Draft Pressure Testing

Part of CAZ testing includes measuring draft pressure in the flue during appliance operation. This helps confirm that exhaust gases are moving safely up and out.

4. Spillage Testing

Inspectors also test whether gases are spilling out of the appliance when it runs, especially during worst-case depressurization conditions (all exhaust fans running, doors closed, etc.).

To summarize in simple terms, the CAZ absolutely needs an adequate amount of air for proper combustion, as well as effective venting for the gas burning byproducts. 

As I mentioned earlier, there is a difference in how mechanical systems vent out gases. Your furnace or water heater may atmospherically/naturally draft (no fan assistance), or have mechanical assistance, which means a fan is forcing the gas up and out the flue pipe. An atmospherically drafting system relies much more heavily on proper air pressure in the CAZ for safe operation. 

 What Happens During a CAZ Test?

A qualified technician will:

• Turn on all exhaust fans and simulate “worst-case” conditions

• Measure room pressures with manometers

• Test appliance venting and CO levels

• Determine if the CAZ is safe, marginal, or unsafe

Bottom Line

The CAZ is where your home breathes fire, and it must be carefully managed.
Ensuring this zone is safe is not just a code requirement; it's a life-saving measure.

If you're working with an energy auditor or weatherization team, make sure CAZ testing is on the checklist...because efficiency and safety should go hand-in-hand.

And one last thing...be sure you have an operational carbon monoxide detector in your CAZ. 👍

- The Weatherized Brat 🛠

🇺🇸 D-Day: A Reminder of Courage in Everyday Life

Today marks the anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944...a day that reshaped the course of history. Over 150,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, facing impossible odds with unwavering courage. Many of them were barely older than young teenagers, carrying heavy packs, heavier fears, and the weight of freedom on their backs.

The lessons of D-Day should echo in our daily work and lives. That's how those who stormed the beaches of Normandy would want it to be. Cherish and enjoy your freedom and liberty, but operate with courage, resilience, and service.

• Courage is showing up when the odds feel stacked against you.

• Resilience is getting knocked down by change and standing back up, even stronger.

• Service is putting your skills to work to help others live safer, more secure lives...whether that’s in a home, a family, or a community.

We may not face wartime beaches in our lifetime, but life gives us our own battles. Never lose sight of improving yourself, but dig even deeper to find the courage to help and build a relationship with someone less fortunate. Simple and kind interactions can go a long way.

So today, in honor of those who gave everything on D-Day, let’s remember this:
Bravery isn’t always big. Sometimes it’s quiet, steady, and close to home.

And that kind of bravery we’re all capable of. 

- The Weatherized Brat 🛠

https://www.history.com/articles/d-day

A Man's Home is His Castle: Let's Energy Audit!

Can you imagine doing an energy audit of a castle? You know, one of those beautiful 12th century stone structures on the Rhine River. Not really of importance in those days, I only assume. What is an energy audit anyway? Why is it seen as a valuable tool today? 

With the 12th century castle, the occupants were burning wood and candles for heat and light. I suppose if they wanted to calculate how many cords of wood they were burning, it might have helped. But, likely wasn’t much they could do to improve castle efficiency, nonetheless. 

A short, fun fact… living at Ramstein AB, Germany during high school, us military brats found one of our hangouts to be a Roman castle. More or less a Roman ruin, I would say. Known as Nanstein Castle. Nanstein Castle - Wikipedia. Not on the Rhine river, but not too far away. It was a fun hangout, and a great story to tell to this day. 

So... What is an Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a top-to-bottom checkup of your home’s energy performance. Think of it like a physical exam for your house, but instead of a doctor with a stethoscope, you get a building performance expert with gadgets, cameras, and a sixth sense for where your energy is escaping.

Their goal? To find out where your home is losing energy (and money) and how to fix it.

 What Happens During an Energy Audit?

You don’t need to do much to prep. Just be ready to open a few doors and windows, and maybe your mind too. Here’s what typically happens:

 1. Blower Door Test

This fan-mounted contraption pulls air out of your house to lower the indoor pressure, making it easier to find where outside air is sneaking in. Think of it as turning your house into a giant leak detector. More details on this another day. 

 2. Thermal Imaging

An infrared camera shows where heat is escaping (or invading). Cold walls, poor insulation, drafty corners…nothing hides from a thermal lens.

 3. Insulation & Air Sealing Inspection

Attics, basements, crawlspaces... the auditor checks how well your home is insulated and how airtight it really is.

 4. Lighting & Appliance Review

Your fridge, furnace, water heater, and even your light bulbs all get a once-over. Energy hogs, beware.

 Why Get One?

If you’ve ever muttered “why is it so cold in here” while paying your heating bill, an audit could change your life (or at least your utility statement).

Here’s what you get:

• Lower energy bills (potential savings of 10–30%)
• More consistent comfort (no more hot upstairs / cold downstairs chaos)
• A plan of action tailored to your home
• Rebates and incentives you might not know about

 Who Performs It?

Professional energy auditors are trained and certified, often by organizations like BPI (Building Performance Institute) or RESNET. Many utilities also offer low-cost or free audits, so check locally before shelling out cash.

 What Comes Next?

After the audit, you’ll receive a detailed report showing:

• Where energy is being lost
• How efficient (or inefficient) your heating and cooling systems are
• Recommended upgrades (with estimated savings)
• Cost vs. benefit breakdown

From there, you can prioritize fixes…whether it’s sealing leaks, adding insulation, replacing a furnace, or just swapping bulbs.

 Bottom Line

An energy audit isn’t just about patching leaks…it’s about making your home smarter, more comfortable, and cheaper to run. It’s one of the most useful things you can do as a homeowner, renter, or landlord.

So don’t just weather the weather...weatherize like a brat. Get the facts, get the audit, and take back control of your castle.

The Weatherized Brat 🛠

"Can We Get Some Relief on Grocery Prices Over Here?"

A shout out to one of my Weatherized Brat loyalists. He asked about grocery prices, and suggested I should "drop a blog" on the topic. He ain't a kiddin. 

Considering I bagged groceries in high school at the Ramstein AB commissary in Germany, you'd think I'd be more in tune with the grocery store crisis. At that time, I was more concerned about getting that $5 tip on a grocery takeout, or acting like an idiot trying to embarrass fellow baggers in front of the customers. The commissary was a popular employer for us Brats, and a fun place to work. 

But for real though, it’s not just your imagination, grocery prices are still painfully high. Whether you're shopping for a week's worth of meals or just running in for milk and eggs, the sticker shock is real.

Why? I did some quick research, and it comes down to a mix of things: supply chain issues, war overseas, unpredictable weather damaging crops, higher fuel prices, and plain old inflation. Some companies are even taking advantage of the chaos to sneak in extra price hikes. Not cool!

Remember the good old days when you could walk into the store with $50 and come out with enough food to last a week? Yeah... us neither. These days, grocery shopping feels a bit more like a reality show challenge: "Can you feed a family of four without maxing out your credit card? Tune in to find out!"

So if you're standing in the checkout line wondering how five items totaled $73, just know: you're not alone. We’re all in this overpriced grocery cart together.

Stay stealth-like, and let's take our grocery store back!

-The Weatherized Brat 🛠

Memorial Day Weekend: It’s about remembering and honoring.

Memorial Day is a special day of reflection. Originally known as Decoration Day, it was established after the Civil War for the nation to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. 

Although Memorial Day was established to memorialize lost soldiers, many people have the tradition of simply using it as a time to visit gravesites of their loved ones. This is somewhat a lost tradition amongst the younger generations.

I personally have not made good practice of visiting gravesites of loved ones. Over the last handful of years, however, I’ve made effort to stop at a local cemetery over Memorial Day Weekend and pay tribute to random military honored gravesites. 

Why not memorialize a fallen soldier you didn’t know? He or she served and fought for millions of Americans they did not know. 

My first solid memory of attending a Memorial Day service was when I played a role in the ceremony. I was  a Cub Scout at the time. It was 1980, I was just 10 years old. My family was living in Germany on the Landstuhl Army Post. 

Our Cub Scout pack was invited to be flag bearers at the Memorial Day service held at the Lorraine-American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint- Avold, France. We lived only about twenty minutes from the French border. It was just one-hour to this cemetery. 

Did you know over 10,000 American soldiers from World War II are buried at the Lorraine-American Cemetery in France? Here is a link with more information:

https://www.abmc.gov/video/lorraine-american-cemetery/?utm_campaign=Website

Many Memorial Day services are held around our country each year. I encourage you to attend as many as you can in your lifetime.....or better yet, make an annual tradition in some way to  remember and honor our fallen soldiers. 

Enjoy your family and friends this Memorial Day. 

-The Weatherized Brat 

     Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial

           Saint Avold, France. (1980)                    Photo credit: My Mom. 

Old Bones, Warm Hearts: How 150-Year-Old Schoolhouses Fought the Cold

How were 150 year old schoolhouses insulated and heated you ask? The Weatherized Brat may have some answers. There's no doubt these are historic buildings today, if still standing that is. Let's crack open the icy past and peek inside the charming little box of history, the 19th Century schoolhouse. You know the ones: white clapboard siding, bell tower, a single room with rows of stiff wooden desks and zero concept of comfort. Before HVAC and R-values were things, how did these pint-sized brain factories survive winter?

Let’s talk insulation (or lack thereof), wood stoves, and the sheer stubbornness of early American education.

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No Insulation? No Problem. (Well, Actually, Huge Problem.)

If you’re imagining cozy insulation in those thick walls, dial it back. Most 19th-century schoolhouses were built with little more than timber framing, lathe, and plaster. Maybe...just maybe a layer of newspaper, sawdust, or horsehair-stuffed walls if the builder was feeling fancy. These buildings were basically Swiss cheese with windows and a chalkboard. Air leaks were part of the architecture.

Windows? Single-pane. Drafty. Leaky. Probably rattling in the wind while some poor kid recited the Gettysburg Address in a wool coat.

Bottom line: Insulation was minimal to nonexistent. But they had other tricks up their thick wool sleeves.

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Enter: The Almighty Wood Stove

The true MVP of the 1870s schoolhouse? The iron beast in the center of the room: the wood stove.

Usually located smack-dab in the middle, the stove was loaded in the morning, either by a teacher who got there early (bless their cold hands) or, in some places, a custodian or older student. Wood was often stacked behind the school and donated by local families.

It didn’t heat evenly. If you were lucky, you sat close to the stove and sweated through your lessons. If you weren’t, you froze near the windows and dreamt of spontaneous combustion. 

Bonus fact: Many stoves doubled as lunch warmers. Tin pails of stew or cornbread were nestled beside them to keep warm. Yes, the original "hot lunch program."

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Ventilation? You Wish.

There was no mechanical ventilation. Teachers would crack a window to push out the stifling mix of smoke, steam, and sweat that came with winter learning. But mostly, the heat rose, the cold stayed, and everyone accepted that numb fingers were just part of learning arithmetic.

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Later Upgrades (Thank You, New Deal)

Some of these schoolhouses survived into the 20th century and were retrofitted during the 1930s and '40s when the government got wise to the fact that kids learn better when not frozen. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) and other New Deal programs helped bring in better stoves, insulation (hello, rock wool and early fiberglass), and even electric heat in some areas.....Thanks Mr. Ben Franklin!

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So, What Can We Learn?

Today, we’re spoiled. We worry about thermal bridging, triple-pane windows, and whether our heat pumps are SEER-rated for comfort and efficiency. But those old schoolhouses? They kept kids learning through sheer willpower, burning logs, and a good helping of homemade mittens.

Still, if you live in a drafty old house today, get it weatherized. Seriously. Those kids had no choice. You do.

Happy Friday!

—The Weatherized Brat

https://dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com/nature-center/westport-schoolhouse/