The heaters were evaluated in several types of homes throughout Michigan and Tennessee during the cold winter months.  The homes in the evaluation included a fifth wheel travel trailer, a fifty year old Ranch house with very little insulation, a year around Lake House on Lake Huron with windows on all sides, and a double wide modular home in an open field. The weather conditions varied from thunderstorms, heavy winds, bitter temperatures, and blizzards.  The EdenPure Quartz Infrared heaters maintained the room at a comfortable temperature range of 64 to 72 during each condition during the test period.

The EdenPure heaters arrived on a very cold day and were put right to work.  The evaluation started by lowering the normal heat source thermostats to 50 degrees in each location. The EdenPure heater thermostats were turned on high until the room reached a comfortable temperature, and then lowered to set the comfort level that was to be maintained.  Each home within the evaluation heated rather quickly and the desired temperature levels were constantly maintained throughout the testing period. After just a couple of days we noticed several advantages to using the EdenPure heaters that included no drafts or warm pockets anywhere in the room, no moisture buildup on the windows, the units remained cool to the touch, and the rooms remained moist meaning our hands were not as dry as with other heat sources.  The EdenPure heaters actually replaced the normal heat sources by maintaining each home with the desired comfortable temperature range everywhere in the room.

In order to monitor the energy cost and savings we wrote down the current meter readings for each energy source that was used for heating. We kept a journal with weekly meter readings and weather conditions for each location during the testing time.  Overall we found that considerably less energy was being used while the home was a lot warmer and more comfortable to work in.  This was determined by calculating the current energy costs where we found the cost per unit of electricity was $0.10 while gas was about $0.96 and since the EdenPure heater uses electricity to run its fans while quartz infrared to produce the heating costs were reduced also.

In conclusion, we found that the EdenPure portable heaters maintained a constant comfort level even during the very cold times while reducing overall energy usage and cost regardless of where the heaters were used.  My relative and I would suggest the EdenPure portable heater to anyone as an economical heat source.  The initial cost of just under $400 per unit that covers a 1000 square feet area pays for itself in a very short period of time while helping the environment by reducing energy consumption each day.

Want to learn more about this product check out:

EdenPure (2009). EdenPure Quartz Infrared Portable Heater. Retrieved from http://edenpure.com/main

The on-guard stage is the politeness stage where everyone is afraid to look stupid or step on others toes so they keep quiet and keep their ideas quiet.  Once the barriers of fear and pride are overcome the team can move forward and the ideas start flowing.  In the dueling stage the tempers flare and division is likely to occur since members of the team don’t listen to other teammates.  The healing stage is where members settle down and compromise starts happening.  Healing leads to victory.

These stages are illustrated in team sports and in any organization that produces winning results. The stages are repeated as new members join the team, leadership changes, or new projects begin.  There is no I in team.

This can be seen overwhelmingly in our small church where it functions by the contribution of each member’s gifts and talents.  We may be small in numbers but make up for it in our desire to spread our gifts and talents to others.  For the past two years our church has hosted a week long summer art camp for youth in the community.  Our first year we had 10 youth in attendance while this past year we expanded to 30 youth that ranged in age from 13 months to 16 years old.  Each day the children heard stories from the Bible, learned different crafts, ate meals, and worked together.  By the end of the week the staff of four was very tired but filled with joy as each child showed their parents what they accomplished that week and said they wanted to return next year.  The staff worked exhaustively and cooperatively together to make the week a success.  At times through the week we thought it is way too much but each of us supported and encouraged each other.

Teamwork takes work from everyone involved and each have to take their role seriously and respect others of the team.  According to Salas, Bowers, and Edens (2001), the collective efficacy of the team can be viewed as the controller’s confidence in the individual teammates abilities as well as the team’s ability to coordinate and adapt to the rapidly changing situations it encounters.

In summary, teamwork has success in any organization regardless of size when the stages of team development are worked through and the individual teammates work together to complete its intended goals and objectives.

References:

Team spirit – a deeper look. (2006). Christian Science Monitor, Retrieved Saturday, February 03, 2007 from the Academic Search Premier database.

Salas, Eduardo.; Bowers, Clint A.; Edens, Eleana. (2001). Improving Teamwork in Organizations: Applications of Resource Management Training. Mahwah, N.J. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., 2001.  Retrieved Saturday, February 03, 2007 from the Net Library database.

Mackall, Dandi Daley. (1998). Teamwork Skills, Retrieved Saturday, February 3, 2007 from the Net Library database.  (pp. 101-107)

teamwork. (2003). In The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language. Retrieved February 8, 2007, from http://www.xreferplus.com.library.capella.edu/entry/4138864teamwork. (2003). In The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language. Retrieved February 11, 2007, from DISPLAYURL

I spent hours watching and listening to the birds as they walked up and down the rows eating leftover corn.  Once in a while I would startle them just to watch some take off and circle before landing again.  They had a very set pattern where they would arrive about 8:30 am EST and take off about noon and return about 2 pm and stay till about 5 pm everyday for two weeks.
One day I just watched them take their time and land in small groups it reminded me very much of a airport with planes landing and taking off all day and in prefect stride.  They had a tendency to start the day at the bottom of the field and work their way to the high knoll area and then take off.  It was truly a gift from God to be able to see so many and just watch them.  It was so peaceful and encouraging to see them each day.
They are gone now for this year but hopefully they will return next year and relax with us once more.  Take a few moments to look at my pictures in the gallery with different shots over the years.