JP condos have energy to spare

New contemporary townhouses in the Woodbourne section of Jamaica Plain are designed to create more energy than they use so that utilities cost nothing.

Part of Boston's Energy Positive Green Building Program, GFC Development partnered with Hub architecture firm Utile to build the just-completed two-unit attached townhouse at 64-66 Catherine St. on land owned by the city. The purpose of this and other such projects in the city is to show that housing can be designed to be both completely energy independent and stylish without costing a huge amount more to build. This project meets the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum designation, the highest rating.

The three-story townhouses on Catherine Street are on the market for $595,000 each. They feature high-end white kitchens, tiled bathrooms, 8-foot doors throughout and third-floor master bedroom suites with cathedral ceilings and a skylight.

The exterior of the building is dark-brown Hardie Plank, with unfinished shiplap cedar clapboard accents and a rear sloped roof pointed 42 degrees south that holds 21 photovoltaic electric panels for each unit.

These panels provide all the energy needed for the electric-only townhouses, producing 8 percent more energy than they use, according to preliminary testing. Homeowners will earn credits from electricity given back to the grid.

The townhouses are 
superinsulated, with 8 inches of icynene foam insulation in the walls, Alpen windows and a multilayered rubber roof. Windows are deep-set to attract winter sun and the first-floor concrete floor acts as a thermal mass to retain heat. The condos are heated and cooled when needed by wall-mounted Mitsubishi electric AC/heat pumps.

We took a look at staged model Unit 1, a 1,416-square-foot three-bedroom that has a fenced-in backyard and a driveway that will fit two cars.

You enter the unit through a foyer with polished cement floors, a wood bench and a closet holding the unit's 80-gallon solar hot water heater.

To the right sits an open living/dining area with large windows and a glass back wall with a door to a cedar fence-enclosed backyard. There's a patio with Hanover permeable pavers and a rainwater irrigation system.

Back inside, an adjacent open kitchen has recessed compact fluorescent lighting and polished cement floors. There's Parapan high-gloss white cabinets, many pantry sized, above and below white quartz countertops. There's an island with a stainless-steel sink and Mirabelle single-handle faucet. The white appliances are high end, including a Kitchen Aid refrigerator, a Jenn-Air oven, a Whirlpool electric stovetop with a Cristal range hood and a Bosch dishwasher.

Behind the kitchen sits a half bath with a white solid-surface IKEA vanity.

Stairs with white ash treads lead to the second floor where there are two ash-floored bedrooms and a full bathroom off a hallway that holds a closet with a high-efficiency Bosch washer and dryer.

The recessed-lit bedrooms on this floor have big windows with transoms, but are on the smaller side. Between them is a bathroom with beige porcelain tile floors and surround for a Grohe showerhead and deep soaking tub. There's also a white IKEA vanity with Grohe fixtures and a built-in linen closet.

The entire third floor of the unit is a master bedroom suite that features a good-sized bedroom with large windows with transoms, recessed lighting and a skylight. There are three closets, one a large walk-in that could serve as a nursery.

The en-suite master bathroom has slate-colored porcelain tile floors and surround for a walk-in shower with a glass partition. There's a linen closet built in and a white IKEA vanity with Grohe fixtures.

The townhouse is built on slab and does not have a basement.

But there is a dedicated driveway that will hold two vehicles next to the unit, with permeable Hanover pavers that allow grass to grow between the stones. The yard will be landscaped with low-water-use plants and grass.

• Address: 64-66 Catherine St., Unit 1, Jamaica Plain
• Bedrooms: Three
• Bathrooms: Two full, one half
• List price: $595,000
• Square feet: 1,416
• Price per square foot: $420
• Annual taxes: To be determined
• Monthly condo fee: $240
• Features: Architect-designed two unit townhouse designed for high energy efficiency; lots of large windows with transoms; open living/dining area with glass wall and door to back yard; kitchen with high-gloss cabinets, white quartz countertops and high-end appliances; third-floor master bedroom suite with ash floors, cathedral ceiling, skylight and large walk-in closet; porcelain-tile bathrooms; ash floors on top two floors; 40 solar panels on south-facing sloped roof; cedar-fence-enclosed backyard with rainwater irrigation system; driveway holds two vehicles L Location: About a mile from Forest hills Orange Line T station and retail offeringsalong Hyde Park Avenue; two miles from Jamaica Plain centerL Built in: 2013
• Broker: Coldwell banker agents Ellen grupert at 617-256-8455 and Janis Lippman at 617-869-0496

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Corolla’s a true compact contender

The roomier and more fuel efficient 2014 Toyota Corolla makes it a true contender in the compact sedan segment.

The redesigned Corolla has an aggressive appearance with a longer, lower, and wider stance. Our $19,510 tester painted in a brown sugar metallic looked sharp and was trimmed with Toyota's LE eco package.

The Corolla boasts a 35-miles-per-gallon average despite its slightly larger size. The eco package attaches drag reducing panels to the underbody and includes low-resistance 15-inch tires. A 1.8 liter, four-cylinder engine produces 140 horsepower and is mated to a continuously variable transmission. These tweaks stepped our test Corolla's highway fuel economy up to 42 mpg.

The Corolla has an improved CV transmission that provided a smooth power transition when accelerating, unlike past versions of the CVT that have been anything but smooth. The sedan handled modestly and braking was solid. I found an adequate amount of power even with two adults and three children in the back.

I was surprised at how easily our three children with their boosters and backpacks fit in the back seats. I was even more surprised by the amount of space when I climbed in the back to photograph the interior. The sedan had an abundance of backseat foot- and leg-room for a compact. The Corolla's trunk space is limited, but the 60/40-split folding rear seats do provide some added capacity for moving large items.

I found the Corolla's 6.1-inch touch screen with a backup camera a useful size that didn't overwhelm the cockpit. A Bluetooth smartphone connection not only provided hands-free use of my phone, but also allowed me to play my music wirelessly through the sedan's audio system. Steering wheel-mounted controls also were included. Despite these features, the Corolla's interior had a spartan feel.

Toyota starts the Corolla out at $16,800 and does offer a manual transmission. Heated and power adjustable front seats can be found on the LE Premium edition. The Corolla's roomy back seat and fuel economy do give it a slight edge within the compact sedan market and it's definitely worth a look when considering a Camry. Other cars to consider are the Chevy Cruze, Honda Civic, Ford Focus or Kia Forte.

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Wash. leaders press for union vote on Boeing offer

SEATTLE — National, state and local political leaders called for a vote Friday on a proposed contract between Boeing and Puget Sound machinists, even though local union leaders have already rejected the company's latest offer in the high-stakes negotiations to keep thousands of jobs in the state.

The contract would secure work on Boeing's new 777X airplane at a time when 22 states are competing for those jobs. Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement that union membership gives each worker a say in his or her future and they should have the opportunity to exercise that right.

"That should happen soon, as I have become increasingly concerned that we are at a perilous point in our effort to bring the 777X to Washington state," said Inslee, who was endorsed by the local Machinists union in his campaign for governor last year.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen echoed those comments, expressing concern about the region's aerospace future if no labor agreement is in place and saying "the time to vote is now." Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson and Snohomish County Executive John Lovick also urged the Machinists in their area to hold a vote and also urged them to approve the contract.

State Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom, a Democrat, and Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler sent a joint letter Friday to local union leaders, urging a vote.

"We trust that your members will make the best decision," the two senators wrote. "We respectfully ask, however, that you allow them to make that choice for themselves."

Leaders in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers publicly differed Friday on whether to bring Boeing's latest contract offer to a vote, exposing tensions within the union over how to handle the negotiations.

National union spokesman Frank Larkin said Friday that officials were exploring the idea of a vote after hundreds of members demanded an opportunity to have a say on the contract to secure work on the 777X. Larkin said members have always had the final say and they have every right to vote on the terms of the offer.

But local union officials said Friday they don't see any point in bringing it to a vote because it's too similar to a contract the union rejected a month ago by a 2-to-1 margin.

"So, until Boeing changes its conditions, we don't have an offer to vote on," District 751 President Tom Wroblewski said in a statement.

The latest round of contract talks collapsed Thursday after local Machinists officials said they could not recommend Boeing's latest proposal to members. Local union spokesman Bryan Corliss said Boeing has withdrawn the contract offer.

Boeing Co. spokesman Doug Alder said, however, that the offer was rejected by the union, not withdrawn. He declined further comment Friday.

Local union officials have seemed to disagree with their national leaders in recent weeks on how to handle Boeing's offers. That division was clear last month, when local members voted to reject a contract negotiated by Machinists leadership.

Boeing made changes this week to its original contract offer, backing away from a proposal that would slow the rate at which employees rise up the pay scale and adding an additional $5,000 in bonus pay. The biggest sticking point appears to be the company's insistence that workers move from a traditional defined-benefit pension to a defined-contribution savings plan.

The local Machinists said the company's latest proposal was too high of a price to pay to secure the 777X.

"I think you'll agree these were very minor changes, and not nearly enough to offset the things Boeing was trying to take away from you, and for the Machinists who will join us in the future," Wroblewski wrote in a message to members Friday morning.

Looming over the talks is the prospect that the company could build the airplane elsewhere. Chicago-based Boeing said it has received proposals from 22 states eager for the 777X jobs, with some proposing multiple sites. The company said 54 sites are now being evaluated.

In its own bid to win the 777X jobs, Washington state recently approved tax breaks for Boeing valued at $9 billion over the coming years, along with legislation to improve aerospace training programs and the permitting process.

Boeing began offering the 777X in May, but it's still finalizing plans for the plane and aiming to deliver the first aircraft by the end of the decade. Boeing has said it is expected to carry as many as 400 passengers and be more fuel efficient than the current 777.

Boeing received orders for 225 such planes from three airlines at the Dubai Airshow last month.

___

Contact Mike Baker on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikebakerap

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B.R.A. to give ‘blighted’ tax break to Garden complex

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is set to approve a $950 million redevelopment of the former Boston Garden site next week — including $7.8 million in tax breaks for the city-designated "blighted" area — despite neighborhood objections to a 600-foot tower among the three-building complex.

The Menino administration confirmed a 15-year tax deal yesterday and that a Star Market supermarket will be part of Boston Properties and Delaware North's project near the TD Garden.

The tax deal was reached to "secure the critical tenant and create tax certainty" during the first phase of the 1.87 million-square-foot mixed-use project, the announcement said.

"It's a mistake to offer any tax breaks for economic development purposes," said David Tuerck, executive director of the Beacon Hill Institute. "The better policy would be to have a tax rate that is low enough to encourage economic development without having to provide special favors to every supplicant who comes along wanting a subsidy."

The project includes a 497-unit, 600-foot residential tower; a 20-story, 306-room hotel; a 25-story office building; 235,000 square feet of retail space; a 40,000-square-foot TD Garden expansion; and an expansion of the North Station parking garage.

"The tax certainty provided by the 121A agreement will benefit our tenants, securing the mix of uses and public benefits long desired by the community," Boston Properties senior vice president Bryan Koop said in a statement.

Menino and BRA director Peter Meade weren't made available for comment. Meade met with the Boston Garden Impact Advisory Group yesterday to inform the neighborhood stakeholders of the news.

Six of 13 members who favor a 400-foot tower instead of a 600-foot tower and object to the "blighted" status wrote to Menino this week, alleging their concerns weren't given serious consideration. Member James Zahka said he still feels ignored. "If you live near a transportation node, get ready for 600-foot buildings," he said.

The project will generate $32.3 million in revenue over 15 years, versus 
$5 million in property taxes should the land, vacant since the 1990s demolition of the old Boston Garden, remain undeveloped, BRA spokeswoman Melina Schuler said. "This is an opportunity to have a signature building in this part of the city," she said. "We feel that a tower up to 600 feet would be appropriate."

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Retail sales ring up hikes

Retail sales nationally rose each of the past two months, according to figures released yesterday, but a snowstorm forecast for this weekend has Massachusetts retailers worried they could lose critical holiday sales.

The Commerce Department said November retail sales rose 0.7 percent — the biggest gain in five months — and October's figure was revised higher to 
0.6 percent. But although two straight months of healthy sales suggest steady hiring is encouraging Americans to spend more this holiday season, this weekend's storm is raising concerns, particularly at small businesses.

"It's worrisome," said Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. "We have three weekends before Christmas this year, compared to four last year, and that's where most of the sales occur. And the closer you get to Christmas, the more important those weekends become."

National Weather Service meteorologist Charlie Foley said this weekend's storm is expected to dump two to four inches on the Boston area, one to three inches on the Cape and islands, and five to eight inches on the Merrimack Valley into northern Worcester County.

"It won't be a blockbuster, but it'll be the first significant snowstorm of the season," Foley said.

Alissa Eck, owner of Exclusive Jewels on Beacon Hill, worried that even a light snowfall in Boston might keep people home.

"Right now, it's so close to Christmas," said Eck. "It will definitely hinder how many people come out."

Herald wire services
contributed to this 
report.

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Boutique buildings fill Hub niche 
with distinction

While a lot of attention has been given to the larger residential projects in the Hub, there are a number of new, smaller boutique buildings that promise buyers and tenants something more distinctive.

"In a smaller-scale building you can pay much more attention to the quality of the design and the details," said Damian Szary, a principal at Boston-based Redgate Real Estate Advisors, whose Gate Residential unit is developing a nine-story condo complex along Congress and Farnsworth streets in the booming Seaport District. With its floor-to-ceiling glass windows all around, Zero Farnsworth will be strikingly contemporary in an area of brick warehouses.

"We are pushing our architects (Boston-based CBT Architects) to go above and beyond in terms of design and style," added Szary, who expects construction to begin in the second half of next year. "Our goal is to create a product that Boston hasn't seen before."

There's no question that new units in boutique buildings elsewhere in the city are selling for a premium. The five-unit Chevron on Tremont in the South End sold out in preconstruction, commanding $3-million-plus prices. And three units have sold in a six-condo complex above a Chanel store at 
4-6 Newbury St., dubbed Chanel No. 6, with prices ranging from $5.5 million to almost $8 million.

"Some buyers and renters would rather be one of 10 people in a building rather than one of 250," said Szary, whose company also developed the 184-unit Maxwell's Green luxury rental complex in Somerville.

A high-end rental project at 22-26 West Broadway in Southie looks like it was designed for a European city. The three mini-tower complex is the brainchild of local developer Jason Cincotta and architect Michael LeBlanc of Hub-based Utile.

"We want to provide a different kind of rental experience, something not mass-produced, that creates a feeling of a small community," said Cincotta, owner of Evergreen Property Group, adding that the 31 units in the floor-to-ceiling glass-faced towers will have 16 different floor plans, luxury condo finishes and common spaces that will encourage residents to get to know one another.

LeBlanc, whose firm also designed the successful First & First 23-unit townhouse condo development, thinks there is a pent-up demand for high-design units in smaller buildings.

"And with a thoughtful use of space and materials and attention to design, you can provide a great residential experience without a lot of added cost," LeBlanc said.

With some 6,000 new rental units expected to come on line in the city over the next several years, boutique buildings differentiate themselves from larger projects designed to appeal to a wider segment of renters.

Take the Fox Residences, a 14-unit rental building that for many years housed the Strawberries record store on Washington Street downtown. Before that it was the Art Deco design headquarters of furrier I.J. Fox. An affiliate of Hub developer Core Investments is refinishing the building's two-story black granite exterior that's framed by a brass ziggurat. And they have uncovered and are refinishing an interior vestibule that features a fox head in relief on bronze panels, brass moldings as well as a stylish Art Deco skylight. Upstairs are 14 two- to four-bedroom units with Brazilian cherrywood floors and Silestone counters, priced from $2,650 to $5,600 a month, many with great downtown views through large windows.

"It's unique," said Alicia Ingalls, a principal at Bulfinch Boston Realty. "It doesn't feel like a vanilla box or a hotel. Boutique buildings like this feel more personable."

Broker Ralph Aucella of Keliher Real Estate, who is handling rentals for the Fox building that opens next month, said boutique buildings are popular for other reasons, too.

"They have a little more character and a little more privacy," Aucella said. "They're good places to be if you don't want a concierge in your business 24 hours a day."

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PowerShell a treat for iPhone users — but not many others

Logitech PowerShell Controller + Battery ($99.95, Apple Store)

Expected to be the first of many devices that turn your iOS 7 Apple device into a gamepad, the PowerShell is reminiscent of the iconic Nintendo controller from the 1980s. This device also charges your 5th-generation iPod touch or iPhone.

The good: It's a cinch to pop your iPhone into this no-fuss controller and enjoy a growing number of games that are compatible.

The bad: It seems disjointed to have a controller attached to your smartphone that can only control that smartphone within a game. The buttons on the controller are useless when it comes to opening your email or answering a call.

The bottom line: Destined to be seriously considered as a stocking-stuffer by many, the PowerShell is only for a select few game-
obsessed consumers. If it were half the price, it could be an 
option. But for the current cost, wait until a better iOS gamepad comes to market.

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State mulls path on new tech

State regulators are hoping to get out in front of the next wave of telecommunications infrastructure changes, and are looking to industry insiders for guidance.

"This is a transformation that's happening for all of us and we as a state want to support that transformation, we want to support growth," state Telecommunications and Cable Commissioner Geoffrey Why said at the Department of Telecommunications and Cable's IP Transition Conference last week.

The so-called "IP transition" — the movement from traditional circuit switches to Internet protocol-based technologies such as fiber optic wire — will shape the telecom industry, officials have said.

"The impacts on networks have already begun and will be profound," said Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler in a blog post last month.

Technologies including VoIP — Voice Over Internet Protocol — which allows phone calls over the Internet, are dramatically changing how communications are carried.

"Communication — voice, data, video — is all transforming today. They are converting into one pipe and this is a way we are interacting with the world," Why said.

He said the DTC is trying to determine the best way to handle the change from a state perspective. Some say the way forward will be tricky given the established telecom companies and infrastructure.

"It's crucial that they be thinking about all the different kinds of customers there are and encouraging the growth and the innovation to continue," said Angela Kronenberg, chief advocate for COMPTEL and a former FCC adviser.

Others say the best option is for the state to sit back and let innovation happen.

"We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive innovation by minimizing regulatory overhead," said Sean Dandley, CEO and president of DSCI.

"We are really hearing a range of opinions about how to do this thoughtfully," Why said.

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Getting to know all about you

Expect to hear more about the "quantified self" movement — the name for a growing mass of devices, apps and technologies that sense, save and synthesize everything about you. And we do mean everything.

We've all heard about wristbands that track your heart rate and fitness. But what about a device that maps every place you've ever been, everything you've ever said and everyone you've ever met? It could happen sooner than you think.

"2014 is going to be the year where consumers are literally going to wake up to how much information they create and wonder where it's all going," Chris Dancy, 45, of Denver, a quantified-self trailblazer who has made headlines for the reams of data he collects on himself.

Evidence that we are on the cusp of a personal data revolution exists in the devices we already own: Smartphones are increasingly logging personal data, with the Samsung Galaxy S4 automatically charting the temperature, humidity and air pressure of the user's environment. The Moto X phones are constantly listening to surrounding audio. The new iPhone 5s tracks motion, and an increasing number of apps track our digital movements. Favorites, an app for iOS and Android, monitors communication with loved ones and notifies you when it's been too long since you've called grandma.

Another product aimed at self-insight is the upcoming audio-recording wristband Kapture, which constantly records audio in 60-second increments. If something has happened that you want to remember, you simply press a button and the previous 60 seconds are saved. The Kapture is a precursor to something that will be truly revolutionary: a continuous audio archive stream. No longer will you and your mate quarrel over who said what and when. You'll settle the matter with what amounts to a self-Google search. The possibilities are endless — not all of them good, or under current wiretap laws, even legal.

Eventually, more comprehensive devices will emerge, pulling together these disparate metrics. The same wristband or smartphone that records your audio will also chart your movements, speed and heart rate, along with the air quality, the weather and more. You'll be able to tell where you were in any moment in time — where and at what precise second your child said his or her first word, for example.

Dancy is already collecting hundreds of data points about his personal health and whereabouts via the many devices he uses on and around him. It may seem incredibly eccentric, but in an age where advertisers and big companies are collecting tons of information about us, why not get ahead of your own personal data and use it to get to know yourself better, and eventually, to improve your life?

Dancy predicts that the health sector will see the first big wave of these devices, with a snowball effect that will eventually result in consumer adoption.

"Within 24 months there won't be an occupation not affected by wearable computing and personal data," Dancy said.

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Dash-ER will deliver your christmas tree

In years past, Hadley Stephens had always gone Christmas tree shopping with her parents or bought a tree of her own that was small enough to carry. But this is her first year being married, so it was time for a change.

"My husband and I talked about going out to one of those farms to cut our own tree, but we didn't have time," said Stephens, 31. "We were also nervous about attaching it to our car. You never know what might happen."

So, in search of a convenient way to get a tree, her husband stumbled upon one on Foodler.com, the home of Dashed, a Boston-based food-delivery service they'd used a handful of times.

Less than one hour and $90 later, a 9-foot Balsam Fir was delivered to their door and erected in their South Boston loft.

"We definitely were not expecting to find that they deliver trees," Stephens said. "We were pleasantly surprised."

If all of this sounds almost Grinch-like to those of you who consider shopping for a tree a tradition not to be tampered with — even if it does leave a trail of scratches on the roof of your car — your numbers may be dwindling.

This is the second year Dashed has offered the service, which runs through Christmas Eve and costs a flat rate of $19.99, not including the cost of the tree.

"We saw such demand last year that we decided to offer it again," said Phil Dumontet, who started Dashed in 2009 by delivering meals from Maurizio's in the North End on his Trek mountain bike.

That first year Dumontet made $150,570. By last year, he had hired nearly 100 employees in five cities, and the company's revenue had grown to $4.6 million.

"We started to look at what else we could deliver," Dumontet said.

So the company began offering a menu of trees: a Balsam Fir and a Fraser Fir, both of which come in various sizes, and a potted, 2-foot Alberta.

This year, Dashed wasn't the only company to branch out into Christmas trees.

The ride-sharing app Uber did a one-day trial run last Thursday, delivering a
7- to 8-foot Fraser Fir for $135, including tree, stand and scarf.

"We were excited to roll it out and see how it did," said Meghan Verena Joyce, general manager of Uber Boston, declining to reveal how many trees were delivered. "Our bread and butter is giving people access to reliable transportation around the city. So this was an exciting experiment for us."

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Camry keeps on humming along — and not in a good way

My wife's Camry is making a humming noise when in motion, not impacted by wheel turns or by brake application. It gets louder as you go faster. I have a feeling that I know what it is, but would appreciate another opinion.

Is this a setup? If you think you know, why not share it? So, to make sure I'm unlikely to miss, I'd suspect — in this order — tire noise, wheel bearing howl, air leak buzz around windshield or doors, serpentine belt/idler pulley/alternator or power steering pump whine, torque converter drone, transaxle/differential bearing howl, RF static from the audio system and last but not least, happy in-laws humming Christmas carols in the back seat!

We found a 2009 Honda Odyssey that had 14,000 miles on it. The previous owner had four cars and the van wasn't used much so he decided to sell it. The Carfax was clean and it's in excellent shape. We will probably put about 15K to 20K miles a year on it, meaning it will be driven more in the next 12 months than it was in its first four years. Would this van be a candidate for synthetic motor oil? The Honda onboard oil life monitoring system seems to be recommending changes at about 7,500 miles or so.

Yes, absolutely. In my opinion, virtually every automotive engine is a candidate for synthetic oil. Synthetics offer better performance over a wider range of operating temperatures and better viscosity stability over its service life. These benefits are small and the higher cost of synthetics is a very, very small increment of the overall cost of ownership, operation, maintenance and repair over the life of the vehicle. To me, that makes the decision to use synthetic lubricants an easy one.

But I'd be hard-pressed to go more than roughly 5,000 miles between oil changes. Call me old-fashioned, but I'm just not comfortable with longer intervals for my personal vehicles.

I drive a 2002 Honda CRV with 97,000 miles on it. A "Check engine" light diagnostic indicated an oxygen sensor heater was working intermittently and the recommendation was to replace the "b1s1o2." Neither an independent auto shop nor a Honda dealer could really explain why I should spend $500 ($350 parts, $150 labor) if the only issue is slightly decreased gas mileage. I drive less than 4,000 miles a year and 99 percent is city driving so my mileage hasn't been great. What is the worst downside of doing nothing and what would you recommend?

Honda recommends inspecting/cleaning/repairing any faults in the connectors, harness or circuit from the ECM to the "bank 1, sensor 1, oxygen" — the front oxygen sensor. Then have the DTC fault code cleared. If it comes back, I'd replace the O2 sensor. My Alldata database confirmed the cost for the OE sensor at over $350, but a quick Internet search found reputable brand name replacement sensors for your vehicle in the $50-$150 range. These units require harness splicing, but are significantly less expensive. Installation should take about 30 minutes.

The function of the electrical heater is to stabilize the sensor's operating temperature, allowing the engine management system to read and adjust the air/fuel ratio more accurately. This reduces the burden on the catalytic converter — an even more expensive component — and optimizes engine performance and economy.

Your question is valid. Since the sensor is heated by the exhaust it still may be supplying A/F ratio data, but because it triggered a fault code the data may not be accurate or the ECM may be substituting a default value, meaning less efficient operation and potentially more unburned fuel for the converter to catalyze.

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn., 55488 or via email at paulbrand@startribune.com.

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Hackers get crack at DOT traffic data

Members of the tech community will come together next weekend to sift through a trove of data from the state Department of Transportation, and brainstorm ideas focusing on how people get to their destinations.

"We recognize the immense potential the tech community in the commonwealth could bring to us," said Rachel Bain, project manager for big data in transportation for MassDOT.

The two-day hackathon, starting Friday and hosted by MassDOT at Cambridge tech event space Hack/Reduce, will give the 100-plus coders and developers expected to sign up a chance to turn raw transportation data into a usable visualization — an image, or interactive application, for example. The focus is on travel behavior, road and rail comparisons, and the energy, environmental, and social impacts of the method of transportation people choose, according to organizers who include Massachusetts Big Data and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

Participants will have access to some of the data DOT has collected, including real-time traffic information, fare and ridership information for the commuter rail and accident data.

"We hope the visualizations that people are able to produce will help inform us better about what is going on in our transportation system, about traffic in general and the way people move around the state," Bain said.

Marcela Rodriguez, an independent web developer, says she plans to participate in the hackathon because of the possibility of producing something that could have an impact on how people live their lives.

"There's a lot of opportunities to contribute and make a difference," she said. "Transportation and travel are just very interesting fields."

Rodriguez said she has a couple ideas for what she will produce, likely related to train routes.

Three prizes of $2,000 — provided by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative — will be awarded, one each to the project that best uses the DOT data, the project that is the most visually compelling and the crowd favorite.

Adriane Cochrane, executive director of Hack/Reduce, said hackathons that have a beneficial theme are more popular.

"Anything that is civic in nature definitely excites people," she said.

More than a week before the hackathon, spots were more than half full, she said.

"People aren't coming out for the prizes, it's about learning and collaborating and finding peers with the same interests," Cochrane said.

The state hopes to come away from the hackathon with new information about transportation trends, Bain said. "The hacker community could have a really positive impact in transportation planning," she said.

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