Host Kevin O’Connor and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada take a road trip to a local nursery to discuss pollinator plants. After explaining that every plant that flowers is technically a pollinator plant, Jenn shows Kevin some of her favorite varieties. The two discuss some early-season, mid-season, and late-season pollinator plants and the importance of these plants as a source of food for critical pollinators.
Next, we take a road trip to Philadelphia with plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey. He helps a homeowner upgrade her oven and install a new microwave with ventilation. Partnering with a local licensed plumber, the pair removed the old units, modify some plumbing and ductwork, and install new units that the family can enjoy for years.
Finally, home technology expert Ross Trethewey takes us on a road trip to talk about wireless EV charging. Ross discusses wireless charging on a small scale with an EV charging expert before looking at larger-scale wireless chargers. Folks can simply park over top of these units to charge their cars. Ross learns about the magnetic field and coils that make charging over a distance possible and the future of wireless charging in the American car market.
Simple Guide to Pollinator Plants
Jenn and Kevin head to the garden center to discuss pollinator plants and how to create
a pollinator garden at home.
Pollinator Plants are flowering perennials, annuals, or shrubs that provide nectar and pollen
essential for a flourishing pollinator population, which allows for crops and flowers to continue
producing seeds and fruits via insect pollination.
Pollinators include bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other insects beneficial to gardens.
CORRECTION: In the segment, one plant is classified as asclepias tuberosa, but it should be classified as asclepias incarnata.
Where to find it?
Jenn Nawada and Kevin O’Connor visited Mahoney’s Garden Center.
How to Install a Vented Microwave
Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey teams up with a local plumber to install a new stove and a vented microwave to exhaust the fumes.
Where to find it?
Richard heads to Philadelphia to help a homeowner with a leaking gas oven. Richard teams up
with local plumbing expert, Kelly Ireland. Together, they install a new gas oven and built-in vented microwave.
To install the microwave, Richard and Kelly drilled in the mounting brackets into the wall using an
electric drill. Richard uses a hole saw to cut an access hole to run the plug into the receptacle in the overhead cabinet. He also cuts an access hole for the ventilation duct to come through the overhead cabinet using an orbiting sawzall. Richard offsets the exhaust by installing a double elbow ventilation pipe. Kelly uses an auger drill bit to drill the pilot hole to the exterior. After, Kelly uses a hole saw to cut an access hole to the exterior of the house. Richard cuts the exterior access hole with the hole saw and installs the exterior exhaust vent.
To install the gas stove, Kelly has to allow space for the gas connection. She partially modifies
the wall by cutting into it with a sawzall behind the connector. To ensure the stove is secure,
Richard and Kelly install an anti-tip bracket. Once secured, Richard and Kelly check the level.
Future House | Wireless EV Chargers
Home technology expert Ross Trethewey takes us to WiTricity to talk about wireless charging for electric vehicles.
Where to find it?
Ross meets a team of engineers at WiTricity who are working on creating an infrastructure that will allow electric vehicles to charge wirelessly.
Wireless chargers transfer electric power over a distance without wires–a concept called magnetic resonance. The wall box, charging pad, and receiver are the main components of a wireless EV charging system. The power sources and the receiver are specifically designed magnetic resonators that transfer power over a distance via the magnetic near field.
Products and resources
- Garden center: Mahoney’s Garden Center
- Plumbing assistance: Kelly Ireland
- Side trip: WiTricity