ALBANY, NY (12/30/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Office of General Services Commissioner John C. Egan today announced the awarding of bids for ten contracts representing more than $7.0 MILLION in new construction, providing work in three counties of New York.
The contracts are expected to be awarded to the apparent low bidders following the normal process of review and approval by the State Comptroller's Office. All of the low bidders are New York State firms.
The projects and apparent low bidders are described in the following listing by county:
ALBANY COUNTY
Construction, electrical and heating and ventilation contracts were bid to provide power and air conditioning upgrades data center, 3rd floor at the Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany, NY.
Construction: Gallo Construction Corp. of Watervliet, NY was the apparent low bidder out of five firms. The low bid was $163,951.
Electrical: George J. Martin & Son, Inc. of Rensselaer, NY was the apparent low bidder out of ten firms. The low bid was $616,192.
Heating and Ventilation: Postler & Jaeckle Corp. of Rochester, NY was the apparent low bidder out of 12 firms. The low bid was $413,890.
ESSEX COUNTY
Electrical, heating and ventilation and plumbing contracts were bid to boilers no. 1 & 2, powerhouse Building No. 13 and steam pipe, Building No. 50 at the Adirondack Correctional Facility in Ray Brook, NY.
Electrical: S & L Electric, Inc. of Colton, NY was the apparent low bidder out of eight firms. The low bid was $120,315.
Heating and Ventilation: Brockway Mechanical Systems, Inc. of Plattsburgh, NY was the apparent low bidder out of three firms. The low bid was $1,432,560.
Plumbing: Brockway Mechanical Systems, Inc. of Plattsburgh, NY was the apparent low bidder out of five firms. The low bid was $24,560.
STATEWIDE
A plumbing contract to job order contracting - area 1 at the Term Contract in NY was bid by three firms. Of those three, Ace Contracting, Inc. of Brooklyn, NY was the apparent low bidder with a bid of $750,000.
A plumbing contract to job order contracting - area 2 at the Term Contract in NY was bid by one firm. Crescent Contracting Corp. of Bronx, NY was the apparent low bidder with a bid of $1,000,000.
A construction contract to job order contracting (roofing) - areas 7 & 8 at the Term Contract in NY was bid by three firms. Of those three, New Britain Roofing Co., Inc. of Horseheads, NY was the apparent low bidder with a bid of $1,500,000.
A construction contract to job order contracting - area 8 at the Term Contract in NY was bid by three firms. Of those three, C.P. Ward, Inc. of Scottsville, NY was the apparent low bidder with a bid of $1,000,000.
The New York State Office of General Services (OGS) provides a broad range of support services that facilitate the operations of State government, and ssists local governments, public authorities, public and private agencies. OGS offers numerous services to clients throughout the Empire State, including property management, design and construction, procurement, and various support services.
The OGS Design and Construction Group provide a full range of architectural, engineering and construction management services to state agencies. The Empire State Builder is the Design and Construction Group's public notification that provides information on: construction contracts with plans and specifications currently available for purchase; a listing of plan purchases for contracts to be bid; bid results; future construction contracting opportunities and other relevant OGS contracting notices.
Additional information about OGS Design and Construction projects and The Empire State Builder is available on the OGS Internet site at http://www.ogs.state.ny.us.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Many Electricians to work for Korea Electrical Power
By Ayesha Daya and Shinhye Kang
Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Korea Electric Power Corp. shares surged after it led a group of bidders that won a $20 billion contract for four nuclear plants in the United Arab Emirates, beating General Electric Co. and Areva SA, the world’s biggest builder of atomic plants.
The order announced yesterday is the first nuclear project awarded by a Gulf Arab nation and will be South Korea’s first export of atomic plants. Korea Electric’s winning group included Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., the nation’s biggest power-equipment maker, signaling Korean companies are contenders to win more nuclear orders.
“There’s strong growth potential for the industry in the next two decades,” said Lee Jin Woo, a fund manager at KTB Asset Management Co. in Seoul, which manages the equivalent of $8.5 billion in assets. “There are expectations Korean companies will win additional orders.”
Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Korea Electric Power Corp. shares surged after it led a group of bidders that won a $20 billion contract for four nuclear plants in the United Arab Emirates, beating General Electric Co. and Areva SA, the world’s biggest builder of atomic plants.
The order announced yesterday is the first nuclear project awarded by a Gulf Arab nation and will be South Korea’s first export of atomic plants. Korea Electric’s winning group included Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., the nation’s biggest power-equipment maker, signaling Korean companies are contenders to win more nuclear orders.
“There’s strong growth potential for the industry in the next two decades,” said Lee Jin Woo, a fund manager at KTB Asset Management Co. in Seoul, which manages the equivalent of $8.5 billion in assets. “There are expectations Korean companies will win additional orders.”
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Good Electrical Connection Prevent Fires
From KTVZ.COM news sources
A fire that destroyed a shop building and most of its contents in Deschutes River Woods Sunday afternoon was traced by investigators to an electrical connection to a home about 100 feet away.
Owner Douglas Morgan was in the house at 19086 Choctaw Rd. eating lunch when he noticed the fire and called Deschutes County 911 around 1:45 p.m., said Bend Fire Battalion Chief Bob Madden.
Arriving units found the 20-by-30 shop building heavily involved in the fire, which had spread to an adjacent wood pile, Madden said in a news release.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the blaze, he said, but not before it destroyed most of what was inside, causing an estimated $8,000 damage to the building and $8,000 to its contents.
There were no injuries, Madden added.
The battalion chief said the homeowner had just completed an electrical connection from his home to the older shop building, but an investigation determined the building's old wiring could not handle the electrical load and overheated.
Madden reminded property owners to have a licensed electrician involved in any changes or additions to electrical service in building.
A fire that destroyed a shop building and most of its contents in Deschutes River Woods Sunday afternoon was traced by investigators to an electrical connection to a home about 100 feet away.
Owner Douglas Morgan was in the house at 19086 Choctaw Rd. eating lunch when he noticed the fire and called Deschutes County 911 around 1:45 p.m., said Bend Fire Battalion Chief Bob Madden.
Arriving units found the 20-by-30 shop building heavily involved in the fire, which had spread to an adjacent wood pile, Madden said in a news release.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the blaze, he said, but not before it destroyed most of what was inside, causing an estimated $8,000 damage to the building and $8,000 to its contents.
There were no injuries, Madden added.
The battalion chief said the homeowner had just completed an electrical connection from his home to the older shop building, but an investigation determined the building's old wiring could not handle the electrical load and overheated.
Madden reminded property owners to have a licensed electrician involved in any changes or additions to electrical service in building.
Monday, December 28, 2009
New Dean with Electrical Engineering Background
Newly appointed Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), Taiwanese-born Professor C. L. Philip Chen, is due to take office next month.
The recruitment process for the position was a global process attracting applications from more than a dozen renowned scholars across the world.
Prof. Chen received his M.S. degree from the University of Michigan, USA in 1985, and his Ph.D. degree from Purdue University, USA, in 1988. Both degrees are in Electrical Engineering.
He was with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, from 1989 to 2002 as an assistant, associate, and tenured full professor before he joined the University of Texas, San Antonio, where he currently serves as a Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Also serving as the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies of the College of Engineering, his current research interests include theoretical development in computational intelligence, intelligent systems, robotics and manufacturing automation, networking, diagnosis and prognosis, and life prediction and life-extending control.
He has been a visiting research scientist at the Materials Directorate, US Air Force Wright Lab, a senior research fellow sponsored by the US National Research Council, and a research faculty fellow for NASA Glenn Research Center for several years.
After taking up office, Prof. Chen hopes to further improve UM’s “strength” areas, such as information security system, structural and environmental engineering, and medical science and engineering, in hopes of propelling UM to a leading status in such areas in Asia.
The recruitment process for the position was a global process attracting applications from more than a dozen renowned scholars across the world.
Prof. Chen received his M.S. degree from the University of Michigan, USA in 1985, and his Ph.D. degree from Purdue University, USA, in 1988. Both degrees are in Electrical Engineering.
He was with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, from 1989 to 2002 as an assistant, associate, and tenured full professor before he joined the University of Texas, San Antonio, where he currently serves as a Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Also serving as the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies of the College of Engineering, his current research interests include theoretical development in computational intelligence, intelligent systems, robotics and manufacturing automation, networking, diagnosis and prognosis, and life prediction and life-extending control.
He has been a visiting research scientist at the Materials Directorate, US Air Force Wright Lab, a senior research fellow sponsored by the US National Research Council, and a research faculty fellow for NASA Glenn Research Center for several years.
After taking up office, Prof. Chen hopes to further improve UM’s “strength” areas, such as information security system, structural and environmental engineering, and medical science and engineering, in hopes of propelling UM to a leading status in such areas in Asia.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Green Jobs for Electricians in 2010
By Stephanie Tavares (contact)
The renewable energy industry boom is expected to create much-needed jobs for electricians and construction workers in Nevada.
And the green push already is putting more lawyers to work.
Every Public Utilities Commission filing and Bureau of Land Management application is backed by not just a team of engineers and businesspeople but also lawyers with expertise in energy regulations, local and national land use provisions and environmental protection laws.
They call themselves environmental lawyers and their ranks are growing.
Several corporate law firms in the state have expanded their environmental law practices or reassigned lawyers from less-active practices.
Although many real estate and transactional lawyers in Nevada have been laid off in the past year and a half, those with training in energy regulatory law or renewable energy issues are finding work at the states’ biggest firms.
“It used to be that you went to a party and you weren’t supposed to talk about work. We were considered boring,” says Kathleen Drakulich, a longtime environmental attorney with law firm McDonald Carano Wilson. “Today everyone wants to talk about what we do.”
Environmental law is an increasingly popular focus for young lawyers and law students. It’s become so popular that U.S. News & World Report has begun ranking schools’ environmental law programs along with more traditional programs such as legal writing and tax law.
UNLV’s Boyd School of Law didn’t make that list, but it has an “environmental quality law” elective track. The school held a workshop this year for students interested in practicing environmental law after graduation.
“Clean energy, green technologies and environmentalism in general have been ‘in’ the last few years,” says Lionel Sawyer & Collins’ Linda Bullen, another longtime environmental lawyer. “That has created interest in the field among new lawyers.”
What creates even more interest is the prospect of paying work.
Lawyers have suffered with the rest of the workforce as layoffs hit firms across the nation.
In Nevada, dozens of young lawyers lost jobs as law firms merged, and even experienced lawyers couldn’t outrun the downsizing that rolled over transactional and real estate practice groups after the real estate crash. Some law school graduates didn’t find jobs after graduation and are working as public affairs specialists and freelance writers.
But just as a rise in real estate meant a rise in real estate lawyers, a rise in clean energy development means more environmental law work.
That’s true in Nevada, with its green energy quotas for power companies, vast tracks of available land and business friendly regulatory environment.
And as the number of attorneys in environmental law expands, so does the scope of their work. Environmental law once covered only soil, water and air contamination. Eventually the category took in energy lawyers. Today it encompasses everything from green building contract experts to Endangered Species Act specialists.
Melissa Orien of the law firm Holland & Hart is one of this new generation of lawyers. She is an environment lawyer, but she doesn’t help energy developers get permits or fight for tortoise rights. Orien is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, accredited professional. She’s an expert on writing contracts for green building development.
Hers is an emerging area of law where the rules haven’t been written, one that she says will keep her scanning law journals and federal court dockets for decades.
“Trends in the legal community obviously follow trends in business community, and right now green building is a big trend,” she says. “But the issue is it’s an area of law where there seems to be a lot of emerging legal questions that there aren’t established answers for.”
All of these are on one side of the aisle — the business side.
But behind the scenes is a whole world of environmental lawyers — government lawyers advising state and federal agencies, litigators filing class action lawsuits against polluting companies, lawyers working for nonprofit organizations fighting for the interests of endangered species.
The need for more of those lawyers is going to keep growing for the foreseeable future, American College of Environmental Lawyers President Jeffrey Thaler says.
“We’re going to see more regulation and more environmental lawsuits. All of that means there will be a greater need for the skills of an environmental lawyer.”
His 3-year-old organization has about 100 members, with Bullen being the only Nevadan. Membership is by invitation only, so the members are recognized by their peers as pre-eminent in their field. Thaler expects the roster will get longer as the growing ranks of environmental attorneys gain the experience needed for membership.
The renewable energy industry boom is expected to create much-needed jobs for electricians and construction workers in Nevada.
And the green push already is putting more lawyers to work.
Every Public Utilities Commission filing and Bureau of Land Management application is backed by not just a team of engineers and businesspeople but also lawyers with expertise in energy regulations, local and national land use provisions and environmental protection laws.
They call themselves environmental lawyers and their ranks are growing.
Several corporate law firms in the state have expanded their environmental law practices or reassigned lawyers from less-active practices.
Although many real estate and transactional lawyers in Nevada have been laid off in the past year and a half, those with training in energy regulatory law or renewable energy issues are finding work at the states’ biggest firms.
“It used to be that you went to a party and you weren’t supposed to talk about work. We were considered boring,” says Kathleen Drakulich, a longtime environmental attorney with law firm McDonald Carano Wilson. “Today everyone wants to talk about what we do.”
Environmental law is an increasingly popular focus for young lawyers and law students. It’s become so popular that U.S. News & World Report has begun ranking schools’ environmental law programs along with more traditional programs such as legal writing and tax law.
UNLV’s Boyd School of Law didn’t make that list, but it has an “environmental quality law” elective track. The school held a workshop this year for students interested in practicing environmental law after graduation.
“Clean energy, green technologies and environmentalism in general have been ‘in’ the last few years,” says Lionel Sawyer & Collins’ Linda Bullen, another longtime environmental lawyer. “That has created interest in the field among new lawyers.”
What creates even more interest is the prospect of paying work.
Lawyers have suffered with the rest of the workforce as layoffs hit firms across the nation.
In Nevada, dozens of young lawyers lost jobs as law firms merged, and even experienced lawyers couldn’t outrun the downsizing that rolled over transactional and real estate practice groups after the real estate crash. Some law school graduates didn’t find jobs after graduation and are working as public affairs specialists and freelance writers.
But just as a rise in real estate meant a rise in real estate lawyers, a rise in clean energy development means more environmental law work.
That’s true in Nevada, with its green energy quotas for power companies, vast tracks of available land and business friendly regulatory environment.
And as the number of attorneys in environmental law expands, so does the scope of their work. Environmental law once covered only soil, water and air contamination. Eventually the category took in energy lawyers. Today it encompasses everything from green building contract experts to Endangered Species Act specialists.
Melissa Orien of the law firm Holland & Hart is one of this new generation of lawyers. She is an environment lawyer, but she doesn’t help energy developers get permits or fight for tortoise rights. Orien is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, accredited professional. She’s an expert on writing contracts for green building development.
Hers is an emerging area of law where the rules haven’t been written, one that she says will keep her scanning law journals and federal court dockets for decades.
“Trends in the legal community obviously follow trends in business community, and right now green building is a big trend,” she says. “But the issue is it’s an area of law where there seems to be a lot of emerging legal questions that there aren’t established answers for.”
All of these are on one side of the aisle — the business side.
But behind the scenes is a whole world of environmental lawyers — government lawyers advising state and federal agencies, litigators filing class action lawsuits against polluting companies, lawyers working for nonprofit organizations fighting for the interests of endangered species.
The need for more of those lawyers is going to keep growing for the foreseeable future, American College of Environmental Lawyers President Jeffrey Thaler says.
“We’re going to see more regulation and more environmental lawsuits. All of that means there will be a greater need for the skills of an environmental lawyer.”
His 3-year-old organization has about 100 members, with Bullen being the only Nevadan. Membership is by invitation only, so the members are recognized by their peers as pre-eminent in their field. Thaler expects the roster will get longer as the growing ranks of environmental attorneys gain the experience needed for membership.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Boulder City Going Solar Array
By Stephanie Tavares (contact)
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 | 1:18 p.m.
Sun Coverage
* Archive of Sun energy stories
Boulder City is soon to be home to yet another large solar plant, thanks to Sempra Generation receiving final approval to sell solar energy generated in the Eldorado Valley to a California utility.
The company received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission today to sell energy to California's Pacific Gas and Electric. Sempra will begin construction next month on a 48-megawatt solar thin film power plant, an expansion of its existing 10-megawatt solar plant located near a Sempra natural gas plant along Highway 95.
The two solar plants combined will create the nation's most powerful solar photovoltaic array, outdoing Nellis Air Force Base's 14-megawatt photovoltaic array by dozens of megawatts.
The new Boulder City plant will take at least a year to build and will employ more than 200 construction workers and electricians during the building phase, said Sempra President Michael Allman.
"It will be a mix of job types," Allman said. "Some are for trained electricians but some of the work is basic construction work: installing posts in the ground and installing brackets to hold the panels. ... We expect to fill the vast majority of the jobs locally."
This will be the first solar project built since Sempra completed its 10-megawatt array last December. There are several other projects planned, but most would be on federal land which has a longer permitting process.
The solar energy corridor in Boulder City is owned by the city and is already zoned for solar energy development allowing for fast tracked permitting.
"The land was zoned and ready to go," Allman said. "We just entered into a lease and we're off and running. You can't compare that to BLM land that's similarly situated with the flat land and the transmission lines, the permitted process is much more complicated and a lot slower."
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 | 1:18 p.m.
Sun Coverage
* Archive of Sun energy stories
Boulder City is soon to be home to yet another large solar plant, thanks to Sempra Generation receiving final approval to sell solar energy generated in the Eldorado Valley to a California utility.
The company received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission today to sell energy to California's Pacific Gas and Electric. Sempra will begin construction next month on a 48-megawatt solar thin film power plant, an expansion of its existing 10-megawatt solar plant located near a Sempra natural gas plant along Highway 95.
The two solar plants combined will create the nation's most powerful solar photovoltaic array, outdoing Nellis Air Force Base's 14-megawatt photovoltaic array by dozens of megawatts.
The new Boulder City plant will take at least a year to build and will employ more than 200 construction workers and electricians during the building phase, said Sempra President Michael Allman.
"It will be a mix of job types," Allman said. "Some are for trained electricians but some of the work is basic construction work: installing posts in the ground and installing brackets to hold the panels. ... We expect to fill the vast majority of the jobs locally."
This will be the first solar project built since Sempra completed its 10-megawatt array last December. There are several other projects planned, but most would be on federal land which has a longer permitting process.
The solar energy corridor in Boulder City is owned by the city and is already zoned for solar energy development allowing for fast tracked permitting.
"The land was zoned and ready to go," Allman said. "We just entered into a lease and we're off and running. You can't compare that to BLM land that's similarly situated with the flat land and the transmission lines, the permitted process is much more complicated and a lot slower."
Friday, December 25, 2009
Power Outage at San Antonio Airport
By John W. Gonzalez - Express-News
More than 12,000 San Antonio homes and businesses were without electricity Thursday afternoon due to winds that battered area power lines earlier in the day.
Initially more than 10,500 scattered customers were without power, and power was quickly restored for all but 1,300 of them, but the relentless winds caused more problems later in the day, leaving about 12,500 customers without power, according to CPS Energy.
At midday, Terminal 1 of the San Antonio International Airport lost its main power source for 90 minutes, and the entire Port of San Antonio remained without power, CPS Energy spokesman Rolando Romero said.
Romero said strong winds brought down power lines, branches and trees early Thursday as a cold front moved into the area.
CPS Energy workers began repairs as soon as the storm passed, and “we restored most of the customers by 2 a.m.,” Romero said, but the scattered outages mounted.
“Crews have been on a roller coaster,” Romero said. “Our employees have their work cut out for them,” he said.
The airport outage began when three circuit-breakers were tripped around 11:50 a.m. amid strong winds, said airport spokesman Rich Johnson. After CPS Energy and the airport electricians worked on the problem, power was restored about 1:20 p.m., Johnson said.
“We assume it was because of the weather, the wind and rain,” he said.
During the outage, some airline workers had to manually issue boarding passes, Johnson said. Backup power enabled terminal workers to keep some security lanes open, and there was no major impact on flights, although severe weather in other cities caused some local delays.
More than 12,000 San Antonio homes and businesses were without electricity Thursday afternoon due to winds that battered area power lines earlier in the day.
Initially more than 10,500 scattered customers were without power, and power was quickly restored for all but 1,300 of them, but the relentless winds caused more problems later in the day, leaving about 12,500 customers without power, according to CPS Energy.
At midday, Terminal 1 of the San Antonio International Airport lost its main power source for 90 minutes, and the entire Port of San Antonio remained without power, CPS Energy spokesman Rolando Romero said.
Romero said strong winds brought down power lines, branches and trees early Thursday as a cold front moved into the area.
CPS Energy workers began repairs as soon as the storm passed, and “we restored most of the customers by 2 a.m.,” Romero said, but the scattered outages mounted.
“Crews have been on a roller coaster,” Romero said. “Our employees have their work cut out for them,” he said.
The airport outage began when three circuit-breakers were tripped around 11:50 a.m. amid strong winds, said airport spokesman Rich Johnson. After CPS Energy and the airport electricians worked on the problem, power was restored about 1:20 p.m., Johnson said.
“We assume it was because of the weather, the wind and rain,” he said.
During the outage, some airline workers had to manually issue boarding passes, Johnson said. Backup power enabled terminal workers to keep some security lanes open, and there was no major impact on flights, although severe weather in other cities caused some local delays.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Electric Caution this Holiday
POINT PLEASANT — The holidays are a joyous time of year, with decorations ranging from simple strands of lights to elaborate outdoor displays. Whether entertaining guests, decorating the home, or shopping for gifts, it is easy to get caught up in the holiday season.
For millions of people, Christmas and New Year’s Day also is a time to reflect on family traditions and the important role that they have played in helping to make happy memories each year.
Unfortunately, winter also is a time when more residential fires and electrical accidents are caused by the increase in energy use to prepare meals and host friends and family at home. During this time, accidents including shock, burn and electrocution, are at an increased high.
However, many of these injuries can be prevented by following a few important safety tips for these winter months given by the Holiday Safety Campaign directed by the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
• Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires, and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire.
• Always unplug electrical decorations before replacing bulbs or fuses.
• When hanging decorations, do not connect more than three light strings together.
• Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed. Twenty percent of the population does not follow this safety precaution.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets, which can overheat and start a fire.
• Choose holiday decorations made of flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.
• Never allow children or pets to play with electrical decorations.
An estimated 76 percent of homeowners across the United States decorate their homes for Christmas and 70 percent of those use electrical lighting and decorations indoors. Holiday decorations and Christmas trees account for nearly 2,000 fires and more than $41 million in property damage each year.
Nearly one-quarter of Americans have not replaced their smoke detector batteries within in the last two years. This is especially critical to understand since 25 percent of all home decoration fires occur in December with 56 percent of those home fires being ignited by candles. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 alone, there are more than 200 fatalities and injuries caused by home fires.
The Holiday Safety Campaign also gives safety information about space heaters, post-holiday safety, extension cord safety, electrical products, and holiday energy use and efficiency.
Since the holidays are filled with gatherings, this special time of the year is unfortunately when parents often overlook dangers facing their children. The number of children injured and killed by fires more than doubles during the winter holiday months. The ESFI reminds parents to keep their children safe by recognizing and eliminating additional electrical shock and fire hazards that the winter months bring.
Some of those safety tips include:
• Never leave a child unsupervised while cooking or when an electric or gas stove is within reach. Unattended cooking is one of the leading causes of home fires during the holidays.
• Don’t use space heaters in rooms where children are unsupervised.
• When visiting the homes of others, remember they may not be childproofed.
• When buying presents for children, avoid any that might be flammable.
Other facts surrounding holiday safety include that roughly 33 percent of homeowners admitted to keeping their space heaters running overnight and another 19 percent admitted to leaving them unattended. This is why more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters.
More than 78 percent of homeowners use extension cords as permanent wiring. Nearly 3,300 residential fires originate from extension cords each year, killing and injuring over 300 people. One-third of homeowners report owning six or more extension cords.
For millions of people, Christmas and New Year’s Day also is a time to reflect on family traditions and the important role that they have played in helping to make happy memories each year.
Unfortunately, winter also is a time when more residential fires and electrical accidents are caused by the increase in energy use to prepare meals and host friends and family at home. During this time, accidents including shock, burn and electrocution, are at an increased high.
However, many of these injuries can be prevented by following a few important safety tips for these winter months given by the Holiday Safety Campaign directed by the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
• Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires, and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire.
• Always unplug electrical decorations before replacing bulbs or fuses.
• When hanging decorations, do not connect more than three light strings together.
• Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed. Twenty percent of the population does not follow this safety precaution.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets, which can overheat and start a fire.
• Choose holiday decorations made of flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.
• Never allow children or pets to play with electrical decorations.
An estimated 76 percent of homeowners across the United States decorate their homes for Christmas and 70 percent of those use electrical lighting and decorations indoors. Holiday decorations and Christmas trees account for nearly 2,000 fires and more than $41 million in property damage each year.
Nearly one-quarter of Americans have not replaced their smoke detector batteries within in the last two years. This is especially critical to understand since 25 percent of all home decoration fires occur in December with 56 percent of those home fires being ignited by candles. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 alone, there are more than 200 fatalities and injuries caused by home fires.
The Holiday Safety Campaign also gives safety information about space heaters, post-holiday safety, extension cord safety, electrical products, and holiday energy use and efficiency.
Since the holidays are filled with gatherings, this special time of the year is unfortunately when parents often overlook dangers facing their children. The number of children injured and killed by fires more than doubles during the winter holiday months. The ESFI reminds parents to keep their children safe by recognizing and eliminating additional electrical shock and fire hazards that the winter months bring.
Some of those safety tips include:
• Never leave a child unsupervised while cooking or when an electric or gas stove is within reach. Unattended cooking is one of the leading causes of home fires during the holidays.
• Don’t use space heaters in rooms where children are unsupervised.
• When visiting the homes of others, remember they may not be childproofed.
• When buying presents for children, avoid any that might be flammable.
Other facts surrounding holiday safety include that roughly 33 percent of homeowners admitted to keeping their space heaters running overnight and another 19 percent admitted to leaving them unattended. This is why more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters.
More than 78 percent of homeowners use extension cords as permanent wiring. Nearly 3,300 residential fires originate from extension cords each year, killing and injuring over 300 people. One-third of homeowners report owning six or more extension cords.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Electrician Lights Up Christmas
HUNTINGTON BEACH – A Surf City electrician is spreading holiday cheer using twinkle lights at a women's shelter in the city, a tradition he and his staff have held for 15 years.
Mitch Cottrell, owner of Electro Systems Electric, this year put up hundreds of colored lights at the Collette's Children's Home, a shelter for homeless women and children. "We know at this time of year people can use a helping hand sometimes and we just want to bring some Christmas cheer to different parts of the community who can use it," Cottrell said.
Cottrell and three of his electricians also hung big red bows around the property.
"We just thought it would be a nice gesture," Cottrell said. "We hope to bring some happiness."
One of the founders of Collette's Children's Home said Cottrell has a kind heart.
"I think it brightens up the whole community," Billy O'Connell said of the lights. "They are beautifully lit and put up all around the house."
The nonprofit has helped 385 women and children this year and reunited 16 children with their mothers, O'Connell said.
In past years, Cottrell has donated his lighting expertise and decorating know-how to various organizations throughout the city including the Youth Shelter, convalescent homes, medical clinics and other shelters, he said.
Mitch Cottrell, owner of Electro Systems Electric, this year put up hundreds of colored lights at the Collette's Children's Home, a shelter for homeless women and children. "We know at this time of year people can use a helping hand sometimes and we just want to bring some Christmas cheer to different parts of the community who can use it," Cottrell said.
Cottrell and three of his electricians also hung big red bows around the property.
"We just thought it would be a nice gesture," Cottrell said. "We hope to bring some happiness."
One of the founders of Collette's Children's Home said Cottrell has a kind heart.
"I think it brightens up the whole community," Billy O'Connell said of the lights. "They are beautifully lit and put up all around the house."
The nonprofit has helped 385 women and children this year and reunited 16 children with their mothers, O'Connell said.
In past years, Cottrell has donated his lighting expertise and decorating know-how to various organizations throughout the city including the Youth Shelter, convalescent homes, medical clinics and other shelters, he said.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tax Credits Help Building Construction
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091221/BUSINESS01/912210312/1003/NEWS01
With a 4,400-square-foot home and four sons, David LeFeve uses quite a bit of energy — about $600 per month, in fact. So, in an attempt to make his home more energy efficient, he replaced his 12-year-old heating and air conditioning system recently and hopes to save about $50 a month as a result. He'll also be rewarded with a total of $1,500 in tax credits from the federal government for doing so.
"I plan to make the house as energy-efficient as possible,'' said the Nashville homeowner. "The tax credit sort of pushed me over the line."
A few home building contractors say federal income tax credits passed in February to encourage energy-efficiency projects are helping out in a recession that has cut into revenue for many of them. While new home building has come to a near standstill, weatherization and energy-efficiency upgrades for existing homes have helped plug some of the financial gaps.
Related
* Energy tax credits
The tax credits aren't motivating everyone to act. Homeowners still have to spend $5,000 to be eligible for the full $1,500 tax break. That's because the tax credit equals 30 percent of the total costs of energy improvements, and only equipment that meets certain requirements qualifies.
Still, the tax credits seem to be changing what sort of new energy-saving systems go into people's homes. At Hiller Plumbing, which installed two units in David LeFeve's home, about 80 percent of all the heating and air systems it has sold qualify for the credit, which lasts until the end of 2010.
"I think it's wrong to offer somebody a system that won't qualify,'' said owner Jimmy Hiller. "It will cost them more in operating costs alone. Plus, with the $1,500 coming off, you can buy a more efficient unit for less."
Last month, the company got a new heat pump water heater that qualifies for the tax credit. So far, it has installed five of them at a cost of about $2,000 to $2,700, including labor.
With a 4,400-square-foot home and four sons, David LeFeve uses quite a bit of energy — about $600 per month, in fact. So, in an attempt to make his home more energy efficient, he replaced his 12-year-old heating and air conditioning system recently and hopes to save about $50 a month as a result. He'll also be rewarded with a total of $1,500 in tax credits from the federal government for doing so.
"I plan to make the house as energy-efficient as possible,'' said the Nashville homeowner. "The tax credit sort of pushed me over the line."
A few home building contractors say federal income tax credits passed in February to encourage energy-efficiency projects are helping out in a recession that has cut into revenue for many of them. While new home building has come to a near standstill, weatherization and energy-efficiency upgrades for existing homes have helped plug some of the financial gaps.
Related
* Energy tax credits
The tax credits aren't motivating everyone to act. Homeowners still have to spend $5,000 to be eligible for the full $1,500 tax break. That's because the tax credit equals 30 percent of the total costs of energy improvements, and only equipment that meets certain requirements qualifies.
Still, the tax credits seem to be changing what sort of new energy-saving systems go into people's homes. At Hiller Plumbing, which installed two units in David LeFeve's home, about 80 percent of all the heating and air systems it has sold qualify for the credit, which lasts until the end of 2010.
"I think it's wrong to offer somebody a system that won't qualify,'' said owner Jimmy Hiller. "It will cost them more in operating costs alone. Plus, with the $1,500 coming off, you can buy a more efficient unit for less."
Last month, the company got a new heat pump water heater that qualifies for the tax credit. So far, it has installed five of them at a cost of about $2,000 to $2,700, including labor.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Baptist Medical Center $130 Million Patient Tower
Clayco and Legacy Building Group are the winning bidders to build one of the region’s largest construction projects with a green light: Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s $130 million patient tower, entryway and garage in Town & Country.
Rounding out the project team are architectural firm HOK, engineering firm KJWW Engineering Consultants, electrical contractor Sachs Electric, mechanical contractor Murphy Co. and civil engineering firm Stock & Associates. Rebecca Nolan is senior vice president and managing principal of HOK’s St. Louis office. Todd Weaver is president of Legacy Building Group.
Clayco’s team beat out three other contractor/architectural teams for the work: Paric and ACI/Boland; SM Wilson & Co. and Christner; and Alberici and the Lawrence Group.
The project, originally proposed in March 2008, finally has a start date, which is welcome news to a construction industry that has seen its project pipeline evaporate.
Missouri Baptist is set to break ground in February on the new 227,000-square-foot, six-story West Pavilion patient tower and a five-story parking garage on its 65-acre campus at Interstate 270 and Highway 40.
The new tower is the first sizable capital project Missouri Baptist has pursued since it completed the $49.7 million East Pavilion two years ago. The East Pavilion, built by McCarthy Building Cos., included a new emergency department and cancer center in a five-story addition.
Missouri Baptist President Joan Magruder began discussions about the West Pavilion last year, but the project is moving forward now, in part, thanks to attractive construction pricing.
Materials pricing could be headed up, making now an opportune time to lock in lower prices, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. The AGC reported Dec. 14 that diesel, copper and brass mill shapes are on the rise. “Public agencies and private owners contemplating construction projects should treat today’s figures as a warning shot,” AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson said in a statement this week. “Prices for many materials have stopped falling and are poised for increases.”
Welcome work
A perpetual shelving of a long list of projects, including Ballpark Village downtown and multiple projects throughout the region, has put a strain on the construction industry. In the St. Louis area, the amount of construction work-hours performed through November is down 30.5 percent compared to 2008, according to Len Toenjes, president of Associated General Contractors of St. Louis.
The unemployment rate for construction workers nationally was 19.4 percent at the end of November, higher than any other sector of the economy, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Twenty-seven thousand construction workers lost their jobs nationally last month, on top of 56,000 construction jobs lost in October.
“We need about 10 more like it,” Toenjes said of Missouri Baptist’s new tower. “There’s a lot of uncertainty in the health-care industry because of the health-care debate going on in Washington,” he said. “So even some of the health-care providers that do have the financial capacity have been holding off or delaying projects.”
Missouri Baptist reported $352.7 million in revenue in 2008, down from $370 million in 2007. The hospital is an affiliate of BJC HealthCare, the region’s largest hospital operator with 13 hospitals and revenue of $3.2 billion in 2008.
To keep project costs in check, Missouri Baptist is using an “integrated project delivery” construction process that BJC used in the $28 million expansion completed this year at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital.
“It’s bringing all the parties together so that everyone is on the same page on the design,” said Doug Black, Missouri Baptist’s vice president of strategic planning. “You don’t have as many changes because everyone was involved on the front end.” The St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers gave general contractor Tarlton its best practices award for pre-project planning for the St. Peters project, which was completed 35 days ahead of schedule and came in 4 percent under budget.
The integrated project delivery process includes one contract with the architect, contractors and engineers. Clayco CEO Bob Clark said the process is less adversarial and more team-oriented than the standard design-bid-construct approach.
“You get a bigger bang for your buck, and there’s less of a chance the project goes over budget,” Clark said. “We’re hearing about it across the board with large, complex projects.”
Project details
Missouri Baptist’s patient tower project is the first phase of a multiyear plan to add nearly a million square feet to the hospital. Town & Country officials approved a master plan in September that allows the addition of up to 900,000 square feet of space at Missouri Baptist over the next 30 years.
The hospital is adding 96 patient rooms in the new West Pavilion but will keep its 489-patient bed count by shifting semi-private rooms to private rooms. The construction project, which is expected to be completed by 2013, also will add a new entrance to the hospital, which is located at interstates 270 and 64.
Missouri Baptist has tapped Nashville, Tenn.-based Healthcare Performance Partners to advise on efficiency guidelines, modeled after “Lean” manufacturing principles. The guidelines will be included in the West Pavilion design and construction process.
Rounding out the project team are architectural firm HOK, engineering firm KJWW Engineering Consultants, electrical contractor Sachs Electric, mechanical contractor Murphy Co. and civil engineering firm Stock & Associates. Rebecca Nolan is senior vice president and managing principal of HOK’s St. Louis office. Todd Weaver is president of Legacy Building Group.
Clayco’s team beat out three other contractor/architectural teams for the work: Paric and ACI/Boland; SM Wilson & Co. and Christner; and Alberici and the Lawrence Group.
The project, originally proposed in March 2008, finally has a start date, which is welcome news to a construction industry that has seen its project pipeline evaporate.
Missouri Baptist is set to break ground in February on the new 227,000-square-foot, six-story West Pavilion patient tower and a five-story parking garage on its 65-acre campus at Interstate 270 and Highway 40.
The new tower is the first sizable capital project Missouri Baptist has pursued since it completed the $49.7 million East Pavilion two years ago. The East Pavilion, built by McCarthy Building Cos., included a new emergency department and cancer center in a five-story addition.
Missouri Baptist President Joan Magruder began discussions about the West Pavilion last year, but the project is moving forward now, in part, thanks to attractive construction pricing.
Materials pricing could be headed up, making now an opportune time to lock in lower prices, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. The AGC reported Dec. 14 that diesel, copper and brass mill shapes are on the rise. “Public agencies and private owners contemplating construction projects should treat today’s figures as a warning shot,” AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson said in a statement this week. “Prices for many materials have stopped falling and are poised for increases.”
Welcome work
A perpetual shelving of a long list of projects, including Ballpark Village downtown and multiple projects throughout the region, has put a strain on the construction industry. In the St. Louis area, the amount of construction work-hours performed through November is down 30.5 percent compared to 2008, according to Len Toenjes, president of Associated General Contractors of St. Louis.
The unemployment rate for construction workers nationally was 19.4 percent at the end of November, higher than any other sector of the economy, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Twenty-seven thousand construction workers lost their jobs nationally last month, on top of 56,000 construction jobs lost in October.
“We need about 10 more like it,” Toenjes said of Missouri Baptist’s new tower. “There’s a lot of uncertainty in the health-care industry because of the health-care debate going on in Washington,” he said. “So even some of the health-care providers that do have the financial capacity have been holding off or delaying projects.”
Missouri Baptist reported $352.7 million in revenue in 2008, down from $370 million in 2007. The hospital is an affiliate of BJC HealthCare, the region’s largest hospital operator with 13 hospitals and revenue of $3.2 billion in 2008.
To keep project costs in check, Missouri Baptist is using an “integrated project delivery” construction process that BJC used in the $28 million expansion completed this year at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital.
“It’s bringing all the parties together so that everyone is on the same page on the design,” said Doug Black, Missouri Baptist’s vice president of strategic planning. “You don’t have as many changes because everyone was involved on the front end.” The St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers gave general contractor Tarlton its best practices award for pre-project planning for the St. Peters project, which was completed 35 days ahead of schedule and came in 4 percent under budget.
The integrated project delivery process includes one contract with the architect, contractors and engineers. Clayco CEO Bob Clark said the process is less adversarial and more team-oriented than the standard design-bid-construct approach.
“You get a bigger bang for your buck, and there’s less of a chance the project goes over budget,” Clark said. “We’re hearing about it across the board with large, complex projects.”
Project details
Missouri Baptist’s patient tower project is the first phase of a multiyear plan to add nearly a million square feet to the hospital. Town & Country officials approved a master plan in September that allows the addition of up to 900,000 square feet of space at Missouri Baptist over the next 30 years.
The hospital is adding 96 patient rooms in the new West Pavilion but will keep its 489-patient bed count by shifting semi-private rooms to private rooms. The construction project, which is expected to be completed by 2013, also will add a new entrance to the hospital, which is located at interstates 270 and 64.
Missouri Baptist has tapped Nashville, Tenn.-based Healthcare Performance Partners to advise on efficiency guidelines, modeled after “Lean” manufacturing principles. The guidelines will be included in the West Pavilion design and construction process.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Beware the Scam in San Bernardino
By Melissa Pinion-Whitt
Posted: 12/17/2009 12:18:59 PM PST
Click photo to enlarge
Redlands police released a surveillance photo of a man who has... (Redlands Police Department)
* «
* 1
* »
Two men posing as a building contractors have scammed several Redlands businesses out of money, claiming they were hired by building landlords to work on air vent systems.
Police said one of the men told employees at a business in the 1200 block of Alabama Street on Monday that he was working with the Fire Department and needed to check the air vent system.
He asked an employee for cash to pay for parts before he left the business.
Three State Street businesses told police they were also approached by men who said they were hired by the building's landlord to repair the store's vents.
An employee on East State Street gave the phony contractors more than $100.
A similar crime, involving someone who may have been driving a Jeep Liberty, was reported to the San Bernardino County sheriff's Yucaipa station.
One of the men is Latino, in his 50s and between 5-feet-10 and 6-feet-3 inches tall. He is stocky, has a mustache and slicked back black hair with some gray hair. He wore a short-sleeve button-down shirt and has faded tattoos on both firearms down to his wrists.
The second man is white, 6-feet-1 to 6-feet-3 inches tall and has a tattoo of a nude woman's upper torso on his left forearm. Both men carried leather daily planners.
Anyone with information may call Redlands police Officer Alex Paredes or Redlands dispatch, (909) 798-7681.
Posted: 12/17/2009 12:18:59 PM PST
Click photo to enlarge
Redlands police released a surveillance photo of a man who has... (Redlands Police Department)
* «
* 1
* »
Two men posing as a building contractors have scammed several Redlands businesses out of money, claiming they were hired by building landlords to work on air vent systems.
Police said one of the men told employees at a business in the 1200 block of Alabama Street on Monday that he was working with the Fire Department and needed to check the air vent system.
He asked an employee for cash to pay for parts before he left the business.
Three State Street businesses told police they were also approached by men who said they were hired by the building's landlord to repair the store's vents.
An employee on East State Street gave the phony contractors more than $100.
A similar crime, involving someone who may have been driving a Jeep Liberty, was reported to the San Bernardino County sheriff's Yucaipa station.
One of the men is Latino, in his 50s and between 5-feet-10 and 6-feet-3 inches tall. He is stocky, has a mustache and slicked back black hair with some gray hair. He wore a short-sleeve button-down shirt and has faded tattoos on both firearms down to his wrists.
The second man is white, 6-feet-1 to 6-feet-3 inches tall and has a tattoo of a nude woman's upper torso on his left forearm. Both men carried leather daily planners.
Anyone with information may call Redlands police Officer Alex Paredes or Redlands dispatch, (909) 798-7681.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Electrician Job to Open
Location: Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire
Salary: £27,000 + Package
Company: Potensis
Sector: Building services
Job role: Electrical engineer
Job type: Permanent
Date posted: 18/12/2009 10:26
Permanent Building Maintenance Electrician required for a Commercial property in Milton Keynes. This is a Day Shift maintenance role working alternate days Monday to Sunday, 08.00 to 18.00 and overtime and call out as and when required. Potensis Ltd is currently working on behalf of a Building Maintenance Contractor and you will be recruited to work alongside a small Facilities Maintenance team who cover both the electrical and mechanical building services equipment.You will be monitoring and supervising specialist sub contractors, dealing with Risk Assessments and Permits to Work, dealing with minor installation and project works. You will be involved with covering a PPM schedule and Reactive and Emergency works on the following equipment as required;
* Pumps and Motors
* Back up Generators
* Lighting and Power supply,
* HVAC, FCU’s, VAV’s, AHU’s etc
* Basic BMS controls
* General maintenance such as fabrics and basic plumbing
* PAT Testing
Requirements:
* City and Guilds 2360 Parts 1 and 2 or equivalent
* It is essential you have the 16th or 17th Edition Regulations
* You must have previous Building Maintenance experience in a similar role.
* Must have strong Mechanical Building Services knowledge
* Strong BMS knowledge
* Excellent Mechanical knowledge or qualifications.
* You must be smart and presentable with experience of working within a commercial environment.
* Available for Overtime and able to get to site for out of office calls outs
This Post will most likely start early January as a temporary to permanent placement
Patrick Fitzgerald - 0844 800 7927
Salary: £27,000 + Package
Company: Potensis
Sector: Building services
Job role: Electrical engineer
Job type: Permanent
Date posted: 18/12/2009 10:26
Permanent Building Maintenance Electrician required for a Commercial property in Milton Keynes. This is a Day Shift maintenance role working alternate days Monday to Sunday, 08.00 to 18.00 and overtime and call out as and when required. Potensis Ltd is currently working on behalf of a Building Maintenance Contractor and you will be recruited to work alongside a small Facilities Maintenance team who cover both the electrical and mechanical building services equipment.You will be monitoring and supervising specialist sub contractors, dealing with Risk Assessments and Permits to Work, dealing with minor installation and project works. You will be involved with covering a PPM schedule and Reactive and Emergency works on the following equipment as required;
* Pumps and Motors
* Back up Generators
* Lighting and Power supply,
* HVAC, FCU’s, VAV’s, AHU’s etc
* Basic BMS controls
* General maintenance such as fabrics and basic plumbing
* PAT Testing
Requirements:
* City and Guilds 2360 Parts 1 and 2 or equivalent
* It is essential you have the 16th or 17th Edition Regulations
* You must have previous Building Maintenance experience in a similar role.
* Must have strong Mechanical Building Services knowledge
* Strong BMS knowledge
* Excellent Mechanical knowledge or qualifications.
* You must be smart and presentable with experience of working within a commercial environment.
* Available for Overtime and able to get to site for out of office calls outs
This Post will most likely start early January as a temporary to permanent placement
Patrick Fitzgerald - 0844 800 7927
Friday, December 18, 2009
Solar Electricians Come to Boulder City
By Stephanie Tavares (contact)
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 | 1:18 p.m.
Sun Coverage
* Archive of Sun energy stories
Boulder City is soon to be home to yet another large solar plant, thanks to Sempra Generation receiving final approval to sell solar energy generated in the Eldorado Valley to a California utility.
The company received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission today to sell energy to California's Pacific Gas and Electric. Sempra will begin construction next month on a 48-megawatt solar thin film power plant, an expansion of its existing 10-megawatt solar plant located near a Sempra natural gas plant along Highway 95.
The two solar plants combined will create the nation's most powerful solar photovoltaic array, outdoing Nellis Air Force Base's 14-megawatt photovoltaic array by dozens of megawatts.
The new Boulder City plant will take at least a year to build and will employ more than 200 construction workers and electricians during the building phase, said Sempra President Michael Allman.
"It will be a mix of job types," Allman said. "Some are for trained electricians but some of the work is basic construction work: installing posts in the ground and installing brackets to hold the panels. ... We expect to fill the vast majority of the jobs locally."
This will be the first solar project built since Sempra completed its 10-megawatt array last December. There are several other projects planned, but most would be on federal land which has a longer permitting process.
The solar energy corridor in Boulder City is owned by the city and is already zoned for solar energy development allowing for fast tracked permitting.
"The land was zoned and ready to go," Allman said. "We just entered into a lease and we're off and running. You can't compare that to BLM land that's similarly situated with the flat land and the transmission lines, the permitted process is much more complicated and a lot slower."
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 | 1:18 p.m.
Sun Coverage
* Archive of Sun energy stories
Boulder City is soon to be home to yet another large solar plant, thanks to Sempra Generation receiving final approval to sell solar energy generated in the Eldorado Valley to a California utility.
The company received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission today to sell energy to California's Pacific Gas and Electric. Sempra will begin construction next month on a 48-megawatt solar thin film power plant, an expansion of its existing 10-megawatt solar plant located near a Sempra natural gas plant along Highway 95.
The two solar plants combined will create the nation's most powerful solar photovoltaic array, outdoing Nellis Air Force Base's 14-megawatt photovoltaic array by dozens of megawatts.
The new Boulder City plant will take at least a year to build and will employ more than 200 construction workers and electricians during the building phase, said Sempra President Michael Allman.
"It will be a mix of job types," Allman said. "Some are for trained electricians but some of the work is basic construction work: installing posts in the ground and installing brackets to hold the panels. ... We expect to fill the vast majority of the jobs locally."
This will be the first solar project built since Sempra completed its 10-megawatt array last December. There are several other projects planned, but most would be on federal land which has a longer permitting process.
The solar energy corridor in Boulder City is owned by the city and is already zoned for solar energy development allowing for fast tracked permitting.
"The land was zoned and ready to go," Allman said. "We just entered into a lease and we're off and running. You can't compare that to BLM land that's similarly situated with the flat land and the transmission lines, the permitted process is much more complicated and a lot slower."
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
University Construction for Drexel
Project to Include a Biowall, First of Its Kind at a U.S. University
NEW YORK, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Turner Construction Company, the nation's largest general builder of education facilities, has been selected by Drexel University to manage construction of the Constantine Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building on the University's main campus in Philadelphia, Pa. Upon completion in June 2011, the 138,000 sq. ft. facility will house thirty-nine research and teaching laboratories for bio-medical engineering, biology and chemistry and a fossil preparation lab.
The $49.7 million integrated sciences building will also feature a five-story atrium and a biowall, the first of its kind at a United States university. The biowall will act as a natural air filter which removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and CO2 from the air as it passes through the wall. Air is actively forced through the wall of plants and highly specialized biological components actively degrade pollutants into water and carbon dioxide. The clean air is then distributed throughout the building.
"We are proud to continue our relationship with Drexel University and serve as the construction manager to deliver this energy-efficient education facility to benefit the students and faculty of this premier university," said Michael J. Kuntz, Vice President and Regional General Manager of Turner's Philadelphia operations.
The design is environmentally sensitive and will become Drexel's first Silver LEED certified building from the U.S. Green Building Council.
About Turner
Turner is the leading general builder in the U.S., ranking first or second in the major segments of the building construction field. During 2008, Turner completed $10.7 billion of construction. Turner is the only builder offering clients a nationwide network of offices across the U.S. Founded in 1902, the firm is a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF, a publicly traded company and one of the world's leading international construction service providers. For more information, visit Turner's website at www.turnerconstruction.com.
SOURCE Turner Construction Company
NEW YORK, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Turner Construction Company, the nation's largest general builder of education facilities, has been selected by Drexel University to manage construction of the Constantine Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building on the University's main campus in Philadelphia, Pa. Upon completion in June 2011, the 138,000 sq. ft. facility will house thirty-nine research and teaching laboratories for bio-medical engineering, biology and chemistry and a fossil preparation lab.
The $49.7 million integrated sciences building will also feature a five-story atrium and a biowall, the first of its kind at a United States university. The biowall will act as a natural air filter which removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and CO2 from the air as it passes through the wall. Air is actively forced through the wall of plants and highly specialized biological components actively degrade pollutants into water and carbon dioxide. The clean air is then distributed throughout the building.
"We are proud to continue our relationship with Drexel University and serve as the construction manager to deliver this energy-efficient education facility to benefit the students and faculty of this premier university," said Michael J. Kuntz, Vice President and Regional General Manager of Turner's Philadelphia operations.
The design is environmentally sensitive and will become Drexel's first Silver LEED certified building from the U.S. Green Building Council.
About Turner
Turner is the leading general builder in the U.S., ranking first or second in the major segments of the building construction field. During 2008, Turner completed $10.7 billion of construction. Turner is the only builder offering clients a nationwide network of offices across the U.S. Founded in 1902, the firm is a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF, a publicly traded company and one of the world's leading international construction service providers. For more information, visit Turner's website at www.turnerconstruction.com.
SOURCE Turner Construction Company
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Coal versus Natural Gas Power Plants
As world leaders haggled to forge an international climate agreement this week in Copenhagen, the Los Angeles City Council was wrestling with the consequences of plopping a mammoth city solar farm near Lone Pine.
The proposed Northern California solar facility is critical to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's effort to wean the city off coal-fired power plants, but only if the project can survive a series of political cage matches with the council, environmental activists, state regulators and customers.
Lost in the limelight of sweeping proposals to cut greenhouse gas emissions or encourage more sustainable lifestyles -- whether coming from Denmark, Washington, the state capital or City Hall -- is the messy, perilous politics involved in enacting them in cities across the nation.
That's one of many messages that Villaraigosa will take to Copenhagen, where mayors from around the world are holding their own climate summit to discuss challenges faced by cities and local government. Villaraigosa leaves for Europe today for a weeklong trip that, along with the summit, will include stops in Germany and England to study their renewable and conservation programs and try to lure green technology companies to Los Angeles.
"We're on the front lines," Villaraigosa said. "In the end, the difference between what a mayor does and other state and federal leaders do is we actually have to do the groundwork of getting the public behind these initiatives."
Cost is often a central concern of many of the sustainability initiatives being pitched in cities, and that's been exacerbated even more by the economic downtown.
When Los Angeles adopted drought-related water restrictions earlier this year, raising prices for major water use to encourage conservation, council members were scorched by complaints.
Last week, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was forced to drop a plan calling for all buildings 50,000 square feet or larger to undergo mandatory energy efficiency audits because of fierce opposition by building owners.
"Local government is reality-based," said Steven Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.
"It's right in people's faces. It actually affects what people do day to day," Cohen said.
In March, Los Angeles voters rejected a solar energy ballot measure known as Measure B, pushed heavily by Villaraigosa.
The initiative was hamstrung by fears that the project would increase electricity rates -- and utility bills -- and by accusations that it was concocted in a backroom deal with union leaders.
Measure B would have required the city Department of Water and Power to install 400 megawatts of solar panels by 2014, and all the work would have been performed by DWP employees represented by the electrical workers union.
"If it doesn't smell clean, then it definitely is going to go down in a bad economy," said Larry Kopald, a Los Angeles-based communications and marketing expert who works for many environmental organizations.
Regardless of that defeat, however, Kopald said Villaraigosa has delivered some major environmental successes.
He said Villaraigosa also showed that, along with the curses that come with local accountability, some benefits can be seen as well:
* A program to reduce pollution at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach by phasing out older cargo trucks has reduced diesel emissions by 70% compared with levels in 2007, according to the mayors of both cities.
* Mandatory water restrictions in Los Angeles have reduced consumption by record numbers. Water use in the city was down 18.4% from June through October, the lowest rate of water use in 18 years.
* Los Angeles also is in the process of installing energy-efficient LED bulbs in the city's 14,000 streetlights, a $46-million program that will eventually save an average of $10 million a year in electricity costs.
In July, Villaraigosa vowed that the city would halt the use of coal-burning power plants by 2020 and -- that same year -- generate at least 40% of its energy from renewable resources, including solar, wind and geothermal power.
Villaraigosa also plans to announce an initiative early next year to have the city generate 1,280 megawatts from solar energy by 2020 -- a dramatic increase from the 14 megawatts the DWP currently produces.
S. David Freeman, the interim general manager of the DWP and the mayor's top environmental advisor, said all of those goal are within reach, but customers and some members of the City Council need to accept that it will come at a cost.
"We can do it, but guess what the impact is going to be? Just as sure as we're sitting here, if you replace coal, which costs us 5 cents a kilowatt hour, with solar and wind that costs 8, the rates are going to go up somewhat," Freeman said at a recent conference sponsored by the Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State L.A.
Over the long term, however, developing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind farms will save pollution-related healthcare costs -- and save customers money, Freeman said. Once a solar or wind farm is built, the energy generated is free, he said.
"The sun will keep going up every day for the same price," Freeman said.
Compare that to coal-fired and natural gas power plants, which require a continual supply of fuel. "We're going to act locally, not what happens nationally or internationally," said Douglas H. Palmer, the mayor of Trenton, N.J., who along with Villaraigosa and Bloomberg is among the U.S. mayors attending the Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors. "We don't have a choice."
phil.willon@latimes.com
Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times
The proposed Northern California solar facility is critical to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's effort to wean the city off coal-fired power plants, but only if the project can survive a series of political cage matches with the council, environmental activists, state regulators and customers.
Lost in the limelight of sweeping proposals to cut greenhouse gas emissions or encourage more sustainable lifestyles -- whether coming from Denmark, Washington, the state capital or City Hall -- is the messy, perilous politics involved in enacting them in cities across the nation.
That's one of many messages that Villaraigosa will take to Copenhagen, where mayors from around the world are holding their own climate summit to discuss challenges faced by cities and local government. Villaraigosa leaves for Europe today for a weeklong trip that, along with the summit, will include stops in Germany and England to study their renewable and conservation programs and try to lure green technology companies to Los Angeles.
"We're on the front lines," Villaraigosa said. "In the end, the difference between what a mayor does and other state and federal leaders do is we actually have to do the groundwork of getting the public behind these initiatives."
Cost is often a central concern of many of the sustainability initiatives being pitched in cities, and that's been exacerbated even more by the economic downtown.
When Los Angeles adopted drought-related water restrictions earlier this year, raising prices for major water use to encourage conservation, council members were scorched by complaints.
Last week, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was forced to drop a plan calling for all buildings 50,000 square feet or larger to undergo mandatory energy efficiency audits because of fierce opposition by building owners.
"Local government is reality-based," said Steven Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.
"It's right in people's faces. It actually affects what people do day to day," Cohen said.
In March, Los Angeles voters rejected a solar energy ballot measure known as Measure B, pushed heavily by Villaraigosa.
The initiative was hamstrung by fears that the project would increase electricity rates -- and utility bills -- and by accusations that it was concocted in a backroom deal with union leaders.
Measure B would have required the city Department of Water and Power to install 400 megawatts of solar panels by 2014, and all the work would have been performed by DWP employees represented by the electrical workers union.
"If it doesn't smell clean, then it definitely is going to go down in a bad economy," said Larry Kopald, a Los Angeles-based communications and marketing expert who works for many environmental organizations.
Regardless of that defeat, however, Kopald said Villaraigosa has delivered some major environmental successes.
He said Villaraigosa also showed that, along with the curses that come with local accountability, some benefits can be seen as well:
* A program to reduce pollution at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach by phasing out older cargo trucks has reduced diesel emissions by 70% compared with levels in 2007, according to the mayors of both cities.
* Mandatory water restrictions in Los Angeles have reduced consumption by record numbers. Water use in the city was down 18.4% from June through October, the lowest rate of water use in 18 years.
* Los Angeles also is in the process of installing energy-efficient LED bulbs in the city's 14,000 streetlights, a $46-million program that will eventually save an average of $10 million a year in electricity costs.
In July, Villaraigosa vowed that the city would halt the use of coal-burning power plants by 2020 and -- that same year -- generate at least 40% of its energy from renewable resources, including solar, wind and geothermal power.
Villaraigosa also plans to announce an initiative early next year to have the city generate 1,280 megawatts from solar energy by 2020 -- a dramatic increase from the 14 megawatts the DWP currently produces.
S. David Freeman, the interim general manager of the DWP and the mayor's top environmental advisor, said all of those goal are within reach, but customers and some members of the City Council need to accept that it will come at a cost.
"We can do it, but guess what the impact is going to be? Just as sure as we're sitting here, if you replace coal, which costs us 5 cents a kilowatt hour, with solar and wind that costs 8, the rates are going to go up somewhat," Freeman said at a recent conference sponsored by the Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State L.A.
Over the long term, however, developing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind farms will save pollution-related healthcare costs -- and save customers money, Freeman said. Once a solar or wind farm is built, the energy generated is free, he said.
"The sun will keep going up every day for the same price," Freeman said.
Compare that to coal-fired and natural gas power plants, which require a continual supply of fuel. "We're going to act locally, not what happens nationally or internationally," said Douglas H. Palmer, the mayor of Trenton, N.J., who along with Villaraigosa and Bloomberg is among the U.S. mayors attending the Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors. "We don't have a choice."
phil.willon@latimes.com
Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times
Monday, December 14, 2009
Green Building Sustains Green Electricians
Green building. Sustainable design. High- performance building. All of these names have been used to describe the multidisciplinary field that results in buildings with healthy indoor environments that minimize and efficiently use resources, and that acknowledge the interdependence between the natural and built environment.
U.S. buildings use 13.6 percent of our water, generate 65 percent of our waste and consume 72 percent of our electricity. Buildings are among the heaviest consumers of natural resources - 40 percent of the raw materials globally - and account for a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that affect our deteriorating atmosphere. Buildings account for 39 percent of the carbon-dioxide emissions per year - more than either the transportation (33 percent) or industrial (29 percent) sectors. These facts demonstrate why high-performance building is vital in today's world.
Yet, striving for a high-performance building and actually creating one are two different things. Projects most likely to succeed require strong, engaged leaders whose vision is translated into tangible performance goals early in the process and who select the right team for the job. This team, usually consisting of the owner, architects, engineers, contractors and assorted specialists, must work collaboratively, communicate effectively and use the right technology and tools to meet the owner's requirements.
This is where Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, comes in - as the most comprehensive tool for measuring and verifying the green attributes of a commercial building. In use for almost a decade, LEED is a third-party, point-based certification program and a nationally recognized benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
LEED is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council - a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. Industry-led and consensus-driven, the council's more than 20,000 members include building owners and end-users, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies and nonprofits.
With volunteer assistance from council members, LEED has been constantly evolving in order to meet the organization's vision of transforming the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. Since its inception in 2000, LEED for New Construction - for commercial structures - has had four major upgrades. In 2007, energy efficiency of at least 14 percent above the required national energy baseline was made mandatory for LEED certification. In 2009, a combination of energy modeling, life-cycle assessment and transportation analysis resulted in a reallocation of points and increased the relative value of energy efficiency initiatives.
The Green Building Council is currently working to close the gap between buildings' predicted and actual performance. The Building Performance Initiative was launched in August and is designed to put in place a broad data collection effort from all LEED- certified buildings, implement an appropriate analysis methodology of that data and provide feedback for building owners to use in addressing any performance gaps.
As with any human system, LEED is not perfect, nor is it the only tool for measurement. Yet its use provides focus on a destination and gives high-performance building issues a role in decisions concerning schedule, budget and quality. LEED also brings integrity by preventing “greenwashing," as it is a comprehensive standard with mandatory provisions that include minimum energy and indoor air-quality performance standards, occupant recycling and commissioning.
The third party verification component elicits team member responsibility and prevents sometimes thorny issues from being glossed over. This focus requires the entire design and construction team to work together in new and often unfamiliar ways.
These changes can be painful and are often misunderstood as to their intent. So it becomes imperative that everyone on the team understands the underlying concerns that are driving the choices and decisions that are needed to create a productive working environment for the occupants and optimum operational functioning of the building itself.
The point of LEED certification is not the points. Consider the painter who profusely thanked me because he did not go home with a headache for the first time in his career because of the non-toxic paints used on the project. His health benefited, as did that of all the subsequent occupants of the building.
Several studies, including “Cost of Green Revisited" by Davis Langdon, assert that there is no significant difference in average costs for green buildings as compared to non-green buildings. Even an additional 5 percent in upfront cost for high-performance initiatives pales in comparison to the operations and maintenance expenses over a typical 30- to 50-year building life span. Less tangible but no less important, employee productivity gains can easily offset additional upfront costs.
That is not to say that LEED certification is appropriate for all projects. The building's size, budget and owner expectations are variables to consider. However, institutional building owners have been some of the strongest proponents of high-performance buildings because of the substantial investment and long-term ownership interests they have in their buildings.
These owners realize that in order to reduce future operating expenses, they must first collaboratively develop performance goals and use them as a guide for future decisions - including whether using LEED to meet these goals is the right choice. To prevent compromising long-term sustainability principles, all those involved with building projects must engage in honest dialogue, commit to continuous learning and improvement and invest in shared responsibility for the ultimate outcome.
Michelle Reott is the owner of Durango-based Earthly Ideas LLC - a sustainable design and construction consulting firm she founded in 1992. Reach her via www.earthly- ideas.com/contact.htm.
The Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado endorses this article.
http://durangoherald.com/sections/Opinion/2009/12/13/LEED_Measures_Up/
U.S. buildings use 13.6 percent of our water, generate 65 percent of our waste and consume 72 percent of our electricity. Buildings are among the heaviest consumers of natural resources - 40 percent of the raw materials globally - and account for a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that affect our deteriorating atmosphere. Buildings account for 39 percent of the carbon-dioxide emissions per year - more than either the transportation (33 percent) or industrial (29 percent) sectors. These facts demonstrate why high-performance building is vital in today's world.
Yet, striving for a high-performance building and actually creating one are two different things. Projects most likely to succeed require strong, engaged leaders whose vision is translated into tangible performance goals early in the process and who select the right team for the job. This team, usually consisting of the owner, architects, engineers, contractors and assorted specialists, must work collaboratively, communicate effectively and use the right technology and tools to meet the owner's requirements.
This is where Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, comes in - as the most comprehensive tool for measuring and verifying the green attributes of a commercial building. In use for almost a decade, LEED is a third-party, point-based certification program and a nationally recognized benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
LEED is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council - a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. Industry-led and consensus-driven, the council's more than 20,000 members include building owners and end-users, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies and nonprofits.
With volunteer assistance from council members, LEED has been constantly evolving in order to meet the organization's vision of transforming the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. Since its inception in 2000, LEED for New Construction - for commercial structures - has had four major upgrades. In 2007, energy efficiency of at least 14 percent above the required national energy baseline was made mandatory for LEED certification. In 2009, a combination of energy modeling, life-cycle assessment and transportation analysis resulted in a reallocation of points and increased the relative value of energy efficiency initiatives.
The Green Building Council is currently working to close the gap between buildings' predicted and actual performance. The Building Performance Initiative was launched in August and is designed to put in place a broad data collection effort from all LEED- certified buildings, implement an appropriate analysis methodology of that data and provide feedback for building owners to use in addressing any performance gaps.
As with any human system, LEED is not perfect, nor is it the only tool for measurement. Yet its use provides focus on a destination and gives high-performance building issues a role in decisions concerning schedule, budget and quality. LEED also brings integrity by preventing “greenwashing," as it is a comprehensive standard with mandatory provisions that include minimum energy and indoor air-quality performance standards, occupant recycling and commissioning.
The third party verification component elicits team member responsibility and prevents sometimes thorny issues from being glossed over. This focus requires the entire design and construction team to work together in new and often unfamiliar ways.
These changes can be painful and are often misunderstood as to their intent. So it becomes imperative that everyone on the team understands the underlying concerns that are driving the choices and decisions that are needed to create a productive working environment for the occupants and optimum operational functioning of the building itself.
The point of LEED certification is not the points. Consider the painter who profusely thanked me because he did not go home with a headache for the first time in his career because of the non-toxic paints used on the project. His health benefited, as did that of all the subsequent occupants of the building.
Several studies, including “Cost of Green Revisited" by Davis Langdon, assert that there is no significant difference in average costs for green buildings as compared to non-green buildings. Even an additional 5 percent in upfront cost for high-performance initiatives pales in comparison to the operations and maintenance expenses over a typical 30- to 50-year building life span. Less tangible but no less important, employee productivity gains can easily offset additional upfront costs.
That is not to say that LEED certification is appropriate for all projects. The building's size, budget and owner expectations are variables to consider. However, institutional building owners have been some of the strongest proponents of high-performance buildings because of the substantial investment and long-term ownership interests they have in their buildings.
These owners realize that in order to reduce future operating expenses, they must first collaboratively develop performance goals and use them as a guide for future decisions - including whether using LEED to meet these goals is the right choice. To prevent compromising long-term sustainability principles, all those involved with building projects must engage in honest dialogue, commit to continuous learning and improvement and invest in shared responsibility for the ultimate outcome.
Michelle Reott is the owner of Durango-based Earthly Ideas LLC - a sustainable design and construction consulting firm she founded in 1992. Reach her via www.earthly- ideas.com/contact.htm.
The Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado endorses this article.
http://durangoherald.com/sections/Opinion/2009/12/13/LEED_Measures_Up/
Sunday, December 13, 2009
High Tech for Electricians
By MICHAEL JOHNSON, News-Record Writer
Published: Sunday, December 13, 2009 12:19 AM MST
To earn a Gillette College degree in one of three technical fields, students must now travel a nine-mile radius between any of four sites. Diesel technology, welding and electrical students, along with those in the engineering and mining technology programs and a host of others, now will be housed under one roof. They only have to trek across the bridge for extra classes on campus.
After years of lobbying the state Legislature for money to build the Tech Center, the state agreed to split the cost with Campbell County and passed state Sen. Michael Von Flatern’s bill in 2007.
“The Legislature understood how important Gillette was to the rest of state,” McGrath said. “With all of the minerals and industry here,” legislators realized this is where that center should be.
Von Flatern had argued that, without the building on campus, students did not have the chance to mingle and learn from one another.
“When you’re located so far from the college, you don’t catch the connection,” he said.
“It will help save me gas,” said Lance Chase, a 19-year-old diesel student.
He’s working on a two-year degree and now commutes between the main campus and the diesel technology building. Other students thought the new technologies were going to be a boost for their careers. They said learning from the most up-to-date equipment would give them an edge.
That’s something that Arch Coal Vice President Greg Schaefer also looks forward to. He sees the well-educated welding, diesel and electrical students as a great opportunity for the local industry.
“We would be potential employers to all of those,” Schaefer said.
It all works together.
“You get all the technologies under one roof and you’ll have some synergies,” said Ray DeStefano, an industrial electrical instructor.
It might not be instantaneous but the demonstration labs will bring students together from multiple disciplines to work on the same machinery. It’s not by accident.
The entire building was designed around making sure people cross paths, said Joel Anderson, design architect of CTA Architect Engineers.
“There is an overriding goal to cross-pollinate,” he said.
Here’s a little of what all of that entails:
$36,800,000 includes the cost of the building, the site plan and all the equipment. The State of Wyoming and Campbell County split the cost. Plus, the 13 acres it sits on is a $2.8 million contribution from the City of Gillette.
91,054 square feet in the Technical Education Center and a 4,050-square-foot storage building provide space for programs now housed at three separate locations to come together under 74,289 square feet of roof. And it doesn’t have to end there. “If some day we’re doing space shuttle maintenance, we can add on,” Young said. “The whole east side of the building ... was designed to add on to.”
30,000 gallons of water can be stored at any one time underground in a cistern that will collect about 400,000 gallons of water that annually runs off the roof. That will be used to water lawns and for xeriscaping. It’s about half of the water that is needed. By cutting down on water costs, the $55,000 system could pay for itself in about 10 to 20 years depending on water prices and annual rainfall, Anderson said.
13,000 tons of concrete. It’s also built on 11,500 feet of steel piling. When coupled with the steel used to build the structure, it totals 480 tons.
4,500 square feet of space in the “flex area” can seat up to 300 people. It becomes the Donkey Creek Cafe for three daily meals for students and faculty provided by Campbell County School District. The space also can be divided to create three smaller rooms. Another 26 glass panels create a divider that separates the multi-use commons area from the Pronghorn Room.
1,083 light fixtures inside and outside the building don’t have to be on in many large rooms thanks to 33 large skylights.
232 standard chairs for 30 round tables, plus another 30 lounge chairs.
144 parking spots, a number determined by the city ordinance. There’s room for more.
104 miles of wiring. Enough to reach Sheridan College from the Gillette College. About 14 miles of electrical conduit and six miles of pipe.
48 seats in a mini auditorium. Young said it was a bonus room that can be used for teleconferences and presentations by students and the public.
38 instructor office spaces for teachers, administrators and staff. A bank of rooms will house industrial safety including Mining Safety and Health Administration and Occupational Safety and Health Administration trainers. Rooms also have been set aside for visiting teachers. Many of the rooms are multi-use. Even the six storage rooms have windows. The second-floor, “corner office” space with the view has not been assigned. Young said it will be a mini conference room so it can be used and enjoyed by everyone.
32 rustic wooden beams and six timber pillars line the front entrance. Young said they serve to tie in the architecture of the original building. Students can cross the 170-foot bowstring truss pedestrian bridge made with Douglas fir supports that carry through with the theme. Once past the timber beams at the Tech Center entrance, Young said students and visitors will leave any hint of the rustic behind for the latest in technological advances.
16 cross-beams throughout the building are not load bearing. They are exposed to continue that “techy” feel throughout the facility.
15 instructors buildingwide. That’s it. Young said the operation is lean and mean. Each department takes care of its own needs.
12 permanent classrooms and two flex rooms can be used in multiple scenarios. The largest room can accommodate 50 students — it’s the computer-aided drafting room.
24 flat screens positioned throughout the facility used as part of a digital sign system for messages, training information and job announcements.
1 document production system room will be the source of most instructional material, which all comes in a digital format that’s print-on-demand.
Diesel Tech
The 50 students in the diesel program are about all the two instructors Brent Heusinkveld and Travis Grubb would like to take on. In fact, they would like to see smaller classes in order to give each student more time.
The facility at 509 S. Second St. across from AVA has housed the department since 2001. In the past, the department had to pass up on large workshops because the equipment would have overloaded the 8,400-square-foot building, Heusinkveld said. The new building is more than double that size.
20,000 square feet of space about 36 feet high is devoted to diesel technology programs.
10,000 new tools including sockets and wrenches housed in 32 upright portable tool boxes. Each will be shared by two students.
64 students can work on cutting-edge equipment at the same time. Instructors signed up an extra 30 students this semester partially thanks to publicity of the new building, Heusinkveld said. They took them on knowing space would be available the spring semester. If enrollment ever warrants it, a second shift of classes would allow 128 students.
32 work stations. The current building on Second Street has 12 work stations and is overloaded.
12 jib cranes with 2-ton capacity, along with two bridge cranes that can lift 5 tons each and one center crane with 10-ton capacity. Students will learn to work on heavy equipment similar to what’s available at companies like Wyoming Machinery and Komatsu. The idea is to train students in an environment that’s like the workplace they will end up in. “They can show up, day one, and be ready to work,” Young said.
1 engine dynamometer and one chassis dynamometer brings the program to a new level. Students will be able to bring in a big motor, run it at full speed and see how it performs. They don’t have to worry about noise and exhaust fumes thanks to a sealed control room between the two dynamometers. From that room they can view a computer that analyzes the performance. Diesel instructors believe the machines are the only ones of their kind in a tri-state area. They are worth about $250,000 each.
Culinary Academy
The program, just like the entire Tech Center, is about providing careers, Young said.
“It’s a start for the hospitality and tourism industry,” he said. “We had heard from those industries for years and kept saying ‘some day.’ Well, some day is here.”
The area is like the average home kitchen on steroids. Thanks to input from area businesses like The Chophouse, Prime Rib, Clarion Inn and Convention Center, Boss Lodge, Cam-plex, and Coffee Friends, it’s a nicer kitchen than most of the students will find if they continue into the culinary profession.
The culinary program in Sheridan has become so popular that the Gillette Campus will take on students who want to earn a certificate in baking. Once the program gets going, Young said they hope to start weekend cooking classes for anyone.
“Think of this,” Young said. “Imagine people from Cheyenne and Jackson Hole coming here for a weekend getaway.”
10 burners on one range, along with a 10-gallon mixer, a 30-gallon kettle and a 25-gallon skillet. It’s also equipped with a bread-rising machine, a meat slicer, an oven, a deep fryer and a roaster.
1,200 square feet in the professional prep kitchen will allow classes of about 25 to practice culinary skills at a time. The kitchen will allow high school students to join the new culinary academy. The academy will start in the fall of 2010 by enrolling 50 sophomore students. It includes:
1 big fridge. It’s an 8-foot by 15-foot walk-in attached to a 6-foot by 8-foot deep freeze.
1 fireplace in the Pronghorn Room, which can be used for board meetings or groups for teleconferencing. The room will be converted into a restaurant once the culinary program is operating in the fall. Once a week, up to 30 people will be able to reserve space for a gourmet meal.
Welding Center
Instructor Bryant Hagg now has 25 students enrolled at the building north of Gillette on U.S. Highway 14-16 near the airport. In its new digs in the spring, the program will have room for 50 students during one shift. That number could double by adding another shift.
His only worry is that the equipment students will be working with may be more advanced than much of what’s available in area welding shops.
“It’s not your father’s welding shop,” Young said.
10,000 square feet will accommodate 50 students and twice as many with two shifts. The program now is swamped with 25 students.
40 torch bodies will be available for use.
30 welding booths will handle the three primary welding processes including MIG, TIG and stick welding.
1 5-ton floor-mounted jib crane at the overhead door will be used to move welding metals in and out of the bay.
Industrial Electronics
The electronics program at Gillette College has moved around town some, but spent the last semester packed into a room in the main campus. There is very little room for practicing real-world lessons in a field that demands thousands of hours of experience, said Ray DeStefano, one of the industrial electrical instructors.
5,000 square feet will provide room for 100 students, quadrupling the current enrollment. There now is lab space available. The new space has three labs that will be filled with electrical simulators that offer lessons including circuit theory, AC/DC, electrical circuits and power distribution. When put together, they represent an actual setup that students would find at a coal mine. Two students work on each simulator at a time.
4,160 kilovolt supply in a high-voltage lab, which provides students with a scenario that they might find in the field. “It’s exactly what they would find at a mine site,” Young said. “They can pull a cable out and cones and set up a training scenario.” The difference is, in the real world they may have to work on this equipment in the dark in a downpour. DeStefano describes it as hazardous equipment, but not dangerous.
1 demonstration bay shared by the diesel, welding and electrical programs will allow local industries to display their equipment in a central location between the diesel, industrial electrical and welding departments. Anything that fits through the 20-foot by 20-foot door can be brought into the 3,600-square-foot space that also houses a 15-ton bridge crane overhead.
To start things off Cloud Peak Energy and Flanders Electric are bringing in an electrical rotating apparatus found on draglines.
This will be an important part of some students’ senior projects, which require a collaboration of diesel and electrical skills, Young said.
Project Lead The Way
Junior high students interested in pre-engineering classes will have their own room devoted to enhancing their hands-on skills.
“It’s just a wonderful environment for students to act like college students,” said adviser Lyn Velle.
Project Lead the Way works to get students interested in engineering at an early age to give them a focus of study through the rest of their education if they enjoy it.
There isn’t enough room at Twin Spruce Junior High to teach all of the students interested in the program. It requires a large space for them to build and design.
Published: Sunday, December 13, 2009 12:19 AM MST
To earn a Gillette College degree in one of three technical fields, students must now travel a nine-mile radius between any of four sites. Diesel technology, welding and electrical students, along with those in the engineering and mining technology programs and a host of others, now will be housed under one roof. They only have to trek across the bridge for extra classes on campus.
After years of lobbying the state Legislature for money to build the Tech Center, the state agreed to split the cost with Campbell County and passed state Sen. Michael Von Flatern’s bill in 2007.
“The Legislature understood how important Gillette was to the rest of state,” McGrath said. “With all of the minerals and industry here,” legislators realized this is where that center should be.
Von Flatern had argued that, without the building on campus, students did not have the chance to mingle and learn from one another.
“When you’re located so far from the college, you don’t catch the connection,” he said.
“It will help save me gas,” said Lance Chase, a 19-year-old diesel student.
He’s working on a two-year degree and now commutes between the main campus and the diesel technology building. Other students thought the new technologies were going to be a boost for their careers. They said learning from the most up-to-date equipment would give them an edge.
That’s something that Arch Coal Vice President Greg Schaefer also looks forward to. He sees the well-educated welding, diesel and electrical students as a great opportunity for the local industry.
“We would be potential employers to all of those,” Schaefer said.
It all works together.
“You get all the technologies under one roof and you’ll have some synergies,” said Ray DeStefano, an industrial electrical instructor.
It might not be instantaneous but the demonstration labs will bring students together from multiple disciplines to work on the same machinery. It’s not by accident.
The entire building was designed around making sure people cross paths, said Joel Anderson, design architect of CTA Architect Engineers.
“There is an overriding goal to cross-pollinate,” he said.
Here’s a little of what all of that entails:
$36,800,000 includes the cost of the building, the site plan and all the equipment. The State of Wyoming and Campbell County split the cost. Plus, the 13 acres it sits on is a $2.8 million contribution from the City of Gillette.
91,054 square feet in the Technical Education Center and a 4,050-square-foot storage building provide space for programs now housed at three separate locations to come together under 74,289 square feet of roof. And it doesn’t have to end there. “If some day we’re doing space shuttle maintenance, we can add on,” Young said. “The whole east side of the building ... was designed to add on to.”
30,000 gallons of water can be stored at any one time underground in a cistern that will collect about 400,000 gallons of water that annually runs off the roof. That will be used to water lawns and for xeriscaping. It’s about half of the water that is needed. By cutting down on water costs, the $55,000 system could pay for itself in about 10 to 20 years depending on water prices and annual rainfall, Anderson said.
13,000 tons of concrete. It’s also built on 11,500 feet of steel piling. When coupled with the steel used to build the structure, it totals 480 tons.
4,500 square feet of space in the “flex area” can seat up to 300 people. It becomes the Donkey Creek Cafe for three daily meals for students and faculty provided by Campbell County School District. The space also can be divided to create three smaller rooms. Another 26 glass panels create a divider that separates the multi-use commons area from the Pronghorn Room.
1,083 light fixtures inside and outside the building don’t have to be on in many large rooms thanks to 33 large skylights.
232 standard chairs for 30 round tables, plus another 30 lounge chairs.
144 parking spots, a number determined by the city ordinance. There’s room for more.
104 miles of wiring. Enough to reach Sheridan College from the Gillette College. About 14 miles of electrical conduit and six miles of pipe.
48 seats in a mini auditorium. Young said it was a bonus room that can be used for teleconferences and presentations by students and the public.
38 instructor office spaces for teachers, administrators and staff. A bank of rooms will house industrial safety including Mining Safety and Health Administration and Occupational Safety and Health Administration trainers. Rooms also have been set aside for visiting teachers. Many of the rooms are multi-use. Even the six storage rooms have windows. The second-floor, “corner office” space with the view has not been assigned. Young said it will be a mini conference room so it can be used and enjoyed by everyone.
32 rustic wooden beams and six timber pillars line the front entrance. Young said they serve to tie in the architecture of the original building. Students can cross the 170-foot bowstring truss pedestrian bridge made with Douglas fir supports that carry through with the theme. Once past the timber beams at the Tech Center entrance, Young said students and visitors will leave any hint of the rustic behind for the latest in technological advances.
16 cross-beams throughout the building are not load bearing. They are exposed to continue that “techy” feel throughout the facility.
15 instructors buildingwide. That’s it. Young said the operation is lean and mean. Each department takes care of its own needs.
12 permanent classrooms and two flex rooms can be used in multiple scenarios. The largest room can accommodate 50 students — it’s the computer-aided drafting room.
24 flat screens positioned throughout the facility used as part of a digital sign system for messages, training information and job announcements.
1 document production system room will be the source of most instructional material, which all comes in a digital format that’s print-on-demand.
Diesel Tech
The 50 students in the diesel program are about all the two instructors Brent Heusinkveld and Travis Grubb would like to take on. In fact, they would like to see smaller classes in order to give each student more time.
The facility at 509 S. Second St. across from AVA has housed the department since 2001. In the past, the department had to pass up on large workshops because the equipment would have overloaded the 8,400-square-foot building, Heusinkveld said. The new building is more than double that size.
20,000 square feet of space about 36 feet high is devoted to diesel technology programs.
10,000 new tools including sockets and wrenches housed in 32 upright portable tool boxes. Each will be shared by two students.
64 students can work on cutting-edge equipment at the same time. Instructors signed up an extra 30 students this semester partially thanks to publicity of the new building, Heusinkveld said. They took them on knowing space would be available the spring semester. If enrollment ever warrants it, a second shift of classes would allow 128 students.
32 work stations. The current building on Second Street has 12 work stations and is overloaded.
12 jib cranes with 2-ton capacity, along with two bridge cranes that can lift 5 tons each and one center crane with 10-ton capacity. Students will learn to work on heavy equipment similar to what’s available at companies like Wyoming Machinery and Komatsu. The idea is to train students in an environment that’s like the workplace they will end up in. “They can show up, day one, and be ready to work,” Young said.
1 engine dynamometer and one chassis dynamometer brings the program to a new level. Students will be able to bring in a big motor, run it at full speed and see how it performs. They don’t have to worry about noise and exhaust fumes thanks to a sealed control room between the two dynamometers. From that room they can view a computer that analyzes the performance. Diesel instructors believe the machines are the only ones of their kind in a tri-state area. They are worth about $250,000 each.
Culinary Academy
The program, just like the entire Tech Center, is about providing careers, Young said.
“It’s a start for the hospitality and tourism industry,” he said. “We had heard from those industries for years and kept saying ‘some day.’ Well, some day is here.”
The area is like the average home kitchen on steroids. Thanks to input from area businesses like The Chophouse, Prime Rib, Clarion Inn and Convention Center, Boss Lodge, Cam-plex, and Coffee Friends, it’s a nicer kitchen than most of the students will find if they continue into the culinary profession.
The culinary program in Sheridan has become so popular that the Gillette Campus will take on students who want to earn a certificate in baking. Once the program gets going, Young said they hope to start weekend cooking classes for anyone.
“Think of this,” Young said. “Imagine people from Cheyenne and Jackson Hole coming here for a weekend getaway.”
10 burners on one range, along with a 10-gallon mixer, a 30-gallon kettle and a 25-gallon skillet. It’s also equipped with a bread-rising machine, a meat slicer, an oven, a deep fryer and a roaster.
1,200 square feet in the professional prep kitchen will allow classes of about 25 to practice culinary skills at a time. The kitchen will allow high school students to join the new culinary academy. The academy will start in the fall of 2010 by enrolling 50 sophomore students. It includes:
1 big fridge. It’s an 8-foot by 15-foot walk-in attached to a 6-foot by 8-foot deep freeze.
1 fireplace in the Pronghorn Room, which can be used for board meetings or groups for teleconferencing. The room will be converted into a restaurant once the culinary program is operating in the fall. Once a week, up to 30 people will be able to reserve space for a gourmet meal.
Welding Center
Instructor Bryant Hagg now has 25 students enrolled at the building north of Gillette on U.S. Highway 14-16 near the airport. In its new digs in the spring, the program will have room for 50 students during one shift. That number could double by adding another shift.
His only worry is that the equipment students will be working with may be more advanced than much of what’s available in area welding shops.
“It’s not your father’s welding shop,” Young said.
10,000 square feet will accommodate 50 students and twice as many with two shifts. The program now is swamped with 25 students.
40 torch bodies will be available for use.
30 welding booths will handle the three primary welding processes including MIG, TIG and stick welding.
1 5-ton floor-mounted jib crane at the overhead door will be used to move welding metals in and out of the bay.
Industrial Electronics
The electronics program at Gillette College has moved around town some, but spent the last semester packed into a room in the main campus. There is very little room for practicing real-world lessons in a field that demands thousands of hours of experience, said Ray DeStefano, one of the industrial electrical instructors.
5,000 square feet will provide room for 100 students, quadrupling the current enrollment. There now is lab space available. The new space has three labs that will be filled with electrical simulators that offer lessons including circuit theory, AC/DC, electrical circuits and power distribution. When put together, they represent an actual setup that students would find at a coal mine. Two students work on each simulator at a time.
4,160 kilovolt supply in a high-voltage lab, which provides students with a scenario that they might find in the field. “It’s exactly what they would find at a mine site,” Young said. “They can pull a cable out and cones and set up a training scenario.” The difference is, in the real world they may have to work on this equipment in the dark in a downpour. DeStefano describes it as hazardous equipment, but not dangerous.
1 demonstration bay shared by the diesel, welding and electrical programs will allow local industries to display their equipment in a central location between the diesel, industrial electrical and welding departments. Anything that fits through the 20-foot by 20-foot door can be brought into the 3,600-square-foot space that also houses a 15-ton bridge crane overhead.
To start things off Cloud Peak Energy and Flanders Electric are bringing in an electrical rotating apparatus found on draglines.
This will be an important part of some students’ senior projects, which require a collaboration of diesel and electrical skills, Young said.
Project Lead The Way
Junior high students interested in pre-engineering classes will have their own room devoted to enhancing their hands-on skills.
“It’s just a wonderful environment for students to act like college students,” said adviser Lyn Velle.
Project Lead the Way works to get students interested in engineering at an early age to give them a focus of study through the rest of their education if they enjoy it.
There isn’t enough room at Twin Spruce Junior High to teach all of the students interested in the program. It requires a large space for them to build and design.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
CityCenter Opportunities for Minority Businesses
LAS VEGAS, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (NYSE: MGM) - Among the 200 minority-owned firms that helped build CityCenter were a Detroit-based general contractor who expanded his business to Las Vegas after auto industry contracts dried up, a local electrical supply firm that nearly doubled in size, and a drug screening company that was specifically born out of the project.
From building architecture and design, LEED consulting, engineering, to information technology and waste removal, minority-owned firms were involved in virtually every major discipline employed in the development.
In all, MGM MIRAGE and Perini Building Company spent more than $700 million in construction and design contracts with minority-owned firms throughout the five-year CityCenter project.
"As part of our Company's Diversity Initiative, we undertook an aggressive approach to ensure that minority-owned firms had maximum opportunity to participate in the project," said Bobby Baldwin, president and CEO of CityCenter. "In many cases, these contractors increased the size of their firms as well as their bonding capacity, and gained a wealth of valuable experience in the process."
The Construction Diversity team, consisting of MGM MIRAGE and Perini representatives, was focused exclusively on promoting significant MWDBE participation in the CityCenter project, finding avenues for greater participation by MWDBE firms, and contributing to the development of greater capacity, in both expertise and experience, of MWDBEs.
Due to the enormous scope of the project and its extensive bidding opportunities, CityCenter assigned eight people to the team.
The team encouraged joint ventures and mentoring partnerships between minority-owned and larger firms and initiated contract "unbundling" - where contracts were divided into smaller portions to accommodate the more limited resources of companies that were less experienced on larger projects.
The team also created a two-day training program entitled "Construction and Business Management Training Program" for firms that were brought on board at CityCenter. The program focused on technical, business and management essentials in the construction industry, enabling the participants to strengthen their business and leadership skills, increase their project management proficiency and maximize their potential for project success.
"For many of these companies, CityCenter represented the business growth opportunity of a lifetime," said Perini Building Company Vice Chairman Dick Rizzo. "We sought out the most qualified local firms, then used our Company's national contacts to cast our net far and wide across the United States to identify the most qualified minority and women-owned firms. As a result, CityCenter had the highest proportion of minority representation in Perini's history."
About CityCenter
CityCenter is an unprecedented urban metropolis on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. CityCenter is a joint venture between MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. CityCenter features ARIA, a 61-story, 4,004-room gaming resort; luxury non-gaming hotels including Las Vegas' first Mandarin Oriental and Vdara Hotel & Spa; Veer Towers, the development's only strictly residential buildings; and Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district. Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers include approximately 2,400 residences total. Additionally, The Harmon, a 400-room luxury boutique hotel, is slated to open at CityCenter in late 2010. CityCenter also features a resident Cirque du Soleil production celebrating the timeless musical legacy of Elvis Presley; and an unparalleled Fine Art Collection with works by acclaimed artists including Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Nancy Rubins, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, among others. CityCenter is a design collaboration between MGM MIRAGE and eight internationally acclaimed architectural firms including Pelli Clarke Pelli, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Helmut Jahn, RV Architecture LLC led by Rafael Vinoly, Foster + Partners*, Studio Daniel Libeskind*, David Rockwell and Rockwell Group, and Gensler. At the forefront of sustainability, CityCenter is one of the world's largest green developments. ARIA, Vdara, Crystals, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers all have received LEED® Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. This marks the highest LEED achievement for any hotel, retail district or residential development in Las Vegas. The Harmon also is pursuing LEED certification. For more information about CityCenter, please visit www.citycenter.com.
About Perini Building Company
Perini Building Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tutor Perini Corporation ( TPC). Perini Building Company is the largest builder of hospitality and gaming resorts and one of the largest construction companies in the country. Professional services offered are construction management, general contracting, preconstruction, post construction, and design/build. In addition to gaming and hospitality, other major market segments include transportation and sports and entertainment venues. For more information, visit www.tutorperini.com.
From building architecture and design, LEED consulting, engineering, to information technology and waste removal, minority-owned firms were involved in virtually every major discipline employed in the development.
In all, MGM MIRAGE and Perini Building Company spent more than $700 million in construction and design contracts with minority-owned firms throughout the five-year CityCenter project.
"As part of our Company's Diversity Initiative, we undertook an aggressive approach to ensure that minority-owned firms had maximum opportunity to participate in the project," said Bobby Baldwin, president and CEO of CityCenter. "In many cases, these contractors increased the size of their firms as well as their bonding capacity, and gained a wealth of valuable experience in the process."
The Construction Diversity team, consisting of MGM MIRAGE and Perini representatives, was focused exclusively on promoting significant MWDBE participation in the CityCenter project, finding avenues for greater participation by MWDBE firms, and contributing to the development of greater capacity, in both expertise and experience, of MWDBEs.
Due to the enormous scope of the project and its extensive bidding opportunities, CityCenter assigned eight people to the team.
The team encouraged joint ventures and mentoring partnerships between minority-owned and larger firms and initiated contract "unbundling" - where contracts were divided into smaller portions to accommodate the more limited resources of companies that were less experienced on larger projects.
The team also created a two-day training program entitled "Construction and Business Management Training Program" for firms that were brought on board at CityCenter. The program focused on technical, business and management essentials in the construction industry, enabling the participants to strengthen their business and leadership skills, increase their project management proficiency and maximize their potential for project success.
"For many of these companies, CityCenter represented the business growth opportunity of a lifetime," said Perini Building Company Vice Chairman Dick Rizzo. "We sought out the most qualified local firms, then used our Company's national contacts to cast our net far and wide across the United States to identify the most qualified minority and women-owned firms. As a result, CityCenter had the highest proportion of minority representation in Perini's history."
About CityCenter
CityCenter is an unprecedented urban metropolis on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. CityCenter is a joint venture between MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. CityCenter features ARIA, a 61-story, 4,004-room gaming resort; luxury non-gaming hotels including Las Vegas' first Mandarin Oriental and Vdara Hotel & Spa; Veer Towers, the development's only strictly residential buildings; and Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district. Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers include approximately 2,400 residences total. Additionally, The Harmon, a 400-room luxury boutique hotel, is slated to open at CityCenter in late 2010. CityCenter also features a resident Cirque du Soleil production celebrating the timeless musical legacy of Elvis Presley; and an unparalleled Fine Art Collection with works by acclaimed artists including Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Nancy Rubins, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, among others. CityCenter is a design collaboration between MGM MIRAGE and eight internationally acclaimed architectural firms including Pelli Clarke Pelli, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Helmut Jahn, RV Architecture LLC led by Rafael Vinoly, Foster + Partners*, Studio Daniel Libeskind*, David Rockwell and Rockwell Group, and Gensler. At the forefront of sustainability, CityCenter is one of the world's largest green developments. ARIA, Vdara, Crystals, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers all have received LEED® Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. This marks the highest LEED achievement for any hotel, retail district or residential development in Las Vegas. The Harmon also is pursuing LEED certification. For more information about CityCenter, please visit www.citycenter.com.
About Perini Building Company
Perini Building Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tutor Perini Corporation ( TPC). Perini Building Company is the largest builder of hospitality and gaming resorts and one of the largest construction companies in the country. Professional services offered are construction management, general contracting, preconstruction, post construction, and design/build. In addition to gaming and hospitality, other major market segments include transportation and sports and entertainment venues. For more information, visit www.tutorperini.com.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Electricians Understand Energy Star Buildings
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/12/epa-energy-star-building-program-marks-a-decade.html
December 9, 2009 | 5:08 pm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is marking the 10-year anniversary of its Energy Star building program, with 8,400 structures across the country since 1999 that meet the energy efficiency standards.
In 2008, Los Angeles ranked first among all U.S. cities, with more than 260 Energy Star buildings, including several that have earned the label every year since the program’s inception.
Nationwide, Energy Star has prevented the emission of nearly 120 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to the EPA.
Energy Star covers 13 types of commercial buildings, including retail stores, hotels, schools and supermarkets. The first building to qualify for the label was the Ridgehaven Green Building in San Diego, which houses the city’s Environmental Services Department.
Notable buildings include Amazon.com’s headquarters in Seattle, the National Geographic Society base in Washington, D.C., and the home of MTV in Santa Monica. Landmarks such as the Chrysler Building in New York and the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco are also Energy Star buildings.
The oldest building to earn the Energy Star distinction is Cambridge Savings Bank in Massachusetts, which was constructed in 1820. At 1,136 feet – higher than three stacked football fields - the Aon Center in Chicago is the tallest Energy Star building and the fifth-tallest building in the country.
The USAA McDermott Building in San Antonio, Tex. is the largest Energy Star structure – at 4.5 million square feet, it is larger than the Mall of America.
December 9, 2009 | 5:08 pm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is marking the 10-year anniversary of its Energy Star building program, with 8,400 structures across the country since 1999 that meet the energy efficiency standards.
In 2008, Los Angeles ranked first among all U.S. cities, with more than 260 Energy Star buildings, including several that have earned the label every year since the program’s inception.
Nationwide, Energy Star has prevented the emission of nearly 120 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to the EPA.
Energy Star covers 13 types of commercial buildings, including retail stores, hotels, schools and supermarkets. The first building to qualify for the label was the Ridgehaven Green Building in San Diego, which houses the city’s Environmental Services Department.
Notable buildings include Amazon.com’s headquarters in Seattle, the National Geographic Society base in Washington, D.C., and the home of MTV in Santa Monica. Landmarks such as the Chrysler Building in New York and the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco are also Energy Star buildings.
The oldest building to earn the Energy Star distinction is Cambridge Savings Bank in Massachusetts, which was constructed in 1820. At 1,136 feet – higher than three stacked football fields - the Aon Center in Chicago is the tallest Energy Star building and the fifth-tallest building in the country.
The USAA McDermott Building in San Antonio, Tex. is the largest Energy Star structure – at 4.5 million square feet, it is larger than the Mall of America.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Chicago Building Discussion Continues
By DON BABWIN (AP) – 22 hours ago
CHICAGO — Construction of what would be North America's tallest building may move forward thanks to unions that not only want their workers to build it but are trying to put together a deal to help pay for it.
A group of union pension funds — eager to provide work for union workers — are in talks to loan $170 million to Irish developer Shelbourne Development Group so construction of the twisting 2,000-foot-high Chicago Spire can resume as soon as early next year.
The Spire, which won city approval and saw workers break ground in 2007, has sat dormant for a year since the global financial crisis triggered various fights involving bankers, the architect and the developer, bringing work to a standstill.
The loan would pay off the estimated $64 million loan made by Anglo Irish Bank and satisfy various liens to firms that have worked on the Spire, including one by a firm associated with architect Santiago Calatrava, who stopped working on the project, claiming the developer owed him more than $11 million.
Tom Villanova, president of the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council, said the money would come from an AFL-CIO pension fund and Union Life Insurance Co., and perhaps pension funds from various locals.
The reason, he said, is simple.
"This would be 7.5 million man-hours for my members and I have locals that have 30 percent unemployment," said Villanova, whose group represents two dozen unions with about 100,000 members. He said the project — which Shelbourne said would take about four years to complete — would mean work for as many as 1,000 union workers.
Villanova didn't know exactly when an agreement could be reached. But he said he is "very optimistic and hopeful" that it'll happen.
He downplayed the risk of investing in a skyscraper that will house nearly 1,200 condos in a city flooded with so many new condos that owners in some parts of the city have struggled to sell them.
For one thing, he said, unions have been making these kinds of loans for years. He said, for example, the AFL-CIO fund has invested more in Chicago — about $1 billion — than in any other U.S. city.
Also, the project is years away from completion, meaning there's plenty of time for the market to improve. Besides, he said, the deal now being considered would make the trusts the property's first mortgage holder, meaning the trusts would be "first in line" to take possession of the lakefront property if the project failed.
Shelbourne doesn't think that will happen. In March 2008 the developer said more than 30 percent of the units had been sold. And while spokeswoman Kim Metcalfe said the company continues to use that figure, she said there have been more sales since then and that because of "a little loosening up on the lending side" recently, Shelbourne is confident sales will pick up.
The condominiums start at $750,000 each, with most costing between $2 million and $15 million, she said.
One analyst said the project being at least a few years away from completion could work in the Spire's favor.
Gail Lissner, vice president of Appraisal Research Counselors, a Chicago real estate consulting firm, said after next year — when 900 downtown condos are expected to be completed — and 2011, when 86 are slated to be finished, there is little on the horizon.
"The pipeline is empty and there are no proposed projects," said Lissner.
The CN Tower in Toronto, at 1,815 feet, is North America's tallest freestanding structure. Chicago's Willis Tower, formerly called the Sears Tower, is the tallest U.S. building at 1,451 feet.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
CHICAGO — Construction of what would be North America's tallest building may move forward thanks to unions that not only want their workers to build it but are trying to put together a deal to help pay for it.
A group of union pension funds — eager to provide work for union workers — are in talks to loan $170 million to Irish developer Shelbourne Development Group so construction of the twisting 2,000-foot-high Chicago Spire can resume as soon as early next year.
The Spire, which won city approval and saw workers break ground in 2007, has sat dormant for a year since the global financial crisis triggered various fights involving bankers, the architect and the developer, bringing work to a standstill.
The loan would pay off the estimated $64 million loan made by Anglo Irish Bank and satisfy various liens to firms that have worked on the Spire, including one by a firm associated with architect Santiago Calatrava, who stopped working on the project, claiming the developer owed him more than $11 million.
Tom Villanova, president of the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council, said the money would come from an AFL-CIO pension fund and Union Life Insurance Co., and perhaps pension funds from various locals.
The reason, he said, is simple.
"This would be 7.5 million man-hours for my members and I have locals that have 30 percent unemployment," said Villanova, whose group represents two dozen unions with about 100,000 members. He said the project — which Shelbourne said would take about four years to complete — would mean work for as many as 1,000 union workers.
Villanova didn't know exactly when an agreement could be reached. But he said he is "very optimistic and hopeful" that it'll happen.
He downplayed the risk of investing in a skyscraper that will house nearly 1,200 condos in a city flooded with so many new condos that owners in some parts of the city have struggled to sell them.
For one thing, he said, unions have been making these kinds of loans for years. He said, for example, the AFL-CIO fund has invested more in Chicago — about $1 billion — than in any other U.S. city.
Also, the project is years away from completion, meaning there's plenty of time for the market to improve. Besides, he said, the deal now being considered would make the trusts the property's first mortgage holder, meaning the trusts would be "first in line" to take possession of the lakefront property if the project failed.
Shelbourne doesn't think that will happen. In March 2008 the developer said more than 30 percent of the units had been sold. And while spokeswoman Kim Metcalfe said the company continues to use that figure, she said there have been more sales since then and that because of "a little loosening up on the lending side" recently, Shelbourne is confident sales will pick up.
The condominiums start at $750,000 each, with most costing between $2 million and $15 million, she said.
One analyst said the project being at least a few years away from completion could work in the Spire's favor.
Gail Lissner, vice president of Appraisal Research Counselors, a Chicago real estate consulting firm, said after next year — when 900 downtown condos are expected to be completed — and 2011, when 86 are slated to be finished, there is little on the horizon.
"The pipeline is empty and there are no proposed projects," said Lissner.
The CN Tower in Toronto, at 1,815 feet, is North America's tallest freestanding structure. Chicago's Willis Tower, formerly called the Sears Tower, is the tallest U.S. building at 1,451 feet.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Mobile Electrician Workers
Capital investments are scarce, employment is down and manufacturing is barely ticking over in much of the world, but purveyors of mobile computing hardware, software and wireless infrastructure are still seeing steady — in some cases, aggressive — growth. Word is out about increases in productivity, effective knowledge management and positive culture change in companies that hand out handhelds. Now the barriers to implementation are under siege.
More on the Web
* Case Study: Huntsman Extends IT to Its Field Operations
* White Paper: Unlocking the Value of Mobile Computing
Life is more competitive,” says Joe Granda, executive vice president, marketing, Syclo (www.syclo.com), which is expanding its mobile software and systems integration workforce. “Organizations have gone to a lot of effort to streamline activities — six sigma, asset management, supply chain — and they’ve done a pretty good job of improving productivity and processes. So what’s the next step? Mobile.”Mobile computing lets companies leverage office system improvements in the field. You can reduce cycle times to reduce labor costs, improve customer satisfaction and increase product quality; get information into the hands of people and back into the system; and handle regulatory compliance with documentation for the EPA, FDA and Sarbanes-Oxley.
Better information management is breaking down barriers between production and maintenance. “As companies put in more maintenance management systems because costs are high and equipment is breaking down, they find that they now know what the backlog is, but they’re not catching up,” says David Dollar, product manager for IntelaTrac at Wonderware (www.wonderware.com). Operators can collect condition data to help them operate within the design envelope and keep the process or machine tuned. “They can extend the time between maintenance and notify maintenance earlier if a problem starts to occur, so you replace a bearing instead of a shaft and bearing,” Dollar says. Along with extending intervals based on more proactive operation, you can empower operators with correct procedures and focused advice, and lead them through minor troubleshooting.
Mobile devices also are being used to capture uninstrumented process data. Some 40% of equipment isn’t instrumented or has only local gauges. Operators often open or close valves manually, setting positions with verbal communications, and the records are poor. Mobile devices can bring those values into the process historian, allowing the operator to feed information into multiple systems of record.
For example, EPA requires inspections of flanges and valves for fugitive emissions. “You attach RFID tags — not bar codes that can be copied — at the locations,” Dollar says. “You have to be within two inches to scan them, then answer questions to confirm the inspection. Reports are e-mailed to the EPA. The EPA visits less often because the inspections are rigorous and documented, and the EPA accepts them.”
The same wireless infrastructure can be shared among mobile computing, security, building management and control systems. It can reduce capital expenditures and improve reliability when adding measurements for monitoring and controlling equipment, energy and emissions.
“The business case for mobile workers is compelling,” says Paul Brooks, business development, networks, Rockwell Automation (www.ra.rockwell.com). But as shown in Table 1, research shows that manufacturers also see some challenges.
More on the Web
* Case Study: Huntsman Extends IT to Its Field Operations
* White Paper: Unlocking the Value of Mobile Computing
Life is more competitive,” says Joe Granda, executive vice president, marketing, Syclo (www.syclo.com), which is expanding its mobile software and systems integration workforce. “Organizations have gone to a lot of effort to streamline activities — six sigma, asset management, supply chain — and they’ve done a pretty good job of improving productivity and processes. So what’s the next step? Mobile.”Mobile computing lets companies leverage office system improvements in the field. You can reduce cycle times to reduce labor costs, improve customer satisfaction and increase product quality; get information into the hands of people and back into the system; and handle regulatory compliance with documentation for the EPA, FDA and Sarbanes-Oxley.
Better information management is breaking down barriers between production and maintenance. “As companies put in more maintenance management systems because costs are high and equipment is breaking down, they find that they now know what the backlog is, but they’re not catching up,” says David Dollar, product manager for IntelaTrac at Wonderware (www.wonderware.com). Operators can collect condition data to help them operate within the design envelope and keep the process or machine tuned. “They can extend the time between maintenance and notify maintenance earlier if a problem starts to occur, so you replace a bearing instead of a shaft and bearing,” Dollar says. Along with extending intervals based on more proactive operation, you can empower operators with correct procedures and focused advice, and lead them through minor troubleshooting.
Mobile devices also are being used to capture uninstrumented process data. Some 40% of equipment isn’t instrumented or has only local gauges. Operators often open or close valves manually, setting positions with verbal communications, and the records are poor. Mobile devices can bring those values into the process historian, allowing the operator to feed information into multiple systems of record.
For example, EPA requires inspections of flanges and valves for fugitive emissions. “You attach RFID tags — not bar codes that can be copied — at the locations,” Dollar says. “You have to be within two inches to scan them, then answer questions to confirm the inspection. Reports are e-mailed to the EPA. The EPA visits less often because the inspections are rigorous and documented, and the EPA accepts them.”
The same wireless infrastructure can be shared among mobile computing, security, building management and control systems. It can reduce capital expenditures and improve reliability when adding measurements for monitoring and controlling equipment, energy and emissions.
“The business case for mobile workers is compelling,” says Paul Brooks, business development, networks, Rockwell Automation (www.ra.rockwell.com). But as shown in Table 1, research shows that manufacturers also see some challenges.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Space Flight Building in California
Virgin Galactic plans to unveil Monday its new six-passenger, two-pilot spaceship, which will carry paying customers to suborbit from the New Mexico Spaceport starting in 2011.
The unveiling will take place after dark in Mojave, Calif., where spaceship designer and builder Scaled Composites is constructing and testing the vehicle. The ceremony will be attended by Gov. Bill Richardson and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will jointly christen the ship Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Enterprise.
“Today we celebrate just how close we are to realizing the future of commercial space travel,” said Richardson in a news release. “New Mexico’s partnership with Virgin Galactic is going to completely transform the economy of southern New Mexico — creating high-wage jobs, attracting new companies, boosting tourism and investing in education.”
During 2010, Virgin Galactic will conduct flight and ground testing and obtain all required U.S. government licenses for the new vehicle, dubbed SpaceShipTwo. The company will begin commercial flights with tourists sometime in 2011 from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico, said Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson.
“This is truly a momentous day,” Branson said. “The unveil of SS2 takes the Virgin Galactic vision to the next level and continues to provide tangible evidence that this ambitious project is not only moving rapidly, but also making tremendous progress towards our goal of safe commercial operation.”
Scaled Composites already began test flights last year for WhiteKnightTwo, the mothership that will carry SpaceShipTwo partway to space on its underbelly. When the mothership reaches 50,000 feet, or 16 kilometers up, the passenger vehicle will detach to fire rocket motors that will shoot it into suborbit.
Virgin Galactic estimates its operations will create 1,100 jobs by 2011 in California and New Mexico, both through direct employment at Virgin Galactic and through companies that supply products and services. About 600 people are already working on activities related to the project, including about 200 employed in construction of the Spaceport.
The unveiling will take place after dark in Mojave, Calif., where spaceship designer and builder Scaled Composites is constructing and testing the vehicle. The ceremony will be attended by Gov. Bill Richardson and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will jointly christen the ship Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Enterprise.
“Today we celebrate just how close we are to realizing the future of commercial space travel,” said Richardson in a news release. “New Mexico’s partnership with Virgin Galactic is going to completely transform the economy of southern New Mexico — creating high-wage jobs, attracting new companies, boosting tourism and investing in education.”
During 2010, Virgin Galactic will conduct flight and ground testing and obtain all required U.S. government licenses for the new vehicle, dubbed SpaceShipTwo. The company will begin commercial flights with tourists sometime in 2011 from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico, said Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson.
“This is truly a momentous day,” Branson said. “The unveil of SS2 takes the Virgin Galactic vision to the next level and continues to provide tangible evidence that this ambitious project is not only moving rapidly, but also making tremendous progress towards our goal of safe commercial operation.”
Scaled Composites already began test flights last year for WhiteKnightTwo, the mothership that will carry SpaceShipTwo partway to space on its underbelly. When the mothership reaches 50,000 feet, or 16 kilometers up, the passenger vehicle will detach to fire rocket motors that will shoot it into suborbit.
Virgin Galactic estimates its operations will create 1,100 jobs by 2011 in California and New Mexico, both through direct employment at Virgin Galactic and through companies that supply products and services. About 600 people are already working on activities related to the project, including about 200 employed in construction of the Spaceport.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Mexican Support for Their Electricians
Thousands of unionists and supporters shut down Mexico City during morning rush hour on Friday. They were protesting President Felipe Calderon's recent decision to unilaterally close the government-owned Luz y Fuerza del Centro electricity company. In the middle of the night this past October 10-11, Calderon sent thousands of soldiers and militarized Federal Police to take over Luz y Fuerza buildings and fire its workers. Thousands of Federal Police continue to occupy the power company buildings.
Specifically, the unionists who took to the streets on Friday turned out to support the Mexican Union of Electric Workers (SME), the union that represents Luz y Fuerza workers, in their demand that the Calderon administration negotiate with the union. They want to negotiate the reinstatement of SME's 44,000 workers and continued pensions for its 22,000 retirees.
Unions, civic associations, peasant organizations, student groups, and neighborhood associations from across the country traveled to Mexico City to support the SME as it took over Mexico City. Some unions, such as those from Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Durango, Queretaro, and Zacatecas, arrived in a caravan that snaked through several states over a period of three days, holding rallies and picking up more supporters along the way.
The unionists and their supporters blocked the four main entrances into Mexico City for hours on Friday morning. After holding their blockades for between one and two hours, they marched to the center of the city converging in Revolution Plaza. Along the way, they picked up other contingents of unionists and students who were blockading key intersections within the city.
The SME and its supporters held a rally in Revolution Plaza, but the number of marchers far exceeded the plaza's capacity. By the time the contingent from Oaxaca and Chiapas arrived at Revolution Plaza, for example, they could not enter. Instead, they flooded the streets around the Plaza.
During the marches and rally, some rank-and-file unionists drove off reporters and camera crews from Mexico's corporate media with chants of "Que se ve la fuerza del SME!" ("Here you can see the power of the SME!"). The SME and its supporters have been extremely critical of the corporate media's pro-government/anti-union slant in its coverage of the Luz y Fuerza closure.
After being chased away by unionists, some camera crews returned to the rally without their press credentials in an attempt to slip in unnoticed. Rank-and-file workers recognized them and chased them out of the area. While there was no official rule in place prohibiting the corporate media's coverage of the event (at least one corporate media camera crew managed to film the rally) the incidents do reflect the rage rank-and-file workers feel about how the corporate media has portrayed them.
On the other hand, unionists received independent media with open arms and went out of their way to facilitate interviews with union spokespeople.
National Support
One of the most striking aspects of Friday's mobilization was the broad national support for the SME. Some states, such as Oaxaca, sent thousands of union members to participate in the takeover of the nation's capital.
Unions from other states, however, were unable to send large delegations due to labor disputes in their own regions. Between 50-70 people came from San Luis Potosi, for example. Those 50-70 people, however, represented at least ten different unions.
Guadalupe Cervantes came to the mobilization as part of a two-person delegation from the San Luis Potosi Independent Union of State Government Workers. She explains that her union couldn't spare more members. "We're in planton [round-the-clock picket]. At this moment we're suffering repression at the hands of the state government. However, even though our presence here is small, we had to come support the SME. It is very important to support the SME because this is all part of a plan to do away with unions. If the government can do something like this to the SME, what will it do to the rest of the unions?"
A representative from the Glassworkers Union in San Luis Potosi reports that his union is in a similar situation. "Former US Ambassador Tony Garza's wife owns the factory where we bottled beer for Grupo Modelo. We've been locked out for nearly two years." He says that the state government collaborated with Grupo Modelo's union busting and attempted to impose government-controled leadership on the union, which celebrated its first democratic union election in 2006. Despite his union's dire situation, he says they had to send a delegation to take over Mexico City in solidarity with the SME. "The government can't do this to the SME. It has such a long history of struggle."
Countless small delegations such as these added one or two thousand people to the approximately 5,000-person human blockade that shut down the eastern entrance to the city. The blockade at the eastern entrance appears to be one of the smaller ones that occurred on Friday.
One of the largest non-SME delegations that participated in Friday's blockades was the contingent from Mexico City's National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Students and unionized professors and other university workers came out to support the SME. UNAM students remember that the SME supported them in their successful 1999 student strike against tuition increases. "Yesterday it was the UNAM, and today it's the SME" is a commonly heard phrase on the UNAM campus and at SME events.
Specifically, the unionists who took to the streets on Friday turned out to support the Mexican Union of Electric Workers (SME), the union that represents Luz y Fuerza workers, in their demand that the Calderon administration negotiate with the union. They want to negotiate the reinstatement of SME's 44,000 workers and continued pensions for its 22,000 retirees.
Unions, civic associations, peasant organizations, student groups, and neighborhood associations from across the country traveled to Mexico City to support the SME as it took over Mexico City. Some unions, such as those from Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Durango, Queretaro, and Zacatecas, arrived in a caravan that snaked through several states over a period of three days, holding rallies and picking up more supporters along the way.
The unionists and their supporters blocked the four main entrances into Mexico City for hours on Friday morning. After holding their blockades for between one and two hours, they marched to the center of the city converging in Revolution Plaza. Along the way, they picked up other contingents of unionists and students who were blockading key intersections within the city.
The SME and its supporters held a rally in Revolution Plaza, but the number of marchers far exceeded the plaza's capacity. By the time the contingent from Oaxaca and Chiapas arrived at Revolution Plaza, for example, they could not enter. Instead, they flooded the streets around the Plaza.
During the marches and rally, some rank-and-file unionists drove off reporters and camera crews from Mexico's corporate media with chants of "Que se ve la fuerza del SME!" ("Here you can see the power of the SME!"). The SME and its supporters have been extremely critical of the corporate media's pro-government/anti-union slant in its coverage of the Luz y Fuerza closure.
After being chased away by unionists, some camera crews returned to the rally without their press credentials in an attempt to slip in unnoticed. Rank-and-file workers recognized them and chased them out of the area. While there was no official rule in place prohibiting the corporate media's coverage of the event (at least one corporate media camera crew managed to film the rally) the incidents do reflect the rage rank-and-file workers feel about how the corporate media has portrayed them.
On the other hand, unionists received independent media with open arms and went out of their way to facilitate interviews with union spokespeople.
National Support
One of the most striking aspects of Friday's mobilization was the broad national support for the SME. Some states, such as Oaxaca, sent thousands of union members to participate in the takeover of the nation's capital.
Unions from other states, however, were unable to send large delegations due to labor disputes in their own regions. Between 50-70 people came from San Luis Potosi, for example. Those 50-70 people, however, represented at least ten different unions.
Guadalupe Cervantes came to the mobilization as part of a two-person delegation from the San Luis Potosi Independent Union of State Government Workers. She explains that her union couldn't spare more members. "We're in planton [round-the-clock picket]. At this moment we're suffering repression at the hands of the state government. However, even though our presence here is small, we had to come support the SME. It is very important to support the SME because this is all part of a plan to do away with unions. If the government can do something like this to the SME, what will it do to the rest of the unions?"
A representative from the Glassworkers Union in San Luis Potosi reports that his union is in a similar situation. "Former US Ambassador Tony Garza's wife owns the factory where we bottled beer for Grupo Modelo. We've been locked out for nearly two years." He says that the state government collaborated with Grupo Modelo's union busting and attempted to impose government-controled leadership on the union, which celebrated its first democratic union election in 2006. Despite his union's dire situation, he says they had to send a delegation to take over Mexico City in solidarity with the SME. "The government can't do this to the SME. It has such a long history of struggle."
Countless small delegations such as these added one or two thousand people to the approximately 5,000-person human blockade that shut down the eastern entrance to the city. The blockade at the eastern entrance appears to be one of the smaller ones that occurred on Friday.
One of the largest non-SME delegations that participated in Friday's blockades was the contingent from Mexico City's National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Students and unionized professors and other university workers came out to support the SME. UNAM students remember that the SME supported them in their successful 1999 student strike against tuition increases. "Yesterday it was the UNAM, and today it's the SME" is a commonly heard phrase on the UNAM campus and at SME events.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Canadian Construction Starting Up Green Operations
http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=37469&catid=1062
While Stephen Harper's government stalls and denies and talks about "modest" cuts to carbon emissions and says nothing about how they will be achieved, other jurisdictions are taking real, meaningful steps to confront the problem of climate change. The European Union has moved closer to achieving energy neutrality within a decade. In November, legislators agreed to introduce tough new energy-efficiency regulations that will make it mandatory for all buildings to achieve nearly zero energy use by 2020. The move is intended to ensure that the EU meets its Kyoto obligation to cut carbon emissions by 20 percent of 1990 levels by the year 2020. Buildings, it is estimated, account for about 40 percent of all carbon emissions.
In the United States, Congress is considering a national building code that would force builders to conform to a minimum standard of energy efficiency in new building construction. As in Canada, US builders now operate under local rules and voluntary standards. The National Home Builders Association opposes the national code but supports a voluntary 30 percent increase in energy efficiency over the International Code Council's 2006 guidelines. In June, the House of Representatives passed a climate bill that would mandate net-zero-energy buildings by 2030.
At the local level, the city of Seattle is being challenged to become the first carbon neutral city in North America by 2030. Alex Steffen of Worldchanging made the challenge as a concrete step toward creating the "bright green model of prosperity" that the world must have if it is to solve the problems of poverty and environmental destruction. Make the pursuit of carbon neutrality the organizing principle of municipal policymaking, he urges. He admits that he doesn't have a "plan" to bring this about, but argues that what we are doing now "just isn't good enough." The point, he says is that "we need to stop accepting modest (or even lame) goals as sufficient."
Contrast that with Stephen Harper's "modest"vision of a 17 percent reduction in emissions over 2005 levels by 2020.
In England, the government has set 2016 as the year when zero carbon homes will be required by law, making England the first country in the world to set such tough new standards. Public sector buildings have until 2018 and new commercial buildings until 2019 to be zero carbon. The Housing Minister, John Healey said that the momentum was there to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions and "to change and radically re-think how we design our homes and buildings for the future." He added that new homes in Britain were already 40 percent more energy efficient than in 2002, "but we must and can do more. The green movement is growing from the grand designs of a few to a national movement."
Is anyone talking this way in Canada? Does anyone in Canada even know what zero-carbon means?
An Energy Efficiency in Houses Workshop sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing was held on January 22, 2009. In a summary of the day's events (minutes) we find, at the very end, this sad little note, under "Broader issues":
Zero-net energy buildings were mentioned (my italics) as a long-term goal for Building Code energy conservation policy.
Mentioned. Not discussed, not proposed. Mentioned. And forgotten, one assumes.
The government of Canada's official web site is even more depressing. The Natural Resources Canada page entitled Energy Efficiency has not been updated since 2005 and cites statistics only concerning Canada's energy increases until that date. There is not a word about energy conservation, never mind "zero energy" or carbon neutral..
A look at the Energy Policy page reveals no vision. It is as if sustainability, global warming, international interdependence and responsibility for the environment were concepts that had never been heard.
Energy is critically important to the Canadian economy. As the fifth largest energy producer in the world where oil production is increasing, Canada also is one of the highest per-capita consumers of energy in the world, reflecting our geography and climate, an energy-intensive industrial structure and a high level of income.
A look at the overview of Canada's energy policy is revealing. In the list of "principles, agreements and accords" that have shaped Canada's energy policy, Kyoto is not even mentioned. Top of the list is "market orientation." Energy is discussed only in terms of pricing and taxation.
Is there any hope? Perhaps. An organization called the Net-Zero-Energy Home (NZEH) Coalition, a group of "forward looking home builders and developers" has set 2030 as its goal for making all new homes built in Canada Net-Zero-Energy. Here is what they say about their purpose:
The group recognizes that Canada has an opportunity to go beyond, and build upon, early adopter programs in Europe, the United States and, Japan that supported specific renewable energy technologies or specific energy efficiency technologies to develop a program that delivers a total integrated solution - the Net Zero Energy Home . . . In pursuit of its vision, the Coalition is helping advance the benefits of the more efficient use of zero or very low impact resources including cleaner air and healthier homes, climate protection and, economic development opportunities resulting from the expanded manufacturing and deployment of energy efficient technologies and appliances and onsite renewable energy generation in Canada’s residential marketplace.
One of their goals, set in 2007, is for each Canadian province to have 1500 NZEH homes within five years (2012). This is a non-governmental organization so their clout may be limited, but one can hope that their efforts to raise awareness will do some good.
Another sign that clean and efficient energy is on the radar can be found in a new National Research Council building in Vancouver. The facility houses the NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation and incorporates new fuel cell and hydrogen technologies in the building's design and construction. Photovoltaic cells installed throughout the building power a hydrogen electrolyzer to produce hydrogen on site without emitting greenhouse gases. Good work, but practical applications?
And the province of Ontario passed a much-vaunted Green Energy Act in May, 2009. The act has been praised by Governor Schwarzenegger of California among others, as "historic" and "paradigm-shifting." The act makes Ontario a "world leader" in renewable energy development and climate protection. One result of the act's local procurement proviso is the repatriation of a Chinese-Canadian company that builds solar panels. It's setting up a $24 million manufacturing facility in Kitchener, Ontario so it can take advantage of preferential pricing given to suppliers who use local materials.
We can only hope that Stephen Harper will realize that his obligations go beyond pleasing the oil interests in his adopted home province of Alberta, and finally see that where energy is concerned, Canada, at this time, is more problem than solution.
The authors and publishers of this newswire story must be credited if byline is included. All stories are reported as factually and fairly as possible, but may include opinions and are never intended to offer advice. All readers or media who pick up this story agree that use of this information is solely their responsibility and its use is at your own risk. Our journalists sources and information are protected by the doctrine of free press as expressed in the First Ammendment, Reporters Privilege Statues, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. For full rights and terms statement, please refer to source magazine's link.
Twitter Notes: http://www.twitter.com/personaco/
Free Ezine Subscription to EDI Weekly>>
While Stephen Harper's government stalls and denies and talks about "modest" cuts to carbon emissions and says nothing about how they will be achieved, other jurisdictions are taking real, meaningful steps to confront the problem of climate change. The European Union has moved closer to achieving energy neutrality within a decade. In November, legislators agreed to introduce tough new energy-efficiency regulations that will make it mandatory for all buildings to achieve nearly zero energy use by 2020. The move is intended to ensure that the EU meets its Kyoto obligation to cut carbon emissions by 20 percent of 1990 levels by the year 2020. Buildings, it is estimated, account for about 40 percent of all carbon emissions.
In the United States, Congress is considering a national building code that would force builders to conform to a minimum standard of energy efficiency in new building construction. As in Canada, US builders now operate under local rules and voluntary standards. The National Home Builders Association opposes the national code but supports a voluntary 30 percent increase in energy efficiency over the International Code Council's 2006 guidelines. In June, the House of Representatives passed a climate bill that would mandate net-zero-energy buildings by 2030.
At the local level, the city of Seattle is being challenged to become the first carbon neutral city in North America by 2030. Alex Steffen of Worldchanging made the challenge as a concrete step toward creating the "bright green model of prosperity" that the world must have if it is to solve the problems of poverty and environmental destruction. Make the pursuit of carbon neutrality the organizing principle of municipal policymaking, he urges. He admits that he doesn't have a "plan" to bring this about, but argues that what we are doing now "just isn't good enough." The point, he says is that "we need to stop accepting modest (or even lame) goals as sufficient."
Contrast that with Stephen Harper's "modest"vision of a 17 percent reduction in emissions over 2005 levels by 2020.
In England, the government has set 2016 as the year when zero carbon homes will be required by law, making England the first country in the world to set such tough new standards. Public sector buildings have until 2018 and new commercial buildings until 2019 to be zero carbon. The Housing Minister, John Healey said that the momentum was there to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions and "to change and radically re-think how we design our homes and buildings for the future." He added that new homes in Britain were already 40 percent more energy efficient than in 2002, "but we must and can do more. The green movement is growing from the grand designs of a few to a national movement."
Is anyone talking this way in Canada? Does anyone in Canada even know what zero-carbon means?
An Energy Efficiency in Houses Workshop sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing was held on January 22, 2009. In a summary of the day's events (minutes) we find, at the very end, this sad little note, under "Broader issues":
Zero-net energy buildings were mentioned (my italics) as a long-term goal for Building Code energy conservation policy.
Mentioned. Not discussed, not proposed. Mentioned. And forgotten, one assumes.
The government of Canada's official web site is even more depressing. The Natural Resources Canada page entitled Energy Efficiency has not been updated since 2005 and cites statistics only concerning Canada's energy increases until that date. There is not a word about energy conservation, never mind "zero energy" or carbon neutral..
A look at the Energy Policy page reveals no vision. It is as if sustainability, global warming, international interdependence and responsibility for the environment were concepts that had never been heard.
Energy is critically important to the Canadian economy. As the fifth largest energy producer in the world where oil production is increasing, Canada also is one of the highest per-capita consumers of energy in the world, reflecting our geography and climate, an energy-intensive industrial structure and a high level of income.
A look at the overview of Canada's energy policy is revealing. In the list of "principles, agreements and accords" that have shaped Canada's energy policy, Kyoto is not even mentioned. Top of the list is "market orientation." Energy is discussed only in terms of pricing and taxation.
Is there any hope? Perhaps. An organization called the Net-Zero-Energy Home (NZEH) Coalition, a group of "forward looking home builders and developers" has set 2030 as its goal for making all new homes built in Canada Net-Zero-Energy. Here is what they say about their purpose:
The group recognizes that Canada has an opportunity to go beyond, and build upon, early adopter programs in Europe, the United States and, Japan that supported specific renewable energy technologies or specific energy efficiency technologies to develop a program that delivers a total integrated solution - the Net Zero Energy Home . . . In pursuit of its vision, the Coalition is helping advance the benefits of the more efficient use of zero or very low impact resources including cleaner air and healthier homes, climate protection and, economic development opportunities resulting from the expanded manufacturing and deployment of energy efficient technologies and appliances and onsite renewable energy generation in Canada’s residential marketplace.
One of their goals, set in 2007, is for each Canadian province to have 1500 NZEH homes within five years (2012). This is a non-governmental organization so their clout may be limited, but one can hope that their efforts to raise awareness will do some good.
Another sign that clean and efficient energy is on the radar can be found in a new National Research Council building in Vancouver. The facility houses the NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation and incorporates new fuel cell and hydrogen technologies in the building's design and construction. Photovoltaic cells installed throughout the building power a hydrogen electrolyzer to produce hydrogen on site without emitting greenhouse gases. Good work, but practical applications?
And the province of Ontario passed a much-vaunted Green Energy Act in May, 2009. The act has been praised by Governor Schwarzenegger of California among others, as "historic" and "paradigm-shifting." The act makes Ontario a "world leader" in renewable energy development and climate protection. One result of the act's local procurement proviso is the repatriation of a Chinese-Canadian company that builds solar panels. It's setting up a $24 million manufacturing facility in Kitchener, Ontario so it can take advantage of preferential pricing given to suppliers who use local materials.
We can only hope that Stephen Harper will realize that his obligations go beyond pleasing the oil interests in his adopted home province of Alberta, and finally see that where energy is concerned, Canada, at this time, is more problem than solution.
The authors and publishers of this newswire story must be credited if byline is included. All stories are reported as factually and fairly as possible, but may include opinions and are never intended to offer advice. All readers or media who pick up this story agree that use of this information is solely their responsibility and its use is at your own risk. Our journalists sources and information are protected by the doctrine of free press as expressed in the First Ammendment, Reporters Privilege Statues, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. For full rights and terms statement, please refer to source magazine's link.
Twitter Notes: http://www.twitter.com/personaco/
Free Ezine Subscription to EDI Weekly>>
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Building in Arkansas
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Published: 12:00 AM, Sat Dec 05, 2009
Weekly wrap: FORSCOM building rises, but other projects must wait.
Brief opinions about events of the past week: Merit: For building contractor Hensel Phelps, which lifted the final steel beam into place on the new Forces and Reserve command headquarters on Fort Bragg Thursday. Work on the nearly $300 million building project is right on schedule. The steelwork was completed almost precisely a year after groundbreaking ceremonies.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers resident engineer on the project, it appears that the work on the 631,000-square-foot building will be completed within the 565 days remaining on the construction calendar.
One more merit: With more than 300,000 man-hours worked, no time has been lost to accidents.
Demerit: For all the other BRAC-related work outside Fort Bragg that also needs to be done, and which won't be done when Forces and Reserve commands arrive here in 2011. In this recession, state and local governments simply don't have the money to quickly finish the extension of the Outer Loop or revamp Murchison Road or build the new schools that we'll need.
With federal budgets strained as well, there hasn't been impact aid available to help get those projects moving. We hope a recovering economy will benefit those projects in the years ahead.
Merit: For Jean and Steven Moore, whose marketing and advertising business - Moore Exposure - has moved into one of the "greenest" buildings in Fayetteville. The company's new headquarters on Williams Street downtown is a renovated 70-year-old building that once housed an automotive shop.
The renovations include a curved, corrugated steel roof, skylights, low-flush toilets, building-wide recycling and many other environmentally friendly, low-energy-consuming features.
The building also will house tenants, including Sustainable Sandhills.
Demerit: For winter, which is arriving way too soon. Weather forecasters say we may get a dusting of snow tonight and we've had way too many evenings that flirted with frost.
It's not that we want to encourage global warming, but we'd sure like to have one of those balmy Decembers that we've seen in years past.
Merit: For Lumbee River Electric Membership, which is giving its 46,000 electric customers in Cumberland, Robeson, Hoke and Scotland counties a rebate - a one-time power-cost adjustment. In a time of rising energy costs, this is a welcome little break. The average credit will be just more than $22, but it's a nice step in the right direction.
Demerit: For the N.C. Department of Transportation, which is adding a security fence to a bridge on Interstate 440 in Raleigh, but doing it too late. A good Samaritan who was trying to help people involved in an accident leaped over a barrel Nov. 27 to avoid oncoming traffic and fell to his death in a ravine.
This is the kind of safety measure that should be in place before people are injured or killed. In many other states, especially along interstate highway routes, that kind of safety barrier is standard procedure. The state is finally studying all bridges, so it can prevent similar tragedies.
Who would you like us to say this is from?
What is your email address?
What email address would you like us to send it to?
Published: 12:00 AM, Sat Dec 05, 2009
Weekly wrap: FORSCOM building rises, but other projects must wait.
Brief opinions about events of the past week: Merit: For building contractor Hensel Phelps, which lifted the final steel beam into place on the new Forces and Reserve command headquarters on Fort Bragg Thursday. Work on the nearly $300 million building project is right on schedule. The steelwork was completed almost precisely a year after groundbreaking ceremonies.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers resident engineer on the project, it appears that the work on the 631,000-square-foot building will be completed within the 565 days remaining on the construction calendar.
One more merit: With more than 300,000 man-hours worked, no time has been lost to accidents.
Demerit: For all the other BRAC-related work outside Fort Bragg that also needs to be done, and which won't be done when Forces and Reserve commands arrive here in 2011. In this recession, state and local governments simply don't have the money to quickly finish the extension of the Outer Loop or revamp Murchison Road or build the new schools that we'll need.
With federal budgets strained as well, there hasn't been impact aid available to help get those projects moving. We hope a recovering economy will benefit those projects in the years ahead.
Merit: For Jean and Steven Moore, whose marketing and advertising business - Moore Exposure - has moved into one of the "greenest" buildings in Fayetteville. The company's new headquarters on Williams Street downtown is a renovated 70-year-old building that once housed an automotive shop.
The renovations include a curved, corrugated steel roof, skylights, low-flush toilets, building-wide recycling and many other environmentally friendly, low-energy-consuming features.
The building also will house tenants, including Sustainable Sandhills.
Demerit: For winter, which is arriving way too soon. Weather forecasters say we may get a dusting of snow tonight and we've had way too many evenings that flirted with frost.
It's not that we want to encourage global warming, but we'd sure like to have one of those balmy Decembers that we've seen in years past.
Merit: For Lumbee River Electric Membership, which is giving its 46,000 electric customers in Cumberland, Robeson, Hoke and Scotland counties a rebate - a one-time power-cost adjustment. In a time of rising energy costs, this is a welcome little break. The average credit will be just more than $22, but it's a nice step in the right direction.
Demerit: For the N.C. Department of Transportation, which is adding a security fence to a bridge on Interstate 440 in Raleigh, but doing it too late. A good Samaritan who was trying to help people involved in an accident leaped over a barrel Nov. 27 to avoid oncoming traffic and fell to his death in a ravine.
This is the kind of safety measure that should be in place before people are injured or killed. In many other states, especially along interstate highway routes, that kind of safety barrier is standard procedure. The state is finally studying all bridges, so it can prevent similar tragedies.
Friday, December 4, 2009
State Regulations Hurting Building Projects in California
SACRAMENTO, CA - Local construction companies hurting from a decline in the number of building projects in the Sacramento area say a big reason for their suffering is coming from unfair state regulations.
The Associated General Contractors of America announced this week that Sacramento construction jobs will drop again, leading to the city of Sacramento losing another 23 percent of its construction workforce.
However, officials with the California chapter of the AGCA said it wouldn't be so bad if the state weren't imposing new rules that are costing companies millions.
Walking through the equipment yard of MCM Construction in North Highlands, Ed Puchi said much of their fleet is parked, waiting for work.
While Puchi said his company hasn't had to lay anyone off, he knows many who have.
"We know of some people and we have a lot more applications for employment than we've had in the past," Puchi said. "When you look at the inventory of residential units and inventory of commercial floor space all around the Sacramento area, you see it's not a surprise that there will be a continued downturn."
The continued downturn means another 23 percent loss in available jobs on top of 136,000 California construction jobs already lost in the past year, according to the AGC.
"People do what they have to do to make a living, and so, leaving is not a surprise at all," said Tom Holsman, CEO of the California chapter.
However, Holsman said there is a dim light at the end of the tunnel.
"It's not a real strong light. It's starting to show some signs of getting brighter, but at this point in time, we can't be overly optimistic," he said.
Holsman also blames the dim light on the state of California, including new diesel retrofit rules which will mandate a change in emission standards by the end of 2010.
The change applies to off-road diesel engine, including construction equipment, which will have to be retrofitted or replaced at a time when revenue is way off.
"We're talking multimillion dollar pieces of equipment here. We're talking fleets of them," said Holsman. "We're talking companies that have been in business for many years that are not in business right now and may not be in business."
But the California Air Resource Board (CARB), a division of the state EPA, said the cost to the general public's health far outweigh the cost to industry.
Dimtri Stanich said change must come because the emissions simply aren't safe.
"(It causes) cancer, cardio-pulmonary disease. It triggers asthma. It's a very dangerous chemical," he said.
Stanich also noted Proposal 1B set aside money to offset the industry's cost.
"Diesel PM is responsible for billions in health care costs every year in California, so the fractional cost it will cost to retrofit these is much smaller than the cost to take care of their damage," Stanich said.
"We're spending multiple millions a year to meet the new standards," said Puchi. "Either retrofitting the existing equipment or removing the equipment from the fleet and replacing it with new equipment."
But on the heels of more jobs lost, Holsman said the state is stifling economic recovery.
"The timing is going to exasperate the ability to create jobs," he said. "And when you do that, you're really not doing anything good for the economy in the state of California."
The CARB plans on regulating emission standards on all-diesel engines in the future. But for now, it is focused on off-road engines.
However, leaders have heard the construction cries and will hear opponents of the new regulations at a public hearing next week.
The meeting is set for December 9 and 10 at the EPA's headquarters at 10th and I streets, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
By Nick Monacelli, nickmonacelli@news10.net
News10/KXTV
Copyright 2009 / All Rights Reserved
The Associated General Contractors of America announced this week that Sacramento construction jobs will drop again, leading to the city of Sacramento losing another 23 percent of its construction workforce.
However, officials with the California chapter of the AGCA said it wouldn't be so bad if the state weren't imposing new rules that are costing companies millions.
Walking through the equipment yard of MCM Construction in North Highlands, Ed Puchi said much of their fleet is parked, waiting for work.
While Puchi said his company hasn't had to lay anyone off, he knows many who have.
"We know of some people and we have a lot more applications for employment than we've had in the past," Puchi said. "When you look at the inventory of residential units and inventory of commercial floor space all around the Sacramento area, you see it's not a surprise that there will be a continued downturn."
The continued downturn means another 23 percent loss in available jobs on top of 136,000 California construction jobs already lost in the past year, according to the AGC.
"People do what they have to do to make a living, and so, leaving is not a surprise at all," said Tom Holsman, CEO of the California chapter.
However, Holsman said there is a dim light at the end of the tunnel.
"It's not a real strong light. It's starting to show some signs of getting brighter, but at this point in time, we can't be overly optimistic," he said.
Holsman also blames the dim light on the state of California, including new diesel retrofit rules which will mandate a change in emission standards by the end of 2010.
The change applies to off-road diesel engine, including construction equipment, which will have to be retrofitted or replaced at a time when revenue is way off.
"We're talking multimillion dollar pieces of equipment here. We're talking fleets of them," said Holsman. "We're talking companies that have been in business for many years that are not in business right now and may not be in business."
But the California Air Resource Board (CARB), a division of the state EPA, said the cost to the general public's health far outweigh the cost to industry.
Dimtri Stanich said change must come because the emissions simply aren't safe.
"(It causes) cancer, cardio-pulmonary disease. It triggers asthma. It's a very dangerous chemical," he said.
Stanich also noted Proposal 1B set aside money to offset the industry's cost.
"Diesel PM is responsible for billions in health care costs every year in California, so the fractional cost it will cost to retrofit these is much smaller than the cost to take care of their damage," Stanich said.
"We're spending multiple millions a year to meet the new standards," said Puchi. "Either retrofitting the existing equipment or removing the equipment from the fleet and replacing it with new equipment."
But on the heels of more jobs lost, Holsman said the state is stifling economic recovery.
"The timing is going to exasperate the ability to create jobs," he said. "And when you do that, you're really not doing anything good for the economy in the state of California."
The CARB plans on regulating emission standards on all-diesel engines in the future. But for now, it is focused on off-road engines.
However, leaders have heard the construction cries and will hear opponents of the new regulations at a public hearing next week.
The meeting is set for December 9 and 10 at the EPA's headquarters at 10th and I streets, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
By Nick Monacelli, nickmonacelli@news10.net
News10/KXTV
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