The First Facility Management Blog

Barco, a manufacturer of display technology, recently announced the grand opening of The Comcast Experience at Philadelphia’s Comcast Center, an LED wall comprised of 6,771 Barco NX-4 LED modules.

Situated in a seven story high glass atrium, The Comcast Experience is a joint gift to the citizens of Philadelphia from Comcast Corporation and Liberty Property Trust; one that combines sculpture, architecture and technology in a public environment.

By transforming a public transportation hub into an artistic focal point for the city, The Comcast Experience encompasses a number of important “firsts.” From a technology standpoint, the world’s largest four millimeter LED wall is 83.3′ wide by 25.4′ high. With 10 million pixels mounted in a seamless flat array, the wall provides an extremely high degree of photo-realism, at five times the resolution of high-definition television. Behind the scenes, Barco image processing equipment includes six DX-700 LED digitizers, seven Encore Video Processors and three MatrixPRO routers.

From an architectural standpoint, the installation marks the first time that audio and video technology at this scale has been incorporated into the design of a major urban building. Adding to the complexity, the LED wall includes rectangular cutouts for the lobby’s three banks of elevators. (Photo above, courtesy of Barco, shows those cutouts with nature scene on screen above.)

All of the content for The Comcast Experience was designed and produced by the Niles Creative Group. The installation also marks the first time that an everchanging audio and video environment has been designed for an audience in transit, with artificial intelligence at the core.

“There’s never been a screen not only of this resolution, but also of this realism,” said Steve Scorse, vice president of sales and marketing for Barco’s Media & Entertainment division, North America. “Not only does the screen integrate seamlessly into the Comcast Center as a forum for content, but at times, the content mimics the atrium’s natural wood paneling and virtually disappears,” said Scorse. “The resolution, contrast and seamlessness are such that you can do things with this screen that cannot be done with any other technology.”

John Gattuso, senior vice president and regional director for Liberty Property Trust, commented on the scope of The Comcast Experience. “The thought process on behalf of Comcast and Liberty evolved beyond the idea of just broadcasting content, into a larger art piece that would ultimately complement the building’s aesthetic,” said Gattuso. “When you undertake these kinds of projects that have so many components, the only way you pull all those pieces together is through an outstanding team. And while it’s not to diminish the challenges involved, it continues to remind you of how critical it is to have the best people involved in a project.”

“Barco has been a great partner and we are excited to have the world’s largest four millimeter LED screen in Comcast Center,” said Karen Dougherty Buchholz, vice president, administration, Comcast Corporation. “The combination of Barco’s wonderful technology and the Niles Creative Group’s artistic content will truly make Comcast Center a destination for Philadelphians and visitors to our great city.”

The blend of architecture, vision and technology is brought to life via the content, as designed by New York’s Niles Creative Group. “It was exciting that both Comcast and Liberty approached this as a ‘new media’ project,” said David Niles, founder of the Niles Creative Group. “This meant that we weren’t just talking about digital signage, but the creation of an extraordinary environment in a public space, to design a spectacular and inspiring visual illusion that blurs the lines between reality and the unexpected. To accomplish this, we designed a content delivery system using artificial intelligence. The system creates unique content on an ongoing basis without human intervention.”

The Comcast Experience is located in Comcast Center’s lobby, located at 17th Street and JFK Boulevard in Philadelphia, PA. As Philadelphia’s newest destination, The Comcast Experience is on 18 hours each day, delivering custom content.

Plans for an 80 story building in Dubai reveal a structure designed be in motion. Italian architect Dr. David Fisher announced yesterday the launch of the Dynamic Tower, which he says will be constructed first in Dubai, then Moscow, with other locations planned worldwide.

Rotating Tower Dubai Development Ltd headed by the Dynamic Group, have announced the opening of the reservations list for the first Dynamic Tower in Dubai. The building will contain apartments and larger villas, and the entire building would run on wind energy from turbines sited on each floor.

Said Dr. Fisher, “The Dynamic Tower is environmentally friendly and the first building designed to be self-powered, with the ability to generate its own electricity, as well as for other nearby buildings, it achieves this feat with wind turbines fitted between each rotating floor, An 80-story building will have up to 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant.”

The Dynamic Tower would also be the first skyscraper to be built entirely from prefabricated parts that are custom made in a workshop, resulting in cost savings, including fewer workers on the construction site. “Each floor of the building can be completed in only seven days. From now on, buildings will be made in a factory,” Dr. Fisher said.

In terms of how building systems will remain intact as the building twists and turns, Fisher notes at the press conference yesterday that plumbing fixtures, for instance, would be along the lines of the flexible equipment used for aircraft refueling.

Plans Beyond The First Venture
Dr. Fisher also announced that the second Dynamic Tower planned for Moscow is now in the advanced design phase, with preassembling of the units to start soon and completion scheduled for 2010. The developer is the Mirax Group, headed by leading international developer Sergei Polonsky, The Moscow tower, which will have 70 floors and be 1,310 feet tall, will be located in Moscow City area.

“Our intention is to build the third Rotating Skyscraper in New York,” Dr. Fisher stated. “Additional Dynamic Towers will be built around the world, following an expression of interest from developers, governments, and public officials to construct a Dynamic Tower in Canada, Germany, Italy, Korea and Switzerland.

(Photo courtesy of Dynamic Architecture)

In an effort to spur industry communication on the increasingly important topic of component substitution for door certification and testing, the AAMA Door Component Interchangeability Task Group is hosting an all-day open discussion forum on July 8.

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), located in Schaumburg, IL, is hosting the forum to further the development of guidelines to be used for side-hinged entry door component structural substitution/ interchangeability. These guidelines will then be used by the industry to craft procedural guides, certification, and other possible programs. In addition to members of the Task Group, representatives of the Association of Millwork Distributors (AMD) and Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) have been invited to attend.

“The exterior side-hinged door segment of our industry has voiced concerns about the requirements for full door system testing. AAMA and representatives from AMD have been diligently working to develop a program that allows the substitution of qualified pre-hung door components within approved door assemblies. This work has reached a stage where the development can be enhanced and accelerated with expanded input,” according to Rich Walker, AAMA president and CEO.

AAMA can accommodate other interested parties that are willing to contribute to the development of the guidelines. To request to be added to the meeting roster, interested facility managers call (847) 303-5859, ext. 225 by June 27, 2008.

For more information on this meeting and the door certification program efforts, please call 847-303-5664, or email John Lewis, technical director at jlewis@aamanet.org.

Sloan Valve Company has become the first plumbing company in the world to receive the Cradle to Cradle Design certification for its products. MBDC, the product process and design firm that evaluates companies and their products based on their “eco-effectiveness,” certified two Sloan plumbing products for silver level status: the Uppercut dual flush flushometer and the Royal model 111 manual flushometer.

“This certification is the result of 10 months of exhaustive review of our manufacturing processes and materials,” says Jim Allen, director of Sloan’s Water Efficiency Division. “MBDC’s Cradle to Cradle certification process is the most thorough and rigorous third party product evaluation. This certification goes beyond our products’ water saving attributes; it is a true assessment of the overall, combined impact of Sloan’s manufacturing, material selection, recycled/recovered material use, and all processes related to product creation.”

The Uppercut dual flush flushometer becomes the first and only dual flush product in the world to be Cradle to Cradle silver certified. This distinction assures specifiers and owners that the Uppercut will offer high water efficiency, and it was manufactured and certified to a high environmental standard. All Uppercuts are made in the United States by union labor.

MBDC, a Charlottesville, VA, product process and design firm, was founded in 1995 to promote and shape the implementation of eco-effective design principles. Instead of perpetuating cradle to grave products, dumped in landfills after fulfilling their initial intended purpose, MBDC’s Cradle to Cradle design concept recognizes products whose materials are continuously circulated in closed loops. Designing for cradle to cradle product lifecycles, for instance, plans for sustainability and product re-use, which reduces reliance on virgin material inputs and lessens overall material costs.

Sloan, which offsets 100% of the energy used in its Franklin Park, IL, headquarters with renewable energy, is the recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Leadership Award for its Green Power Purchase. Sloan’s corporate mission toward sustainability also includes other initiatives, such as installing more energy efficient lighting, which will significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

Sustainability is also reflected in Sloan’s material choices: About 89% of Sloan’s flushometers are made from brass casting alloy, 99% of which is from recycled sources, and the flushometers are completely recyclable or reusable in remodel projects.

Sloan Valve Company is a leading manufacturer of water efficient plumbing systems and has been in operation since 1906. Headquartered in Franklin Park, IL, the company manufactures plumbing products and accessories for commercial, industrial, and institutional markets worldwide.

Sponsored by the U.S. Energy Association and Johnson Controls, Inc., the event took place June 11 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The keynote address was given by U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman who stressed to an audience of energy decision makers that “efficiency does not need to come at the expense of profitability.”

The agenda was ushered in with speeches by representatives from both the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns. In his remarks on behalf of Senator John McCain, former Governor of Virginia George Allen said, “What Senator McCain as president would do is propose a national energy strategy that will amount to a declaration of independence from energy insecurity and he’ll promote diversification and conservation of our energy resources.”

In his comments about the need to change energy production incentives, Executive Director of the National Commission on Energy Policy, and advisor to Senator Barrack Obama’s campaign Jason Grumet said, “Senator Obama believes that we have to decouple the profit motives of the energy sector from energy production.” Grumet added that Senator Obama also believes that within the next decade new buildings need to be 25% more efficient than they are today, and 50% more efficient by 2030.

Delivering the luncheon keynote address at the Forum was Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman. During his address, he shared excerpts of his latest book for the first time in the U.S. Through the reading he offered strong advice about the serious challenges we face and proposed mobilizing to a “code green.” He explained, “What red was to America in the 1950s and 1960s…we need green to be for today’s America.” Friedman went on to say, “I would be less than truthful, though, if I said that America as it operates today is ready for this mission. We are not.”

Immediately following his speech, Friedman lead an engaging panel discussion with Robert K. Watson, founder of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Green Building Rating System, and David B. Goldstein, co-director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s energy program. Electric Power Research Institute president Steven Specker spoke separately about his organization’s focus on research and development on technology, and Brenna Walraven, president of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, discussed the impact of energy legislation on facility owners and operators.

The Forum agenda also paid close attention to youth awareness of energy efficiency, beginning with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s debut of its “Horton Hears a Who” public service announcements aimed at children. Student and teacher winners from the Igniting Creative Energy competition were recognized, along with a group of college students from Carnegie Mellon University who won a national climate change writing competition.

Additionally, the Forum’s Energy Leaderships Awards were presented to:
* Andy Karsner, assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, for his efforts to advance programs that reduce energy in buildings and vehicles.

* Greg Nickels, Seattle mayor, for his efforts to reduce energy in his own city in addition to his formation of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol through leadership and action. It has been signed by more than 850 mayors across the country.

* Alan Edwards, national energy manager for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, for his efforts in implementing energy efficiency projects at 96 federal prisons to renew aging prison infrastructure and introduce renewable technologies, resulting in approximately 166 billion Btu in energy savings.

The Forum’s mission is to be the premier event that promotes an energy efficiency ethic through the presentation of national and worldwide views on energy efficiency and the resulting impact on the environment, national security and economic growth.

More about the Forum events can be read at www.eeforum.net.

About United States Energy Association
The United States Energy Association is the U.S. Member Committee of the World Energy Council. USEA is an association of public and private energy-related organizations, corporations, and government agencies. It represents the broad interests of the U.S. energy sector by increasing the understanding of energy issues, both domestically and internationally. In conjunction with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of Energy, USEA sponsors our nation’s Energy Partnership Program. Membership in USEA is open to all organizations having an interest in the energy sector of the United States.

About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recognized 86 members for contributions to ASHRAE and the HVAC&R industry at the Society’s 2008 Annual Meeting.

The Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award honors an ASHRAE Fellow for continuous preeminence in engineering or research work. The recipient is Presidential Member James E. Hill, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE, Moneta, VA.

The Andrew T. Boggs Service Award recognizes a past Distinguished Service Award recipient for continuing, unselfish, dedicated, and distinguished service. The recipient is Presidential Member Presidential Donald G. Rich, Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, retired from Carrier-UTC, Fayetteville, NY

The Exceptional Service Award recognizes Distinguished Award recipients who have continued to serve the Society faithfully and with exemplary effort. Ten recipients were recognized:

• William P. Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, a professor of architectural engineering and director of the Indoor Environment Center, Penn State University, University Park, PA.
• Michael F. Beda, P.E., president, Process Equipment Co., Tulsa, OK.
• Darryl K. Boyce, P.Eng., assistant vice president (Facility Management and Planning), Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Presidential Member H.E. “Barney” Burroughs, Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, CEO and president, Building Wellness Consultancy, Alpharetta, GA.
• Kenneth W. Cooper, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, director, special projects, PoolPak International, York, PA.
• Presidential Member Harley W. “Bill” Goodman Jr., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, president, Goodman Engineers, Little Rock, AR.
• Maureen Grasso, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE, dean, the Graduate School, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
• Birol I. Kilkis, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE, Scientific Committee member, European Union HEGEL Poly-Generation Project, Ankara, Turkey, and Torino, Italy.
• Stanley L. Leitsch, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, Audubon, PA
• Michael Woodford assistant vice president, Standards, Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, Arlington, VA.

The Distinguished Service Award salutes members of any grade for giving freely of their time and talent to the Society. The following 31 members were selected:

• Gaylen V. Atkinson, president, Atkinson Electronics, Salt Lake City, UT.
• Michael R. Brambley, Ph.D., a staff scientist, Energy and Efficiency Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
• Arden V. Davis, retired, Idaho Power Co., Boise, ID.
• Douglas W. Dunford, Gresham, OR.
• Mark W. Fly, P.E., director of engineering, AAON, Tulsa, OK
• Kenneth L. Fulk, P.E., principal and chief mechanical engineer, Reed, Wells, Benson and Co., Dallas, TX.
• Arthur L. Giesler, director of sales, PermAlert, a subsidiary of Perma-Pipe, Hurst, TX.
• Leon R. Glicksman, Ph.D., professor of building technology and mechanical engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
• Charles E. Gulledge III, P.E., design engineer, AC Corp., Greensboro, NC.
• John L. Harrod, P.E., senior mechanical engineer, The Benham Companies, Oklahoma City, OK.
• Adam W. Hinge, P.E., managing director, Sustainable Energy Partnerships, Tarrytown, NY.
• Pamela M. Immekus, president, Sunbelt Engineering Group, Kennesaw, GA.
• L. Lane Jackins, owner and president, Applied Mechanical Equipment, Jacksonville, FL.
• Gerald J. Kettler, P.E., president/owner, Air Engineering and Testing, Dallas.
• Birol I. Kilkis, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE, Scientific Committee member, European Union HEGEL Poly-Generation Project, Ankara, Turkey, and Torino, Italy.
• Ben A. Leppard Jr., P.E., principal, Leppard, Johnson and Associates, Tucker, GA.
• Dennis A. Littwin, P.E., vice president of engineering, Fujikoki America, Dallas.
• William M. Malphus, branch manager, G.L. Spies Co., Cape Coral, FL.
• Florentino J. Mendez, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, director, energy engineering, The Benham Companies, Oklahoma City, OK.
• Ramon Pons, Ph.D., P.E., partner and business consultant, CMTR, S.A.-International Services, Barcelona, Spain.
• T. Agami Reddy, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, professor, Drexel University, Philadelphia.
• Michael CA Schwedler, P.E., manager, applications engineering, Trane, La Crosse, WI.
• Frank Spevak, marketing and sales manager, Energy Conservatory, Minneapolis.
• William E. “Ed” Tinsley, P.E., managing principal, TME, Little Rock, AK.
• Samir R. Traboulsi, Ph.D., P.Eng., general manager, Thermotrade Sal-Heating and Air Conditioning, and senior lecturer, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
• Iain S. Walker, Ph.D., scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA.
• William F. Walter, manager, Industry Relations, Carrier Corp., Syracuse, NY.
• James K. Willson, P.E., solution development leader, Honeywell International, Indianapolis.
• Gary L. Wingfield, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, group lead mechanical engineer, Haskell Co., Jacksonville, FL.
• Xudong Yang, Ph.D., Chang-Jiang professor, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
• Jianshun S. Zhang, Ph.D., a professor and director of Energy and Indoor Environmental Systems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, NY.

The Distinguished 50 Year Member Award is given to persons who have been a member of the Society for 50 years and have performed outstanding service to the Society. The following 15
members received this award:

• Peter J. Basso, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, chairman, Peter Basso Associates, Troy, MI
• Richard E. Batherman, Life Member, president, Vico, New York.
• Warren E. Blazier Jr., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, a consultant on building acoustics, structural dynamics, mechanical noise and vibration control, San Francisco.
• Robert H. Braun, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, principal, Robert H. Braun and Associates, San Mateo, CA.
• Francis A. Govan, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, Cary, NC.
• Hem C. Gupta, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, Chicago.
• Guy W. Gupton Jr., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, Livingston, MT.
• Donald C. Hardin, Life Member, retired from Enviromatic Systems, Grand Prairie, TX.
• Eoin Kenny, Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, Dublin, Ireland.
• Milton Meckler, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, president/CEO, Design Build Systems, St. Petersburg, FL.
• Frank J. Powell, Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, Jacksonville, FL.
• Walter R. Ratai, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, a consulting engineer in Sarasota, FL.
• Ernest W. Schumacher, Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, retired vice president, Fujikoki American, Yantis, TX.
• Michael F. Sisti, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, formerly of East Brunswick, NJ, was honored posthumously.
• Harold B. Swygert Jr., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member,West Columbia, SC.

The Journal Paper Award honors the best paper or article published in ASHRAE Journal. Frederick H. Rohles Jr., Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE, is the recipient for his article, “Temperature & Temperament: A Psychologist Looks at Comfort.” He resides in Manhattan, KS.

The Crosby Field Award honors the best paper presented at an ASHRAE meeting. Francis Farrell, Thomas Fitch, and Michael Morgan receive the award for Development and Performance of a Retrofittable, High-Efficiency Grease Filter System for Kitchen Hoods, which also receives an ASHRAE Poster Presentation Award. Farrell is with Phillips Plastics Corp., Prescott, WI. Fitch is a research engineer, Phillips Plastics Corp., Prescott, WI. Morgan is sales development manager, Captive Aire Systems, Allentown, PA.

The following papers were selected to receive ASHRAE Transactions Paper Awards, which recognize the authors of the best papers presented at Society meetings:

• James Braun, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, for “Impact of Control on Operating Costs for Cool Storage Systems with Dynamic Electric Rates.” He is a professor, Purdue University, Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, West Lafayette, IN.
• Vladimir Vukovic and Jelena Srebric, Ph.D., for “Application of Neural Networks Trained with Multizone Models for Fast Detection of Contaminant Source Position in Buildings.” Vukovic is a doctoral candidate and Srebric is an associate professor, Department of Architectural Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA.
• William Tschudi, P.E., and Stephen Fok, P.E. for Best Practices for “Energy-Efficient Data Centers Identified through Case Studies and Demonstration Projects.” Tschudi is program manager, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA; Fok is senior program engineer, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Francisco.

The ASHRAE Poster Presentation Award is given to peer reviewed technical papers with the best visual and technical information presented at Society meetings. The recipients are Sherwood Talbert, P.E., Stephen Ricci, Ph.D., Matthew Goshe, Laura Aume and Rodney Osborne, Ph.D., P.E., for “Reentrainment of Building Exhaust Air by Packaged HVAC Economizers.” Talbert and Ricci are senior research engineers; Goshe and Aume are research scientists, and Osborne is associate manager of energy systems, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH.

The Willis H. Carrier Award is given to an ASHRAE member 32 years of age or younger for presenting an outstanding paper at a Society meeting. Joseph Firrantello, mechanical engineer, James Posey Associates, Baltimore, MD, is the recipient for “Use of Factorial Sensitivity Analysis in Multizone Airflow Model Tuning,” which also received an ASHRAE Transactions Paper Award. Co-authors also receiving the Transactions Paper Award are William Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, professor of architectural engineering and director of the Indoor Environment Center, Penn State University; Amy Musser, Ph.D., P.E., principal, Vandemusser Design, Asheville, NC; James Freihaut, Ph.D., associate professor, Penn State Universit.; and Jae-Weon Jeong, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Architectural Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea.

The Lincoln Bouillon Award recognizes a member who performs the most outstanding work in increasing the membership of the Society during the course of the year. The recipient is Alan Neely, regional manager, Pittsburgh Corning-Foamglass Insulation, The Woodlands, TX.

The Dan Mills Technical Award recognizes a Chapter Technology Transfer Committee (CTTC) chair who excels in meeting CTTC goals in technical, energy and government activities. The recipient is Thomas Kroeschell, P.E., Northbrook, IL.

The Chapter Program Star Award recognizes excellence in chapter program endeavors. The recipient is Don Hay, general director, TECSIR Sa De CV, Monterrey, Mexico.

The William J. Collins Jr. Research Promotion Award is given to the chapter research promotion chair who raises the most money for ASHRAE research. The recipient is John K. Sealy, a mechanical engineer, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.

The Lou Flagg Historical Award recognizes a chapter Gold Ribbon award winner for compiling information on outstanding historical projects or persons related to HVAC&R. The recipient is Oswaldo Bueno, owner, Oswaldo Bueno Engenharia E Represetacoes, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Environmental Health Award recognizes excellence in volunteer service focused on environmental health issues. The recipient is Hal Levin, Fellow ASHRAE, president of and a research architect, Building Ecology Research Group, Santa Cruz, CA.

The Standards Achievement Award recognizes significant and exceptional service in the area of standards leadership and technical contribution. The recipient is Byron W. Jones, Ph.D., associate dean for research and director of the Engineering Experiment Station, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.

The Ralph G. Nevins Physiology and Human Environment Award is given to a researcher under the age of 40 for significant accomplishment in the study of bioenvironmental engineering and its effect on human comfort and health. The recipient is Henry Willem, Ph.D., post-doctoral research fellow, National University of Singapore.

The ASHRAE Student Activities Achievement Award recognizes a Chapter Student Activities chair for service related to the goals and growth of student activities at all levels. The recipient is Manuel Belino, Ph.D., dean, School of Mechanical Engineering, Mapua Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines.

The Homer Addams Award is presented to a graduate student involved in outstanding HVAC&R research. The recipient is Bereket Nigusse, Ph.D., a senior associate, ICF International, Fairfax, VA.

Fire-Lite Alarms, part of Honeywell’s Life Safety Group, plans to host more than 25 educational sessions throughout the U.S., free of charge. From fire alarm basics to detailed hands on training, course offerings are designed for every level of industry professional. Dates, locations and descriptions for Fire-Lite classes for the remainder of 2008 are as follows:

Location: Class Name, Dates
Baltimore, MD: MiniScan, July 8-10
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: MiniScan, July 8-10
San Francisco, CA: Super Academy, July 22-24
Little Rock, AR: SuperLite, August 12-13
Salt Lake City, UT: MiniScan, August 19-21
Portland, OR: MiniScan, August 26-28
Charlotte, NC: MiniScan, August 26-28
Columbus, OH: SuperLite, September 8-9
Denver, CO: MiniScan, September 9-11
Indianapolis, IN: SuperLite, September 11-12
Atlanta, GA: MiniScan, September 16-18
San Antonio, TX: SuperLite, September 23-24
Louisville, KY: MiniScan, September 23-25
Richmond, VA: MiniScan, Sep 30-Oct 2
Ft. Myers, FL: MiniScan, October 7-9
Houston, TX: SuperLite, October 7-8
Milwaukee, WI: SuperLite, October 13-14
Chicago, IL: SuperLite, October 16-17
Fresno, CA: SuperLite, October 22-23
Dallas, TX: SuperLite, October 28-29
Long Island, NY: Super Academy, November 5-7
San Diego, CA English: Mini Scan with optional Basic Fire, November 11-14
San Diego, CA Spanish Mini Scan with optional Basic Fire, November 11-14
Jacksonville, FL: MiniScan, November 18-20
Memphis, TN: MiniScan, November 18-20
Miami, FL: MiniScan, December 2-4
Oakland, CA: MiniScan, December 9-11.
Northford, CT: Super Academy, December 16-18

MiniScan Academy (3 Days)
A three day training on Fire-Lite’s conventional and addressable fire alarm control panels and voice evacuation systems. Power supply fundamentals, product features, installation methods, programming, and troubleshooting are taught through practical hands on exercises. Installation and configuration of Fire-Lite’s IPDACT, a module that enables the transmission of alarms from a fire alarm control panel via any IP network line (i.e. ADSL, cable, Internet), is also covered.

SuperLite Academy (2 Days)
A two day course featuring instruction and hands-on exercises in the capabilities, installation, programming and troubleshooting of all Fire-Lite manufactured addressable control panels. The SuperLite Academy will wrap up with two hours of installation and configuration training on Fire-Lite’s IPDACT module that enables the transmission of alarms from a fire alarm control panel via any IP network line (i.e. ADSL, cable, Internet).

Super Academy (3 Days)

(Day 1) Training begins with a Basic Fire Alarm Technology course covering common fire system components, fundamentals of voice evacuation, and various NFPA and ADA codes. Although part of the Super Academy curriculum, individuals seeking basic fire alarm information can opt to attend this on day course.

(Day 2-3) A two day module covering Fire-Lite’s voice evacuation systems and full line of addressable fire alarm control panels. Attendees will receive instruction on features and capabilities of all addressable panels, plus perform hands on exercises in wiring, programming, and troubleshooting.

Developed in consultation with Businesses for Social Responsibility (BSR), the publication focuses on partnership programs from the EPA. “A Business Guide to U.S. EPA Climate Partnership Programs” features profiles on 35 EPA climate-change related partnership programs, as well as a table designed to assist companies find the programs most appropriate for their industry and business objectives.

Each program profile defines the environmental value delivered by the program and the business case for participating, such as cost savings, operational efficiency, reduced business risk, new or expanded markets, enhanced reputation and brand protection.

The EPA’s Climate Partnership Programs include the following areas of focus:
Agriculture, Air Quality, Energy Efficiency and Global Climate Change, Pollution Prevention, Product Labeling, Regulatory Innovation, Sector Programs, Technology, Transportation, Waste Management, Water, and Regional Partnership Programs.

The new guide for businessses also describes some of the benefits an organization can gain by partnering with EPA, such as environmental performance benchmarking, public recognition, professional training and networking, and preparation for regulatory developments. There are currently more than 13,000 firms and other organizations participating in EPA climate related partnership programs. Through participation, members are investing in energy efficiency, clean energy supply, and other practices and technologies for mitigating climate risks.

EPA developed the guide in consultation with Businesses for Social Responsibility (BSR), a nonprofit business association. BSR, which provides practical resources for businesses seeking sustainable solutions, is promoting the guide to its 250 members and other Global 1000 enterprises.

The guide can be downloaded as a PDF file from www.epa.gov/partners.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced it has been awarded accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a standards developing organization.

“ANSI accreditation adds value to our standards development process by confirming that our procedures meet ANSI’s essential requirements for openness, balance, consensus, and due process,” said AHRI President Stephen Yurek. “In order to maintain accreditation, AHRI is required to consistently adhere to a rigorous set of requirements and procedures.”

Many of AHRI’s standards outline technical procedures for uniformly measuring the performance of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and commercial refrigeration (HVACR) equipment. Through the use of these standards and voluntary participation in the industry’s performance certification programs, consumers can be assured manufacturers’ performance claims are verified and rated uniformly to enable fair comparisons.

“The rigor of ANSI accreditation makes it widely recognized as a valid measurement of a standards program’s credibility and competency by federal and state governments and governments outside the United States,” said Yurek. “It also enhances the integrity of AHRI’s industry certification programs, and improves consumer confidence in the performance of heating, cooling and commercial refrigeration equipment and components both domestically and abroad.”

For anyone unfamiliar with the Darwin Awards, this honor has been bestowed upon those members of the human race who have done a great service to mankind by accidentally removing themselves from the gene pool. The awards have been around since the mid 1980s, but they really hit their stride when the Internet became the ideal circulation vehicle for all kinds of tall tales, urban legends, and sordid truths.

While genuine Darwin Award winners enjoy both the thrill of victory (achieving a remarkable feat under extreme circumstances) and the agony of defeat (typically in the form of their own demise), the following photographs should give you an idea of the general concept. They also illustrate a complete disregard for safety and lack of common sense in facilities maintenance settings.

From the “should it be necessary to apply for a safety license to use a ladder?” file:

During a heat wave, desperate times warrant desperate measures:

Lesson learned: don’t park one of those trucks on the side of a hill and then get into the bucket at the top…

Nothing like this has ever happened in your parking lot, right?

When you’re hating your job, think about switching places with this guy:

And finally, from the “how the heck did that happen?” file:

Let this be a warning to you and the members of your facilities departments!

Thanks to TFM FM Frequency Columnist Jeff Crane for submitting this Friday Funny.