How Was Your Weekend?

Imagine having one of the biggest events in the history of your facility not hold up well to the forces of nature.

That's what happened to the Qwest Center in Omaha, NE on Friday as it played host to the U.S. Swimming Trials.

Have you had any experiences with your facility not performing at its best when an important function was occurring on site? Please share your stories with us in the comment section or e-mail csafran@groupc.com



Photo by Omaha World Herald

Market Transformation Taking Place with Free Advanced Energy Design Guide Downloads

Nine million tons of carbon dioxide. $600 million in energy costs.

That’s the potential savings represented by 100,000 copies in the Advanced Energy Design Guide series now in circulation. More than 88,000 of the publications have been obtained via free download since January.

The series includes publications on small retail and small office buildings, K-12 school buildings, and warehouses and self storage units. The books provide guidance on how to achieve 30% energy savings over building code minimum based on ANSI/ASHRAE/ IESNA Standard 90.1-1999.

Calculations show that if every guide downloaded resulted in a single building designed to save 30% beyond code minimum, the estimated energy and carbon savings would be 52 trillion btus and 9 million tons of carbon dioxide. With an average cost of electricity of 5 cents per kwh and gas at $7 per mmbtu, the estimated cost of energy savings is over $600 million.

The guides are developed by ASHRAE, the American Institute of Architects, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and the U.S. Green Building Council, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. The downloads are available at www.ashrae.org/freeaedg.

“ASHRAE is committed to energy optimization and producing guidance that will help move the building industry toward market viable net zero energy and carbon neutral buildings,” ASHRAE President Kent Peterson, P.E., said. “The call for these high performing buildings is transforming our industry, and the guidance in the Advanced Energy Design Guide series is usable technology guidance to help owners, architects and engineers in accomplishing high-performing buildings.”

“This is proof positive that there are substantial economic benefits to green building strategies,” said AIA President Marshall E. Purnell, FAIA. “Hopefully this will help convince skeptics of the value and payback of green building design and that practitioners will take advantage of this excellent resource so that we can move closer to reaching our shared goal of carbon neutral buildings by 2030.”

“IES is pleased to part of the team developing these important guides, whose success demonstrates that collectively the collaborating organizations are raising awareness about how to achieve energy savings and developing a receptive audience for future guidance on net zero energy and carbon neutral buildings,” said Rita M. Harrold, IESNA director of technology.

“The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy, and threats to human health,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “Working with ASHRAE, AIA, and IESNA on the Advanced Energy Design Guide series is part of a critical collaborative effort to provide the industry with the tools it needs to make an immediate and measurable impact.”

Upcoming publications in the series include 30% guidance books for highway lodging, existing buildings and small health care facilities.

Facilities Housing Pandas In China To Be Rebuilt

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), in cooperation with The Giant Panda Conservation Foundation (GPCF), has joined the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wenzhong, in announcing a $165,000 donation to the China Wildlife Conservation Association to support panda conservation in the wake the earthquakes that occurred this past May.

“Accredited zoos are essential to the conservation of the giant panda,” said Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong. “We are grateful for this assistance and for the strong conservation partnership with zoos in the United States.”

The joint fundraising effort of AZA and GPCF will assist reconstruction efforts at panda conservation facilities in Wolong and Chenghdu after the devastating earthquakes in Sichuan Province where they are located. These facilities experienced significant damage and the staff has met with hardship, requiring urgent assistance to support their ability to care for the highly endangered giant panda population.

“I am proud that AZA members rose to the occasion to help our international partners recover,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “We will continue to support China in this important mission.”

AZA-accredited institutions making significant contributions include: Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, San Diego Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Zoo Atlanta, Memphis Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, Zoo New England, and Audubon Zoo.

Through research, education, and conservation efforts, AZA-accredited zoos have played a major role in the Giant Panda Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSP is a program that develops population management and conservation plans for imperiled species in the care of accredited zoos and aquariums.

TFM Conducting Survey On Procurement Guidelines Practices

Procurement is the acquisition of goods and/or services at the best possible total cost of ownership, in the right quantity and quality, at the right time (as defined by Wikipedia.org). By establishing policies on Procurement Guidelines for its facilities’ needs, an organization increases the probability of acquiring goods and/or services that meet performance and other requirements, at the best (though not always lowest) possible price.

Through a survey, which is online now, TFM would like to hear from facility managers about how they use (or don't use) procurement guidelines. We will include the results in the August 2008 issue.

To take the brief survey, please visit this link...

Thank you,
The TFM Editors

FRIDAY FUNNY: A Reptile Walks Into A Bar...

... And patrons welcome it by taking some photos with it and setting it up at the bar. (That was after taping the mouth and putting it in a box.) Luckily, this crocodile was only about two feet long, so it was fairly easy to contain.

This happened last Sunday at the Noonamah Tavern in Noonamah, Australia (population 483). Eventually wildlife officials came to pick the croc and brought it to a farm several miles away. It was thought that the reptile may have escaped from that farm in Darwin, and walked the distance to the tavern.

See one of the photos from the Associated Press...

CNBC Series To Feature Herman Miller President And CEO

Brian Walker will be a guest on the fifth and final episode in the series, "The Business of Innovation." The episode will air this coming Monday, June 30, 2008, at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

As President and CEO of Herman Miller, Inc., Walker will discuss the company's global business model and strategy for driving innovation within new and existing markets. The episode also will highlight some of the company's products, as well as a number of Herman Miller's West Michigan facilities.

Hosted by award-winning journalist Maria Bartiromo, the series explores a diverse range of topics and solutions to the question of innovation. In addition to Mr. Walker, guests for the final episode include:
• Nikesh Arora, President, EMEA Operations and Vice President, Google, Inc.
• Herb Kelleher , Co-Founder, Executive Chairman, Former CEO and President, Southwest Airlines
• Robert Carter, Chief Information Officer, FedEx
• Gary Rodkin, CEO, ConAgra Foods
• Carla Harris, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
• Shane Robison, EVP, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, Hewlett Packard

GE Consumer & Industrial Active In Midwest Flood Region

In the wake of the devastation caused by recent, massive flooding across parts of the Midwest, GE Consumer & Industrial’s Electrical Distribution business has initiated an emergency response action plan to help restore power and provide needed electrical equipment throughout the affected region.

GE’s initiative calls for an immediate influx of resources to the areas most in need. Local GE representatives are helping distributor customers communicate with business end-users about damaged equipment and safety warnings. Various GE distributors are bringing in extra inventory to support relief efforts.

For concerned businesses and consumers, GE has compiled a collection of important safety and contact information at www.geelectrical.com/emergencyresponse. The site offers tips on the evaluation and handling of water-damaged electrical equipment as well as links to applicable National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Web site content and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

GE's customer support and emergency call team is available to any affected citizen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-GE-1-STOP (431-7867).

The GE Foundation has also announced it will be donating $250,000 to the American Red Cross in support of the relief efforts. In addition, a number of GE representatives have traveled to the region to assist with electrical equipment damage assessments and other disaster relief efforts.

Largest Southern California Security Company Reintroduces Janitorial Services

Universal Services of America (USA), a full range of building services including janitorial, maintenance, and security, re-opened its janitorial division—Universal Building Maintenance. This division was originally started back in 1965 and operated in southern California successfully for approximately 25 years. The addition of building maintenance makes Universal Services of America one of the largest, full service facility service companies, which includes the operation of security firms Universal Protection Service (UPS), UPS Security Systems, and UPS Fire/Life Safety Services.

Brian Cescolini and Steve Jones, the owners of Universal Protection Service have partnered with Mark Olivas, the former managing director for the western region for One Source Building Services to re-open Universal Building Maintenance.

"With the recent consolidation of the two largest janitorial firms in the US," said Cescolini, president and chief executive officer of Universal Services of America. "We spoke with our clients and they welcomed a better option."

Steve Jones, CEO of Universal Services of America is committed to "building the perfect company from the ground up, one that is focused on the customer and its people."

"I have admired Universal Protection Service for the last 10 years and I feel that no other company really understands the customer like Universal Protection Service, " said Mark Olivas, president of Universal Building Maintenance. "My goal is to use their customer service philosophy, their resources, and their technology to build an unmatched janitorial firm. I love that we are not trying to change a culture but instead we get to create it from the ground up.

"Universal Building Maintenance will become in the janitorial industry what Universal Protection Service is in the security industry, a highly flexible and innovative customer focused organization," Olivas continued.

Universal Building Maintenance will have offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego to start and will expand when the opportunities present themselves. Universal Protection Service offers security solutions the Denver area from its office located in Aurora, CO and provides services to the Denver branch of CB Richard Ellis, based in the Denver Technological Center.

NeoCon 2008 Attracts Over 50,000 To The Windy City

The 40th annual NeoCon World’s Trade Fair, North America’s largest conference and exhibition for interior design and facilities management at The Merchandise Mart Chicago, attracted approximately 50,500 attendees from around the world. However, this represented a 4% dip from the previous year's show.

“This year’s NeoCon proved that the furniture industry is strong and is investing heavily in new product introductions,” said Mark Falanga, senior vice president, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). “With only a slight dip, NeoCon’s attendance was still up 15% from 2005, which is very impressive. With more than 1,200 exhibitors and 352 Best of NeoConNeoCon has remained the show for the industry.”

Leaders from throughout the contract industry commented on NeoCon 2008, hosted from June 9-11:

“Our industry has seen an amazing amount of change in the four decades since the first NeoCon fair. NeoCon and The Merchandise Mart have provided a stable anchor in the midst of this change, ” said Jim Hackett, President and CEO of Steelcase.

“NeoCon has played a vital role in the evolution of the workplace and the growth of our industry. Herman Miller's Action Office was publicly introduced at that first NeoCon, and the years since have proven the event continues to be North America's premier showcase for innovative, problem solving design, " offered Brian Walker, CEO of Herman Miller.

“Traffic is very strong this year. We’ve had a terrific response from buyers and sellers,” commented Peter Brunelle, President and CEO of Inscape.

In addition to the showroom, NeoCon assembles groups of industry experts, leaders, and innovators to provide insight into different areas to keep attendees on the cutting edge of their industries. This year’s line up of keynote speakers included: Steven Levitt, author of Freakonomics; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmentalist and author of the New York Times bestseller Crimes Against Nature; and Scott Wilson, former Global Creative Director at Nike and Design Director at Motorola.

Next year's NeoCon World’s Trade Fair will be held June 15-17, 2009, at The Merchandise Mart.

Cambridge Architectural Provides Cost-Effective Cladding Solution

A Cambridge Architectural Parkade™ metal fabric application functions as a cost-effective exterior cladding solution with dramatic visual appeal at the new Home Depot store in Jersey City, NJ.

The well known retailer stands at the edge of the booming town at the base of the Holland Tunnel where over 100,000 cars pass daily. This prominent location led to the desire for a visually appealing, yet durable and cost effective exterior cladding material to wrap the store's adjacent two story, 600 space parking facility.

A Parkade metal fabric treatment from Cambridge Architectural offered a solution, integrating well with other building materials used on the structure, while at the same time offering a distinctive look. Approximately 14,700 square feet of woven metal fabric was used to create the Parkade system, which lends modern, contemporary visual appeal to the parking facility.

"We specified architectural mesh because we wanted to mask the parking garage and improve ventilation", says Joshua Burdick, President, SBLM Architects.

"Cambridge's ability to work within tight deadlines, as with the Home Depot garage, which needed to be ready for the store's grand opening, made Cambridge Parkade metal fabric solutions a practical choice," explains Heather Collins, director of marketing for Cambridge Architectural. "Freedom from requiring embedded supports means Cambridge Parkade mesh applications can dramatically cut down on project costs, making woven metal fabric an attractive yet affordable cladding option."

The Parkade system was created with Cambridge's mid-balance metal fabric pattern and attached in tension with Eclipse™ attachment hardware. Mid-balance features large scaled, flexible open weaves that shade and screen structures including facades, parking garages, and pavilions.

With the Eclipse tension attachment hardware, tailored edges of mesh are provided for expanses of flexible metal fabric in tension. Custom cut apertures receive the metal fabric ends in tubing that is integrated into a bracket and structural support design. Tube sizes may vary to emphasize or de-emphasize the attachment. The hardware is appropriate for lengths of metal fabric held in tension up to 100 feet.

Cambridge maintains a fully staffed engineering department to assist with design-build questions, installation details, framing design, and load characteristics, and is also available for on site installation supervision.

LED Display In Philadelphia's Comcast Center Unveiled

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.

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Twisting And Turning

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)

Discussion On Door Component Substitution Slated For Early July

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 Receives Cradle to Cradle Certification

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.

19th Annual Energy Efficiency Forum Addresses Energy And Climate Change Policies

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.

Outstanding Achievements Recognized at ASHRAE’s Annual Meeting

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 Free Training

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.

Guide For Businesses Available From EPA

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.

AHRI Awarded Prestigious ANSI Accreditation

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."

FRIDAY FUNNY: Darwin Award Honorable Mentions

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.

U.S. State Department Adds Sustainable Technology

Ambassador Paul E. Simons recently announced that the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile will commission two new sustainable technology additions to the embassy’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

In support of the Santiago embassy's “Sustainability Initiative for the Embassy” the U.S. Department of State Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has installed two new state of the art energy technology systems in the embassy. A third sustainable energy project for the Ambassador’s Residence has been funded and is being designed. It will be installed this summer.

The first of the innovative energy technology systems installed in the building is a dedicated heat recovery chiller. This progressive, environmentally friendly application converts “waste heat” created by the embassy’s lighting, computer and telephone electronic applications into useful energy for hot water needed throughout the building without using any fossil fuels.

The second project is the installation of a modular air cooled chiller for the air conditioning system. These modular chillers have the lowest refrigerant charge per kilowatt available on the world market, reducing potential losses to the atmosphere. The innovative U. S. energy technology chillers were engineered and manufactured by Multistack, LLC, of Sparta, WI.

The third project is engineering design and installation of a solar domestic water heater for the Ambassador’s Residence. This solar water heater will provide the majority of the residence’s domestic hot water needs without the use of gas or electricity for heating the water.

DuPont, Customers Help Rebuild Town

DuPont and four time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon recently announced that DuPont will partner with customers and make an initial donation of more than 30 innovative products and services worth nearly $750,000 to help rebuild homes and businesses in tornado-ravaged Greensburg, KS.

The town was leveled by one of the largest tornadoes in U.S. history in 2007. Very few structures remained in the aftermath of the deadly EF5 tornado and more than 1,500 people, who were displaced, are waiting to return to their homes. Greensburg residents are rebuilding their town using sustainable materials.

“DuPont employees and customers have come together to help the families in Greensburg. We cannot possibly imagine what this community has suffered but we can help. We care about protecting lives, we care about building homes, and we care about safeguarding communities,” said Tom Schuler, vice president and general manager, DuPont Building Innovations. “We are pleased to support the people of Greensburg with sustainable products that will help make a difference in the renewal of the town.”

The materials, which include key end use products from DuPont customers, will provide a number of benefits to homeowners in Greensburg for safety and energy efficiency, using sustainable materials for both inside and outside their homes.

“DuPont's involvement in Greensburg marks a great partnership for the city. I look forward to continued support from them as we rebuild our sustainable city,” said Steve Hewitt, Greensburg city administrator.

“DuPont's leadership in creating quality products and their generous contributions are making it possible for the Habitat organization to offer affordable home ownership as a hands-up solution in the Greensburg community. We are tremendously grateful to DuPont and their business partners for their leadership and support,” said Linda Stewart, executive director, Wichita Habitat for Humanity, Inc.

Key DuPont customer donations include carpet from Mohawk and air conditioning systems from Johnson Controls.

Inspired by Greensburg residents’ desire to rebuild “green,” Planet Green television network is chronicling the rebuilding of Greensburg. The epic docu-series is a mixture of human stories and building and engineering. "Greensburg" will air on Planet Green every Sunday for 12 weeks. The series will document the story of a community coming together and the enormous scope of rebuilding a small city.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Tips For Those Affected By Midwest Flooding

This Web Exclusive comes from Bill Begal, 2007 Phoenix Award winner for innovation in restoration and president of Begal Enterprises, Inc. This collection of "best practices" is based on Begal's experiences with past clients. So while it may seem like common sense, it could help businesses or individuals who have never faced such a massive loss.

Begal adds, "The purpose [of these tips] is to assist any friends, family members, or associates that may have flood damage and are not sure of what to do, where to turn, or even where to begin."

• Get a notebook and keep track of any and all dates, times, and persons that you talk to in regards to your claim.
• Get a copy of your insurance policy. This will define and determine your limits as well as your rights and responsibilities to and from your insurance company.
• Speak/sit down with your adjuster.
• Define who is taking responsibility for your loss.
• What are your responsibilities and duties to comply as well as make a smooth and seamless process?
• Ask what is the process for listing and valuating your T/L (total loss) personal property. Do not throw ANYTHING away; everything has value.
• Follow up EVERY meeting and conversation with an e-mail to memorialize and capture what was discussed and might have been agreed to. This will eliminate confusion and misunderstandings later on.
• Define and get an explanation of what is necessary to be reimbursed for any lost rent or interruption of business.
• Ask your adjuster for a sufficient advance for purchases that are necessary. Include enough money to assist with your first month and security deposit for a temporary dwelling.
• Save ALL receipts for any and all meals, hotels, purchases, toiletries, vitamins, cosmetics etc.
• Wear personal protective equipment if you are entering a disaster zone: gloves, hard hat, approved respirator, Tyvek suit, etc.
• Refer to the EPA Web site to answer questions on mold and how to clean or disinfect properly.
• NEVER EVER open a refrigerator or freezer that has been off for more than a week to 10 days. The smell will knock you over.
• DO NOT TAKE ANY FOOD, PRESCRIPTIONS, or COSMETICS FROM THE BUILDING that have gotten wet or been exposed to an unusual amount of moisture or heat.
• ALWAYS remember that it is your decision, NOT the adjusters, as to which service provider can assist you.
• NO ONE can demand or force you to use a particular company at any time for any reason.
• Check references for any and all companies that you retain to perform work on your behalf.

Begal, who is based in Rockville, MD, regularly assists those who are dealing with the aftermath of a disaster, and acknowledges, "The recovery process can be overwhelming when all you have appears to be damaged or ruined." His company is currently preparing to mobilize labor and equipment with in the next week, as national clients have requested assistance in different areas in Iowa and Missouri. He can be contacted directly toll-free at 888-BEGAL44.

Reliant Stadium Achieves Code Compliance

Facing fire and building code challenges that simply did not exist a few years ago with large, open air assembly facilities, Rolf Jensen & Associates (RJA) recently helped reach code compliance in emergency situations for Reliant Stadium, home to the Houston Texans.

"Achieving complete and total code compliance is difficult in these types of facilities," explained Michael Crowley, RJA project manager. "We worked with the City of Houston to gain acceptance for alternative methods of compliance for the smoke control system, exiting, and other features unique to the facility."

RJA considered using the retractable roof as a means to allow smoke to escape in the event of a fire. The roof, which is constructed of steel with a fabric covering, completely opens in about 10 minutes. However, the roof cannot be opened when wind speeds exceed 35 mph. Because wind speeds are typically in the high teens at the roof's peak, the city required RJA to approach the stadium as a smoke protected assembly with the assumption that the roof would not be open.

This kind of solution required pre-planning—a key ingredient in RJA's formula. RJA evaluated models, which determined how much smoke would be generated in a fire and the most favorable ways to control it for the design of the smoke control system. Even more important was conducting exit calculations and timed egress for occupant evacuation.

RJA also negotiated a code variance with the City of Houston to allow 3,000 additional standing room only occupants to be added to the existing configuration on the main concourse, as well as providing for special fire department access to hoses at alternative standpipe locations. The first stadium to have a retractable roof in the National Football League,
Reliant Stadium, which hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, now is the centerpiece of the Reliant Park complex with venues for sports, entertainment, conventions, and other functions.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Rolf Jensen & Associates provides a range of engineering and consulting services for clients on projects around the world. Through its 30 offices, the company is a consulting engineering firm for fire and life safety issues, from designing a fire alarm system for a high rise building or conducting a fire model for smoke control in a new convention center to providing on site management of the life safety construction process or conducting a custom training seminar on performance based design.

Web Exclusive: Facility Fix with Mike Gardner, Butler University

What is your position? How many years have you been in the facility management profession?
I am the vice president for operations at Butler University in Indianapolis and have been working at the university for more than 18 years. I oversee the facilities operation for the entire campus, including managing a team of 110 maintenance and service workers, as well as overseeing the university police department.

Please give a brief description of the facilities involved in this project.
Butler University provides more than 4,700 students and faculty a world class learning environment. The university occupies more than 30 buildings on the 290 acre campus on the north side of Indianapolis, five miles from downtown Indianapolis in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood.

Why was the decision made to pursue this project?
We implemented two phases of projects, one in 1995 and the other in 2005. In 1995, we were conducting master planning across the university and were very interested in getting a comprehensive assessment of the university’s infrastructure. At the time of the audit, we had a number of issues that had the potential to really give us problems down the road. Future cost avoidance was a major factor in justifying the investment.

Then in 2004, we started experiencing issues with the heating plant. One of our three boilers stopped working and another developed cracks, leaving us with one working boiler and no backup. With the prospect of rising natural gas costs and frequently having to repair the old boilers, it made sense to augment the boiler plant with new high-efficiency equipment.


Please describe the decision making and research process for this project.
To assist in conducting the facilities audit and develop an energy savings proposal for the Board, we sought the help of energy management experts at Honeywell. A proposal for an energy conservation and facilities renewal program was then developed. The energy savings from the $11 million, 10 year program would enable the university to fund the infrastructure upgrades and implement a new energy management system.

What led you to choose the specific solution that you did?
During the first phase of the project, we replaced the university’s pneumatic building controls with a Honeywell energy management system that electronically relayed information back to a main command center. This created efficiencies because the previous systems weren’t linked, making it difficult and time consuming to get a comprehensive picture of energy consumption.

For the second phase of work, Honeywell decentralized much of the university’s heating plant and installed 18 energy efficient, modular hot water boilers across campus. We have also initiated a contract with Honeywell that allows us to tackle small, yet, critical projects that arise between broad energy management programs.


What benefits have you reaped as a result of this project?
Since installing the high efficiency boilers, we’ve cut our fall and spring natural gas consumption by 35%. Over the course of the eight year contract with Honeywell, that’s more than $2.5 million in utility costs. The project is a fantastic success for the university.

What economic benefits have you reaped as a result of this project?
Since completion of the upgrades, the university has saved more than $200,000 annually in energy and maintenance costs.

Did you encounter any unexpected highlights or challenges while implementing this project?
We experienced a challenge with respect to financing of the project. We were on the tail end of financing with the first project, so we needed help from the university's CFO to help us with the financing of the second project.


How did this project require you to change your operations and maintenance practices?
Under the latest contract with Honeywell, a full time service technician is located on campus, helping to manage the high level energy management and temperature control requirements of the university. As a result, my team is able to focus on important day to day tasks that are often neglected.

How have the community and customers responded to this project?
We wanted to make these upgrades as transparent as possible and we've accomplished this task without much problem. With a project like this, it's better that we don't hear anything from the students or staff. Otherwise, it probably means the heat isn't working somewhere on campus.

What was the most professionally rewarding aspect of this project?
It's rewarding to work as a steward of Butler's physical plant and ensure that there is long term reliability of the campus infrastructure. It's satisfying to know we are accomplishing something good for the university, its students, faculty, and staff.






This facility fix column was contributed by former associate editor Jillian Ruffino.

Support Builds for Code Grant

Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, along with Representatives John Boozman (R-AR) Michael Capuano (D-MA) Betty McCollum (D-MN), Robert Scott (D-VA) and Pete Stark (D-CA) are the latest co-sponsors of the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2007 (CBCAG). If approved, CBCAG funds would be dedicated to training “First Preventers,” building and fire safety officials who prevent harm by ensuring compliance with safety codes before disasters occur. The bill would make possible recruitment and training in under-served communities in greatest need of officials to assure safety through code compliance.

“In so many communities, there simply aren’t enough resources for building safety,” said International Code Council CEO Rick Weiland. “You can adopt codes, but if you don’t have trained people on the ground to ensure compliance and provide support, it doesn’t matter.”

The CBCAG authorizes a competitive grant through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help local governments hire, train, and equip code officials to save lives and protect property. Introduced last December by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS), the CBCAG would aid communities that see their resources over-stretched (or lack resources altogether in the face of building booms or major rebuilds after a disaster).

“I firmly believe that this legislation will help ensure the safety of buildings across the country and ultimately will reduce the cost to the American taxpayer after a disaster,” said Congressman Moore. “Responsible building codes are a wise investment and the right thing to do for our communities, which is why I appreciate the Chairman’s support of this important initiative and look forward to working with him in the future to try to advance this legislation through the House.”

“It’s been proven over and over again that houses built to code and inspected properly stand up to natural disasters,” said Code Council President Steve Shapiro, Director of Codes Compliance for Hampton, VA. “Studies show that every federal tax dollar spent on mitigation grants saves the community four dollars in recovery and rebuilding costs.”

The CBCAG currently awaits action by the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. For more information, visit this link.

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Is There Any Such Thing As Good Graffiti?

The relationship between the facility manager and the graffiti artist has always been a hostile one. There are many products on the market to help arm the fm in the battle against the rogue artist (or artists), but in this particular example, the "graffitist" is given free reign.

Here is an amazing short film by Blu. It features an ambiguous animation painted on public walls around Buenos Aires and in Baden.

Al Gore's Latest Inconvenient Truth - His Electric Bill!

Al Gore just confirmed that his next high profile award will be "!@#*$!&% of the Century."

Poor Richard


=========================
June 17, 2008
For Further Information, Contact: Adam King, 615.383.6431 adam@tennesseepolicy.org

Energy Guzzled by Al Gore’s Home in Past Year Could Power 232 U.S. Homes for a Month

Gore’s personal electricity consumption up 10%, despite “energy-efficient” home renovations

NASHVILLE - In the year since Al Gore took steps to make his home more energy-efficient, the former Vice President’s home energy use surged more than 10%, according to the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.

“A man’s commitment to his beliefs is best measured by what he does behind the closed doors of his own home,” said Drew Johnson, President of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. “Al Gore is a hypocrite and a fraud when it comes to his commitment to the environment, judging by his home energy consumption.”

In the past year, Gore’s home burned through 213,210 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, enough to power 232 average American households for a month.

In February 2007, An Inconvenient Truth, a film based on a climate change speech developed by Gore, won an Academy Award for best documentary feature. The next day, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research uncovered that Gore’s Nashville home guzzled 20 times more electricity than the average American household.

After the Tennessee Center for Policy Research exposed Gore’s massive home energy use, the former Vice President scurried to make his home more energy-efficient. Despite adding solar panels, installing a geothermal system, replacing existing light bulbs with more efficient models, and overhauling the home’s windows and ductwork, Gore now consumes more electricity than before the “green” overhaul.

Since taking steps to make his home more environmentally-friendly last June, Gore devours an average of 17,768 kWh per month –1,638 kWh more energy per month than before the renovations – at a cost of $16,533. By comparison, the average American household consumes 11,040 kWh in an entire year, according to the Energy Information Administration.

In the wake of becoming the most well-known global warming alarmist, Gore won an Oscar, a Grammy and the Nobel Peace Prize. In addition, Gore saw his personal wealth increase by an estimated $100 million thanks largely to speaking fees and investments related to global warming hysteria.

“Actions speak louder than words, and Gore’s actions prove that he views climate change not as a serious problem, but as a money-making opportunity,” Johnson said. “Gore is exploiting the public’s concern about the environment to line his pockets and enhance his profile.”

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research, a Nashville-based free market think tank and watchdog organization, obtained information about Gore’s home energy use through a public records request to the Nashville Electric Service.

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization committed to achieving a freer, more prosperous Tennessee through the ideas of liberty. Visit TCPR online at: http://www.tennesseepolicy.org/.

Recent Report Studies Construction Activity

McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies, has released its annual Construction Outlook Midyear Update, providing insight into the performance of the construction industry through the end of 2008.

Among the major findings of the forecast, authored by Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction:

* New construction starts for 2008 are estimated at $558.5 billion, down 11%.

* Single family housing continues to weaken, with 2008 declines of 28% in dollar volume and 31% in dwelling units, steeper than what occurred in 2007. The single family market is being adversely affected by falling home prices, mounting inventories, and tight lending conditions.

* Commercial building witnessed further expansion in 2006 and 2007, which carried over into the first quarter of 2008. However, the slower economy and tighter lending conditions are now causing projects to be deferred, and the loss of momentum will take firmer hold as the year proceeds. For 2008, commercial building will retreat 8% in dollar volume and 16% in square feet. Stores and warehouses are the most vulnerable to decline in the near term, while lesser reductions are anticipated for hotels and office buildings.

* Institutional building in 2008 continues to see a strong amount of educational structures reach groundbreaking, helped in particular by more expansion for colleges and universities. The 2008 forecast for institutional building calls for a 2% gain in dollar volume, although square footage will settle back 3%.

* Public works construction in 2008 will also rise 2% in dollars. The push will come from greater federal funding for transportation projects in fiscal 2008, combined with an elevated focus on infrastructure repair and maintenance. Tighter fiscal conditions at both the federal and state levels of government are an emerging concern for the public works sector, but any restraint on construction is more likely to be experienced next year.

McGraw-Hill Construction’s 2008 Midyear Update is available for purchase at www.construction.com.

ASHRAE Leads Briefing on New High Performance Building Report to Congress, Caucus

A new assessment report to the US Congress and a new Congressional caucus, both addressing high-performing buildings, will be unveiled tomorrow at a briefing with ASHRAE as the lead sponsor.

The briefing for Congressional staff takes place from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday in room 2325 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Scheduled to take part are Rep. Judy Bigger (R-IL) and Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO), co-chairs of a newly formed High Performance Building Congressional Caucus.

“Rising energy costs and the increased global awareness of the potential impact of climate change continues to drive home the need for low energy; environmentally responsible, high performance buildings are the future,” Kent Peterson, P.E., ASHRAE president, said. “As such, we need to be more determined to deliver buildings that perform. I am encouraged by the efforts I am seeing in the recommendations contained in this report and formation of the caucus to encourage design, operation and maintenance of high-performance buildings.”

Congress drafted Section 914 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to address not just more energy efficient buildings but rather high performance buildings that combine the objectives of reducing resource energy consumption and improving the comfort and productivity of building occupants. Congress maintains that achieving both these goals would have a positive economic and societal impact.

Former ASHRAE president Bill Coad served as chair of the committee that wrote the soon to be released assessment to the US Congress and the US Department of Energy on high performance buildings. Overseen by the National Institute for Building Sciences, the report contains seven recommendations to assist in encouraging the creation and operation of high performance buildings. Coad is scheduled to speak at the briefing, along with Get Moy, current chair of the High Performance Building Council.

In addition, the recent formation of the High Performance Building Congressional Caucus will be announced. The Caucus was formed in part to address the recommendations outlined in the assessment report. The caucus will work to heighten awareness and inform policymakers about the major impact buildings have on health, safety, and welfare. ASHRAE is one of 14 organizations that form the Caucus.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.

Jones Lang LaSalle and The Staubach Company Reach Agreement to Merge

Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated, a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate, and The Staubach Company, a real estate services firm specializing in tenant representation in the United States, announced on 6/16/08 that they have reached a definitive agreement to combine operations. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter (subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino approval as well as other customary closing conditions).

The combined firm will operate under the Jones Lang LaSalle brand. The transaction does not include Staubach Retail Services or Cypress, Staubach’s investment development business, both of which will continue to operate under license agreements.

“The Staubach Company is recognized for exceptional tenant representation expertise and is a leading presence in markets throughout the United States. We are delighted that they have decided to join our company,” said Colin Dyer, chief executive officer of Jones Lang LaSalle. “Merging our businesses reinforces two of our global growth priorities, building our position in key U.S. local markets and strengthening our corporate services business by introducing Staubach clients to our global Corporate Solutions capabilities.”

Staubach leadership will hold key positions within the combined organization. Roger Staubach, who founded Staubach 31 years ago, will join the Jones Lang LaSalle Board of Directors and will serve in the new role of Executive Chairman, Americas. He will be actively involved in the firm, focusing on client relationships, new business development, and strategy. Greg O’Brien, currently Staubach’s CEO, will be the CEO of Brokerage, Americas, leading the newly created business that will set strategic direction in tenant representation and agency leasing. John Gates, currently Staubach’s President and COO, will serve as President of Brokerage, Americas. Both Greg O’Brien and John Gates will join the firm’s Americas Executive Committee, which is headed by Peter Roberts, Jones Lang LaSalle’s CEO, Americas.

“This merger is all about working to be the best. We want to bring the value of what we’ve built at The Staubach Company to the next level and have chosen to do this with Jones Lang LaSalle because of its global platform, commitment to service, and exceptional reputation,” said Roger Staubach, Executive Chairman of The Staubach Company. “In today’s global economy when so many of our clients want an international platform, this merger gives us the opportunity to provide those services seamlessly, as one team working together.”

The merger will leverage and strengthen Jones Lang LaSalle’s comprehensive global platform including its leading Corporate Solutions business, integrated technology platform and best practices, facility management services, and energy and sustainability services -- with Staubach’s powerful tenant representation platform and extensive reach into key U.S. markets. Combining the talent and resources of the two firms will secure a leadership position in public sector services; broaden the expertise in industrial brokerage, capital markets, and project and development services; and expand the resources focused on industry sectors such as law firms, health care, banking, logistics, life sciences, non-profits, data centers and contact centers.

“We expect this unique opportunity to bring together the complementary strengths and resources of two powerful organizations into one integrated global company will create enormous new value for our clients, our people and our shareholders,” said Peter Roberts, Jones Lang LaSalle’s CEO, Americas. “As the talented people in each company come together to share ideas, expertise and experience, they will benefit and our clients will benefit.”

The combined firm will have 33,700 employees around the world and 11,500 in the Americas with the addition of more than 1,000 Staubach employees. The transaction also will add 14 new corporate offices to Jones Lang LaSalle’s 54 in the Americas, bringing the total corporate offices in the Americas to 68 and globally to 184.

“It’s not about being bigger, it’s about being the best for our clients and our people,” said Greg O’Brien, The Staubach Company’s CEO. “By joining forces, we will gain increased scale in strategic areas such as industrial brokerage, facilities management and capital markets; we will be a dominant player in both tenant representation and agency leasing services across the Americas. Our team will have the resources to provide a higher level of service to our clients through in-depth delivery systems and service offerings.”

Growth Predictions For IT Investments

A new national study conducted by The Gantry Group, LLC, Software Development IT Governance Expenditures Trends, reveals that a company’s annual budget for these solutions and services, on average, will grow to $1.2 million in the next 12 months. Companies will increase allocations in their budgets for key solution areas: 6% for Portfolio Management, 4% for Project Management, 3% for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), 2% for integrated Project Portfolio Management (PPM), and 2% for Requirements Management.

Respondents reported that within the next 12 months their organizations plan to implement solutions for PPM (25%) and Process Workflow Management (20%). Companies show a strong preference for third party on-premise solutions for all categories of IT investment with the exception of demand management for which custom in-house solutions are preferred.

According to the study, respondents prefer third party solutions to outsourced services primarily because they want to maintain control over data quality, privacy, and security (48%), and believe that they will also derive greater control over solution access and performance (45%) as well as improved integration with existing systems.

The study solicited feedback from C-level IT executives and Vice Presidents (50%), IT/Development Directors (18%) and Managers (12%). 66% of respondents have responsibility for IT/Product Development, Program Management or IT Governance. Nearly 25% of respondents came from companies with 5,000 or more employees, while 27% came from companies with 1,000 – 5,000 employees and 28% came from companies with 250 – 1,000 employees.

The study revealed the following additional findings:

• The key metrics that companies use to determine the success of their development IT governance solutions are alignment of IT investments with corporate objectives (52%), followed by expected ROI (45%), and alignment of IT projects with corporate objectives (44%).
• The majority of respondents believe that their development IT governance solution deployments have benefited their organizations through improved alignment of both IT investment (52%) and projects (41%) with corporate objectives.
• Respondents are least satisfied with their deployed solutions for PPM, PLM, Time Management and Resource Management.
• Dissatisfaction with development and IT governance solutions arises primarily from poor employee adoption (50%), poor integration with the company’s infrastructure (50%), and an increase in process complexity and workflows (44%).

Gantry Group is a strategic consulting firm that guides technology based solution providers to build offerings that capitalize on urgent market needs and challenges. For the past decade, Gantry Group’s customer satisfaction, primary market research and ROI/TCO measurement services have armed the world’s leading technology vendors with targeted market intelligence to support their strategic business decisions and inform their solution roadmaps.

Entire Contents, Copyright © 2008 Gantry Group LLC All Rights Reserved. References to any of the contents in this press release must include Gantry Group copyrights and citation.

87% Of US Employers Not Prepared For A Pandemic Outbreak

According to the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions/ERISA Industry Council survey taken in November 2005, only seven out of 50 American businesses claim to have adequately planned for a possible pandemic that the World Health Organization (WHO) says is “serious.” What is especially disturbing is that the WHO goes on to say that the world is now closer to another pandemic than at any time since the Hong Kong flu of 1968 hit.

BOMI International, a leader in facilities and property education for over 35 years, is holding a webcast this July to prepare professionals for the ominous threat of an epidemic. The webcast will be conducted Tuesday, July 15, 1:30-3 p.m. EST. Enrolled professionals will learn how to create, manage, and execute a successful pandemic response plan from Sam Smith, a former director of disaster recovery and physical security for a major telecommunications data center.

Students will learn the key components of a response plan including, how to mitigate the impact of an outbreak, essential communication strategies, and how to minimize liability and the financial impact related to a pandemic. The seminar even comes with pandemic response checklists that can be used as is, or modified to fit a specific organization’s needs.

During the sizzling summer months when the chances of an epidemic are high, BOMI International prepares facility professionals and real property managers to handle any emergency situation with order and ease while competitors scramble to react. BOMI International classes help the traveling professional; all you need is a telephone and a computer.

About BOMI International
Founded in 1970 and located in Annapolis, Maryland, BOMI International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education organization. As a trusted educational resource of choice for corporations, government agencies, property management firms, unions, and trade associations, BOMI works across industry sectors to improve the skills of professionals at many levels with property, facility, and systems responsibilities. BOMI is known for industry-standard designations – the Real Property Administrator (RPA®), the Facilities Management Administrator (FMA®), the Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA®), and the Systems Maintenance Technician (SMT®). More than 20,000 building professionals hold one or more BOMI designations, and nearly 10,000 students register for individual courses each year.

"Stars Of Energy Efficiency" Recognized By Alliance To Save Energy

Those chosen this year represent a diverse roster of individuals, companies, and government entities working to advance energy efficiency in noteworthy and creative ways. Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) announced last week the winners: Philips Electronics; Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff; global technology firm United Technologies Corp.; tankless water heater manufacturer Rinnai Corp.; the York County, Va., School Division; furnace fuel combustion innovator Jupiter Oxygen Corp.; and Embraco, a Brazil-based company noted for state-of-the-art, high efficiency refrigeration compressor technology.

“The Alliance to Save Energy commends this year’s stellar lineup of awardees for their significant contributions to energy efficiency,” says Alliance president Kateri Callahan. “Their leadership, innovation, and unflagging dedication truly make them ‘Stars of Energy Efficiency.’ Today’s rising and often record energy costs are squeezing consumer, government, and company budgets alike, making this an ideal time to celebrate those working to advance energy efficiency.”

Philips Electronics was selected based on its 2007 formation and leadership of the Lighting Efficiency Coalition. The Coalition is a collaborative effort by the lighting industry, environmental groups, and legislators to establish new energy efficiency standards for lighting and help phase out less efficient lighting technologies.

Philips spearheaded the efforts of the Lighting Efficiency Coalition to develop and gain enactment of an orderly industry-wide phaseout of inefficient lighting under the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. In addition to securing support from other major lighting manufacturers, the group of energy efficiency advocates within the Lighting Efficiency Coalition included the ASE, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, Californians Against Waste, the Earth Day Network, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Developed as an outcome of the Lighting Efficiency Coalition’s successful efforts and signed into law in December 2007, EISA establishes technology-neutral, performance-based lighting efficiency standards as well as government incentives to accelerate the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), and energy efficient halogen lamps. The coalition projects that the transition to more efficient lighting, in part due to the new EISA standards, will exceed the combined energy and money savings of all 21 federal appliance standards adopted since 2000. By 2020, the improved lighting is expected to lower consumers’ annual electricity bills by more than $13 billion and save more than 140 billion kilowatt hours (kwh) a year.

Another award recipient, Virginia’s York County School Division, has reduced its energy consumption by more than 48 billion Btu since 2004, saving more than $1 million in energy costs. The division’s three-member energy management team has developed and implemented an aggressive two-pronged approach for reducing pollution and energy waste. The division began by implementing energy saving and sustainable building design practices such as energy efficient T8 and T5 lighting that has reduced costs by nearly 40%; energy recovery units that drastically reduce the amount of energy needed to condition fresh air entering the building; and classroom, office, cafeteria, and gymnasium occupancy sensors that automatically turn off lights when areas are unoccupied and, in most schools, shift heating and cooling set points.

To read about all the winners' contributions to energy efficiency, visit the ASE Web site. All awards will be presented at the 16th annual Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

Insurer FM Global Makes Its Premium Risk Prevention Data Available

For the first time in its 170 year history, FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial and industrial property insurers, has announced its decision to release thousands of pages of its previously exclusive property loss prevention engineering guidelines at no cost through its Web site www.fmglobaldatasheets.com.

FM Global’s Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets provide large scale businesses, facility, and risk managers, as well as the architects, consultants, and contractors who work for them, a valuable tool to help prevent property damage and maintain business continuity due to threats posed by fire, weather conditions, and failure of electrical or mechanical equipment.

The engineering guidelines contain a wealth of risk prevention information on hundreds of topics, ranging from building construction and fire prevention to industrial equipment maintenance and natural disaster preparedness. Users who download the content also receive automatic notification via e-mail when data sheets are updated. FM Global is the only commercial property insurer in the world that develops and provides this type of premium technical data, all of which is based on scientific research and nearly two centuries of loss prevention experience.

FM Global’s decision to make its loss prevention data available at no cost reflects the changing risk profiles of its clients around the world, especially the increasing interdependence of businesses brought about as a result of globalization and technology.

“Companies are now so intertwined and geographically dispersed, that to help them reduce risk and prevent loss, it is beneficial to make our intellectual property widely accessible,” said Tom Lawson, FM Global’s senior vice president, engineering and research. “FM Global is always developing new ways to prevent risk, and we feel this complete access to our engineering recommendations can be invaluable to helping businesses manage the evolving risk environment in this increasingly interconnected world.”

Subjects covered by FM Global’s data sheets include: Construction, sprinklers, water supply, extinguishing equipment, electrical, boilers and heating equipment, hazards storage, human factors, system instrumentation and control pressure vessels, mechanical, and welding

For nearly two centuries, many of the world’s largest organizations have worked with FM Global to develop cost-effective property insurance and engineering solutions to protect their business operations from fire, natural disasters, and other types of property risk. FM Global is ranked #583 among FORTUNE magazine’s largest companies in America and serves more than one out of every three FORTUNE 1000 companies operating in nearly 130 countries.

FRIDAY FUNNY: CDC Alert from CNN

CDC Alert

The Centers for Disease Control has issued a medical alert about a highly contagious, potentially dangerous virus that is transmitted orally, by hand, and even electronically. This virus is called Weary Overload Recreational Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from your boss, any of your colleagues, or anyone else via any means whatsoever - DO NOT TOUCH IT.

This virus will wipe out your private life completely. If you should come into contact with WORK you should immediately leave the premises, take two good friends to the nearest liquor store, and purchase one or both of the antidotes - Work Isolating Neutralizer Extract (WINE) and/or Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.

You should immediately forward this medical alert to five friends. If you do not have five friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life.

Many thanks to Evelyn Schwartz (my mom!) for submitting today's Friday Funny. (Do you think she's trying to tell me something?)

Waterless Co. Asks FMs About Restroom Fixture

The manufacturer of waterless urinals sought to find what facility managers think of these types of fixtures. Nearly 100 commercial, educational, and government building facility managers, who have installed waterless or no-water urinal systems in their facilities, were asked their thoughts on waterless or no-flush urinals.

“This is one of the few surveys taken on the subject,” says Klaus Reichardt, founder and managing partner of Waterless Co. LLC, a Vista, CA-based manufacturer of waterless urinals. “However, with the growing interest in greening building operations, the systems are becoming quite common and are now found in many locations.”

As to overall opinions, when asked if they had a choice between installing conventional or waterless urinals again, 60% indicated they would install waterless urinals. Twenty percent reported they would return to conventional urinals and another 20% noted they were unsure which they would select.

When asked why they installed a waterless system in the first place, more than 40% indicated it was because of “environmental awareness.” Thirty percent reported it was because of escalating water and sewer costs, while the rest hoped the waterless systems could help reduce restroom odors and lower maintenance costs.

Among other findings:
* Asked what they liked most about waterless urinals, 42% answered “saving water.” Fifty percent noted it was to help green their facility.

* As to restroom odors, about half reported there was no increase in odor problems with waterless urinals, while the other half noted there were more odors or they were not sure.

Cleaning, Maintenance, and Concerns
The survey also asked several questions regarding the cleaning and maintenance of no-flush urinals. For instance, 60% noted their janitorial crews change the traps or cartridges installed in most all waterless urinal systems. About the same percentage indicated they clean the waterless system using the same cleaners and methods they used to clean conventional urinals.

There were also some complaints about no-water urinals, mostly in regards to the trap/cartridges found on some systems. Nearly half of the respondents reported the trap/cartridges do not last as long as their manufacturer indicates and cost considerably more than anticipated.

“This is definitely true with some no-water systems,” says Reichardt. “This is why managers must do their homework and select a waterless system that helps save both water and money.”

Approximately 1,000 facility managers were e-mailed invitations to take the online survey. Nearly 100 answered some or all questions on the survey. All responses were tallied in the final results. The survey was conducted the last week of May 2008.

EPA's WaterSense Program
In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced WaterSense, a partnership program created to enable commercial and residential specifiers to identify products that help to reduce water use. The EPA WaterSense page on urinals can be found here...

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Benefits of Resilient Vinyl Flooring

This Web Exclusive comes from Robert Krebs of the American Plastics Council.

The innovators of today’s interior vinyl products artfully blend traditional materials with advanced technologies to produce versatile, durable, and beautiful flooring. Many interior designers and architects recognize resilient vinyl flooring as an important material in their palette, particularly when creating spaces sustaining heavy traffic or that have to be kept meticulously clean. Design flexibility provides an added bonus.

Vinyl flooring is referred to as "resilient," because it characteristically bounces back from the weight of objects compressing its surface. This feature also contributes to favorable acoustics and comfort underfoot. Originally used only in high-traffic areas, vinyl flooring is now used in just about every hard-surface application. Durability, ease of maintenance, and moisture resistance top the list of attributes explaining its wide acceptance.

Commercial vinyl flooring is manufactured in either 12" or 9" square tiles, or continuous sheets 6' or 12' wide. Floor tile is sold as either solid vinyl or vinyl composition tile (VCT). Sheet flooring can be homogeneous, inlaid, or layered composite.

Vinyl flooring formulations differ widely, and many are proprietary. The actual vinyl content of these floors ranges from 11% to 55%. Other raw materials used include: fillers such as limestone, calcium carbonate, or clay; plasticizer additives to soften the vinyl and provide flexibility; stabilizers to minimize degradation and discoloration from heat and light; and pigments.

Versatility In Design
Vinyl sheet and tile flooring creations come in myriad styles and extensive color palettes, but the material’s versatility is particularly evident in the seemingly limitless, often intricate patterns flooring manufacturers are capable of producing. Tile can be custom cut and laid out in patterns using different colors or finishes. Corporate logos can be made from VCT to become part of the floor design, as can geometric icons or other shapes. The latter can be used, for example, to guide traffic in a hospital, school, or retail setting.

Custom designs are easily created using vinyl sheet and strip plank flooring, as well. Designers have been known to generate CAD drawings of the floor pattern they want from just a fabric sample as their inspiration. Virtually any look can be obtained to suit any decor, including classic looks simulating wood and ceramic tile.

Performance
Facility managers can (and should) expect long-lasting beauty, even in heavily traveled areas, from properly specified, installed, and maintained vinyl floors. New technologies have improved resilient flooring’s performance, making it tougher than ever—resisting rips, tears, gouging, scratching, scuffing, staining, indentation, and other physical abuse.

A floor’s durability is rated according to standards judging criteria such as: abrasion, gouge, puncture, cut, and impact resistance; how dynamic and static loads affect the life of the floor; how color is affected by heat and light exposure; and chemical resistance. Upon request, vinyl-flooring manufacturers can provide much of this information, showing exactly how their products measure up to these various performance standards.

A single flooring product may not meet the demands of every location in a building, so specifiers must check with the manufacturer to determine the best product for a particular application. Manufacturers can also recommend proper installation and maintenance techniques for ensuring the new floor performs as intended.

Some of the areas in which VCT manufacturers provide guidance include:
Loads. Consideration should be given to a floor’s ability to recover from indentation after a load has been placed on it for 24 hours. Test results show load limits to which products can be subjected with no permanent indentation after load removal.

Chemical and stain resistance. Special vinyl flooring formulations can be used in areas prone to chemical and staining reagent exposure. Manufacturers can provide test results for a variety of chemicals and reagents on individual product lines. In general, vinyl floors resist alkalis, acids, alcohols, oils, greases, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Ketones, esters, and chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons may cause softening. Some rubber materials, such as rug backings and car tires, cause staining.

Static dissipation. Not many people realize a person walking across a flooring surface can generate a static charge amounting to several thousand volts of electric potential. While not a problem in most venues, it is definitely to be avoided where sensitive electronic equipment is manufactured or operated, as in clean or computer rooms, around fiber optics, and in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

Specifically designed to dissipate unwanted static charges from the human body, electrostatic discharge (ESD) flooring allows electrical charges to flow safely to ground to avoid damaging sensitive equipment or creating an unwanted spark in a highly flammable area. ESD floors based on dense, homogenous, static-dissipative vinyl tile are extremely durable, resist the effects of common chemicals and solder, and are not conducive to bacterial or fungal growth.

Slip resistance. Specifying the appropriate floor surface can play a significant role in preventing slips and falls—and associated injuries, workers’ compensation claims, lost productivity, and lawsuits. Tile and sheet vinyl floors are available with enhanced slip-retardant surfaces suitable for a variety of commercial and institutional applications. Manufacturers recommend flooring with enhanced slip resistance for ramps, showers, and locker rooms, as well as areas of high humidity.

The slip resistance of a floor surface is measured by its coefficient of friction. The higher the coefficient, the less slippery the surface. Suitable VCT products are available in both sheet and tile, with abrasives in the material or a raised profile. While flooring with a raised profile is appropriate in high traffic areas where enhanced slip resistance is needed, it is potentially more difficult to clean than smooth surfaces.

Healthcare Settings
A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control suggests the use of easy-to-clean surfaces like vinyl flooring in healthcare settings is a sensible approach to controlling pathogens.1 Vinyl is one of the few materials that can stand up to the magnitude of cleaning these settings require.

Sheet vinyl floors help maintain stringent hygienic conditions, receiving high ratings where infection control is an issue because the seams can be chemically sealed or heat welded to keep out moisture and dirt. With fewer seams than most other hard surface flooring, vinyl gives bacteria fewer places to settle in and grow. For this reason, vinyl has even been specified in the bone marrow transplant units of hospitals.

Vinyl is also flexible enough to be extended up a wall to form a wall base, keeping dust from collecting where walls intersect the floor. Vinyl flooring is nearly impervious to water. Disinfectant cleaners can provide a sterile surface without damaging the floor, and most stains are easily removed.

To understand the criteria driving decisions about material choices among healthcare interior designers, The Vinyl Institute commissioned a survey of Healthcare Forum members of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Aesthetics, durability, and ease of maintenance were repeatedly called out as being paramount.

Respondents said they specify vinyl flooring most often for the public or community spaces in healthcare facilities. VCT is the most frequently specified, followed closely by sheet vinyl and broadloom carpet. Asked to rate the top five characteristics influencing their decision to specify VCT, three-quarters of respondents said initial cost, 73% chose it for durability, 69% for aesthetics, 68% because the client preferred it, and 51% for ease of maintenance. These numbers reflect a material with a strong balance of very desirable characteristics.

For patient and long-term care resident rooms, sheet vinyl is the flooring material of choice, followed by VCT. Sheet vinyl is selected because of its aesthetics, durability, ease/cost of maintenance, client preference, and infection control. Vinyl plank flooring products are growing in popularity, ranking third in the survey among preferred materials for patient and resident rooms. The trend toward designing these spaces with a warmer, more residential feeling is likely driving this material’s popularity.

Prolonging Life
The vinyl floor’s wear layer is key to maintenance. The thickness is generally measured in mils, or thousandths of an inch. Higher-quality vinyl floors may also employ a high-performance wear layer, while lower-priced floors generally feature a vinyl wear layer to protect the underlying pattern. In general, a high-performance wear layer makes the floor easier to clean and more stain resistant.

Some of the greatest abuse to any floor comes from tracked-in dirt and abrasive grit, which wears away any floor’s surface. The good news is that proper cleaning and maintenance are the only things required to combat dirt and preserve vinyl flooring’s utility and beauty.

Floors should be swept or mopped daily to remove gritty dirt. Damp mopping should be done with a neutral detergent. Mop treatments with petroleum solvents or silicone compounds should be avoided as they can create slippery conditions. Spills should be wiped up before they dry with a clean white cloth dampened with warm water. To control tracked-in dirt, grit, or stains from asphalt and oil in driveways, non-staining doormats should be placed at entrances. Some rubber or foam-backed doormats can cause surface staining.

Periodic spray buffing and the application of a high-quality commercial floor polish are also part of the regimen to resist staining and maintain a desirable appearance over time.

Resilient vinyl flooring’s proven long-term durability and safety features, aesthetics, moisture resistance, and low maintenance requirements are indicative of a cost-effective material with a strong balance of desirable characteristics. With vinyl, designers can be assured of delivering performance as well as beauty for the right price.

Notes
1. Noskin, Gary A.; Bednarz, Patrice; Suriano, Terra; Reiner, Sandra; Peterson, Lance R.; “Persistent contamination of fabric-covered furniture by vancomycin-resistant enterococci: Implications for upholstery selection in hospitals,” American Journal of Infection Control, August 2000.

Krebs is director of communications for the Plastics Division of the American Plastics Council.

UVC, Turbine Cooling Included in New ASHRAE Handbook

New chapters related to ultraviolet lamp systems and combustion turbine inlet cooling are featured in ASHRAE’s new 2008 Handbook volume.

HVAC Systems and Equipment discusses systems and the equipment that comprise them, including features and differences. It is designed to help system designers and building operators select and use equipment. It contains 48 chapters.

The chapter on ultraviolet lamp systems addresses the use of such systems to improve indoor air quality. “Use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation has increased as concerns about the transmission via ductwork of pathogenic organisms, such as tuberculosis and even bioterrorism agents, have escalated among designers,” Walter Grondzik, chair of the subcommittee that coordinated publishing of the 2008 volume, said.

The new combustion turbine inlet cooling chapter provides discussion on how the cooling is used to help improve combustion turbine performance. It was added to address use of such cooling to improve the environmental and economic performance of combustion turbine installations, typically used for electric power generation.

“Inlet cooling can mitigate the negative effects of high inlet air temperature, a critical consideration in this era of rapidly increasing energy costs and depleting resources,” he said.

The cost of the 2008 ASHRAE Handbook, HVAC Systems and Equipment, print edition (either I-P or SI and includes a CD of all content in both I-P and SI units) is $195. The 2008 volume also is available in CD format for $155. The Handbook can be ordered from this link.

Furniture Sustainability Standard Open For Comment

The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) International and NSF International (NSF) have announced the release of BIFMA E3-2008 Business and Institutional Furniture Sustainability Standard to the NSF consensus ballot process and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) public comment period.

The ballot process will close on July 1, 2008.

BIFMA and NSF partnered on the development of this standard over a year ago gathering a broad and diverse group of stakeholders in the consensus process. ANSI mandates openness, balance, due process, consensus, and a right to appeal in the development of consensus standards. Representatives from academia, the A&D community, end users, regulatory agencies, federal and state government, certification bodies, non-governmental organizations, manufacturers, suppliers, and others have been engaged in development of the standard.

“By employing this open and balanced consensus process, we’ve ensured that a broad range of perspectives have been considered in this standard,” said Thomas Reardon, BIFMA’s executive director. “I applaud the dozens of individuals who have lent their time, talents and knowledge to the creation of this important standard that will guide the development of more sustainable furniture products and processes going forward.”

BIFMA E-3 2008 takes a holistic view in evaluating product sustainability, considering multiple attributes including materials and natural resource utilization, energy, renewable energy, greenhouse gas impacts, human and eco-system health, material toxicity, and social responsibility. Modeled after the LEED building rating system, furniture products are evaluated against a variety of credit criteria (after first meeting certain prerequisites), accumulating points toward increasing levels of recognition associated with reduced environmental impact.

Following two years of development, the standard is now entering the official NSF consensus body vote and an open, ANSI public comment period to last 45 days. The balanced consensus body responsible for the standard will consider all input received during this period. Interested parties are invited to review the standard and provide comment by visiting this link.

“Once this standard completes the ANSI standards development process and becomes an American National Standard, it will not only help furniture manufacturers demonstrate their commitment to the environment, it will also help consumers understand the sustainable benefits of the furniture,” said Jane Wilson, NSF director of standards.

About Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA)
Established in 1973, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) International is a not-for-profit organization that provides a forum for members to cooperate and collaborate on appropriate industry issues.

About NSF International NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization certifies products and writes standards for food, water and consumer goods. Founded in 1944, NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment and an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards developer. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: A Chicken Partial To Fast Food?

For four months, a fair fowl took up residence at a California McDonald’s. Customers and restaurant management alike had tried to catch the chicken, which at times blocked cars from traveling through the drive through lane. Perhaps it knew customers might be ordering chicken nuggets?!

To read the story, which appeared at CNN.com the other day, visit this link…

Gerflor Extends Market Reach In U.S.

The flooring company has established exclusive agreements with numerous sales representatives to extend its reach within the U.S. resilient flooring market.

“We are pleased to work with Gerflor whose trusted reputation in providing quality flooring and cutting edge designs is matched only by their product innovation,” said Al Buchholz of Buchholz Associates in Chicago. “When a job calls for aesthetic resilient flooring that is durable, hygienic and sustainable, Gerflor is an excellent choice.”

With the exclusive agreements, Gerflor has added the following companies to its distributor network: Action Commercial Sales of Orange, CA becomes the exclusive representative of Southern California; Buchholz Associates of Chicago, IL becomes the exclusive representative of Illinois; Hi Tec Flooring of Houston, TX becomes the exclusive representative of east Texas and Oklahoma; Indiana Carpet Decorators of Indianapolis, IN becomes the exclusive representative of Indiana; and Spartan Surfaces of Lancaster, PA becomes the exclusive representative of Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington DC.

About Gerflor
Gerflor has the largest collection of commercial vinyl flooring products in the world, with innovative offerings ideally suited to the, healthcare, education sports, retail, leisure, corporate and industrial sectors. Founded in 1937 and headquartered near Lyon, France, Gerflor provides unique product and design solutions and is present in more than 90 countries around the globe with over 1500 employees. Gerflor's environmental record includes 'A' rated Green Guide (BRE) certification, outstanding whole life cycle performance, as well as full compliance with ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards.

The Boston Globe Recognizes ZOLL

ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of resuscitation devices and related software solutions, has been named on the “Globe 100” list of top performing public companies in Massachusetts by The Boston Globe. This is the 20th annual listing that the newspaper has produced to rank top Massachusetts based public companies.

Based on a composite score derived from financial data for the four quarters ending December 31, 2007, ZOLL was ranked 43 among Massachusetts based companies whose stock is publicly traded, moving up from number 52 a year earlier in 2006. It is one of six medical device companies to have been included in the Globe 100.

“These companies represent the resiliency of Massachusetts business, surviving recessions, merger manias, and dramatic shifts in their industries," said Shirley Leung, business editor of the Boston Globe.

To qualify for the Globe 100, a company must have been public for the entire 2007 calendar year and have reported a positive net income for both 2006 and 2007.

“We are honored to be recognized in the company of Massachusetts’ strongest business organizations from various sectors, and delighted that our performance has climbed in ranking despite a turbulent economic climate,” said Richard A. Packer, president and chief executive officer of ZOLL.

About ZOLL Medical Corporation
ZOLL Medical Corporation is committed to developing technologies that help advance the practice of resuscitation. With products for pacing, defibrillation, circulation, ventilation, and fluid resuscitation, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies, including Real CPR Help® and See-Thru CPR® that help clinicians, EMS professionals, and lay rescuers resuscitate sudden cardiac arrest or trauma victims. ZOLL also designs and markets software that automates the documentation and management of both clinical and non-clinical information.

Two New VPs At Johnson Controls' Global Workplace Solutions

Julie Kimble and Mike Vallenari are charged with leveraging Global Workplace Solutions' (GWS) real estate offerings to grow the group’s client portfolio of Global 1000 companies.

GWS is the world’s largest global real estate and facilities management business and offers its clients a single point of contact for outsourcing a wide array of real estate services. Kimble’s experience in real estate transactions/development and Vallenari’s corporate real estate expertise make them a good fit for GWS.

“Julie has deep experience developing real estate for corporate clients nationwide and Mike has delivered for his clients’ portfolios from a global and multi-market context,” said Steven Quick, executive vice president of Global WorkPlace Solutions, Johnson Controls. ”Their unique perspective and collective wealth of industry knowledge make them great additions to the group.”

Before coming to Johnson Controls, Kimble spent 23 years in commercial real estate development with 13 years in progressively responsible positions at Opus Companies. Most recently, she was vice president of Opus South Corporation, where she oversaw real estate development strategy and implementation in the southeastern United States. Previously, she was a vice president of the St. Paul Port Authority, where she was responsible for industrial land development.

She is a member of CoreNet Global, as well as the current chairwoman of the CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Foundation.

Vallenari has 17 years of experience in corporate real estate. Most recently, he had tenures at First Industrial Realty Trust and Trammell Crow. In these positions, Vallenari was responsible for business development and helped companies find solutions for their corporate real estate challenges through portfolio solutions and outsourcing platforms.

He earned a Master of Corporate Real Estate (MCR) designation as a member of CoreNet Global and is also a member of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC).

About Global Workplace Solutions
Johnson Controls, through its Global Workplace Solutions group, is the world’s largest global real estate and facilities management business offering a single-source for real estate portfolio management, design and project management, strategic consulting, energy and facilities management services. With more than 11,500 employees located in 350 locations across over 50 countries, serving real estate portfolios and managing facilities of approximately 1.3 billion square feet, Johnson Controls was recently named one of the Global Outsourcing 100 by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP).

Exhibit Featuring "Tapestry In Architecture" Out Until June '09

Organized as part of the year-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of the National Association of Japan-American Societies (NAJAS), "Tapestry in Architecture: Creating Human Spaces" is the first U.S. exhibition of the textile work of Japanese artist Mitsuko Asakura.

Highlighting intricately woven, delicately patterned works specifically designed to complement architectural interiors, the exhibition showcases 11 hanging pieces replete with photos and a video essay depicting the creation process.

The exhibit begins its North American tour at Japan Society (July 10-August 14, 2008), then travels to Harvard University’s Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies, Cambridge, MA (September 15-November 14, 2008), the Morikami Museum and Gardens, Delray Beach, FL (December 16, 2008-February 22, 2009) with a final presentation at the American Institute of Architects Headquarters Gallery, Washington, DC (March 12-June 26, 2009).

It is first in a series of smaller-scale summer exhibitions at Japan Society that provide an intimate look at specialized subjects, private collections, nontraditional media, and more.

"Tapestry in Architecture: Creating Human Spaces" features works specifically commissioned by clients including Hie Shrine for its new building in downtown Tokyo, Pfizer Global Research and Development for its laboratories in Nagoya, and Resona Bank in Osaka. Because the works are integral components of these buildings, rather than remove them for the exhibition, Asakura has created exact copies to travel in the exhibition. The dramatic enhancement of these architectural spaces, ranging from a cutting-edge pharmaceutical laboratory in Nagoya, Japan to a shrine in Tokyo, Japan, with site specific tapestries is documented in the exhibition by large-format photographs that show some of the works in situ.

This exhibition is made possible by Canon. This exhibition is also sponsored by The Tokyo Club. Additional support is provided by Kajima Corporation, Takenaka Corporation and Shimizu Corporation. Transportation assistance at Japan Society is provided by Japan Airlines. Exhibitions at Japan Society are also made possible in part by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and the Friends of the Gallery. Installations at Japan Society Gallery are supported by a generous gift from Henry Cornell.

About Mitsuko Asakura
The daughter of an artist and dyer, Mitsuko Asakura was born and raised in Kyoto, the former capital of Japan. Growing up helping her father in his dyeing workshop and surrounded by the traditional craft artists of Kyoto, Asakura developed a passion for weaving. Deeply immersed in the traditional textile culture of Japan, she created her own original style of textile art by mixing traditional fiber dyeing with experimental shapes. Asakura’s tapestries are notable for their sensitive use of color and unusual forms. All of her dyes are handmade, often featuring a combination of natural ingredients sourced in the nature surrounding Kyoto and cutting-edge chemical substances. The interplay of the natural and man-made materials in the dye creates vibrant and subtle colors that distinguish her work. These dyes create vibrant and subtle colors that distinguish her work. Most striking is her series of works entitled Oritatamu, which she first started creating in the 1970s. Oritatamu is a play on Japanese words which translates to “weaving and/or folding.” Unlike her contemporaries who were also exploring three-dimensional textile forms that were free-standing, Asakura has always created her dimensional work to be hung on a surface like a tapestry.

Along with her many commissions, Asakura’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions both solo and group, primarily in Japan.

About NAJAS
The National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization that offers educational, cultural and business programs about Japan and U.S.-Japan relations to the general public through its member Japan and Japan-America Societies. NAJAS is the only national non-profit network in the United States dedicated to public education about Japan. It consists of approximately 40 independent Japan-related organizations located in 32 cities around the country.

About Japan Society Gallery
Japan Society Gallery is among the premier institutions in the United States for the exhibition, research, and publication of Japanese art. Extending in scope from prehistory to the present, the Gallery's exhibitions have covered topics as disparate as classical Buddhist sculpture, contemporary photography, and media arts. The Gallery presents two major exhibitions each year, working with leading museums in Japan, the United States, Asia, and Europe to bring together objects of cultural significance, historical importance, and high aesthetic value. In conjunction with exhibitions, Japan Society Gallery publishes scholarly catalogues and conducts educational programs, including lectures, guided tours, and symposia of international importance. Through these activities, the Gallery contributes to the scholarship, connoisseurship, and appreciation of the art and culture of Japan and East Asia.

About Japan Society
Founded in 1907 by prominent New York City businesspeople and philanthropists, Japan Society has evolved over 100 years into an internationally recognized nonprofit organization presenting a full range of programs within arts and culture, business, education, family, and public policy. Through over 100 events annually, Japan Society creates rich encounters and exchanges that offer opportunities to experience Japanese culture; foster sustained and open dialogue on issues important to the United States, Japan, and East Asia; and improve access to information on Japan.

ANTRON Carpet Fiber Recertified An EPP

INVISTA recently announced recertification of its ANTRON® carpet fiber as an Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). Originally certified in 2002, ANTRON carpet fiber was the first carpet face fiber to achieve EPP certification. It is the only carpet fiber to achieve recertification for three consecutive cycles.

The recertification was based on a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted by Boustead Consulting Ltd., a third-party research firm with more than 35 years of experience in LCA consulting worldwide. INVISTA engaged the firm to study and analyze environmental impact data for all INVISTA plants worldwide that produce ANTRON carpet fiber.

“The results of this study provide us with a truly comprehensive global analysis of the environmental footprint of ANTRON carpet fiber, from the cradle to finished fiber,” said Henning Bloech, manager of environmental initiatives. “These data will become the benchmark for managing the key factors that contribute to sustainable carpet fiber production. The global eco-profile provides us with a thorough, rigorous approach to maintaining our current environmental certifications, and will also enable our understanding as we continually work to improve manufacturing processes and develop new product offerings.”

“Receipt of EPP certification for Antron carpet fiber is an important accomplishment for our business, as it validates our efforts to lead the industry with credible environmental offerings,” said Bobby Berrier, vice president, commercial interiors for INVISTA. “It’s a great example of the diligence we put behind our claims. It took a tremendous amount of time, effort and investment; but we believe it is the right approach, given the need for greater transparency among the many claims that are made in our industry today.”

“Consistent with our guiding principle of integrity, INVISTA strives to make no marketing claim unless we can back it up with validated facts derived from sound analytical methodology,” continued Berrier. “It is the way we operate. For the ANTRON carpet fiber brand, it permeates all we say and do.”

EPP Certification takes a holistic approach to environmental stewardship, rather than focus on a single attribute. Upon review of the data, ANTRON carpet fiber achieved EPP certification after SCS concluded that ANTRON carpet fiber meets or exceeds the stringent EPP requirements in all five areas of evaluation: product manufacturing, resource conservation, human health impacts, end-of-life responsibility, and product performance.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved new standards for sustainable carpet, known as NSF-140-2007, which is the first multi-attribute standard for environmentally preferable building materials in the construction industry. Using up to 25% EPP materials contributes points toward certification under this American National Standard in the same proportion as post consumer recycled content or bio-based materials. Therefore, carpets with EPP certified ANTRON carpet fiber can earn up to 6 points under NSF-140 credit 8.2.1. (To read more about NSF 140-2007, read "Sustainable Carpet" from TFM March 2008.)

The program manager of material content and sustainable choice certification for Scientific Certification Systems, Ed Wyatt, said, "We congratulate INVISTA for being the only carpet fiber manufacturer to achieve EPP recertification. Since 2002, we have been impressed with the company's dedication to achieving this rigorous standard by continuously reducing the environmental impact of ANTRON carpet fiber, to meet or exceed the evaluation criteria for recertification. EPP certification assures architects, designers and facility managers they are making sound environmental specification decisions when selecting carpet manufactured with ANTRON carpet fiber."

BBG-BBGM Moving To Empire State Building, Will Pursue LEED Silver

Designed to accommodate the firms’ need for more space, the move by the architectural and interior design firms BBG-BBGM will relocate their New York City headquarters to the iconic Empire State Building. Managing Partners Louis R. Hedgecock, AIA and Julia Monk, ASID, AIA made the announcement about the 15-year lease that has been signed. The firms are relocating from 515 Madison Ave., the New York office location since their founding in 1984, to a 32,000 square feet space on the entire 25th floor of the Empire State Building.

The firms are pursuing LEED Silver Certification in the Commercial Interiors category (LEED-CI). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings and interiors.

“As global design firms, this move is an important step in our long term strategy. We are pleased to provide our staff with an office environment that reflects our values of creativity, collaboration and commitment to sustainability,” Hedgecock said.

BBG-BBGM designed their new office space to reflect the firms’ culture, identity, commitment to sustainability, and work style. Designed to optimize natural light in a white and grey color scheme, the office features the Ahrend benching system, Humanscale ergonomic seating and desk lights, strategic use of reflective surfaces for maximum dispersal of natural light, and a partially exposed ceiling structure.

Some of the energy saving elements include lighting controls with daylight harvesting photo sensors; a daylight receptive window control system with automatic window shades and operable windows to provide ventilation; and energy efficient lighting, such as T5 high output fluorescent lamps with LEDs, to reduce the power required to 15% below ASHRAE standards. The bathroom fixtures use water and energy saving technology such as TOTO low flow and motion sensor toilets, automatic sink faucets and hand driers. Sub-metered Energy Star equipment and appliances control temperature, optimize energy performance, and measure the firms’ energy and water footprint.

Selected eco-friendly materials include low emitting VOC paints, adhesives, coatings, sealants, plastic laminates, and non-formaldehyde MDF panels; recycled content materials include certified wood floors, Interface carpet tiles and Ecophon fiberglass ceiling tiles and wall coverings; renewable materials include linoleum and substrates such as strawboard in custom millwork.

About BBG-BBGM
BBG-BBGM are internationally renowned, award winning architectural and interior design firms with extensive expertise in the design of mixed use complexes, luxury urban hotels, resorts, high end residential, retail, and corporate/office buildings. The firms have offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Scottsdale, AZ, Sydney, and Shanghai.

Haworth Sites Innovation Lab At New HQ

Material ConneXion, a global platform for material solutions and innovations, has opened its first Innovation Lab inside the newly designed corporate headquarters of Haworth Inc. in Holland, MI. The custom built lab is an interactive exhibition of innovative materials and products tailored to Haworth’s specific design needs and business objectives. The lab marks the introduction of a new Material ConneXion offering that expands upon the company’s consulting and materials library services.

“Material ConneXion’s Innovation Lab will be a dynamic source of inspiration and information, not only for our employees, but also for clients and visitors to our new corporate headquarters,” stated Franco Bianchi, Haworth’s president & CEO. “We are thrilled to bring such an unparalleled resource to our company.”

The lab features a rotating selection of large format material samples, sourced from Material ConneXion’s library of over 4,500 innovative materials, and a collection of products that highlight inventive combinations of design and materials. Focusing on the topics of Sustainability, Illumination, Processes and Functional Surfaces, the assembled materials represent some of the most recent developments in materials innovation and offer a variety of opportunities for physical interaction and intellectual stimulation.

“Packaging our materials expertise and knowledge into a hands-on laboratory strengthens our capacity to connect clients with the most up-to-date information on materials and processes,” said George M. Beylerian, founder and CEO of Material ConneXion.

“Forward thinking companies like Haworth can utilize this unique material experience as a vehicle for communication, allowing Material ConneXion to customize a Lab that reinforces their corporate values, emphasizes their products and services, and demonstrates their commitment to innovation and technology,” continued Michele Caniato, President of Material ConneXion.

Prominently featured in the atrium at Haworth's new headquarters building, Material ConneXion’s Innovation Lab contributes to its success as a living laboratory for ongoing research and an engaging experience for visitors.

EPA Recognizes Combined Heat And Power

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week recognized three Energy Star Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Awards winners for using CHP to reduce their energy use by more than 18%. CHP (also referred to as cogeneration) is an efficient, clean, and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source. By installing a CHP system, a facility can increase operational efficiency and decrease energy costs, while reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Those facilities receiving the award included:
Calpine Columbia Energy Center (Gaston, SC) for its combustion turbine-based CHP system that produces up to 500 MW of electricity and one million pounds of steam per hour. The local utility grid receives all of the generated electricity while an adjacent manufacturing plant productively uses the steam. The CHP system requires 30% less fuel than typical alternatives.

University of New Mexico CHP Project (Albuquerque, NM) for its natural gas-fired CHP system at the Ford Utilities Center. Part of a major energy infrastructure upgrade project, the CHP system supplies the campus with roughly one-third of its total electricity demand and produces steam to help meet the space heating, space cooling, and domestic hot water production needs of more than 25,000 students, staff, and faculty. With an operating efficiency of almost 65%, the CHP system requires 20% less fuel than typical alternatives.

Verizon Garden City Fuel Cell Project (Garden City, NY) for its fuel cell CHP system. Located at a Verizon call routing center, the CHP system is the largest U.S. commercial fuel cell installation of its kind. Hot water that would otherwise be wasted is recovered and used for the space cooling and heating of an office building that serves more than 35,000 telecommunication customers. With an operating efficiency of almost 60%, the CHP system requires 25% less fuel than typical alternatives.

About EPA's Combined Heat and Power Partnership
Since 1999, EPA has given the Energy Star CHP Award to recognize organizations and institutions that install exceptionally efficient CHP systems. EPA's CHP Partnership seeks to reduce the environmental impact of power generation. EPA works closely with energy users, the CHP industry, state and local governments, and other stakeholders to support the development of new projects that have significant energy, environmental, and economic benefits. The program plays a role in efforts to achieve a collaborative, public-private goal of doubling the capacity of CHP in the United States to 92 gigawatts (GW) by 2010.

First Digital Commercial Appraisal Reporting Standard for Interoperable Data Exchange

The Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate (OSCRE) recently announced that 10 participating member organizations will provide four live interoperable data exchange demonstrations of three of OSCRE's seven standards. Cushman & Wakefield and Prudential Mortgage Capital will provide the first of two demonstrations highlighting OSCRE’s Appraisal Reporting Standard for Commercial Property. A second live interoperable data exchange demonstration will be conducted by Integra Realty Resources and The Situs Companies/CJC Worldwide Technologies.

“The purpose of these demonstrations is to share with these influential IT executives the reason we invested our time, knowledge, and financial funding to create this standard,” explains Matt Marschall MAI, ARA, MRICS, Managing Director, National Practice Leader Agribusiness Valuation Services - Capital Markets Group for Cushman & Wakefield. “We understood as we embarked on this project appraisers, lenders, and other industry stakeholders using this standard would experience very significant benefits in operating costs, access time to quality information, and for the first time, real consistency and transparency in the data we rely on,” he concluded. Marschall has served as the Chairman of OSCRE’s Appraisal Reporting Standard working group.

According to Patrick Craig, Chair of the Business Innovation Committee for Cushman & Wakefield and who will be presenting his portion of the demonstration, “This technology creates a new value proposition for valuation firms and their clients. For valuation firms, we now have the ability to transmit our appraisal report data to the client with speed and accuracy. Previously, this was not even possible. Also, we can validate the data against the data standard to make sure it is compliant.”

John Hall, Chief Credit Officer for Prudential Mortgage Capital’s Structured Finance Group adds, “As a consumer of appraisal reports, I believe that this will change the mortgage underwriting process and help us serve our customers more efficiently. With this new technology, we will be able to stream data accurately and no longer have to re-key information manually. Also, historically the appraisal information was used only once in a single transaction and we would have to fill out a form manually with 15 to 20 data points. Now, we can move hundreds of data points from the appraisal report into our forms, or even store it in our database to help source new transactions or monitor existing deals in our portfolio.”

OSCRE members responsible for the creation of the Appraisal Reporting Standard for Commercial Property include Cushman & Wakefield, Prudential Mortgage Capital, Colliers International, U.S. General Services Administration, Integra Realty Resources and The Situs Companies/CJC Worldwide Technologies.

US House Tries to Make Schools Greener

While the fallout from the Democrats race for the White House took center stage on Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a $20 billion plan to help states renovate and build schools to make them better for the environment and more energy efficient.

The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act passed 250-164 but still must be taken up by the Senate. The Bush Administration has threatened a veto, citing the cost of a new federal school building program.

The bill sets aside $6.4 billion for the 2009 budget year and similar amounts in the following four years. The goal is to aid school districts in modernizing facilities to help make schools more energy efficient, promote student and employee health, and improve the learning environment.

New projects would have to meet LEED, Energy Star, or Collaborative for High Performance Schools standards. According to the Associated Press, "Requirements for meeting the green standards would be phased in, but by 2013 90% of the funds would have to be used for green projects."

Supporters of the bill cited studies that "a green school uses 35% less energy than a conventional school, reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 40%, and uses 30% less water."

Bill opponents called the measure a "green scheme", warned that it could divert funds from federal programs for disabled and poor students, and saw the bill as "an intrusion into education matters normally under the jurisdiction of states and local governments."

Under the funding plan in place, no school would receive less than $5000.

FRIDAY FUNNY: Baggy Eye Candy

With conventions in full swing, many facility professionals and others in related industries are partaking in the 2008 trade show bag season. Don't know what I mean? Well, if you've been to a trade show or convention, you've surely received a clever bag to hold all of your product literature.

Here are some particularly eye catching offerings that illustrate just how creative some companies can be with their marketing.








Many thanks to Betty Anne O'Malley for providing this post.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Creating a Safer College Campus

This Web Exclusive comes from Robert J. Chartier of AlliedBarton.

Collegiate life is not what it used to be. In the past, parents were anxious about their children adapting to living life independently, making wise choices, getting a solid education, and growing up. Those concerns still exist today, but let’s add a new one: Will my child be safe?

Now, more than ever, our higher education institutions are marketing quality academics in a true learning environment with attractive extra-curricular activities and world-class sports venues. Many colleges are also stressing safety and highlighting programs they have developed to ensure the health and welfare of their campus residents. Due to the federal Clery Act, which requires schools to record and report major criminal activities on their campuses, there is also a fish bowl environment which fosters responsibility and accountability.

What are the challenges of keeping campuses safe? How can today’s administrators, campus law enforcement, and facilities services personnel rise to meet them? The answers lie in the mix of security and law enforcement personnel, technology, facilities design, and crime prevention education. There is no single solution. Let’s take a look at a few examples of what measures are in place today to keep our college campuses safe, and how we can successfully employ cost-effective measures to meet the challenges we face.

Some Challenges
Affordable Police Presence – On most college campuses, campus police maintain a law-abiding and safe environment. The challenge is creating a greater public presence on campus grounds without breaking the budget. Sure, it would be great to multiply the number of police personnel on site, but doing so is often financially prohibitive.


Student Housing Access Control – Colleges recognize the need to keep order and access in check at student residence halls. Many schools depend upon passive restraints such as door access control and/or stationary video surveillance. Some colleges staff the entrance with an individual who verifies identification and manages visitor access. In order to control costs, schools often deploy students to monitor access and activities of their fellow students at residence halls.

Technology – A wide range of technology solutions exist that include door access control systems, emergency alert phones and kiosks, video surveillance, and email and text message alerts, to name a few. These are all useful and timely tools to employ, but they are each either reactive or passive. Such solutions are only an element of an effective security program. Without personnel to monitor, deter or respond, the systems are compromised. And while part of the solution may be in employing more campus police personnel, many of the tasks, like helping residents who are locked out or responding to alarms resulting from open doors, are routine. The overwhelming costs incurred in following up with the technology alerts may preclude today’s administrators from selecting this option.


An Answer
Since most agree that an increased physical presence of well-trained security professionals may be a large part of today’s solution to the challenges college campus personnel face. This answer may be simple, reasonable, cost-effective and timely.

Outsourced Security Personnel – Increasingly, institutions are finding that one of the most cost-effective means to supplement law enforcement and technology is to employ the services of a well-trained and proven contract security firm. Pioneered in the large private urban research universities, the use of professional security officers is spreading across all locations and types of institutions as schools move to create a more visible deterrent and response capability.

Contract security companies who specialize in higher education, who train their staff on the specific challenges and reporting regulations of campus security, are the best choice. Companies with a lot of experience in this arena understand how their staff can work in conjunction with campus police and know how to create a strategy for the best possible security solution.

Consider The Following
Campus law enforcement may not need to have more police officers that are costly to train and equip. And, a smaller budget may make it difficult to retain staff. A better response is to multiply the eyes and ears on campus by using a reputable contract security provider that can supplement their efforts. The key is defining a specific role for the contract security officers who can perform many of the routine tasks (e.g., personal safety escort services, foot patrols, parking details, vehicle assists, etc.) and also supplement building safety and maintenance systems.

Selecting students to monitor and facilitate residence halls access may not be the wisest practice. Not only are there related concerns regarding liability, but also, an independent resource would be the best choice for the security-related details. Again, choosing a well-trained and experienced contract security provider to monitor and patrol student residence halls maintains a higher degree of safety, security and impartiality, without incurring the heavy costs associated with employing law enforcement personnel or additional residence hall staff.

Many of today’s public and private higher educational institutions are recognizing the benefits associated with creating hybrid solutions to the design of their physical security programs. In their search for a solution to their safety and security-budget challenges, facilities managers, administrative personnel, and campus law enforcement departments are partnering with proven contract security providers. College administrators, campus police, professors, students and their parents agree that a comprehensive and cost-effective solution is the best remedy to today’s safety challenges on college campuses.

Chartier (Bob.Chartier@alliedbarton.com) is a vice president for AlliedBarton Security Services, www.alliedbarton.com, which provides security services for many of the country’s leading colleges and universities.

Trash Bags Certified Green

Webster Industries, a leading manufacturer of recycled content polyethylene trash bags, recently announced that the company’s ReClaim™ brand and private label trash bags are the first and only trash bags to achieve third party certification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) for state-of-the-art recycled content. Webster is the only plastic trash bag manufacturing company to receive independent certification to validate and verify the company’s recycled content product claims. SCS, originally founded in 1991, is an independent, not-for-profit organization widely considered to be one of the country’s leading third party product claim certification organizations.

ReClaim bags and Webster’s private label recycled content trash bags contain 75% recycled content, including at least 10% post-consumer material. All packaging contains 100% certified recycled paperboard, and the company long ago lead the industry in eliminating toxic inks and dye additives.

Recycling plastics provides substantial environmental benefits in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy, preserving natural resources, and reducing landfill waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling low density polyethylene (LDPE) saves about half (46%) of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of virgin plastic trash bags, and recycling LDPE uses only about 10% of the energy that it takes to make a pound of virgin plastic material. Webster recycles over 30 million pounds of LDPE plastics each year that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated.

Webster achieved independent certification from SCS after going through a rigorous evaluation and auditing process. SCS also certified Webster’s products for government procurement and green building qualification, including an Environmental Preferable Product (EPP) designation and LEED certification that qualifies the use of Webster’s trash bags for credits toward green building status.

Jack Shields, president of Webster Industries stated, “The success of our recycled content trash bags has been tremendous as a growing number of customers are using their purchasing power to reflect their strong environmental commitment and environmental stewardship. Through the SCS certification, our customers get an environmental benefit they can trust and the assurance that their purchase is truly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing waste, and saving energy. And, in addition to our ReClaim brand, we are pleased to offer our private label customers a quality recycled content product with the SCS logo confirming certification for recycled content, LEED credits, and environmental preferable product (EPP) designation.”

Recognized by the green globe and green cross logo, SCS is the only recognized independent certification company verifying recycled content for polyethylene can liners. Stan Rhodes, president and CEO of SCS stated, “Webster is setting the gold standard in terms of recycled content and product innovation with environmental attributes in the plastic can liner industry. I applaud Webster’s proactive leadership to obtain SCS certification. It is important for customers to know that the products they purchase truly have the environmental benefit being claimed.”

The SCS certification for Webster’s ReClaim and private label trash bags validates the recycled content environmental claims and gives customers a guarantee that Webster’s products provide a verified, audited and meaningful environmental benefit. Given the current marketplace confusion regarding identifying truly “green” products, the SCS certification and corresponding logo on Webster’s products provides third-party proof and scientific validation that all of the products truly contain recycled content that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated.

Where Is The Next Winner?

Cooper Lighting has announced a call for entries for its 32nd annual SOURCE Awards national lighting design competition. The competition, which focuses on furthering the understanding, knowledge, and function of lighting as a primary element in design, is open to all lighting designers, architects, engineers, professional designers, and consultants who use Cooper Lighting fixtures in an interior or exterior design project. Students currently enrolled in any of these disciplines are also eligible to enter projects based on conceptual lighting designs utilizing Cooper Lighting fixtures and are judged in a separate student category. This year’s competition will also seek a creative use of fixtures providing energy efficient design solutions in addition to standard projects.

The competition requires the primary and predominant use of any or all of the Cooper Lighting brands, which include Halo, Metalux, Portfolio, Neo-Ray, Corelite, Sure-Lites, Lumark, McGraw-Edison, Fail-Safe, Lumière, Shaper, IRiS, Ametrix, RSA, io Invue, MWS, DLS, and Streetworks.

Projects will be judged on the blending of aesthetics, creative achievement, and technical performance and to the degree which the lighting met project constraints and design concept goals. There will be no minimum or maximum number of awards given, as each project will be judged on its own merit. Award categories will include: winner, honorable mention, and award of recognition.

Judging for the 32nd Annual SOURCE Awards competition will take place in February 2009, by a professional, independent panel of lighting and design professionals as well as a representative of the SOURCE, Cooper Lighting’s educational center. Student winner(s) will receive a crystal trophy and a monetary award ($1500), and professional winner(s) will also receive a monetary award ($2000) and a crystal trophy along with local and national recognition through publicity and advertising. Both student and professional winners will also receive an invitation to attend a lighting seminar at the SOURCE, located at Cooper Lighting’s headquarters in Peachtree City, GA. The faculty adviser of the student winner will also be invited to attend a seminar. Entries must be postmarked on or before January 1, 2009.

Over the competition’s 31-year history, winners have been awarded well over $600,000 in addition to receiving industry wide recognition. Past entry applications have included commercial offices, retail stores, galleries, libraries, banks, restaurants, convention centers, entertainment facilities, and residences. To download a complete list of rules, visit the company website at www.cooperlighting.com or contact Cooper Lighting, 1121 Highway 74 South, Peachtree City, GA 30269 or call 770.486.4800.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Cool Schools In Texas

In an interview with Farshad Shahsavary, P.E., C.E.M, Austin Independent School District, he gives details on the school system's recent HVAC adaptations.

What is your position? How many years have you been in the facility management profession?
I am the energy coordinator/ mechanical engineer for the Austin Independent School District (AISD), construction management department. I have been in facilities management for three years and have been a mechanical engineer for 19 years.

Please give a brief description of the facility/facilities involved in this project.
The AISD has approximately 600 portable buildings serving grades K-12 throughout the city of Austin, Texas, and in Travis County. Each building consists of two classrooms, giving the AISD a total of 1,200 portable classrooms. The project involved installing Telkonet SmartEnergy, an energy management system, in all of the AISD's portable buildings.

Why was the decision made to pursue this project for the facility?
The decision to install an energy management system was part of a larger overall project originated by the state of Texas energy office and the City of Austin. The project included replacing all lighting and upgrading the HVAC controls in each of the portable buildings.

We had identified that the school district was wasting energy in the portable buildings by continually running the air conditioning, even when the classrooms were unoccupied. One of the problems was that during the summer months, the portables became much too hot if the air conditioning was turned off —reaching up to 100°-120°—and there was a danger that the buildings would start to decompose!

Please describe the decision-making and research process for this project.
While this has been a long-term project (the City of Austin completing the lighting portion of the project over two years ago), the energy management solution for the portable buildings had not progressed until early 2007. At this point, I became involved with implementing a plan to save energy in the portable buildings.

What was the vendor selection process like? Did you feel limited?
The City of Austin proposed Smart Systems International (SSI), now Telkonet, as the vendor. We reviewed their proposal in detail and met with SSI, who explained their energy management system (now called Telkonet SmartEnergy™) and how the thermostats and occupancy sensors worked. I was satisfied that SSI’s system was the fastest, easiest way to complete the project. At the time, SSI met our needs and any potential limitations were outweighed by the benefits.

Also, as a result of our close working relationship with the City of Austin, we trusted their recommendation to use SSI’s energy management system and knew they had gone through an extensive evaluation process before making this recommendation.

What led you to choose the specific solution that you did?
Our principal concern was to ensure that SSI’s energy management was effective in saving energy, so we implemented a pilot project where we installed their system in 30-40 portable buildings in the summer of 2006. We conducted audits to collect the energy data and determine the system’s effectiveness. Although the final detailed report is not yet available, the pilot gave us a clear indication that the installation would meet our needs and goals. As a result, we made the decision to implement the Telkonet SmartEnergy solution throughout the entire school district in all the portable buildings.

What benefits have you reaped as a result of this project?
With SSI’s energy management system, we are realizing a number of benefits. We are saving energy, reducing our utility bills, increasing the lifespan of the portable buildings, and helping the City of Austin reduce the amount of energy they need to generate. In the summer months, the temperature inside the portables is now controlled at an optimum temperature of 85 degrees. Previously, we either had to run the AC all the time, constantly wasting valuable energy, or shut it down completely.

What economic benefits have you reaped as a result of this project?
We estimate the energy savings to be significant, reducing our costs by about $200,000 per year.

Did you encounter any unexpected highlights or challenges while implementing this project?
The only challenge we encountered was how best to schedule the installation of the new thermostats and occupancy sensors so we would not disrupt the teachers when school was in session. We worked around this by installing the system when classes were not in session and during holiday periods.

The installation process went much better than we anticipated. The City of Austin hired Honeywell as a subcontractor, who removed the old thermostats and replaced them with SSI’s thermostats, which were wired to their occupancy sensors. All of the thermostats were already preprogrammed by SSI.

How did this project require you to change your operations and maintenance practices?
The thermostats and occupancy sensors work together to sense when a room is occupied or vacant. They also take into consideration a variety of factors, including external temperature, room conditions, and humidity levels, to ensure that the temperature inside the portables is energy efficient.

The system incorporates Recovery Time™ (RT) technology that performs constant real time calculations to adjust and maintain a room’s temperature based on occupancy. We anticipate that our HVAC units will be subject to less wear and tear, helping to extend the units’ lifespans and reduce maintenance.

What has been the reaction to the project from others in your organization?
Initially, our maintenance staff was reluctant about this change; they were concerned about how the new system would work, how long the thermostats would last, and the long-term impact. However, they are now seeing that this program is working as planned. We also have a maintenance agreement with our installer, who will replace any thermostats as needed, and will assist in training our maintenance personnel.

How have the community and customers responded to this project?
As we have tried to keep this project as low profile as possible, the changeover to the new energy management system has been pretty non-existent. We haven’t seen any reaction either way, which means that the transition has been smooth.

One issue, however, was that the teachers liked being able to control the air conditioning in the rooms. Although they now have less latitude, they can control the temperature within 3°-4° of our preferred temperature setting, giving them some control.

What was the most professionally rewarding aspect of this project?
On a personal level, it has been very rewarding to manage this project from the beginning to the end—setting up the system, getting it working, and seeing the energy savings as a result of all of our efforts. The investment was minimal compared to all the benefits that we will be reaping. It’s been a win-win for the AISD and the City of Austin.

This interview was the last in the Facility Fix series by former editor Jillian Ruffino. For more facility fix interviews, please visit http://www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/facfix.php

BONUS WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Which came first? The bedbug or O'Reilly?

Here's another item for the "news to make your skin crawl" file. In New York City, the offices of Fox News are waging a new kind of battle. It's not about ratings, bias, or credibility; it's against bedbugs. A veteran employee for the company is suing Fox after experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder as result of the pest infestation.

From Reuters:

Jane Clark, 37, a 12-year veteran of Fox News, a unit of News Corp, said she complained to human resources after being bitten three times between October 2007 and April 2008. She said she was ridiculed and the office was not treated for months.

Beacon Capital Partners, which owns the tower in midtown Manhattan, said in a statement that it had not been made aware of the problem and that it was the responsibility of tenants to manage infestations.

Clark, who says she's been diagnosed with PTSD and can no longer work, has filed a separate workers compensation claim with News Corp, and the company is paying her medical bills and lost wages. A News Corp spokeswoman declined to comment because News Corp was not named in the lawsuit.

She said she believed a colleague who used her workstation on weekends, and who no longer works for Fox News, brought the infestation to the office. Clark's home was never infested.

Clark says she suffers nightmares and keeps a flashlight at her bedside so she can check for bugs during the night.

The suit names the owner and manager of the office tower in Manhattan where Fox employees worked. She has filed a separate workers compensation claim against Fox, Reuters reports.

In his March 18, 2008 article, "Bedbugs at Fox News," Jacques Steinberg reports, "In an interview on [March 17, 2008] Warren Vandeveer, senior vice president for operations and engineering at Fox News, said the cable channel had realized it had a problem a few weeks ago, when an employee “caught a bug and showed it to us.” An exterminator determined that the incursion was limited to a “very small area in the newsroom.” But the source of the bugs was not determined until the exterminator inspected the homes of about 20 employees. Mr. Vandeveer said the exterminator later described one employee’s home as having “the worst infestation he had seen in 25 years in the business.”

And this from the Web site, Gothamist:

Fox swears the bed bugs have been “totally eradicated,” but the annoying thing about bed bugs is their tenacious ability to survive for months between feedings, and in some cases they can live up to a year before sucking blood again. The bed begs have clearly refused to let New Yorkers rest, but their sudden infiltration of Dick Cheney's favorite news source can mean only one thing: Al Qaeda training.

UPDATE: A tipster tells Gawker that the employee who caused the bedbug infestation has been terminated; he's described as "a satellite desk guy who was greasy and gross." Is that even legal? If New Yorkers can now be fired for a bedbug infestation, then the bedbugs have already won.

Can You See The Light?

As American consumers and businesses struggle with the myriad of light bulb choices available to achieve energy efficiency and other objectives, Lutron Electronics Co. Inc., has created an easy-to-read website designed to answer the basic question, "What is the best light bulb for me?"

The new site www.lutron.com/bulbs compares standard-socket (E26) incandescent, screw-in compact fluorescent (CFL), and halogen bulbs. The bulbs are evaluated in a variety of categories, including efficiency, price, performance, controllability, and quality of light.

According to the site:

• Incandescent bulbs provide rich, warm light quality, excellent color rendering, and controllability, but are the least efficient.
• Screw-in CFL bulbs are generally the most energy-efficient and have the longest life. However, they provide the least pleasing light quality, do not start up instantly, sometimes flicker, and are not disposable due to their mercury content. Additionally, they are not dimmable with a high degree of quality or reliability.
• Halogen bulbs, an efficient variety of incandescent lighting, are up to 30% more efficient than incandescent bulbs. When dimmed by just 30%, they offer the benefits of CFL and standard incandescent bulbs without any of the drawbacks.
  

"With all the various light bulbs available today, selecting the right one for your needs can be very confusing. That's why we developed this website. It helps people choose the best bulb for their needs," said Michael Jouaneh, marketing manager for Lutron. "For instance, if energy conservation, bulb life and light quality are important to you, then a good choice is a halogen bulb with a Lutron dimmer. You'll get the energy efficiency and long life of a CFL bulb with the preferred light quality of an incandescent bulb—without any of the drawbacks of either of them."

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Workplace Malaise, Intepreted by Radiohead

A former co-worker forwarded a link to some amazing Flash projects, which eventually took me to the following facility themed adaptation of the Radiohead song, Creep. It's definitely weird, yet fascinating in terms of the evolution of computer graphics.

Move Made To Place AEDs In Critical Public Areas

In an effort to strengthen the “chain of survival” in communities across the nation, Defibtech and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA) recently launched an effort to provide automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to communities with critical needs.

Announcing the effort during the first-ever National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week (which is this week, June 1-7, 2008), Defibtech CEO Dr. Glenn W. Laub said the effort will address the dangers posed by sudden cardiac arrest and correct some common misperceptions about the roles of CPR and AEDs.

Chris Chiames, SCAA executive director, said the association will work through its 25 local chapters and affiliates to identify communities where AEDs are needed to strengthen the “chain of survival,” which includes 911 services, individuals trained in CPR, public access defibrillators, and medical services including emergency, recovery, and preventive care. “Using its grassroots network, SCAA will identify areas where public access defibrillators can mean the difference between life and death,” he said.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Signs Of Success For FMs

This Web Exclusive comes from Ernest Dwight of SouthWood Corporation.

As a facility management professional, your goal is to provide a consistently pleasant experience to users of the facility. Creating an inviting and attractive atmosphere is important to that goal. But equally important is to ensure that the facility environment matches your organization's brand identity. A mismatch between environment and brand identity leads to an uncomfortable confusion, rather than the pleasant experience you are striving for.

Signage plays an important role in retaining brand identity while guiding facility users to accomplish what they need to accomplish. Signage is a first impression for those who don't know you and a reinforcement of expectations for those who do. It is a unique chance to create value and enhance image.

The intention of signage is not just to get noticed. Going to a black-tie dinner in overalls would get you noticed, but what would it do for your image?

There are four basic types of signs:

1. Identification signs that name a facility or location;
2. Directional signs that guide people to a facility or location;
3. Informational signs that provide necessary facts, such as hours of operation, golf-course hole layouts, or how to use exercise equipment in a health club; and
4. Regulatory signs that tell people what is permitted and what is not permitted, such as stop signs, swimming pool rules and restricted areas.

These four functions are critical to effective signage. The signs should clearly identify, direct, and inform customers, visitors, and guests.

The implied message of signage must be one of quality and image consistent with the business brand. Not only must the graphics reinforce the marketing image of the business, design and materials must appropriately reflect the architectural flavor of the building or development. Don't overlook the viewing and site conditions which impact the appropriateness of every solution.

Consistency throughout the property is also important to an effective signage program. An assortment of shapes, colors, materials, and typefaces creates a look of clutter and confusion. All signs should convey a consistent look and project the same image regardless of their purpose or location.

A proliferation of wordy signs detracts from the visual appeal of your property without offering any real value to your visitors. Keep your message simple and use fewer signs so that they will be noticed and read easily.

It is often difficult for staff members who know the exact location of everything to see the property from a first-time visitor's viewpoint. Seeking assistance from an outside source can uncover existing signage problems and help avoid future problems. Professional sign planners determine what signs are appropriate by systematically identifying sign types, then developing a hierarchy within each type. They list all the facilities that need identification, and then assess the need for directional signs to help people find these facilities, informational signs dealing with use of the facilities and regulatory signs that control access to or use of the facilities.

After the planning process defines signage needs, designers use known size criteria for message legibility, as well as building, zoning and traffic considerations to develop concepts that reflect the property's architectural identity and image. Designers compare each sign type to others in the program to ensure that a cohesive and consistent look is maintained.

It isn't necessary for you to submerge yourself in the technicalities of signage. What is important is that you are able to assess what you need and how it can make a positive contribution to your facility.

Flexibility At A Las Vegas Theater

A landscape interior metal fabric solution from Cambridge Architectural, a full-service provider of architectural metal fabric applications, defines and separates space within the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the new Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The newly renovated theater, formerly the Aladdin Center for the Performing Arts, is designed to house Broadway-style shows for extended runs.

Cambridge Architectural's innovative mesh application provides "house reduction" in order to produce more intimate seating for smaller crowds. Retractable panels of metal fabric allow larger areas of the theatre to be reconfigured to suit the space requirements of an event. Specifically, the metal fabric application allows the 7,500-seat theatre to be effectively reduced to seating for 2,800 through the use of glistening mesh partitions that carve out interior space.

"The former theatre was 30 years old and needed to have the flexibility to be used in several size configurations to maintain its viability," explains Lendall Mains, architect, Lendall Mains Architect, Las Vegas, NV. "The new functionality and unique look of the mesh panels helped create an effective method of house reduction that revived a tired building for use in an ever- changing Las Vegas market."

"This project was a perfect demonstration of our ability to solve unique problems with architectural mesh," explains Heather Collins, director of marketing for Cambridge Architectural. "There were three important design considerations for this project aside from a striking visual appearance: The customer required acoustic transparency so that the finely tuned theater acoustics were not affected; the system had to be easy to operate with a minimum of training; and since there is little storage space, the screens needed to be self-contained. The mesh panels were also to be wash-lighted with RGB LED's and with projection from the stage. The system provides transparency while still offering a visual division of the space."

In addition to aesthetics, the metal fabric application maintains many functional benefits, one of which is fire resistance. Traditional fabric curtains could not be used for the theatre due to fire code issues. The woven stainless steel mesh application solved this problem.

"We have more than 25 years of venue experience, so we know that curtaining off a wall doesn't work," said Denise Perry, Senior Vice President of Finance and Business Development for BASE Entertainment, which operates the facility. "Cambridge provided a material that worked very well for this purpose."

The custom Space Sculpting mesh solution is comprised of 23,000 square feet of flexible metal fabric in Cambridge's Scale and Mid-Balance patterns. The two types of woven metal mesh were attached using Cambridge's Reelease attachment method, designed specifically by Cambridge engineers for this project as a solution for raising and lowering the metal fabric panels at the touch of a button. A concealed, overhead-mounted, motorized reel both unreels the metal fabric downward and retracts it upward for hidden storage.

When deployed, the metal fabric partitions are secured at the floor by small magnets concealed in steel handrails. As a demonstration of the versatility of designing with metal fabric, Cambridge's Scale pattern, featuring 62% open area, was specified in the upper panels to facilitate ventilation.

"We needed a material that was acoustically transparent and provided airflow, but also had a solid appearance," said Georgina Sperber, design architect, M&J Architects, which specializes in the performing arts. "Cambridge's mesh fit the bill."

Mid-Balance was chosen for the remainder of the metal fabric screens because the tighter, 52% open area of the mesh is more receptive to wash lighting and projection, as color-changing LED lights are used to illuminate the metal fabric.

A total of 40 screen units were fabricated, varying in width from 10 feet to 12 feet, and in lengths from 13 feet to 68 feet. Cambridge performed all of the system design and fabrication, including a touch-screen control system.

"This was certainly a complex undertaking, and Cambridge brought the research and ingenuity that was required for the implementation of this new system," continues Mains.

"Planet Hollywood is a great example of a custom house reduction design that has become an integral part of our product offering," says Collins. "This new method of house reduction is a perfect solution for any theatre that needs flexibility to attract and accommodate different types of acts and their audiences. Cambridge's Reelease attachment system and corresponding
metal fabric patterns make this possible."

The Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts was completed in the spring of 2007. The new theatre is a rare mid-sized venue in the Las Vegas market, fitting between the larger concert arenas that seat more than 10,000 and the smaller showrooms that seat fewer than 1,200. It is the largest theater of its kind in the United States.

"In such a large space, the use of architectural mesh allows us to have three or more configurations in the room," explains Denise Perry.

Cambridge Architectural's Space Sculpting applications maintain the ability to carve out space while providing visibility, light and air flow. The aesthetic flexibility of Cambridge Architectural solutions allows for creative architecture that responds to the architect's imagination.

"We love Cambridge. They have been contributing to every phase of the project," adds Perry.

Bush Urged to Reappoint Howard Director of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

After learning changes may be made in D.C. despite the advances in workplace safety efforts at the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the leadership of Dr. John Howard, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) urges President George Bush to renew Howard’s appointment.

“ASSE has seen a significant advancement of the mission of NIOSH within the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the creative and dedicated leadership of Dr. Howard,” ASSE President Michael W. Thompson, CSP, said in his letter to President Bush. “Dr. Howard has been instrumental in unleashing a wealth of talent at NIOSH and helping bring together the research and educational resources of NIOSH to the day-to-day practice of our members in workplaces across the nation.”

ASSE recently learned that CDC’s leadership will not renew Dr. Howard’s six-year appointment as NIOSH Director.

“We do not know why such a highly competent leader and administrator of an agency that has been, by any measure, a success in the eyes of our members and the entire safety and health community should not be reappointed,” Thompson wrote. “The very positive impact your Administration has had on occupational safety and health through Dr. Howard should be allowed to continue to the end and beyond this Administration. We can think of no more fitting legacy for your Administration’s success in providing leadership in occupational safety and health than by allowing Dr. Howard to continue in this role.”

In his letter Thompson reviewed a number of NIOSH accomplishments under Dr. Howard including:

1. Greatly improved integration of the safety and health community in setting NIOSH’s research agenda as evidenced by the significantly increased involvement of ASSE members and others in safety and health in the NORA agenda-setting process;
2. Leadership in addressing the safety and health risks of emerging technologies, most notably nanotechnology;
3. Increased accountability for NIOSH’s research programs by inviting examination through the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, thereby assuring that this nation’s investment in occupational safety and health research is well placed; and,
4. Active outreach to safety and health practitioners and bringing the research results funded through NIOSH directly to the job site where ASSE members work.

This Time It's For Real

King Kong no longer roars. And Marty McFly won't be able to find 1.21 jigawatts to go back in time to fix it since Marty's Hill Valley doesn't exist any more. This happened as a result of a fire Sunday on the back lot at Universal Studios in Los Angeles in which a noted set used for "Back to the Future" and dozens of other films and television productions was destroyed, as was the King Kong exhibit on the famous studio tour.

The early Sunday morning blaze raged for hours as it burned across the equivalent of two city blocks, but what made the fire so difficult to put out was the lack of pressure to fire hoses and an overloaded sprinkler system. The sprinkler system for these sets had been installed as a result of a fire in 1990. Yet, they did not do the job when the time came.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and county Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman have ordered an inquiry into whether the lack of water pressure in Universal's fire protection system allowed the blaze to get out of control at the studio and theme park. Universal did not offer comment on the system's operation, or lack thereof.

Freeman told the Times: "It appears the fire this morning overwhelmed fire-protection features. We're going to readily and quickly reevaluate that and see if that had any impact on the water pressure."

This type of incident should give facility managers a push forward into looking at their fire management programs and fire suppression systems. Despite all the new technology involving detection, alarms, and sprinklers, the equipment must function when needed. Making sure all is in working order, testing the system regularly, and consistently evaluating what works best is a solid way to make sure that your facility doesn't end up like the king of the beasts.

Photo by Mike Meadows, Associated Press.

Shaw Industries Named as CARE’s Large Recycler of the Year

Shaw Industries was named Large Recycler of the Year by the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), a joint industry-government initiative to promote carpet recycling, reuse, and waste reduction of post consumer carpet. Shaw leads the carpet industry with its cradle-to-cradle recycling program that has recycled 100 million pounds of post consumer carpet to date through its Evergreen Nylon Recycling Facility.

Shaw president Randy Merritt believes that the company’s commercial and residential carpet products embody the carpet-to-carpet design as a means to reduce landfill waste and virgin raw material usage. The company’s efforts have lead to increased amounts of recycled content available for the production of new Shaw products in the future. “Shaw has come a long way in implementing its cradle-to-cradle products,” says Merritt. “Beyond the ability to design a product for reclamation and recycling through Evergreen, we had to organize and facilitate a nationwide collections network to service our customer’s recycling needs. It is a great honor for Shaw to be recognized by CARE for its recycling successes.”

Shaw’s nationwide collection network collaborates with entrepreneurs and businesses across the U.S. in establishing recycling centers for post consumer carpet. In conjunction with these businesses, Shaw has collected 165 million pounds of carpet, keeping it from landfill.

Shaw’s nylon brands, Eco Solution Q® and Anso® nylon, service the commercial and residential markets, respectively, and are nylon 6 fibers. Any carpet made with nylon 6 fiber can be processed at the Evergreen facility, the only operating facility of its kind in the world. The Evergreen process yields caprolactam monomer, the building block for new nylon, which gives Shaw the ability to increase the amount of recycled content in its products with the addition of post consumer recycled content.

The Shaw carpet recycling network operates collection points across the United States and in most major markets. Russ Delozier, the post consumer carpet collection manager, was named the CARE Person of the Year for 2007. “Russ and his committed team have played a major role in the implementation of our collection network,” says Rick Ramirez, vice president of sustainability and environmental affairs. “I am pleased that CARE recognized him for the leadership role that he is playing in bringing carpet recycling options to our customers and communities at large.”

Shaw commercial brands The New Patcraft & Designweave, Shaw Contract Group, and Shaw Hospitality Group manufacture carpet products with Eco Solution Q nylon, a Cradle to Cradle Certified product by MBDC. This certification contributes to Innovation in Design points through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. Additionally, Shaw commercial brands feature EcoWorx backing technology for tile and broadloom carpet. Shaw guarantees that it will collect and recycle all EcoWorx carpet products into more EcoWorx at no charge to the customer.

Not Such A Bright Outlook

"Troubling" is how the National Lighting Bureau (NLB) describes first-quarter-2008 National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Lighting Systems Index data. The Index, established in 1998, is a composite measure of lamps, luminaires, ballasts, emergency lighting, exit signs, and other lighting products shipped nationally and internationally from the United States by the 430 companies that comprise NEMA.

NEMA members manufacture a wide range of products used in the generation, transmission, distribution, and control of electricity, as well as innumerable end-use products in addition to those used in lighting. The value of NEMA members' annual shipments totals $100 billion.

According to NLB Communications Director John P. Bachner, "The latest Index results exceeded fourth-quarter-2007 results by 1.1%, due principally to increased shipments of emergency lighting equipment and miniature lamps. Overall, however, the U.S. lighting market remained depressed for the second quarter in a row. The index was down more than five percent from its year-ago level."

The near-term future does not seem to promise a rebound, Bachner commented. Particularly troubling is the slowdown in nonresidential construction, which, for the past year, has buoyed overall construction activity despite severe erosion in the residential sector. According to NEMA Economic Analysis Director Brian Lego, "Data from the first quarter of 2008 show overall spending on commercial, industrial and other related nonresidential buildings sank by its largest annualized rate in nearly three years."

Even more trouble could lie ahead, Lego said. He noted that the American Institute of Architects' billings index, a forward-looking indicator, slid to an all-time low, "with readings for firms specializing in commercial and industrial work especially weak. Overall, tighter lending standards, slower profit growth, rising energy costs, and a multitude of other financial and economic concerns pose significant headwinds to nonresidential construction activity."

A Call to Arms - Let the Digging Begin!

If you're beginning to ponder your 2009 facility budgets and if you're worried about how you're going to fund significant cost increases from electricity to toilet paper, perhaps you'll consider signing a petition asking those responsible for the nation's "energy policy" (i.e. the US Congress) that we, the people, (you know, the folks they're supposed to represent) are asking, NO - WE'RE NOW DEMANDING that oil companies be allowed to produce more oil and natural gas from North American sources.

What -- did Poor Richard say North America? How can this be possible?

On a planet that's 8,000 miles in diameter, do you really believe that the ONLY oil and natural gas reserves are under that tiny patch of desert in the Middle East? Puh-lease....

Look, our facilities budgets are becoming "victims" of US energy policy! If you think your facility is not being victimized because you have a fleet of hybrid cars or solar panels on the roof -- think again. What about every product and service your facility will purchase over the next 12 months? It's time to wake up and recognize that energy is a component of EVERYTHING - EVERYTHING. Facility managers everywhere should send a message to the pin heads in Washington who are driving up the expenses in our buildings and our vehicle fleets!

THIS IS A CALL TO ARMS !

By the way, I hope you don't have misguided anger or resentment toward the oil companies. If you do, please answer this question: If asinine government policies forced YOUR organization's product or service to have limited supplies combined with steady and growing international demand - would YOUR stockholders refuse the profits? Would you give back the bonus awarded to the facilities department? Would your organization consider a 5 - 10% profit margin to be obscene?

Last point -- we need to remember that crude oil and natural gas are renewable resources that are also 100% organic & all natural. Tell that to the next hippie burnout that complains about the styrofoam coffee cups in your break room. Watch his eyes get wide as his brain struggles to comprehend what you've just said.

This is a call to arms! We're getting ripped off by OUR government, not the oil companies. Write to your elected representatives and to learn more about the petition, go to:

http://www.americansolutions.com/

Poor Richard

Disgruntled FM, Taxpayer and Voter