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August 1, 2012

Articles

  • Aug. 2, 2012
    Article

    UAF Sustainable Village is lab for experimental building, mechanical systems

    FAIRBANKS, ALASKA — A collaborative effort between the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC) is getting national acclaim....More
  • Aug. 3, 2012
    Article

    Hydronic radiant wall heating, still the greatest trade secret in the U.S. 4

    Every time I go across the Atlantic to visit a trade show on hydronic heating systems in Europe, I see more and more radiant systems designed for walls and ceilings. I recently returned from the Mostra Convego Fiero (Comfort Show and Convention) in Milan, Italy, where I saw a continuation of what I have been seeing over the past 10 years. There were limitless displays of radiant wall heating/cooling and ceiling panels of every shape, design and size....More
  • Aug. 2, 2012
    Article

    Mechanical Systems WEEK geared to plumbing, hydronic contractors

    CLEVELAND — Mechanical Systems WEEK 2012, the National HVACR, Hydronics, and Plumbing Seminar and Product Showcase, will be held September 19-21, 2012, in the Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, Ill. Encompassing the entire mechanical contracting specialty — plumbing, hydronics and HVACR — Mechanical Systems WEEK is produced and managed by Penton Media’s Mechanical Systems Group, which includes the following brands: Contracting Business.com, CONTRACTOR, and HPAC Engineering magazines....More
  • Jul. 23, 2012
    Article

    The Dwyer Group salutes veterans, public protectors via franchise opportunities

    WACO, TEXAS — It was at the end of the first Gulf War when The Dwyer Group late founder Don Dwyer, an army veteran, had an inspirational idea: empower military veterans to get into business for themselves yet not by themselves. That vision grew into VetFran, a program designed to incentivize former veterans to become new franchise owners....More
  • Jul. 30, 2012
    Article

    Lochinvar’s new president, COO looks to future

    LEBANON, TENN. — After being acquired by A.O. Smith in August 2011, Lochinvar LLC, a manufacturer of high-efficiency water heaters, boilers, pool heaters and commercial solar thermal equipment, is currently looking full speed ahead with the recent promotion of Wallace “Eddie” Goodwin as president and chief operating officer (COO) in June of this year....More
  • Jul. 20, 2012
    Article

    Germophobia: ASPE turns to Montana State lab for faucet study 1

    DES PLAINES, ILL. — The American Society of Plumbing Engineers Research Foundation has contracted with Montana State University, Center for Biofilm Engineering to find out if electronic hands-free faucets are germier than manual faucets. The issue was brought to the forefront when Johns Hopkins Hospital released a report saying that Legionella bacteria grew inside the mechanisms of hands-free faucets. ASPE is seeking benefactors to help fund the research....More
  • Aug. 2, 2012
    Article

    Setting the pace at a boiler a day

    FORT GARLAND, COLO. — Sierra Grande K-12 school in Fort Garland, Colo., struggled to make it through the mild 2011-2012 winter. Of the three 1.8 million Btuh LP-fired, cast iron boilers in the mechanical room, one had been down for some time. Another caught on fire halfway through the heating season....More
  • Aug. 2, 2012
    Article

    Big mechanical system, low energy bills

    PLOVER, WIS. — The wealthy entrepreneur who built his dream house in this small town in north central Wisconsin may not have had the creation of a mechanical contracting showplace in mind. That is, however, the result....More
  • Jul. 20, 2012
    Article

    Bipartisan bills invest in industrial water and energy efficiency

    WASHINGTON — Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-NM, has introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate to create federal tax credits of up to 30% for projects that increase water efficiency in manufacturing plants. Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-ME, and Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, are co-sponsoring the bi-partisan proposal in the Senate....More

Columns

  • Aug. 2, 2012
    Article
    Contractor

    The leak detection job from hell — Part 4 1

    This month’s column is a continuation of my July column, and the last in the series about a mysterious leak in a condo complex. Read on to find out more about the final resolution....More
  • Aug. 2, 2012
    Article

    A plumbing, hydronic can’t-miss event

    For 16 years, HVAC Comfortech has been known as the seminar series and product showcase for residential and light commercial HVACR contractors to attend. The event is better this year now that HVAC Comfortech has become part of Mechanical Systems WEEK, and HydronicsTech and PlumbTech have been brought into the fold. For the first time, CONTRACTOR has teamed up with sister publication Contracting Business.com — combining the editorial strength of both into a powerhouse live event. This combination is what gave birth to Mechanical Systems WEEK....More
  • Aug. 2, 2012
    Article
    Contractor

    Mobile apps streamline service contractor tasks

    Mobile devices are becoming essential tools for running a service-based contracting business. Here are two solutions that take advantage of iPhones and Androids. The first is service management software aiming to help streamline and oversee daily operations. The second is a compilation of niche applications HVAC contractors can use to boost efficiency and accuracy when calculating for several important niche tasks....More
  • Aug. 3, 2012
    Article
    Contractor

    Why bother with grounding?

    The fearless cowboys of our industry look down their noses at grounding: “That safety stuff’s for sissies. I’m tougher than that.” The thing is grounding isn’t only for safety. Sometimes grounding makes all the difference as to whether an electronic boiler control works or not....More
  • Aug. 3, 2012
    Article
    Contractor

    Contractors need flexible products

    There is an ever increasing trend towards more flexible products that provide a much wider application range and field variances while still providing performance....More
  • Aug. 3, 2012
    Article
    Contractor

    Letters to the Editor

    Just got the latest issue (June 2012) and read your “Solar thermal vs. PV for hot water” article. This message is one that we all (manufacturers and contractors) should echo more often....More
  • Aug. 3, 2012
    Article
    Contractor

    Market with your business card

    Business cards are one of the simplest, lowest cost and most effective marketing tools for a business, and they are evolving. Here are some possible tips for the next evolution of your business card. Don’t think of these merely as business cards. Think of them as marketing tools....More
  • Aug. 3, 2012
    Article
    Contractor

    Sales and salesmanship

    What good does it do you to struggle along picking up a little work here and there when a sound sales program could bring in more work than you could do? Starting a sales program doesn’t have to be a large investment, but it can certainly pay large dividends....More
  • Aug. 3, 2012
    Article
    Contractor

    Plumber's tape and Dr. Plunkett

    John Mesenbrink, editor-at-large for Contractor magazine, recently jogged my memory banks about innovations and resistance to change within our trades....More

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