August 1, 2009
Articles
Home is designated to attain LEED Platinum, net-zero energy status
When Michael Yannell decided to build a new home for himself in Ravenswood, a north side neighborhood of Chicago, he wanted his home to be revered as a sustainable residential building standard, which will most likely achieve U.S. Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification and net-zero energy status, meaning the home will produce more energy than what it consumes....
Vrabel installs quick response DHW system with minimal piping
Gibsonia, Pa. The Eden Hall Elementary School just north of Pittsburgh is one of six schools in the 4,500-student Pine Richland School District. With...
Recession is good for you
Colorado Springs, Colo. The recession can be good for you, especially if you have decent credit and some cash in the bank, members of the Quality Service...
BIM aids Marelich Mech. with lab floor project
San Francisco Building Information Modeling is credited for many things, but spreading goodwill usually isn't one of them. Yet that's what happened when...
Graduation initiative would strengthen college trade programs
President Barack Obama spoke about the American Graduation Initiative (AGI), an initiative that would strengthen community colleges, including HVAC and plumbing and pipefitting programs, across the country by giving these institutions the necessary resources needed to produce graduates, who can meet the needs of a changing economy, for the first time, here at Macomb Community College, July 14, 2009. ...
Solar Decathlon set for mid-Oct.
Twenty teams of university students from around the world will compete this October in the fourth biennial 2009 Solar Decathlon. The U.S. Department of Energy sponsored event challenges students to design and develop houses that can provide their own energy from sunlight. The 20 collegiate teams from the U.S., Canada, Spain and Germany will each build a completely self-sufficient solar powered house, showcasing energy-efficient amenities and smart home systems that provide reduced carbon emissions without sacrificing the comfort of modern conveniences. ...
Willis Tower undergoes sustainable modernization project
Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower and one of the most recognizable buildings that make up the Chicago city skyline, will soon undergo one of the largest sustainable modernization projects in the U.S., if not the world, which will include upgrades to the mechanical systems, restroom fixtures and condensation recovery systems, and testing renewable energy sources, likely resulting in U.S. Green Building LEED Platinum certification once completed. ...
Iowa legislation establishes chloride standards
Public hearings for proposed chloride and sulfate standards in Iowa were held this July. If approved, the proposed amendment to Iowa's Water Quality Standards, Chapter 61, would establish a numerical water quality standard for chloride and sulfate for the protection of aquatic life, and remove the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) criteria and implementation approach that the state of Iowa has been using to test water toxicity in various rivers, streams and lakes across the state. ...
ASHRAE introduces building performance label
Rumblings that green buildings may not, despite all of their other salubrious qualities, actually save energy will be put to rest...
In Brief
J.C. Cannistraro LLC, a New England-based mechanical contractor, has announced the launch of its multi-dimensional BIM services for building owners and...
PMI calls for more consumer choice on water efficiency
The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute has adopted a new position statement advocating the efficient use of water while also maximizing consumer choice on water-saving products....
Grundfos Pumps launches Impossible Tour
Grundfos Pumps launched the “Impossible Tour,” a mobile education center for pumps and pumping systems, with a special daylong event and celebration at the newly renovated Allentown, Pa., distribution center. ...
Battelle study shows effects and benefits of water softeners
The first results of a major new study on the effects of water softeners in the home have shown that untreated hard water can rapidly lead to clogged showerheads, in some cases possibly as soon as a year and a half of regular use....
Comfort Systems opens Little Rock office, provides services
Little Rock, Ark. — Comfort Systems USA Energy Services, a subsidiary of Comfort Systems USA announced that it has opened an office here. This office will bring five to 15 new jobs into Arkansas in the next 24 months. ...
Army Reserve Soldiers gain job opportunities
The U.S. Army Reserve has launched a partnership, under the Army Reserve Employer Partnership Initiative, with Helmets to Hardhats, a nonprofit program that connects America's military service members with career opportunities in the building and construction trades. ...
Diversification is key to building business
The plumbing/pipefitting/HVAC industry is broad based. There are as many types of businesses as there are facets of the trade. They range from the one-man...
In troubled times, don't panic, maximize assets
The very word is enough to strike fear into the hearts of most contractors. Your first reaction as a business owner may be to initiate steep budget cuts...
Leave sprinkler installation to sprinkler fitters
I must respectfully disagree with Mr. Scandaliato's article in the June issue in which he asserts that plumbing contractors are best...
You may need body armor if builders read your column
York, Pa. As I was reading the back page, a number of thoughts jumped through my head, not the least of which was thinking you may need...
A Port in the Storm
In times like these any competitive edge is welcome, even for hard core entrepreneurs like plumbing contractors who think they can do things better themselves....
Public restroom water pressure woes
The park's director of public works called with a water-pressure issue: We have a new restroom facility and the water pressure can't be regulated properly...
USGBC's HQ receives Platinum certification
The U.S. Green Building Council recently announced the Platinum certification of its new Washington, D.C., headquarters, making it the first project to certify under the latest version of the LEED green building rating system....
Adventures at Hydronicahh Part 3
Since radiant comfort can be delivered from any large surface area, I decided that the primary method of delivery in the existing portion of the structure...
Multipurpose systems benefit plumbers
Multipurpose residential fire sprinkler systems combine fire sprinklers with a home's plumbing, which means that a plumber can often install both. And with the 2009 International Residential Code requiring sprinklers in every new home, plumbing contactors now have an opportunity to increase their revenue on every one of their residential plumbing jobs. ...
Programs that put power in your pocket
Heads up for the early adopters among you. Want to travel light when doing your duct sizing and other calculations in the field? Now it's possible thanks to some new iPhone applications that put a lot of power in your pocket....
Contractors can influence today's solar industry
Today's plumbing and heating business is peppered with old solar guys who were just coming of age when solar hit big in the late 1970s and early 1980s....
Avoid disputes with a discussion, contract
Although the recent economic downturn has left people scrambling for ways to increase sales and profit while avoiding risk, the construction industry...
GreenPlumbers, UA join forces
Sacramento, Calif. GreenPlumbersUSA and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry announced a partnership,...
Laws that can make you wealthy
Knowledge is power, and the right kind of knowledge, if you know what to do with it, has been and always will be an economic powerhouse for you and your...
Create a game plan to survive a layoff
If you've been a project manager or senior-level estimator for at least five years and have worked for a company that has been in business for at least 10 years, doing primarily new construction, I'd bet it's a one in five chance that you are unemployed at the moment....
Mechanical Inc. buys division
Freeport, Ill. Even though the recession has many businesses reducing their workforce and operations, Mechanical Inc., a Midwest-based contractor located...
How to embrace an advertising media mix
A few years ago, a big Yellow Pages ad was sufficient to generate a base level of call volume large enough to support a plumbing company my how the world...
EMCOR wins GSA contract
EMCOR Group Inc. announced that its EMCOR Government Services subsidiary has received a contract from the U.S. General Services Administration's Public Buildings Service at the John W. McCormack Federal Building in Boston....
KPIs track business results, data, trends
If someone asks you how's your business doing, what do you tell them? If you've just seen last month's financials you might feel fairly confident in saying...
Overcoming Internet training challenges
Today education and training materials are more readily available and accessible to more people than ever before. A computer and an Internet connection are all the requirements needed to access the best courses and instructors in almost any field of endeavor. There is an explosion of over-the-Internet opportunities for training. The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing trades are no exceptions. ...
MaP report provides performance information
Now in its 14th edition, the Maximum Performance (MaP) testing report provides performance information on more than 1,000 different toilet fixture models, including WaterSense certified high-efficiency toilets. ...
McKinstry increases presence
San Diego — McKinstry recently announced the selection of Tom Bowen to lead the establishment of its new Western regional headquarters, located here, and direct its Energy and Facility Services operations. ...
Right about homebuilders
Berkeley. Calif. Nice editorial (July, p. 50)! I'm glad I don't do residential. You hit the nail on the head!...
Green Products
editor's choice 14 NEW INDIRECT SOLAR WATER HEATING UNITS have been introduced, increasing the company's offerings in the solar category to 32 models....
Products
editor's choice THE DVDPAK MONITOR AND DVDBASE RECORDING ACCESSORIES are for use with the SeeSnake line of inspection cameras and monitors. Users have...
NFPA study: Sprinklers don't hurt sales
Last month in this space I talked about how homebuilders are determined to kill residential sprinklers (July, p. 50). Sprinklers cost too much, the builders...
advertisement
Green Products
|
Phoenix Evolution Combined Hydronic ApplianceThe Phoenix Evolution Combined Hydronic applicance melds hydronic space heating and domestic hot water in a single, 96% efficient package.... |
|
Baystone Faucet CollectionThe Baystone Faucet Collection has a water flow of 1.5 GPM and is certified to meet the EPA's WaterSense criteria.... |
|
Condensing Tankless Water HeaterThis condensing tankless water heater is able to deliver 8.0 GPM of heated water.... |
|
Neotherm Line of High-Efficiency BoilersThe Neotherm Line of High-Efficiency Boilers has been expanded with commercial and residential models, ranging from 80 MBH all the way to 850 MBH.... |
Social Media
|
Follow us on 
|
Become a fan on 
|
Opinion Poll
Industry Resources
advertisement
Reader Comments