September 1, 2009
Articles
Combo dorm-field house built to attain LEED Gold
Naperville, Ill. North Central College, a small private school here in this western suburb of Chicago, needed new dormitory space and a new field house....
IAPMO GTC votes to limit showers to 2.0-GPM
The Green Technical Committee of the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials has voted to limit showers to 2.0-GPM total at 80-PSI in a 1,800-sq.in. shower compartment. ...
L.A. passes HET ordinance, Calif. greens code
A Water Efficiency Requirements ordinance was passed by the Los Angeles City Council and signed into law by Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa this July, mandating lower low-flow plumbing requirements for plumbing fixtures installed in new buildings and retrofits, which includes all residential, commercial and industrial projects. ...
Independence Station utilizes sustainable technologies
Independence Station, a mixed-use, net-zero building, with the ability to run off the energy grid for extended periods of time, may receive the most U.S. Green Building Council LEED points ever awarded, becoming the greenest building in the world when it opens in 2010. ...
Eco Smart Home will showcase green technology
Shalimar, Fla. Charlie Rushing, project director and CEO of Eco Smart World Wide takes pride in having built green long before it was called The son and...
IAPMO GTC debates supplement
Denver Should a green building code mandate installer qualifications? And if it does, will it effectively prohibit homeowners from making their own green...
Agricultural community implements green technologies, building team
Sixty miles northwest of Chicago, a green building team, consisting of more than 25 members, including trade contractors, consultants, technology vendors and other building professionals, is utilizing sustainable products and systems to build custom homes here at Serosun Farms, a 410-acre agricultural preservation community, featuring a community center, organic farm, equestrian center, eight miles of recreational trails and restored prairie land. ...
UA turns Ann Arbor green
More than 1,600 United Association instructors spent a week here in mid-August learning about the latest in green and sustainable construction and service. At the same time, 30 of the top apprentices from across the country competed in the International Apprenticeship Competition in HVAC, pipefitting, plumbing, sprinkler fitting and welding....
In Brief
A coalition led by PMI helped Texas become the second state to require high-efficiency toilets in all new residential and commercial construction. Texas...
Water conservation helps GC's building attain LEED Gold status
It's much easier to promote yourself as a green contractor when your own building is green. That's what design/build general contractor Marshall Erdman did when it built its new office building here. It not only wanted its office building to be a prime LEED building model, but a place of business for which it could be proud. ...
EPA to tighten Energy Star standards for 2011
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will tighten the standards for the Energy Star for Homes program in 2011. ...
Kohler building earns LEED Silver certification
Kohler Co. was recently awarded Silver LEED Status from the U.S. Green Building Council for its work to transform the company's Environmental, Health and Safety building into a more environmentally efficient structure. ...
Habitat, Home Depot expand building program
Habitat for Humanity Intl. and The Home Depot Foundation announced the national expansion of Partners in Sustainable Building. ...
Lead-free products must meet requirements
For decades, lead has been used around the world as an essential element in the production of brass and bronze plumbing fittings and fixtures. In 1986,...
Certified technicians can increase bottom line
Certified technicians increase the value of your business. According to survey results by Service Round Table, professional contractors who employ North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified technicians might see each of those technicians bring more than $10,000 in value to their company each year. This can be attributed to fewer callbacks, less warranty work and a greater ability to educate consumers about better options. ...
IAPMO seeks group participants
The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials is accepting applications on its Web site from individuals wishing to participate on task groups, working toward the development of the 2012 editions of the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code. ...
It's always 55F
GEO-EXCHANGE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS PROVIDE A PROFITABLE NICHE MARKET FOR CONTRACTORS, AND TIE IN WELL WITH RADIANT SYSTEMS...
Public bathroom pressure woes resolved
Last month's column dealt with the low-water pressure problems faced by a large public park. New restrooms had been completed, but the installed plumbing...
eBridge releases software
eBridge Solutions, a web-based document management company, has released eBridge Solutions 4.0 for plumbing and HVAC industry professionals. ...
The business end of staying in business
With the failure rate of new contracting businesses approaching 90%, looking into some of the reasons for that high attrition rate seems to be in order....
SkillsUSA student competes in plumbing competition
SkillsUSA, the organization that represents the U.S. in the WorldSkills Competition, will send 16 students, including Leroy Rogers, a resident of West Allis, Wis., and student at M.A.T.C. College, as part of the U.S. WorldTeam to compete in the international event, Sept. 1-7, 2009, in Calgary, Alberta. ...
Adventures at Hydronicahh Part 4
I have often said that a radiant wall will deliver more radiant energy to a human body than will a horizontal ceiling or floor surface. Think of absorbing...
Programs provide education and training
Here are two software programs that use computer graphics to provide education and training on HVAC equipment and systems. One program is designed so...
The latest on E-Verify
If you are not in the loop on the current status of E-Verify, don't feel alone. This 13-year-old concept is still being born. ...
Estate tax problems may soon disappear
It is almost certain that before 2009 ends, the tax law will be changed to make the unified credit, the amount of your wealth that can be left to your heirs free of the estate tax, $3.5 million or more per person. ...
Three steps to follow when job hunting
If you're a project manager, but not managing any jobs, you should ask yourself if this could be because your company doesn't have any new jobs in the...
Put power in your direct mail campaigns
Face it. Most contractors need help in the marketing arena. At one extreme, do-it-yourself direct marketers make amateurish attempts that cause homeowners...
Be wary of dual-flush conversion kits
During the past year, various vendors, entrepreneurs and inventors, promoting dual-flush conversion devices for tank-type toilets, have approached numerous water efficiency professionals, water provider organizations, certifying organizations and consumers. Recommending, endorsing or subsidizing such untested products is being questioned. ...
Online training requires tools, accessories
While most of us like interacting with the people we meet in a live classroom, the cost in time and travel to attend on-site classes becomes a hindrance...
Green Products
editor's choice THE SYNC CONDENSING BOILER has a new, advanced touchscreen control system. It combines stainless steel heat exchanger technology with...
Products
editor's choice THE HP-50 HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER uses an integrated air source to help deliver an Energy Factor of 2.0, more than twice the energy efficiency...
Got to be smarter than the average bear
I'm with Kevin Tindall on this one. At the recent meeting of the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials Green Technical Committee,...
advertisement
Social Media
|
Follow us on 
|
Become a fan on 
|
New Products
Opinion Poll
Industry Resources
advertisement
Best of 2010!
Here are Contractormag's top articles of 2010.
Click here to see if your favorites made the list!
Reader Comments