November 1, 2009
Articles
Yates helps turn log home green
JAMES CREEK, PA. In the fall of 2007, Travis and Rachel Wenger bought a 2,400-sq.ft., three bedroom log home on mountainside property here, bordering...
Germans win Solar Decathlon again
WASHINGTON Maybe the Solar Decathlon scoring should have a multiplier that takes into account how much money was spent on a house. U.S. Department of...
Sustainability is top priority for GreenTown Chicago
Building green, energy efficiency, water conservation and building a smart-grid were just some of the sustainable topics discussed at GreenTown Chicago 2009, a one-day conference about energy-efficient practices and technologies, green design and building techniques, and sustainable policies, at Columbia College here, Oct. 15, 2009....
Nexstar Super Meeting breaks business barriers
DETROIT — Last month approximately 400 Nexstar members attended Nexstar's 29th Super Meeting here, to discuss recent industry trends and the economic outlook for 2010, and to learn about optimizing team performance. ...
Contractors debate maximizing green opportunities, education
Get involved with your local U.S. Green Building Council chapter, urged Russ Borst, vice president - service, Hurst Mechanical, Belmont, Mich. Better yet, take over the Existing Buildings section of the local chapter, he said, such as lining up the speakers. Major customers come to the USGBC meetings so contractors can network and line up business. ...
More than 1,000 attend second WaterSmart
LAS VEGAS — More than 1,000 plumbing and water conservation professionals from 42 states and 12 foreign nations participated in the second WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition held here in mid-October. ...
Minn. state park building exemplifies sustainability
LYND, MINN. At Camden State Park's newly remodeled information/office building here, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about sustainable technologies...
Commercial water efficiency initiatives announced
LAS VEGAS — Two commercial building water efficiency initiatives were announced during the WaterSmart Innovations conference here in October. Plumbing engineers John Koeller, Koeller & Co., and Bill Gauley, Veritec Consulting, who created the Maximum Performance Test for 1.6-gpf and 1.28-gpf toilets, announced that they would develop a testing protocol for commercial toilets. And the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program announced that it wants to expand the program into the commercial/institutional sector. ...
In Brief
Gowan Inc., Houston, an EMCOR subsidiary, has been awarded a contract for the mechanical systems at the U.S. Armed Services Reserve Center on the Ellington...
Illingworth-Kilgust receives certification
Illingworth-Kilgust Mechanical Inc., a subsidiary of EMCOR Group Inc., recently received MSCA GreenStar certification from the Mechanical Services Contractors of America. The certification is available only to MSCA Star contractors with a record of environmental responsibility. ...
A necessary balancing act: bookkeeping
Let's talk about your average subcontractor in business today. He starts a business, goes to a bank, opens a checking account, starts writing checks and...
Tracking Your Fleet Can Increase Bottom Line
If you're not yet using a GPS fleet-management system, and you're looking for a way to increase your company's bottom line, it's time to consider what a GPS fleet-management system can do for you. ...
CSE: contractors are always responsible
So, you want to get serious about safety where Confined Space Entry is concerned? Get out your wallet to purchase the following additional items (last...
Adventures at Hydronicahh Part 6
Near the end of last month's column, I mentioned one of the means of providing hydronic heat to the dwelling a five-stage ground source heat pump. This...
Two field service management solutions
Not yet taking advantage of computerized scheduling, dispatching and other daily business tasks? Here are two Web-based solutions, which could get you to erase the whiteboard for good. ...
What's good faith got to do with contracts?
The world of construction is governed by rules. Lots of rules. Rules imposed by law through statutes, ordinances, codes and rules imposed by parties through contracts. Through these rules, we set up the parameters for what we can expect in the course of our dealings, and we all operate under them every day, but they are all susceptible to misuse by people bent on taking advantage ...
Association enjoys growth
The nation's interest in green living and green jobs is continuing to fuel the growth of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, a national non-profit that educates people on how to use rainwater harvesting systems and conserve water....
How to maximize your investment income
This article continues my quest to lead the education parade for my readers regarding taxes. Today's subject matter, a little-known strategy, goes to...
Project managers' creed: learn it, live it
The health and safety of those I'm in charge of takes precedence above all else, including my own personal health and safety if need be. I will be aware...
Keep customers out of the Yellow Pages
Whatever your opinion is on the Yellow Pages as a way to get new customers, you probably want to keep existing customers away from the Yellow Pages and all of your competitors' ads. Here's eight simple ways to keep them out of the Yellow Pages. ...
Grundfos unveils circulators
Intended for residential and commercial applications, Grundfos recently unveiled the SuperBruteXL, models UPS26-150 and UPS43-100, featuring a three-speed wet-rotor design available in both cast iron and stainless steel material options. This motor advancement can adjust the pump speed to fit specific applications ...
Route optimization impacts the bottom line
Plumbing and HVAC business owners managing truck fleets understand that there are some things they can control, affecting their bottom line, and other...
Literature Showcase
SMART CONTRACTORS LIKE YOU CAN EARN MORE MONEY offering in-demand solutions such as air duct cleaning and sealing, and insulation. Increase revenue and...
Green Products
editor's choice THE MODEL CGW-3400 GRAYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEM is designed for smaller apartment buildings, schools, motels and shelter homes, or for places...
Trucks
editor's choice THE 2010 SAVANA CARGO VAN is available in multiple option packages and configurations. Engine choices include the Vortec 4.3L V6, Vortec...
Products
THESE NEW SELF-ALIGNING ROLLERBEDS for workplace handling are grit-blasted with a polyurethane finish coating to endure abrasive environments. They feature...
Sprinkler advocates beat builders again
I was going to write about how little I miss the ISH-North America Show, but then we received some exciting news. I'll get back to this at the end of...
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Green Products
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Phoenix Evolution Combined Hydronic ApplianceThe Phoenix Evolution Combined Hydronic applicance melds hydronic space heating and domestic hot water in a single, 96% efficient package.... |
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Baystone Faucet CollectionThe Baystone Faucet Collection has a water flow of 1.5 GPM and is certified to meet the EPA's WaterSense criteria.... |
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Condensing Tankless Water HeaterThis condensing tankless water heater is able to deliver 8.0 GPM of heated water.... |
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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.... |
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