April 1, 2010
Top Story
Marine Plumbing conducts mass retrofit to prove low-flow performance
CHATAHOOCHEE HILLS & KENNESAW, GA. — Low-flow toilets, faucets and showerheads are the future of residential bathrooms throughout the Southern U.S. —the economics simply demand it. ...
Feature
A one-stop shop
SEMINOLE, FLA. — Saul Plumbing & Design Inc., located here in Southwest Florida, is a one-stop shop for customers interested in remodeling their kitchen and/or bathroom. ...
Articles
GreenTown: Sustainability for future generations
GRAYSLAKE, ILL. — Sustainability was the hot topic at GreenTown Lake County held here at the College of Lake County March 18. ...
Target energy, green work, says MCAA’s Armistead
Energy efficiency and green contracting can be bright spots for mechanical contractors in this difficult economy. ...
Building Radiant: And now for something completely different
When the Radiant Panel Association holds its Building Radiant conference and exposition here in May, everything will be different, from the seminars to the prizes....
ICC releases green building code
WASHINGTON — The International Code Council and its partners have released the International Green Construction Code, a comprehensive model green building code designed to rapidly advance green building practice across the U.S....
Home renovation embodies carbon neutrality, is net-zero
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — What may be the nation’s first net zero energy, embodied carbon neutral home, has emerged from the ashes of a tragic fire that destroyed it last year. The 4,500-sq.ft., four bedroom, six bathroom house in Southampton has been renovated utilizing both cutting edge “green” building technologies as well as proven energy-efficient techniques. ...
Battelle finds water softeners aid energy efficiency, appliance life
Water softeners maintain the energy efficiency of water heating equipment according to a study performed by Battelle Memorial Institute. ...
Fortune ranks Grainger tops among diversified wholesalers
Fortune Magazine has named Grainger the “most admired” company among diversified wholesalers in the magazine’s annual listing of the World’s Most Admired Companies....
EPA announces new drinking water contaminant strategy
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson in late March announced that the agency is developing a new strategy for protecting and regulating drinking water....
Boston Mayor Kicks Off the Largest Public Housing Energy Efficiency Project in Nation's History
Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced in mid-March that Boston Housing Authority facilities across the city will receive $63 million in energy efficiency improvements....
PHCC Vice President George Raburn passes away
STOCKBRIDGE, GA. — George Raburn, vice president of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association, passed away on Saturday, March 20, after a recurrence of cancer. ...
IRWIN Tools Kicks off 2010 Tradesman Challenge
IRWIN Tools has announced the kick-off of the 2010 Ultimate Tradesman Challenge....
Quality Float Works Inc. emerges as finalist for U.S. Chamber of Commerce award
SCHAUMBURG, ILL. – Coming off the recent announcement the U.S. Chamber of Commerce made, recognizing Quality Float Works Inc. with a 2010 “Small Business Blue Ribbon Award,” the local family-owned manufacturing company is one of seven finalists for the “DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year Award.” ...
ASSE Issues First Lead Content Certification
The American Society of Sanitary Engineering has issued their first Lead Content Certification....
Working Group Forming for the Revision of ASSE Standard Series 7000
The American Society of Sanitary Engineering is forming a working group for the revision of the current ASSE Standard Series 7000....
ICC, ASHRAE, USGBC, IES announce nation’s first set of model codes, standards for green building
WASHINGTON – Today American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will join the International Code Council (ICC) as they launch the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). ...
Grundfos 2010 ‘Pumps on Tour’ Truck begins its journey
Grundfos “Pumps on Tour,” a fully equipped, mobile educational center for trade professionals in the residential, commercial and industrial pumping industry, will be visiting 48 different cities. ...
ARC’s General Manager Appointed to Apprenticeship Council
ARC has announced the appointment of its general manager, Wayne Vanesse, to the State of Vermont’s Apprenticeship Council....
Governor Rendell Says Federal Recovery Act-Funded Rebates Will Make Energy-Efficient Home Heating Equipment More Affordable
Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will make it possible for Pennsylvanians to reduce their energy consumption a through a new rebate program for home heating equipment....
ITT Employee Receives Award For Community Service
Rony Mejia at the ITT factory in Morton Grove, Illinois, has received the prestigious Harold S. Geneen award....
GTI’s New CHP & Renewable Energy Laboratory Increases Solar Thermal R&D Opportunities
The Gas Technology Institute (GTI) recently announced the opening of its Combined Heat and Power (CHP) & Renewable Energy Laboratory. ...
Columns
A day in the life of a project manager — Pt. 2
The next day, I arrive on the jobsite early in the morning to find one of the storage trailers broken into. Checking the other trailers, especially the one used for storing copper (it has burglar bars welded to the front), not one of them shows any damage, but that’s beside the point. ...
The colorful world of thermal imaging — Part 2
At the end of last month’s article, we were discussing the potential application of this technology for locating leaks below grade. That is but one of the possible applications in the HVAC field. The most obvious application is looking for energy leaks (heating or cooling) in the buildings shell and core. Again, differential in temperature is critical before attempting to look for energy leaks....
Service management software solutions
Ventus Service Management, www.ventussoftware.com, is a customizable software solution for service contractors that can handle the full complement of service department activities, including electronic dispatching; preventative maintenance scheduling; inventory and equipment for tracking and managing stocked parts (in one or multiple warehouses or service trucks); service contract administration; and work order billing....
Succession planning for the family business
Two phone calls in the same week from readers gave me reason to write a succession planning article. The first caller told me a succession planning horror story: The caller lost millions to the IRS. The second caller’s story made me want to explode: The caller spent a lot of money on lawyers and still doesn’t know what to do....
Load calculations are good for you
Not long ago a residential load calculation — also known as a heat loss calculation or a load calc — was something you had the luxury of skipping. There was a good reason for avoiding it. It was difficult and time-consuming. There wasn’t much at risk in not doing it. And furthermore, no one expected much from "the furnace guy" anyway....
Business development plan is a keystone
In my travels I hear contractors say, no matter how low I bid, I still can't get any work; my estimators are busy all the time; we are still striking out; and I'm at my wit's end. Usually they want to know where business can be found and how they can become successful....
They don't always get away with it
We have all heard stories of firms owned and operated by non-minority men, who appear to find a way to obtain contracts that are set-aside for women or minorities. I receive about one or two inquiries a month (more since the Stimulus Act) as to how this can be done. ...
Ten simple steps to becoming greener
It's amazing how many articles fill the trade press about "green" plumbing. Most plumbers are aware of the growing consumer awareness about the environmental impact of the choices they make in lifestyle and purchases. Yet, many are uncertain exactly what being "green" really means....
Getting paid — Part 1
Being a contractor, or a subcontractor, is not for the faint of heart in the best of times. With market conditions as they are today, nerves of steel are a prerequisite. The age old problem of timely payment has been drawn into even sharper focus as projects become scarcer and funding niggardly. General contractors are being squeezed by the architects, the architects are being squeezed by the owners, and the owners are being squeezed by the banks to get the most for their money in the fastest time possible. ...
Drain-line carry and HETs
If ever there has been a phrase designed to strike fear into our hearts, it has to be this one. If, as has been widely suggested, drain-line carry dictated where adequate drainage stopped and stoppages began forming, we’d be spending every minute of every day occupied with clearing waste blockages....
Products
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