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Around the Circuit
Architecture
Billings Index Drops to
Record Low
The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) from Washington,
D.C.-based American Institute of Architects (AIA) fell almost nine
points -- from 50.7 in January to 41.8 in February. This marks the
index's lowest level since October 2001. Any score above 50 indicates
an increase in billings.To read more on this topic, visit
EC&M's Web site.
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Overall
Construction Spending Falls for
Fifth Straight Month
Construction spending declined 0.3% in February to a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.12 billion, according to the
Census Bureau. Year-to-date (YTD) spending in the first two months of
2008 was 2.6% lower than in January-February 2007. Leading the decline,
residential construction fell 0.9% for the month and 20% YTD. Private
non-residential spending decreased 0.1% in February, but was up 16%
YTD.
Public non-residential spending rose 0.5% and 6.6% YTD.To read more
on this topic, visit EC&M's Web
site.
Solar Loans
Available
in New Jersey
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities recently
approved a plan for Newark, N.J.-based Public Service Electric & Gas
(PSE&G) to provide approximately $105 million toward the financing of
solar installations in New Jersey over the next two years through its
Solar Loan program. The loans could pay for 40% to 60% of the cost of
the installation of solar systems, with the rest being paid off by the
electricity the panels produce. PSE&G wants to generate 30MW of power
through the pilot program.To read more on this topic, visit
EC&M's Web site.
Vermont Law
Focuses on
Home Energy Efficiency
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas recently signed into law
the Energy Efficiency and Affordability Act of 2008, which establishes
an efficiency program to help homeowners and businesses reduce fuel
consumption. Supporters of the bill hope the new fuels efficiency
program will coordinate expertise, technical assistance, and resources
to help Vermont citizens make their homes and businesses more energy
efficient.To read more on this topic, visit EC&M's Web site.
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 ILSCO Has Reinvented the Compression
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SureCrimp
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tools and dies. Circumferential dies produce strong, long-lasting
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Project Watch
Police Station
Expansion in California
The City of San Jacinto, Calif., is soliciting
proposals
from qualified firms for architectural design of the expansion of the
existing San Jacinto Police Department building. The project scope of
work generally entails development of construction drawings for an
approximately 2,000 square-foot expansion of the police station.
These plans are anticipated to include, but are not necessarily
limited to electrical, HVAC, plumbing, structural, floor plans, and
elevations. The City of San Jacinto has scheduled a meeting on April 16
from 11:00 to 12:00 PST at the San Jacinto Police Department to respond
to any questions. Proposals are due no later than 2 p.m. on April 30.
For more information, visit the city's Web
site.
Electrical
Services in Connecticut
The Amity Regional School District, Woodbridge, Conn.,
is seeking a contractor to perform electrical services beginning July
1,
2008 and ending June 30, 2009 at the Amity Regional School District #5
facilities in Bethany, Orange, and Woodbridge. Scope of work includes
maintenance of all electrical equipment; installation and replacement
of
contacts and motor starters, switches, receptacles, and circuit
breakers; installation and replacement of lights, ballasts, and
fixtures; installation of Amity School District-supplied electrical
equipment; troubleshooting electrical circuits; sizing and pulling
wire;
bending pipe; and installing conduit. Bids are due at 2 p.m. on April
28. For more information, visit the State of Connecticut's Web
site.
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Web Exclusives
Business Brief
Las Vegas-based Finnegan Erickson & Associates (FEA)
Consulting Engineers recently launched a full-service creative lighting
department, FEA Illumination Design Studio. The studio's mission is to
provide comprehensive architectural lighting design services that
create
visually appealing and cost-effective lighting for building interiors,
exteriors, and landscaping, as well as choreographed theatrical
treatments for live events and static displays. For more Business
Briefs, visit the EC&M Web site.
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 Check More, Fix More, Spend Less!
The new Agilent U1240A series enables you to check more with all the
DMM
features you would expect to see and more. Maintenance tasks are
greatly
simplified with frequency and capacitance and dual temperature
functions. And new features, like a switch counter, harmonic ratio, and
differential temperature, further extend your capabilities with just a
push of the button. Click
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Eye on Safety
Wisconsin
Builders Association Partners with OSHA
The Wisconsin Builders Association, Madison, Wis.,
representing more than 9,000 member companies, recently formed a safety
and health alliance with the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), Washington, D.C., to reduce injuries, illnesses,
and fatalities among employees in the state's residential construction
industry. Participants in this alliance will work to reduce serious
injuries and illnesses of all employees at worksites throughout
Wisconsin, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to fall,
electrical, trenching, and excavation hazards associated with the
residential construction industry. Special emphasis will be placed on
awareness and monitoring of the safety needs of non-English-speaking
employees."This agreement provides an opportunity for OSHA and the
association to come together and demonstrate that we all benefit when
management, labor, and government dedicate themselves to providing a
safe and healthful work environment," says Mark Hysell, area director
of
OSHA's Eau Claire, Wis., office, which developed the alliance. "We want
every employee to go home healthy and uninjured at the end of the
day."
Call for Papers
PowerTest 2009
PowerTest 2009 Electrical Maintenance and Safety
Conference, hosted by the International Electrical Testing Association
(NETA), will be held March 9-12, 2009, in San Antonio. NETA is now
accepting non-commercial technical submissions for PowerTest 2009 Paper
Tracks and Seminars with a focus on safety, reliability, or equipment.
All papers will be published in NETA's conference proceedings. The
deadline for abstracts is May 28. For more information, visit the
PowerTest Web
site.
Shows & Events
Arc Flash
Hazard
Live Webinar
On April 24 at 2 p.m. ET, Sergio Panetta, vice
president
of engineering at I-Gard, will explore the root causes of arc flash
hazards and then explore the following statement from the IEEE Std
141-1993 (Red Book), "Recommended Practice for Electric Power
Distribution for Industrial Plants." In 7.2.2, it states: "There is
no arc flash hazard, as there is with solidly grounded systems, since
the fault current is limited to approximately 5A."Attendees will be
provided a short summary of grounding systems with particular emphasis
on the prevalence of the solidly grounded system and the inherent arc
flash hazard associated with this option. They will also learn the
rationale and technical understanding of how HRG technology can
mitigate
and reduce the arc flash hazard as well as design considerations to
remember when specifying and installing an HRG system. For more
information and to register, visit the Webinar's Web
site.
West Coast EMC
The West Coast Energy Management Congress (EMC), the
largest energy conference and technology expo held on the U.S. West
Coast specifically for business, industrial and institutional energy
users, will be held in Seattle from May 14-15. The full EMC 2008 agenda
includes the two-day conference and expo, as well as several optional
intensive seminars on topics such as renewable energy technologies,
building commissioning, and power quality. For more information and to
register, visit the congress' Web site.
2008 Lightfair
International
The 19th annual Lightfair International, the
annual lighting industry event for architectural and commercial
lighting
products and services, is scheduled for May 28-30 in Las Vegas. Seminar
tracks for this year's event include business, inspiration, lighting
and well-being, lighting design, sustainability, and technology. For
more information and to register, visit Lightfair's Web
site.
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