HOTS 7F
HEARD
ON THE STREET
Monthly column on www.wireville.com
FEB 20=
09
****************************************
By Frank Bisbee
Coleman Cable Introduces Signa-Wave™ Low Loss Coaxial
Cables
Coleman Cable Introduces Welder Extension Cords=
CSC / WESCO 2009 GREEN & SUSTAINABILITY SUMMI=
T
Democrats earmark billio=
ns for
broadband stimulus
Fluke Networks scores a big hit with BICSI attendees in
Orlando
AQA 12th Annual Meeting & Indoor Air ExpoI
IDEAL Appoints Sir Nickless™ as Electrical Industry's =
Best
Solution for Cutting Armored Cable
MOHAWK Announces The Additio=
n Of
Rocky Mountain Networks To Their Sales Force
New Minuteman Extreme Runtime Battery Packs Extend
Business-Critical Continuity During Power Outages
Omnitron Launches 10 Gigabit Media Converter
Optical Cable Corporation Announces New Line of Fiber
Optic Enclosures
Up to a Five Time Increase in UPS Battery Back-Up Time=
Resource to Help Prevent CO Poisoning
Signamax - 10/100/1000 Switches, Media Conversion And
Premise Connectivity
That is “Going Green”, and Why Should I Care?
CNS Captures Canada's Top Media Slot For The Cabling
Market
ACUTA’s 13th Strategic Leade=
rship
Forum in April Addresses Challenges Facing Higher Ed Networks
AFCOM is premiering its new =
Data
Center Summit Program
Great Ideas and products wer=
e in
abundance at BICSI.
BICSI AND NBFAA SIGN HONORARY
FRIENDSHIP AGREEMENT
BICSI RELEASES NEW ENTRY-LEV=
EL
CABLING INSTALLATION COURSE
BICSI WINTER CONFERENCE DELI=
VERS
FRESH START TO THE YEAR
NAED Releases White Paper on=
How
to Profit from Green Market Opportunities
NAED Announces Upgrades to E=
PEC
Program
NAED Introduces Green Commer=
cial
and Industrial Guides
NAED Launches TEDGreenRoom.com
NAED Names Rocklan Lawrence =
as
Incoming Western Region Vice President-Elect
Counterfeit Electrical Products Rank Fifth on U.S. Cus=
toms
List of 2008 Counterfeit Seizures
New “Blended Learni=
ng”
solution for their Outside Apprenticeship Program was launched
SCTE
SCTE Foundation Announces Re=
sults
Of Giving Campaign
National Studies Show Green
Building as Key Part of America’s Economic Future
Pl=
ease
see www.wireville.com for all included reprinted
articles.
Bisbee’s Buzz Februa=
ry 2009
Industry Association=
s and
Industry Media are two of the most important components of our professional
survival. These two vital areas are critical resources. Industry Associations and Industry Medi=
a give
us the tools to keep up and stay abreast of “all the news that you can use”=
.
Behind the scenes
The Business and Professional Associations promote the business and professional interest of their
members. With the economy in a tailspin many businesses are
suffering. Whether you're a job seeker, or a professional looking for new
challenges or career development, professional associations offer great val=
ue
to their members, especially in these challenging times.
Offer access to a network of colleagues in the same field, which is
valuable since often
"who" you know is as important as "what" you know.
Associations create network=
ing
communities of professionals with similar
interests; by industry, job
function, or geographic area.
Provide mentor opportunities at the local or national level.
Professionals can enhance t=
heir
leadership skills through volunteer work
within the organization, as=
well
as speaking and publishing opportunities
with an association's event=
s or
publications.
Provide access to expert information that reflects industry trends and<= o:p>
primary research. This
information can help you keep pace with changes in
the profession.
Deliver professional development opportunities, through certification
programs courses and local chapter meetings to
continue one's education. Some
professions have continuing education credit requirements, which can be ear=
ned
through an association's learning resources.
Completing courses or earning a certification can help job seekers
demonstrate technical skills and give a competitive advantage.
Demonstrate a commitment to your chosen profession. Along with adding
the organization's name to =
your
résumé, you can develop new skills that you
might not be able to acquir=
e on
the job.
Offer career resources and job postings that may not be available
elsewhere.
BICSI is a professional association supporting the information
transport systems (ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data and
video technologies. It encompasses the design, integration and installation=
of
pathways, spaces, fiber- and copper-based distribution systems, wireless-ba=
sed
systems and infrastructure that supports the transportation of information =
and
associated signaling between and among communications and information gathe=
ring
devices. https://www.bicsi.o=
rg/default.aspx
BICSI provides information, education and knowledge assessment for individu=
als
and companies in the ITS industry. We serve more than 25,000 ITS profession=
als,
including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide =
the
fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety=
and
automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professi=
onal
registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals =
in
delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for
continual improvement and enhanced professional stature.
Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, BICSI membership spans nearly 140
The Association Prof=
essional
in action:
John Clark, Executive
Director of BICSI explained that BICSI’s value is enhanced by the “po=
wer
through partnership” between the Membership, Board, and Staff. www.bicsi.org They are able to continue =
to add
value to the association with a strategic plan. BICSI’s strategic plan
includes:
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sp;
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ion
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Localizati=
on
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National Electric=
al
Contractors Association (NECA). www.necanet.org NECA is the major trade association for=
the
$100 billion U.S. electrical industry, and its members are organized into 1=
19
local chapters and 12 international chapters. The national staff is
headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and in four regional offices around the
country.
John M. Grau is the =
Chief
Executive Officer for the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA=
).
Mr. Grau became NECA=
’s chief
staff officer in April 1986. Previously, he was Executive Vice President of=
the
Milwaukee Chapter, NECA, and served as a field representative associate with
the NECA Western Region. Prior to joining NECA, Mr. Grau was a realty
specialist for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in
Washington, D.C.
Mr. Grau is Vice Cha=
irman of
ELECTRI International – The Foundation for Electrical Construction, Inc., a=
nd
serves on the Boards of the Electrical Safety Foundation International and =
the
Plan for the Settlement of Jurisdictional Disputes in the Construction
Industry. He is co-chair of the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training
Committee for the Electrical Industry, a program that dedicates over $110
million annually on worker training. Mr. Grau is also a trustee of the Helm=
ets
to Hardhats program and a corporate member of Underwriters Laboratories,
Chicago.
Mr. Grau is a member=
of the
U. S. Chamber of Commerce Associations Committee of 100 and the American
Society of Association Executives, where he has served on several committee=
s.
In 1986, Mr. Grau was inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Electrical
Contracting. He is listed in Who’s Who in America.
Dan Walter is Vice P=
resident
and Chief Operating Officer for NECA. He supervises numerous program areas,
including standards and safety, communications, marketing, government affai=
rs,
the NECA Convention and Trade Show, and ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine.
Walter started his c=
areer
with NECA in 1975 as a staff associate assigned to the Midwestern Region. He
spent 10 years as manager of the Quad Cities Chapter, NECA, before coming t=
o NECA
headquarters to replace the venerable Bob Wilkinson as Director of Services=
.
He is also the Presi=
dent of
the Associated Specialty Contractors (ASC). ASC is an umbrella organization=
of
nine national construction trade associations. ASC publishes Guidelines for=
a
Successful Construction Project in conjunction with the Associated General
Contractors of America (AGC) and the American Subcontractors Association (A=
SA.
Walter also represents NECA on many construction industry committees and
forums.
The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED= )
Since 1908, the National Association of Electrical Distri= butors (NAED) has served as the trade association for the electrical distribution industry. NAED is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving and protecting the electrical distribution channel. As part of that mission, NAED provides networking opportunities through approximately 20 meetings &a= mp; conferences a year, training and research through the NAED Education & Research Foundation, industry information and research through TED Magazine= . www.naed.org
Tom Naber - NAED Pre=
sident
and Chief Executive Officer
The National Associa=
tion of
Electrical Distributors (NAED) was founded on December 9, 1908 as the Elect=
ric
Supply Jobbers Association (ESJA), headquartered in Chicago, Ill. The first
goal of this new organization was to establish the electrical distributor a=
s an
essential force in the electrical industry and the economy.
The association chan=
ged its
name to the National Electrical Wholesalers Association (NEWA) in June 1928=
. At
this time, it also moved its headquarters to New York City. In 1949, the
Association changed its name to the National Association of Electrical
Distributors (NAED).
In 1969, the
NAED Foundation was formed. This also marked the beginning of the publ=
ic
relations campaign to sell the value of distribution to the electrical
industry. By 1971, NAED Foundation was offering 64 seminars. Today, NAED
Foundation has impacted thousands of individuals with its multitude of
educational programs.
The '70s were a busy=
decade.
In addition to many other activities, NAED debuted the first "Cost of
Doing Business Study," which later became the Performance Analysis Rep=
ort
(PAR), and the Under Forty Club, which eventually became Leadership Enhance=
ment
and Development (LEAD). Today, PAR has become one of NAED's most valuable
services while the LEAD group has become a driving force of leadership.
NAED moved from Wilt=
on,
Conn. to its current home in St. Louis, Mo. in 1997. The St. Louis headquar=
ters
continue to be the center for the daily operations of the association.
Thanks to the suppor=
t and
involvement of its members, NAED has become the central source of the natio=
n's
distributors and their affiliates. It continues to be the meeting place of =
the
industry, providing the only meetings attended by the entire electrical
industry.
Regardless of what t=
he
future holds, NAED will be standing strong beside electrical distribution,
helping it remain the channel of choice for electrical supplies!
ACUTA, the Associati=
on
for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher
Education, is an international non-profit educational association serving
colleges and universities. www.acuta=
.org ACUTA represents over 1700 individ=
uals
at nearly 800 institutions of higher education with members ranging from sm=
all
schools and community colleges to the 50 largest U.S. institutions represen=
ting
diverse Carnegie classifications in all 50 states, Canada, Australia, and N=
ew
Zealand. ACUTA also has Corporate Affiliate members, representing all
categories of communications technology vendors who serve the
college/university market.
Executive Director, Jeri Semer, CAE - She is responsible for managing the professional=
staff
in the Lexington headquarters office. Jeri implements policies approved by =
the
Board of Directors, and ensure that the Board and committees have staff
support. Other responsibilities include representing ACUTA with higher
education and telecommunications associations, developing programs and memb=
er
services consistent with the Strategic Plan, and working with staff on all
ACUTA programs. She also works on legislative and regulatory matters.
The Continental Auto=
mated
Buildings Association (CABA) is a not-for-profit industry association dedic=
ated
to the advancement of intelligent home and intelligent building technologies in North America. www.caba.org
The organization is
supported by an international membership of nearly 400 companies involved in
the design, manufacture, installation and retailing of products relating to
home automation and building automation. Public organizations, including
utilities and government are also members.
CABA's mandate inclu=
des
providing its members with networking and market research opportunities. CA=
BA
also encourages the development of industry standards and protocols, and le=
ads
cross-industry initiatives. Ron Zimmer is the President and CEO of CABA. His
energy and charismatic leadership has brought the CABA message to the atten=
tion
of millions.
The organization was
originally founded in 1988 as the Canadian Automated Buildings Association.=
The
founding members included Bell Canada, Bell-Northern Research, Ontario Hydr=
o,
Hydro-Québec, Consumers Gas, Canadian Home Builders’ Association, the
Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association of Canada, Industry Can=
ada,
Minto Developments Inc. and the National Research Coun=
cil of
Canada.
In 2006, CABA integr=
ated the
Internet Home Alliance, an association of technology companies committed to
research and development within the intelligent home sector. The work=
ing
group now exists as CABA's Connected Home Research Council.
In
February 1988, a meeting was called at the National Research Council of
Canada's headquarters in Ottawa to explore the possibility of establishing a
Canadian association of like-minded, building-related organizations.=
Bell
Canada, Bell-Northern Research, Ontario Hydro, Hydro-Québec, Consumers Gas,
Canadian Home Builders’ Association, the Electrical and Electronic
Manufacturers Association of Canada, Industry Canada, Minto Developments In=
c.
and the National Research Council of Canada attended.
This
diverse group of organizations resolved to devote their resources to the
promotion of intelligent buildings in Canada through the establishment of t=
he
Canadian Automated Buildings Association in November 1988. An initial
fund of $100,000 was pledged by the Board of Directors and an interim office
was supplied in Toronto by the Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers
Association of Canada.
Gerry Meade, a senior Ontario Hydro manager was seconded to occupy the post=
of
executive director. Honeywell, a major manufacturer of heating and
environmental controls initially occupied the organization's
chairmanship. In 1990 former Bell Canada assistant vice president, Ja=
ck
Fraser, was appointed president. In 1991, Alan McKinley from the Nati=
onal
Research Council of Canada became president of the organization.
In 1995, the association organized its first major collaborative research
project focused on home energy and environmental management systems. The
$160,000 study involved 16 different funding organizations, including feder=
al
and provincial government agencies, manufacturers, and utilities.
In 1998, CABA was renamed the Continental Automated Buildings Association a=
nd
given an expanded international mission by its Board of Directors to encour=
age
the development, promotion, pursuit and understanding of integrated systems=
and
automation in homes and buildings throughout North America.
In 1999, Ronald J. Zimmer, an experienced and certified association executi=
ve
was appointed by the CABA Board of Directors to lead the organization.
With the expanded mission, the organization began to grow to near 400 membe=
rs
involved in the design, manufacture, installation and retailing of products
relating to home automation and building automation.
In 2003, CABA and the Government of Canada completed the Technology Roadmap=
(TRM) for Intelligent Buildings Technologies, a collaborative $110,000 rese=
arch
project between industry and five federal government departments and agenci=
es.
The project focused upon commercial, institutional and high-rise residential
buildings, and culminated in a final report that provided an in-depth
examination of intelligent buildings technologies.
In 2006, CABA completed a segmentation study that examined the consumer
profiles of those who buy digital lifestyle products and services. Entitled=
the
Connected Home Roadmap, report assisted manufacturers and other vendors that
catered directly to end-users to identify resource requirements and potenti=
al
investment opportunities. In that year, CABA also integrated the
operations of the Internet Home Alliance.
The Internet Home Alliance was a cross-industry network of leading companies
conducting collaborative research to advance the connected home market. Fou=
nded
in 2000, the Alliance provided its members with the real-world testing
opportunities required to bring their home technology products and services=
to
market more quickly, successfully and cost-effectively.
Under the new arrangement, IHA's collaborative research program was continu=
ed
under the CABA umbrella through CABA's Connected Home Research Council, whi=
ch
oversees a wide array of consumer research studies and real-world pilot
projects.
There are more th=
an
25,000 Business and Professional Associations offeri=
ng
value to their members and their industries. We will strive to bring you mo=
re
information on these and other organizations. Warning: Don’t be fooled by s=
ome
groups who masquerading as associations. They bring no value to you.
The Internet has put=
the
equivalent of the Library of Congress and more in the grasp of everyone. The
size of the information available is staggering. How do we cut to the core =
of
the information that we need?
The Industry Media i=
s one of
the most important components of our professional survival. These publicati=
ons
are critical resources. The Indust=
ry
Media give us the tools to keep up and stay abreast of “all the news that y=
ou
can use”.
The staff and contri=
butors
to these publications work diligently to gather sort and prioritize the most
important news and issues for their readers.
For example, at the =
BICSI
Conference in January 2009, we saw representatives, editors, publishers, and
staff from almost all the major industry publications that cover the
communications industry. To name a few:
Electrical Contractor
Magazine www.ecmag.com
S+LSS - Security + L=
ife
Safety Systems magazine www.ecmag.com=
Communications News =
Magazine
www.comnews.com
CNS – Cabling Networ=
king
Systems Magazine www.cnsmagazine.co=
m
BICSI News Magazine =
https://www.bicsi.org/default.a=
spx
TED – The Electrical=
Distributor
Magazine www.tedmag.com
CI&M – Cabling
Installation & Maintenance Magazine www.pennWell.com
The ACUTA Journal www.acuta.org
OSP – Outside Plant =
Magazine
www.ospmag.com/
The publications =
are
working hard for you.
But that’s just my o=
pinion,
Frank Bisbee=
"Heard On The Street" Monthly Column
4949 Sunbeam Rd, Suite 16
Jacksonville, FL 32257=
(904) 645-9077 office
(904) 645-9058 fax
Coleman Cable Inc. (Nasdaq: CCIX) introduces the Signa-Wave™ brand of high performanc=
e,
American made low-loss 50 Ohm RF (radio frequency) coaxial cables.
The Signa-Wave fami=
ly of
low-loss coaxial cables offer superior performance and loss characteristics
over higher frequency bandwidths than the “traditional” Military type 50 Ohm
coaxial cables: RG58, RG213, RG223, RG214, & RG217. These cables are predominantly used in Land Mobile Radio
Communications, but have also evolved for use in: Wi-Fi Networks, Broadband,
Satellite Antennas, Mobile Phone, Terrestrial Microwave, Military, Air Traf=
fic
Control, Medical, & RFID antennas, with new applications & challeng=
es
for low-loss 50 Ohm cables arising all the time.
Signa-Wave low-loss coaxial cables are man=
ufactured
in the USA at Coleman Cable’s Hayesville, North Carolina plant. This facility has been a leading coaxial
cable manufacturing plant for well over 36 years and is an ISO certified, MIL-I-452=
08
compliant Qualified Products List [QPL] facility with the Defense Logistics
Agency; the Defense Supply Center Columbus, OHIO. DSCC is the primary US
Government Depot, servicing the electronic needs to all branches of our arm=
ed
forces.
According to Tony Gabriel, director of engineering at
Coleman Cable, “the Signa-Wave coaxial
cables are manufactured in accordance and meet these military standards for
superior electrical performance.”
About Coleman Cable Inc.
Coleman Cable Inc. i=
s a
leading manufacturer and innovator of electrical and electronic wire and ca=
ble products
for the security, sound, telecommunications, electrical, commercial,
industrial, and automotive industries. With extensive design and production
capabilities and a long-standing dedication to customer service, Coleman Ca=
ble,
Inc. is the preferred choice of cable and wire users throughout North Ameri=
ca.
The company is located at 1530 Shields Drive, Waukegan, IL 60085. For more information, visit: www.colemancable.com.
******=
*********************
Coleman Cable Inc. (Nasdaq: CCIX) introduces Welder Extension Cords that bring portab=
ility
to welding machines and create convenience for the welding contractor.
These 8/3 STW extension cords are
available in 25 foot lengths (50 foot lengths coming in May 2009) and deliv=
er
40A at 250 volts (10,000 watts). The Welder Extension Cords feature a STW
jacket with molded ends for heavy-duty performance and lighted receptacle f=
or
convenience and safety. These cord=
s are
ideal for new commercial construction, MRO industrial and general welding
applications.
“The Welder
Extension Cords provide a convenient, safe method to extend the range of
welding equipment,” said Dave Oriatti, vice president of industrial
distribution at Coleman Cable. “Th=
is new
cord series is another example of Coleman Cable’s innovation and commitment=
to
adding value to its customers and the markets it serves.”
About Coleman Cable Inc.
Coleman Cable Inc. i=
s a
leading manufacturer and innovator of electrical and electronic wire and ca=
ble
products for the security, sound, telecommunications, electrical, commercia=
l,
industrial, and automotive industries. With extensive design and production
capabilities and a long-standing dedication to customer service, Coleman Ca=
ble,
Inc. is the preferred choice of cable and wire users throughout North Ameri=
ca.
The company is located at 1530 Shields Drive, Waukegan, IL 60085. For more information, visit: www.colemancable.com.
******=
*********************
Communications Supply
Corporation (CSC) and WESCO Distribution announced today that they will be
hosting their first Green & Sustainability Summit in Chicago, at the Hy=
att Regency
O’Hare, in Rosemont, IL. There are ten such events scheduled over the cours=
e of
the year around the country. The next scheduled event is to be held in Phoe=
nix
in April, with more details to follow.
This unique one day =
event
brings WESCO and CSC’s management teams together with senior-level IT,
operations and facilities professionals from large organizations to provide=
a
state-of-the-art understanding about the Green and Sustainability movement =
in
the United States. Attendees will be presented with information to assist in
the planning and construction of a green roadmap that addresses all aspects=
of
a 21st Century Digital Building.
The Summit will feat=
ure
high-profile keynote speakers, including
Andy Karsner, the Former Assistant US Secretary of The Department of Energy=
and
executive members from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The
event will also cover best-practice recommendations surrounding data center
power, cooling and bandwidth efficiencies, green lighting solutions, and va=
rious
funding opportunities through grants, tax credits and other sources.
Additionally, a thirty-company tradeshow will be held featuring the nation’s
leading manufacturers who share the same green and sustainability vision as=
CSC
and WESCO.
“Out aim is to offer
customers who are interested in implementing a green strategy the resources,
tools, and product solutions that focus on data centers and lighting
technologies”, says Frank LaPlante, CSC’s Vice President of Marketing. “The data center environment alone acco=
unts
for 3 – 4% of the nation’s energy consumption.
We can demonstrate ways to take costs out of our customers’ business=
es,
identify funding sources, and leverage utility rebate opportunities. We are very pleased with the enthusiasm=
this
event is generating as WESCO and CSC provide a comprehensive green solutions
package.”
For additional infor=
mation
about this program please visit www.wescogogreen.com/eve=
nts.asp
******=
*********************
Democrats have pro=
posed
allocating about $36 billion to improve the country's broadband infrastruct=
ure
as part of an $825 billion proposal from House Democrats and the incoming O=
bama
administration that includes provisions for the wireless industry. The bill
would provide $6 billion in grants to bring broadband access to underserved
areas and $30 billion in loans for boosting speeds on both wireline and
wireless networks, although published reports say the package appears to la=
ck
tax breaks that telecom and cable companies had sought.
******=
*********************
RHINO Professional L=
abeling
Tools, a brand of DYMO and part of Newell Rubbermaid’s Technology business
unit, announced a product collaboration with SMP Data Communications. This
support includes the development and distribution of pre-formatted electron=
ic
templates and was formed from a mutual goal of making the labeling of struc=
tured
cabling systems easier and more efficient for installers.
Specifically, the
collaboration between RHINO and SMP has resulted in electronic templates th=
at
allow the RHINO 6000 and RHINO 6500 label printers to quickly [A1]<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>format labels for SMP connectivity products,
including patch cords, faceplates, patch panels, 110 blocks, and other
structured cabling system components. The electronic templates can be
downloaded for free from RHINO’s website, www.rhinolabeling.com and imported into RHI=
NO
CONNECT software. Label information can then be entered into the template
either manually or directly from a Windows-based PC application, then print=
ed
out onto labels that specifically fit SMP .
“We are pleased and =
excited
to be working with SMP Data Communications,” stated Rob Rosenquist, Directo=
r of
Sales and Channel Marketing for RHINO. “SMP is a leader in connectivity
components and RHINO label printers are a leader in marking and identifying
these components. It was a natural fit that we work together to help instal=
lers
accomplish this task faster, easier, and more cost-efficiently.”
“With the Rhino temp=
lates
for SMP components, we are pleased to give installers a means to have a
complete standards compliant solution that includes meeting the TIA 606
labeling requirements.” Stated Brad Everette, Vice President of Sales – Wes=
tern
Region.
SMP Data Communicati=
ons,
formerly Superior Modular Products, is a part of the Optical Cable Corporat=
ion
family. SMP is an international leader in the designing and manufacturing of
quality innovative copper and fiber connectivity components. It provides
superior structured cabling solutions for the data communications market.
RHINO is the industr=
ial
brand of DYMO and part of Newell Rubbermaid’s Technology business unit. RHI=
NO
label printers are engineered with features that enable installers to label
datacom and other systems quickly and easily, such as PC-connectivity,
pre-programmed terms and symbols, built-in memory, instant “Hot Key” label
formatting, industrial-strength labels and more.
###
About RHINO
RHINO is a brand of =
DYMO, a
Newell Rubbermaid technology company.
Newell Rubbermaid’s
innovative global technology solutions enable businesses, educational
institutions, and consumers to more efficiently share, manage and organize
information. Our global technology
brands are organized around four platforms:
The Specialty Printing and Labeling Platform includes DYMO® label/CD=
/DVD
printers and file scanning software (www.dym=
o.com)
and RHINO Industrial Labeling Systems (www.rhinolabeling.com). The Analog to Digital Platform includes
CardScan® business card scanners and contact management software featuring =
AtYourService™
(www.car=
dscan.com),
and DYMO File™, software that transforms paper documents into organized
archives of electronic files (www.dymofile.com<=
/a>). The Internet Postage Platform includes
endicia™ online shipping, mailing and customized postage solutions (www.end=
icia.com)
and (www.pic=
tureitpostage.com). The Classroom Technology Platform inclu=
des
mimio™ interactive whiteboards and digital ink recorders (www.mim=
io.com). These technology brands join a rich her=
itage
of brands at Newell Rubbermaid including Calphalon®, EXPO®, Goody®, Graco®,
Irwin®, Lenox®, Paper Mate®, Parker®, Rolodex®, Rubbermaid®, Sharpie® and
Waterman®.
******=
*********************
Fluke Networks, provider of innovative Network SuperVision
Solutions™ for the testing, monitoring and analysis of enterprise and
telecommunications networks, hosted several activities for the Winter BICSI
Conference in Orlando.
On Tuesday, January 20, the public hosted to a free lunch join=
tly
hosted by Fluke Networks and OFS. During lunch the two companies
presented "Keys to Successfully Implementing Fiber in the
Datacenter". Presenters included Harley B. Lang III RCDD, Fluke
Networks Marketing Manager for fiber optic products, and Tony Irujo, Manage=
r of
Customer Technical Support for OFS Optics. Hugo Draye, Fluke Networks’
Datacom Cabling Product Manager and recipient of the Harry J. Pfister award=
at
last year’s BICSI conference, was the master of ceremonies.
Fluke Networks and OFS combined efforts during exhibit hours a=
nd
provided live demonstrations of fiber inspection and testing. Attendees saw
demonstrations of loss testing, Tier 1 certification, Tier 2 testing with an
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) as well as best practices for
inspection and cleaning.
Attendees of the BICSI conference had the opportunity to win a
SimpliFiber Pro FTK1450 Test Kit. This high-end fiber verification kit
with a value of $6045 features the new SimpliFiber® Pro Optical Power Meter=
and
Fiber Test Kit along with various other fiber inspection and troubleshooting
tools. SimpliFiber® Pro increases efficiency by cutting test ti=
mes
in half and allowing a single technician to quickly perform tasks that
previously required a two-person team.
SimpliFiber Pro is the next generation replacement for the pop=
ular
SimpliFiber product line. For more details go to www.flukenetworks.com/simplifiberpro.
=
;
About=
Fluke
Networks
Fluke
Networks provides innovative solutions for the installation and certificati=
on,
testing, monitoring and analysis of copper, fiber and wireless networks use=
d by
enterprises and telecommunications carriers. The company's comprehensive li=
ne
of Network SuperVision™ Solutions provide network installers, owners, and
maintainers with superior vision, combining speed, accuracy and ease of use=
to
optimize network performance. Headquartered in Everett, Washington, the com=
pany
distributes its products in more than 50 countries. More information can be
found by visiting Fluke Networks’ Web site at www.flukenetwo=
rks.com
or by calling (800) 283-5853.
******=
*********************
HAI (Home Automation, Inc.), a leading manufact=
urer
of integrated automation and security products since 1985, will demonstrate=
a
new suite of wireless Energy Management Products Designed for ZigBee(r) in
booth 4890 at the International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, Nevada to=
be
held January 20 - 23, 2009. ZigBee=
is
the global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to w=
ork
together and enhance everyday life. ZigBee technology is well suited to a w=
ide
range of energy management and efficiency, building automation, industrial,
medical, home automation applications.
The new products to be demonstrated include an RC 2000 Omnistat ZB (HAI part
number RC-2000ZB) communicating programmable thermostat, a 5amp Wireless Lo=
ad
Control Module (HAI part number 73A00-4),
and two wireless table top control devices; the MicroControl (HAI Pa=
rt
number 81A00-2) and the Wireless Coordinator for HAI Omni & Lumina
Controllers (HAI Part number 81A00-3).
They are all part of HAI's expanding Energy Management product line.=
The Omnistat2 Wireless 7-day programmable
communicating thermostat is for conventional single stage heat/cool, heat p=
ump,
two speed heat pump, two stage conventional, and zone control systems. It is
fully interactive with all HAI home control systems and is compatible with =
most
others. It may be controlled both locally and remotely and is designed to
precisely control the temperature and humidity within the home. Using advanced digital technology it ac=
tually
"learns" a home's heating and cooling patterns and adjusts contro=
l to
maximize both the HVAC system's efficiency and the occupants' comfort. All Omnistat2 models meet the Environme=
ntal
Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.
The 5A Wireless Load Control Module controls low
voltage circuits in outdoor air conditioning units, pool and spa heaters and
pumps, generators, and more. It has ultra low stand-by power for energy
savings.
The MicroControl is a tabletop, bedside, or wall
mount display and control device for selected HAI controllers, Omnistat2
Thermostats, and Load Control Module functions.
The Wireless Coordinator for HAI Omni & Lum=
ina
Controllers plugs into a serial port on an HAI Omni or Lumina family contro=
ller
and allows control of HAI Wireless Energy Management Components. The display
helps set up the installation of the wireless systems.
HAI's new ZigBee Wireless Energy Management pro=
ducts
are excellent for retrofit applications and will be shipping in the third
quarter of 2009.
HAI is a member of the ZigBee Alliance.
HAI products are available through a worldwide
network of Distributors and installing dealers.
For more information on the award-winning Omnistat2 thermostat or ot=
her
HAI products, please visit www.homeauto.com<=
/a> or
call 800-229-7256.
To download a high res photo of HAI's MicroCont=
rol,
please click here:
http://www.homeauto.com/=
mediacenter/HaiPRImage.asp?image=3D81A00-2.jpg
###############################################=
##############
This message is sent to you because you are
subscribed to the HAI Press mailing list, and this message is meant to
communicate information for commercial purposes.
Please do not reply to this e-mail address. If =
you
need to contact HAI, please send your request to marketing@homeauto.com.
To unsubscribe, please send an E-mail to
press-off@homeauto.com. You will t=
hen
receive an unsubscribe confirmation e-mail that must be replied to in order=
to
finalize the unsubscription. Note =
that
this confirmation e-mail may end up in your junk mail folder.
******=
*********************
Hitachi Cable Manche=
ster
(HCM) and HellermannTyton have partnered to form H2Max, a new end-to-end
solution offering high performance network infrastructure solutions. H2Max
solutions include the connective devices of HellermannTyton and communicati=
ons
cables of HCM. Both copper and fiber optic-based solutions are available.
Copper solutions include Category 6A, Category 6+, Category 6, Category5e+,=
and
fiber optic solutions including a 10 Gigabit fiber optic solution.
The H2Max program of=
fers a
performance guarantee, third party verification, lifetime warranty, and
end-to-end support featuring knowledgeable, personalized assistance. A
contractor certification program is offered and tailored to the needs of ea=
ch
contracting company. In addition, contractors can qualify for an exciting H=
2Max
rewards program, based on purchases of products from HCM and
HellermannTyton.
The H2Max family of =
network
cabling solutions has been designed to offer exceptional performance with t=
he
value that is increasingly important in today’s economic times. With H2Max,=
selecting,
installing, and guaranteeing the performance of a network infrastructure is
easy. Both HCM and HellermannTyton are known as experts in their field, yet
both companies are easy to do business with. Together, HellermannTyton and =
HCM
provide a level of customer service that is personal, on the spot, and
committed to the success of each customer.
For more information=
on
H2Max, call 1-800-822-4352 or go to the website: www.h2maxsolutions.com
About Hitachi Cable<= o:p>
Hitachi Cable Manche=
ster,
Inc. (HCM) offers a full range of voice and data grade twisted-pair cables =
(up
to 400-pair count), fiber optic cables (multimode and single mode indoor,
indoor/outdoor and outside plant configurations up to 432 fiber count) and
electronics cables. Its modern 300,000 square foot standards and technology
based manufacturing facility in Manchester, New Hampshire is part of the
Hitachi family that is listed as one of the world's largest corporations. T=
his
fully automated facility is ISO 9001 registered and it manufactures cables =
that
are designed to exceed the most stringent ANSI, UL, CSA requirements as wel=
l as
compliance with TIA and ISO telecommunications cabling standards.
For more information=
about
the company and its product line, visit the website at www.hcm.hitachi.com
About HellermannTyto=
n
HellermannTyton is a
leading, global manufacturer of network cabling solutions which help connec=
t,
manage, and identify cable and components. Located in over 30 countri=
es,
HellermannTyton brings the best to its customers through global resources
channeled to local implementations. Flexibility, agility, and the ability to
create value-added, market driven solutions are the hallmarks of every
HellermannTyton company across the world. No matter the complexity of
your project – if it entails global or local management, HellermannTyton is=
uniquely
poised to bring you high performance solutions from the data center to the =
work
area.
For more information=
about
the company and its product line, visit the website at:
******=
*********************
Omni Fort Worth Hotel and Fort Worth Convention Center . Fort
Worth, Texas
=
Tuesday, February 24=
7:00 a.m=
. - 8:00
p.m. IAQA Registration =
Desk
Open
8:00 a.m=
. -
12:00 p.m. IAQA Technical Sessions
& Workshops
|
TRACK ONE Allergy & Asthma Workshop |
TRACK TWO Schools |
TRACK THREE Assessment |
|
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Methods and Resources for Recogni=
zing
and Evaluating Indoor Exposure Sources, with a Focus on Allergy and Asthma
Triggers (workshop) Carl Grimes, CIEC, Healthy Habita=
ts LLC Donald M. Weekes, CIH, CSP, InAIR
Environmental, Ltd. Eva M. King, Ph.D., Indoor
BioTechnologies Jay Portnoy, MD, ACAAI President
(invited) EPA Representative (invited) |
8:00 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. Effective Indoor Environmental
Management for Healthy Schools Kevin Kennedy, CIEC, Children's M=
ercy
Hospitals and Clinics Luke Gard, Children's Mercy Hospi=
tals
and Clinics |
8:00 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. A Mechanical Engineer's Perspecti=
ve on
the IAQ Investigation George E. Kevins, CIAQC, CIEC, Ce=
ntral
Kitsap School District |
|
9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Detecting and Reducing Aerosols to
Improve IAQ in the Classroom=
Gerald A. Lamping, North East
Independent School District Diane Rhodes, RRT, AE‐=
C,
RCP, North East Independent School District Ron
Clary, North East Independent School District |
9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Assessing Building Thermal
Characteristics and HVAC Performance in a Problematic Building=
Pa=
trick
O'Donnell, CIEC, Enviro Team |
|
|
10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. IAQ Investigations and Chemical
Contaminant Source Control in Schools El=
izabeth
Jakab, Puget Sound Educational Service District |
10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Becoming a Better Investigator Da=
vid L.
Zeidner, MS, CMR, WRT, Hygieneering, Inc. |
|
|
11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Air Cleaning in Practice - School
Sustainability and Commercial Building Field Study Results Ge=
rald
A. Lamping, North East Independent School District |
11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Why & How to Perform a Moistu=
re
Survey Wa=
yne
Shellabarger, CMRS, CMC, Acuity Engineers, Inc. |
12:00 p.=
m. -
1:00 p.m. Lunch provided by IAQA (meal
ticket required)
1:00 p.m=
. - 5:00
p.m. IAQA Technical
Sessions & Workshops
|
TRA=
CK ONE Asthm=
a /
Allergy |
TRA=
CK TWO Stand=
ards |
TRA=
CK THREE Asses=
sment |
|
1:00 p=
.m. -
2:20 p.m. Home
Environmental Assessments for Asthma Patients Kevin =
Kennedy,
CIEC, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics Luke G=
ard,
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics |
1:00 p=
.m. -
2:20 p.m. AIH=
A's Mold
Book and Industrial Hygiene Standards and Guidelines Donald=
M.
Weekes, CIH, CSP, InAIR Enviro=
nmental,
Ltd. |
1:00 p=
.m. -
2:20 p.m. Ass=
essment
and Post‐Remediation Verification Debate (Pa=
nel
Discussion) Wane A= . Baker, P.E., CIH, Michaels Engineering<= o:p> Bob Br=
andys,
Ph.D., P.E., CIH, Occupational & Environmental Health Consul=
ting Wei Ta=
ng,
Ph.D., QLab |
|
2:30 p=
.m. -
3:50 p.m. Ind=
oor
Allergens - Health Effects, Exposure Assessment and Intervention Martin=
D.
Chapman, PhD, Indoor Biotechnologies Inc. Eva‐Maria King, PhD, Indoor Biotechno=
logies
Inc. |
2:30 p=
.m. -
3:50 p.m. IESO
Consensus Body Update Carl G=
rimes,
CIEC, Healthy Habitats LLC Bob Br=
andys,
Ph.D., P.E., CIH, Occupational & Environmental Health Consulting |
2:30 p=
.m. -
3:50 p.m. Fun=
ctional
vs. Dysfunctional Buildings and Homes Doug G=
arrett,
CEM, CDSM, NCI, Building Performance & Comfort, Inc. |
|
4:00 p=
.m. -
4:50 p.m. Hea=
lthy
Homes, Healthy Lives: Evaluating the Health Impacts of Home Construction
Practices Jonath=
an
Coulter, Advanced Energy =
|
4:00 p=
.m. -
4:50 p.m. Por=
table
High Efficiency Air Filtration (PHEAF) Device Field Testing and Validation
Standard - Draft Bob Br=
andys,
Ph.D., P.E., CIH, Occupational & Environmental Health Consulting |
4:00 p=
.m. -
4:50 p.m. How
"Green" is your Portable Phone Radiation Peter =
Sierck,
CMC, CIEC, CMRS, Environmental Testing & Technology |
5:00 p.m=
. - 8:00
p.m. Indoor Air Ex=
po -
Welcoming Reception in Expo Hall
We=
dnesday,
February 25
6:30 a.m=
. - 7:00
p.m. IAQA Registration =
Desk
Open
7:00 a.m=
. - 8:30
a.m. Continental Breakf=
ast
in the Indoor Air EXPO (meal ticket required)
8:45 a.m=
. - 9:45
a.m. IAQA General
Membership Meeting
10:00 a.=
m. -
11:30 a.m. IAQA Technical Sessions
|
TRACK ONE Formaldehyde |
TRACK TWO Stucco |
TRACK THREE HVAC |
|
10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. Formaldehyde Removal from Air Usi=
ng
Hollow Fiber Membranes Drew W. Johnson, Ph.D., Universit=
y of
Texas at San Antonio |
10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. Advanced Stucco and EIFS Stanley Yeskolski, CIEC, CMC,
Investigative Inspection Services, Inc. |
10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. Air Handler Performance Measureme=
nt Robert G. Baker, ACP BBJ. LTD. |
|
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ventilation and Formaldehyde Resu=
lts
from the Healthy Homes Study=
Melissa Malkin‐=
Weber,
MPH, Advanced Energy Jonathan Coulter, Advanced Energy=
|
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Solar Driven Vapor Intrusion thro=
ugh a
Three Coat Stucco Wall Chip Prokop, PE, CIEC, CMRS, REA,
Dominion Environmental, LLC |
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. IAQ and Ventilating Systems: A Ba=
ker's
Dozen of Common Findings Wane A. Baker, P.E., CIH, Michaels
Engineering |
|
TRACK ONE Building Forensics |
TRACK TWO IAQ & Healthcare |
TRACK THREE HVAC |
|
2:15 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. ERMI for Use in the Science of Bu=
ilding
Forensics (panel discussion)=
Edward A. Sobek, Ph.D. EPA Representative (invited) Wane A. Baker, P.E., CIH, Michaels
Engineering Wei Tang, Ph.D., QLab |
2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Introduction to the Technologies =
of
Indoor Air Quality Larry D. Sambrook, CIEC, Indoor A=
ir
Quality Network LLC |
2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Energy Recovery Ventilators: Tech=
nology
Innovation for Today's Market Demand Rhonda Campagna, Dais Analytic
Corporation |
|
3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. Case Study: Initial Environmental
Testing of a New Hospital Bruce Fergusson, CIEC, Air Source
Technology, Inc. &n=
bsp; |
3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. What You Always Wanted To Know Ab=
out
Moldy HVAC Systems But Were Afraid To Look Ca=
rolyn
Christensen, ASCS, DUCTZ of Greater Atlanta |
|
|
4:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. Fungal Ecology of the Indoor
Environment Chin S. Yang, Ph.D., Prestige
EnviroMicrobiology, Inc. |
4:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. Environmental Monitoring and Eval=
uating
Cleanliness During Duct Cleaning in an Occupied Hospital John Martinelli, Forensic Analyti=
cal
Consulting Services, Inc. |
4:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. EPA: Indoor Air Quality Resources=
and
Concerns Associated with the use of Pesticides in Ventilation Systems Tracy Lantz, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Antimicrobials Division=
|
11:30 a.=
m. -
2:00 p.m. Indoor Air Expo - lu=
nch
in the hall (meal ticket required)
2:15 p.m=
. - 5:00
p.m. IAQA Technical
Sessions
5:00 p.m=
. - 7:00
p.m. Indoor Air Ex=
po
Open - Reception in the hall (meal ticket required)
&n=
bsp;
Th=
ursday,
February 26:
7:00 a.m=
. - 8:30
a.m. Continental Breakf=
ast
in the Indoor Air Expo (meal ticket required)
6:30 a.m=
. - 5:00
p.m. IAQA Registration =
Desk
Open
8:45 a.m=
. -
11:30 a.m. IAQA Technical Sessions<=
/b>
|
TRA=
CK ONE IAQ P=
otpourri |
TRA=
CK TWO Bacte=
ria,
Fungi & Water Loss |
TRA=
CK THREE Green=
|
|
8:45 a=
.m. -
9:30 a.m. Asb=
estos
for the Restoration Contractor: Myths, Truths, & Practical Guidance Derric=
k A.
Denis, CIEC, CAC, CIAQP, WRT, Clark Seif Clark, Inc. (CSC) |
8:45 a=
.m. -
9:30 a.m. App=
lying
Real‐Time Biological Testing to Monitor Drying Efforts of Categor=
y 1
Water Loss Slade =
Smith,
RPIH, RCI, BEM Corporation |
8:45 a=
.m. -
9:30 a.m. Con=
nect the
Dots: ● Energy Star ● Green Building ● Moisture ●
Radon &nb=
sp;An
Update on New Standards & Their Surprise Benefits Trudy =
Y.
Smith, HomeAire |
|
9:40 a=
.m. -
10:30 a.m. Coo=
l Air
And Indoor Fresh Air Are Killing Us! Who Is Negligent?, Jeffre=
y C.
May, M.A., CIAQP, May Indoor Air Investigations LLC |
9:40 a=
.m. -
10:30 a.m. Bac=
teroides
- A Better Alternative to Determine Sewage Contamination Diane
Miskowski, MPH, EMSL Analytical, Inc. |
9:40 a=
.m. -
10:30 a.m. IEQ=
Issues
and Problems in the Green Building Environment Elliott
Horner, Ph.D., Air Quality Sciences, Inc. |
|
10:40 =
a.m. -
11:30 a.m. Cla=
ndestine
Drug Lab Remediation Thomas=
E.
Boecher, CHMM, CIEC, DeLisle Associates Ltd. =
|
10:40 =
a.m. -
11:30 a.m. Leg=
ionella
Bacteria in Building Water Systems Chin S=
. Yang,
Ph.D., Prestige EnviroMicrobiology, Inc. |
10:40 =
a.m. -
11:30 a.m. Gre=
en
Diversity - Green Choices for Your IAQ Company Stacey
Champion, CIE, Champion Indoor Environmental Services J. Sco=
tt
Armour, M.S., Armour Applied Science, LLC Bob Kr=
ell,
CIEC, CIAQP, CMRS, LEED-AP, IAQ Technologies, Inc. |
11:30 a.=
m. -
2:00 p.m. Indoor Air Expo Open - lu=
nch
in the hall (meal ticket required)
2:15 p.m=
. - 6:15
p.m. IAQA Technical
Sessions
|
TRA=
CK ONE IAQ P=
otpourri |
TRA=
CK TWO Bacte=
ria,
Fungi & Water Loss |
TRA=
CK THREE The B=
usiness
of IAQ |
|
2:15 p=
.m. -
3:05 p.m. His=
tory
& Review of Commercially Available Impactor Spore Traps, including a
Discussion of Spore Size James =
R.
Tucker, Ph.D., Environmental Monitoring Systems |
2:15 p=
.m. -
3:05 p.m. Mold
Evaluation - Useful Sampling on a Real‐World Budget Steven=
A.
Lipson, CIH, CSP, CIEC, CIAQP, CIAQC, Air Quality Consulting, Inc. |
2:15 p=
.m. -
3:05 p.m. It'=
s a
(Green) Jungle Out There Tim Ke=
nsok,
CIEC, Air Advice, Inc. |
|
3:15 p=
.m. -
4:05p.m Pol=
ymerase
Chain Reaction (PCR): A Technology Overview and Focused Look at Its Benef=
it
and Use in Environmental Applications Charli=
e Li,
Ph.D., EMSL Analytical, Inc Jodi M=
cBride,
Roche Diagnostics Corp. |
3:15 p=
.m. -
4:05p.m. Und=
erstanding
Vapor Intrusion (VI): Results of a VI Investigation of Public Buildings a=
nd
Residences John D.
Barksdale, P.G., President, Barksdale & Associates, Inc. |
3:15 p=
.m. -
4:05p.m. Food
Safety, IH & You: an Emerging Market for Environmental Consultants Joy E.
Dell'Aringa, M.S., EMSL Analytical |
|
4:15 p=
.m. -
5:05 p.m. Lum=
beryard
Mold in New Construction and its Complexities Peter =
Sierck,
CMC, CIEC, CMRS, Environmental Testing & Technology, Inc. |
4:15 p=
.m. -
5:05 p.m. Exc=
ess
Humidity in Buildings - Building Pressure and Equipment Performance Larry =
Pearson,
ASCS, Panoramic Building Performance Solutions |
4:15 p=
.m. -
5:05 p.m. How=
to Get
the Most Marketing Punch from Your Web Site Woodie=
Sayles,
Webfoot.net |
|
5:15 p=
.m. -
6:15 p.m. The=
Problem
with Windows and Doors or Another Inconvenient Truth Stanley
Yeskolski, CIEC, CMC, Investigative Inspection Services, Inc. =
|
5:15 p=
.m. -
6:15 p.m. Cor=
relations
between the Level of Indoor Airborne Fungal Spores and Surface Mold Growt=
h Floren=
ce Wu,
Ph.D., Aemtek, Inc. Steven=
Huang,
Ph.D., Aemtek, Inc. |
=
|
2:00 p.m=
. - 8:00
p.m. Exhibitor Tear
Down
7:30 p.m=
. - 9:30
p.m. IAQA
Theatre: The Madness of Van Gogh
&n=
bsp;
&nb=
sp; =
Featuring A=
lbert
Donnay, MHS
<= span style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'>A Medical Grand Rounds style presen= tation featuring Vincent Van Gogh in an original one hour play that links his writ= ings and paintings with the latest peer-reviewed research about America's leading cause of accidental poisoning and death. "The Madness of Van Gogh" is the second in a series of Historic Grand Rounds created by Mr. Donnay to educate public health professionals about indoor air quality issues. His first, on "The Illness and Death of Edgar Allan Poe," was co-authored and performed with world-renowned Poe actor David Keltz. It premiered at an international medical conference in N= ew York City in 2000 and was performed before a standing-room only audience at= the NIH's National Library of Medicine in 2002. Everyone is given an opportunity to solve the mystery! At the conclusion of the play, audi= ence members will be given a resource list with information on how to obtain the protocols, devices, textbooks and other literature discussed in the play. To make the evening complete, IAQA Theatre will feature a cash bar and light hors' devours.<= o:p>
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'>
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'>Mr. Donnay is a consulting environm=
ental
health engineer. He earned his MHS degree from the Johns Hopkins Scho=
ol
of Public Health in 1983, where he helped organize a new course on "Pu=
blic
Health and the Theatre." He is currently a doctoral student in
toxicology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of=
MCS
Referral & Resources, a non-profit organization devoted to increasing
awareness and understanding of multiple chemical sensitivity disorders, whi=
ch
he co-founded with Dr. Grace Ziem in 1994.
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'>
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#002060'>2009 Indoor Air Annual Meeting Go=
ld
Sponsors
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'>IAQA extends special appreciation to
these generous companies for their Sponsorship of the IAQA 12th
Annual Meeting
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'>
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'>Legends Environmental Insurance
Services
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'>
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#002060'>2009 Indoor Air Expo Exhibitors
Visit th=
ese fine
companies at the combined IAQA-ACCA Indoor Air Expo in Fort Worth! Cl=
ick
the exhibitor name to visit their website.
A O Smith Electical Products Co.<=
/span>
Aces A/C=
Supply
North
Aerobiology
Laboratory Associates, Inc.
=
Airwell Fe=
dders
North American
Atlas Sa=
les
& Rentals, Inc.
Atlas Sale=
s and
Rentals, Inc.
Building
Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Callahan Roach Business Solutions=
D&S
Electrostatic Samplers
Davis Busi=
ness
Solutions, Inc.
Ductmate
Industries, Inc.
Elite Soft=
ware
Development Inc,
Environmen=
tal
Monitoring Systems, Inc.
Exxon Mo=
bil
Fleet Sales
Filtration
Manufacturing, Inc.
Fresh-Aire=
UV
Triatomic Environmental, Inc.
Goodman Manufacturing Co., LP <= o:p>
Indoor Air
Quality Association, Inc.
Indoor Biotechnologies, Inc. <= o:p>
Indoor
Environmental Hygiene Laboratory
Jackson Systems, LLC <=
/span>
Johnson =
Supply
Legends Environmental Insurance
Services
M & M Manufacturing Company <= o:p>
Mitsubishi Electric & Electro=
nics
USA, Inc.
National A=
ir
Duct Cleaners Association
Nikro
Industries, Inc.
One Hour Air Conditioning Franchi=
se
=
Quantem La=
boratories,
LLC
Restoration Industry Association<=
/span>
Rheem Air
Conditioning Division - Rheem Manufacturing Co.
Serum Prod=
ucts,
LLC
Specialty Construction Brands, In=
c. /
Foster Products
US Environ=
mental
Protection Agency Region 6
US Ice P=
lus,
Inc.
Warm Thoug=
hts
Communications
WaterFur=
nace
International
XCI Cont=
rols
Join us in Fort Worth for the best IAQA Annual Meeting ever
produced. For registration and hotel information, click here: IAQA 12
***************************
Responding to an inc=
reased
usage by electricians of armored cable, IDEAL today introduced its Sir
Nickless™ rotary cable cutter. This exclusive, patent-pending and affordable
cutting tool prevents the occurrence of nicked conductors while cutting BX,=
MC,
AC, Greenfield and other types of aluminum or steel armored cable up to
3/8" diameter, and is especially effective with popular Southwire® MCa=
p™
cable.
"The number one
complaint electricians have with armored cable is the difficulty in safely
cutting it without nicking the wires that can lead to a short circuit,"
explained Bruce Hartranft, Business Unit Manager for IDEAL. "Sir Nickl=
ess
has a patent-pending design that lets electricians take full advantage of
armored cable without the downside of nicked wires."
Cable manufacturers =
and NEMA
(RV-3-2600) strongly recommend the use of rotary cutters like Sir Nickless =
for
armored cable in place of wire cutters, shears or hacksaws.
Unlike conventional =
rotary
cutters that have straight cutting trays, IDEAL engineered Sir Nickless™ wi=
th a
unique curved tray that improves cutting performance by forcing wires to lie
tight against the bottom wall of the cable and safely away from the
top-positioned cutting blade. In addition, an Auto Cam Lock allows Sir Nick=
less
to cut small diameter flex cable such as Southwire MCap without the use of
awkward plastic shims.
Sir Nickless™ is the=
right
tool for electricians who repeatedly require perfectly cut armored cable and
timesaving precision to reduce wire nicking.
Its rugged, all metal frame will withstand worksite conditions while=
its
high-performance blade will stay sharper longer.
Price & Availability
IDEAL Sir Nickless™ =
cable
cutters are immediately available through distribution and select retailers
with an MSRP of $31.48 (U.S.).
For more information,
contact IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC., Becker Place, Sycamore, Illinois 60178. Or
phone 1-800-435-0705, Fax: 1-800-533-4483. On the web, www.idealindustries.=
com.
ABOUT IDEAL INDUSTRI=
ES, INC.
IDEAL INDUSTRIES, IN=
C. has
been serving the electrical industry since 1916. IDEAL is one of the world's
leading manufacturers of professional quality tools and supplies serving in=
stallation
professionals in the construction, maintenance, data communications and
original equipment manufacturing industries.
******= *********************
Mohawk, a leading ma=
nufacturer
of fiber optic and copper cable products, is pleased to announce the
appointment of Rocky Mountain Networks to Mohawk’s field sales force coveri=
ng
Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Rocky Mountain Networks is a professional
manufacturer’s representative firm based in Englewood, Colorado. They provi=
de
complete sales and marketing services to the Voice/Data, Audio/Video, and
Security industries. They strive to provide first-class sales and support t=
heir
customers, distributors, and principals throughout the Rocky Mountain Regio=
n.
Mohawk is proud to have such a strong organization as part of our team.
For additional infor=
mation,
Rocky Mountain Networks can be contacted as follows:
About Mohawk
Mohawk, a division of Belden, is headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts,
and has been providing fiber and copper cable innovations for over 50 years.
Their headquartered location dedicates 210,000 square feet to today’s most
advanced facilities for the design, development and production of copper, f=
iber
optic, and hybrid wire and cable. Mohawk, an ISO 9001 certified company,
develops products to meet and support TIA/EIA, ISO/IEC, ICEA and NEMA
standards. As part of the global Belden operations, Mohawk is supported with
worldwide management, financial resources, and distribution capabilities.
Offering companies u=
p to a
five time increase in battery runtime for their uninterruptible power suppl=
ies
(UPS), Para Systems, manufacturer of the comprehensive line of Minuteman po=
wer
protection solutions, announced the availability of its EXL Series of extre=
me
runtime battery packs for mission critical applications. The new products are compatible with
Minuteman’s Endeavor online and EnterprisePlus line interactive UPS solutio=
ns
for enterprise IT, security and voice over IP (VoIP) phone systems.
IT managers at small=
and
medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are seeking longer battery back-up times for
servers, networking devices, data storage, telephone and security systems
according to a Frost & Sullivan survey.
“Having a longer time to react when power outages occur has moved fr=
om a
luxury to a requirement as IT managers handle an increasing number of
mission-critical systems and applications,” said Vishal Sapru, energy and p=
ower
industry analyst for Frost and Sullivan.
“SMBs continue to tell us that they want UPS solutions that offer mo=
re
battery backup time.”
“When the power fail=
s,
businesses are in a vulnerable position that can have a widespread effect
across every operational function,” stated Bill Allen, director of marketing
for Para Systems. “When power fail=
s, the
phone system goes down and the life-line to customers is cut off. When networks go down, companies cannot
perform vital operational functions. If
a security system goes down, there is no security. The more reliant businesses become on t=
hese
systems, the more important it is to keep them up and running during an
extended power outage.”
Minuteman has been a=
pioneer
in extended runtime applications for more than 25 years, having been the fi=
rst
company to offer external battery packs with a UPS. In addition to the new EXL extreme runt=
ime
battery pack series, Para Systems offers a wide variety of battery pack opt=
ions
including its XL Series, also compatible with its Endeavor and EnterprisePl=
us
UPS. For more information on Minut=
eman’s
EXL Series, visit www.minutemanups.com/ext=
run. Also visit www.SizeMYUPS.com=
,
the industry’s most extensive on-line UPS selection guide developed by Para
Systems. This easy-to-use tool lis=
ts
thousands of products from hundreds of manufacturers, allowing the user to
configure a system and then determine exactly what Minuteman UPS products b=
est
suit their needs and their battery backup time requirements. Battery backup runtime solutions are li=
sted
from the basic 10 to 15 minutes, to 4 hours, 8 hours and beyond.
About Para S=
ystems,
Inc.
Para Systems, Inc., =
based in
Carrollton, TX, is a leading provider of power technologies. The company’s Minuteman brand of
comprehensive power protection solutions range from small to large-scale
uninterruptible power supply (UPS) products to a full line of unique surge
suppressors, power distribution units, and remote power management
systems. Minuteman products protect
telephone/VOIP systems, personal computers, network servers and infrastruct=
ure
peripherals, security systems, and industrial applications. The Minuteman b=
rand
of products is sold through a large network of distributors and resellers.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Para Systems in a wholly-owned subsidia=
ry of
Components Corporation of America, headquartered in Dallas, TX, whose roots
date back to 1916. www.minutemanups.com.
******=
*********************
Omnitron Systems Technology (www.omnitron-systems.com), a provider =
of
Carrier Ethernet demarcation devices and media converters, today announced =
the
availability of the new iConverter® XG 10 Gigabit media converter. The
iConverter XG is a protocol-transparent media converter with two pluggable
transceiver ports designed to simplify fiber connectivity for Ethernet and =
TDM
networks by providing 10 Gigabit media conversion and fiber extension.
The iConverter XG functions as a copper-to-fiber converter, a fiber mode
converter, a fiber repeater, and a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)
transponder. The product supports 100% traffic throughput and has no
packet size restrictions. It is protocol transparent within the range of
9.95Gbps to 11.32Gbps, providing interoperability with common protocols
including 10G Ethernet, 10G
SONET/SDH, 10G Fiber=
Channel
and 10G OTN (G.709).
Applications for the
iConverter XG include connecting 10 Gigabit servers with copper 10GBASE-CX4
interfaces via fiber, and converting standard 10 Gigabit wavelengths to WDM
wavelengths to expand the bandwidth of existing fiber infrastructure.
iConverter XG module=
s are
available as self-contained standalone units or chassis plug-in modules.&nb=
sp;
Three interface configurations of the XG are available, supporting XFP to X=
FP,
XFP to SFP+, and SFP+ to SFP+. Pluggable XFP and SFP+ transceivers are
supported for multimode and single-mode applications, supporting distances =
up
to 80km on single-mode. Copper to fiber conversion is achieved with C=
X4
interface XFP transceivers. Built-in loopback functions, on-board sta=
tus
LEDs and link fault propagation modes facilitate quick troubleshooting
diagnostics. DIP switches documented on the module label enable easy
configuration and installation. The plug-in XG features full manageme=
nt
capabilities, including status reporting, fault detection, threshold
violations, loopback functionality and SNMP trap notification.
The iConverter XG is=
part of
the iConverter portfolio that consists of modular media converters, CWDM
multiplexers and a variety of chassis that provide flexible configurations =
for
high-density and standalone applications. iConverters can be used in manage=
d or
unmanaged networks. iConverter modules can be managed by installing a
Network Management Module in the same chassis, and management can be access=
ed
via Omnitron’s NetOutlook® SNMP network management software, third-party SN=
MP
software, or Telnet.
iConverter media con=
verters
are covered by a lifetime warranty and 24/7 technical support with no servi=
ce
contract fees.
For more information=
about
iConverter media converters, CWDM and T1 multiplexers, please visit www.omnitron-systems.com.
About Omnitron Syste=
ms
Technology, Inc.
Omnitron Systems Tec=
hnology
provides fiber optic connectivity for next-generation enterprise networks, =
and
enables the delivery of managed optical Ethernet services into the
infrastructure of service provider networks. For product and reseller
information, contact the sales department at Omnitron Systems by phone at
800-675-6410 or 949-250-6510, or by e-mail at sales@omnitron-systems.com. Omnitron
Systems is headquartered in Irvine, California.
******=
*********************
Optical Cable Corpor=
ation
(Nasdaq GM: OCCF) today announced the introduction of its new line of
FiberOpticx™ OCO Enclosures designed to offer cost-effective solutions for =
data
and communication cable management.
Optical Cable’s OCO =
line of
fiber optic enclosures were designed specifically for smaller inside and
outside plant uses and are rugged, compact and ideal for quick patching
applications.
“Our OCO line of enc=
losures
offer the features you’d expect from larger boxes, yet at a competitive and
economical price point,” says Bruce Smith, Product Manager. The FiberOpticx™ OCO product line was
developed by Optical Cable’s SMP Data Communications subsidiary.
The OCO6N and the OC=
O12N
easily accommodate SMP’s adapter plates, offering up to 12 fiber ports on t=
he
OCO6N and up to 24 fiber ports on the OCO12N.
By using SMP’s adapter plates, a multitude of termination configurat=
ions
in multi-mode or single mode can be achieved.
In addition, the enclosures offer convenient cable storage hoops to
assist with proper cable management and fiber bend radius requirements.
The FiberOpticx™ OCO=
product
line comes standard with a tamper resistant fastening system,
is NEMA Type 3 compl=
iant and
is backed by a 15-year out-of-the-box warranty.
Company Information
Founded in 1983, Opt=
ical
Cable Corporation is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia with offices and
manufacturing and warehouse facilities located both in Roanoke, Virginia and
near Asheville, North Carolina. The
Company primarily manufactures its high quality fiber optic cables at its I=
SO
9001:2000 registered and MIL-STD-790F certified facility located in Roanoke,
Virginia and its high quality connectivity products at its ISO 9001:2000
registered facility located near Asheville, North Carolina.
For more about Optic=
al Cable
Corporation and SMP Data Communications, visit www.occfiber.com and www.smpdata.com. =
******=
*********************
=
;
SMP Data Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Optical
Cable Corporation (Nasdaq GM: OCCF), received a patent on November 11, 2008=
for
its cost-effective innovation in home data technology that allows the insta=
ller
to save time and money, while keeping home and business owners ready for the
future.
SMP Data
Communications’ Dual AxcessTM product line features a wall plate
that provides ports for a standard telephone jack and an Ethernet computer =
jack
supported by a single cable. The jack also includes two additional bla=
nk
ports that allow for future high-tech options, including home automation,
advanced lighting, security systems and smart home upgrades.
The wall=
plate
connects via standard 5e or 6 cable to a panel installed in a closet or uti=
lity
room, enabling the use of either hybrid voice and data, or gigabyte Ethernet
systems.
Dual Axc=
essTM
cuts communications cabling and terminations by 50 percent, resulting in
reduced labor requirements and reduced stress on both landfills and the wor=
ld’s
dwindling supply of copper.
“It just=
makes
sense. If you use one wire instead of two to do the same job, you are
reducing waste, while saving time and money,” said Ian Timmins, SMP Research
and Development Engineer, who developed the technology.
The prod=
uct is
also testable with standard cabling test equipment, which is not true for
standard twisted pair configurations. Technicians install Dual Axcess<=
sup>TM
as they would a standard Ethernet system with 110 punch downs at panel and
outlet.
“These p=
anels
can easily be expanded to include more outlets for voice services,” said
Timmins who noted the system also offers broadband 10/100 Internet service =
or
one-gigabyte Internet service, which is ideal for home-based businesses.
In addit=
ion,
Dual AxcessTM is a green-initiative product. The technology=
has
received 3 Healthy Built Home Credits from the WNC Green building Council.<=
/span>
“Dual Ax=
cess
changes everything in residential communications,” said Bill Reynolds,
President of SMP Data Communications and Senior Vice President of Sales, “I=
t is
the most creative and innovative new product in residential networking in t=
he
last five years. The customer can be assured that the system is reliable, f=
ully
standards compliant, meets code and carries an outstanding warranty.”
Every Op=
tical
Cable Corporation connectivity product is backed with a 15-year out-of-the-=
box
service warranty, and a 25-year installation warranty when installed by a
certified, factory-trained subcontractor.
Company Information
Founded in 1983, Optical Cable Corporation is headquartered in Roan=
oke,
Virginia with offices and manufacturing and warehouse facilities located bo=
th
in Roanoke, Virginia and near Asheville, North Carolina. The Company
primarily manufactures its high quality fiber optic cables at its ISO 9001:=
2000
registered and MIL-STD-790F certified facility located in Roanoke, Virginia=
and
its high quality connectivity products at its ISO 9001:2000 registered faci=
lity
located near Asheville, North Carolina.
For more about Optical Cable Corporation and SMP Data Communication=
s,
visit www.occfiber.com and www.smpdata.com.
******=
*********************
When the power goes =
out,
failure is not an option when it comes to business critical servers, networ=
king
devices, data storage, telephony and security systems. According to Frost & Sullivan, IT
managers, particularly at SMBs, are seeking longer battery-back up times.
At BICSI, Para Syste=
ms,
manufacturer of the Minuteman power protection solutions and the first comp=
any
to offer external battery packs with a UPS, introduced its EXL Series of
extreme runtime battery packs for mission critical applications. The series offers companies up to a fiv=
e time
increase in battery runtime for their uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).=
A white paper on the topic of business
critical continuity and the need for longer essential IT and applications
uptime will be available soon.
Minuteman has been a=
pioneer
in extended runtime applications for more than 25 years, having been the fi=
rst
company to offer external battery packs with a UPS. In addition to the new EXL extreme runt=
ime
battery pack series, Para Systems offers a wide variety of battery pack opt=
ions
including its XL Series, also compatible with its Endeavor and EnterprisePl=
us
UPS.
******=
*********************
The U.S. Environment=
al
Protection Agency has developed a new fact sheet that answers such question=
s as
"Do you know how to tell the difference between carbon monoxide (CO)
poisoning and the flu?"
According to a Jan. =
13 press
release, symptoms could be the result of CO poisoning when you feel better =
when
you are away from home or the symptoms occur or get worse shortly after tur=
ning
on a fuel-burning device or running a vehicle in an attached garage.
Carbon monoxide, an =
odorless
and colorless gas, is the most common cause of poisoning death in the United
States. Unintentional CO poisonings are responsible for about 500 deaths and
15,000 visits to the emergency room each year. Carbon monoxide poisoning ca=
n be
prevented by installing a carbon monoxide alarm, yet less than one-third of
homes have them installed.
Everyone is at risk =
of being
poisoned by CO exposure. Older adults with health conditions such as chronic
heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems are even more susceptible.
Devices that produce CO include cars, boats, gasoline engines, stoves, and
heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or
semi-enclosed spaces. http://www.epa.gov/aging=
/resources/factsheets/pcmp/index.htm
.
******=
*********************
Signamax has recently introduced seve= ral new conversion products including Serial to Fi= ber Ethernet for PLC environments and more including Video to fib= er conversion for analog security camera and other CCTV use and Power over Ethernet switches and media conversion units. These new PoE prod= ucts allow such applications as IP security cameras or VoIP phone systems to draw their power from the Ethernet cable and work within any existing Ethernet network structure.
Signamax also manufactures a full lin= e of 10/100/1000 managed and unmanaged Ethernet switches and fiber to cop= per Ethernet media conversion products. Our latest hardened Eth= ernet switch and conversion products support PoE and speeds up to Gigabit and are designed f= or use in conditions of temperature extremes from -40°F to 185°F. These produc= ts can be used in transportation systems, industrial environments (including mining and utilities) and should always be installed and used with Signamax premise cabling offerings such as patch panels, keystone jacks, fiber and copper patch cords and any other structured c= abling items in Cat5e and Cat 6.
Signamax offers pre-sale engineering support on projects spec'ing in the Signamax line and has comprehensive warranty and training programs.
Remember Signamax is a ISO 9001:2000 manufacturing house align=
ed
with the industries best datacomm distribution firms so any
http://www.signamax.com<=
/span>
***************************
All
RoHS-compliant products, including Apex
vinyl compounds, the company's broadest and most widely used ran=
ge
of wire and cable products; Fi=
reGUARD
low-flame, low-smoke compounds, meeting or exceeding UL requirem=
ents
pertaining to applications in copper and fiber optic plenum cables used in
commercial buildings; Halguard=
halogen-free, flame retardant, low-smoke compounds; Flexalloy vinyl elastomers for rugged performance under
aggressive conditions over a very wide temperature range; and specialty
products, including=
Vidux conductive vinyl, <=
span
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Polydux conductive polyolefi=
n, FreeFlex plasticizer-free vi=
nyl,
and custom-formulated compounds based on blends and alloys with nitrile rub=
ber,
thermoplastic polyurethane, and other polymers. Latest product introduction
prior to Interwire 2009: UV-resistant, antimicrobial FireGUARD compounds for
continuous indoor / outdoor optical fiber installations. The wire industry
manager for the Vinyl Division is Mike Patel at mpatel@teknorapex.com. Divisional emai=
l is
vinyl@teknorapex.com.
Elexar compounds,
combining superior electrical properties with flexibility and toughness ove=
r a
wide temperature range, for flexible cord, coil cord, and robotics and
specialty cables, as well as plugs, connectors, and grommets; Telcar TPE blends, with
rubber-like feel and physical properties, plus resistance to heat aging and
ozone; and Uniprene thermoplastic
vulcanizates (TPVs), exhibiting a wide service temperature range and provid=
ing
the performance, look, and feel of vulcanized rubber. Latest product
introduction prior to Interwire 2009: fully RoHS-/REACH-complaint Elexar and
Telcar UL-recognized grades that meet UL 94 V-0 and UL-1581 VW-1 flame test
requirements. Also new: non-halogen flame-retardant TPE and environmentally
"green" compounds. For the TPE Division the industry manager is P=
hil
Scadding at pscadding@teknorapex.com. Divisional
email: tpe@teknorapex.com.
Munsell
colors that are fully RoHS-compliant in formulations for PVC, plus colors f=
or
use with Fireguard low-smoke PVC, polyethylene, EVA, and copolyester elasto=
mer
compounds. Latest product introduction prior to Interwire 2009: color
concentrates for engineering-grade copolyester TPEs. The wire industry mana=
ger
for Teknor Color Company is Erik Kalis at ekalis@teknorapex.com.
Divisional email: info@teknorcolor.com.
Teknor
Apex Company's world headquarters is at 505 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI&n=
bsp;
02861 U.S.A. Tel: 1-401-725-8000. Tel. from U.S. only: 1-800-556-3864. Emai=
l: info@teknorapex.com.
Visit www.teknorapex.com. Singapore Polymer Corporation: 41 Shipyard Road, Singapore
628134. Tel: 65-6265-2544. Fax: 65-6265-1821. Email: ginfo@spcpl.com.sg.
Teknor Apex (Suzhou) Advanced
Polymer Compounds Co. Pte Ltd.: (vinyl and TPE compounds: No. 78
Ping Sheng Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu, China 215126. Tel:
86-512-6287-1550. Fax: 86-512-6288-8371. Email: infosuzhou@teknorapex.com. Teknor Apex UK, Ltd.: =
Tat
Bank Road, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 4NH, UK. Tel: 44-121-665-2105. Fax:
44-121-544-5530. Email: infotauk@teknorapex.com. -
***************************
It has become clear =
that the
United States of America is on a path that will lead to more environmentally
sound practices and policies. In o=
rder
to compete, the nation must establish business policies that fit in with the
rest of the world market. We as a =
nation
must show that we are willing to give back to the local and global environm=
ent
and help improve our reputation by showing that we can take a leading posit=
ion
in cleaning up our planet. The goo=
d news
is that this is actually a win-win situation.
“Going green” will not only help our businesses by becoming more
environmentally friendly; it will also help our businesses financially. This
will be done through cost savings and by bringing in a healthier bottom line
the form of additional business throughout the world market.
While some types of =
savings
are easily measured, other activities, actions and policies are more diffic=
ult
to measure. The human element of cost savings can be seen by the reduction =
of
sick days, an increase in production, or the reduction of operational expen=
ses
in a “green building”. When compar=
ed
against a similar legacy building. With a complete financial analysis, these
items can provide significant longterm savings.
By “going green”, we improve our physical environment, our work
environment and we reap the benefits of long term financial savings.
What exactly is “Going Green”?
Going Green is about
conducting businesses in an environmentally conscious manner. The goal to
increases production and reduces operational expenses. This is a business
analysis and decision making processes which is based upon long term financ=
ial
models. It is the financial analysis that identifies the sustainability of a
green solution. The resulting savings can be significant, easily offsetting=
any
initial implementation expense. These are continuous savings that exist
throughout the entire building’s lifecycle.
Where did the term “Going Green” Originate?
In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (=
EPA)
launched Energy Star, a
voluntary labeling program which is designed to promote and recognize
energy-efficiency in monitors, climate control equipment, and other
technologies. This resulted in the widespread adoption of sleep mode am=
ong
consumer electronics. The term "green computing" was probably coi=
ned
shortly after the Energy Star program began.
How is the Government “Going Green”?
Many governmental ag=
encies
have continued to implement standards and regulations that encourage green
computing. The Energy
Star program was revised in October 2006 to include stricter
efficiency requirements for computer equipment, along with a tiered ranking
system for approved products. There are currently 26 US States that have
established state-wide recycling programs for obsolete computers and consum=
er electronics
equipment. The statutes either imp=
ose a
fee for each unit sold at retail (Advance Recovery Fee model), or require t=
he
manufacturers to reclaim the equipment at disposal (Producer Responsibility
model).
How is the Informati=
on
Technology industry “Going Green”?
Modern IT systems re=
ly upon
a complicated mix of people, networks and hardware; as such, a green comput=
ing
initiative must be systemic in nature, and address increasingly sophisticat=
ed
problems. Elements of such as solution may comprise items such as end user
satisfaction, management restructuring, regulatory compliance, disposal of =
electronic waste<=
/a>, <=
span
style=3D'text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>telecommuting=
, virtualization of
server resources, energy use,
Server virtualizatio=
n is a
green concept that is in all the major publications. Virtualization leverag=
es
the power of modern CPU processors. The excess processing power in the mode=
rn
computer, permits the consolidation of multiple virtual servers into a sing=
le
unit. This consolidation of servers provides several major benefits. It red=
uces
power consumption, reduces the physical space requirements, reduces cooling
costs and initial hardware/software costs. The cost savings of the power al=
one
is significant (1 dollar reduction in CPU power =3D 3 dollars in total savi=
ngs
when environmental and other equipment are added in. These types of cost
savings are easily measured and continuous month after month. This is an ea=
sy
economic win and the major reason virtualization is so popular.
What other examples are there of “Going Green” =
in the
IT Industry?
One example can be;
alternative network topologies. These are standard based designs that can
reduce air conditioning requirements, increase useable floor space, and red=
uce
the volume of copper cabling in a building. The elimination of a single air
conditioning system saves its capital expenditure and approximately $2000.0=
0 a
year. Reducing the size of a telecommunications closet, can increase rentab=
le
floor space or make the little space you already have, sufficient. Reducing=
the
copper cabling within a building, improves air circulation, reduces the fuel
load above the ceiling (a liability issue), facilitates the removal of
abandoned copper cables (NEC 2000 compliance) and can significantly reduces=
the
cost of wiring work areas. There is a lot that can be done, with our IT
infrastructure to improve our environment and provide substantial savings. =
The type of cable ca=
n be a
significant ecological consideration. There is an environmentally friendly
cable, RoHS compliant, available for use in our buildings. RoHS is the
Reduction of Hazardous substances and has many international implementation=
s.
It calls for the elimination of lead, mercury and cadmium, hazardous substa=
nces
found in the existing cabling in our buildings.
Whether a new build, or a retro-fit, the installation of new RoHS
compliant cables eliminates a potential future liability.
Teleconferencing<=
/a>,
Are there any other ways of “Going Green” without affecting equipmen=
t?
Power management
Turning off workers
computers and other electronic devices at night, can offer huge power savin=
gs.
While this seems a simple task, getting dept. Managers and employees to shut
down their electronic devices is challenging. They generally don’t pay the
energy bills. However, implementing an energy charge back systems can provi=
de
the motivation to support power conservation. The energy costs savings are
substantial.
Computer systems tha=
t have
outlived their particular function can be repurposed, or donated to various
charities and non-profit organizations. However, many charities have recent=
ly
imposed minimum system requirements for donated equipment. Additionally, parts from outdated syste=
ms may
be salvaged and recycled through certain retail outlets and municipal or
private recycling centers. Computi=
ng
supplies, such as printer
cartridges, paper,
and batteries may be recycled as well.
How
can “Going Green”, simplify our processes, improve technical craftsmanship
and/or reduce service outages?
A green analysis wou=
ld also
include evaluating our current business processes. We tend to make the same
mistakes over and over again. What we find is service outages are often self
inflicted from very common sources, such as, cabling congestion, lack of
configuration management, or no change control.
The monetary costs associated with a single outage, is always stagge=
ring.
Simple things like standardizing naming / labeling, configuration managemen=
t,
developing change control processes, and establishing accountability can
provide major improvements. The trouble is, we all say we do these things, =
the
reality is we can do them better.
In Summary
“Going green” requir=
es a
complete analysis of our IT infrastructure and processes using long term
financial models. The resulting
decisions are made with an environmental consideration and cost benefit
analysis. What has been discovered=
is;
the additional costs in building construction and properly implemented syst=
ems
are quickly offset by the savings. These savings are measured in decades.
******=
*********************
Adv=
anced
Manufacturing, Green
Business, =
Network
Cabling and Workplace were
shuttered by CLB Media Inc.
last week. The company, which owns more than 20 b-to-b publications,
discontinued the titles in order to focus resources and cut back on costs,
according to Niel Hiscox, vice president of publishing, media. Two people—an
editor and a junior salesperson—were laid off as a result of the closures. =
One
art department position that was unfilled will remain so.
Network Cabling Magazi=
ne
concedes to Cabling Networking Systems Magazine
While cabling was once a narrow enough business to build a magazine around,
"we really found that a lot of our other books were touching in this a=
rea
and the traditional cabling market was becoming a small part of the concerns
for the players in it,” Hiscox said
Cabli=
ng
Networking Systems
Magazine’s Publisher (Maureen Levy) and Editor (Paul Barker) said that t=
heir
publication is 100% focused on the task of digging out the important issues=
and
hot products and services in the very vital cabling industry. Their finding=
s at
the recent BICSI annual conference supported an optimistic view of business
opportunities for continued growth in the “Intelligent Building” trend.
www.cnsmagazine.com
Automati=
on,
Security, and System Integration and NET ZERO Building designs are areas th=
at
continue to show healthy growth despite gloomy global economic conditions.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> www.caba.org
For higher education technology leaders, the rapid pace of change to=
day
presents dramatic new challenges, from financial concerns to management iss=
ues
and evolving styles of teaching and learning. The 13th annual ACUTA Strateg=
ic
Leadership Forum in April will help leaders meet these challenges. <=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>
The Foru=
m,
presented by ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications Technolo=
gy
Professionals in Higher Education, will be April 20-21 in Atlanta, in
conjunction with the organization’s 38th Annual Conference. The Forum blends
interactive panel presentations by campus and industry experts with roundta=
ble
discussions to maximize participants’ opportunity to learn from each other.=
The annual Forum, this year titled “Changes and Challenges in Uncert=
ain
Times: When the Only Constant is Change,” is for individuals in higher
education with senior strategic planning and decision making responsibility=
. It
is open to both members and non-members of ACUTA, the only national associa=
tion
dedicated to serving the needs of higher education information communicatio=
ns
technology professionals.
The Foru=
m will
address a range of strategic issues facing colleges and universities, with
particular attention to key areas such as overcoming financial challenges,
technology’s role in supporting changing teaching and learning methodologie=
s,
dealing with the question of outsourcing, managing change, enabling innovat=
ive
working arrangements, and reinforcing the value of information communicatio=
ns
technology.
“T=
oday's
information communications technology leaders are challenged to keep their
campuses current and competitive in the technologies that they offer, while
coping with severe budget cutbacks that force re-examination of the business
models for managing and delivering technology services.,” said Jeri Semer,
executive director of ACUTA. “These may be the most demanding times that th=
ese
leaders have ever faced.”
&= nbsp;
T= he 2009 Forum provides the opportunity for information communications technology leaders to hear not only how their peers are addressing these challenges, b= ut also the perspectives of a range of industry thought leaders. Forum present= ers sharing their insight and expertise at the Forum include representatives of institutions such as Northwestern University, Georgia Tech, Emory Universit= y, and Lee College.
Particip=
ants in
the Forum also enjoy all the benefits of the larger ACUTA conference, which
annually attracts several hundred representatives of colleges and universit=
ies
across North America. The conference runs from April 19-22 and includes its=
own
broad range of informational presentations, networking opportunities, and
exhibit area.
The Foru=
m site
is the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. More information about the Forum and Annual
Conference can be found at www.acuta.org.
About AC=
UTA
ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications
Technology Professionals in Higher Education, is an international
non-profit educational association serving colleges and universities. =
Its
core purpose is to support higher education information communications
technology professionals in contributing to the achievement of the strategic
mission of their institutions. ACUTA represents nearly 2000 individuals at =
some
780 institutions of higher education, with members ranging from small schoo=
ls
and community colleges to the 50 largest U.S. institutions. ACUTA’s
Corporate Affiliate members represent all categories of communications
technology vendors serving the college/university market. For more inf=
ormation,
visit www.acuta.org or call 859-278-3338.
AFCOM
is premiering its new Data Center Summit Program at the upcoming Data Center
World® Conference on March 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, NV. This unique program g=
ives
attendees the opportunity to sit down in a one-on-one, intimate setting with
several exhibitors to discuss what issues you are dealing with, projects th=
at
are coming up and what you expect from the vendor community.
In
order to participate, you must be registered as an attendee f=
or
Data Center World or the Expo in order to sign up for the Summit. Ple=
ase
visit www.datacenterworld.com<=
/a> to
register for the full conference or go to http://www.datacenterworld.com/world_expo/expo_only_pass.aspx
to register to attend the Expo-Only.
=
This
program is absolutely free, but time slots to meet with vendors are limited=
, so
please sign up to participate as soon as possible.
For
detailed information, including participating exhibitors and a schedule of =
time
slots, please go to http://da=
tacenterworld.com/summitattendee.aspx
=
BI=
CSI started the year off with one of the best conferences in
years. If you missed it, you missed a great opportunity to find new goodies=
to
build and maintain your business. www.bic=
si.org
Despite tough econom=
ic
times, professionals in the information transport systems (ITS) industry
continue to recognize the importance of continuing education and staying
abreast of new technology and business solutions showcased at a BICSI Winter
(Jan. 2009) Conference & Exhibition in Orlando. More than 1,637 registe=
red
professionals attended at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort.
At the close of Thur=
sday’s
BICSI meetings, Receptions and Exhibits, more than 4898 participants passed
through the doors to visit more than 175 exhibiting companies.
¨&n=
bsp;
Siemon new h=
ot
Z-MAX RJ45 connector –
introduced by Carl, John & CK Siemon
http://www.siemon.com/us/white_papers/09-01-13=
-reinventing-the-rj-45-for-tomorrows-network.asp
In a revolutionary move, Siemon has completely overhauled the internal
functionality of the RJ-style modular plug and outlet. Newly patented and
patent pending techniques virtually eliminate plug and outlet termination
variability, optimize mated performance, and prescribe the use of complete =
and
focused corrective compensation circuitry that result in a connections syst=
em
that exhibits unprecedented transmission headroom and mechanical reliabilit=
y.
These revolutionary enhancements are incorporated into Siemon's new Z-MAX
family of category 6A connecting hardware and patching solutions.
The Siemon Company booth was “busier than a one-armed paper hanger in a
wind storm”. There were a host of new offerings with more value and headroom
performance than their competitor can deliver.
Plus: Valerie Rybinski Maguire of The Siemon Company received the
well-deserved BICSI Harry Pfister Annual Award. Her acceptance speech
recognized the company’s support and commitment to quality. www.siemon.com
Siemon's new Z-MAX family of category 6A connecting hardw=
are
and patching solutions.
Where can you =
buy this
hot new cabling solution? CSC - Communications Supply Corporation
NETWORK CONVERGENCE<= o:p>
One Distributor. Eve=
rything
Infrastructure.
Founded in 1972, =
Communications
Supply Corporation is a leading distributor of low voltage network
infrastructure and industrial wire and cable products.
Through a network of=
32
branch offices, CSC distributes a full range of products to support advanced
connectivity for voice and data communications, access control, security
surveillance, building automation, video distribution, life safety broadcast
systems and electrical construction and manufacturing for commercial, resid=
ential
and government customers.
CSC is recognized for
delivering measurable value and outstanding support to its customers and
suppliers alike. Vast application expertise makes CSC an unbiased knowledge
resource for product information, documentation and training. www.gocsc.com
¨ &n=
bsp;
Megladon Mfg. Sc=
ratch
Guard™ Fiber O=
ptic
test & patch cables and Fluke Networks combined to deliver a powerful a=
nd
durable testing system solution <=
span
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:13.5pt'>www.flukenetworks.com www.megladonmfg.com
Fluke Networks amazi=
ng DTX
CableAnalyzer™
Incredible but true:=
Test
results showed that over 1000 insertions of the Megladon Scratch Guard™ Fib=
er
Optic test cables used on the Fluke Networks amazing DTX
CableAnalyzer™ showed virtuall=
y no
degradation or scratching. www.megladonmfg.com www.flukenetworks.com
¨ &n=
bsp;
EZMOUNT shelf - a real find for functionality and convenience.
We overh=
eard an
interesting discussion in the Exhibit Hall at the January conference. =
A
contractor attending the BICSI annual conference in Orlando was talking with
Bob Laukonis of iNNOdata, and was complimenting him and thanking him for th=
e EZ
Mount Network Shelf. He told Bob he searched diligently and finally f=
ound
this great product about 6 months ago. His company has been using it =
on
CISCO Systems UC500 installs, as he is a Cisco partner. ww=
w.cisco.com
The shelf is perfect for the set up of the product, and his guys love the
simplicity and ruggedness of the shelf. Internally inside his company
they refer to it as the "Cool Rack", cool referring to the sleek,
sturdy design and affordable price. The contractor said that they were
sorry they didn't some across it sooner. Bob Laukonis asked where he
found the shelf, and he simply said "Google. It’s where you can find
everything". He finished up the discussion by telling Bob to kee=
p up
the great work. www.ezmt.com
What’s next? The NECA (National Electrical Contract= ors Association) Annual Conference & Exhibition.
Mark your calendars =
for
NECA’s Annual Conference & Exhibition.
NECA Convention and =
Trade
Show - Sep 13, 2009 - Sep 15, 2009 in Seattle, WA. This event rivals BICSI =
and
has a host of different buyers with very substantial budgets. The Electrical
Contractor is definitely in the IBS business.
In fact, here are just a few interesting statistics from the 2008 Electrica=
l Contractor
Magazine profile study:
-66% of electrical
contractors did work in Communications/Systems Connectivity, and almost 6 in 10 worked in CII
Automation & Controls in 2007.
-57% do work in Residential
Automation/Controls
-57% do Structured Wir=
ing /
Cabling work
-46% of the electrical contractor’s revenue now comes from
their involvement in Design/ Build projects.
-Ov=
erall,
electrical contractors make brand substitutions/decisions about 70% of the time.
Industry Experts will
discuss the latest solutions for the Integrated Building Systems including:
Power – Communications – Control -Security - Life Safety systems plus wirel=
ess
backbone infrastructure. Change is happening in their world. www.necanet.org
"NECA provides solutions and educational
assistance for nearly all the issues that Electrical Contractors face. Foundation research and NECA's educatio=
nal
programs at the convention and show are addressing our existing problems and
working diligently on paving the way for future growth in our industry=
.”
Ron Autrey, Miller Electric
NECA Offers “CEU’s or Contact Hours” for Licensing Requirements during
NECA Convention & Show. NECA is an autho=
rized
CEU provider and complies with the guidelines and requirements established =
by
the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Participants in many of NECA’s workshops and seminars satisfy state and loc=
al
licensing requirements. NECA Convention & Show attendees will be scanne=
d at
pre-convention workshops, management seminars, and technical workshops. A
certificate of contact hours will be available for pick-up on-site.
”Milspec Industries exhibits at 20+ shows a year and we find that NECA does=
a
fantastic job of reaching all segments of the electrical industry.”
William Clary, Milspec
Plan to attend the 2009
September 12-15, 200=
9 -
Washington State Convention & Trade Center - Seattle
www.necaconvention.org
******=
*********************
Today,
BICSI and the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) entered
into an honorary friendship agreement, to promote further growth and
development of global information transport systems (ITS) and Electronic Li=
fe
Safety and Security (ELSS) systems. The official agreement was signed today=
by
Mr. Edward J. Donelan, RCDD, NTS, TLT, BICSI President, and Mr. Michael Mil=
ler,
President of NBFAA.
“This
agreement creates new opportunity for our members, between industries, in a
time of rapid technology integration and fast moving business developments,”
Donelan said. “We look forward to a future complete with great reciprocal
working relationships with all the professional members in the highly regar=
ded
NBFAA. As a result of this agreement, our training, education and certifica=
tion
is paramount to demonstrate a high degree of competence and professionalism=
.”
The
two organizations plan to engage in a variety of cooperative activities,
including exchanging visits and views between the members of the two entiti=
es
in order to promote a qualified and skilled work force; promoting and
developing reciprocal training, education and certifications of ITS and ELSS
design and installation professionals; and pursuing other cooperative
activities as appropriate.
BICSI
believes that this relationship will enhance and expand BICSI’s dedicated
outreach and also will add significantly to its NxtGEN Outreach Programs. N=
BFAA
sees this relationship as the quickest, most efficient approach to widening=
the
educational horizons for the members of both associations.
“NBFAA
is excited at the prospect of offering our members an even greater selectio=
n of
education and training to build a bridge between technologies that are fast
becoming the cornerstone of the solutions they provide. We also look forwar=
d to
offering training, education and certification to BICSI professionals to he=
lp
them to capitalize on the integration of the IT and the electronic security
worlds. Rapid technological advances make partnerships like this one a vital
part of our workforce development effort,” said Miller.
BICSI
previously signed similar friendship agreements with InfoComm in 2005, and =
TIA
in 2006 and again in 2008. Cross functional relationships among entities wi=
th
common goals add significantly to the benefits offered to the membership of
these organizations. BICSI will continue to reach out to like-minded groups=
in
an endeavor to enhance the knowledge base of their membership.
###
BICSI prov=
ides
information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and compani=
es
in the ITS industry. We serve more than 25,000 ITS professionals, including
designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the
fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety=
and
automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professi=
onal
registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals =
in
delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for
continual improvement and enhanced professional stature. Headquartered in
Tampa, Florida, USA, BICSI membership spans nearly 140 countries. For more
information, visit www.bicsi.org.
About NBFAA
NBFAA, a non-profi=
t 501(c)
6 trade association, is the nation's oldest and largest organization dedica=
ted
to representing, promoting, and supporting the electronic life safety,
security, and systems industry. Member companies specialize in a wide spect=
rum
of services to commercial and residential consumers, including security and
fire alarms, video surveillance, access control and monitoring. In cooperat=
ion
with a federation of state associations, NBFAA provides government advocacy=
and
delivers timely information, professional development tools, products and
services that members use to grow and prosper their businesses. The NBFAA m=
ay
be reached at (888) 447-1689 or on the Web at www.alarm.org.
******=
*********************
BICSI, the associati=
on
supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry with informatio=
n,
education and knowledge assessment, announces the introduction of the IN101:
BICSI ITS Installer 1 Training.
IN101 is a comprehen=
sive
five-day course for those with little or no cabling installation experience=
. It
is designed to provide students with the necessary background, knowledge and
basic skills needed to function effectively on the job.
Course topics includ=
e:
Industry orientation=
Codes and standards/=
industry
best practices
Safety
Professionalism
Structured premises =
cabling
systems
Media
Job site skills
“The IN101 course is=
BICSI’s
comprehensive orientation to the ITS industry,” said Richard Dunfee, RCDD, =
OSP,
BICSI Director of Professional Development. “It is structured in a way that
makes it very easy for someone to get their foot in the door and start a
successful cabling career.”
Upon completion of t=
he
course, students will be able to sit for the ITS Installer 1 exam in order =
to
attain the ITS Installer 1 designation. Pricing for the course is $950 and
awards 35 BICSI continuing education credits (CECs) for RCDD, ITS Installer=
or
ITS Technician credential holders. Students must be able to distinguish bet=
ween
different colors and possess manual dexterity to complete fine motor tasks.=
Interested candidate=
s can
download an exam application at www.bicsi.org/installer1
or call 800.242.7405 (USA and Canada toll-free) or +1 813.979.1991 to reque=
st
an application.
###
BICSI is a professio=
nal
association supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry. ITS
covers the spectrum of voice, data and video technologies. It encompasses t=
he
design, integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fiber- and
copper-based distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure
that supports the transportation of information and associated signaling
between and among communications and information gathering devices.
BICSI provides infor=
mation,
education and knowledge assessment for individuals and companies in the ITS
industry. We serve more than 25,000 ITS professionals, including designers,
installers and technicians. These individuals provide the fundamental
infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and automat=
ion
systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional
registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals =
in
delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for
continual improvement and enhanced professional stature.
Headquartered in Tam=
pa,
Florida, USA, BICSI membership spans nearly 140 countries. For more
information, visit www.bicsi.org.
******=
*********************
Events surrounding t=
he 2009
BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibition have officially concluded after a =
full
two weeks of BICSI courses, credentialing exams, educational presentations,
exhibits and valuable networking opportunities.
The conference hoste=
d more
than 4,800 attendees. In addition to the more than 1,600 registered informa=
tion
transport systems (ITS) professionals, there were 1,888 one-day passes
purchased onsite for those who were focused on seeing the new ITS products =
and
solutions that were debuting at the conference.
“We have a fresh sta=
rt going
into 2009,” said Edward Donelan, RCDD, NTS, TLT, BICSI President. “The resu=
lts
coming out of this conference support the fact that the ITS industry is str=
ong
and will continue to flourish.”
The closing general =
session
on Thursday, January 22, opened with two technical presentations. Alfred
Flores, RCDD, with Berk-Tek, talked about the next generation solution for
networking environments in the program “40/100 Gb Ethernet Over Multimode
Optical Fiber, Planning for Infrastructure Readiness." He was followed=
by
Todd Fries, with HellermanTyton, who presented the audience with an advanced
look at what is being proposed for the new TIA-606-B labeling standard.
Despite uncertain ec= onomic times, the BICSI Reception and Exhibits drew healthy crowds each evening. “= It really didn’t matter about the quantity, it was more about the quality of t= he people that stopped and visited our booth,” said Crystal DeSiena, with Tyco Electronics AMP NETCONNECT. “We are rather happy with the business leads.”<= o:p>
Eric Sadler, with Po=
rta
Systems Corp. in Syosset, New York adds, “BICSI events are always great ven=
ues
for quality networking and this was a very productive show for us.”
Finishing out the
conference, closing keynote speaker Lou Holtz shared his inspirational, and
oftentimes hilarious, life stories as a college football coach, a husband a=
nd a
father.
Touching on a theme
President Obama expressed in his inaugural address, Holtz urged the audienc=
e to
think about the attitude they present in difficult situations. “We’re all g=
oing
to get knocked down from time to time, that’s life, but when you’re down, y=
ou
can stay down or you can choose to pick yourself up.” he stated. “You still
have the chance to succeed even if others don’t believe in you, but if you =
stop
believing in yourself, then you have no chance to succeed.”
The ITS industry wil=
l carry
forward and venture on to the beautiful Inner Harbor of Baltimore in May for
the 2009 BICSI Spring Conference & Exhibition.
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>BICSI by the numbers
Total attendees: 4,898
Total professional attendees: =
1,637
Total exhibiting
companies/exhibitors: 175 companies with 987 representatives
Total guests: 386
Total Exhibit Hall one-day pas=
ses:
1,888
Pre-conference seminars attend=
ance:
910
First-time attendees at a BICSI
Conference: 90
###
BICSI is a professio=
nal
association supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry. ITS
covers the spectrum of voice, data and video technologies. It encompasses t=
he
design, integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fiber- and
copper-based distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure
that supports the transportation of information and associated signaling
between and among communications and information gathering devices.
BICSI provides infor=
mation,
education and knowledge assessment for individuals and companies in the ITS
industry. We serve more than 25,000 ITS professionals, including designers,
installers and technicians. These individuals provide the fundamental
infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and automat=
ion
systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional
registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals =
in
delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for
continual improvement and enhanced professional stature.
Headquartered in Tam=
pa,
Florida, USA, BICSI membership spans nearly 140 countries. For more
information, visit www.bicsi.org.
The Nati=
onal
Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) recently made available the w=
hite
paper, Green Goes Mainstream: How to Profit from Green Market Opportunities.
The study details current trends in the energy efficiency market, and the
closely related green building and renewable energy markets. When customers=
ask
their electrical distributor “what can you do to make my building green?” t=
his
study will provide cogent and convincing answers.
Green Go=
es
Mainstream emphasizes that distributors must figure out how to become “order
makers” instead of “order takers” to seize green market opportunities.
Customers want solutions delivered by experts. As political, financial, and
economic forces line up to rapidly grow the green market, distributors and =
the
electrical distribution industry as a whole must be able to fill this role.=
“The eme=
rging
‘green’ market offers electrical distributors unprecedented opportunities f=
or
profit and growth,” said Tom Naber, president and CEO of NAED. “Energy is an
issue of increasing importance and will dictate significant changes in mark=
et
behavior, which is why NAED is committed to helping its members understand =
the
nature and scale of the changes in the energy market place.”
Yudelson
Associates conducted the research for the study, surveying 165 distribu=
tor
and 63 manufacturer members. “Our research shows that energy efficiency, gr=
een
building and renewable energy will provide a major growth market for sales =
of
electrical products and systems over the next half-decade, as the energy is=
sue
comes front and center in the consciousness of building owners and managers=
,”
said Jerry Yudelson, principal. “Distributors who make the effort to learn
about this emerging market are likely to see growth in sales and profits as=
a
result,” he continued. Yudelson Associates also reviewed current market
literature and interviewed more than 30 leaders throughout key market secto=
rs.
Additionally, members of the study’s task force held several teleconferences
throughout the summer of 2008 to determine and refine the study’s scope and
overall direction. They include:
The study’s recommendations are presented in a convenient A, B, C outline
representing distributors’ various levels of commitment to green markets:
For distributors who want to become more knowledgeable about energy markets,
the appendix of the study offers a list of extensive resources and a glossa=
ry
of some common terms used in the energy efficiency, green building, and
renewable energy markets.
NAED members are encouraged to use this study as a resource manual to help =
them
take advantage of new opportunities arising from the convergence energy sup=
ply
shortfalls, dramatically increasing oil and energy prices, and an insistenc=
e on
a measured response to climate change concerns. These forces represent not =
only
a challenge to American business, but a tremendous opportunity to electrical
distributors.
Funding for this project was provided by the NAED Education & Research
Foundation through the Channel Advantage Partnership endowment. More than 46
electrical distributors and manufacturers have pledged more than $7.9 milli=
on
since the endowment’s creation in 2003. The NAED Foundation supports projec=
ts
and programs that strengthen the electrical distribution channel.
NAED member companies can access an electronic version of the study for free
from the NAED Learning Center. Printed versions of the study are also avail=
able
for purchase by NAED members ($20) or non-members ($999). Contact NAED Cust=
omer
Service at 888-791-2512 or customerservice@naed.org=
for more information.
NAED
is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution indus=
try.
Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps
electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAE=
D’s
membership operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.
Click
here to download a pdf of this release.
******=
*********************
The National Associati=
on of
Electrical Distributors (NAED) announces a series of upgrades to the Electr=
ical
Products Education Course (EPEC). Known throughout the electrical industry =
as a
symbol of quality and a gauge of professional competency, EPEC integrates t=
he
full range of products a distributor sells with a unique systems approach. =
The
course not only provides information about individual products and their
applications, but shows how each is interrelated with other products in
electrical systems. Although EPEC is a self-study course, it provides the a=
dded
benefit of ongoing personal feedback from industry experts as students proc=
eed
through the modules.
Upgrades=
to the
Bronze level are complete, and Silver and Gold updates will follow in spring
and summer. Improvements to the program include:
• New products and technologies
including LEDs, CFLs, and personal protective gear
• Content updated to NEC 2008 and
addition of CE Code references
• Increased emphasis on add-on sa=
les in
each chapter
• Streamlined modules for faster
completion
• Capstone project added for each=
level
Addition=
ally,
there are new resources available including updated EPEC Web pages (www.naed.org/EPEC)
and an online student glossary. Michelle McNamara, NAED vice president and
executive director of the NAED Education and Research Foundation spoke about
the upgrades, “The new EPEC offers the same quality that members have come =
to
expect as well as key updates on new codes, products, and technologies,” she
said. “The program has further evolved to include a stronger emphasis on sa=
les
skills. There are more exercises challenging students to look through the
entire EPEC triangle and find add-on sales based upon product selection. Th=
ese
upgrades will truly help distributors meet the demands of our fast changing
world.”
A bridge module is available for current students interested in transitioni=
ng
to the new EPEC program. Members with previous unused EPEC Bronze modules m=
ay
trade up and save 50% on new modules. Contact customer service at 888-791-2=
512
or customerservice@naed.org=
for full details. Bronze trade-up offer expires March 31, 2009.
NAED invites members to find out more about the upgrades during a complimen=
tary
Webinar on Wednesday, January 21, at 2 p.m. EST. Pre-registration is not
necessary. Download the Webinar connection guide here.
For more information on the webinar contact John Kiso at 888-791-2512 or jki=
so@naed.org.
NAED
is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution indus=
try.
Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps
electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAE=
D’s
membership operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.
Click
here to download a pdf of this release.
******=
*********************
The National Associati=
on of
Electrical Distributors (NAED) introduces two planning guides that undersco=
re
green electrical products and solutions proven to reduce electrical consump=
tion
and commercial building operating costs. The guides were designed in
partnership with the NAED Manufacturers Council to help raise awareness of
electrical energy-saving solutions that reduce operating costs.
“These new NAED guides can be a great supplement to the detail=
ed
planning and consulting that takes place early on in a project,” said John
Strainic, global product general manager, GE Consumer & Industrial. “I
think nearly anyone involved with the lighting and electrical supply
chain—contractors, builders, specifiers, and others—would agree that the us=
e of
these guides can equip them to better serve end-customers. That’s our ultim=
ate,
collective goal.”
The first guide, Industrial Upgrades: Green Electrical Cost
Savings is geared toward individuals involved in green industrial
maintenance, construction, or retrofit projects. The second guide, Comme=
rcial
Upgrades: Green Electrical Cost Savings is geared toward individuals
involved in green commercial construction or rehab projects.
“Sustainability is a major part of our business strategy both in how our
products are manufactured and the value our products and solutions deliver =
to
our customers,” said Dave Bucklew, vice president, US sales - Eaton. “NAED’s
green commercial and industrial guides serve as both a training piece and a
selling tool and can be used by everyone in the electrical distribution
channel. There is no limit to who can benefit from
this initiative.”
The guides are available to NAED members, associates, and allied partners to
use with their customers. For more information contact Customer Service by
phone at (888) 791-2512 or by e-mail at customerservice@naed.org=
.
NAED
is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution indus=
try.
Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps
electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAE=
D’s
membership operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.
Click
here for a pdf of this release.
******=
*********************
The National Associa=
tion of
Electrical Distributors (NAED) announces the launch of TEDGreenRoom.com. TED
GreenRoom is a resource center for=
those
interested in selling alternative power and energy efficient products throu=
gh
the established and successful electrical distribution channel. Designed to
educate electrical distributors and those interested in selling through the=
m,
the site provides news, resources, and product sales information. TED Green=
Room
is published by The Electrical Distributor (TED) Magazine, the official
publication of NAED.
“We believe that ele=
ctrical
distributors need to be poised to serve any market that produces
electricity—whether from solar, wind or hydro
power, our readers n=
eed to
be able to provide the connectivity products to service these markets,” said
Michael Martin, publisher TED Magazine. “As new alternative energy markets
emerge, distributors need to define their own roles in these markets. And t=
o do
that, they need tools and resources—which is what TED GreenRoom is—a place =
to
come and prepare for the future.”
With interest in ene=
rgy
reduction coming from all directions—from global movements to national
legislation to grassroots interest—electrical distributors are being turned=
to
for answers about how to serve this emerging market. As the energy conserva=
tion
movement becomes mainstream, distributors are defining their role in selling
efficiency, taking on alternative power product lines, and partnering with
other providers.
TED GreenRoom provid=
es users
with up-to-date news, industry resources, and a place to help shape the
electrical distribution industry’s future through blogs, interactive resear=
ch
and more. The site compliments TED’s print edition, which features a monthly
green section and quarterly supplement.
TED Magazine is the =
primary
source of information for the electrical distribution channel across North
America. Published by the National Association of Electrical Distributors, =
the
publication is dedicated to best practices for the electrical supply chain.=
In
addition to its print edition, TED Magazine produces up-to-the minute news =
at
tedmag.com.
NAED is the trade
association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution industry. Through
networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps electrical
distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAED’s members=
hip
operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.
******=
*********************
The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) has
named Rocklan Lawrence, president and CEO of National Electric Supply, Inc.=
, as
the incoming Western Region vice president-elect. The Western Region Council
elected Lawrence by majority approval.
“It’s an honor to be selected as the incoming vice
president-elect,” said Lawrence. “I appreciate the opportunity to give back=
to
our industry and to participate in continuing the value that NAED has provi=
ded
to members and manufacturers.”
Lawrence has served in the industry for 23 years and has a long
tenure on NAED’s Western Region Council. He is also a former member of YET,
known today as Leadership Enhancement and Development (LEAD). In addition, =
his
company is active in the association, participating in many areas, including
PAR and the Employee Compensation Study.
A Bronze level EPEC graduate, Lawrence offered professionals j=
ust entering
the industry this advice, “Be committed to a long term plan of growth and
career advancement. Our industry provides tremendous opportunities for a
fulfilling career.”
Lawrence also serves as a leader in his local community. He is a founding m=
ember
of the Young President’s Organization New Mexico Chapter (YPO) and has serv=
ed
as YPO Regional Networking Chairman. He also participates in the following
business organizations: Quality New Mexico, the Albuquerque Economic Forum,=
and
New Mexico Amigos. Lawrence is a graduate of the University of New Mexico, =
with
a BBA in Financial Management.
National Electric Supply services New Mexico from two locations. The corpor=
ate
headquarters is located in Albuquerque, and an additional branch is located=
in
Santa Fe. National Electric Supply is a major distributor of lighting and
electrical distribution products for industrial, commercial and residential
customers.
As an NAED regional vice president-elect, Lawrence will help lead the regio=
n’s
conferences, council meetings, and other events. He will also participate in
NAED’s Membership and Strategic Focus Committees. In addition, when Lawrence
becomes vice president in May 2010, he will serve on the NAED Board of
Directors.
The Western Region is currently under the leadership of Jack Henderson,
executive vice president of Hunzicker Brothers, Inc., Oklahoma City. Beginn=
ing
in May, Bill Squires, vice president of SMC Electric Supply in Springfield,
Mo., will take up the regional leadership for 2009-2010.
NAED
is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution indus=
try.
Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps
electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAE=
D’s
membership operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.
###
Click
here to download a pdf of the release.
Mark your calendars =
for
NECA’s Annual Conference & Exhibition.
NECA Convention and =
Trade
Show - Sep 13, 2009 - Sep 15, 2009 in Seattle, WA. This event rivals BICSI =
and
has a host of different buyers with very substantial budgets. The Electrical
Contractor is definitely in the IBS business.
In fact, here are just a few interesting statistics from the 2008 Electrical
Contractor Magazine profile study:
-66% of electrical
contractors did work in Communications/Systems Connectivity, and almost 6 in 10 worked in CII
Automation & Controls in 2007.
-57% do work in Residential
Automation/Controls
-57% do Structured Wir=
ing /
Cabling work
-46% of the electrical contrac=
tor’s
revenue now comes from their involvement in Design/ Build projects.
-Ov=
erall,
electrical contractors make brand substitutions/decisions about 70% of the time.
Industry Experts will
discuss the latest solutions for the Integrated Building Systems including:
Power – Communications – Control -Security - Life Safety systems plus wirel=
ess
backbone infrastructure. Change is happening in their world. www.necanet.org
"NECA provides solutions and educational
assistance for nearly all the issues that Electrical Contractors face. Foundation research and NECA's educatio=
nal
programs at the convention and show are addressing our existing problems and
working diligently on paving the way for future growth in our industry=
.”
Ron Autrey, Miller Electric
NECA Offers “CEU’s or Contact Hours” for Licensing Requirements during
NECA Convention & Show. NECA is an autho=
rized
CEU provider and complies with the guidelines and requirements established =
by
the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Participants in many of NECA’s workshops and seminars satisfy state and loc=
al
licensing requirements. NECA Convention & Show attendees will be scanne=
d at
pre-convention workshops, management seminars, and technical workshops. A
certificate of contact hours will be available for pick-up on-site.
”Milspec Industries exhibits at 20+ shows a year and we find that NECA does=
a
fantastic job of reaching all segments of the electrical industry.”
William Clary, Milspec
Plan to attend the 2009
September 12-15, 200=
9 -
Washington State Convention & Trade Center - Seattle
www.necaconvention.org
******=
*********************
Energy is too precio=
us to
waste, and so are taxpayer dollars, which is why the city of Ann Arbor,
Michigan, looked for ways to get more bang for its streetlighting buck. How the city is applying the latest in =
LED
technology to light its streets and reduce power consumption by 50% is among
the highlights in the latest edition of ElectricTV.net.
Across the United St=
ates,
local governments are slashing budgets, presenting significant challenges to
those entrusted with providing services to the community. The city of Ann Arbor suffered a 60%
reduction, spurring the search for areas to cut costs, including the city’s
power consumption. Just to light t=
he
streets, the city was spending more than $1.4 million a year.
Says Andrew Brix, ac=
ting
director of the city’s energy program, “We’re talking about taxpayer dollar=
s,
and the money we spent on streetlights every year was a big chunk of change=
.”
Rather than simply letting the streets go dark, the city embarked on a pilot
program to replace its 6,600 streetlamps with energy-saving LEDs or Light
Emitting Diodes. The measured resu=
lt
after installing an initial 1,000 LED lights was a decrease in energy use f=
rom
120 watts per fixture to 56. As a =
result
says Brix, “We cut our overall bill in half,” with the savings paying for t=
he
replacement program in just four years.
A joint production o=
f the
National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Br=
otherhood
of Electrical Workers (IBEW), ElectricTV.net is the only web TV program
dedicated to reporting the latest developments in the electrical constructi=
on
and information systems industries.
Also on this edition=
of
ElectricTV.net is a virtual worksite tour that helps building owners be more
proactive in identifying job hazards; a segment on how NECA/IBEW’s unique
training programs are preparing the green workers America needs both today =
and
tomorrow; and a spotlight on the many advantages a design/build electrical
contractor brings to a construction project.
To view, visit http://electrictv.net/ledstreetlights.aspx.
ABOUT NECA AND IBEW
Through their joint marketing
organization – the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC) =
of
the organized electrical construction industry – NECA and IBEW together work
to:
• =
Reach cust=
omers
with accurate information about the industry; and
• =
Achieve be=
tter
internal communication between labor and management.
NEC=
A has
provided over a century of service to the $130 billion electrical construct=
ion
industry that brings power, light and communication technology to buildings=
and
communities across the United States. NECA’s national office and 119 l=
ocal
chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and
standards development.
With 725,000 members who work i= n a wide variety of fields – including construction, utilities, telecommunicati= ons and manufacturing – IBEW is among the largest member unions in the AFL-CIO. IBEW was founded in 1891<= /span>
******=
*********************
The many advantages =
of
having qualified electrical contractors not only install but design critical
building systems are highlighted in the latest edition of ElectricTV.net.
In today’s cost-cons=
cious
environment, building owners are looking more than ever to achieve the resu=
lts
they want at a price they can afford.
Increasingly, owners=
are
turning to electrical contractors that offer a design/build approach, who a=
pply
their considerable expertise at the planning stage to determine what’s best=
for
the building, then bring in the best-trained electricians to perform the wo=
rk. Says Larry Hollis, vice president of bu=
siness
development for NECA contractor Rosendin Electric, “By getting us involved
early, not only can we hear right from the owners what they’re looking for,=
but
we can speed the design process and contain the cost of the project.”
Also on this edition=
of
ElectricTV.net is a virtual worksite tour that helps building owners be more
proactive in identifying job hazards; a segment on how the city of Ann Arbo=
r,
Michigan, is cutting their energy costs in half by turning to LED lighting;=
and
a spotlight on how NECA/IBEW’s unique training programs are preparing the g=
reen
workers America needs both today and tomorrow.
To view, visit http://electrictv.net/designbuild.aspx.
ABOUT NECA AND IBEW
Through their j=
oint
marketing organization – the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee
(NLMCC) of the organized electrical construction industry – NECA and IBEW
together work to:
• =
Reach cust=
omers
with accurate information about the industry; and
• =
Achieve be=
tter
internal communication between labor and management.
• =
NEC=
A has
provided over a century of service to the $130 billion electrical construct=
ion
industry that brings power, light and communication technology to buildings=
and
communities across the United States. NECA’s national office and 119 l=
ocal
chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and
standards development.
With 725,000 me=
mbers
who work in a wide variety of fields – including construction, utilities,
telecommunications and manufacturing – IBEW is among the largest member uni=
ons
in the AFL-CIO. IBEW was founded in
1891.
******=
*********************
An examination of Am=
erica’s
largest and most comprehensive training program for “green” electrical work=
ers
is among the highlights of the latest edition of ElectricTV.net. A joint production of the National Elec=
trical
Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electri=
cal
Workers (IBEW), ElectricTV.net is the only web TV program dedicated to
reporting the latest developments in the electrical construction and
information systems industries.
As the United States=
pushes
forward with developing such green energy sources as wind and solar power to
reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, the equally pressing need arises for=
a
workforce capable of building those alternative power systems. For more than a quarter-century, NECA a=
nd
IBEW, through their National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee
(NJATC), have been teaching vital green skills to apprentices and journeymen
through its nationwide network of start-of-the-art facilities and
up-to-the-minute instructors.
Says Michael Callana=
n,
executive director of NJATC, “Our training is unique because it provides the
opportunity not only to understand the theory behind the work, but how to a=
pply
that knowledge every day, on the job.”
En route to becoming a journey-level electrician, each apprentice is
required to undergo 1,000 hours of classroom instruction and 8,000 hours of
on-the-job training. The result is=
the
manpower required to meet the nation’s growing green demands – and the
assurance of productive, cost-effective installations.
Also on this edition of ElectricTV.net is a vir=
tual
worksite tour that helps building owners be more proactive in identifying j=
ob
hazards; a segment on how the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is cutting their
energy costs in half by turning to LED lighting; and a spotlight on the many
advantages a design/build electrical contractor brings to a construction
project.
To view, visit http://electrictv.net/greenjobs.aspx.
ABOUT NECA AND IBEW
Through their j=
oint
marketing organization – the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee
(NLMCC) of the organized electrical construction industry – NECA and IBEW
together work to:
• =
Reach cust=
omers
with accurate information about the industry; and
• =
Achieve be=
tter
internal communication between labor and management.
NEC=
A has
provided over a century of service to the $130 billion electrical construct=
ion
industry that brings power, light and communication technology to buildings=
and
communities across the United States. NECA’s national office and 119 l=
ocal
chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and sta=
ndards
development.
With 725,000 me=
mbers
who work in a wide variety of fields – including construction, utilities,
telecommunications and manufacturing – IBEW is among the largest member uni=
ons
in the AFL-CIO. IBEW was founded in
1891.
******=
*********************
What’s next? The NECA
(National Electrical Contractors Association) Annual Conference &
Exhibition.
Mark your calendars =
for
NECA’s Annual Conference & Exhibition.
NECA Convention and =
Trade
Show - Sep 13, 2009 - Sep 15, 2009 in Seattle, WA. This event rivals BICSI =
and
has a host of different buyers with very substantial budgets. The Electrical
Contractor is definitely in the IBS business.
In fact, here are just a few interesting statistics from the 2008 Electrical
Contractor Magazine profile study:
-66% of electrical
contractors did work in Communications/Systems Connectivity, and
-57% do work in Residential
Automation/Controls
-57% do Structured Wir=
ing /
Cabling work
-46% of the electrical contrac=
tor’s
revenue now comes from their involvement in Design/ Build projects.
-Ov=
erall,
electrical contractors make brand substitutions/decisions about 70% of the time.
Industry Experts will
discuss the latest solutions for the Integrated Building Systems including:
Power – Communications – Control -Security - Life Safety systems plus wirel=
ess
backbone infrastructure. Change is happening in their world. www.necanet.org
"NECA provides solutions and educational
assistance for nearly all the issues that Electrical Contractors face. Foundation research and NECA's educatio=
nal
programs at the convention and show are addressing our existing problems and
working diligently on paving the way for future growth in our industry=
.”
Ron Autrey, Miller Electric
NECA Offers “CEU’s or Contact Hours” for Licensing Requirements during
NECA Convention & Show. NECA is an autho=
rized
CEU provider and complies with the guidelines and requirements established =
by
the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Participants in many of NECA’s workshops and seminars satisfy state and loc=
al
licensing requirements. NECA Convention & Show attendees will be scanne=
d at
pre-convention workshops, management seminars, and technical workshops. A
certificate of contact hours will be available for pick-up on-site.
”Milspec Industries exhibits at 20+ shows a year and we find that NECA does=
a
fantastic job of reaching all segments of the electrical industry.”
William Clary, Milspec
Plan to attend the 2009
September 12-15, 200=
9 -
Washington State Convention & Trade Center - Seattle
www.necaconvention.org
Every year, on-the-j=
ob
accidents cost U.S. building owners billions of dollars – and cause worker
pain, long recuperations and even death.
But when construction owners take a more proactive role in exposing
hazards, recent studies reveal, job site safety gets a shot in the arm.
Simple steps owners =
can take
to increase safety on construction job sites – and significantly reduce cos=
ts –
are highlighted in a four-minute report now included in the latest edition =
of
ElectricTV.net. A joint production=
of
the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), ElectricTV.net is the only web TV
program dedicated to reporting the latest developments in the electrical
construction and information systems industries.
In this informative =
program,
Jim Dollard, Safety Director of IBEW Local 98, leads viewers through a tour=
of
a high-rise construction project in Philadelphia, pointing out common hazar=
ds
and offering practical solutions owners can take to make their sites
safer. “The number one hazard on a=
job
site is falling,” Dollard notes. Y=
et
protecting workers from life-threatening falls is but one of the many
precautions explored. Other areas include secure footing, ladder safety and=
how
to tell if electrical boxes are hot or not.
Also on this edition=
of
ElectricTV.net is a segment on how the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is cutt=
ing
their energy costs in half by turning to LED lighting; a feature detailing =
the
many advantages a design/build electrical contractor brings to a constructi=
on
project; and a spotlight on how NECA/IBEW’s unique training programs are
preparing the green workers America needs both today and tomorrow.
To view, visit http://electrictv.net/safetywalk.aspx.
ABOUT NECA AND IBEW
Through their j=
oint
marketing organization – the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee
(NLMCC) of the organized electrical construction industry – NECA and IBEW
together work to:
• =
Reach cust=
omers
with accurate information about the industry; and
• =
Achieve be=
tter
internal communication between labor and management.
NEC=
A has
provided over a century of service to the $130 billion electrical construct=
ion
industry that brings power, light and communication technology to buildings=
and
communities across the United States. NECA’s national office and 119 l=
ocal
chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and
standards development.
With 725,000 me=
mbers
who work in a wide variety of fields – including construction, utilities,
telecommunications and manufacturing – IBEW is among the largest member uni=
ons
in the AFL-CIO. IBEW was founded in
1891.
Demand for industrial control equipment continued to slide during the
fourth quarter, as sales dropped 6.1 percent compared to the prior quarter.=
On
a year-over-year basis, the index posted its first measurable decline since
2003 and its largest contraction since the first quarter of 2002. Conditions
were similarly weak for the broader measure of demand for industrial contro=
ls,
the Primary Industrial Controls and Adjustable Speed Drives index, which fe=
ll
6.7 percent compared to the third quarter of 2008 and nearly 11 percent ver=
sus
the same period a year ago.
After gradually weakening throughout the year, the drop in demand for
industrial control equipment and other types of capital goods accelerated
during the fourth quarter as virtually all indicators of economic activity
plunged amid the height of the credit crisis. Initial estimates show real G=
DP
declined 3.8 percent, the largest quarterly drop in aggregate economic grow=
th
since the early 1980s; even at that, the drop was smaller than expected tha=
nks
to a build in business inventories. Business investment as a whole contract=
ed
more than 20 percent, led by the largest decline in 50 years on purchases of
equipment and software. Nonresidential construction registered its first
outright contraction in activity since the beginning of 2005; conditions are
only expected to worsen in the quarters ahead due to deterioration in
underlying demand for new space due to rising job losses, falling industrial
output and companies’ ongoing difficulties in accessing credit markets.
The manufacturing sector is enduring its worst downturn in more than
three decades. A substantial portion of overall weakness in manufacturing
activity can be connected to plummeting auto production, but much of the se=
ctor
is struggling heavily. Indeed, the ISM manufacturing index, though rising
slightly in January, has been in the mid- to low-30s for the past three
months—indicative of a deep contraction in the factory sector. Capital goods
manufacturers had managed to use global export markets as a source of final
demand during much of 2008 even as business investment and consumer spending
weighed on U.S. economic growth. However, with the dollar rallying versus t=
he
euro, pound sterling and other major currencies, and the recession spreadin=
g to
even erstwhile high-flying emerging markets, prospects for exports of
manufactured goods have diminished significantly. Given the backdrop of the
credit crisis, slumping business investment and profits, declining consumer
spending and falling export demand, shipments of industrial controls and ot=
her
types of capital equipment likely will continue to decline over the next few
quarters.
NEMA is the trade association of choice for the electrical manufactu= ring industry. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generat= ion, transmiss