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Around the Circuit
Frozen Food
Aisles
May Get a Facelift
The Lighting Research Center (LRC), located at the
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., recently embarked on a
research project to evaluate the feasibility of using light-emitting
diode (LED) technology in commercial display freezers. The study,
funded
by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, will
compare performance, energy savings, shopper preferences, and product
sales of a prototype LED lighting system and its fluorescent
counterpart found in most supermarket freezers. Results will be
published in spring 2005. In a previous study, the LRC developed a
prototype refrigerator lighting system using LEDs with the goal of
reducing energy usage and producing better illumination for the
merchandise. The results showed that the LED lighting system produced
more uniform illumination on the displayed products and was strongly
preferred by more people than traditional fluorescent lighting in this
application.
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 Simple. Reliable.
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AEMC Instruments' clamp-on ground resistance testers measure ground rod
and grid resistance in any environment without the use of auxiliary
ground rods. Both testers measure ground resistance from 0.01 ohm to
1200 ohms without disconnecting the rod under test. The Models 3711
and
3731 also measure ground leakage and phase current from 1mA to 30Arms.
The large jaw (1.25") accommodates ground conductors up to 1000MCM. The
Model 3731 includes both an alarm function and a memory function, which
will store up to 99 field measurements. Patented design. Visit www.aemc.com to learn more.
New Green Building
Rating System Unveiled, San Francisco Adopts Green Building
Ordinance
Following the success of its Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) for New Construction (LEED-NC), the U.S.
Green Building Council (USGBC), Washington, D.C., has announced the
release of the LEED for Existing Building (LEED-EB) Green Building
Rating System. Designed to meet market demand for an existing building
rating system, LEED-EB will help building owners and managers maintain
high performance in their facilities. For more information, visit the
organization's web site.
In a related story, San Francisco recently joined nine other cities
that
have already adopted green building ordinances requiring LEEDs. The new
mandate requires that all new projects, renovations, and building
additions, including city-owned and leased facilities, achieve an
LEED Silver certification from USGBC. "This Green Building Ordinance
will translate into millions in savings on future operational costs for
new city buildings," says Jared Blumenfeld, director of the San
Francisco Department of the Environment.
Daylighting Controls
May Make Inroads into National Energy Code Inclusion
Although several jurisdictions across the country
require daylighting controls in new nonresidential construction, these
devices do not yet occupy a prominent position in most energy codes.
However, that may be changing. According to the October Energy
Statement newsletter from the Watt Stopper, Santa Clara, Calif.,
experts agree that the major reference standards will most likely
mandate these controls within the next few years. Currently, individual
states handle them
differently. Both California and Wisconsin require the use of either
automatic or manual daylight-responsive controls in daylit areas
greater
than 250 square feet. In daylit areas, building owners must install at
least one controller that independently controls at least 50% of the
luminaires in that space. Wisconsin adds the requirement of separate
daylighting controls for vertically daylit areas (skylights) and
horizontally daylight areas (windows). In California, Title 24 will add
the requirement for automatic daylighting controls in large high bay
spaces in 2005. The Oregon Uniform Building Code requires daylighting
controls in classrooms and atriums. The Seattle building code takes a
"zone" approach similar to that of California and Wisconsin, requiring
daylighting control in any space that is defined as a "daylight zone."
Value of
Construction
Remains at Record Level
According to a recent report from the Associated
General
Contractors of America, the value of construction in September tied the
record set a month earlier. In August, the industry reached a
seasonally
adjusted annual rate of $1.014 trillion, according to the U.S. Census
Bureau. For the first nine months of 2004, value put in place rose 9%
from January to September 2003, and gains were widespread. In private
residential construction, single-family jumped 22%,
multi-family gained 10%, and improvements were flat. Four private
nonresidential components reported substantial gains: lodging (+12%),
amusement and recreation (+11%), health care (+10%), and office (+8%).
The largest subcomponent, commercial (retail and wholesale), rose 5%.
Four private nonresidential components fell: power, educational, and
religious were down 5%, and manufacturing declined 2%.
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And its ergonomic non-slip Santoprene™ grip makes it as
comfortable and easy-to-use as it is versatile. Visit www.idealindustries.com
for a complete product profile of the one screwdriver that every
electrician should have in his bag.
Project Watch
Fluor Hanford
Announces Substation Upgrade Job in Washington
Fluor Hanford plans to issue a request for proposal on
Dec. 8, 2004, for Project L-325, an electric substation upgrade in
Richland, Wash. The scope of work will include upgrades to a 230kV
substation including the replacement of power transformers, power
circuit breakers, 15kV secondary power cables from 230kV transformer to
13.8kV switchgear, 230kV instrument transformers, and 230kV transmission
line protective relays at A-6, A-7, and A-8 substations. A mandatory
site tour will be conducted on or about Dec. 15, and bids are due Jan.
5, 2005. Interested parties must submit an expression of interest letter
to be received no later than Dec. 1, addressing the pre-qualification
criteria outlined in the request
for proposal.
City of
Wadsworth,
Ohio, Invites Contractors to Bid on Wastewater Treatment Plant
Improvements
Sealed bids for the construction of Wastewater
Treatment
Plant Improvements will be accepted by the City of Wadsworth, Ohio, at
the office of the Director of Public Service until 1 p.m. on Dec. 17.
The electrical scope of work on this project includes miscellaneous
demolition, a new incoming electrical service, motor control centers,
control devices, wiring and conduit, instrumentation, a supervisory
control and data acquisition system, and electrical work as shown on
drawings. Copies of the bidding documents may be purchased at Burgess &
Niple, Inc., 50 South Main St., Suite 600, Akron, Ohio
44308. Prior to bidding, a pre-bid meeting will be held Dec. 7 at 10
a.m. at the Wadsworth Wastewater Treatment Plant located at 1015
Airport
Drive, Wadsworth, Ohio 44281. To schedule a site visit independently of
the pre-bid conference, call Phil Griffith at (330) 376-5778.
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 Contractors Earn Free Merchandise From
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Introducing the Great GearSM program, a way to acquire free
gifts by collecting and redeeming B-Line Bucks found on B-Line's
fastener product boxes.
Simply remove your B-Line Bucks from the box label and use them to
select from a wide assortment of gear in B-Line's Great Gear catalog.
To obtain a catalog and order forms, see your local B-Line distributor,
or visit our website at www.b-line.com.
Zone Exclusives
Ground-Fault
Relay Protection Schemes
Following the bare minimum safety requirements for
ground fault relays at switchgear and switchboards may save money, but
as David Murray of IPC Resistors points out, it can also cause problems
for downstream devices. Learn what not to do. For the full story, click
here.
Eye on Safety
Did you know that one in five workplace fatalities is a
construction worker, approximately 350 electrical-related fatalities
occur each year, and falls from elevation account for one-third of all
deaths in construction? These are just a few fast facts available in
OSHA's Construction Facts e-Tools resource, an interactive, Web-based
training tool designed to help users identify and control hazards that
commonly cause the most serious injuries in the construction industry.
To help establish safety guidelines and best practices for electrical
work, visit this online
resource for more information.
On the Job and Out to
Lunch
Everyone makes mistakes. Some are just funnier than
others. Got a story about a jobsite blunder you'd like to share? Send us your
story of embarrassing on-the-job mistakes for use in EC&M's new
column called Short Circuits. If we publish it, we'll send you a check
for $25. Read the latest stories
from your fellow readers.
Shows and Events
EC&M Code
Seminars
You're running out of options. The registration
deadline
for the first four EC&M Code seminars has passed you by. But
don't panic, you still have three seminars left to choose from. The
registration deadline for the Boston conference is November 19th. And
the deadline for the San Francisco and Seattle conferences is November
24th. But don't wait any longer because the deadline will be here
before
you know it.
Download the registration form, fill it out and fax it to (203)
929-5351 before it's too late. Moderated by Mike Holt and Fred Hartwell
(Boston conference only), the two-day conferences will offer a
comprehensive look at the 2005 Code. All attendees will receive a copy
of the 2005 NEC and Mike Holt’s Illustrated Guide – Changes to the
NEC 2005.
International
Maintenance Conference
At the 19th International Maintenance Conference, to be
held Dec. 5-8 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs,
Fla., attendees will learn the latest techniques for maintenance and
reliability, predictive maintenance, and condition monitoring -- not
to mention maintenance basics such as prioritizing, planning, and
scheduling work. Focusing on the theme, "Mastering the Maintenance
Process," this event will feature more than 50 speakers in five
"how-to"
learning zones and 10 full-day workshops. IMC-2004 also offers two
opportunities to sit for the new Certified Maintenance & Reliability
Professional (CMRP) Exam offered by the Society of Maintenance &
Reliability Professionals Certifying Organization. Request a brochure
or
register online today.
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