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Around the Circuit
Total Construction
Starts Increase 10% in 2004
The continued strength of single-family housing and a
rebound in the commercial market led to a 10% increase in total
construction for 2004, which is the largest annual increase in five
years. The value of new construction starts reached $582.9 billion. A
combination of low mortgage rates and robust homebuyer demand fueled
the
residential market, which increased 16% to $328.5 billion last year.
Nonresidential building starts fell flat in 2003, but they increased 3%
to
$160 billion in 2004.
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RTD temperature probe. Uniquely designed to conduct tests on both
resistive and inductive material, with operator selection directly from
the front panel. Up to 1,500 measurements can be stored and printed
directly to a printer or from a PC. www.aemc.com
National
Engineers Week Recruits Future Workforce
The 2005 National Engineers Week will try to motivate
young people to pursue careers as engineers and raise public awareness
of the importance of engineering. More than 70 engineering, education,
and cultural societies, as well as more than 50 companies and
government
agencies will be involved in the week's activities from Feb. 20-26
nationwide. A New York chapter of IEEE will bring about 500 students to
a college campus to meet local engineers and participate in hands-on
activities such as building an electrical circuit. For more information
on how you can get involved, visit the Web page for National Engineers Week.
FERC Supports
Interconnection of Wind Facilities with Nation's Grid
A growing number of wind turbines are generating
electricity across the United States, yet the industry faces many
barriers to interconnection with the grid. The Federal Energy
Regulatory
Commission (FERC) has recently proposed regulations to remove these
obstacles and ensure the reliability of the national power grid. The
FERC's proposal would require wind farms to demonstrate the ability to
continue to operate even under low-voltage conditions on the grid in
order to stabilize voltage levels. To ensure real-time communication
with transmission providers, the wind-powered facilities would also
need
to have supervisory control and data acquisition capability.
EC&M
Announces 2005 Product of the Year Category Winners
EC&M's Product of the Year competition has
honored innovation and excellence in product development in the
electrical industry for the past five years. On Feb. 8 at the Electric
West show in Anaheim, Calif., EC&M announced the 25 category
winners for the 2005 competition. The magazine received a record number
of entries, which increased from 111 last year to 136 in 2005. A panel
of eight judges, including electrical engineers and electricians,
recently gathered for a day to evaluate each of the products, review
all
of the manufacturers' literature, and determine a winner in each of
the
product categories. The 25 finalists will go on to compete for the 2005
Product of the Year Platinum Award. This winner will be selected by
EC&M readers, who can vote online for their favorite product on
the EC&M Web
site from Feb. 23 to March 24 and enter a contest to win $100.
Photos and descriptions of the finalists will also be published in the
February issue of EC&M.
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Project Watch
California Middle
School
Seeks Subcontractors for Modernization Project
The Sacramento City Unified School District is looking
for subcontractors to modernize C.M. Goethe Middle School in
Sacramento,
Calif. The bids are due at 10 a.m. on Feb. 28 and must be sent to C.C.
Young Construction, Inc., 2224-A Sierra Meadows Dr., Rocklin, CA 95677.
The scope of work includes electrical upgrades, an automatic fire alarm
system, and light fixtures. For more information, view the bid notice.
University of
Kentucky Invites Firms to Bid on Stadium Locker Room Expansion
The University of Kentucky is renovating the existing
football locker rooms at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., and is
accepting bids until 3 p.m. on March 3. Bids must be sent to the
University of Kentucky, Capital Construction Procurement Section, Room
#373 Peterson Service Building, Lexington, KY 40506. The new electrical
work will include new receptacles and lights as well as new disconnects
for rooftop equipment. For more information, view the bid notice.
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 Contractors Earn Free Merchandise From
B-Line
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 Web site at www.b-line.com
Zone Exclusives
Eye on Safety
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the
IEEE launched a research and testing program to strengthen electrical
safety standards and code processes for arc-flash protection. A
steering
committee will develop a research and testing plan that will include
test protocols, specifications for test instruments, and instrument
placement relative to an arc. Bruce McClung, co-chair of the IEEE 1584
working group, says the program will be based on real-world data and
will provide guidance for reengineering safer electrical equipment and
systems that reduce the potential for arc flash. For more information,
e-mail Karen McCabe.
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Buy It, Install It, Forget It!
The maintenance-free GX series automatic hand dryer is quieter and
longer lasting than competitive models. This easy to install electric
hand dryer will save your customers 90% versus paper towel costs.
Contractors can visit
www.americandryer.com for the best prices on over 40 different
models with same day shipping. American Dryer has been manufacturing
quality hand dryers for over 50 years.
Shows and Events
CON Expo-CON/AGG
More than 100,000 construction industry professionals
from 120 countries will attend the
CON Expo-CON/AGG from March
15-19
at
the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. The event, which will be
colocated with the International Exposition for Power Transmission,
will
showcase the latest construction equipment, services, and technologies.
View the show's Web site for
more information.
ASA Business
Forum and Convention
The American Subcontractors Association invites
subcontractors, suppliers, and service providers to attend its business
forum and convention March 17-19 at the Omni Orlando Resort in Orlando,
Fla. Attendees can select from 20 workshops on such topics as contract
negotiations, payment, scheduling and scope changes and claims, hold
harmless terms, and performance bond requirements. If you register
by Feb. 18, you can receive $100 off regular rates. Visit the ASA
Web site for more information.
EGSA Spring Convention
The Electrical Generating System Association (EGSA)
will
offer educational sessions covering a wide range of issues affecting
the
on-site power industry at its spring convention. The event will take
place from March 20-22 at the Hilton San Diego Resort in San Diego.
Representatives from utility companies, government agencies, and
research firms will give presentations on managing rental fleets,
understanding home standby generators, and preventive maintenance in
critical facilities. Download the brochure, register online, or visit
the
EGSA Web
site for more information.
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