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Product of the Year Competition
Cast Your Vote
Now!
Do you want the opportunity to win $100? Then visit the
EC&M Web site by June 22 to
cast
your vote in EC&M's Product of the Year competition and help us
identify the best new product introduced to the electrical industry in
2006.
When you visit the EC&M Web
site, an automatic poll will pop up. (Note: If you have a pop-up
blocker program, it may prevent you from seeing the poll. Temporarily
disable the program to allow the poll to appear on your computer.) You
then need to type in your contact information, choose your favorite
product, and click submit. It's that simple. For additional information
on each category winner, click on the product name in the pop-up poll
window, and it will bring you to a page that features product summaries
for all 24 category winners.
A panel of seven judges initially narrowed the field from 108
entrants down to 24 category winners, and now we need your help to
determine the Platinum, Gold, and Silver Award winners. The competition
has honored innovation and excellence in product development in the
electrical industry for the past seven years.
ADVERTISEMENT
AEMC's Clamp-On Ground Resistance Testers, Models 3711 and 3731,
measure
ground and rod resistance in any environment without the use of
auxiliary ground rods. These instruments are used on multi-grounded
systems without disconnecting the ground under test. Features include:
fast setting time, high immunity to electrical noise, extended battery
life, and rugged, easily cleaned, smooth jaws improve reading accuracy.
www.aemc.com/products/index.asp
Around the Circuit
Report Reveals
Increase in U.S. Wind Power Capacity in 2006
A report by the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) says that
U.S. wind power capacity increased by 27% in 2006 and that the United
States had
the fastest growing wind power capacity in the world in 2005 and 2006.
According to the report, "Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power
Installation,
Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006," the U.S. led the world for
the second year in a row by installing 2,454MW of wind power capacity,
producing roughly 16% of the worldwide wind market, followed by
Germany,
India, Spain, and China. To read other key findings of the report,
visit
the DOE's Web
site.
Florida Shows
Renewed Interest in Nuclear Power
Florida, Virginia, and South Carolina now appear to
lead
other states in efforts to connect three dozen proposed nuclear plants
into the nation's electric grid, says Dr. Dale Klein, chairman of the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Recently, renewed interest in nuclear
power has been gaining in popularity as advocates for reviving nuclear
energy relieve the public's fears of radioactive meltdowns and
anxieties
over potential disaster from global warming increase. According to
proponents of the energy, the next-generation nuclear plants will be
much safer and discharge virtually no global warming carbon
dioxide.
San Antonio Utility
Plans Biggest Solar Installation in Texas
San Antonio, Texas-based investment firm Silver
Ventures
and utility CPS Energy are planning the renovation of the city's Pearl
Brewery to include a learning laboratory for green building and energy
efficiency, which will include a $1.35-million solar energy
installation, the
largest in the state. The 200kW solar panels will be installed on a
67,000-square-foot former warehouse being adapted for office, retail,
and residential use.The project will generate about one-quarter of
the building's total energy needs, and will allow CPS Energy to test
the
viability of a solar energy application in a large, real-world
commercial application, helping the utility with its goal of achieving
renewable energy capacity equal to 15% of its customers peak demand by
2020. The project will be one of the first LEED-certified buildings in
San Antonio.
Green Building
Standard Ready for Public Comment
A proposed new standard that would provide minimum
guidelines for green building practices has been released for public
comment. The standard is being developed by Atlanta-based American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) in conjunction with New York-based Illuminating Society of
North America (IESNA), and Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building
Council (USGBC). Standard 198P, "Standard for the Design of
High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential
Buildings,"
would provide a baseline for sustainable design, construction, and
operations in order to drive green building into mainstream building
practices. It would apply to new commercial buildings and major
renovation projects, addressing key areas of performance, including
energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable site
selection,
water usage, materials and resources, and indoor environmental
quality.The standard is being developed using USGBC's LEED Green
Buildings Rating System, which addresses the top 25% of building
practices, as a key resource. Upon acceptance, Standard 189 will be an
ANSI-accredited standard that can be incorporated into building code.
It
is intended that the standard will eventually become a prerequisite for
LEED certification. Comments will be accepted through July 9 at the
ASHRAE Web site.
ADVERTISEMENT
 New Flip Clip
from Cooper B-Line
The fastest, most inexpensive way to securely hang and level wire
basket
tray, saving installers time and money. The Flip Clip™
can be used with 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch threaded rods, eliminating the
need for multiple hanger sizes. The Flip Clip requires only one nut and
one tool for installation. www.cooperbline.com/flipclip
Project Watch
California County
Requests Installation of Water Treatment Pump
The Sacramento County Water Agency is accepting
prequalification statements for the construction of the Vineyard
Surface
Water Treatment Plant. The project includes an 8,000-hp treated water
pump station/electrical building and electrical feed and
distribution facilities. Statements are due by 2 p.m. PST on June 28.
For more information, contact Don Spiegel by phone (916) 418-8273 or via
e-mail.
Wisconsin Village
Seeks Contractor for Remodel and Addition
The Village of North Hudson, Wis., is seeking bids for
an addition and remodeling of the North Hudson Village Hall. Scope of
work comprises all general construction, including electrical and
mechanical work, for a 4,100-square-foot new addition and remodel. Bids
are due no later than 3 p.m. CST on July 2. For more information,
contact Gloria Troester, village clerk, at (715) 386-5141.
ADVERTISEMENT
 Grounding Line Addition
ILSCO introduces a new line of cast bronze clamps with copper straps
for
grounding rigid conduit systems. The BGCS clamps have a ground wire
range of 3/0 to No. 10, a water pipe range of 1/2" to 1", and a
conduit
hub
size range of 1/2" to 1". Two versions are available: one with a
saddle
for connecting the ground wire to the pipe and one without a saddle.
UL
listed and CSA certified. www.ilsco.com
Web Exclusives
Business Brief
Phoenix-based companies PDL Engineering & Controls,
Inc.,
and TMV Systems Engineering, Inc., have joined forces to become one of
the largest electrical engineering firms in the Southwest. The new name
for the company moving forward will be DLT&V Systems Engineering,
Inc.For more business briefs, visit the EC&M Web site.
ADVERTISEMENT
 Hardhat, tool belt, work boots.
You rely
on
a lot of things to get the job done. And now, you can add NES Rentals
to
that list. From scissor lifts to articulated booms, we've got the
reliable aerial equipment you need. Call 800-NES-RENT or visit our site
to learn more. www.NESRentals.com
Eye on Safety
NEMA Publishes
White Paper on the Impact of Home Electrical Fires
The Low Voltage Distribution Equipment Section (LVDE)
of
the National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA), Rosslyn,
Va.,
recently published a white paper analyzing the impact of home
electrical
fires. The paper discusses the socioeconomic impact that home
electrical fires have on homeowners and fire-fighting professionals,
emphasizing the importance of safety education among homeowners,
builders, electrical contractors, and others involved in home
construction. The paper also reviews the potential effect arc fault
circuit interrupters (AFCIs) may have on reducing the risk of an
electrical fire.The white paper can be found on NEMA's AFCI Web site, along with additional
educational resources.
Shows and Events
Let's
Go
Racing!
Win a Free Road America Race Weekend for Two
EC&M magazine and Generac Power Systems have
teamed up to offer an expenses-paid weekend (August 10-12, 2007),
featuring two of the world's fastest racing series. The third annual
Generac Power Weekend is one thrilling day of American LeMans series
racing (the Generac 500) and an equally exciting day of Champ Car
racing
at its finest (the Generac Grand Prix). It's your chance to see both
series compete in a single weekend at one of North America's most
beautiful tracks. Located in the hilly heart of Wisconsin's scenic
Kettle Moraine area, Road America is a four-mile permanent road course
that tests drivers with 14 challenging turns.
Enter by July 10, 2007. Visit the Generac Power Systems virtual
booth
at the EC&M
E-Tradeshow. Full contest rules are available online in the Generac
E-Tradeshow booth. For more information about the Generac Power
Weekend,
go to www.roadamerica.com.
EC&M
Code
Change Conferences
Where do you turn when you need accurate information on
changes to the National Electrical Code? Acknowledged as the leaders in
providing information on the NEC, EC&M magazine and EC&M
Seminars have been the preferred sources of this information for more
than 60 years. Seven Code change conferences have been scheduled in the
fall of 2007. Host cities include: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Orlando,
Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Seattle.
As an approved provider with the National Council of Examiners for
Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), through its Registered Continuing
Education provider Program (RCEPP), professional engineers attending
any
of our 2008 Code change conferences will receive Professional
Development Hours (PDHs), a requirement for re-licensing in many
states.
The conferences are also approved by every state that has a continuing
education requirement for contractors and electricians.
For additional information on the dates and locations of these
events, click
here.
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