Taco breaks ground on new innovation and development center project

Cranston, R.I. — Taco broke ground recently on a major building project designed to secure its future in the Ocean State. Company president and CEO John Hazen White, Jr. was joined by family members, representatives from the state’s political leadership, guests and employees of Taco for the morning event.
The centerpiece of the $18 million project will be the new Taco Innovation & Development Center, consisting of a two-story 24,037-square-foot addition to the current building, a former trolley barn built in 1904. The Innovation & Development Center will be a state-of-the-art learning and training environment, complete with new classroom spaces, conference rooms, a business center, and functional labs for testing and teaching. The Center will utilize, display and provide a hands-on learning environment for the best equipment and systems that today’s HVAC industry offers for comfort, efficiency and sustainability. The HVAC products and systems will be visible throughout the entire facility forming “Living Laboratories” that allow for close-up viewing, hands-on learning and teaching.

Taco’s reception area, employee cafeteria and office areas on two floors, encompassing more than 24,000 sq. ft of interior space within the existing building, will undergo extensive renovation, floor to ceiling, advancing the comfort, functionality and productivity of those areas. There will be new offices, work stations, meeting rooms and open areas illuminated by energy efficient lighting, natural light and the very best in indoor comfort.
The LEED project, slated for completion during the fall of 2012, will provide the space the company needs to grow and to remain competitive while remaining in RI, where the company has been operating since 1942.
The project, which will extend through five phases of design and construction, will employ 36 subcontracting employers and provide almost 200 jobs for the local economy.

NPGA applauds House and Senate introduction of the Propane Green Autogas Solutions Act

Washington — The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) applauded House Republican Conference Secretary Representative John Carter (R-TX) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) on their introduction of the Propane Green Autogas Solutions Act ("Propane GAS Act") of 2011 (H.R. 2014/S.1120) in the House and Senate. This legislation would extend existing tax credits for the purchase of propane as a motor fuel (also known as "autogas"), the purchase of propane autogas vehicles, and the installation of propane autogas refueling infrastructure through 2016.

Original cosponsors in the House of Representatives include Representatives Dan Boren (D-OK) and Mike Rogers (R-AL). Original cosponsors in the Senate include Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

Propane autogas is an American fuel. 98% of U.S. supply is produced domestically. Propane autogas is also clean. Propane autogas vehicles produce 19% less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline powered vehicles and significantly lower particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbon emissions than gasoline or diesel vehicles.

Propane supply is also abundant. In fact, in 2010 the North American market (U.S. and Canada) was a net exporter of propane into the global marketplace. This will continue into the future as production of propane from natural gas shale formations increases.

MCAA course to explore BIM contracts & risk allocation

Rockville, Md. — As the use of building information modeling (BIM) continues to grow, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) expands its course offerings on the topic. The latest in a series of BIM courses, BIM Contracts & Risk Allocation for Mechanical Contractors will explore the legal liabilities and contractual quicksand mechanical contractors are likely to encounter on BIM projects and how to avoid both.
The day-long course will be held Monday, October 17, 2011 in Baltimore, MD. Among other things, the course will assist contractors in learning how to manage the emerging risks associated with the electronic representation and transmission of project data.

David Morris, Director of Virtual Construction for EMCOR, is the lead instructor. He has over 30 years of experience performing and directing all phases of piping and mechanical systems. His current duties include improving BIM processes and sharing best detailing and virtual design practices across the 80 EMCOR group companies.

He will be joined by Frank Musica, a Senior Risk Management Attorney for Victor O.

Schinnerer & Company, Inc., which he joined in 1991 to assist the program in identifying the transformations in construction-related professional services, the liability exposures created by contractual language, legislation, regulations and court rulings, and management processes and procedures to reduce the risk profiles of firms. He crafts risk management and serial publications and website information for Schinnerer design professionals insurance programs and contractors design liability insurance programs with CNA, which is sponsoring the program as part of their extensive, ongoing support for MCAA.