Industry News

We would like to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to this edition's sponsor — Calculated Industries. Founded in 1978, Calculated Industries (CI) is the country's leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty calculators and digital measuring tools. For over 30 years, their products have helped more than 5 million busy professionals work better, faster, and more efficiently with easy-to-use, portable solutions.

 

To find out more about special e-newsletter advertising opportunities, please contact your Plumbing Engineer sales rep by visiting www.plumbingengineer.com.

 

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President Obama’s green building initiative aims to create jobs, save energy & money

 

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) today applauded a key element of President Obama’s plan to “win the future” by making America’s commercial buildings more energy- and resource-efficient over the next decade. The President’s plan, entitled Better Buildings Initiative, catalyzes private-sector investment through a series of incentives to upgrade offices, stores, schools and universities, hospitals and other commercial and municipal buildings.

 

“For all of those committed to the idea that green buildings can create jobs, save energy and save money, this is a great day, and the entire green building movement is incredibly grateful for President Obama’s leadership in this critical step forward for America. It is major steps like these that are necessary to address the challenges facing our environment,” said USGBC President, CEO and Founding Chair Rick Fedrizzi.

 

LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter best practices for construction markets webcast

 

Naperville, Ill. — A webcast entitled LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter Best Practices for Construction Markets is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 12 pm CST. The webcast is free to both members and non-members.

 

Construction Marketing Association (CMA) Social Media Manager Brian Reuhl and CMA Chairman Neil M. Brown share tips and tricks, new business-friendly features and real construction market examples for these important new media platforms. The Powerpoint presentation deck and white paper (.pdf) will be available via the association events webpage following the webcast.

 

“Social media is the fastest growing marketing medium in construction, with a growing body of success stories that measure lead generation, awareness building, improved search results and more. But an effective social media program is much more than managing social profiles. We intend to share more advanced features of these important platforms", explains Neil M. Brown.

 

To register for the LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter Best Practices Webcast, click here.

 

IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute announces expansion

 

Ontario, Calif. — IAPMO’s Backflow Prevention Institute will expand into new areas of endeavor, including research and development of world-class training and educational programs, The IAPMO Group’s CEO GP Russ Chaney announced.

 

“In the near future, IAPMO will have the pleasure of participating in a joint announcement with a major university pertaining to groundbreaking research on water systems,” Chaney said. Further details will be provided as soon as the program is finalized.

Dr. Stuart Asay, PE, director of the IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute, has agreed to participate in the research, contributing his technical expertise on behalf of IAPMO. Director of Special Programs Pete DeMarco will oversee the administrative aspects for IAPMO in coordination with the university.

 

“IAPMO has one of the best backflow prevention, cross connection control programs in the United States,” Chaney said. “IAPMO’s code development work internationally has now created the opportunity to introduce many nations to the concept of backflow prevention. Dr. Asay has accepted the challenge to work with the excellent IAPMO Training and Education staff to develop new and innovative training materials and educational programs for the people in these areas.”

New Products

 

Pipe Trades Pro www.countonci.com/pipetrades Speed up your design work with the Pipe Trades Pro. Spend less time looking at charts, books and formulas. Instant answers for your pipe layouts and designs. It’s fast, accurate and easy to use. Features include Right Angles, Offsets and Rolling Offsets; Fitting Angles, Bends, Slopes; Parallel Pipe Cutbacks; and Feet-Inch-Fractions and Trigonometry. Calculated Industries.

Wet rotor circulator www.grundfos.com The new MAGNA variable-speed wet rotor circulator is powerful, reliable, intelligent, and energy-efficient. The MAGNA with its permanent magnet motor design reduces power consumption by 50% or more. The unique patented AUTOADAPT™ feature controls pump performance automatically within defined performance range, ensuring lowest possible energy consumption without sacrificing comfort. It’s easy to install, simple to operate, and an excellent choice for replacement applications. With these features and more, MAGNA is the smart choice for optimized pump efficiency. Grundfos.

Crest® condensing boiler www.lochinvar.com The CREST® Condensing Boiler offers innovative fire-tube technology integrated with the exclusive SMART TOUCH™ operating control, offering engineers, mechanical contractors and building owners greater design flexibility and distinctive performance characteristics to meet today’s building standards for new construction and energy retrofit applications. Available in five models that range from 1.5 to 3.5 million Btu/hr, with thermal efficiencies as high as 99 percent, CREST brings Lochinvar’s leading-edge technology and exceptional energy-efficiency to the largest commercial applications. Lochinvar.

Radiant Rollout™ Mat www.uponor.com A custom-designed, prefabricated, pre-pressurized network of Uponor crosslinked polyethylene (PEX-a) tubing, the Uponor Radiant Rollout™ Mat is the ideal solution for faster, more consistent installations for large commercial radiant heating and cooling applications — saving up to 85% in installation time. The mat consists of Wirsbo hePEX™ (oxygen barrier) or Uponor AquaPEX® (non-barrier) PEX-a tubing connected with ProPEX® engineered plastic (EP) fittings, which are safe for burial in the slab and offer fast onsite customization when necessary. Uponor.