Easy-to-Use SonicWALL Continuous Data Protection Provides Fast and Reliable Data Backup and Recovery SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SonicWALL, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNWL) today announced that REgrid Power, a California-based solar power design, installation, and services company, has chosen SonicWALL Continuous Data Protection (CDP) to provide reliable and effective data backup and recovery, enabling REgrid to protect their business-critical data quickly and easily, without experiencing network downtime or lost data. As a rapidly growing small business, REgrid found that backing up data had become time consuming and unreliable, requiring REgrid's computer administrator to copy important data manually to a DVD and remember to take the disks offsite. The backup usually took place at the end of the day, exposing the company to the risk of losing data created since the last backup. Working with its IT solution provider, Aronson & Associates, Inc., REgrid investigated a number of backup options before selecting SonicWALL CDP as an easy to use, reliable system. The technology was quickly installed, and now provides end-to-end protection, helping REgrid to increase productivity and reduce administrative costs. SonicWALL CDP has already proven itself to the REgrid team. Recently, an employee was working with the customer database and noticed some critical data had been lost. With the continuous backup feature, the data was recovered remotely by Aronson & Associates in just a couple of minutes. This experience reinforced REgrid's confidence in the selection of the SonicWALL solution as well as underscoring the importance of continuous backup. Recalls McCalmont, "Thankfully, a crucial file was recovered quickly. Now if we have more dramatic issues, we know we could recover. Having SonicWALL CDP is a relief. It works 'automagically."" SonicWALL CDP solutions deliver simple, comprehensive and cost-effective secure backup that avoids the complexity and inefficiency of tape, and provides easy recovery of data in the event of disasters. The solution features secure automatic, disk-to-disk local and offsite data protection, instant recovery and central or remote administrative capabilities. The Bare Metal Recovery/Local Archiving feature allows administrators to recover an entire system, including operating system, files and settings through a simple management interface. After experiencing the reliability and ease-of-use of the SonicWALL CDP, REgrid is now also using the SonicWALL TZ 170 Wireless firewall to deliver enhanced security for their corporate network. Integrating secure 802.11b/g wireless, firewall and VPN technologies, the TZ 170 Wireless protects against both new and existing threats pervasive on today's wired and wireless networks, allowing small networks to experience productivity and business continuity benefits previously reserved for larger enterprises.

Each New Trend Homes Homeowner to Receive Homefree™, an Innovation in Customer Service SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the first time, new homeowners will have access to Homefree, a personalized, online home maintenance plan, thanks to an agreement between Trend Homes, Inc., a Valley homebuilder, and Ethix Media, LLC, the producers of Homefree. Trend Homes will give each of its new home buyers a ready-to-use subscription to Homefree, fully populated with information specific to the new home, and complete with a year-round maintenance plan and monthly e-mail reminders. Loaded with data including a full home inventory of materials, systems, serial numbers, and appliances, Homefree can be used right away by homeowners to take a preventive approach to home maintenance. Each online subscription to Homefree is customized for each homeowner. Unique details from location to custom paint colors can be added to the program for every subscription. “Trend Homes has a rich history of excellent customer service and innovation. By providing Homefree to every new homeowner, they continue to set the bar,” said Tom Blondi, CEO of Ethix Media. “After all the boxes are unpacked, new homeowners often find themselves with lots of questions about how to care for the systems or amenities in their homes; Homefree is a tool that helps answer those questions. It acts as a central repository for all the information that’s vital to their new home and automatically prompts homeowners when it’s time to perform routine maintenance.” Homefree simplifies home maintenance for busy homeowners so they can make smart maintenance decisions in just minutes a month. With Homefree, homeowners need only to glance at the dashboard on their personalized site to keep on top of home maintenance issues. In addition, helpful monthly e-mail reminders are sent with recommendations specific to each homeowner. Homefree subscribers know what to do and when to do it to keep their homes running at optimum levels. “Our goal is to continue offering the highest-quality homes, together with a valuable tool in Homefree that will serve as a ‘how-to guide’ for homeownership and maintenance,” explained Ty Fields, General Counsel and Vice President of the Warranty Department for Trend Homes. “Offering a free Homefree subscription to new home buyers for two full years is another indicator of our unwavering desire to cultivate long-term relationships and provide top-notch customer service.”

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- WasteCap Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization that provides waste handling, reduction and recycling assistance to businesses, honored the Vinyl Institute (VI) Oct. 12 with the Innovative Achievement Award for its role in implementing a vinyl siding scrap recycling program in Wisconsin. Cited for "outstanding efforts and success in market development," VI was called "a pioneer in researching the possibilities for vinyl scrap and is emerging as a leader in developing a market for this important and widely used material." Tim Burns, VI president, said, "On behalf of VI and its members, I am honored to accept this award. We are always looking for ways to increase recycling of vinyl products and improve the efficiency of the process. It is great to partner with WasteCap Wisconsin and others to develop a program that will serve as a model for others to follow across the United States." In addition to receiving the award, VI was one of three organizations to be nominated by WasteCap for its Partnership Award. WasteCap presented the R3 Awards for the first time in its 10-year history to recognize companies, nonprofit organizations and individuals for excellence in waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Seven awards were given out in a ceremony held at the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha, Wis. Executives in the construction, architectural, environmental and waste management industries attended. The program for which VI was honored began in 2005. VI partnered with WasteCap Wisconsin, Veridian Homes (winner of this year's Partnership Award), Waste Management Inc.'s Recycle America and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to test different methods, work out challenges and assess the long-term viability of recycling vinyl siding scrap from new home construction in Milwaukee and Madison, Wis. VI provided funding and assisted in the planning, development and expansion of the WasteCap Wisconsin program. As of June 2006, 100,000 pounds of vinyl siding scrap had been recycled from 630 new homes, and the goal of developing a standard process for contractors and builders across Wisconsin to follow to recycle vinyl siding waste from new home construction is well on its way to being met. The long- term objective is to apply the process across 30,300 homes built annually in Wisconsin and collect the majority of the 2.5 million pounds of vinyl siding scrap generated in the construction of these homes. The program will continue in 2007. For more than a decade, VI has supported research and pilot programs to promote vinyl and plastics recycling, and has led development of automated technology that large-scale recycling operations can use to separate different plastics from each other more efficiently. VI maintains a directory of vinyl recyclers in North America, and VI's recycling expert Peter Lindabery provides technical, operational and marketing assistance to recycling companies. Based in Milwaukee, WasteCap Wisconsin's mission is to provide waste reduction and recycling assistance through business-to-business peer exchange, demonstration and education for the benefit of businesses and the environment. Services are made possible by the support of sponsorships, grants and memberships. For more information, visit www.wastecapwi.org, or contact Shannon Delaney at 414-961-1100 or sdelaney@wastecapwi.org.

mall Investment In Energy Efficiency Can Have Big Payoff ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With predictions of a mild winter and falling gasoline prices filling the evening news, Americans might be lulled into believing that there is no need to worry about energy. But, the wild fluctuations in energy and fuel prices in the last several years, demonstrate clearly that Americans can not simply hope for mild temperatures. We must take charge of our energy use and actively look for ways to use less energy in order to avoid outages, weather price surges and aid energy security. With homes and buildings accounting for more than 40 percent of all energy used in this country, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) reminds homeowners that they can minimize their costs and help control the amount of energy they use by taking some simple steps like adding thermal insulation. Adding insulation is a relatively easy step to take and, when coupled with proper air sealing and caulking, can save homeowners up to 20 percent on utility bills according to EPA ENERGY STAR*. The easiest, most cost-effective places to add insulation include attics, basement walls, and floors above unheated spaces like vented crawl spaces and garages. NAIMA advises that most homeowners will need to add between an R-19 and R-30 insulation to their attics to maximize their savings and comfort. This level will also likely help homeowners qualify for a federal tax credit for adding insulation and other energy saving products to existing homes. The tax credit is for 10 percent of the final cost of qualified home improvement products for a maximum of $500 over 2006 and 2007. Homeowners should consult IRS guidelines on the energy tax credits. Incentives are offered by a growing number of utilities as well, because of public commitments the utilities have made under a National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency. More than 65 percent of American homes are under-insulated according to a Harvard University School of Public Health study, and if your home is as little as 10 years old, it is probably among them. With federal tax breaks and the availability of utility incentive programs growing, there is no better time to increase the amount of insulation in a home. Insulation pays for itself quickly and continues to pay for itself as long as the home is standing.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Beck Technology and Reed Construction Data (RCD) announced the general availability of DProfiler with RSMeans, the first 3D modeling application that ties directly to RSMeans cost data providing accurate cost information and easy to use modeling. Demonstrations are taking place at Beck Technology booth #743 at the 2006 Design-Build Conference & Expo, October 18-20 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville. Beck Technology’s DProfiler with RCD’s RSMeans allows architects, owners and contractors to make decisions based on reliable, complete and accurate information. Through this complete view of the project including 3D models, sketches, and cost analysis, owners are better informed about project feasibility. By having accurate cost data early in the project lifecycle, contractors limit cost overruns and architects limit change orders. With DProfiler and RSMeans, risk is reduced and projects proceed more smoothly. Sketching concepts is quick and easy with DProfiler. The 3D modeling component is full featured with the ability to add floors, cut sections in any shape, view the interior and accurately measure the model. Integration with RSMeans data provides instant access to over 18,000 assembly cost databases, so that interactive cost estimating can be done on the fly while modeling the concept. DProfiler with RSMeans includes tools to automate tedious aspects of modeling and increase accuracy. For instance, the automated parking tool instantly determines the spaces in a designated parking lot. Integration with Google Earth, assures the design is modeled in the context of the actual site.

Home Safety Council and Colgate-Palmolive Partner to Provide 'Room-By-Room' Safety Tips NEW YORK, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The saying goes "there's no place like home" and families across the country continue to embrace that sentiment with an increase in home improvement projects. However, most families are spending more time focused on renovation projects than home safety. Colgate-Palmolive and the nonprofit, national Home Safety Council aim to turn this around through a new home safety awareness campaign including online tips at www.colgateprotection.com. This comprehensive "Interactive Safe Home" offers safety tips room-by-room, information to help identify and correct home hazards and a simple safety checklist for parents. The average person has completed twice as many home improvement projects as home safety projects in the past two years, according to a new poll conducted by Kelton Research for Colgate-Palmolive and the Home Safety Council. In the last two years, more than a third of those polled have paid for new appliances (38%), a new computer system (32%) and even new furniture or new upholstery (32%) to improve their homes, but barely one in four has purchased a carbon monoxide detector (24%). Even fewer households have been improved with basic safety items such as grab bars for tubs or showers (14%), a disaster preparedness kit (13%), and child-proofing gear such as window guards (9%). Furthermore, if respondents had an extra $3,000 to spend on their home, 85% said they would spend it on something other than home safety upgrades. Although more than half of the survey respondents (57%) said they were confident in their knowledge of the basic steps to take to ensure home safety, the survey confirmed most homes could use some help. When Americans were asked about their greatest concern if a child were playing in their home, just six percent cited home-related injuries. With the new web site, www.colgateprotection.com, Colgate-Palmolive and Home Safety Council provide a virtual tour highlighting simple safety steps to take in the kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom. Parents can print out a safety calendar and checklists and challenge children with games that teach safety rules. Relevant news articles on childproofing and cooking safety are also available. Colgate-Palmolive has teamed up with the Home Safety Council (HSC), the only national non-profit organization solely dedicated to preventing home- related injuries, to help protect families in the home. Between now and November 15, 2006, consumers are eligible to receive a 2007 calendar filled with product information and expert safety tips from HSC with the purchase of two Colgate-Palmolive products. In addition, many retail partners, including Kroger, Albertsons, Giant, Stop & Shop and Walgreens, have joined the effort to promote home safety across the country with in-store programs.

Innovative Products Offer Low Outgassing and Enhanced Hydrolytic Resistance Bringing Higher Performance and Productivity Benefits TOLEDO, Ohio, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- At the international Composites & Polycon 2006 show in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., Owens Corning (OWENQ.OB) introduced three new products to its PerforMax(R) high performance thermoplastic reinforcements' portfolio, which offer lower outgassing, enhanced hydrolysis resistance and other mechanical properties, such as superior strength and fatigue resistance compared to similar competitive products. Following are the product highlights, which will allow a new generation of technological advances in automotive, electronic and appliance/plumbing applications: * PerforMax(R) LG chopped strand has been designed specifically for small electronic and electrical components such as SMT connectors and relay housings to reduce outgassing. This is key, as the industry has exhausted most possibilities for outgassing from polymer matrices and additives. PerforMax(R) HR chopped strand is tailored for applications exposed to fluids and high temperatures, such as parts used for plumbing, heating and ventilation and automotive under-hood components. Engine cooling conditions have become increasingly severe as automakers push the limits of engine design to achieve higher performance and greater fuel economy. This has resulted in engines running hotter, a problem which until now was only combated by adding new chemicals to coolant mixes -- creating further challenges for traditional polyamides and reinforcements. PerforMax(R) SP chopped strand is specifically designed for reinforcing 'Super Engineering Plastics' and is an ideal complement to the superior property profiles of LCP, PPS, and PEEK polymers in the most harsh and demanding electronic, automotive and plumbing applications.

GLASGOW, October 18/PRNewswire/ -- GetClued.com, a new website where homeowners rate and review local tradesmen, is already achieving its aims of exposing cowboy traders, particularly builders, in areas throughout the UK. In one case a website member from Manchester tells of her shocking experience with a builder whom she asked to do a loft conversion. "We were left to sleep in our only reception room for approx. 20 weeks - 2 adults, 2 dogs and 2 children- because the whole of the 1st floor ceilings were removed without any protection to the rest of the house/furniture." She continues "they put a hole in a gas pipe and did not contact Transco - left us a note for when we came home from work in the evening! - it cost over GBP400 in gas and left us without heating in December." Another member, this time from Chelmsford, Essex warns others about using a builder that has left her home uninhabitable after doing a runner before completing an extension to her house. She set up a stage payment scheme but the builder bullied her into paying the stages early before the work had been completed. She states "when we questioned his need for the payments to be made early, he said he was in financial difficulty. Eventually, we stopped paying (with only GBP9000 of a GBP75000 build left to pay). His company never returned." Website founder, Kevin Anderson, who set-up the site after several bad experiences with tradespeople, says "the site is good news for the good firms and bad news for the rogues. People are being warned of the disreputable companies, while the reputable ones are recommended to other customers." So far over 3,000 people across the UK have joined the site and submitted over 1,000 reviews on everything from plumbers and roofers to IT support and childcare. "The growing popularity of the site reflects people's need to find out the recent performance of tradesmen before they decide to hire them. Many government schemes have simply failed to address this," Anderson says. As for people providing false reviews, Anderson says there are safeguards against this. "People must first register their name, address and contact details before submitting reviews and users cannot review the same business more than once. Firms are also given the opportunity to respond to reviews from their customers."

T. LOUIS, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Choosing to install or refinish a wood floor in your home or business is a big decision, and one that is affected by a variety of issues -- lifestyle, decor, geography, and price, to name just a few. Considering all the options you face, where can you turn for answers? A wood flooring professional can help guide you through the process, whether you are installing a new floor, or refinishing one that has been around for many decades. For more than 20 years, the National Wood Flooring Association has been training and educating wood flooring professionals from all over the world in the installation, sanding, finishing and sales of wood flooring products. NWFA members are familiar with the latest products, services and trends in the wood flooring industry. NWFA members also possess the knowledge, skills, and professionalism to help you make informed decisions, and to deliver a high- quality job that will last for the lifetime of your home. A wood flooring professional who is a member of the National Wood Flooring Association can help you with each phase of your flooring decision, from choosing the right species based on your location, lifestyle and budget, to giving you the high-quality installation or refinishing that you expect, to taking care of your floor so that it will look beautiful for many generations to come.

AIA Provider Workshop, Barcelona, Spain – October 16, 2006 AEC Daily announced the first in a series of Educational Podcasts aimed at the architecture, engineering and construction industry. Construction professionals can now learn on the go using a variety of MP3 players, including the Apple iPod®. These Podcasts are available free of charge through the Apple iTunes Music Store®, various other online search engines, and on the AEC Daily website at: http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.AECdaily.com/podcasts. This Podcast is part of improved multimedia functionality created for the Whirlpool course called The Greening of ‘White Goods’: Environmental Considerations When Specifying Appliances. A Flash-enhanced presentation is also available featuring a narrated education session. More information on the course can be found at: http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.aecdaily.com/podcast/whirlpool/green. “We’re very excited to be trying new technologies to improve the learning experience of the construction professional,” said Jeff Rice, President of AEC Daily. “We enjoy working with visionary companies like Whirlpool to test the limits of the new trends in online multimedia education.” About AEC Daily: AEC Daily provides access to educational resources, drag and drop compatible CAD details, building products information, industry news, discussion forums and much more. The services of AEC Daily are made available to architects, engineers, owners, interior designers, and construction professionals at no charge. Contact: Jeff Rice, President AEC Daily Corporation +1-877-566-1199 x82, or jrice@AECdaily.com Website: http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.AECdaily.com AEC Daily Corporation 266 Elmwood Ave, Suite 511 Buffalo, NY 14222

PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that commercial property owners can potentially enjoy significant tax deductions by making their buildings more energy efficient, and in its Notice, also officially approved Trane’s TRACE 700 software to certify energy savings. As corporations begin to prepare their taxes at the end of the year, now is the time to address potentially significant savings. Trane’s TRACE 700 software, the first of four programs accepted by the IRS for energy savings certification, enables building owners to translate energy savings into tax deductions. The commercial building deduction, enacted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, allows taxpayers to deduct the cost of energy efficient property installed in commercial buildings. Buildings that achieve a 50 percent energy savings target can deduct up to $1.80 per square foot of building floor area. Buildings below the 50 percent threshold may still qualify for a deduction of up to 60 cents per square foot of floor space, if they meet a 16.67 percent energy savings target for HVAC equipment. The TRACE program is an analytic tool for building system designers. It enables them to optimize the building, system and equipment designs on the basis of energy utilization and life-cycle costs. Using the TRACE program in the early stages of building planning allows the building owner and design team to receive the maximum benefit of a detailed analysis. TRACE can also be invaluable for assessing the energy and economic impact of building renovation or system retrofit projects. As a world leader in energy efficient HVAC systems and solutions, Trane is committed to delivering high performance buildings for life and is uniquely positioned to help customers reduce their total building energy usage.

Realtors® Gain Access to Simplified Tax Administration and the Benefits of Corporate Employment. NATICK, Mass. & HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RE/MAX of New England, a leading real estate brokerage in the Northeast, has teamed with MyBizOffice® to offer its self-employed realtors a comprehensive business support system to manage their health and wealth. MyBizOffice provides simplified tax and payroll administration as well as access to group retirement, medical, dental, disability and life insurance benefits. Participants eligible for the program enjoy increased financial security and reduced paperwork, giving them more time to list, show, and sell properties. RE/MAX of New England views the MyBizOffice program as a groundbreaking development in supporting its growing agent population. “Finding reliable ways to ensure our agents’ success and financial security is a crucial aspect of how we set ourselves apart from the rest of the real estate community,” said RE/MAX of New England Franchise Development Director, Fiona Beecy. “Broker/Owners throughout our region are hosting informational briefings to educate RE/MAX of New England’s 4,000+ agents about the unparalleled benefits of the MyBizOffice program.”

SPARTANBURG, S.C., Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The first specification grade LED recessed lighting fixture that performs like a CFL downlight has been perfected and introduced by the Prescolite Division of Hubbell Lighting, Inc. Promising specifiers high-energy efficiency, excellent illumination, and lower operating costs, the breakthrough development of this LED luminaire is now available exclusively from Prescolite in a choice of 4" and 6" apertures. As a cutting-edge expansion to its Architektur family of specification- grade downlights, Prescolite's product design team successfully overcame the challenges of creating a group of fixtures that is practical, produces a good quality white light, and is consistent from LED to LED and from fixture to fixture. This new approach to commercial recessed downlighting is expected to have a major impact on how architects, illuminating engineers, and lighting designers view LED lighting when specifying luminaries for hospitality, restaurant, and high-end retail venues as well as installations for casinos, boutiques, and corporate boardrooms. Further, as this unique line of LED recessed light fixtures takes its place in Prescolite's highly regarded family of Architektur downlights, it is expected that these new luminaries will provide a welcome source for any lighting application where illumination plays a key role in building and environmental design. Recent technological advances have positioned LEDs as a viable alternative to traditional fluorescent, HID, and incandescent lamps. Functional advantages of LEDs include high energy efficiency (90%+ conversion of heat into light, compared to 9% with incandescent); long life (50,000 hours at 70% lumen maintenance); robustness (resistance to vibration, breakage, and low temperature extremes); low temperature operation (the lower the temperature the better the performance); optical efficiency (each LED is highly efficient due to its directional design), and lower operating costs. Each of Prescolite's LED recessed downlights consists of two elements: 1) the patent-pending light engine/reflector assembly (an assembly of LEDs, heat sinks, circuit boards, and optical components designed to deliver light), and 2) the housing. The innovative array of parabolic reflectors within the light engine has been designed to eliminate brightness while delivering light in a uniform optical distribution. Employing state-of-the-art Luxeon K2 LEDs by Lumileds, the light engine/reflector assembly is the heart of the LED downlight. The light engine/reflector assembly installs easily by securing tamperproof hardware into an internally threaded rod that is secured to the housing. This feature prevents vandalism after installation. Prescolite partnered with Advance in the design and development of these exceptional LED downlights. The Prescolite/Advance downlight design is based on Advance's Xitanium driver. Designed specifically to power high flux LED's in illumination applications, these drivers deliver the right amount of current to the LED to achieve high overall efficiency. Prescolite's new D4LED and D6LED downlights are wet location listed under covered ceilings and offer a full range of reflector finishes and colors. Finishes include specular, semi-specular, haze (diffused and buffed), and American Matte. Colors range from white paint to Alzak finishes in a choice of clear, champagne gold, black, wheat, light wheat, and pewter. Flange options include anodized or white painted. Trim apertures and flange dimensions match existing Architektur 4" and 6" downlights. Advance, a leading ballast manufacturer based in Rosemont, Illinois, offers a full line of fluorescent and HID ballasts as well as a broad family of drivers for LED light sources. For more information on Advance's complete product line, visit their website at http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.advancetransformer.com/

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI) (BSX:AKC) and PermaCity Solar announced today that they have begun co-development of a new suite of photovoltaic (PV) products and systems for the growing terrestrial market that includes large commercial buildings, master planned communities, vertical high rise structures, and residential homes. Combining the existing customer base and system engineering and integration expertise of PermaCity Solar with the flexible, thin-film module manufacturing expertise of Ascent Solar, the venture aims to deliver PV systems that offer significant performance and cost advantages over existing silicon-based solutions. Ascent Solar’s large, roll format modules should provide inherent cost and system integration advantages over the small, fragile, bulky and rigid silicon modules in use today. The Ascent Solar thin-film PV on plastic with laser-patterned cell integration allows modules to be automatically sized in custom fashion to the unique requirements of each customer’s design needs. Analysis of a recent 600 kW silicon-based system installed by PermaCity Solar on a large commercial building suggests that the Ascent Solar module manufacturing technique may be able to provide as much as 35% more roof top coverage because silicon-based modules of today are routinely inhibited by ill-positioned roof obstructions like vent pipes, sky lights and HVAC equipment. PermaCity Solar and Ascent Solar plan to develop an integrated manufacturing technique that will link the PV system computer aided design (CAD) directly to the laser patterning control system in the factory to customize the size and shape of the modules for each unique installation. Ascent Solar President and CEO Matthew Foster states, “Our manufacturing processes produce product at the module level which completely eliminates the current back-end assembly of cells into modules and allows for made-to-order systems. We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with an industry expert such as PermaCity Solar and to be able to supply Building Integrated PV (BIPV) at the system level directly into the market. In addition to an established presence in the market, PermaCity Solar brings a much broader dimension to our module developments. Collectively, we have already begun to realize new and exciting capabilities and opportunities with our technology that we had not previously envisioned.” PermaCity Solar’s expertise in PV system engineering and integration has resulted in a unique “plug-and-play” PV system that simplifies the installation process. Using Ascent Solar’s technology, PermaCity Solar plans to install an entire system that incorporates only modules of a constant, fixed and very high voltage. This powerful technique enables modules to be integrated in parallel, thus avoiding the complex series connections that require vast amounts of wiring, connectors, junction boxes, combiner boxes, etc. Achieving the same level of versatility is problematic with current silicon-based technology and other technologies that utilize standardized module manufacturing tools designed to accommodate a fixed industry standard PV cell size. PermaCity Solar President and CEO Jonathan Port stated, “PermaCity looks forward to building large projects with these new products that will completely change the PV industry. With the opportunity for cost savings from manufacturing to roof installation by as much as 40-50%, we expect our installation of these products to exceed 100MW per year. The ease at which these new modules and systems come together will be remarkable. At these levels it appears that the days where 5 ¢/kWhr electricity produced by photovoltaics are fast approaching.”

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Packeteer® (NASDAQ:PKTR), the global leader in WAN Application Optimization, today announced that fast-growing civil engineering firm AVID Group, based in Palm Harbor, FL, is deploying its iShared™ branch office IT services appliance to support an explosion of residential, commercial and public sector projects requiring collaboration between distributed, multi-disciplinary teams. The iShared solution eliminates the need for expensive, standalone Microsoft Exchange e-mail servers and tape drive backup solutions for each branch location. By establishing a common distributed file structure company-wide with the iShared systems, AVID Group is centralizing and synchronizing shared files that dramatically improve the productivity of project managers and CAD technicians. The recent real estate explosion, combined with a reputation for being a truly responsive and energetic land development consulting firm, has resulted in rapid growth for AVID Group. With 150 employees — forecast to triple in the next three years — residential, commercial and public sector specialists are distributed between headquarters in Palm Harbor and branch locations throughout Florida to provide a host of strategic services that include engineering, planning, landscape architecture, environmental services and surveying. Prior to deploying iShared systems, AVID deployed IP-Sec virtual private networks that were supporting independent file servers running backup and administrative tasks at each location. According to AVID’s IT Manager, Pete Nuffer, this approach proved to be problematic for several reasons. “Our IT staff was losing 30 to 40 percent of their work week because of the travel time involved in supporting the branch offices,” Nuffer said. “Often times, tape backups alone could consume three hours per onsite visit. But the bigger issue was the use of separate, independent file structures in each branch. Not only did we have to perform copy scripts for backups across the wide area network at times, but if data volumes got above 50 Gigabytes, backups became totally impractical since we are using business DSL connections in a couple of our remote offices.” In addition to relying on Microsoft office applications, AVID is a heavy user of CAD products. “Because CAD products are so customizable, our CAD technicians and project teams were working on collaborative files that were getting out of synch due to copying different file directories. This clogged up our email system with multi-version file transfers — some of which were hundreds of megabytes in size — and created delays in project turnaround times since various staff members would waste valuable time looking for the right version of a file,” Nuffer added. To overcome this distributed file structure problem, AVID is deploying Packeteer’s iShared systems at all of its branch office facilities. In addition to integrating wide area file services (WAFS) and WAN optimization technologies that accelerate application performance and provide bandwidth-enhancing compression to help customers avoid expensive network upgrades, these appliances utilize a unique distributed file system that features lock manager, journaling and recovery techniques. As a result, file updates made by one user will not conflict with updates made by any other user, and updated files are available to all users across the network. The distributed file system technology proved to be a critical factor in AVID’s decision to deploy iShared systems. “We surveyed all project managers and CAD technicians, asking how much time was spent per week hunting for the correct version of a file on which they needed to work,” explained Nuffer. “When you factor in the billable rates of these users, anything that cuts down on this non-productive time carries a significant return-on-investment. And in the case of the iShared systems, we’ve calculated an eight month ROI in increased productivity alone.” On top of the productivity improvements afforded by the iShared systems, AVID is also realizing significant capital equipment savings as well. “Having installed the iShared systems, we’ve done away with the need for tape drive backups and independent Exchange servers at each branch,” said Nuffer. “And because we’ve successfully centralized and synchronized our Microsoft Office applications and AutoDesk files between all locations, we’ve dramatically cut down on our IT resource commitments at each branch to free up our time for other strategic IT issues. In the long run, this is going to help us keep pace with the incredible growth projected for the company.” According to Nuffer, AVID Group evaluated several “WAN Optimization” technologies: “We found most competitive offerings focused on streamlining the chattiness of TCP/IP and application acceleration. The iShared systems held their own on this front. But because of the tremendous amount of collaboration we do here at AVID, file consistency and centralization were our biggest keys. And this is where the iShared systems came out way ahead.”

DuPont(TM) Tyvek(R) AtticWrap(TM) Helps Reduce Heating, Cooling Costs Up to 20 Percent WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As a leader in delivering energy-efficient products to the marketplace, DuPont has launched DuPont(TM) Tyvek(R) AtticWrap(TM), the first breathable roofing membrane to completely seal a home's building envelope. A cutting-edge innovation, Tyvek(R) AtticWrap(TM) is specifically designed for a home's attic to create a continuously airtight space that prevents air and water intrusion and helps conserve energy. Tyvek(R) AtticWrap(TM) is a roofing membrane that helps create a drier, healthier living space by helping to protect attic areas that are prone to drafts, mold and mildew. If an attic space is not properly wrapped, a home's natural ventilation system can cause significant energy loss, 40 percent of which escapes through the roof. "This product will revolutionize the weather-resistant performance standards of builders everywhere," said Tom Powell, vice president and general manager - DuPont Surfaces and Building Innovations. "When Tyvek(R) AtticWrap(TM) is used with DuPont(TM) Tyvek(R) HomeWrap(R), an airtight building envelope that surrounds the entire home is formed, resulting in a significant degree of higher comfort, helping to eliminate dust, pollen and insects in the attic. It also can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs." "Our science-based innovations are designed to strengthen homes inside and out," Powell added. "We're focused on ensuring homes are tightly sealed, protected from harsh weather, while at the same time create aesthetically pleasing, comfortable living environments."

National Pest Management Association Reports an Increase in Insects of Foreign Origin FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Invasive species, or insects of foreign origin, have increased in population and are causing serious problems for American homeowners. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), homeowners nationwide should remain vigilant to ensure protection against invasive insects – specifically Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) and Formosan Termites. “Unfortunately, invasive species breed rapidly, spread easily and can out-compete native species for resources and space,” said Cindy Mannes, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “They can quickly infest homes and cause severe structural damage and in the case of RIFA, may cause injury. Once identified, infestations must be treated by a pest professional to effectively control and eliminate the problem.” Homeowners should especially be aware of RIFAs, who set up quarters between boards and timbers, in cracks on concrete walls and belongings in homes. They arrived in the United States in the 1930s and have progressively spread across the South and into parts of California and other western states. RIFAs bite humans with their powerful jaws and sting repeatedly causing itchy blisters that can become infected. Another prominent invasive insect is the Formosan Termite. This species entered the U.S. through military cargo shipments from East Asia after World War II. They pose a greater threat than their native counterparts because they form larger colonies and tend to be more aggressive, thus consuming more wood at a much faster rate. Formosan Termites are heavy contributors to the $5 billion in U.S. annual property damage caused by all species of termites. The NPMA recommends that homeowners consult with a qualified pest professional to inspect the property and prescribe necessary treatments to keep their family healthy and their home safe.

BATON ROUGE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NeighborWorks® America and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) today announced the availability of a new information resource for the tens of thousands of Louisiana’s homeowners looking for actionable guidance on how to rebuild their homes after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. NeighborWorks America and the FDIC have developed a comprehensive homeowner guide for families affected by the 2005 hurricanes. The guide is entitled, “Navigating the Road to Housing Recovery” and its key focus is to provide vital information for families’ rebuilding efforts. The first of a series of homeowner information sessions was launched today in conjunction with the state’s Road Home program. This groundbreaking program represents the largest single housing recovery program in U.S. history. Working together, Governor Blanco, the Louisiana Recovery Authority, and the Office of Community Development created The Road Home Program to afford eligible homeowners up to $150,000 in compensation to get back into their homes. At the information sessions today and others held in the months ahead, homeowners will receive a comprehensive overview of The Road Home Program and learn how to access the guidance and support provided by The Road Home Housing Assistance Centers. Louisiana families will gain valuable insight for evaluating their options so they can make informed decisions and take a proactive approach to recovery. A major component of the initiative will empower homeowners so that they are not taken advantage of by unscrupulous firms or individuals. In addition, the counselor-facilitated program from FDIC/NeighborWorks helps homeowners establish a step-by-step rebuilding plan and explains how to access financial resources for covering gaps between available funds and the costs to rebuild. Included in the program are tips on strengthening personal credit and developing family budget plans. The two three-hour consumer information sessions held today are the first of several to be held in Louisiana and other locations along the Gulf including sessions to be held in Mississippi, Texas and Alabama. “The ‘Navigating the Road to Housing Recovery’ Guide and Consumer Sessions, coupled with support from Louisiana’s Road Home Program, will go a long way toward providing the information and assistance families need to make critical decisions regarding their housing choices. This effort is one of several the FDIC is undertaking to assist the broader redevelopment activities throughout Louisiana and the other affected states,” said FDIC Director Thomas Curry. Mr. Curry also serves as the NeighborWorks America chairman. “The struggle to rebuild seems nearly as daunting as the effects of the storms,” said Ken Wade, CEO of NeighborWorks America. “But ‘Navigating the Road to Housing Recovery’ gives homeowners thorough information on where to go, who to reach out to and when to move to the next step. Developing a personal rebuilding plan based on this guide will help homeowners avoid many of the bumps on the way back to the home that they want.” Navigating the Road to Housing Recovery was developed jointly by the FDIC and NeighborWorks America. The program in Louisiana is one part of a larger Gulf Coast rebuilding initiative by NeighborWorks America and the FDIC to train hundreds of housing counselors, community development professionals and bankers on the steps necessary to help rebuild communities one family at a time after the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Because of the complex nature of obtaining money for rebuilding, hiring qualified and credible contractors and more, the information in the Navigating the Road to Housing Recovery is chiefly available through facilitated information sessions which will begin to be scheduled over the next few months.

ATLANTA, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) announces that it now certifies cleaners and cleaning systems for low chemical emissions. Working closely with JohnsonDiversey, a global provider of commercial cleaning, sanitation and hygiene solutions, GEI's program for testing and certifying cleaning products is based on a new standard that identifies a more comprehensive target list of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), lowers the limits for the emissions of those VOCs and measures at both short-term and long-term exposure levels. The GREENGUARD Certification Program(SM) for Cleaners and Cleaning Systems is the first and only public program that provides consumers with clear information regarding the effect cleaning products have on indoor air. The program specifically focuses on chemical emissions for cleaning products, including general cleaners, glass cleaners, toilet cleaners, floor cleaners, hard surface cleaners, institutional cleaning systems, aerosol products and carpet cleaners. Cleaners and cleaning systems can significantly contribute to indoor air pollution, which is ranked as one of the nation's greatest health risks. GREENGUARD's program measures chemical "off-gassing" of the products during recommended use and application, and then compares the measured emission levels against publicly available short-term and long-term risk exposure levels. The GREENGUARD Certification for Cleaners and Cleaning Systems provides the assurance that potentially harmful chemicals have been identified and will have little impact on indoor air and building occupants. JohnsonDiversey's Healthy High Performance Cleaning System consists of three important elements: chemical products, tools and procedures to achieve lower impact on IAQ. The cleaning system's Healthy High Performance Cleaning Guide provides users with the proper procedures. When used as directed, these products, procedures and tools make up the cleaning system certified by GREENGUARD.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With hurricane season upon us, experts are reminding builders and homeowners about new wind-resistance standards for products such as doors and roofing shingles. The new standards benefit homes and other buildings in hurricane-prone, coastal areas -- and all areas affected by storms and winter weather. The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) and the Steel Door Institute (SDI) have published a national severe windstorm resistance component standard, ANSI A250.13, “Testing and Rating of Severe Windstorm Resistant Components for Swinging Door Assemblies.” The standard deals with a common challenge faced by builders and specifiers: constructing entryways that can withstand sustained wind speeds or gusts in the range of 110 to 150 miles per hour and wind-borne projectiles associated with severe windstorms and hurricanes. Once the exterior envelope is breached, either by wind force or debris, the fluctuation of the internal and external pressure can cause catastrophic failure of the building structure. For this reason, it is vital to maintain the integrity of the entry system. Likewise, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) released a simple-to-use Layman’s Paper titled, “New Wind Standards for Asphalt Shingles,” which explains what builders and consumers need to know when buying wind-resistant shingle products. It includes a new wind-resistance classification system developed by ARMA, based on 14 years of research and wind tunnel testing. This classification system is now incorporated in the International Code Council’s International Building Code 2004 supplement, used by builders and municipal inspectors. According to Russ Snyder, executive Director of ARMA, “consumers and builders need to know two crucial things before purchasing asphalt shingles: the wind zone location of the building being roofed and the wind classification of the shingle proposed for the building.” Wind zone location can be obtained from town or county building code enforcement offices. For most of the continental United States, the wind zone classification is 90 mph (maximum average wind speeds). Some coastal and inland regions, however, may have wind zone designations of up to 150 mph. It is also critical that shingles are properly installed to withstand occasional or sustained high winds. To assure maximum wind performance, notes ARMA, asphalt shingles must be applied to a properly installed deck following the manufacturers’ requirements for number, type, and placement of nails.

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Pionetics(R), a developer of drinking water treatment products, today announced that the company's electrically regenerated ion exchange (LINX(TM)) system for cleansing water has been awarded a patent in Brazil. Pionetics now holds six patents internationally, including ones in the United States, China, Germany, France and Korea, and has patents pending in several other countries. Pionetics' patents cover its water cleansing device and the process by which contaminants are removed in the LINX Drinking Water System. The LINX system's electrically powered ion exchange cartridge removes impurities -- including perchlorate, nitrites, nitrates, arsenic III and V, potassium and 90 percent of total dissolved solids. Unlike traditional reverse osmosis (RO) technology, the LINX high efficiency process produces higher water flow rate, wastes one-tenth the water and works well under conditions of low water pressure. The LINX Drinking Water System also is the first to offer consumers the ability to adjust the taste of their water. The Dial-A-Taste(TM) feature enables users to selectively retain minerals in their treated water to vary the taste to their liking by simply turning a dial. By conserving water and improving its taste, the LINX Drinking Water System is ideal for use in countries where water is scarce or contaminated, or in markets in which consumers desire controlled mineral content in their water for health benefits. Pionetics has begun international distribution of its LINX drinking water products through worldwide OEM channels.

Estate Gardens by ValleyCrest Aims to Be the New Doyen of Luxury Garden Design LOS ANGELES, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- ValleyCrest Companies, one of the nation's most established and well-respected landscape firms, proudly announces the launch of its first full-service residential landscape design, construction and maintenance practice -- Estate Gardens by ValleyCrest. With a team of established landscape architects, experienced contractors and trained horticulturists, Estate Gardens offers integrated design, build and long-term maintenance services to its roster of elite clients. For the most discerning estate owner who desires the highest level of personal service, Estate Gardens will distinguish itself as an undisputed leader in luxury garden design. Estate Gardens has engaged an impressive trio of elite landscape architects to lead the new practice, as well as work with a team of other experienced designers. Landscape Architects Daniel Weedon, Bruce Meeks, and Russell Cletta are each widely recognized in the industry for their creativity and vision and have collectively designed hundreds of luxury gardens, ranging from the contemporary to the classical. Their work has been featured in Garden Design, Sunset Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, Celebrated Living and on many HGTV's programs. Both Weedon and Meeks managed their own landscape design practices in the past while Cletta comes to Estate Gardens from Los Angeles-based design firm Griffith and Cletta, Inc., where he was a partner. Together, Weedon, Meeks, and Cletta have more than 50 years of experience shaping the gardens of some of this City's best, brightest, and most beautiful estates. Overseeing Estate Gardens by ValleyCrest as General Manager is distinguished horticulturalist Brian Helgoe. With the unique ability to deliver an unsurpassed level of personal service -- from creative counsel to design and implementation, through long-term maintenance -- Estate Gardens promises to build an impressive roster of clients. From vast expanses to secluded spaces and stylized landscapes to naturalistic gardens, Estate Gardens can design, build, and maintain privately-commissioned, custom landscaped environments that reflect the individual style and taste of each client. From contemporary sanctuaries to exotic tropical oases, Estate Gardens skillfully blends hardscape and softscape design elements to create exceptional outdoor living spaces. From flowing waterfalls to sculpted pathways, romantic pergolas to koi ponds, native plants to bright colorful blossoms, Estate Gardens has perfected the art of luxury garden design. www.estate-gardens.com

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI) (BSX:AKC) announced today that the Ascent Solar alliance that has been collaborating for several months in response to President George W. Bush’s Solar America Initiative, plans to produce an entirely new series of “plug and play” products for the nation’s commercial and residential building markets. Using Ascent Solar’s thin film photovoltaic (PV) technology on plastics, large photovoltaic modules in roll formats will be integrated with various construction materials to produce multiple Building Integrated PV (BIPV) products for commercial and residential applications. The new “plug-and-play” module designs should eliminate the vast amount of wires, cables, connectors, junction boxes, and conduit required in current systems. Ascent Solar expects that PV system integration will be reduced from weeks to days for systems as large as 600kW and that, based upon U.S. Department of Energy cost models, the cost to produce electricity will be reduced from 20¢/kWhr to 5¢/kWhr. Led by Ascent Solar, the alliance developing the new BIPV products and associated manufacturing processes consists of leaders from academia, industry, and government laboratories, including: PERMACITY SOLAR Institute of Energy Conversion (University of Delaware) Colorado School of Mines University of Texas ITN Energy Systems Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (U.S. Department of Energy) IBIS Associates Ascent Solar President and CEO Matthew Foster states, “The potential to create enormous demand in the market for PV generated electricity is real. As the cost of solar generated electricity approaches that of fossil fuel generated power, BIPV growth could expand exponentially. The Solar America timeline and cost targets show the potential for this happening as early as 2010. Our vision is to see the day when BIPV will become pervasive as a building and construction material much like plywood is today and become affordable for all in need of low cost electricity from a natural resource that is free, abundant, and available to everyone.” The key to realizing the day when low cost PV systems produce electricity more cost effectively than fossil fuels is low cost manufacturing of modules and system components. Ascent Solar plans to employ manufacturing methodologies similar to the successes in the semiconductor industry by scaling manufacturing equipment and processes to run faster and wider. Monolithic integration of cells into modules during manufacturing should completely eliminate the entire back-end assembly operation of today. Ascent Solar estimates that the new BIPV roll formats can offer reductions in the number of discrete modules by as much as 90% for a typical PV system deployment, and provide flexibility to cover up to 35% more area. When combined with the “plug and play” product improvements, the multiplying effect on cost should be remarkable. Ascent Solar is currently developing a 1.5MW production line for terrestrial, space and near-space applications. This production capacity will produce prototypes of the new products and demonstrate the large area manufacturing process. The wide web manufacturing processes are expected to become the production baseline for future manufacturing scale up to 100MW capacities, which are currently envisioned to begin by 2010. To accelerate these new product and manufacturing innovations, Ascent Solar submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy on October 2, 2006, in response to the Solar America Initiative. Announcement of awards to as many as 15-20 industry teams are anticipated by year end. About Ascent Solar Technologies: Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a developer of state-of-the-art, thin-film photovoltaic materials and modules and is located in Littleton, Colorado.

SIRE WarehouseSync Coordinates Document Lifecycle Management for Both Hard and Soft Copies for Cities, Counties and State Organizations SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SIRE Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of content and legislative management solutions for government entities, announced today a new component of the SIRE EDMS (Electronic Document Management System), called SIRE WarehouseSync. This application allows cities and counties to now manage the retention schedules of both paper and electronic documents simultaneously with a single system by synchronizing paper documents stored in a vault or warehouse to their SIRE EDMS using a hand-held barcode scanner or PDA. City and county records tend to be stored in vast warehouses containing millions of documents, making it difficult at times to find and retrieve the paper document when needed. By using a barcode scanner, SIRE WarehouseSync makes it easy to link paper documents to their scanned equivalent online. Users can quickly assign and then identify which box, shelf, cabinet and storage facility holds the specific document they are looking for. This also enables records managers to know where to find appropriate documents for shredding or other action when the maturity date has arrived. When a paper copy is moved, simply scanning the box and the new shelf number automatically updates SIRE EDMS with the new location of the document. “Time and space are elements of great concerns for those involved in the filing, storage and retrieval of government documents,” said Kris Painter, president of SIRE Technologies. “We are working to help local governments be more efficient. SIRE WarehouseSync takes the guesswork and heavy lifting out of document retrieval and retention management. It also helps users better manage their warehouse space by tracking how much volume is available.” Upon the maturity date, the hard copy of the document can be scheduled to be shredded and the electronic copy can be sent to an archive writer, burned to a CD, or deleted. The deleted files on the hard drive are then overwritten seven times, per compliance with DoD 5010.2. “Many states have laws that prohibit cities from immediately destroying record originals when they are scanned,” Painter said. “Although scanning the documents with SIRE makes it considerably easier to find, retrieve and print those documents, cities and counties are often still required to keep the printed original for a specified number of years. Managing the retention schedule of the originals creates considerably more work for the staff. WarehouseSync provides a simple, convenient way to link the physical document to its scanned image counterpart while simultaneously managing the retention schedules of both.” SIRE WarehouseSync is available now as a turnkey plug-in application to SIRE EDMS.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling it an important step forward for property rights, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today applauded the House of Representatives for passing the "Private Property Rights Implementation Act" (H.R. 4772), legislation designed to ensure that property owners can have their Fifth Amendment takings claims heard in federal court. "Government must be accountable when its actions violate property rights guaranteed under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution," said Jerry Howard, NAHB's executive vice president and chief executive officer. "This legislation gives property rights the same weight as other civil protections provided by the Bill of Rights." "We commend House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) for bringing this bill to a vote and Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) for bringing it out of the House Judiciary Committee," Howard said. "I want to thank Representatives Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) and Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) for introducing the measure and helping to bring strong bipartisan support." Under existing law, property owners must litigate their case in state court before a federal court will rule on a Fifth Amendment takings claim. But once a takings claim has been heard by a state court, the landowner cannot have the claim heard in federal court. Property owners are effectively precluded from having their Fifth Amendment takings cases heard in federal court. As a result, property rights claims are treated differently from other civil rights cases, all of which can be brought directly to federal court. An adult book store owner, for example, who challenges a municipal land-use regulation based on the First Amendment's free speech protection, has direct access to federal court; but an individual who is a landowner and who challenges the same regulation with a Fifth Amendment takings claim does not. "This is sound, well-crafted legislation designed to protect the constitutionally protected property rights of our citizens without limiting the authority of local governments to enact zoning regulations," Howard said. "This bill enables municipalities to protect the local health, safety and environment in any way they see fit, within the bounds of the Constitution." It is the proper function of federal judges to ensure that these decisions are constitutional and do not take property in violation of Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment protections. "Fifth Amendment takings claims are the only constitutional rights cases that cannot be heard in federal court," Howard said. "The House of Representatives understands that it is time to put property rights on par with all the other civil rights protected by the Constitution."

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to the recent surge in new high-rise building construction in San Francisco and other Bay Area cities, members of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC at www.seaonc.org) have been actively participating in several concurrent initiatives to help ensure that these tall buildings for residential, office, hotel, and related mixed-use occupancies are designed to protect the safety of future occupants as well as the public at-large. These initiatives include the creation and review of innovative designs, the development of new codes, and the participation in public forums to promote seismic safety. 1. Structural Engineers Create Innovative High-Rise Designs to Improve Views and More This tall building boom has created a demand for structural engineers to employ innovative techniques in their design of framing systems. These systems allow buildings to be constructed without bulky perimeter members that partially obstruct views as would traditionally be required by building codes. Most commonly, variations of a concrete “core-wall” earthquake-resisting system--where an internal core of heavily reinforced concrete walls surrounds elevators, stairs, and mechanical/service areas--are being employed for these structures, which reach heights of over 500 feet. Detailed computer models allow the design engineer to subject a representation of the structure to actual large earthquake motions that have been recorded in California, Japan, Taiwan, and elsewhere around the world. 2. Structural Engineers Review Designs for Safety Reviewing the strategies being proposed for the design of these new buildings by the “peer review” process is another of the important tasks performed by structural engineers. While innovative framing systems offer the advantage of lower cost, faster construction, more flexible architectural layouts, and enhanced aesthetics, jurisdictional authorities require that expert members of the structural engineering community make certain that they meet safety and functionality standards as well. Ron Hamburger, a former president of SEAONC, as well as other structural engineers in the area are currently actively assisting building departments in their review and approval of these high-rise structures. 3. Structural Engineers Develop New Codes to Guide Future Building Designs Developing new codes and structural design criteria for these tall buildings to help ensure that they will be safe and usable following major earthquakes is yet another area where local structural engineers are heavily involved. Professor Jack Moehle of UC Berkeley is spearheading one of these efforts in the context of a 24-month collaborative study organized by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center headquartered at UC Berkeley which commenced in August 2006. The study’s recommendations are expected to guide the structural engineering community in the design of tall buildings for years to come. 4. Structural Engineers Provide their Expertise and Leadership in Public Forums Participating in public forums, which lend support to the efforts of city building departments in maintaining high standards for new construction, is a final way in which local structural engineers are involved with the high-rise building issue. The City of San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection, for example, has scheduled a panel presentation entitled “DBI’s Peer Review Expertise is Changing the City’s Skyline” during their “Meet the Pros at Building Inspection” seminar on October 25, 2006. The panel will include UC Berkeley Professor Jack Moehle, also a member of SEAONC, and Dr. Joe Maffei, another SEAONC member and practicing structural engineer who has participated in the peer review of several high-rise structures.